Lists 2011

In 2008 I started what is a fun, annual post for me.

Here are my top five lists from 2011.

Top Five Movies I Saw:

1. The Help

2. The King’s Speech

3. The Next Three Days

4. The Adjustment Bureau

5. The Lincoln Lawyer

Top Five Websites I Visited:

1. Ted.com

2. AJC.com / CNN.com / USATODAY.com

3. Pandora.com

4. CBSsports.com

5. FastCompany.com

Top Five Books I Read:

1. Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman

2. Great By Choice by Jim Collins

3. Jesus through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture by Jaroslav Pelikan

4. The Big Thirst by Charles Fishman

5. Signature in the Cell by Stephen C. Meyer

Top Five Restaurants I Ate At:

1. Subway

2. Sid’s Pizza (for pick-up, not dine-in)

3. California Pizza Kitchen

4. Taco Mac (more for the football than the food)

5. Starbucks (still not a restaurant, but I frequented no eating establishment more often. And my beverage of choice switched from hot chocolate to coffee and/or steam apple juice.)

Top Five Things I'm Really Glad I Spent My Time Doing:

1. Growing my relationship with my wife and children.

2. Being with my church family on Sunday mornings.

3. Tutoring kids at Esther Jackson Elementary School, helping to fund the digging of freshwater wells in Africa, and officiating at weddings at Kimball Hall.

4. Spending time with friends.

5. Reading.

Fifteen Great Memories

1. Attending my son’s basketball games and a little father-son, one-on-one game in a full court gym on Thanksgiving Day in North Carolina. Just the two of us in the entire gym. (And one not-so-great memory: spending time with him at two hospitals for surgery on his broken tibia and fibula in mid-December.)

2. Tucking my daughter in at night and driving her to school every morning, Mon-Fri.

3. Baptizing my daughter in the waters of Lake Lanier on October 22. The water was cold! The day was unforgettably wonderful!

4. The best six months in all the years of my marriage.

5. Our annual summer vacation in Hilton Head. Great again.

6. The Braves game with SteveW (about 250 phone conversations, too), tennis with Chris, Wednesday lunches over backgammon with Carlos, conversations with George and Dianne, and deepening friendships with Susie and Eddie.

7. Talking on the phone with my parents.

8. My 40^th birthday celebration(s).

9. Sunday nights at Taco Mac with friends.

10. Phone conversations with my great Aunt Gracie, who passed away in the Fall at the age of 94…still quick-witted and sharp of mind.

11. Weddings at Kimball Hall.

12. A wonderful, warm and perfect Christmas brunch with my church family at Altobelli’s

13. One new cat, Iris, that unexpectedly resulted in two kittens, three weeks after we got her (we kept one of the two kittens, who Emma named “Snowball.”)

14. Rafting the Ocoee River with McKenzie, Jack, Naum and Ethan.

15. Christmas Morning with my family. The most relaxed and fun I can remember.

GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

On behalf of Mike Nelson and the Hornheads (a man and a group I know almost nothing about—but you gotta admit that that name says a lot), I’d like to recommend their Jingle Bell JAZZ Holiday CD, which includes 20 holiday favorites arranged in classic jazz style.

I recommend it because my daughter Emma and I have been playing it and singing to it each morning on our way to her school since the first Monday after Thanksgiving.

Yesterday we turned up the volume in my car almost as loud as it would go and, we shout-sang together, “Go, Tell It on the Mountain.”

Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev’rywhere

Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born!

By the time it was over, we were laughing and high-fiving (at the stop light), and Emma was exclaiming, “Let’s sing it again, Dad!”

Later it struck me, that to “go tell it on the mountain” would require a decent amount of work. I mean if I wanted to go tell it on Stone Mountain I’d have to drive a good forty-five minutes and then climb the 1686 feet to the summit. If I wanted to go tell it on Brasstown Bald Mountain (the highest point in GA) I’d have to drive to the NC-GA state line and climb 4,784 feet. If I wanted to go tell it on Mount Everest…..well, you get the idea.

But then I recognized that there are many kinds of “mountains” or “platforms” in which we can “go tell it.” And there are many kinds of ways we can “tell it,” too.

The “platforms” we have to tell it from include places liked our children’s bedside at bedtime, the front door of our neighbor’s house, the classroom at a nearby school, the parking lot of a church, and a community center in need of volunteers. We can “go tell it” in phone conversations, emails, written letters, text-messages, and over a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop.

