Best Of 2013

I'll jump on the 'Best Of' bandwagon and give you some of my picks from the past 12 months.
(These are in no way scientific rankings, just my opinion)

Songs
Sailboat - Ben Rector
Lover Of The Light - Mumford & Sons
Lakehouse - Of Monsters And Men
He Is With Us - Love & The Outcome
Freaks - The Hawk In Paris
Bruises - Train
Sacred Invitation - Seth Condrey
Magic - Leagues
Made Alive - Citizens
Awake My Soul - Chris Tomlin

Movies
The Kings Of Summer
Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The Internship
Now You See Me
Robot & Frank
Man Of Steel
Iron Man 3

Books
Deep & Wide by Andy Stanley
Love Does by Bob Goff
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
Start by Jon Acuff
The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
Ignore Everybody by Hugh MacLeod

Blogs
Seth's Blog
Stephen Brewster
Donald Miller
Jamie The Very Worst Missionary
Jon Acuff
Tim Ferriss
Scott Dinsmore

Favorite Things Friday - December 20

Good Reads
Calm The Duck Down from Matthew Paul Turner
Spectacular Abandoned Places Around The World from Distractify
Can You Really Take Great Photos With An iPhone? from Lightstalking

Carol Sing


Christmas Card


Prank


Commercial


Invention

Favorite Things Friday - December 13

Good Reads
How To Fight Afternoon Exhaustion Without Coffee from WorkAwesome
10 Lessons I've Learned From Failure from Stephen Brewster
Apple's Secret Coffee Ritual from Tim Ferriss

Tribute To A Christmas Classic


Upcoming Movie


Random Act Of... Magic


Instructional Video


Go Green Initiative

We've Got Some Work To Do

At 2, Christmas is still all about the presents. At least he didn't leave Santa in the chimney and just take the sack of toys!

Kai's Craft From Daycare

Favorite Things Friday - December 6

Good Reads
Surviving "Christmas Shoes" from Jon Acuff
3 Career Investments Every Creative Should Be Making from Accidental Creative
Embracing The Tension Between Now & The Next Thing from Skip Prichard

Attacking A Stranger


Nap Time


Dogs In Boots


Playground Swing


Boxing Commercial

Who Cares About Your Family Tree

I'd always skip over the first 17 verses in Matthew when reading the Christmas story. To be honest, I thought it was dumb. Who cares about the family tree?

But if you look a little deeper, spend a some time looking at the names that are mentioned, you'll see something that further emphasizes the gospel message.

Something you miss when you skip over the passage.

Along with mentioning some giants of the faith, Matthew includes some unusual names.

Like Tamar.

Seriously, read the story of Tamar. Why would Matthew feels the need to include her name? Leave her out and
no one would notice.

Another name that is alluded to, but never mentioned, is Bathsheba. Matthew uses some curious phrasing when describing Solomon. "Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife."

OUCH!

Pour some salt on the wound while you're at it.

You see, when we write stories about our heroes we leave out the bad parts.
We don't mention the affairs
We don't mention the family who leaves because dad is 'married' to his ministry
We don't mention the second set of financial records
So why does Matthew deliberately mention a prostitute and adultery?

Because that's exactly who Jesus came for.

Matthew made a point, right from the start of the story, to make sure his audience knew Jesus came for the screw-ups, the sinners, the people who have messed up so badly they think there is no hope.

I used to skip over the first 17 verses in Matthew, but now I stop and reflect on the names. I'm reminded that the story of Christmas is not about Jesus coming to redeem the righteous, but rather those who know they are not.