Favorite Things of 2009
I’m a sucker for “Best-of” lists and thought I’d share my top 9 things of 2009. This list isn’t so much about what was released in 2009 but things I enjoyed in 2009.
The categories are books, films, and music and I’m giving a brief review of each.
Favorite 9 Books I Read in 2009
Crazy Love by Francis Chan // A call to live what you believe.
Matthew by Stanley Hauerwas // Opened my eyes to Matthew’s message of discipleship.
Total Church by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester // Greatly shaped my ecclesiology.
ReJesus by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost // Jesus…untamed.
Deep Church by Jim Belcher // Explored the tension I’ve been living in with regards to church.
Traveling Light by Eugene Peterson // Unpacked the freedom in Galatians.
Missional Rennaissance by Reggie McNeal // Handbook for the missional church.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott // Writing advice from one of the best.
So Beautiful by Leonard Sweet // It’s like Sweet intercepted the pass of the current church culture and went the other way for a score.
Favorite 9 Albums I Listened to in 2009
Leonard Cohen: Live in London // Most played album in my rotation
The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You // Like modern-day Buddy Holly songs.
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme // I discovered jazz this year & this is my fav.
Derek Webb: Stockholm Syndrome // Too honest for Christian radio.
Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion // Beautifully weird and melodic.
The Welcome Wagon: Welcome to the Welcome Wagon // Simple and Sufjanesque.
Elvis Presley: From Elvis in Memphis // It’s not just a classic album, it’s an experience.
Neko Case: Middle Cyclone // Bold singing of story songs.
Monsters of Folks: Self-Titled // Indie supergroup that doesn’t sound like it. (That’s a good thing).
Favorite 9 Films I Watched in 2009
Gran Torino // Eastwood’s performance is powerful.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button // Unique storyline that’s hard to pull off.
Where the Wild Things Are // Light-hearted & serious at the same time. My kids liked it.
District 9 // A mirror for our society in the form of an alien flick.
Seven Pounds // Stories of sacrifice still resonate.
Taken // Tapped into the desire for justice and outrage of injustice.
Slumdog Millionaire // Left me speechless which is hard to do.
Zombieland // Funniest movie I saw this year.
Star Trek // Summer blockbuster without the cheese.
What are your favorite things of 09?
Fantastic list, yo. I may need to borrow a couple of the books you listed.
I don’t see how you can REMEMBER all of the books, movies, and music from the last year, let alone which ones are your favorite. I wish my brain worked like that!