And the ways we can “go tell it” are even greater. Some of the best ways don’t even involve our mouths (although “a word aptly chosen”—and ‘aptly’ is the key—“is like apples of gold in setting of silver. Pr. 25:11). We can use our hands, our feet, our ears, our money, our time, and our talents. We can tell it with a handshake, a “thank-you,” a hug, a small gift, and a listening ear. We can shout it through acts of kindness, and working hard, and doing things with excellence, and demonstrating unconditional love.

The list, of course, is endless. But the question is a singular one: Will you “Go Tell it on the Mountain” this moment, this day, this season?

“You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “HERE IS YOUR GOD!” -Isaiah 40:9

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

Saturday, October 22, I had the most amazing privilege of baptizing my daughter in the cold waters of Lake Lanier. Joined by my immediate family, grandparents, cousins and friends, Emma and I waded into the water until it surrounded her from toe to mid-chest.

Then, after a few private words between Emma and me, I raised my hand into the air and said, “Emma, because you love Jesus and want to follow him forever, and be his friend forever, and live in his grace forever, I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

No words can describe the feeling of gratefulness I had standing next to her. No sentence can capture the joy and pride that we all felt. No paragraph will ever recount fully the emotion of the day.

And I can only imagine the Heavenly Father’s gratefulness, joy, pride and emotion!

Emma was baptized “in the name of her Heavenly Father.” And in doing so she symbolized publically what has already taken place privately inside of her—a decision to be part of God’s family and to live now and forever in the loving care and leadership of a Father who loves her unconditionally, celebrates her radically, offers her wisdom impartially, and is with her completely.

Emma came up out of the water, smiling ear-to-ear, to shouts and cheers and hugs and prayers of thanksgiving! It was a day I pray she will always remember.

I wonder, if you have been baptized, do you remember that day or that era in your life when you made the decision to follow Jesus’ example and be baptized? And if so, as you remember it, would you re-dedicate your life to following Jesus, in whom we stake our greatest hope?

If you have not been baptized, do you know why? Be honest. Because if you are not sure you want to embrace God’s grace, and if you are not sure you would like Him to guide your life, then it’s helpful to be clear on that.

But if you would like to embrace God's grace and dedicate your life to following Him, then it's helpful to be clear on that too.

Emma spoke clearly about her desire to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ a few Saturdays ago, when she happily and excitedly stepped into the chilly, Fall waters of Lake Lanier to be baptized in the presence of family, friends and the beloved Creator of all things. He loves her so much. And she would want you to know that He loves you and me so much, too!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!” -1 John 3:1

Knock Knock

I was talking to a friend recently who lives in Seattle. And he said something so funny that I laughed out loud—for minutes—longer and harder than I had laughed in months.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld was recently interviewed on CNN. He recounted the day when he was eight-years old and told a joke that made his friend spit up his milk and cookies. “I felt the milk, and I saw it all coming at me, and I said, ‘I would like to do this professionally.’”

Laughter. It reminds me of Solomon’s words recorded in Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Now there is a lot more to a cheerful heart than just laughter. But PART of a cheerful heart is laughter.

And science has shown us that laughter is good medicine. I read this week about researchers at the University of Maryland who found that when twenty healthy volunteers smiled and laughed out loud while watching a comedic movie, their blood flow increased by twenty-two percent, about the same increase caused by aerobic exercise. But when volunteers watched tension-filled scenes from a drama, their blood flow decreased thirty-five percent.

The researchers went on to say that “a healthy lifestyle would include thirty minutes of exercise three times a week, and fifteen minutes of hearty laughter each day."

Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, has written about this. He writes:

I know this one lady, she hadn't slept well in years and years. She was constantly taking tranquilizers. She had taken them so long it hardly even affected her anymore. She had tried everything, different diets, different doctors, different medicines. Nothing seemed to work. But this one doctor gave her a very unusual prescription. He said, "Every night before you go to bed, you need to watch something funny – a funny movie, a funny video, a funny drama – something that makes you laugh." She started doing that night after night. Month after month she got better and better. Today she is totally off her medications. She can sleep like a baby.

