Brent Thomas
Glen Rose, TX

Music

Album(s) of the Year: This year was a very mellow year for my listening habits. I still listen to primarily instrumental music, but I’ve noticed a clear shift towards a more serene music. I’ve been heavily influenced by the field known as “post-classical,” which is primarily the incorporation of traditional strings with electronic elements as well as hints of ambient music. This type of approach makes up the bulk of my favorites for 2006 with a couple of exceptions. In alphabetical order, here are my favorite ten albums of 2006:

• Anathallo: Floating World: While it seems increasingly difficult to find musical artists truly striving to be creative, Anathallo has separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Drawing elements from a variety of genres and instruments, this music may initially be an aquired taste for some, but once you have that taste, the beauty and artistry simply continues to unfold with each listen.

• Benevento/Russo Duo: Play Pause Stop: Though typically classified as a “jam band,” the Duo as they’re known, is not truly jazz, not especially funk or even rock. Instead, with just organ and drums, they combine all of those elements into anthemic instrumentals.

• Clogs: Lantern: Perhaps their most accessible album to date, violinist Padma Newsome and company tread ground left by Rachel’s while charting new territory of their own. Challenging yet beautiful all at the same time.

• Bob Dylan: Modern Times: Dylan has long been a personal favorite and this album does not disappoint.

• Jóhann Jóhannsson: IBM 1401, A User’s Manual: Jóhannsson combines his use minimal approach to strings with original instructional tapes from the computer name’s-sake to create beauty from the mundane.

• Manyfingers: Our Worn Shadow: Re-defining the notion of a “one-man band,” this album incorporates traditional acoustic instruments with electronic fixtures in a seamless blend of beauty.

• Mute Math: Self-Titled: Though not quite as challenging as their Reset EP, Mute Math nonetheless prove themselves to be a promising act, incorporating faith with strong creativity.

• The Necks: The Chemist: The Necks are a trio of Australian musicians most commonly categorized as jazz. Their pieces are built around improvisation and often stretch on for up to an hour. This release, however, contains three tracks, each clocking in around 20 minutes. Combining minimalism and jazz while exploring challenging yet accessible themes. This is truly interesting music.

• Max Richter: Songs From Before: It was Richter himself who coined the phrase “post-classical.” Richter’s music relies heavily on emotional string arrangements to provide the backdrop for electronic accompaniments and spoken-word pieces.

• Yasushi Yoshida: Secret Figure: Heavily incorporating cello and violin with minimal electronic accompaniment, this was one of the most beautiful albums of the year.

• Other favorites: Neko Case: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, Greg Haines: Slumber Tides, Rickard Jäverling: Two Times Five Lullaby, Phelan Sheppard: Harps Old Master, Ryan Teague: Coins and Crosses, Triosk: The Headlight Serenade, Tom Waits: Orphans.

Music “Find(s) of the Year”: The three artists I “discovered” this year that I was most impressed with are all instrumental projects and two of them are related:

• Cam Butler: Butler is the guitarist for Australian trio Silver Ray. Whereas Silver Ray’s music tends toward the anthemic, Butler’s incorporates full orchestras and explores a much more melancholy avenue.

• The Necks: As already referenced, another Australian instrumental outfit. This one tends toward the experimental side while still being accessible (please note, because they draw heavily from minimalism, this music does incorporate a lot of repetition).

• Silver Ray: An Australian trio featuring piano, drums and guitar. They play lengthy instrumentals that combine jazz and rock equally. Their music is often marked by a strong element of hope.

Song of the Year: “Something For Rockets” by Benevento/Russo Duo. It’s big, it’s triumphant, it’s instrumental at its best.

Reading

Book(s) of the Year: I didn’t read as many new books this year as I would have liked, but three in particular were worthwhile. In alphabetical order by author:

• Andrew Beaujon: Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside Phenomenon of Christian Rock: Though not a groundbreaking book by any stretch of the imagination, it is quite interesting to hear an outsider’s perspective on “Christian” music and it serves as a reminder that the rest of the world really is watching.

• Stephen J. Nichols: Heaven On Earth: Capturing Jonathan Edwards’ Vision of Living In Between: By heavily interacting with Edwards, Nichols has crafted a healthy reminder of the joy that is to mark a life that ought to truly be set apart from the world in which we find ourselves.

