It's going to be tough to choose 10, but here we go (in no particular order)...
First, a couple of books on money...
The Big Short, by Michael Lewis
I've continued to be intrigued by the financial crisis, especially as it pertains to real estate lending. A great documentary on this topic is Inside Job, and I also recommend the movie Too Big to Fail, based on the book by Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Money - Master the Game, by Tony Robbins
As long as you can deal with a little hype ("what I'm about to share with you in the next chapter is going to change your life!!!"), this book is really good. I still haven't finished the entire book (it's almost 700 pages long), but I've put into practice several things...and it has changed my entire life!!!
Next up is fiction. I read, or listen to, pretty much everything that John Grisham, David Baldacci and Michael Connelly put out, but I thought I would add two books from new-to-me authors.
The Martian, by Andy Weir
I purchased both the kindle and audible books for this, and during our California/Oregon Adventure I went back and forth between reading and listening. The movie is great, but the book is even better.
Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline
I can't remember where I first heard about this book, but I'm glad I read it. The two themes of the book, the 80's and video games, are not themes that I'm really into, but I couldn't put the book down. Armada is his second book, and it's great as well.
Gay Marriage is a pretty divisive topic in our culture today, and our church has continued to wrestle with how to be love and walk with our gay friends. I've read a lot on these topics this year, but these two books were the most helpful.
Redeeming Sex, by Debra Hirsch
Quite possibly the best book I read this year. I'm excited that Debra is going to be in Memphis at the end of February!
People to Be Loved, by Preston Sprinkle
I just finished this book. I appreciate his posture in writing. He's very humble and doesn't back away from the challenging questions that the church must wrestle with.
Here are two books I heard about while listening to podcasts...
We Learn Nothing, by Tim Kreider
I heard about this book from Tim Ferriss' podcast. It's a book of essays, and it's hilarious.
Everything that Remains, by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus
These guys, aka the Minimalists, were interviewed by Rob Bell on his podcast. This is their story. I also recommend this more practical book of essays.
These two books were most helpful for sermon prep...
A Fellowship of Differents, by Scot McKnight
I just finished up a five month series called Church=Family. This was one of my primary influences.
The Story of God, the Story of Us, by Sean Gladding
I'm getting ready to start a series on the grand narrative that is the Bible. This will be the book that I recommend to our folks at NC.
Bonus: These last two have probably influenced me more than any others.
The Power of Vulnerability, by Brene Brown
So this is not a book but a workshop, but if you've never ready anything by Brene Brown, this is a great place to start. It covers material from her first three books. Her writing continues to shape me in pretty profound ways.
The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning
A year ago I felt that I needed to start 2015 off by re-reading this book, and I'm so glad that I did. I wanted to go back to the message of grace, and I feel that I've been coming back to it throughout the year. This is one of those books that I feel like I need to read every few years.
Showing posts with label top 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top 10. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2015
2015 Top 10 Lists - Moments
2015 was a great year. These are some of my top moments. As I reflect I'm truly grateful to God for all that He's done!
10. Bella - 2015 marks our family's first full year with a dog since we had Jack. We love her. She's such a smart and loyal dog, and the boys take turns sleeping with her each night.
9. House - We built a 250 sq ft screened porch this summer, and it is fantastic. It became my primary office for much of the fall, and I'm looking forward to the many memories we'll have in that space through the years to come.
8. Travel - This summer we spent two weeks in California and Oregon. We started with a week in Oakland & Yosemite, then drove north for a week, in the process making stops in Mendocino, Etna, Ashland, & finally Portland. It was definitely an adventure. And this fall we all went to Washington D.C. Micah was still a little young to truly appreciate it, but it was perfect for Adam.
7. Music - For a long time making music was a part of my job. Now that it's not, I am finding myself having so much fun. I'm in my fourth year with the Memphis Men's Chorale, I love playing at NC under Kirk Smith's leadership, and I just played in the band at our fourth annual Wassailing for Water Party. We also love having a piano in the house.
6. Work - I've been a real estate agent for over five years now, and as much as I love it, this year I got to try my hand at renovating two houses in my neighborhood. My partner Rob and I brought new life into century-old houses, gave meaningful work to our crew, and have added two awesome families into the Annesdale-Snowden neighborhood. Hoping to do more of this in 2016.
5. Neighborhood Church - NC turns 8 years old in a few weeks, and I am so grateful to be a part of this family. We continue to wrestle through the challenges of how to be a faithful witness in our culture today, but I continue to be grateful by what God is doing.
4. Turning 40 - There are definitely some negatives that go with this (such as how sore I was the other night after playing basketball for an hour with 5th and 6th graders), but overall I've loved the start to this new decade. I feel more "comfortable in my own skin" than I ever have.
3. Micah - Not a day goes by that this little guy doesn't make me laugh. I love his personality and creativity, and I can't wait to see how it continues to develop! While at Kanakuk this summer Micah decided that he wanted to give control of his life to Jesus!
2. Adam - Earlier this fall Adam and I started a weekly tradition of having breakfast together. Adam normally picks the place (his favorite is Bob's Barksdale), and we read a chapter from this book. I want to create rites of passages for the boys, and this is how I'm starting. This has been a really cool transition year for our relationship. I think Adam and I are going to be good friends.
1. Mandy - We celebrated 16 years of marriage this summer, our 20th Christmas together, and we're about to celebrate 10 years in Memphis. There's no one I'd rather share these milestones with!
Honorable Mention - Star Wars
BONUS - Mandy has put together a video with highlights from our year.
10. Bella - 2015 marks our family's first full year with a dog since we had Jack. We love her. She's such a smart and loyal dog, and the boys take turns sleeping with her each night.
9. House - We built a 250 sq ft screened porch this summer, and it is fantastic. It became my primary office for much of the fall, and I'm looking forward to the many memories we'll have in that space through the years to come.
8. Travel - This summer we spent two weeks in California and Oregon. We started with a week in Oakland & Yosemite, then drove north for a week, in the process making stops in Mendocino, Etna, Ashland, & finally Portland. It was definitely an adventure. And this fall we all went to Washington D.C. Micah was still a little young to truly appreciate it, but it was perfect for Adam.
7. Music - For a long time making music was a part of my job. Now that it's not, I am finding myself having so much fun. I'm in my fourth year with the Memphis Men's Chorale, I love playing at NC under Kirk Smith's leadership, and I just played in the band at our fourth annual Wassailing for Water Party. We also love having a piano in the house.
6. Work - I've been a real estate agent for over five years now, and as much as I love it, this year I got to try my hand at renovating two houses in my neighborhood. My partner Rob and I brought new life into century-old houses, gave meaningful work to our crew, and have added two awesome families into the Annesdale-Snowden neighborhood. Hoping to do more of this in 2016.