Much of the sickness in our world exists simply because we don't live with the joy that God created us to experience. When we live anxious and uptight lives, it leads to headaches, digestive problems, an inability to focus, short tempers, lack of energy, lack of good sleep and, I believe, fewer close friends (After all, who wants to hang out and get close to a short-tempered, frequently distracted, stressed out person?!).

Now, I’m not a medical doctor, but I believe many of these symptoms would go away if we would simply learn how to enjoy the God-given gift of laughter. So I am going to give you the following spiritual prescription this week: Every day find something funny that makes you laugh. Not an inside laugh. Not a muted chuckle. A take-your-time, life-is-good, laugh-out-loud, hooting, snorting, cackling laugh!

And when you find it, share it!

Knock, knock….

Broccoli, The Beatles and Other Superior Things

Some things are superior to others.

For the last three weeks, on my way to and from work, I have been listening and re-listening and listening again to Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto in C# minor, performed by my favorite classical pianist, Vladimir Ashkenazy (at the expense of my usual sports talk radio). This concerto has been among my very favorites since I was first introduced to it in college. And, without much argument, it is considered among the best piano concertos ever written, if not the best. Listen to it and you’ll understand why. It is simply superior to others, and listening to it elevates both mind and soul.

Here is a very short list of other “superior” things:

The music of the Beatles is superior to the music of Milli Vanilli and 95% of other pop artists.

Pop music of the 80s is superior to pop music of the 2000s (IMHO).

Broccoli is superior to Waffle House hash browns (scattered, smothered, covered and deadly) for your physical health.

Exercise is superior to lethargy.

Drinking clean water is superior to drinking dirty water.

Authentically complimenting your spouse or a friend is superior to a sarcastic dig.

Doing whatever you do with excellence, with all your heart, mind and strength, is superior to doing your job half-way.

Sitting on a porch or park bench and viewing the tress, flowers, birds and sky is superior to viewing hours and hours of TV or internet junk.

Generosity is superior to selfishness.

You get the idea. And it’s not being harsh or judgmental to make these observations about many things in life.

So today (and this week, this month, this life) are you engaging in, thinking about, and embracing the superior things?

Paul reminds us of this in his New Testament letter to the Philippians. And I want remind you of his words today:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things” (Phil 4:8).

Ruthless Trust

I believe these two short paragraphs in Brennan Manning's book, Ruthless Trust, are worth thinking about and dwelling on and wrestling with and being comforted by and committing to memory and being deeply felt for a long time.

The words of the fifteenth-century theologian Angelus Silesius, "If God stopped thinking of me, he would cease to exist," are thoroughly orthodox. Silesius merely paraphrases the message of Jesus: "Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet not one is forgotten in God's sight. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. There is no need to be afraid, you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows" (Luke 12:6-7.)

God, by definition, is thinking of me.

CHOOSING TO SEE

This book was published in September of 2010, and I don't remember that it received much fanfare or recognition compared to other books that get released. But after reading it I have to say it may be the best book I've read in recent memory on surviving and thriving through the challenges of life, marriage and especially tragedy. A+++ book.

A Tennis Match That Came With A Powerful Reminder

There is an old proverb, filled with fresh wisdom and practical application for today. You’ve heard it many times before. It goes like this: “Pride goes before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).”

I know the truth of that proverb, and so I was not prideful or even overconfident before I met my friend Chris for a tennis match Tuesday. We played in the hot sun from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and when the match was over he had beaten me (yes, beaten me) in all three sets we played (6-2, 7-5, 6-0). It was a frustrating loss.

But it leads me to another truism, my own: “Pride may go before a fall, but so does lack of preparation, inferior skill and the absence of hard work.”

Oh, I worked hard during the match. I fought for every single point. But I had no chance because I had not hit a tennis ball in about a year, and I don’t lift weights and exercise faithfully, and I drink too much Dr. Pepper. Chris, on the other hand, plays in a tennis league each Fall, Winter and Spring. He works out and jogs religiously, and he hates losing as much as I do.

And so I was beaten.

Author Jim Collins, who has studied greatness and written about it, says, in a now famous quote, “Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.”

He echoes the counsel of Solomon who observes that “lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” (Proverbs 13:4).

Why did I lose the tennis match? Largely because I hadn’t made the choices necessary in the days, weeks and months prior to the match that would result in a win on the day of the match.

