Best of 2008: Pictures

Best pictures we took in 2008.

Paul and Martha's dog, Shelby



This one of the "STAR team" is one of the first pictures taken with our camera.



Meeting Miles in September


Not sure how Courtney did this one, but it's cool

Best of 2009: Videos

I have documented my favorite videos for the first time in 2009. Now, I've tried to pick out the best. These 3 are the best. It's kind of tough to put them in order.

1. Her Morning Elegance




2. Distraxion





3. Kittens

Best of 2009: Movies

Here are the 10 best movies I saw for the first time in 2009.

#1
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)



The only movie we saw in 2009 that was either 1. rented with money, or 2. viewed out of town with someone else. Although I found it to be a very frustrating movie, plot-wise, I can't deny that it is really the greatest movie I saw for the first time in 2009.


#2
Ordinary People (1980)
Pretty much an amazing movie. It is not the type of movie I typically like (family strife, etc), but I really enjoyed it.




#3
Chariots of Fire (1981)

A true story about guys training to sprint in the Olympics and overcoming life obstacles during the process.





#4
Annie Hall (1977)

It's a funny movie, and creative in the way it was written.






#5
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)



Despite being a little dated from the special effects standpoint, Close Encounters is entertaining and interesting.



#6
Gandhi (1982)
Gandhi the movie is educational and inspirational, and even though it is around 3 hours long, it kept my attention the entire time, and doesn't drag.


#7
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

There are some good tunes in Fiddler, and good characters, and a message that makes you think about tolerance and change.


#8
The Guns of Navarone (1961)

Although I didn't care for the acting that much, I guess I still like a good old fashioned action movie.





#9
Bullitt (1968)
A good detective/action/mysterious movie.





#10
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Even though family/courtroom dramas are not my favorite, I can still call this a good work of art.

Best of 2009: Books

Unfortunately, I only read 12 books this year, about a third of the number of complete books that I usually read. I did read almost as many pages probably, but have either read longer books, or haven't completed them. Next year I will focus on the top 12 books that I really want to read, instead of random books.

So...DISCLAIMERS ASIDE

Here is my take on the books I read in 2009. Click on the titles for my original reviews

BEST BOOKS OF 2009

The winner:

The Robe, by Lloyd C. Douglas

A captivating tale in the historical context of Christ crucifixion and the years afterward in the Roman Empire.


Runner up:

The Count of Monte Cristo (Unabridged)

This lengthy book drags in the middle and end, but the beginning is really awesome! It seems a bit crazy to not name this book as the winner of my award, but it's just my gut feeling.


Third:

A New Kind of Christian, by Brian McLaren

It's interesting to have fiction and nonfiction all in one book. Through fictional characters and situations, the author teaches us about changes in the culture and how that affects Christianity.

Fourth:

The Obama Nation

I don't know if it's because I wasn't paying attention, but I didn't know a thing about Obama until I read this book. A still widely unknown fact is that he was a friend and follower of communist teachers. It's not just scare tactics out there, folks - there is a lot of historical truth to the things people are saying.

Fifth:

True Faced

About learning to live out your life in grace. It was good, but I liked the four I just listed better.


SO-SO BOOKS OF 2009

Tortured for Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand

He was a great man, and had a powerful testimony. It's an interesting read.

The Inner Game of Work

I kind of liked it when I read it, but I haven't applied any of the ideas in the past year. The methods are overall unhelpful.

48 Days to the Work You Love, by Dan Miller

This has nothing to do with 48 days of anything, so I'm not sure why they called it that. It just has some thoughts about work and finding work. It's difficult for career books to apply to my situation. They write the books to be able to apply to any career.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict, by Mitchell Bard

I'm all for the cause of Israel, but this book is very biased for Israel, and is all about Israel. My point is that I was disappointed that this wasn't reflected in the title or back cover of the book when I bought it. Also, it has nothing to do with being a complete idiot, because this is a smart person book!


BAD BOOKS OF 2009:

Experiencing Prayer With Jesus, Henry and Norman blackaby

The most egotistic, "I have it all together" book I've ever read, teaching you formulas on how to pray as well as the authors can.


BOOKLETS THAT WEREN'T REALLY BOOKS:

2 contents, 2 realities, by Francis Schaeffer

Didn't make a ton of sense.

The Little Brown Book of Corporate Advancement

My guide to brown-nosing in office sports and cubicle land!

BOOKS I FLIPPED THROUGH

I only include books if I read them completely, but I read most chapters of the following books:

No More Mondays, by Dan Miller
Your Pregnancy for the Expectant Father
The Meaning of Life, Readings in Philosphy
Eat to Live

Best of 2008: Movies

Here's my top ten movies of 2008!