• Andree Seu: Won’t Let You Go Unless You Bless Me: If you’ve read here for any length of time, you know that one of my passions is helping myself and others understand the true impact that the Gospel ought to have on every area of life. Through a series of winsome and often poignant essays, Seu puts this principle into action.

Book “Find(s) of the Year”

• Rod Dreher: Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, and their diverse tribe of countercultural conservatives plan to save America (or at least the Republican Party). With his ridiculous subtitle, Dreher sets out to argue that the current form of “conservative” thought found in the Republican Party is not actually in line with traditional conservative thought. Dreher presents a healthy challenge, particularly (though this is not his primary aim) to Christians struggling to apply their faith to all of life.

Pop Culture:

• Pop Culture Moment(s) Or Trend of the Year: YouTube sells to Google for 1.65 billion dollars. Did they overpay? Probably, but the power of “self-made” media is here to stay and is possibly the first real innovation in entertainment since television itself. We’re so bored with slick entertainment, we’d rather watch ourselves lip-synch.

• Person(s) of the Year: John Piper. I know that his meditations on his own cancer stirred a lot of conversation, but that’s part of the point for me. Whether or not you agree with him, there are few public figures doing as much to get as many people thinking about the glory of God in everyday life. His sermon at Together For the Gospel will be one that I will always remember.

Faith:

• What theological Truth(s) has particularly “hit home” for you this past year? The importance of community in the Christian life. This stands in the face of our individualistic society, but we are saved into a community, which then becomes the context for the Christian life. We must foster relationships that are open, honest, dependable and accountable. The Body is the Church and it is vital to the Christian life.

• What have you been meditating on throughout the year? What a “Christian worldview” truly entails. Are there any considerations that the Christian can make apart from the Gospel? (no). What does it mean to have a “Christian” view, particularly of popular culture. The more I ponder, the less I think it means recycling everything with sanitized content and the more I think it has to do with actually living and breathing the Gospel, which produces discernment.

• Has any particular Scripture really impacted you this year? Psalm 46. No matter what I’m going through in life, God is my refuge and I must learn to weather the circumstances, being still in the midst of trial knowing that He truly is a “very present help.”

I’d like to thank everyone who participated this year. I truly enjoy browsing your lists and hearing your thoughts. I pray that this is an edifying experience and one that encourages you to filter everything through the Gospel.

Dusty Somers
Kirkland, WA

Music

Albums of the Year:

1.) Keep No Score by Sleeping at Last I haven’t been able to stop listening to this album since it came out in June. It falters nowhere. Breathy, ethereal vocals layered over beautiful piano melodies and string arrangements. Songwriting that achieves a high level of artistry and creativity, yet remains accessible and meaningful. Far and away my favorite release of the year.

2.) Gulag Orkestar by Beirut I only discovered this May release this month, but it has strongly captured my attention. Indie rock with strong eastern European influences - Interesting combination, but it works… very, very well.

3.) Floating World by Anathallo The pinnacle of creativity perhaps? Anathallo keeps expanding their range and improving their sound, all the while managing to walk the line between eclectic and accessible with great skill.

4.) The Mission Bell by Delirious? Within Christian music, it seems there has been a strong demand for “worship” music that transcends familiar platitudes and cliches, and is both artistically and theologically excellent. Delirious has been making music for a long time, but they’ve outdone themselves this time. There is no question that this is worship music, and there should be no question that Delirious? knows what they’re doing. Lyrically and musically fantastic.

5.) Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens It’s pretty difficult for me not to include Sufjan somewhere on this list. Whatever your feelings on the guy, there is no question he can keep cranking out the music. And fortunately, it’s always good music. Old favorites, new compositions, all wrapped in a package of the trademark slightly snarky, self-deprecating Sufjan we’ve come to know and love.

The Rest of the Best:
IBM 401: A User’s Manual by Jo?hann Jo?hannsson
Photographs EP by Lakes
Lantern by Clogs
Ships by Danielson
Nothing Left to Lose by Mat Kearney

Music Find of the Year: An Accidental Memory in Case of Death by Eluvium
Thanks to none other than this illustrious blog, I was introduced to one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. Listening to this makes me want to learn the piano more than ever. Hauntingly breathtaking.