Read about Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. Why are they among the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football? Mostly it’s not because they are taller, faster, or physically stronger than other quarterbacks. Mostly it’s because they out-work other quarterbacks. They are more careful to guard their lifestyles—diet, sleep patterns, work-outs, words and actions in public—than other QBs. They spend more time on the practice field, arriving earlier and staying later. They devote a ridiculous number of hours to studying game film. And they intentionally nurture strong relationships with key members of their offense.

Read about the greatest musicians and music groups of the last one-hundred years. Read about the most successful business leaders of our day. Talk to great parents. Study the habits of most “A” students. Largely each of these groups live at the upper tier of their craft because they out-work, out-hustle, out-study, and out-practice others.

So what do you want to do well? Win a tennis match against a friend? Gain greater job security or even get a promotion at work? Achieve better grades at school? Develop a stronger relationship with a friend or spouse? Be a wiser parent? Meet a financial savings goal? Get in optimal physical shape? Learn a new skill? Grow your relationship with God?

If so, those things are not likely to happen by sheer luck. You will have to work hard, be disciplined and find someone that will bring you encouragement and accountability along the way.

Too many people make excuses for why they didn’t achieve some goal in life. (Now I'll admit sometimes those “excuses” aren’t just excuses. They are valid reasons. But more often, the reason probably lies in the simple truth articulated by Solomon thousands of years ago: “lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.”) The truth is you can do more than you think you can, with the help of friends, family, and with a great God whose wisdom and power is available to each of us on a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute basis.

Today I remind you what I was reminded of so rudely on a hot, summer morning, tennis racket in hand: “Pride may go before a fall, but so does lack of preparation, inferior skill and the absence of hard work.”

Two Kittens

I took our new kittens to the vet yesterday for their first vaccinations. It was actually the first time I’d taken any of our pets to the vet. And when I arrived, checked-in and sat down in the waiting area along with a dozen other pets and pet-owners, I was unprepared for what I was about to experience.

I was unprepared because I didn’t know that if you are a pet-owner you are part of a family of pet-owners. While sitting in the waiting room with Snowball and Snowflake (names given to our kittens by my daughter), people began talking to me like they’d known me for years.

“I bet your children love those kittens.”

“Our kids love our dog, Otto.”

“I remember when I first purchased our dog. Our kids were still toddlers.”

“We were just married and two weeks after our honeymoon my wife saw our dog and her heart melted.”

I learned about Lacey the cat, whose sister died of diabetes a few years ago, and I learned what danger signs I should watch for in our own kittens as they grow up. I met Kitty (an original name), the 19-year old cat whose owner found her clutched between the teeth of their dog one winter morning when he went outside to get the newspaper (interestingly the cat was fine, but the dog’s face was bloodied with multiple cat scratches). I met Otto the rescued Boxer and Chloe the Pomeranian, who gets a good shave every summer to help her stay cool.

And with every conversation I also learned a little about each owner. One owner’s husband was a youth pastor in the area. One retired couple indicated that since their children had moved out of the house, their animals were like their new children. One man had taken the day off work to bring his dog in, and had been waiting 2½ hours in the waiting room because he didn’t have an appointment that day. But he wasn’t in a hurry and didn’t mind the wait.

When customers left they said “good-bye” to other owners as if they had known them for a lot longer than thirty minutes or an hour.

And as I was driving back home, reflecting on the experience, I realized that I had learned more than just a few names and stories. I had witnessed this truth of human nature: People long to share their story and hear yours, when done so in the safety of a loving, accepting environment. We like to share our stories with people we believe are interested and can identify with them. We like to know and be known in the context of family. And in this case we were a family of pet owners.

I tell you all that, because this truth obviously applies outside the realm of pet ownership, too. We all, in life, want to know and be known, love and be loved, celebrate and be celebrated. And, in fact, this is one of the most important jobs of any Christian church, to increasingly become a place of safety and joy and acceptance and love, to truly become a family united, not by out pets, but, by our membership in the family of God.

So will you listen to another’s story this week? Give someone a call. Take someone out for coffee or lunch. Really listen.

Share your story, too. And as you do, remember that we have a heavenly father who already knows our story and who longs to be a daily part of it, bringing us love, peace, purpose and joy. The Psalmist reminds us of this in Psalm 139:

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.”

Reflections On This Week's Biggest News Story

I stayed up late Sunday night to hear President Obama’s announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed. Following the story that evening on multiple news outlets was a riveting and emotional experience for me.