5. Neighborhood Church - NC turns 8 years old in a few weeks, and I am so grateful to be a part of this family. We continue to wrestle through the challenges of how to be a faithful witness in our culture today, but I continue to be grateful by what God is doing.
4. Turning 40 - There are definitely some negatives that go with this (such as how sore I was the other night after playing basketball for an hour with 5th and 6th graders), but overall I've loved the start to this new decade. I feel more "comfortable in my own skin" than I ever have.
3. Micah - Not a day goes by that this little guy doesn't make me laugh. I love his personality and creativity, and I can't wait to see how it continues to develop! While at Kanakuk this summer Micah decided that he wanted to give control of his life to Jesus!
2. Adam - Earlier this fall Adam and I started a weekly tradition of having breakfast together. Adam normally picks the place (his favorite is Bob's Barksdale), and we read a chapter from this book. I want to create rites of passages for the boys, and this is how I'm starting. This has been a really cool transition year for our relationship. I think Adam and I are going to be good friends.
1. Mandy - We celebrated 16 years of marriage this summer, our 20th Christmas together, and we're about to celebrate 10 years in Memphis. There's no one I'd rather share these milestones with!
Honorable Mention - Star Wars
BONUS - Mandy has put together a video with highlights from our year.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
2015 Top Ten Lists - Music
Another good year for music!
First up...two of my favorite bands released new albums this year. They never fail to impress!
Mumford and Sons
Coldplay
Next up is one of my favorite artists of all time. Mandy and I got to see him live this year at the Orpheum. I haven't been as much of a fan of his last few albums, but this one is great. Sorry there's no video.
Harry Connick, Jr.
Did you see the movie Chef? It's a great movie for so many reasons. The soundtrack is one of the main ones! Once again no video.
Chef
Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me is an incredible song. Bon Iver's cover (with S. Carey) is even better.
Bon Iver
I discovered this next band on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. I'd really like to see them live sometime.
The Family Crest
S. Carey started out as Bon Iver's drummer. Now he has his own gig.
S. Carey
I'm not sure how I heard about this next guy, but I've played his music as much as anyone else this year.
Olafur Arnalds
My favorite song we sang at Neighborhood Church this year was United Pursuit's Simple Gospel.
United Pursuit
The last two songs (and yes, I know this makes it a Top 11 List, but who's counting!) feature the human voice and the human voice alone. First, a choral piece by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo.
Voces8
Finally, a cover of Cover of Mumford and Son's After the Storm
The Swingles
First up...two of my favorite bands released new albums this year. They never fail to impress!
Mumford and Sons
Next up is one of my favorite artists of all time. Mandy and I got to see him live this year at the Orpheum. I haven't been as much of a fan of his last few albums, but this one is great. Sorry there's no video.
Did you see the movie Chef? It's a great movie for so many reasons. The soundtrack is one of the main ones! Once again no video.
Chef
Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me is an incredible song. Bon Iver's cover (with S. Carey) is even better.
Bon Iver
I discovered this next band on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. I'd really like to see them live sometime.
The Family Crest
S. Carey started out as Bon Iver's drummer. Now he has his own gig.
S. Carey
I'm not sure how I heard about this next guy, but I've played his music as much as anyone else this year.
Olafur Arnalds
My favorite song we sang at Neighborhood Church this year was United Pursuit's Simple Gospel.
United Pursuit
The last two songs (and yes, I know this makes it a Top 11 List, but who's counting!) feature the human voice and the human voice alone. First, a choral piece by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo.
Voces8
Finally, a cover of Cover of Mumford and Son's After the Storm
The Swingles
Saturday, December 27, 2014
2014 Top Ten Lists - Apps
There are a number of apps that I use on a daily, or at least weekly, basis. Here are the ones I rely on most (in no particular order).
1. Dropbox - I've been using Dropbox for several years. It serves as a cloud backup as well as a simple way to access files from all of my devices.
2. LastPass - I finally have a good handle on my passwords. I feel much more secure, and it's a breeze to use. It again syncs across all of my devices.
3. PDF Expert - This may well be my most important iPad app. I use it to write real estate contracts as well as when I teach at NC.
4. Nozbe - After trying out several task managers, this is the one I landed on. I'm currently using the free version. I have three "Projects" set up: Personal, Neighborhood Church, and Real Estate. Everything falls under one of those. From there I can note what type of list it is (email, meeting, phone call, etc) and then give it a due date. Syncs across all devices.
5. Evernote - I put a lot in Evernote - perhaps too much. My biggest challenge is to keep it organized by tagging it and putting it in the proper folders. Some of the ways I use evernote: recipes, real estate contacts, sermon brainstorming, blog posts, notes from phone conversations, kindle highlights, and travel itineraries.
6. Kindle - Sometimes I miss the feel of a paperback, but tradeoff is that I absolutely love having my entire collection of books on my iPad. The other thing that is amazing about the kindle is that I can access all of my highlights and notes. What I normally do after finishing up a book is to save all of the notes in Evernote. It's great for referencing later.
7. Zinio - This year I've been doing much of my magazine reading on my iPad. Subscriptions have come down in price, but the real game changer is that I just learned that I can borrow Zinio magazine issues for free from the library. I was already doing this with kindle and audio books.
8. Audible - I enjoy listening to books while I'm driving and when I'm doing chores around the house. The Audible iPhone app is great, and now that they are owned by Amazon, there is more integration between Kindle and Audible.
9. Feedly - I started using Feedly after Google discontinued Reader. I have several categories of blogs and websites that I read on a regular basis. It's simple to add new content, and it's once again syncs across all of my devices.
10. Pocket - Finally, there's Pocket. I love this app! When I come across an interesting article or blog post in Feedly, I save it to Pocket to read later. Within Pocket I can tag articles, which I use later for research.
1. Dropbox - I've been using Dropbox for several years. It serves as a cloud backup as well as a simple way to access files from all of my devices.
2. LastPass - I finally have a good handle on my passwords. I feel much more secure, and it's a breeze to use. It again syncs across all of my devices.
3. PDF Expert - This may well be my most important iPad app. I use it to write real estate contracts as well as when I teach at NC.
4. Nozbe - After trying out several task managers, this is the one I landed on. I'm currently using the free version. I have three "Projects" set up: Personal, Neighborhood Church, and Real Estate. Everything falls under one of those. From there I can note what type of list it is (email, meeting, phone call, etc) and then give it a due date. Syncs across all devices.
5. Evernote - I put a lot in Evernote - perhaps too much. My biggest challenge is to keep it organized by tagging it and putting it in the proper folders. Some of the ways I use evernote: recipes, real estate contacts, sermon brainstorming, blog posts, notes from phone conversations, kindle highlights, and travel itineraries.
