A Blog by Jason Salamun

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?

This is version 4.0 of the Shift Happens video.  Fascinating stuff that you need to know about regarding culture, media, and the ever-changing world we live in.

Past Versions for your viewing pleasure:
Did You Know 3.0
Did You Know 2.0
Did You Know 1.0 (Shift Happens)

Fitting the world in 140 characters or less.

Exploring the world in 140 characters or less.

This is Twitter.

Twitter is a conversation.

When you post on Twitter, you’re either continuing a conversation or creating one.

This is what many Twitter people miss- particularly businessses.

The goal isn’t to pimp yourself.

The goal is to contribute.

Twitter is a pulse.

There are millions of people (and growing) from all over the planet on Twitter.

Is there an easier way to check the pulse of the globe?

Especially without it being controlled by the media, government, or agenda-driven organizations?

Twitter is sociology on steroids.

What are people thinking at certain times of the day.

What events in the world are capturing the attention of the world.

Twitter has really become the new public opinion poll.

It’s an unfiltered collective and full of bias and opinions and that’s what makes it so wonderful.

Twitter is relational.

If you don’t have people that you know, or are getting to know, it’s not fun.

After all, who wants to talk to an empty room?

Sometimes, the best way to get to know someone is to know the little things about them.

Twitter is about the little things.

What people watch, where they eat, artists they listen to, authors they read, friends they chill with, what annoys them, what makes them laugh.

Twitter’s like a perpetual first date.

Discovering preferences, habits, pet peeves, life rhythms, characters, issues, opinions, wisdom, and absurdities.

It’s all contained in the hairball that is Twitter.

Twitter is what you make it.

It’s not Twitter’s fault if you think it’s pointless.

You just haven’t made a point yet.

That’s the beauty of Twitter.

It’s a blank canvas and we are the artists.

Find me on Twitter at twitter.com/jasonsalamun

“I cut my long baby hair.”
Song:  Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine
Why it Strikes? As I grow and mature,  I see remnants of immaturity that I need to grow out of.

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”
Song: Anthem by Leonard Cohen
Why it Strikes? Reminds me that God is the remedy for my depravity.

“He said I have many mansions. And there are many rooms to see. But I left by the back door. And I threw away the key.”
Song: The First Time by U2
Why it Strikes? Jesus spoke of finding hidden treasure in a field and then going to sell everything you have to buy the field.  Yet sometimes, I settle.

“Don’t you know son that I love you? And I don’t care where you’ve been. So please come home.”
Song: Please Come Home by Dustin Kensrue
Why it Strikes? It’s for all the prodigals and a beautiful portrait of God’s grace of which I still need.

“Rest in my arms, sleep in my bed, there’s a design -to what I did and said.”
Song: Vito’s Ordination Song by Sufjan Stevens
Why it Strikes? Peace comes through trust. I’m a restless spirit who often needs to be reminded, and rest, in God’s providence.

“The kingdom of the heavens is now advancing. Invade my heart. Invade this broken town.”
Song: Your Love is Strong by Jon Foreman
Why it Strikes? God’s moving…despite me…and for us.

“Come all you weary, move through the earth. Spurned in fine restaurants, kicked out of church.”
Song:  Come All You Weary by Thrice
Why it Strikes? Jesus is better than religion and he came to save sinners like me.  This song also reminds me of why we started our church.

“I am so easily satisfied by the call of lovers so less wild.”
Song: Wedding Dress by Derek Webb
Why it Strikes? Is Jesus enough?  Is Jesus my joy?  Or am I using him for something else I love more?

“You’d hate for the kids to think that you’ve lost your cool.”
Song: Pork and Beans by Weezer
Why it Strikes? I care way too much about what other people think.  I’m learning to care about that less and less and hopefully, care for people more and more.

“The people he knew were less than golden hearted. Gamblers and Robbers. Drinkers and Jokers. All soul searchers. Like you and me.”
Song: Christmas Song by Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Why it Strikes? This lyric reveals the company Jesus kept.  Too many of us Christians tend to not look at ourselves as “one of those people” which is sad, because we are.  May I not forget.

Any lyrics striking you these days?

There’s a great lie floating around our culture.

That some things are secular.

And other things are sacred.

It’s perpetuated by church-going and God-rejecting folks alike.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Psalm 24:1 tells us the earth is the Lord’s along with everything and everyone in it.

God’s a big God.

He doesn’t look at his creation and see a slice that he doesn’t control.

Neither should we.

Yet Christians do this all the time.

Secular work.

Secular music.

Secular movies.

Secular schools.

Blah, blah, blah.

And culture lets them.

It keeps them out of their hair.

But it’s all a lie.

Everything is sacred.

This world is full of sin.

Things aren’t as they should be.

Yet Jesus stepped right into the mess.

I sin a lot.

I am not as I should be.

Yet Jesus stepped into my mess too.

Thank God Jesus didn’t act like many Christians.

He didn’t see me as secular and avoid me.

He loves me, redeemed me, and is changing me.

What would happen if we started seeing everything as God’s?

Whether it was intended for him or not.

Culture.

Work.

Politics.

Food.

Places.

The internets.

Everyday things.

Everyday people.

It’s all his.

Every story is about him.

Every song longs for him.

Every philosophy is searching for him.

Look for it.

When you learn to see God in all things,

even ungodly things,

it will rock your world.

Because you begin to get a glimpse of the hugeness of God.

That he’s bigger, better, and more sovereign than you can imagine.

He’s working through things many Christians would not approve of.

He even works through the messiest of people.

People like us.

Stop splitting your life into slices.

By what you think is God’s and what’s not.

The truth is this:

If you’re a follower of Jesus,

God gets the whole pie of your life.

Not just a slice.

You are free to be whole.

You don’t have to pretend to be any more or less than you really are.

Stop believing the secular/sacred divide lie.

Stop living it too.

You’ve got better things to do.