I have continued to follow the barrage of information surrounding the death of bin Laden and the never-ending stream of pictures and videos of American celebrations. I totally understand people’s excitement over his death and share in the admiration for the men and women who acted so bravely during the course of the operation that resulted in bin Laden’s death.

I realize that while this doesn’t end terrorism, it does bring a measure of resolution to the tens of thousands of families around the world who have suffered because of bin Laden’s acts of terror. And I realize, too, that this has brought a sense of unity to many in our country and fueled hope for a different, better future.

However, I have seen a very dangerous side of the celebration. Patriotism, which is good, can quickly turn to un-Christ-like attitudes and actions.

Some people are “celebrating” because they believe that Osama Bin Laden is now in hell. One newspaper headline I saw even read, “Rot in Hell.” Others are celebrating because they believe it shows the superiority of America or at least that America is “the winner.” Several hand-made signs in New York City and around the country have simply read “WIN” or “America Wins.”

This has led me to a series of questions that I think every thoughtful person ought to ponder. I do not attempt to answer these questions, but do hope that we will each prayerfully reflect on them.

• Should we ever hope for the damnation of anyone?
• Should killing someone ever be a cause for celebration or joy?
• How does our response to Bin Laden’s death fit in to Jesus’ command to love and forgive our enemies?
• How are Christians representing Christ in their response to bin Laden’s death?
• If we display such an intense hatred for our enemies that we are overjoyed at the news of their death or suffering, how will the world ever know the radical love and forgiveness of Jesus?
• When, if ever, is it healthy to celebrate the death of anybody?
• Does violence, even a “justified” act of violence, have the capacity to heal the wounds inflicted by violence, or to end the cycle of violence?
• We, as a nation, are rightly repulsed and angered when we see others dancing and celebrating over the death of Americans. Do you think our response to bin Laden’s death might engender similar reaction among others?
• How can we “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “mourn with those who mourn” and “bless those who persecute us” (Romans 12).
• How can we celebrate and express gratitude for what’s good while respecting those who may not share our joy?

These are some tough questions that don’t have simple answers. But I think they are important questions for any Christ-follower to think through. So as we recognize the significance of bin Laden’s death, the heroism of the American soldiers and the healing that continues to take place for the thousands of victims of terror around the world, let us also seek to be ambassadors for our Savior in the process (2 Corinthians 5:20).

A Fish Story

A few nights ago, several minutes after I had tucked my daughter into bed, I opened the door to her room to check on her and see if she had fallen asleep. She was still awake. And she was writing in her notebook.

I asked her what she was writing, and she answered, "Do you want to hear it?"

I said, "Yes."

She read it to me.

Below I have typed the story she wrote and read to me. It's a wonderful story and fuel for all kinds of analysis from psychologists, parents, friends, counselors and anyone interested in a story about life, love and lessons learned along the way. Enjoy!


A Fish
by Emma Bryan

A girl was walking by a pond. She saw a fish, and she wanted to catch it. But the fish was too fast. So she said that the fish should go home, and she stopped trying to catch it.

One day later, the fish came back. The girl said to the fish, "I am not your mother." But the fish said that it did not have a mother. (The girl did not know that. But then she found out.)

So the girl kept the fish. The fish was very pretty. The girl was so happy that her mom said "yes" to keeping the fish. Her mom was so nice to the fish.

One day the fish was dying, but the girl did not know. But she knew the fish was sick. So she took the fish to the fish doctor. She was so, so, so sad.

The doctor said the fish did not get fed because the girl had forgotten to feed it.

The girl did not want to tell, but she had to do it. So she did. She got in trouble, but she learned a lesson. The lesson was to tell her parents before playing to make sure the fish was fed.

The good news was the fish did not die. The girl fed the fish every day so the fish would not die. She loved the fish so much.

Soon it was the fish's birthday. They had a party, but just with the people in their house. They were so happy it was the fish's birthday.

The End.

Who is My Brother? (Not Who Some Think.)

Compliments are GREAT THINGS. Both for the giver and the recipient. Compliments can bring life, joy, energy, confidence and blessing.

Earlier this week I took my son to a nearby medical clinic. He had been experiencing some symptoms of what turned out to be strep throat. After a decent wait in the waiting room, we finally heard those welcome words from the lady at the door which led back to the exam rooms. “Ethan Bryan.”