6. Kindle - Sometimes I miss the feel of a paperback, but tradeoff is that I absolutely love having my entire collection of books on my iPad. The other thing that is amazing about the kindle is that I can access all of my highlights and notes. What I normally do after finishing up a book is to save all of the notes in Evernote. It's great for referencing later.
7. Zinio - This year I've been doing much of my magazine reading on my iPad. Subscriptions have come down in price, but the real game changer is that I just learned that I can borrow Zinio magazine issues for free from the library. I was already doing this with kindle and audio books.
8. Audible - I enjoy listening to books while I'm driving and when I'm doing chores around the house. The Audible iPhone app is great, and now that they are owned by Amazon, there is more integration between Kindle and Audible.
9. Feedly - I started using Feedly after Google discontinued Reader. I have several categories of blogs and websites that I read on a regular basis. It's simple to add new content, and it's once again syncs across all of my devices.
10. Pocket - Finally, there's Pocket. I love this app! When I come across an interesting article or blog post in Feedly, I save it to Pocket to read later. Within Pocket I can tag articles, which I use later for research.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
2014 Top Ten Lists - Books
Below are the best books I read during 2014. It was hard to choose, so I picked 12 (in no particular order). Two of the twelve were books I listened to. The other ten were read on my kindle app.
Money: Master the Game, by Tony Robbins
I have to confess that I haven't finished this 700 page beast of a book. I first heard the author interviewed on Tim Ferris' podcast (which I highly recommend). The book is pretty unconventional, but what is great is all of the interviews that Robbins conducted. He definitely did his homework. I've already made a couple of changes to our finances as a result of reading this book.
Free, by Mark and Lisa Scandrette
This is probably the best book on money that I've ever read, and the reason is that it's not simply a book about money but a book about values. Mark and Lisa share their story of the intentional decisions they've made that have enabled them to live life the way they wanted to live it.
Smart Money, Smart Kids, by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze
After I finished college and moved to Nashville, I discovered Dave Ramsey's radio show. He was very influential on my early money decisions. Earlier this year I started listening to his show again. I heard about this book (written with his daughter) and decided to give it a shot. Very practical and informative.
The Trouble with Paris, by Mark Sayers
I will go ahead and say it: I will read any book that Mark Sayers writes. Two years ago I read The Road Trip that Changed the World. It was excellent. Sayers combines faith, culture, history, and literature in a way that I've never seen. This book is about consumerism and happiness.
Soul Keeping, by John Ortberg
I love John Ortberg's writing. I read The Life You've Always Wanted almost 15 years ago, and it continues to be very formative in my life. This book is focused on his relationship with Dallas Willard. It is, pun intended, good for the soul. Note that the kindle version of this book is only $2.99 right now. Go get it!
Sacred Roots, by Jon Tyson
This is a quick but insightful read on the importance of the Church today.
Making Sense of the Bible, by Adam Hamilton
These next three books were very helpful as I prepared for a teaching series this past spring on theology. I continue to work through some of the issues that Hamilton raised in this book. It's very thought-provoking.
Benefit of the Doubt, by Greg Boyd
This was a helpful book on why confidence rather than certainty is the goal when it comes to belief.
The Theology of Dallas Willard, by Gary Black
At times this book was pretty tedious, but I found it very insightful. Black here tries to compile all of Dallas Willard's teachings (books, talks, and even conversations) and distill a specific theology. Also written around the same time was A Dallas Willard Dictionary, by Elaine O'Rourke. It's a helpful little book as well.
The Accidental Anglican, by Todd Hunter
This was a quick read. I've been following Todd Hunter since my time in San Francisco. He has had quite the journey going from the Jesus Movement and the Vineyard Churches to now being an Anglican bishop!
Essentialism, by Gergory McKeown
A fellow pastor told me about this book a few months ago, and it has shaped me in some pretty incredible ways since then. After reading this book I started the process of determining the three primary things I bring to NC. Since that time I've been honing those things, seeking to stop doing other things, and taking our leadership team through the process. I still have a lot of work to do, but I believe the process will yield a ton of fruit.
Letters from a Skeptic, by Greg Boyd
I'll end with another that I've yet to finish. I just started listening to this book a couple of days ago. The book is a series of letters between Greg and his father about Christianity. So far, SO GOOD. Kindle version is currently only $2.51!
Money: Master the Game, by Tony Robbins
I have to confess that I haven't finished this 700 page beast of a book. I first heard the author interviewed on Tim Ferris' podcast (which I highly recommend). The book is pretty unconventional, but what is great is all of the interviews that Robbins conducted. He definitely did his homework. I've already made a couple of changes to our finances as a result of reading this book.
Free, by Mark and Lisa Scandrette
This is probably the best book on money that I've ever read, and the reason is that it's not simply a book about money but a book about values. Mark and Lisa share their story of the intentional decisions they've made that have enabled them to live life the way they wanted to live it.
Smart Money, Smart Kids, by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze
After I finished college and moved to Nashville, I discovered Dave Ramsey's radio show. He was very influential on my early money decisions. Earlier this year I started listening to his show again. I heard about this book (written with his daughter) and decided to give it a shot. Very practical and informative.
The Trouble with Paris, by Mark Sayers
I will go ahead and say it: I will read any book that Mark Sayers writes. Two years ago I read The Road Trip that Changed the World. It was excellent. Sayers combines faith, culture, history, and literature in a way that I've never seen. This book is about consumerism and happiness.
Soul Keeping, by John Ortberg
I love John Ortberg's writing. I read The Life You've Always Wanted almost 15 years ago, and it continues to be very formative in my life. This book is focused on his relationship with Dallas Willard. It is, pun intended, good for the soul. Note that the kindle version of this book is only $2.99 right now. Go get it!
Sacred Roots, by Jon Tyson
This is a quick but insightful read on the importance of the Church today.
Making Sense of the Bible, by Adam Hamilton
These next three books were very helpful as I prepared for a teaching series this past spring on theology. I continue to work through some of the issues that Hamilton raised in this book. It's very thought-provoking.
Benefit of the Doubt, by Greg Boyd
This was a helpful book on why confidence rather than certainty is the goal when it comes to belief.
The Theology of Dallas Willard, by Gary Black
At times this book was pretty tedious, but I found it very insightful. Black here tries to compile all of Dallas Willard's teachings (books, talks, and even conversations) and distill a specific theology. Also written around the same time was A Dallas Willard Dictionary, by Elaine O'Rourke. It's a helpful little book as well.
The Accidental Anglican, by Todd Hunter
This was a quick read. I've been following Todd Hunter since my time in San Francisco. He has had quite the journey going from the Jesus Movement and the Vineyard Churches to now being an Anglican bishop!
Essentialism, by Gergory McKeown
A fellow pastor told me about this book a few months ago, and it has shaped me in some pretty incredible ways since then. After reading this book I started the process of determining the three primary things I bring to NC. Since that time I've been honing those things, seeking to stop doing other things, and taking our leadership team through the process. I still have a lot of work to do, but I believe the process will yield a ton of fruit.
