As I have done for several years now, I am going share my favorites in a variety of categories for 2022. All items listed were released or took place in 2022, except for books, which reflect books that I read in 2022, regardless of publication date. I hope you enjoy this list!
Movies
Top Pick: Top Gun: Maverick. Here’s my review.
The rest of my top ten films, in order, were:
- Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
- Belfast
- CODA
- King Richard
- The Fabelmans
- Where the Crawdads Sing
- Elvis
- Jurassic World: Dominion
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Click on ‘Continue reading’ for my favorite books, music, TV, blog, podcast, app, conference and resource…
Books
Top Pick: Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman. Here’s my review.
The rest of my top ten books, in order, were:
- Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
- The Flourishing Pastor: Recovering the Lost Art of Shepherd Leadership by Tom Nelson
- Lessons for the Upper Room: The Heart of the Savior by Sinclair Ferguson
- Truth for Life: 365 Daily Devotions (A Gospel-Saturated Gift Devotional for the Entire Year by Alistair Begg
- R. C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith by Nate Pickowicz
- The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (25th Anniversary Edition) by John Maxwell
- The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick Lencioni
- A Sheep Remembers by David Calhoun
- Lead Like It Matters to God: Values-Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World by Richard Stearns
~ Music ~
Songs
Top Pick: Down to Joy – Van Morrison
The rest of my top ten songs, in order, were:
- There is One Gospel – CityAlight
- Rejoice – Keith & Kristyn Getty and Rend Collective
- Brightest and Best – Keith & Kristyn Getty and Ricky Skaggs
- Promised Land – TobyMac and Sheryl Crow
- The Lord Almighty Reigns – Keith & Kristyn Getty
- Come to Jesus (Rest in Him) – Jordan Kauflin and Matt Merker
- In the Valley (Bless the Lord) – CityAlight & Sandra McCracken
- Holy Forever – Chris Tomlin
- Hold Together – Shadowlands
Albums
Top Pick: Life After Death – TobyMac. Here’s my review.
The rest of my top ten albums, in order, were:
- There is One Gospel (Deluxe Edition) – CityAlight
- Christ Our Hope in Life and Death – Keith and Kristyn Getty
- November Songs – Shadowlands
- Together for the Gospel Live V – Matt Merker
- Light in the Canyon – Sandra McCracken
- The Stories I Tell Myself – Matt Maher
- Always – Chris Tomlin
- Revolver (Super Deluxe) – Beatles
- Dreamland – Amos Lee
Concerts
Top Pick: Eric Clapton and Jimmy Vaughan at the United Center in Chicago
Other concerts I enjoyed, in order, were:
- Van Morrison at the Chicago Theater
- NEEDTOBREATHE’s Into the Mystery Acoustic Tour at the Peoria Civic Center Theater
- Andrew Peterson at the Monticello Christian Church
Artist of the Year – CityAlight
CityAlight released a new album There is One Gospel (Deluxe Edition) and appeared at the Sing! Getty Worship Conference in Nashville. They also released “In the Valley (Bless the Lord)” with Sandra McCracken, inspired by Tim Challies’ book Seasons of Sorrow. CityAlight will lead worship at the 2023 Gospel Coalition National Conference September 25-27, 2023.
Television
Top pick: Tucker Carlson Tonight
The rest of my top ten television programs, in order, were:
- Doc Martin
- Yellowstone
- Shetland
- All Creatures Great and Small
- Endeavour
- Yellowstone: One-Fifty
- The Crown
- Magpie Murders
- Around the World in 80 Days
Note: an older show that my wife Tammy and I have enjoyed watching has been Criminal Minds, which has recently been rebooted as Criminal Minds: Evolution.
Blogs
Top Choice: Tim Challies’ Ala Carte
This is required reading for me each Monday through Saturday morning. Challies includes helpful Kindle deals, links to a wide variety of helpful articles and quotes using SquareQuotes (that he encourages you to share). Check out Tim’s site and subscribe here.
Podcasts
Top Pick: Albert Mohler’s The Briefing
This is required listening for me each weekday morning. Mohler hosts a podcast featuring worldview analysis about leading news headlines and cultural conversations. The podcast runs about 25 minutes and is usually posted by 5:00am. Check out Dr. Mohler’s website and subscribe here.
Apps
Top Pick: Ligonier Ministries
I really appreciate the Ligonier Ministries app, which includes thousands of discipleship resources from R.C. Sproul, the Ligonier Teaching Fellows, Ligonier conferences and other gifted Bible teachers. Listening to Renewing Your Mind is required listening for me each day.
Conferences
2022 Sing! Getty Worship Conference in Nashville
In 2023, Lord willing, we hope to attend the 2023 Ligonier National Conference in Orlando and the 2023 Gospel Coalition National Conference in Indianapolis.
Recommended Resources
Top Pick: The Lord’s Day: Sabbath Worship and Rest teaching series by Robert Godfrey
Another new resource that I enjoyed was Christianity in America by Stephen Nichols
These are my favorites in a variety of categories for 2022. I hope it gives you some ideas on books to read, music to listen, and movies to watch.
What are some of your favorites? Please share.