That meant it was our turn!

When we entered the exam room, there was only one bench to sit on. Ethan took the seat, and I stood nearby. Shortly after, noticing there was no place for me to sit, the nurse said to Ethan, “Your brother is welcome to sit next to you, too.”

That’s right. “Brother!”

It was an unintended compliment, but a compliment nonetheless. At almost-40, I have entered the age bracket where looking younger than you are is a good thing! When I told her I was Ethan’s father, she commented on how young I looked (and in that word “young” I chose to hear “good-looking,” “ripped” and “athletic”).

Ethan is feeling better now, anxious to forget how he felt and ready to hit the basketball courts again. But I will remember that “compliment” for some time.

Because it reminds me of the power of a compliment.

Proverbs 25:11 observes: “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

This truism applies to apt words of all kinds (apt words of encouragement, rebuke, warning, celebration, and more). But it also speaks to the power of a compliment.

So how are you doing at handing out apt compliments these days?

“You look nice.”

“You are great to work for.”

“I admire your sense of humor.”

“I admire your creativity.”

“I admire your athleticism.”

“I admire your wisdom.”

“I admire the way you think, or the way you parent, or the way you handled that situation.”

“You are a wonderful friend.”

“I have great respect for your ability to ….”

“You are the best….”

“You inspire me to….”

“You are a wonderful, Godly person.”

The power of an apt compliment. It’s like apples of gold in settings of silver.

So will you aptly compliment someone today….everyday?

LISTS 2010

Here are my Top Five lists from 2010. If I am faithful to do this for the next fifty years, it's gonna be great fun and very meaningful to look back on these annual posts.

Top Five Movies I Saw:

(I probably only watched a dozen movies—rented and at a theater—all year, so my pool to choose from is relatively small)
1. A-Team and Star Trek (two fun movies based on 80s shows)

2. The Book of Eli

3. The Last Song and Letters to God (two movies with many similarities)

4. Lie to Me (first two seasons of this intriguing TV show…on DVD)

5. Food, Inc. and King Corn (two movies, similar hard-hitting impact)

Top Five Websites I Visited:
1. Ted.com
2. Ajc.com / CNN.com / USATODAY.com
3. Pandora.com
4. CBSsportsline.com

5. FastCompany.com

Honorable Mention: FollowTheRabbi.com

Top Five Books I Read:

1. To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World by James Davison Hunter

2. Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination by Walter Wink

3. Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge by Dallas Willard

4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

5. The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence by Tom Peters

Honorable Mentions:

What Good Is God: In Search of a Faith That Matters by Philip Yancey

Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do by Michael J. Sandel

The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels

Top Five Restaurants I Ate At:
1. Subway

2. Sweet Tomatoes

3. The Cheesecake Factory

4. Taco Mac (more for the football than the food)

5. Starbucks (not a restaurant and hot chocolate isn’t a meal, but I frequented no eating establishment more often)

Top Five Things I'm Really Glad I Spent My Time Doing:

1. Growing my relationship with my wife and children

2. Being with my church family on Sunday mornings.
3. Tutoring kids at Esther Jackson Elementary School and helping to fund the digging of freshwater wells in Africa
4. Spending time with friends

5. Reading

Fifteen Great Memories

1. Attending my son’s football and basketball games and playing ping pong with him in our basement

2. Tucking my daughter in at night, picking her up from school, and riding bikes with her in the neighborhood

3. Playing Yahtzee, watching movies, and times of laughter with my wife

4. Thanksgiving Day with 31 relatives in North Carolina

5. Two Hilton Head Island vacations with family and an afternoon Braves Game with my dad

6. Teaching from the scriptures on Sunday mornings and 10:30am discussions with the high school group

7. Talking on the phone with my parents

8. Dedicating my nephew, William, to God

9. Sunday nights at Taco Mac with friends

10. Early morning conversations with friends over coffee, Wednesday lunches over backgammon with Carlos, dozens of phone conversations with SteveW

11. A Wells for Africa jug filled with coins and surrounded by smiling faces of children

12. A wonderful, warm and perfect Christmas brunch with my church family at Altobelli’s

13. Conversations with George and Dianne

14. A blistering hot August Braves game with friends

15. Christmas Day Snow