Letters from a Skeptic, by Greg Boyd
I'll end with another that I've yet to finish. I just started listening to this book a couple of days ago. The book is a series of letters between Greg and his father about Christianity. So far, SO GOOD. Kindle version is currently only $2.51!
Friday, December 19, 2014
2014 Top Ten Lists - Music
Last year was the first time since 2007 that I failed to do my annual top 10 lists. So, even though my blog posts are now few and far between, I thought I would renew this tradition. First up...Music (in no particular order)!
The Soundtrack to Inside Llewyn Davis
I still have not seen this movie, but I love the music. Here's the song "Fare Thee Well", from a documentary on the movie that I did see. It features Oscar Isaac, Marcus Mumford, and the Punch Brothers.
Snarky Puppy
First off, how can you not dig this band's name. Listening to their music is great. Watching a video like this is outstanding.
Punch Brothers
I would absolutely love to see these guys live. I can imagine that it would be quite the show.
Humming House
Discovered this band on Noisetrade. Fun, especially this track!
The Brilliance
Please tell me that you know about these musicians. This is my favorite song.
Once: The Musical
Mandy and I went to see this at the Orpheum. It was so good. This song, and particularly the end of the song, was one of those epic and moving musical experiences for me that doesn't happen everyday.
Peter Hollens acapella version of "Hallelujah"
Beautiful. Those chords!
Digital Age
We did this song at NC a few weeks ago. Already loved this song, but this version takes it to another level
Head and the Heart
I hate I was out of town when these guys came to Memphis. I don't like their second album as much as their first, but it's still great.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
This is the fourth version of the Virtual Choir. Almost 6000 singers from across the world took part in this. The animation is a little weird in my opinion, but it's a pretty amazing showing of what you get when you combine art and technology.
The Soundtrack to Inside Llewyn Davis
I still have not seen this movie, but I love the music. Here's the song "Fare Thee Well", from a documentary on the movie that I did see. It features Oscar Isaac, Marcus Mumford, and the Punch Brothers.
Snarky Puppy
First off, how can you not dig this band's name. Listening to their music is great. Watching a video like this is outstanding.
Punch Brothers
I would absolutely love to see these guys live. I can imagine that it would be quite the show.
Humming House
Discovered this band on Noisetrade. Fun, especially this track!
The Brilliance
Please tell me that you know about these musicians. This is my favorite song.
Once: The Musical
Mandy and I went to see this at the Orpheum. It was so good. This song, and particularly the end of the song, was one of those epic and moving musical experiences for me that doesn't happen everyday.
Peter Hollens acapella version of "Hallelujah"
Beautiful. Those chords!
Digital Age
We did this song at NC a few weeks ago. Already loved this song, but this version takes it to another level
Head and the Heart
I hate I was out of town when these guys came to Memphis. I don't like their second album as much as their first, but it's still great.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
This is the fourth version of the Virtual Choir. Almost 6000 singers from across the world took part in this. The animation is a little weird in my opinion, but it's a pretty amazing showing of what you get when you combine art and technology.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
2012 Top Ten Lists: Moments
2012 was a great year. Here are my top 10 moments:
10. Joining the Memphis Men's Chorale. It's been 15 years since I sang in a choir. It was time. It's been a great outlet. It's very different from church work and real estate, it's allowed me to meet new friends, and it's given me the opportunity to use the gifts that God has given me.
9. Family moments, specifically Taylor's wedding and the birth of Olivia to Mandy's sister, Megan. It was an honor to officiate Taylor and Jim's wedding. It was a beautiful one, and I'm grateful that God has joined these two together. And I'm an uncle now, and to a sweet little girl no less!
8. The Clean Water party at the Brass Door a few weeks ago. Not only did the party raise close to $4000 towards the building of a well, but it was one of the more surreal moments I've experienced. I told NC the next night that we're doing a lot of things right now that I've dreamed of for a number of years, but I don't think I could have ever dreamed up what happened that night. Again, "surreal" is my word for that night!
7. My work - I'm now in my third year with InCity Realty. I really enjoy real estate. And I'm very grateful to be able to pastor Neighborhood Church. God has allowed me to do, as I said above, the things that I've been dreaming of for a long time. I wouldn't trade NC for any other church. I feel that this year we've solidified our vision and strategy. Our folks know what we're about and they're continuing to be released to do the work of God. Both of these jobs give me the flexibility I need, plus they continue to challenge and fulfill me.
6. Mandy's work - I am my wife's biggest fan. Her passion and tenacity for education reform continues to amaze me. I'm grateful that her work is fulfilling to her, but also that it doesn't dominate and keep her from her favorite profession: mom to Adam and Micah. I have a feeling that we'll look back in ten years and see that God used Mandy to bring amazing change to our city.
5. Adam & Micah's friendship - at 7 and 4 now, they are becoming friends. The age difference still plays a factor at times, but they really love each other and enjoy being with each other. Since school got out for winter break they've been with each other non-stop. Last Friday Adam went to an art class and Micah went to my mom's. They were so excited to see each other when they reunited. For a humorous take on that friendship you can read this.
4. Trip to New York City - What a fun trip! It was a first for both of us. Like many others, it's now one of our favorite cities. We're planning on going back next fall. The conference we went to was amazing.
3. The Midtown Prayer Collective - I've written about this before, so I won't repeat myself, but I do feel that God is going to use this time, and the times ahead, to do great work in individual lives, in our churches, and in our city.
2. Our California Adventure - Two weeks in California was so much fun for our family. Time with the Currier's in Pasadena, a day at Disney Land, and then a full week in San Francisco was so good for all of us.
1. Adam's baptism - Again, I've written about this here, but leading Adam to Christ and then baptizing him a couple of months later was the highlight of my year. I'm so grateful for what God is doing in his heart.
2012 was one of the best for our family. As we celebrate the birth of Christ today and look forward to the start of a new year, we leave you with our annual video.
Merry Christmas!
2012 Christmas Video from MANDY GRISHAM on Vimeo.
10. Joining the Memphis Men's Chorale. It's been 15 years since I sang in a choir. It was time. It's been a great outlet. It's very different from church work and real estate, it's allowed me to meet new friends, and it's given me the opportunity to use the gifts that God has given me.
9. Family moments, specifically Taylor's wedding and the birth of Olivia to Mandy's sister, Megan. It was an honor to officiate Taylor and Jim's wedding. It was a beautiful one, and I'm grateful that God has joined these two together. And I'm an uncle now, and to a sweet little girl no less!
8. The Clean Water party at the Brass Door a few weeks ago. Not only did the party raise close to $4000 towards the building of a well, but it was one of the more surreal moments I've experienced. I told NC the next night that we're doing a lot of things right now that I've dreamed of for a number of years, but I don't think I could have ever dreamed up what happened that night. Again, "surreal" is my word for that night!