Songs of the Year:

1.) “Dreamilfe” by Sleeping at Last, Keep No Score
2.) “Our God Reigns” by Delirious, The Mission Bell
3.) “Did I Step On Your Trumpet” by Danielson, Ships
4.) “White Flag” by Lakes, Photographs EP
5.) “Poison Pushy” by Stanton Moore, III

Movies

Movie(s) of the Year
1.) United 93 The events of 9/11 are a very difficult subject to breach in the area of film. (I’m still not sure how I feel about Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center.) But director Paul Greengrass has crafted a remarkably moving and authentic film here. There is nothing Hollywood about it. I was particularly impressed by the way he went about making the film, casting a specific actor to play each actual person on the flight. Gripping and heart-wrenching, it is a must-see.

2.) The Queen Helen Mirren has been lauded for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth and probably will (and should) win Best Actress Oscar, but this film succeeds on many more levels than simply her part. The script is fantastic, supporting performances are remarkable all the way around, and the film retains such an unassuming demeanor that, refreshingly, you never feel like you’re watching a movie.

3.) Apocalypto. Yes, it is remarkably violent in many places, but it’s not difficult to see that Gibson seems destined to get a bad rap within Hollywood the rest of his days. The small outcry that’s arisen from critics in regards to the film’s violent content seems a bit ludicrous and even hypocritical. If this film had been directed by any other person, I doubt mention would have been given. But I digress. The film itself is absolutely stunning. The advent of digital film has not been taken advantage of like this before. Gibson is able to immerse his audience completely in the society he portrays, and the result is incredible.

4.) 49 Up. Beginning in 1963, 14 seven-year old British children were interviewed in a film called 7 Up. Every seven years, they have been tracked down and interviewed again. Director Michael Apted, who has held the reins since 21 Up, returns with the latest installment. Simply put, this is one of the most remarkable uses of film I have ever seen. Watching the progression of an entire life on film is a stunning experience. I highly anticipate 56 Up.

5.) The Pursuit of Happyness. Will Smith. Enough said. By this point, I think he’s proven himself to be one of the most unbelievably charismatic actors of the day. No matter who he portrays, it’s always a pleasure to watch him work, and it’s obvious the trait is genetic, as his son Jaden is also wonderul in the movie.

The Rest of the Best:
Little Miss Sunshine
Wordplay
The Illusionist
Lady in the Water

Movie Finds of the Year: 1.) The Pianist. Somehow this one slipped through the cracks the past two years, but I’m extremely glad I finally caught up to it. Adrien Brody is incredibly moving as a Polish Jew who manages to survive the ravaging of his hometown by Nazis in WWII, aided by his gift at playing piano.

2.) 25th Hour: Spike Lee directs, Edward Norton shines as a man living out his last days as a free man before going to prison for drug dealing. With an incredibly strong supporting cast, it’s an emotional look at the consequences of wrongdoing and the consequences of allowing those you care about to continue in their wrongdoing. The last 15 minutes of the film, featuring a monologue from Brian Cox as Norton’s father, is perhaps the best ending to a movie I’ve ever seen.

Faith

This year, more than anything, God has continually been revealing to me that He is in a good mood. Regardless of my failings, my shortcomings, even my outright sin, God responds in love. My actions are irrelevant in regards to how He loves me. He’s not upset, He’s not disappointed. He is happy and He delights in His children. Consequently, I’ve grown most in my ability to make mistakes. I’ve never been good at failing well, and it’s taken some colossal failures on my part this year to see that even my most embarrassing and overwhelming mistakes don’t preclude me from the abundant love and grace of God. How fundamental, and yet, how difficult to believe. I want to be perfect, God just wants me to know that I am loved. That’s my basis for success.

Jim Ierley
Glendale, AZ

Music

Album(s) of the Year: All the Roadrunning by Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris. Instant classic. Knopfler and Harris’s vocal blend is a match made in heaven. Their unmistakable voices and storytelling come together to make this album cinematic.

Music “Find(s) of the Year”: The work of Matthew Garrison, son of Jimmy Garrison (John Coltrane’s bassist). When jazz bass players put forth solo albums, comparisons to Jaco Pastorius are inevitable. With the release of Jaco’s stunning self titled album at age 24, he became the black hole of which no electric bass player afterward can totally break free (not that they should). Enter Matthew Garrison with his self-titled album. While never abandoning the bass’s foundational role, he forges a melodic role for the bass that is truly his own. He produces his music to include modern soundscapes and complex rhythms. There’s not a trace of gimmickry in his playing, and one can easily forget that it’s the bass that is carrying the music because he’s crafting the overall themes so adeptly. Check out some live video clips from his DVD/CD. Get autographed CD’s directly from his site.

