March 14, 2010

Top 10 Best Audio of 2009


I listened to over 100 hours of audio last year (podcasts, comedy, sermons, news, podcasts). Between 18 hrs of work driving a truck and 8 hours commuting every week, I had a little time to listen. I decided that I'd share the "best of" from all those hours of listening. These were rated based on most enjoyable, helpful and interesting. Here they are:

Top 10 Best Talks/Interviews/Lectures/Sermons/Narrations of 2009:

1. Geoffery Canada and Harlem Children's Zone Interview, "Inner-city Education" on educational reform in America:


Summ: Geoffery Canada has nullified the educational gap between white and black students for those at his school in New York. Obama plans on implementing Geoffery's model in 20 cities in America. Revolutionary schooling for the poor and underprivelaged. This interview was on 12/6/09.

Link: Click Here

2. Jean Vanier Interview, "The Wisdom of Tenderness" with Krista Tippett:


Summ: Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche communities, received a doctorate in philosophy and used it to spend time with the mentally and physically handicaped. His story of founding L'Arche is amazing and everyone needs to know about L'Arche. This interview was on Dec 20, 2007 (I listened to it last year, so it's still a best of 2009 in my books).

Link: Click Here

3. Timothy Tennent - "The Translatability of the Gospel" by Pres. Timothy Tennent (Asbury Theological Seminary):


Summ: This sermon started my semester off last year and I was truly inspired. If you're a Christian, whether an academic or an anti-intellectual, you will be encouraged by this sermon on how the gospel was intended to be translated from it's inception by Jesus.

Fav Quote: "Christianity is the only one of the major world religions to have it's primary documents written in a language other than what it's founder spoke in."

Link: Click Here. Go to page 5, then "Translateability of the Gospel" on September 10, 2009.

4. N.T. Wright's "The Language of Life" lectures (part 1 and 2):


Summ: **This has been one of the most formative lectures I've ever listened to. Wright says we need to learn the language of life, and in learning we will be able to speak truth and stability and live out "miracles" in the world. If life has lost its shine for you, you will be encouraged by this message.

Link: Click Here

5. Francis Chan's Message for Ministers - Exponential 2009 Conference Closing Sermon:


Summ: This is one of the most encouraging sermons I've listened to in the last few years. Chan speaks at the National New Church Conference to church planters to tell them that no matter how much knowledge they have, they need to also have courage to follow the Spirit.

Video is all I could find - Click Here.

6. Andy Stanley's Four Part Sermon Series on God's Will (1/9/08 - 2/19/08):


Summ: Andy Stanley's at his best here. He's a great preacher and good exegete. He brings the difficult subject of God's will into four amazingly profound, insightful yet practical principles. Besides Randy Gariss's theology on God's will, this is the best I've heard.

Links: (unfortunately these are only available for purchase through DVD and book)
-DVD: Click Here
-Book: Click Here

7. Mark Driscoll on the topics of Heart and Planning from Proverbs
:

Summ: As much as I hate to say it, Driscoll had two sermons that have been really helpful for me in the last year. 1) Heart - this is a theology of heart from Proverbs on pursuing God's deepest longings in your life and 2) Planning - this is a theology of thinking before you act and really helpful

Link: Click Here
-Proverbs: Planning - 8/16/09
-Proverbs: Heart - 5/10/09

8. This American Life Podcast:


Summ: Of all the podcasts I listened to last year, I always looked forward to this one. I was never disappointed. Here are the top three. Listen to them all:
-Episode #286, "Mind Games" on play pranks on people... that turn on their heads.
-Episodes #391, #392 (two-part series) "More is Less" and "Someone Else's Money" on American healthcare
-Episode #396, #1 Party School" on Penn State, the number one party school in America

Link: Click on the links above. This one costs a worthy $.99/archived episode.

9. Tony Campolo - On the Environment
:

Summ: This was a really helpful and balanced discussion of environmental issues going on right now. This is a two part series.

Link: Click Here
-10/23/09
-11/01/09

10. Garrison Keillor - Prarie Home Companion:


Summ: Every episode is good! Listen to this week's and you won't be diappointed to hear stories from a place where "all the men are good looking, all the women are strong and all the children are above average." No, really listen to it; you won't be able to stop.

Link: Click Here

What do you think?
After you listen to any or all of them, let me know what you think.