1. The French Connection (1971). Drug cops in New York City try to track down a big shipment of drugs from France. Although the very end of it was a horrible ending, this movie as a whole gave me the best impression of any new movies I watched in 2008. It was suspenseful and interesting, and had good acting. And the car chase scene was incredible.
















2. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). A couple of misfit outlaws try to escape from the law. This is creative and fun and entertaining, and a great piece of art as well.









3. Ben-Hur (1959). A man in Judea, during the time of Christ, is stripped of his power and influence when the Romans take over. This is the story of how he loses his life and then finds it again. If this movie didn't feel so old fashioned it would have been #1.













4. My Fair Lady (1964). This is a musical that takes place in England. A gentleman makes a bet that he can turn a poor street merchant into a true lady. I have a soft spot for musicals, and the songs are great in this one.











5. Bridge on the River Kwai (1956). About British soldiers in a Japanese prison camp forced to build a bridge, and Colonel Nicholson who insists on building a good one, for morale. Then there is a secret military mission to try to blow the bridge up. It is a great guy movie with a good theme song.









6. The Diary of Ann Frank (1959). It was based on the Diary of Ann Frank, which we are all familiar with. Most movies were in color by this time, but they chose to go with the black and white. The movie is really suspenseful even though we know the sad result, and it leaves an impact.










7. 12 Angry Men (1957). 12 men in a jury decide the fate of a young man accused of murder. It's really well written. I think it was towards the end of the black and white era.









8. Midnight Cowboy (1969) A naive young man from Texas goes to New York City to make a living as a prostitute. He meets a sickly friend who is a conman and tries to help him in his career. As the movie goes along, we learn a bit about their past. Even though this plot is about adult themes, the movie left an impact because it was well done. Movie scholars rate it way higher than I did.










9. Poseidon (2006) A ship overturns on New Years Eve, and a group of people try to survive. The movie from 1972 is a favorite of the Bades. I wasn't sure that a remake was going to be good. I also had doubts because the same director made the Perfect Storm, which was a horrible movie. But you know what - I really enjoyed it.











10. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) T.E. Lawrence helps the allies by fighting with and against Arabs in World War I. I am clearly not a scholar, because if I were, this would apparently be ranked #1. But hey, it did make my top ten list.










Stats:

I watched 32 movies in 2008 - 15 fewer than than 2009. One reason we watched fewer movies was that we went to the gym more often.

Rentals: 0
In the Theater: 1 (Prince Caspian)
Library: 27
A friend rented or owned it: 3 (Eragon, Ten Commandments, Home Alone 3)
TV movie: 1 (Sweet Nothing in My Ear)

Best of 2008: Books

I'll be doing it differently this year. I'll be slowly revealing my top ten list. First, this is more fun to keep up the suspense. Also, it will let me write a short blurb about each book. So here goes!

1. Dishwasher, by Pete Jordan. A self-written account of a man's quest to wash dishes in all 50 states. This book hit me just right - we were on a trip and I needed some leisurely reading while traveling. I fiound myself laughing out loud at this guy whose work habits and thought patterns were really hilarous. And I learned a lot about dishwashing facts - an activity that I perform daily.












2. Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers. This book is already great because it takes place during the California gold rush. What makes it greater is that it is a modern day allegory to the Old Testament book of Hosea. An upright man believes that he is to marry a prostitute. The story is told from the point of view of both the prostitute and the man. It is a powerful story. And it was Courtney's birthday book to me - meaning I read the book as a gift to her - and she says it is her favorite book.










3. Doctor Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak. This book about the Russian Revolution was published in 1957 in Europe. It is a fictional story in a historical setting about young kids who grow up, fall in love, and then get their lives messed up by the revolution and war in the Soviet Union. I was impressed by the poetic feel, even though it's a translation. And it is truly an epic book, and it doesn't get too boring.









4. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo the hobbit goes on an adventure with dwarfs and Gandalf the wizard. It was a book written for young boys, and I somehow avoided reading it in my childhood. I enjoyed it, especially since it is in the same fictional world as the Lord of the Rings.










5. The Client, by John Grisham. A boy comes across some very valuable and important information, and hires a lawyer who becomes his guide and defender. This was the first lawyer book I've read from Grisham, and I really enjoyed it. I actually had ranked this as #2 until I suddenly did not feel right putting it above these other books.









6. The Problem of Pain, by C.S. Lewis. A book seeking to explain the theological problems surrounding the existence of pain. I didn't understand all of it, but it made me feel a lot smarter!