Song of the Year: “How Can I Thank You” from Dream Again by Phil Keaggy. This song brought a tear to my eye when I heard Phil sing it in concert. In his own words, “This was written to my other sister, Mary Ellen for leading me to the Lord 46 years ago, the week following my mom’s tragic car accident, which took her life.” As I heard this song, I reflected on how God used this very dark time to gift Phil with salvation and to literally make his name great among the nations through Phil’s decades of music.

Back Catalogue(s) of the Year: Mark Knopfler. I was propelled into his solo stuff after the Emmylou Harris collaboration. I had always liked the guy with Dire Straits, but it’s been fun to see how much of the Roadrunning album draws from his solo style.

Artist/Performer of the Year: Phil Keaggy. Let’s just say that proliphic should be the new spelling of that word. In 2006 he toured and released four albums. Though two of those albums were primarily tweaks of the Keaggy personal archive, he continues to refresh himself and cover more musical ground than any other guitarist on the planet. I continue to be amazed at how this man displays both jaw-dropping talent AND meek, God-honoring character. A study of music history would show how rarely these two qualities intersect.

Misc. music thoughts for 2006: The greatest thing to happen to my listening in 2006 was my subscription to URGE unlimited music downloads for my portable player. It allowed me to concentrate on being a music listener, finding and enjoying tons of new music rather than just a being a CD collector.

Movies

Movie(s) of the Year: True 2006 pick: Glory Road. 2005 release that I saw in 2006: Walk the Line. These movies featured tremendous acting and faithful storytelling of real life. They both resonated in showing the ugliness of sin and the goodness of common grace.

Movie “Find(s) of the Year”: Babette’s Feast. This foreign language film was recommended by the White Horse Inn guys for its tale of a grateful refugee and her religious hosts who think themselves too godly to receive the extravagant feast she prepares for them. All in all, it’s a movie centered on preparations for a single meal and is completely in Danish (I recommend enabling the English track). If you can get past those seemingly large hurdles, you will find a superb story that serves up a great message about Christ and our response to Him (though not explicitly).

Actor/Actress of the Year: Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. Their acting was superb, but I was dually impressed with their abilities to appropriate the singing voices of the Cash couple.

Misc. movie thoughts for 2006: Hollywood continues to underwhelm by its inability to provide even 5 new movies that impress me in a whole year. Would anyone second my motion to make the Academy Awards a four year event like the World Cup? The annual self pat on the back is really pathetic considering the output.

Reading

Book “Find(s) of the Year”: Practical Religion by J.C. Ryle. Though I waded into this book years ago, I found myself wanting to give it a real treatment. It’s now on the shortlist of books that I will keep rereading to wake me up from my worldliness and show me the preeminence of Christ in all things.

Misc. reading thoughts for 2006: As a parent of toddlers, I consider myself in exile when it comes to reading. I’ve decided not to buy more books, but to rather reread a few proven books until I start seeing the impact of them. No fault in the books, plenty of fault in me.

Pop Culture

Person of the Year: John Piper. Cancer gave him a great opportunity to test the worth of his doctrine this year. God was truly glorified. I loved his prayer right before leaving the pulpit that God would use his absence to do the most mighty things in the history of that church, demonstrating that God is not reliant on a famous big-shot preacher. (PS: Let there be no doubt about John Piper’s inclusion in this category as evidenced by this).

Pop Culture Moment(s) Or Trend of the Year: For good or for evil, this is the year that user-generated content took control over the internet. Witness the dramatic impact of YouTube, MySpace, and most notably ColossiansThreeSixteen (CTS). For proof, check this NY Times article. If you can’t find CTS in there, just check the CTS Google ranking for “Brent Thomas” (quotes included). Fickle teens are already tiring of MySpace, so 2007 should be an interesting year to watch in pop tech. Who will endure? Will Google and NewsCorp’s mega-purchases of YouTube and MySpace pay off? Is CTS next on the acquisition list? PS: Gmail rocks and makes e-mail 10 times more manageable.

Misc. cultural thoughts for 2006: Pop culture is just that, popular. Ick… I remain saddened by the trash heap that we all must sift through. Without even trying, I know things about celebrities that I never wanted to know, and the only TV I watch is Austin City Limits when I’m lucky. Darn Internet headlines.

