As I mentioned last week, with the year winding down, it’s time to turn the spectacles of hindsight over 2006 and examine what it had to offer. Each year I like to ask for your input and feedback as I compile a list of the best and the worst that the year had to offer. Please join me in reviewing the year, what did you like, what did you not like and why? What caught your attention and what lost it? What do you recommend and what would you say to steer clear of.

One of the things that I want to encourage here is thinking about everything in light of the Gospel. This not only applies to our faith but but our faith applies to all of life, including aspects such as our media intake. So the point of this yearly exercise is not just to see what you liked but also to see why you liked it and how you evaluate things in light of the Gospel. We’re trying to cultivate an active Christian approach to popular culture rather than a passive one, so please share some of your insights as to how the Gospel has come to bear on all of your choices.

The guidelines are simple:

• Please follow the guidelines.
• Please submit responses only for the listed categories.
• Please try to include at least a sentence or two on why you made each selection. This makes for a much more interesting read and it’s actually the whole point.
• Please return submissions (by e-mail) no later than: Saturday, December 23.
• Please include a small JPEG photo of yourself if possible, or a link to one if online.
• Please include your name, city and state of residence and a link if you are somewhere online.
• Please e-mail your list to me at kpita@yahoo.com.
• Please pass this on and get as many people as you can to participate!

Please submit responses for as many categories as you’d like, but don’t feel the need to answer for all the categories. For example, if you really don’t watch many movies, then don’t feel pressed to include selections for that category. Again, please try to include a short bit about why you made the selection you did; give us some insight as to why you think this is the year’s best.

The Categories (In no particular order):

Music:

• Album(s) of the Year - Must have been released in 2006, may be from any genre.
• Music “Find(s) of the Year” - Something that you “discovered” during 2006 but it may have been released any time. The key is that you first heard it this year.
• Song of the Year - Again, must have been released during 2006.
• Back Catalogue(s) of the Year - What artist did you discover this year and investigated further?
• Artist/Performer of the Year - What artist has impressed you the most during 2006?
• Misc. music thoughts for 2006.

Movies:

• Movie(s) of the Year - Must have been released in 2006.
• Movie “Find(s) of the Year” - Released any time, but you first saw it in 2006.
• Actor/Actress of the Year - Who has particularly impressed you this year?
• Misc. movie thoughts for 2006.

Reading:

• Book(s) of the Year - Must have been released in 2006 in any genre.
• Book “Find(s) of the Year” - published any time, but you first read it in 2006.
• Author of the Year - What author has made a particular impression on you or just made a huge impact in 2006 and why?
• Misc. reading thoughts for 2006.

Pop Culture:

• Person of the Year - You decide the criteria (most influence, etc.)
• Pop Culture Moment(s) Or Trend of the Year - What will 2006 be remembered for?
• Misc. cultural thoughts for 2006?

Faith:

• What theological Truth(s) has particularly “hit home” for you this past year?
• What have you been meditating on throughout the year?
• In what areas have you grown the most this year and why?
• Has any particular Scripture really impacted you this year?
• Misc. faith thoughts for 2006?

Misc.:

• This is where you can include anything you think I should have, thoughts about the Cardinals winning the World Series, what have you. Notice that I don’t have a “Sports” category, so if you do, it would go here.

Please e-mail submissions to me at kpita@yahoo.com no later than Saturday, December 23, 2006.