7. My work - I'm now in my third year with InCity Realty. I really enjoy real estate. And I'm very grateful to be able to pastor Neighborhood Church. God has allowed me to do, as I said above, the things that I've been dreaming of for a long time. I wouldn't trade NC for any other church. I feel that this year we've solidified our vision and strategy. Our folks know what we're about and they're continuing to be released to do the work of God. Both of these jobs give me the flexibility I need, plus they continue to challenge and fulfill me.
6. Mandy's work - I am my wife's biggest fan. Her passion and tenacity for education reform continues to amaze me. I'm grateful that her work is fulfilling to her, but also that it doesn't dominate and keep her from her favorite profession: mom to Adam and Micah. I have a feeling that we'll look back in ten years and see that God used Mandy to bring amazing change to our city.
5. Adam & Micah's friendship - at 7 and 4 now, they are becoming friends. The age difference still plays a factor at times, but they really love each other and enjoy being with each other. Since school got out for winter break they've been with each other non-stop. Last Friday Adam went to an art class and Micah went to my mom's. They were so excited to see each other when they reunited. For a humorous take on that friendship you can read this.
4. Trip to New York City - What a fun trip! It was a first for both of us. Like many others, it's now one of our favorite cities. We're planning on going back next fall. The conference we went to was amazing.
3. The Midtown Prayer Collective - I've written about this before, so I won't repeat myself, but I do feel that God is going to use this time, and the times ahead, to do great work in individual lives, in our churches, and in our city.
2. Our California Adventure - Two weeks in California was so much fun for our family. Time with the Currier's in Pasadena, a day at Disney Land, and then a full week in San Francisco was so good for all of us.
1. Adam's baptism - Again, I've written about this here, but leading Adam to Christ and then baptizing him a couple of months later was the highlight of my year. I'm so grateful for what God is doing in his heart.
2012 was one of the best for our family. As we celebrate the birth of Christ today and look forward to the start of a new year, we leave you with our annual video.
Merry Christmas!
2012 Christmas Video from MANDY GRISHAM on Vimeo.
Monday, December 24, 2012
2012 Top Ten Lists: Books
I read some really good books this year. Here are a few. These first two are on the topic of of spiritual formation.
The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson, had a huge impact when it comes to where we went with the Midtown Prayer Collective. I've read several of Batterson's books. The common element with all of them is that they increase my faith. This one was no exception.
Next up is The 24/7 Prayer Manual, by Pete Greig. This too was very influential in birthing a desire for radical prayer. I think we've just scratched the surface, and I'm excited about where the collective is headed in 2013.
While those first two focused on prayer, these next two have to do with fleshing it out in the real word. First up is Mark Scandrette's Practicing the Way of Jesus. Our micro church went through this book. Each week we would together choose some type of experiment. Some of the ones we did were practicing a time of silence every day for a week, cutting back our spending on essentials for the week, seeking out opportunities for reconciliation, etc.
Along these same lines was 7, by Jenn Hatmaker. Jenn and her family tried a different experiment each month for seven months. Some of these experiments dealt with food, spending, media, and possessions. These types of books are helpful in that they help spark imagination for creatively living out a life of following Jesus.
Finally, three other books I read that were very influential were..
On the topic of discipleship, The Call of Jesus, by Derek Worthington. Derek is a pastor of one of the Trinity Grace parishes in NYC. The ideas in this books have permeated the culture of Trinity Grace. It's a short but excellent read on what discipleship looks like.
On the topic of organizational health, The Advantage, by Patrick Lencioni. Patrick spoke at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit this year. He spoke on the contents of this book. It was my favorite from the conference, and now our Leadership Team at NC has been reading it together.
And on the topic of church, The Spirit-Filled Church, by Terry Virgo. This book deals with the Holy Spirit's role in starting, growing, and empowering the Church for God's mission.
The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson, had a huge impact when it comes to where we went with the Midtown Prayer Collective. I've read several of Batterson's books. The common element with all of them is that they increase my faith. This one was no exception.
Next up is The 24/7 Prayer Manual, by Pete Greig. This too was very influential in birthing a desire for radical prayer. I think we've just scratched the surface, and I'm excited about where the collective is headed in 2013.
While those first two focused on prayer, these next two have to do with fleshing it out in the real word. First up is Mark Scandrette's Practicing the Way of Jesus. Our micro church went through this book. Each week we would together choose some type of experiment. Some of the ones we did were practicing a time of silence every day for a week, cutting back our spending on essentials for the week, seeking out opportunities for reconciliation, etc.
Along these same lines was 7, by Jenn Hatmaker. Jenn and her family tried a different experiment each month for seven months. Some of these experiments dealt with food, spending, media, and possessions. These types of books are helpful in that they help spark imagination for creatively living out a life of following Jesus.
Finally, three other books I read that were very influential were..
On the topic of discipleship, The Call of Jesus, by Derek Worthington. Derek is a pastor of one of the Trinity Grace parishes in NYC. The ideas in this books have permeated the culture of Trinity Grace. It's a short but excellent read on what discipleship looks like.
On the topic of organizational health, The Advantage, by Patrick Lencioni. Patrick spoke at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit this year. He spoke on the contents of this book. It was my favorite from the conference, and now our Leadership Team at NC has been reading it together.
And on the topic of church, The Spirit-Filled Church, by Terry Virgo. This book deals with the Holy Spirit's role in starting, growing, and empowering the Church for God's mission.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
2012 Top Ten Lists - Music
With eMusic, Spotify, & Noisetrade, finding good music this year was not difficult. Narrowing it down to a top 10 list...just a bit tougher. But alas, here it is:
9. Vespers, The Fourth Wall
We saw this band at Otherlands this year. Great music. They're really young, which you can kind of tell when they're on stage, but it also makes it even more amazing considering the talent they all have. Watch this and you'll see what I mean.
\
8. Derek Webb, Ctrl
I don't know if Webb will release an album I don't like. His new one is great, but what is even greater is the acoustic version, which I got for FREE on Noisetrade. It's still there, so do yourself a favor and download it.
7. Rend Collective Experiment, Homemade Worship by Handmade People
So glad I discovered these guys. Check out their story here.
6. The Lighthouse and the Whaler, The Lighthouse and the Whaler
One of my best Noisetrade finds. I don't know if I would have ever heard of them if I hadn't found them there. This is one of those albums where just about every song is either a 4 or 5-star on iTunes.
5. Trinity Grace, We Sing As One
This is the newest album from Trinity Grace Church in NYC. The song "We Sing As One" is one of my favorite songs of the year.