7. Presence-Centered Youth Ministry, by Mike King. A book that redefines youth ministry, and connects it again to methods of being in the presence of God. Students aren't afraid of that stuff - they love it! This book had an impact on my spiritual life, and it also led Courtney and me to spend time in prayer together. I wish I could have ranked it higher, but I read a lot of classic books, and it's hard to compete on my rankings!










8. It's Called Work for a Reason!, by Larry Winget. The pitbull of development writes his second book about work and personal responsibility. I liked the common sense approach to work.











9. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, by Lilian Jackson Braun. Jim Qwilleran and the cats take the mystery series to an island called Breakfast Island. This is probably one of the rare times a "cat book" will show up in my top ten. I think the change of environment made this one better.








10. How to Read Genesis, by Tremper Longman. A summary and explanation of the book of Genesis. I also read Genesis twice while reading this book. This helped me to understand and remember what goes on in the "book of beginnings".










Honorable Mention: Messages. A good book about communication skills. It would have made the top ten any other year.










Stats: I read 28 books this year, four fewer than 2007.

General nonfiction: 10
Fiction: 9
Religious nonfiction: 7
Technical nonfiction: 2

Best of 2008: Life Happenings

Yeahh....I guess not much happened. Or at least I didn't remember about things that did. Here are my top 5 events of 2008!

1. Receiving a personal letter from Millard Fuller after his wife, Linda, read my blog review on one of his books. This happened the same day as life happening #5. It was a thrill that someone I admired wrote me a letter based on what I perceived as my lowly blog. My blog had a wider influence than I realized. And that's how my life changed forever...no not really, but I was really excited. The Fullers also sent me a free copy of their new book.











2. Dismantled Shed #2 and Jackhammered the remains
It's fun to swing sledge hammers and it was exhausting but interesting to use a jackhammer fot the first time.




















3.New Year's in NC, and Elissa's wedding. We brought in new year at Jake and Trish's house along with almost the entire Mark and Susie family. We played Wii for the first time, and went to Hanging Rock National Park. Then we traveled to Knoxville, where I sang in Elissa and Martyn's wedding on January 4.



















4. Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting. It is fun to randomly be somewhere and stumble upon something we wouldn't have gone to otherwise.













5. Medaling in volleyball. Yeah, it was bronze. But when you get 7 guys together who are pretty much horrible at sports and you still win a medal, it's a real thrill!

Worst of 2008: Movies

This year, I'd like to also share the worst movies that I saw for the first time. This will be a top 4, and I'll reveal them one at a time.

1. Rush Hour 3 (2007). This part of the Rush Hour series takes place in France. I enjoyed the first two movies when I was in college. And I don't know if I changed or if the quality of the movies changed, but I think this is the worst movie I've ever seen.











2. Home Alone 3 (1997) Continuing the series with completely different actors, but same plot. It's the first movie we watched in 2008, and Curtis Taussig picked it out, because he finished his dinner plate first.










3. GiGi (1958) A rich sugar baron falls in love with a poor clumsy young girl. Overall, it was a bore (and a Best Picture winner).










4. The Client (1995). Based on the book by John Grisham. It made me upset how much of the book they rewrote.

The LLF Best Of Awards 2007!

I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, since this is my first full year of blogging. In lack of color scheme, and in lack of a great name for these awards, I will go ahead and announce my 2007 awards for the best first time experience of a movie, book, restaurant, and the best life experiences.

First, some stats. I watched a whopping 47 movies - almost 1 per week. And I read 32 books - about one every two weeks. Both of these are definitely personal records.

Best movie: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Runner-up: Ocean's 13 (2007)
2nd runner-up: It Happened One Night (1934)
Honorable Mention 1: Gone with the Wind (1939)
Honorable Mention 2: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Honorable Mention 3: Casablanca (1942)

Best book: Ted Dekker trilogy - Red/White/Black
Runner-up: Leadership, by Rudolph Giuliani
2nd runner-up: Men In Black - How the Supreme Court is Destroying America, by Mark Levin
Honorable Mention 1: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Steven Covey
Honorable Mention 2: A Painted House, by John Grisham
Honorable Mention 3: The Crucified God, by Jurgen Moltmann

Best Life Happening: Debt Free BBQ
Runner-up: Elton John show/Sprint Center Grand Opening
2nd runner-up: Dave Ramsey Live Event
Honorable Mention 1: South Carolina trip
Honorable Mention 2: Wichita/Oklahoma City Trip
Honorable Mention 3: St Louis trip

Best Restaurant: Thai Tradition (Wichita)
Runner-up: Houston's
2nd runner-up: A Taste of China
Honorable Mention 1: St. Andrews Golf Club
Honorable Mention 2: Zaxby's (East Coast)
Honorable Mention 3: Aloha Chopstix