Top 2007

The absolute top of all 2007:

Top 2007 - Movies

My Top 5 movies viewed in 2007:
(from 1 to 5 this time)





Honorable Mention:
Rattatoullie, Enchanted, Shrek the Third, and, believe it or not, Live Free or Die Hard (yes I liked it Phil, are you happy?)

Did not see, and wonder if they could crack my top 5...
Gone Baby Gone, American Gangster, Juno, August Rush, Across the Universe.


Top 5 Worst Movies I saw:
1. Pirates 3 (I'll take too many plot lines for $500 Alex)
2. Spiderman 3 (I'll take too many bad guys for $600 Alex)
3. 300 (THIS IS OVERRATED! I'll stick to Braveheart)
4. Evan Almighty (I know... blasphemy; but it just didn't deliver)
5. Blades of GLORY (Will Farrel either nails it or misses big... missed big on this one; and good call Jeff... I'll now take you back as a friend if you'll have me.)

Top 2007 - Top Reads

My top 5 reads of 2007...

Top 2007 - Best Movie?

In a previous post, I made the statement that The Bourne Ultimatum was the best movie of 2007. I went on to state that anyone who says otherwise is wrong. I knew this would stir the pot. I knew there would be those who would take exception to my sweeping statement.

And yes, it happened.
What movie was brought up as better than Bourne?
300?
Transformers?
Sweeney Todd?
No Country For Old Men?
I Am Legend?
Gone Baby Gone?

Oh no!
Live Free or Die Hard that has been proposed by one Phil Strahm (former NMC SOAR student); then supported by one Jeff Simpson (NMC supervolunteer, set up guru, and former friend due to his support of Phil).

Andrew Whitehead and Dan Weiss then came to the defense of Bourne.

Now, I can only think of one way to solve this significant controversy...A blog poll.
The poll is on the top right of this blog will remain up until 11:59 pm Christmas Eve. Yes, my friends, all will be resolved on Christmas day. Cast your vote, and don't disappoint me America!

Top 2007 - Top 10 Stories for Christians

Christianity Today released their Top 10 Stories of 2007

1. Taliban takes Korean short-term mission team hostage, killing two

2. Atheism tops the bestseller charts

3. Presidential campaigns start early, with some faith surprises

4. Ruth Graham promoted to glory

5. Anglican Communion fractures over Scripture, homosexuality

6. Three Christians tortured and killed in eastern Turkey

7. Lions of the Religious Right pass away

8. Francis Beckwith returns to Catholicism

9. Campaign to oust NAE’s Richard Cizik fails

10. Supreme Court upholds 2003 federal partial-birth abortion ban

Got this from Monday Morning Insight... a frequent read of mine.

Top 2007 - Two types of people

There are two types of people in this world.

Those who thought Bourne Ultimatum was the best movie this year, or those who are wrong.

Top 2007 - Lists Galore

I have spent the majority of the morning checking out Time Magazine's 50 Top 10 lists of 2007.
50 top 10 lists under 5 categories...

• News
• Arts and Entertainment
• Science
• Business, Tech, and Sports
• Pop Culture

Some of list lists I found especially enjoyable...

• Top 10 Underreported News Stories.
• Top 10 Religion Stories.
• Top 10 Oddball News Stories.
• 2 different guys top 10 movies (here and here)
  sidenote - I've only seen one of the movies listed.
• Top 10 New TV shows.
• Top 10 Returning TV shows.
• Top 10 Sports Matches.
• Top 10 Sports Moments.
• Top 10 Viral Videos.

If your a lists buff, and you have plenty of time to kill, it's a great stop.

Also, while preparing this posts, I caught this site off Corey Mann's blog with even more top 2007 lists.

Top 2007 - Moments

Best Movie Moment - Bourne Ultimatum... so many great moments, but I'm going to go with bourne/vosen phone call in New York.




Best Television Moment -
Tie... Michael Scott follows GPS Navigation system into a lake.



Lost Season 3 finale (spoiler alert... season 3 ending revealed)




Best Sports Moment - Colts Super Bowl Victory


Best Youth Ministry Moment - Maasai Night



Funnest Youth Ministry Moment - Tie... Summer Camp Boat Race and "Cowbell Night"

Best Derry/Janelle traveling moment - Surprising my wife with a trip to Las Vegas


Best All-around moment of 2007 - Holding my daughter for the first time.

Youtubesday - Top 2007 Musical Talents

My picks for most impressive musical talents found on Youtube in 2007...


Beatboxer #1 (from French Idol):




Beatboxer #2 (flute beat boxer):




2 guys, 1 guitar:



2 guitars, 1 guy:




And, my favorite music video of the year, Awakening by Switchfoot.

Top 2007 - Quotes

Some of the best quotes I've heard in 2007 (in no particular oder)...

We must relearn what it means to have prayer at the center of mission, and mission at the center of prayer.
-Pete Grieg in Red Moon Rising

Pray that the Sun will never set on the effects of your ministry.
-Greg Despres at NYGO.

Waaa... gurgle, gurgle, slurp, grunt (paraphrased)
-Katylynn Ivy Prenkert

"I don't think this is an accident that all these people have been brought together. I cannot believe that God would bring all of these people… with all of these resources… and talents and abilities…and that the ultimate thing that would happen in our midst is that we all feel better about ourselves.

I have to believe that God has brought this many people with this many backgrounds together to affect massive change in our culture that would lead to people saying 'JESUS IS REAL.'"
-Rob Bell on Mars Hill Bible Church's current efforts to engage poverty and the oppressed in their community.

"I've invested two months of planning into this night. I can't miss this opportunity to invest in the kingdom because of a basketball game."
-Dustin, a student in our ministry after finding out his snowed-out basketball game had been rescheduled to the same date as Maasai Night.

Every one of the above statements brought about significant change in the way I approach life and/or ministry.

Youtubesday - Top 2007

For Youtubesday until the end of the year, I'm going to offer my Top 2007 videos in various categories. Today, all the "dumbest" videos:

Best dumb but very effective commercial 2007
Filet O' Fish



Best dumb guy in a commercial 2007...
Southwest "Wii" commercial:



Best Dumb Beauty contestant video 2007...
Miss Teen South Carolina, U.S. Map and "South Africa, the Iraq"


Best dumb guy Idea:
Let's strap my girlfriend to a bungee rope and a four wheeler and see what happens...




Best Celebrity Dumb moment:
Kelly Pickler on Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader:

Coming In December...

Last year, I ran 2 series on the blog through December...
25 thoughts on Christmas - Every day leading up to Christmas day, I posted a thought on the Christmas Season.
31 memories of 2006 - Every day in December counting down to the New Year, I posted a personal, community, or cultural highlight from 2006.

Both Series were a lot of fun to do, but grew a bit tedious and grew old as the month wore on.

This year, I will not be posting daily.
I had a conversation with my pal Corey yesterday that spurred on a thought in me though. He asked me for my top 3 things that "worked" in Student Minisitries this past year. He also mentioned how he loves lists. I love them too. So, throughout the next month, I give you...

Christmas Lists - This will be various lists (some rankings, some just lists) concerning the Christmas holiday.

Top 2007 - I will take time to highlight my Top 3-10 of various categories (ministry highlights, movies, music, traveling highlights, youtube videos) over the year 2007.