4. The Head and the Heart, The Head and the Heart
I was in line at Starbucks one day and saw their album next to the cash register. It compared them to The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons (see below for both), so I knew I needed to check them out. Great band.
3. Eric Whitacre, Water Night
I'm sure that most of you are familiar with the majority of these artists, but perhaps composer/conducter Eric Whitacre is new to you. I love choral music, especially like this. Whitacre became famous through his virtual conducting. This video features the beautiful Water Night.
2. Mumford & Sons, Babel
I was looking forward to this sophomore release for awhile, and I was not disappointed!
1. The Lumineers, The Lumineers
I assumed that Mumford & Sons would take the top spot this year, but then I discovered these guys. I think I first saw them on Letterman or Jimmy Fallon. I was hooked immediately. Again, I love every song on this album.
10. All Sons & Daughters, Season One
Great vocals, musicality and lyrics. I did this song at NC a couple of weeks ago.
Great vocals, musicality and lyrics. I did this song at NC a couple of weeks ago.
9. Vespers, The Fourth Wall
We saw this band at Otherlands this year. Great music. They're really young, which you can kind of tell when they're on stage, but it also makes it even more amazing considering the talent they all have. Watch this and you'll see what I mean.
\
8. Derek Webb, Ctrl
I don't know if Webb will release an album I don't like. His new one is great, but what is even greater is the acoustic version, which I got for FREE on Noisetrade. It's still there, so do yourself a favor and download it.
7. Rend Collective Experiment, Homemade Worship by Handmade People
So glad I discovered these guys. Check out their story here.
6. The Lighthouse and the Whaler, The Lighthouse and the Whaler
One of my best Noisetrade finds. I don't know if I would have ever heard of them if I hadn't found them there. This is one of those albums where just about every song is either a 4 or 5-star on iTunes.
5. Trinity Grace, We Sing As One
This is the newest album from Trinity Grace Church in NYC. The song "We Sing As One" is one of my favorite songs of the year.
4. The Head and the Heart, The Head and the Heart
I was in line at Starbucks one day and saw their album next to the cash register. It compared them to The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons (see below for both), so I knew I needed to check them out. Great band.
3. Eric Whitacre, Water Night
I'm sure that most of you are familiar with the majority of these artists, but perhaps composer/conducter Eric Whitacre is new to you. I love choral music, especially like this. Whitacre became famous through his virtual conducting. This video features the beautiful Water Night.
2. Mumford & Sons, Babel
I was looking forward to this sophomore release for awhile, and I was not disappointed!
1. The Lumineers, The Lumineers
I assumed that Mumford & Sons would take the top spot this year, but then I discovered these guys. I think I first saw them on Letterman or Jimmy Fallon. I was hooked immediately. Again, I love every song on this album.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
2011 Top Ten Lists: Songs
Repo Man - Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs
Heaven Breaks - Sleeping At Last
Perth - Bon Iver
Every Teardrop is a Waterfall - Coldplay
Girl with the Red Balloon - Civil Wars
Cripple Me - Elenowen (I have to admit that I have a vocal man crush on this guy)
Not Over You - Gavin Degraw (check it out - the man has a broken arm and still is rocking it)
Dust Bowl Dance - Mumford & Sons
Colorshow - Avett Brothers
Red Banks - Amy LaVere
Heaven Breaks - Sleeping At Last
Perth - Bon Iver
Every Teardrop is a Waterfall - Coldplay
Girl with the Red Balloon - Civil Wars
Cripple Me - Elenowen (I have to admit that I have a vocal man crush on this guy)
Not Over You - Gavin Degraw (check it out - the man has a broken arm and still is rocking it)
Dust Bowl Dance - Mumford & Sons
Colorshow - Avett Brothers
Red Banks - Amy LaVere
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
2011 Top Ten Lists: Books
I read a lot more this year than in previous years. Here are some of my favorites for the year.
1. Beautiful Outlaw, by John Eldredge. In January we'll begin a series on Jesus, through the lens of Mark's Gospel. Because of that, I've been reading quite a bit on Jesus. This one has been my favorite. It's different from the others. It hasn't so much been new information, but more that Eldredge helped me to get caught up in this beautiful story.
2. The King's Cross, by Tim Keller. This one is also on the life of Christ. If you've enjoyed other books by Keller, this one will follow suit. This book is based on a series of sermons that Keller preached a few years ago.
3. A Praying Life, by Paul Miller. Most books on the subject of prayer make me feel guilty. This one was a breath of fresh air. I would almost say that the word "Life" is a better descriptor than the word "Prayer," because the book is about an everyday life with God. It's messy. It's beautiful. There are good days and there are bad days. And God is in it all.
4. The King Jesus Gospel, by Scot McKnight. I try to read everything Scot McKnight write puts out, which, if you've ever been to his blog, is A LOT. In this book he differentiates between a salvation culture and a gospel culture.
5. Love Wins, by Rob Bell. In case you didn't know, this book, which is about the afterlife, caused a bit of a stir this past year. Our church read it last spring and then devoted a Sunday night to discussing it.
6. Do the Work, by Steven Pressfield. What is resistance and how do we destroy it? Find out in this great little book.
7. Samson and the Pirate Monks, by Nate Larkin. I heard some guys talking about this, and the title alone intrigued me. Who wouldn't like Pirate Monks! This is a book about sexual addiction, community, and God's grace that leads to healing and restoration.
8. The Starfish and the Spider, by Ori Brafman and Rod Beck. I've had this book for a few years, but I finally read it this year. Over the past year our church has been moving towards decentralization. That's what this book is about.
9. Rumors of God, by Jon Tyson and Darren Whitehead. I've been following Jon Tyson and his church in NYC for the past few years, so when I heard he had a book coming out, I got a copy pretty quickly. He and Darren have been friends for a long time, and though their churches look very different from one another, their passions for Jesus and the church are identical.
10. The Cross of Christ, by John Stott. I have begun collecting and reading John Stott's books over the past two years. This one is my favorite so far. Rich in theology and beauty.
Of these ten books, eight were read on my Kindle app, and I listened to two.
Monday, January 03, 2011
2010 Top Ten Lists: Music
I got some good stuff here. In no particular order...
Mumford & Sons
Oh, yeah, this is in order. These guys were my most-listened-to band of the year. Love their album. So the rest of the list is in no particular order.
Dave Barnes
Crazy good vocals and guitar, and a very funny fella
The Avett Brothers
I know I'm probably not introducing anyone to these guys, but perhaps to the Tiny Desk Concert podcast from NPR.
Ben Rector
Mandy and I saw him open for Dave Barnes a couple of months ago. There are other songs that I like better, but I couldn't find a good video of them. Check out his album.
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors
Not sure how I've missed these cats for so long, but at the aforementioned Dave Barnes/Ben Rector show, they kept mentioning them. Then we got to see their Christmas show a few weeks ago. And don't worry. I learned that Ellie does not have casts on both arms.
