Who was I kidding? There’s no way I’m going to find the time to write a series of ‘top 8 for 2008′ posts between now and the end of the year so instead I’ll simply cram them all into one post. So here you have it, my top 8 for 2008 of everything!
Top 8 things I did or experienced in 2008:
- Got married! (October)
- Got engaged! (March)
- Started planning and implementing a church plant (All year – but especially last three months)
- Heard Piper, Driscoll, Chandler and Mahaney at the Resurgence Conference at Mars Hill in Seattle, spent time at the Journey Church in St Louis and met a whole lot of great peeps from Acts 29, and others, in the States (February)
- Was taught Deuteronomy by Gary Millar – the best Old Testament teacher I’ve been taught by to date (September)
- Road up Sani Pass – my first real 4×4 experience behind the wheel (October)
- Decided to stay in Cape Town long term – gotta love this city (March)
- Had my thinking about the gospel deepened and enriched ten times over by Tim Keller through numerous mp3s, articles and the odd blog comment (throughout the year)
Top 8 Blogs I followed in 2008 (See my 2007 list here):
- Church Planting Novice – Jonathan Dodson. A newcomer to the list, this blog has been perfect for where I’m at in my thinking at the moment. So much wisdom and insight from a guy on the ground.
- Between Two Worlds – Justin Taylor. Last year’s number 1 drops down one place – but still a great blog.
- Tim Chester. Up from last year’s number 7 spot. Tim’s writing never stops enlightening, challenging and encouraging all at the same time.
- John Scheepers. Give it up for the Saffa bloggers! John is a friend of mine who writes a great blog and brings a welcome voice to the South African Christian blogsphere.
- Drew Goodmanson. Down from #2 – sorry Drew. Drew doesn’t post very often, but when he does its almost always worthwhile.
- Justin Moffat. Another newcomer to the list. Justin writes an informative and challenging blog with an Anglican slant – I’ve enjoyed it a lot this year.
- Michael Jensen. Michael drops down from last years 3rd but still turns out great post after great post. Plus he sent me a copy of his new book which I’ll be reviewing here shortly.
- Jason Allen. Jason was one of the first people I became ‘blog friends’ with when I started blogging. I’ve always enjoyed his blog and the sanity he brings to some current trends that rage through the church blogging world.
Top 8 Books for 2008 (books I read this year – most of them are older than 2008 – please note that the books are a little one-sided topically because most of my reading this year revolved around my dissertation):
- Total Church – Steve Timmis and Tim Chester. Ok so I first read it in 2007 but I’ve read it several times this year because of my dissertation and I still think its the most important book I’ve ever read on ecclesiology.
- The Reason for God – Tim Keller. The first apologetics book that I feel comfortable giving to my friends.
- Planting Missional Churches – Ed Stetzer. Great book with practical insight. Really helpful for where I’m at.
- The Forgotten Ways – Alan Hirsch. Really good yet at times frustrating. I’m on the same page as Hirsch with a number of things – I guess I’m just a bit more conservative on one or two others.
- Breaking the Missional Code – Ed Stetzer and David Putman. Another great help on all things missional.
- On the Incarnation – Athanasius. I delved into a bit of church history this year and thoroughly enjoyed this one.
- The King of God’s Kingdom – David Seccombe. Dr Seccombe (Doc) was my New Testament lecturer this year and so I got a chance to have a crack at his book. It’s a great overview of Christ in the gospels.
- Jesus and the Victory of God – NT Wright. Vintage Wright – I don’t agree with him at every point but this is an important book.
Top 8 places I visited in 2008
- Seattle, Washington, USA
- St Louis, Missouri, USA
- Castleburn, Drakensburg, KZN
- Sani Pass, Lesotho
- Lost City, Sun City, North West Province
- Franschoek, Western Cape
- Betty’s Bay, Western Cape
- Durban, KZN (my old stomping ground)
That’s my year in a nutshell. It’s been the year with the biggest changes in my life to date. Not only did I get married but we decided to stay in Cape Town and plant churches here rather than in Durban. Things have come a long way in the last 12 months – here’s to an equally exciting 2009.
Merry Christmas all – have a great one!
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