Faith

What theological Truth(s) has particularly “hit home” for you this past year? Through the heart-seeking and solid biblical preaching of J.C. Ryle, John Piper, and my own Pastor Bill Phillips I’ve really seen the importance of prayer and my need to repent for living as a functional atheist by not bathing my life in prayer.

What have you been meditating on throughout the year? Like many before me, I have found the Psalms to be perfect in leading me into prayer and meditation on our good God and Savior. I struggle to make prayer my priority. Though it seems obvious, faith and prayer seem to go hand in hand, serving also as gauges of the relative measure of each.

In what areas have you grown the most this year and why? God has used several close calls with the health of immediate family and increased job pressure to get it through my cranium that I am dependent on Him. I am thankful for his undeserved mercies in sparing me deep suffering on these two fronts. I hope to be strong in faith and less self reliant in the coming year.

† Rev. Eric “Gunny” Hartman, pastor
Providence Church

Music

Music “Find(s) of the Year”: This may sound crazy, it has to people as of late, but I discovered Pearl Jam this year. In random conversation with a couple of brothers the band’s name came up. I confessed I was ignorant to the highest degree of the 90s music scene as I went through my post-conversion dramatic music shift, which included Keith Green and Amy Grant and a
few lesser beings. I bought Ten in December and have just about worn that thing out.

Misc.

I elaborated on my blog about this night, but it was 21 years in the making as the Cardinals won the World Series.

Movies

Movie “Find(s) of the Year”: I think it may have come out around Christmas time in 2005, but I saw The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in early 2006. Having not read the books, I didn’t know what to expect, but I thought the movie was masterfully done. I don’t buy a lot of movies, but I knew this would be on the shelf when available.

Faith

Misc. faith thoughts for 2006? The theological rumblings concerning the DaVinci Code movie were out of control. I still haven’t read the book, but saw the movie and thought, “I’m underwhelmed.” Hey, I’m always up for a good conspiracy theory, but I thought the storyline just a tad disappointing and the theological slooge seemed clear enough to me that it would be portrayed as fiction.

–
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do
nothing.” - Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

Chris Gonzalez
Tempe, AZ

Music

Album(s) of the Year: The Fray: How to Save a Life.
I don’t listen to much unknown hip music like you, Brent. But I heard a couple of The Fray’s songs on the radio and downloaded the CD last month. The whole CD is great.

Music “Find(s) of the Year”: Eva Cassidy: Live at Blues Alley
I asked my friend for some unknown hip music so I could be like Brent. She recommended her friend Eva Cassidy. Eva died of cancer a few years ago, but she could sing the blues.

Movies

What are movies?

Reading

Book(s) of the Year: My first thought was C.J. Mahaney Humility: True Greatness. But I think it was technically released at the end of 2005. This is one of those small books. But unlike Jabez, it packs a powerful punch and is replete with Scripture. It tears your arrogant heart out on every page, pounds it with the gospel, and returns it to you broken and moldable.

Book “Find(s) of the Year”: John Stott: The Cross of Christ. I read somewhere that this is the definitive book on the atonement. So I read it. I can not overstate the impact this book has had on me.

Author of the Year: Tim Keller. The only thing I read from Keller this year that was technically a book was his contribution to Worship By The Book. But I was hugely impacted by his “Centrality of the Gospel” article early in the year. From there, I read and listened to everything of his that I could get my hands on. Thank you to Tyler Johnson for introducing me to Keller. Thank you to Steve McCoy for his Tim Keller resource page.

Pop Culture

Person of the Year: I am going to have to disagree with Time. The person of the year is not “You.” Maybe Bono? He sure has had an impact this year!

Faith

What theological Truth(s) has particularly “hit home” for you this past year? The Centrality of the Gospel. I love what you said the other day, “I want you to be thinking about how the Gospel has come to bear on all of the choices you make.” That is the theological truth that has riveted me this year. The Gospel does come to bear on all areas of life.

What have you been meditating on throughout the year? Colossians 1:15-23

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

In what areas have you grown the most this year and why? Having and communicating a compelling vision in ministry.

Has any particular Scripture really impacted you this year? Colossians

Misc.

George Mason rolling over UConn and just about everyone else in the NCAA tournament.

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)

We’re going to do something a bit different today. Typically I try to devote Fridays to two separate posts: one highlighting both poetry and music and the other offering some of the links I found interesting for the week. But since my internet access has been quite limited this week, there hasn’t been any browsing and the one poetry/music post that I have written features link to a band that, for some reason has had their site taken down!

