Each year on the blog I’ve reflected on the best of each year. (Here are the links for the best of 2008, 2007 and 2006). In fact, this is the fifth annual “Best Of” blog post.
BOOKS:
Art and Faith: Refractions (Makoto Fujimura). Fujimura is one of my favorite contemporary artists. I’m not sure if he’s an artist who can write or a writer who can paint. Either way, the man can communicate on the canvas and with his pen.
Missional Theology and Praxis: Missional Renaissance (Reggie McNeal) and The Forgotten Ways (Alan Hirsch). The Forgotten Ways Handbook is way good as well.
Theology: Resident Aliens (Hauerwas and Willimon) This book has been out a while, but this year was the first time I read it. Amazing. Worth reading again. And again. And again.
Culture and Faith: Culture Making (Andy Crouch) I’d heard a lot about this book and finally got a chance to read it this fall. Fantastic. What enhanced the reading was inviting and interacting with Andy at a one-day seminar that Renew and the Well hosted in October.
The Gospels: more on the reason why in a post later this week
MUSIC:
-LeftRightLeftRightLeft: Coldplay live
-Number Ones: Michael Jackson
-No Line on the Horizon: U2
-Fiction Family: Jon Foreman and Sean Watkins
-Limbs and Branches: Jon Foreman
WEBSITES:
Edutainment: Mental Floss: The king of lists of things you’ve always wondered but never really knew where to find out the answers…
Creativity: Once again, Naked Pastor wins. This guy is clever, honest, creative, irreverent at times and right on.
BLOGS:
-JR Rozko: Not only is he a good thinker and is a part of the Ecclesia Network, he also has a great name.
-Jason Coker: I love his thoughts on economics and the kingdom.
-David Fitch: Great thinker, always challenging my thoughts about the role of the Church in society.
TWITTER:
-Andy Rowell: links help to keep a pulse on the Church
-twitturgies: melding liturgy and twitter for some incredibly creative prayers
-fakeplanter: satirical and downright hilarious, especially if you are a church planter. Also worth following are fake Mark Driscoll and fake John Piper.
-Jim Vining: Good thoughts from a young adults pastor in Milwaukee. He’s also a Taylor grad, which doesn’t hurt either.
PODCAST:
Once again, Pray-As-You-Go wins for best podcast. This 10 minute lectio divina-like audio that is updated five days a week by Jesuits in the UK is a fantastic free resource. You can subscribe to it on iTunes.
FILM:
I didn’t see enough movies this year to include this category (which isn’t surprising when you have an almost three year old).
Are there any books, music, websites, blogs, podcasts, people worth following in Twitter or movies you’d suggest as your Best of 2009?
I’d love to hear them.
Tim Milner said...
1We have only been to the theatre once in the past 2 years. But today was that once. Saw a movie called Blindside. Some tremendous themes of redemption, adoption, hope and perseverence. It’s the best movie I’ve seen in a theatre in 2 years, even if the only one…
12/28/09 7:23 PM | Comment Link
JR Rozko said...
2Hey man. I don’t think I’ve ever made “the best of” any sort of list! Thanks for the kind words. And I don’t care what Hiestand says, just cause you put periods in your name doesn’t make you a sisssy
12/28/09 8:36 PM | Comment Link
L.L. Barkat said...
3Came over through Mako’s tweet.
Refractions was lyrical. I read it slowly, under a red split maple, by a lake. Perfect setting.
12/29/09 9:34 PM | Comment Link
Wayne Frick said...
4I’m not one for the best of 2009, but I do want to say you blessed me much this year at the Thread. All the teachings you taught was helpful. But most helpful was the teachings on becoming a better disciple, so much it has truly changed my life. I now want to become more Jesus-ish and grow in my faith closer to the Lord. Thank you! I guess I have to say your blog has helped me also. So I will say the best blog for 2009, is “JRBriggs.com”.
01/3/10 12:26 AM | Comment Link