My Favorite Books, Concerts, Albums, Movies, Experiences of 2010

Though creating these lists always seem to fall short in some ways, it’s been a good year.  Here are some of the “accessories” that have accompanied me on the journey in 2010 and towards the end of the post, a few of the experiences that marked the year.

Five Favorite Books I Read this Year:

5. Discovering the God Imagination – by Jonathan Brink

4. Church of the Inventive Age –  by Doug Pagitt (everyone should read this – it’s brief and excellent).

3. Untamed by Alan Hirsch

2. The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons

1. and all the NT Wright books for my independent study at Biblical Sem.

Honorable Mentions: The Teaching of the Twelve by Tony Jones. The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns and Beyond Empire: Postcolonialism & Mission in a Global Context by Jonathan Ingleby, Manifold Witness by John Franke, and Drops Like Stars by Rob Bell.

Five Favorite Albums of the Year

5. The Resistance – Muse (it came out in 2009 but I rocked it 2010)

4. Go – Jonsi

3. Age of Adz – Sufjan Stevens

2. Sigh – Mumford and Sons

1. The Suburbs – Arcade Fire

Honorable Mentions: The Medicine – John Mark MacMillian, High Violet -The National. – and the self-titled Broken Bells.

Five Favorite Concerts of the Year:

5. Over the Rhine at the City Winery

4. Andy Zipf – here in Montvale!

3. Zach Williams at Bowery Ballroom

2. Arcade Fire at MSG

1. Sufjan Stevens at the Beacon Theater


Three Favorite Movies of the Year

3. Avatar – (not sure if I saw it late 2009 or 2010)

2. The Social Network (so much better than I thought it would be that it may not be as brilliant as I think it is.)

1. Inception (of course)

Saw a bunch but not enough good ones. Looks like some better movies just came out like True Grit, Black Swan and The Fighter.

Five Favorite (Non-Family) Experiences of the Year

5. Sr. High Winter Retreat on Religulous.

4. The Theology of NT Wright Wheaton Conference with my nerdy homeboys.

3. Watching our students serve in New Orleans and sharing the experiences back at Montvale.

2. Graduating Seminary with the cool kids of Cohort 10.  (Here’s my graduation speech)

1. The ‘Nambodia Seminary Trip Experience

Honorable Mentions: The Q Conference, Montvale’s 50th Anniversary, and our Sr. High Fall Retreat with Greg “Killamockingbird”‘s Westminster Pres.

There were some other brilliant moments that cannot be simply put on a list, from participating at Evan Curry’s ordination service to performing the wedding of some dear friends – the Peterhoffs, babies of great friends and family being born (Curry’s, Turners, Battles, Malaty’s), annoucements of good news and sharing of some tougher news. The Lord is always good and this year was no exception.

Our little Ghali family enjoyed much of 2010 and we’re looking forward to what’s next. Happy New Year’s everyone and grace to you in 2011!

Comments

  1. Wow! It is cool how involved I was in many of the meaningful moments from last year. I hope that we can continue this after seminary, but I hope more that you are able to have an excellent 2011.

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