Much of the American perception of the holiday of Thanksgiving revolves around eating. At its most fundamental, we have driven many hundreds of miles to share a meal with family and friends. Yet eating with people is more than a simple utilitarian act, it is a shared experience and it is a deeply cultural phenomenon. As you can tell, I’ve been thinking some about food this week.

My family and I have had the privilege of living in some different parts of the country. My three boys have each been born in different state (though, Lord willing, there won’t be another move for quite some time!). As we have the chance to go back and visit some of the places we’ve lived, we find ourselves saying “we have to eat at ________ before we leave.”

It’s interesting how integral food is to many of our experiences. When we’re in the Phoenix, AZ area, we always try to eat at Chino Bandido’s Takee Outee, which is a combination of Mexican, Chinese and American. Not that they serve all of the above, their dishes actually combine all of these elements into one tasty goodness! While in the west, my wife also makes a point to try to get fish tacos and when in Louisville, KY, we make a point to try to get to Ramsi’s Cafe on the World. There are certain foods that have come to, for us, encapsulate certain geographical regions.

God has created us as “whole” people and the very act of nourishing our bodies can become a sensory-filled opportunity to make friends, deepen bonds and create memories. Eating together is (almost always) about more than simply eating with other people in the room. In biblical times, exclusion from table fellowship was quite severe. Paul warns the Corinthians not even to eat with the sexually immoral (1 Corinthians 5:11). I wonder how many of us think of eating as a religious experience.

What are some of the foods or restaurants that you associate with places and why? When you’re in “X,” where do you “have to go” before you leave? Please share.

• Visit the Chino Bandido official website

One thing I enjoy about blogging is the interaction. I look forward to the dialogue, receiving and digesting your thoughts. I find that the peole who comment here are incredibly insightful and I look forward to what you have to say.

I thought it would be neat to try an experiment. If it works I might try it again, if not, well you can guess. I’d like to open it up today for comments and discussion. Feel free to propose topics, submit links, ask questions, reply to questions, etc. I thought about proposing a topic, but initially I’d just like to see what the response level is. Enjoy.

On Monday I asked the question “Aside from the Bible, what five non-fiction books have been the most influential for you?” The response was so good that I wanted to share with you the updated list of everyone’s responses as well as ask the question again for more feedback. I hope that you enjoy seeing other people’s selections as much as I do. It’s always thought provoking to see what books have influenced different people all pursuing the same goal of Christ-likeness. To that end, enjoy the lists and please leave your own!

Les Bollinger of PA lists:

• The Pleasures of God by John Piper
• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• The Race Set Before Us by Thomas Schreiner and Ardel Caneday
• But I Say Unto You by John Reisinger
• The Educated Imagination by Northrup Frye

Justin Clark of Charleston, SC lists:

• Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre
• Narrative Of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands by John Williams
• Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
• Holiness by J.C. Ryle
• Europe Through the Back Door by Rick Stevens

David lists:

• Idols For Destruction by Herbert Schlossberg
• Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey
• How Then Shall We Live by Francis Schaeffer
• The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee
• Destined For the Cross by Paul Billheimer

Sean Dennis of Louisville, KY lists:

• A Theology of the New Testament by G. E. Ladd
• Created In God’s Image by Anthony Hoekema
• Desiring God by John Piper
• Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp
• Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ by Thomas Schreiner

John Divito of Louisville, KY lists:

• Desiring God by John Piper
• The Gospel and Wisdom by Graeme Goldsworthy
• Lectures To My Students by C.H. Spurgeon
• The Potter’s Freedom by James R. White
• Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll

Eddie Exposito of Slidell, LA lists:

• Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell
• When People Are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch
• Slouching Towards Gomorrah by Robert Bork
• The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges
• Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen

Kevin of Plainview, TX lists:

• The Vision and the Vow by Peter Greig
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan

Christine Myers of Akron, OH lists:

• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• The Church Musician by Paul Westermeyer
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Desiring God by John Piper
• The Celebration Hymnal

Wade Myers of Peoria, AZ lists:

• Future Grace by John Piper
• Desiring God by John Piper
• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• The Love of God by John MacArthur
• The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne

Keith Price lists:

• Future Grace by John Piper
• The Art of Pastoring by David Hansen
• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• When Skeptics Ask by Norm Geisler

