It’s the 27th day of month, and if I have any hope of hitting all #30ThankYous, I’m going to have to pick up the pace. So tonight, a handful of thank-you notes to a very wide-ranging group of individuals!

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#15 — Jeff Goins

Jeff,

I can’t think of anyone who has been a bigger influence in the last few years on my writing or my approach to creative communication than you have. You produce great content on a consistent basis (the 3-bucket method is genius!) and you have a clear love for your audience. You’re not just another writing guru or platform builder; you actively seek to make the lives of your readers better.

What impresses me most about you is that you are generous with your words and work. It so impressed me when I not only got advance physical copies of your books to review, but that you even follow up with additional material. You and your team are rock stars, and any success I have in growing my audience or reaching new readers is thanks in part to your great work.

Thank you for teaching and inspiring people like me to remember why we fell in love with writing in the first place. Keep it up. You can always count on me as a faithful reader and fan.

#16 — Dr. Albert Mohler

Dr. Mohler,

Thank you for providing clear, measured, and insightful commentary on cultural touchstones and world events. I can’t tell you how much your podcasts The Briefing and Thinking in Public have influenced and informed my understanding of current events, and your books continue to fill my shelves with helpful analysis of our cultural moment. Even your productivity and reading habits have become the stuff of legend–you’re basically the bibliophile equivalent of Chuck Norris, in a bowtie.

More than all this, your passion for and commitment to the Word of God inspires and challenges me. Your preaching and teaching were one of the major factors in my decision to begin taking seminary classes online with Southern. The rigor of thought and careful exegesis that you employ are an example I want to follow. Thank you for your commitment to the Lord, His Church, and the thousands of seminary students under your care. We are forever grateful to God for your faithfulness.

#17 — JJ Watt

JJ,

I try to keep spectator sports in perspective. For folks like me, it’s entertainment, a hobby, a fun activity to watch with friends and family. As such, I regularly remind myself that it’s just a game, and that the athletes who work and train to put on that uniform are just regular guys who have worked really hard for the opportunity to play the game they love as a career.

All that said, I’m a huge fan, man. I admire your tenacity and your hard work. I appreciate the way you lift up others on your team and cheer their successes. I am amazed to see how far you’ve come in bouncing back from serious injuries, and through it all, you champion hard work, perseverance, and responsibility. From all outside appearances, it looks like you’re going about things the right way, and conducting yourself with respect and dignity. This is not always common in professional athletes. Thank you for doing it the right way.

Not only that, but you demonstrate how much you love your adopted hometown. Houston has had a couple tough years, but guys like you have used your platforms to shine light on local needs and lend a helping hand to those who needed it. I respect that so much. As a “naturalized” Houstonian who has lived most of his life here, let me say on behalf of our community, thank you for caring about your neighbors.

I’m looking forward to cheering my Texans on through the rest of the season and into the playoffs. So please, stay healthy, boss. (And tell Deshaun to slide more, for goodness sakes!)

#18 — Wretched Radio

Dear Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Friel, Tony, Joey, and the rest of the gang at Wretched,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the ministry of Wretched. I have listened to hundreds of hours of Wretched Radio over the last several years. I haven’t agreed 100% with some of the finer points Todd or Tony have argued (but after that much time, you can’t expect anybody to!), but for the overwhelming majority of the time, I have been edified, encouraged, and convicted by your teaching and commentary. You’ve helped me to improve not only my discernment but also my prudence and tact in how I speak about issues in the church. Your work on Wretched has made me a better disciple, as well as a better Sunday School teacher and preacher. Thank you.

One thing in particular that has really impacted me lately is Todd’s intentional choices not to name names in certain discussions. It seems like the bulk of “discernment ministry” or theological analysis hits either of the two extremes (name all the names and burn them all down, or never say “boo” about a false teacher), but Wretched walks the tightrope of warning about wolves while at the same time seeking to avoid gossip and gleeful tale-bearing. This has been so instructive for me on how to handle delicate issues in the wider church with a mind to what is edifying and what is just salacious.

Thanks also for highlighting great ministries that your listeners can support. My hope is that my family can start supporting some of these Gospel ministries financially (along with Wretched, Lord-willing) in the coming years.

God bless you with many years of fruitful work ahead, because there is much, much still to do.

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That’s all for tonight. 3 more days of #30ThankYous to go! Be sure to check back for more tomorrow!