January 2023 Top Ten

1.

We read Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon for book club. It’s probably in my top 10 of fiction books. McCammon is such a great writer. This time through, though, the sad parts stuck to me more than the fun-loving, childhood magic parts.

2.

We watched Nate Bargatze’s new stand up special Hello World. It was great. If you like it, you should check out his weekly podcast about nothing.

3.

I read The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen and loved it. Here’s one quote that I can’t stop thinking about:

“It seems to me now that these hands have always been stretched out—even when there were no shoulders upon which to rest them. God has never pulled back his arms, never withheld his blessing, never stopped considering his son the Beloved One.”

4.

I watched Moneyball and enjoyed it.

5.

I’ve listened to the song Beautiful Life by The Collection more than a few times.

6.

I watched Bo Burnham’s special INSIDE with some friends in a local theater. I liked it, but it’s so vulgar it’s hard to recommend. But, it made me think a lot and has sparked a lot of good conversations.

7.

I also found this album of a bunch of Rich Mullins’ friends singing his songs and its great.

8.

I watched this video of Mr. Beast helping 1,000 people see for the for the first time.

9.

I read a very, very niche book called The American Kestrel by Roland H. Wauer. It was great, and I even wrote a poem based on one part of it.

10.

I read the little graphic novel Goliath by Tom Gauld. It was okay. I liked his book Mooncop better.

11.

I watched this video of Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. hitting back to back home runs in 1990. Insane.