Michael Sawilowsky lists:

• On God and Christ by Gregory of Nanzius
• Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner
• Brothers, We Are NOT Professionals by John Piper
• Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ron Sider
• A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

W.A. Scrogham of Fort Worth, TX lists:

• Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoffer
• True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer
• How Then Shall We Live? by Francis Schaeffer

Rhett Smith of Pasadena, CA lists:

• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoffer
• In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen
• Purity of Heart Is To Will One Thing by Soren Kierkegaard
• The Hermeneutical Spiral by Grant Osborne
• Let Your Life Speak: Listening To The Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer

Brent J. Thomas of Belen, NM lists:

• Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoffer
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton
• How Then Shall We Live? by Francis Schaeffer
• The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard

Brent Thomas of Glen Rose, TX lists:

• Knowing God by J.I. Packer
• Desiring God by John Piper
• The Transformation of American Religion by Alan Wolfe
• Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey
• Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher

Will Turner of NY lists:

• The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God by John Frame
• Thoughts on Family Worship by J.W. Alexander
• Spiritual Depression by D. Martin Lloyd-Jones
• Confessions by Augustine
• Autobiography of John G. Paton by John G. Paton

Every once in a while, I like to ask for “reader response” and get your interaction. A little while ago, I asked for your five favorite novels. The response was good and I’ve added a couple of books to my “to read” pile as a result. This time, I want to know which five non-fiction books have most influenced you the most? Since this is an openly Conservative Christian blog, I’m going to assume that everyone will list the Bible as one of the selections, so I’m going to say: In addition to the Bible, what five non-fiction books have most influenced you? In no particular order, here’s my list:

• Knowing God by J.I. Packer
• Desiring God by John Piper
• The Transformation of American Religion by Alan Wolfe
• Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey
• Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher

Just briefly examining this list, Desiring God and Knowing God have been tremendously influential in forcing me to realize that any study of theology must result in deeper affections for God and urge us on to holy living. There is a direct correlation between biblical faith and knowledge. As our knowledge of God increases, our faith in Him ought to directly increase as well.

The last three books might all fall into the broad “worldview” category. Alan Wolfe, though not a believer, has some insightful comments regarding the way American culture interacts with religion, particularly bringing a marketing influence to bear on it. Total Truth and Crunchy Cons both serve as stark reminders that our faith must affect all of our lives and must be active and lived if we are ever to truly affect the culture around us.

I’m looking forward to your books! Please share.

Les Bollinger of PA lists:

• The Pleasures of God by John Piper
• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• The Race Set Before Us by Thomas Schreiner and Ardel Caneday
• But I Say Unto You by John Reisinger
• The Educated Imagination by Northrup Frye

Justin Clark of Charleston, SC lists:

• Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre
• Narrative Of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands by John Williams
• Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
• Holiness by J.C. Ryle
• Europe Through the Back Door by Rick Stevens

Sean Dennis of Louisville, KY lists:

• A Theology of the New Testament by G. E. Ladd
• Created In God’s Image by Anthony Hoekema
• Desiring God by John Piper
• Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp
• Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ by Thomas Schreiner

Eddie Exposito of Slidell, LA lists:

• Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell
• When People Are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch
• Slouching Towards Gomorrah by Robert Bork
• The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges
• Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen

Christine Myers of Akron, OH lists:

• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• The Church Musician by Paul Westermeyer
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Desiring God by John Piper
• The Celebration Hymnal

Wade Myers of Peoria, AZ lists:

• Future Grace by John Piper
• Desiring God by John Piper
• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• The Love of God by John MacArthur
• The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne

Michael Sawilowsky of Fort Worth, TX lists:

• On God and Christ by Gregory of Nanzius
• Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner
• Brothers, We Are NOT Professionals by John Piper
• Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ron Sider
• A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

Rhett Smith of Pasadena, CA lists:

• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoffer
• In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen
• Purity of Heart Is To Will One Thing by Soren Kierkegaard
• The Hermeneutical Spiral by Grant Osborne
• Let Your Life Speak: Listening To The Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer

Kevin of Plainview, TX lists:

• The Vision and the Vow by Peter Greig
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan

Will Turner of NY lists:

• The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God by John Frame
• Thoughts on Family Worship by J.W. Alexander
• Spiritual Depression by D. Martin Lloyd-Jones
• Confessions by Augustine
• Autobiography of John G. Paton by John G. Paton