Hey Marseilles
I discovered this band on the Tiny Desk podcast.
Gabe Dixon Band
I discovered these guys listening to Ben Folds on Pandora. This song came on, and my response was, "Who is this guy?"
Aaron Strumpel
I can't remember how I heard about him, but one night, after I had just purchased his Chair & Microphone album, Mandy and I listened to it in its entirety. Just couldn't turn it off.
Steven Curtis Chapman
This song paints a beautiful picture of where hope intersects tragedy. I had this album awhile before I really sat and listened to it. I don't know that I've heard so many songs that come forth from the heart. This is my favorite song from the album.
Aaron Ivey
And last but certainly not least. This is one of my favorite songs of the year. What a great story!
Mumford & Sons
Oh, yeah, this is in order. These guys were my most-listened-to band of the year. Love their album. So the rest of the list is in no particular order.
Dave Barnes
Crazy good vocals and guitar, and a very funny fella
The Avett Brothers
I know I'm probably not introducing anyone to these guys, but perhaps to the Tiny Desk Concert podcast from NPR.
Ben Rector
Mandy and I saw him open for Dave Barnes a couple of months ago. There are other songs that I like better, but I couldn't find a good video of them. Check out his album.
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors
Not sure how I've missed these cats for so long, but at the aforementioned Dave Barnes/Ben Rector show, they kept mentioning them. Then we got to see their Christmas show a few weeks ago. And don't worry. I learned that Ellie does not have casts on both arms.
Hey Marseilles
I discovered this band on the Tiny Desk podcast.
Gabe Dixon Band
I discovered these guys listening to Ben Folds on Pandora. This song came on, and my response was, "Who is this guy?"
Aaron Strumpel
I can't remember how I heard about him, but one night, after I had just purchased his Chair & Microphone album, Mandy and I listened to it in its entirety. Just couldn't turn it off.
Steven Curtis Chapman
This song paints a beautiful picture of where hope intersects tragedy. I had this album awhile before I really sat and listened to it. I don't know that I've heard so many songs that come forth from the heart. This is my favorite song from the album.
Aaron Ivey
And last but certainly not least. This is one of my favorite songs of the year. What a great story!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2010 Top Ten Lists: Books
Here are the best books I read this year:
1. You Can Change, by Tim Chester - I won't repeat my praise of this book since I've written 16 posts about it this year. Definitely the most shaping book of the year for me.
2. The TK Primer, by Hugh Halter & Matt Smay - Our community groups went through this in the spring, and I think it was helpful and encouraging to all of us. It's my recommendation for any new church core group.
3. The Gospel of the Kingdom, by George Eldon Ladd - I read this one as preparation of a series of talks I gave on the Kingdom of God. It was written in the late 1950's, and I quickly discovered that it was formative to a lot of the other authors I've read on the Kingdom.
4. And, by Hugh Halter & Matt Smay - Not as good as their first book, but still very helpful. Lots of great stories, and written to a wider audience than the first one.
5. Radical, by David Platt - This will give you an idea of the impact this book has made on my life. It was while listening to an interview with David Platt that I felt compelled to challenge our church to build a well this year.
6. Love and War, by John and Stasi Eldredge - This one was very different from the other marriage books I've read. Mandy read a friend's copy in one weekend, and then told me we needed a copy so I could read it as well. We're now going through the devotional together.
7. Rework, by Jason Fried - Easy read that challenges the way we lead and do business. I liked that the chapters were so short.
8. How I Changed My Mind about Women in Ministry, edited by Alan Johnson - This book is a compilation of chapters by men and women who have moved from a complementarian position to an egalitarian one. The authors include Bill & Lynn Hybels, John & Nancy Ortberg, I. Howard Marshall, Cornelius Plantinga, and Ron Sider.
9. The Letter to the Ephesians, by Peter O'Brien, and The Message of Ephesians, by John Stott - These are the two commentaries I most turned to during our series on Ephesians.
10. Finally, a little fiction:
- The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher, by Rob Stennett
- Playing for Pizza, by John Grisham
- Rooms, by James Rubart
- The Chopin Manuscript, and The Copper Bracelet, written by some of the top thriller writers today
One last thought, of the fifteen books mentioned in this post, eight of them were Kindle books. Wonder if that number will go up this year.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
2009 Top Ten Lists: Books
The following were some of my favorite books of the year (in no particular order). I realized the other day how many books I started this year but didn't finish. That's always been an issue with me, but it seems that I excelled in it this year. First new years' resolution of 2010: finish more books that I start!
2. Deep Church, by Jim Belcher - I'm almost finished listening to this book. I also have the hard copy, which I'm going to go back through when I finish listening. This book has been very helpful to me. It's helped me to process a lot of my journey. I've been impacted greatly by a lot of the folks in the emergent stream. I know the protest. But I've also been impacted by the folks in some of the other camps. I really like thinking in terms of Third Way, as Scot McKnight puts it, and I think Jim Belcher's book helps with this conversation.
3. The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones (and God) - I first heard about this children's Bible a couple of months ago, and got a copy for our church's new library. We've been reading it with Adam, and he really likes it. What sets it apart from other children's Bibles is that fact that it tells the story of Christ from the beginning. The stories fit together when looked at through the lens of God's plan of redemption. We watched this video on Sunday night as our worship gathering got started. I looked around and the kids (as well as the adults) were all caught up in the story. Get this version for a few bucks more and it comes with the audio as well.
4. Total Church, by Tim Chester & Steve Timmis - Our leadership team is reading through this book. These guys are writing things that will challenge the status quo, but they do so without (at least it seems to me) a lot of baggage, which normally comes with the territory in this kind of work.
5. Myth of a Christian Religion, by Greg Boyd - I really like Greg Boyd. He offends a lot of people, but I think he nails it most of the time. This one's no exception. The idea is that Jesus came to start a revolution, not a religion. This big idea has helped me to shape the series that we're currently going through at NC.
6. Love is an Orientation, by Andrew Marin - This was my primary source this summer as our community group discussed GLBT issues within the church. Andrew is such a humble guy, but I especially like the fact that his writing comes from a lot of years of experience. This isn't two years of work and then a book.
7. New Testament History, by Ben Witherington - This is one of those books that you don't really read straight through, but I've been reading it off and on this past year. I used it all the time for our teaching series on Acts, and now I'm using it for the series on Luke. Highly recommended.
8. Death by Love, by Mark Driscoll - I read this in preparation for my series on the Cross last Spring. The main thing I got out of it is how pastoral it is. Driscoll devotes each chapter to a different aspect of the Cross and how they relate to us. It's not just theology for our head; it's how it's worked out in our brokenness.
9. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, by Frank Viola - This was the primary recommended resource for our Acts series. Viola brings this story to life by weaving in history and the culture of the day. He helps the reader connect the letters of Paul to the experiences of Paul as told in Acts.
10. Chasing Francis, by Ian Cron - I can't remember where I heard about this novel, but it was the first Kindle book I bought. I don't know a lot of the history of Francis of Assisi, so can't vouch for how accurate things are, but I thought it was pretty good.
Bonus tracks...
11. The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown - I know this one had some bad ratings, but it was entertaining. Another Kindle read.
12. Crazy Love, by Francis Chan - Chan has helped me to to see that it's ok to be really passionate! It oozes from him, whether he's writing or speaking. I'm looking forward to reading his new book as well.
Monday, December 21, 2009
2009 Top Ten Lists: Music
This marks my third year for sharing my top 10 list. First, we begin with music.
1. Bon Iver
I discovered Bon Iver at the end of 2008 and was instantly hooked. Both of his albums are great.
2. Sojourn Church's "Over the Grave"
The song "Warrior" has got to be one of the greatest songs I've heard in a long time. I couldn't find a video for it, so check out this link from Grooveshark (if you haven't signed up for your grooveshark account, check it out).
3. Mumford & Sons
Just heard about these guys through Steve McCoy's blog. Loved it immediately! Some free downloads to get you going can be found here.
4. Derek Webb's "Stockholm Syndrome"
Perhaps you've heard that this album is controversial. Webb has always been controversial because of his message, but now he's gone off the deep end by including two curse words in his song. Here's a good article about the new album, and enjoy the video.
5. The Fray
I know they've been around for a little while, but this year I've listened to them a lot.
6. Fiction Family
Jon Foreman of Switchfoot plus Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek = Awesome.
7. Brooke Fraser
I first heard Brooke Fraser on a Hillsong United album. Such a great voice. Her album Albertine came out a couple of years ago, but I came across it this year. So many great tracks.
8. U2
In my opinion, you can't have a top 10 list of music for 2009 and not include U2's newest album.
9. The Avett Brothers
It took me awhile to get into these guys, but then I heard this song...
10. Kings of Leon
I loved these guys when they first came out, but haven't listened to them in awhile. Then I heard this song awhile back and was instantly happy.
1. Bon Iver
I discovered Bon Iver at the end of 2008 and was instantly hooked. Both of his albums are great.
2. Sojourn Church's "Over the Grave"
The song "Warrior" has got to be one of the greatest songs I've heard in a long time. I couldn't find a video for it, so check out this link from Grooveshark (if you haven't signed up for your grooveshark account, check it out).
3. Mumford & Sons
Just heard about these guys through Steve McCoy's blog. Loved it immediately! Some free downloads to get you going can be found here.
4. Derek Webb's "Stockholm Syndrome"
Perhaps you've heard that this album is controversial. Webb has always been controversial because of his message, but now he's gone off the deep end by including two curse words in his song. Here's a good article about the new album, and enjoy the video.
5. The Fray
I know they've been around for a little while, but this year I've listened to them a lot.
6. Fiction Family
Jon Foreman of Switchfoot plus Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek = Awesome.
7. Brooke Fraser
I first heard Brooke Fraser on a Hillsong United album. Such a great voice. Her album Albertine came out a couple of years ago, but I came across it this year. So many great tracks.
8. U2
In my opinion, you can't have a top 10 list of music for 2009 and not include U2's newest album.
9. The Avett Brothers
It took me awhile to get into these guys, but then I heard this song...
10. Kings of Leon
I loved these guys when they first came out, but haven't listened to them in awhile. Then I heard this song awhile back and was instantly happy.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
2008 Top Ten Lists: Podcasts
- Catalyst
- Fermi Project
- Rick McKinley
- Rob Bell
- Mark Driscoll
- Paste Culture Club
- Dave Ramsey
- Acts 29
- Vineyard Cincinnati
- The Resurgence
2008 Top Ten Lists: Blogs
These are the blogs that I read weekly. Once again, in no particular order.
- Scot McKnight - He recently moved over to Belief.net. I always enjoy his content.
- Ben Witherington - NT scholar who also writes some really good movie reviews
- Mark Batterson - whenever I read his blog I'm inspired to be creative and work with excellence
- Jonathan Dodson - I've been reading his blog for a few months. He's a church planter in Austin.
- Ed Stetzer - missiologist, researcher, author
- John Carroll - fellow missionary here in Memphis; I always enjoy reading his blog.
- Joe Boyd - Joe is on staff at Vineyard Cincinnatti. A great storyteller, he is currently working on his first book.
- Seth Godin - everyone knows Seth Godin, right?
- Steve McCoy - I'm always anxious to read his blog just for his music recommendations and links to other sites.
- Dan Kimball - I appreciate his balanced approach to so many controversial issues facing the church today
2008 Top Ten Lists: Music
- Dave Barnes, Me + You + the World
- Fellowship Church, Closer to the Start
- Anthony Skinner, Crush
- Sondre Lerche, Dan in Real Life soundtrack
- Coldplay, Viva La Vida
- Jon Foreman, Fall & Winter
- Daniel Doss Band, Greater than Us All
- Hillsong United, All of the Above
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
2008 Top Ten Lists: Websites
- Facebook - I think everyone knows what Facebook is
- Craigslist - I advertise my rentals here
- Pandora - enter an artist and it plays music by that artist and other similar artists
- ESPN - again, everyone knows ESPN
- Hoopsworld - I like basketball
- Out of Ur - put out by Christianity Today
- The Resurgence - articles, podcast, resources
- Techbargains - I like gadgets, and I like cheap
- Bloglines - this is my homepage on my laptop. It's where I subscribe to rss feeds
- Hulu/Netflix - free/cheap places to watch movies
2008 Top Ten Lists: TV/Movies
- Dan in Real Life - we'll get things started with a great date movie, which also happens to have a killer soundtrack
- The Dark Knight - this was one of the few movies I saw in the theater. I had very high expectations going in, but was not as blown away as I had hoped to be. Still, Heath Ledger's performance warrants a spot in the top 10.
- Bella - if you haven't seen this you definitely need to
- Juno - another great date movie.
- Gone Baby Gone - not a date movie, but a great story
- 21 - I like poker, I like Kevin Spacey, and I like Ben Mezrich (the author of the book)
- The Visitor - I just saw this one a few weeks ago and really loved it
- Reign Over Me - it's difficult to picture Adam Sandler in a serious role, but he was awesome in this one
- Arrested Development - Not sure why it took us this long to discover Arrested Development, but I'm glad that we finally did
- Dexter - I watched season one in about a week on Netflix. Season two took me a little longer, but I was just as committed. Dexter is a very interesting character. Like Gone Baby Gone, it raises lots of questions of good and evil, as well as our struggle to hide our sin. It should be noted that this Showtime series is definitely R-rated.
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