The year is quickly drawing to a close. Blink. It’s gone. It seems that life goes by so quickly. I wonder if it will seem the same in heaven, or if time will pass slower as we draw the greatest value out of each and every day.

New Year’s Resolutions - Mint.com offers up some new year’s resolutions that will improve your finances in 2011.

Snow Flakes - Here are some snow flakes as seen under an electron microscope. I’m not surprised to see that they are even more beautiful when seen at the microscopic level.

The First Decade - Life offers up a collection of the photos we’ll all remember through the first decade of the 21st century.

Television by the Numbers - This is an interesting infographic.

An Open Letter to Derek Webb - Frank Turk pens an open letter to Derek Webb. It’s worth reading.

Give Your Pastor a Break - Kevin DeYoung offers a word on behalf of pastors. “The point of my plea is simple. For any elders, deacons, trustees, committee chairs-to anyone with authority over the fringe benefits for your pastor in 2011-please make sure there is enough time for a real vacation and some kind of study leave.”

Are You SAD? - David Murray addresses Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Are you SAD? from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo.

I have taken my good deeds and bad deeds and thrown them together in a heap, and fled from them both to Christ, and in him I have peace. —David Dickson

Where have all the grown-ups gone? It's a question that has perplexed me. Why is it that young people these days seem unwilling, or perhaps unable, to grow up? What is so attractive about youth, about perpetual adolescence, that is so attractive? My wife and I have discussed these things at length, trying to understand why so many of the young people we know (young people who are really not so young anymore) seem stuck. They are working on second or third college degrees; they are living at home with mom and dad, even into their thirties; they are looking at marriage only in their late twenties or early thirties. What is happening? When I was young I could hardly wait to pass through my teenage years so I could live life as an adult and in so doing I think I followed generations before me. What has happened since?

I always close a year with two lists—a list of my favorite books and list of my favorite albums from the year that was. I recently posted my list of books and today want to offer you my list of music. As always, allow me to give a couple of caveats: these are my favorite albums of the year, which is very different from saying that these are the best albums of the year in any objective sense. Also, these are not all “Christian” albums (a difficult label to apply at the best of times). With those caveats aside, here, in no formal order, are my favorite albums from 2010.

Pieces of a Real Heart by Sanctus Real - I’m of the opinion that this is Sanctus Real’s best album. There’s a gut-honestly and spiritual depth about it that takes it to the next level. If you haven’t done so yet, be sure to check out my interview with lead vocalist Matt Hammit.

Suburba by House of Heroes. This album was good, but still a wee bit disappointing. I had really enjoyed their previous album and felt that this new one was just a little bit of a letdown after The End Is Not the End. I’d tend to label this one as “fun” more than “serious.”

Light the Horizon by Bedouin Soundclash - I had never listened to Bedouin Soundclash before I found this album, but was immediately drawn in by “Mountain Top.” Beyond that excellent song there are plenty of others that are good and feature a really original and compelling sound. I like these guys. And not just because they’re from Canada.

The Rock and the Tide by Joshua Radin - I feel like a girl saying this, but I’ve always had a bit of a soft-spot for Joshua Radin. I just love his music. “Streetlight” is the best track from this album, I think. I’ve been known to just put this one on repeat.

Flags by Brooke Fraser - She writes music for Hillsong, but also records solo albums. And Flags is a good one. “Something in the Water” just draws you in and the rest of the songs hold you. My kids love listening to this one just as much as I do.

Gravity & Gladness by Matt Boswell - Our Glorious God is probably my favorite worship song from 2010. “Christ is Risen Indeed” is another great one. There’s really no reason not to get a copy of this album right away. Note that you can download (for free) one of Matt’s previous albums if you’re a Friend of the Blog.

All by Myself by Brian Regan - This may be cheating a little bit since this is a comedy album. But it’s downright hilarious. There are a few that fall a little bit flat without being able to see Regan’s facial expressions and body language, but it’s funny nonetheless.

Yellow Tag Mondays by The Farewell Drifters - A bluegrass album? I know, I know. But this one is exceptionally good. And i’m ready to call it my favorite album of 2010. I’ve listened to this one way more times than can possibly be healthy (as my kids will no-doubt attest). These guys make music that is just plain fun. Be sure to check it out.

Other albums I enjoyed:

• Me in Motion by Me in Motion
• Vagabonds by The Classic Crime
• Horseshoes & Hand Grenades by Disciple
• Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You… by Wakey Wakey (try getting “The Oh Song” out of your head)
• Live Horses by Needtobreathe (if only they had reduced the spoken bits a little)

You know that I like to go looking for prayers to post on Sunday (or even better, to pray on my own on Sundays). Here is one I came across a few days ago, one that shares the grief and bewilderment of a father’s heart as he ponders the imminent death of his son. It is a prayer that comes from a place of great pain, but one that also comes from a deep-rooted faith that God is good and that God does only what is good. It gives me hope that even in the midst of such pain, God would bolster my faith to trust in him.

Lord, you know my heart; you know everything about me.  It is early morning right now and on this morning, I need you so desperately.  You know I am in knots and anxious; you know I am not the strong one, but You are.  I need you to be my hiding place today; my shelter and the place where you hide me in the cleft of the rock when you pass by and show us your glory.  For today is something I am dreading beyond anything I have had to face.

Daddy, I'm weak.  I have nothing good I can give you; no reservoir of strength within me that would spark any sort of hope to get through what could possibly happen today.

Everything is from you; in you is my breathe, my being, my movement and my reality.  I must confess that though I have wanted to be as strong as others see me as, the very real reality is that I am frail and foolish; you are the strong One.  For you are my tower, my fortress, my rock that I cling to today.  I know in my weakness, in my poorness of spirit, in my emptiness of self you shine through and fill me.  Lord, it is YOU; all you that empowers us and gives us strength.  Let THAT testimony be shouted from the rooftops.  Our GOD IS FAITHFUL.  You have gotten me through yesterday, last week, last year and thus far in my life.  You have blessed others with your Spirit, your breathe, your strength and your comfort in their lifetimes and I trust that you are the same yesterday, today and forever.  You are indeed the Alpha and Omega of my life, and you INDEED created Samuel fearfully and WONDERFULLY in the womb of Kelly.  God, THIS is your truth!

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