Karen G (a.k.a. “Solshine“): Michigan

Music

Album(s) of the Year: Mat Kearney: Nothing Left to Lose. His music was on One Tree Hill and Gray’s Anatomy. His smooth blend of rap and acoustic storytelling is refreshing and he’ll be touring with John Mayer in the New Year, way cool!

Music “Find(s) of the Year”: Troglodyte Dawn. They’re a Christian ambient/metal/down-tempo band who with the right marketing could be leaders for Sci-Fi movie and TV soundtracks.

Song of the Year: “Nothing Left to Lose” - Mat Kearney. Everyone should include this song on the soundtrack of their life. It’s an anthem for anyone who’s felt like “a kid from Oregon, by way of California, all of this is more than I’ve ever known or seen…”

Artist/Performer of the Year: P.O.D. The Warriors tour. I saw them in concert in Boston and they proved that they still got what it takes to rock loud for Jesus.

Movies:

Movie(s) of the Year: The Nativity Story. It’s about time that someone did this movie with such finesse and biblical accuracy ( i.e. including the fact that Jesus’ family looked very Middle-Eastern and not Swedish).

Movie “Find(s) of the Year”: Born Into Brothels. This is the documentary story of the children of prostitutes in Calcutta, India. It will make you cry and inspire you to action, BIG time.

Actor/Actress of the Year: Corbin Bleu. He’s a co-star of the breakout Disney Channel hit movie High School Musical. He’s a professing Christian who’s inspiring tweens and teens with his acting/dancing skills and Christian faith. He’s definitely one to watch.

Misc. movie thoughts for 2006: Faith marketing trend. FOX Faith, Rocky Balboa being marketed to Christians, One Night with the King and the Nativity Story.

Reading:

Book “Find(s) of the Year”: Never Ceese by Sue Dent. This book re-invents the classic vampire / werewolf tales and puts a refreshing Christian spin on it. Fans of the Underworld movies would enjoy this one.

Pop Culture:

Pop Culture Moment(s) Or Trend of the Year: “Kramer loses face” Michael Richards racist comments made headlines everywhere thanks to a camera phone and the power of YouTube.

Faith:

What theological Truth(s) has particularly “hit home” for you this past year? The importance of discipline and mentoring in our Christian walk is something we really need but often brush aside, it’s starting to sink in with me, but I’ve still got more to go.

What have you been meditating on throughout the year? What grace really means. It’s such a simple yet deep word. I like how Pastor James Ryles talked about God’s grace…that it’s God empowering us to be who we were meant to be and do what we were meant to do in our sphere of influence.

Has any particular Scripture really impacted you this year? “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” (Psalm 55:17)