My Top 10 Events of 2008

I’ve noticed, more this year than in the past, that people love to put together Top 10 Lists at year’s end. Well, I’ve been called many things and you can add copycat to the list because I’m putting my own top 10 out there too. I’ve read and heard several different types of lists that range from the top 10 books of 2008, top 10 world events, top 10 movies, even the top 10 naked celebrities on the cover of magazines…good grief. This world needs Jesus.


Anyway, my top 10 is a more personal list. It’s the Top 10 Events of My Life in 2008. These events aren’t necessarily the most exciting or the most enjoyable events in my life, but they are probably the 10 most important of this past year.


Usually top 10’s are listed descending from 10 to 1 with the last one being the most important, but I don’t really see mine that way. Rather, I’ve arranged them, as best I can remember (as Pop Moultrie used to say, “my memory ain’t what it used to be”) chronologically. There may be a little overlap…so sue me if they’re out of order. I’m just kidding…please don’t sue me. You’d probably win but you wouldn’t win much.


So, here we go:

1. Graduated from the University of West Georgia
That’s right, after many attempts at a college degree, I finally had enough credits to get one. At the ripe old age of 31, only 13 years after graduating high school, I finally finished my undergraduate degree. Hallelujah!

2. Camp Viola
A small group of my friends and I had originally planned to go on a short-term, overseas mission trip last summer. When time ran out and money was short, we decided to make other plans. It worked out by God’s grace that the very week we had planned to travel, there was a day camp in Mountville, Ga. that my aunt Becky and aunt Faye were organizing. They desperately needed help with it so we decided to do that instead. It was a wonderful experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Here is a slideshow of pictures from camp.

3. Preacher-Man
Twice this past summer, I had the privilege and honor of preaching. It was a humbling, difficult, and wonderfully fierce and furious experience. I was surprised at how hard it was but how much I thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part was in the preparation. The Holy Spirit does terrific things through the study of Scripture. My prayer is that He used my feeble words to pierce the heart of lost people. I long to do that more.

4. “Take This Job and Shove It”
I did not use Johnny Paycheck’s song title when I quit my job. I find it ironic that a man named Paycheck would be most famous for a song about quitting his job. Anyway, I’d been working at Advance Auto Parts in Newnan for over 6 years and I was glad to be moving on. I had made several good friends there in that amount of time and I was sad to say goodbye to them, but I was excited to take the next step.

5. "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
I’ve only lived in one state in my life up until the summer of 2008. I did have a brief stint in Auburn, Alabama, but it was so short that I don’t even count it. This past year marked the first time I made a major move. Now I live in Louisville, Kentucky and I really like it here. There aren’t any good seafood restaurants and there are a lot of differences between here and home but this town does have a lot of charm and beauty…parts of it anyway. It’s a nice place to live.

6. "We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich."
After about a week of living in Kentucky, I knew I would soon need money. You see, money is required to have food and food is required to keep living. While at the local mall one day, I decided to grab a quick bite for lunch. I chose Chick-fil-A because it’s always been one of my favorite places to eat. After I placed my order, I asked for an application and decided to fill it out while I ate. A couple of days later, I was interviewed and became an official “Trainee.” The rest, as they say, is history. Well, there’s not too much history yet but you get the idea.

7. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The whole point of finishing my degree, quitting my job, moving to Kentucky, and getting the job at Chick-fil-A was to be here on the campus of the best seminary in the world. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a student here studying under the brilliant faculty and leadership of this institution. I could make this an entire blog but I won’t. For more information about my time here, just scroll down to the blog entry entitled “First Semester of Seminary.” It will give a more detailed explanation.

8. Grace Church Louisville
One of the first Sundays I was in Louisville, my friends Jay & Marsha Sanders invited me to go to their church. I wasn’t sure what to do about finding a church so I was open to going wherever. I went to a couple of churches before going to Grace but once I became a “regular” there, I knew it was the one for me. I later attended membership meetings and liked what I heard. I decided to go through the necessary steps to join Grace. It’s a small, relatively new church plant with a very strong emphasis on evangelism. My pastor, Mark Janke, is one of the best preachers I’ve heard. His exposition of Scripture is spot on and it’s obvious when you hear him preach that the text is not only in his notes, it’s also in his heart. I love my church.

9. President Barack Hussein Obama
Now, this entry doesn’t specifically involve me but it’s a big deal for 2008. I disagree with pretty much every policy decision and every plan our new President has proposed but I think it’s a wonderful thing that America, just 50 years after treating African Americans like lesser beings because of their race, has elected a black man as President. I sincerely hope that God uses this upcoming presidency to further His Gospel…whether it be through free expression of Christian ideals or though crushing persecution. God is sovereign and He will be glorified.

10. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
This past Thanksgiving, due to my work schedule, I wasn’t able to go home and be with my family. At one point it was looking like the same thing was going to be true of Christmas but, by God’s grace, I was able to be at home for the entire week of Christmas. Thanks to My Dear Aunt Sally’s neighbors Mary & Jim, I was able to fly home on a buddy pass. Round trip ticket: $76. Being at home for Christmas: Priceless. It was so wonderful to spend time with loved ones, both family and friends. It’s amazing how fast a week can go by.


So that’s it, my top 10. Feel free to comment on mine, remind me if I’ve forgotten something that should be in the list, and add your own. I wish everyone a great 2009 and may you see God’s glory in your life as you worship Him.

Casey

"Oh LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!" Psalm 8:1