Christmas is coming quickly this year!  We all know the reason for the season isn’t gift giving, but I would gamble that most of my readers exchange gifts on (or around) Christmas time.  I wonder if you are like me and you could use some suggestions of ideas of things to give (or receive)?    Instead of asking for violent video games, or expensive electronics, consider asking for (or giving) some more useful and beneficial things that will make your (or your loved ones) 2014 an even more enjoyable year.

Because I believe Amazon.com is a safe place to do business, all items on my list are linked there.  You don’t have to worry about clicking on a link and ending up on some random unsecured website.  My list consists of things that you may not have thought of that will benefit you both practically and spiritually.   I’d love to hear about any gift ideas you may have and likewise am happy to answer any questions you may have about any of the things on the list.

If it isn’t obvious, the links for each of the ten items are the underlined (and blue) text.

0) Forward: How to Get Unstuck and Become Unstoppable When I heard that my good friend Bogdan Kipko was publishing his first book, I immediately knew it would be slammed full of practical Christ-centered content that would help people come to know Him more intimately, and encourage people to live lives of tremendous joy and fulfillment.  The Forward book does not disappoint, and that is why I have decided to include it on my list.  I highly recommend that you buy this book and give it to your loved ones on Christmas (or anytime for that matter). For more about the book checkout the official website HERE.

1) Moleskine Weekly Planner & Journals:

The 2013-2014 weekly planner features 18 months of coverage (July 2013 to December 2014) so there really isn’t any reason not to buy this and start using it now.  Theweekly planner is also available in black.  Pay close attention when ordering as these planners and journals are offered in several sizes and colors, along with versions with a hardcover and a softcover.  Amazon.com explains the size of the Moleskine, the color, and the type of cover in the notes.  The journal versions of Moleskine are usually the same dimensions as the calendars, however the feature blank sheets, lined pages, or squared sheets instead of a calendar.  The journals also come in a variety of colors.  Personally I like to have different colors on hand.  Since all Moleskine products look similiar I recommend purchasing different colors for different uses. For example, if my weekly calendar is red, and my journal is black, I can easily tell them apart.

This is what the standard weekly calendar looks like when open.  The days are on the left, a blank lined page is on the right (This person is getting their money’s worth):

This is what the black calendar (and journal) looks like closed.  Notice the elastic strap that keeps the Moleskine closed:

2) Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Gel Ink Roller Ball Pens:

Your Moleskine (journaling) experience is sort of lame if you don’t have some good pens.  The Pilot G2 Premium Gel pens are amazing.  If you have ever written in your Bible before, you know that bleed through (the ink showing on the other side of the paper) can be an annoying problem.  These pens complement the paper in the Moleskine quite well and don’t have too much bleed through on the other side of the page you are writing on.  The G2 pens are also comfortable to hold and have very nice colors that pop from the page.  You might be thinking “who would pay $9 for 8 pens”?  I get that.  However, using colors in your calendar/journal will elevate your experience to a different level.  If you love pink, you can pink-up the critical stuff on your to do list for the week.  If you’re like me and love green, use it to document your bible reading plan for the week.  Whatever the case, Moleskines and Pilot G2 pens go hand in hand. Using these pens will probably make you more consistent in your calendar/journal usage too!

This set is the multicolor .7mm.  I prefer a fine tip pen for making journal entries (or for writing in a bible):

3) Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough by Jefferson Bethke:

I believe it was around 1 year ago that Tacoma native Jefferson Bethke published a poem on Youtube called “Why I hate religion”  that went viral overnight.  Over the past year the poem has managed to generate more than 25 million views worldwide.  Not bad for a no name dude from a poor neighborhood in Tacoma.  Fast forward to October of 2013, and Jefferson has put out a book with a similar theme called “Jesus>Religion“.  If you’re wondering “wasn’t Jesus a member of a religion (Judaism) and isn’t Christianity a religion”? you aren’t alone.  I asked Jefferson about the title on Twitter (thinking he missed something) and he graciously responded to me:

Jefferson’s book goes into detail about what he means when he contrasts Jesus with works based religions that provide false promises that if you are good enough, or do enough good, that you will receive eternal life.  He doesn’t stop there either, he provides personal examples of how in his life he has gone from being a pharisee, to an indifferent (apathetic) Christian, to someone who has discovered and embraced the Jesus of the Bible.  I read the book in one sitting (3 hours) and would wholeheartedly recommend you give it a read as Jefferson’s story alone is worth the price tag.

4) Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card:

Ender’s Game is an amazing (award winning) science fiction book put out by gifted author Orson Scott Card.  The book was published in the 1980’s and is being turned into a movie which is set to be released late 2013. The movie stars Harrison Ford best known for his roles in Star Wars and Indiana Jones.  The film has faced some criticism from the media because Card is religious, and is known for his opposition to same sex marriage.  Despite the efforts of some extremely intolerant people, there is no doubt in my mind that the movie is going to be a smash hit.  The book is kid friendly and isn’t “out there” like so many science fiction works.  The main star of the book is a young child named Andrew Wiggin (Ender) who ends up being humanities best chance of survival.  People have told me that they have read this book 20 times during their lifetime.  I believe it as I read it this year and already want to read it again (and see the movie)!  This isn’t a Christian book, but again, the content is very enjoyable and family friendly.

The cover of the book looks sort of retro (keep in mind it was put out in the 80’s):

The movie looks like it will be awesome:

5) Leatherman New Wave Multi Tool:

You don’t have to work in construction to get use out of a Leatherman New Wave multi tool.  I strap my Leatherman to my belt whenever I go fishing.  When fishing, there have been times when I only have one hand available and need pliers, a sharp blade, or some other tool to get something done (fast).  I also take it with me on outdoor excursions and trips to the mountains (or waters if fishing).  When I bought it, I wasn’t sure if I’d get my moneys worth as these things aren’t cheap and I already have a bunch of tools.  The Leatherman New Wave is made out of 100% stainless steel and feels very solid in the hand (without being too bulky).  This is a tool that every man (whether you are handy or not) should own.

This photo gives you a good idea of the tools featured on the Leatherman New Wave:

6) The ESV Study Bible:

The ESV Study Bible is a high quality study Bible in the English Standard Version translation (ESV) put out by Crossway Publishers that features over 20,000 notes and 200+ colors maps/illustrations/charts for around $35.  If you want to own one good study bible, this is the one you should get.  Some people comment that the ESV study bible is put out by a bunch of Calvinists and thus the notes are tainted.  I’ve read the notes in the controversial areas that Calvinists and Arminians often debate, and I found the notes to be very unbiased.  Rest assured, whatever your views are regarding the doctrines of Grace, this Bible is worthy of being purchased.  One of the great things of the ESV Study Bible is that it is available in a variety of sizes and covers ranging from compact to large print, and hardcover to premium leather.

The normal sized ESV Study bible next to the smaller personal sized version.

The layout of the page, along with an example of the color illustrations:

7) Chemex Glass Coffeemaker:

The Chemex Glass Coffemaker is one of my favorite purchases of 2013. Make sure to buy the Chemex brand coffee filters to go with it.  Coffee tastes different when brewed by the Chemex.  When done properly, the end result isn’t as acidic which results in a smoother cup of coffee, and less of an after taste.  Your teeth won’t feel dirty after drinking Chemex coffee.  The key to pulling Chemex off is to buy the beans you love, grind them to a proper consistency, use the Chemex filters, use filtered water that is slightly below boiling point, and pour the water (according to the Chemex instructions)  over the coffee.  Chemex is designed for the taste, not the raw quantity of liquid java.  If you want a half gallon of coffee every morning, stick with the conventional 12 cup drip brewers.  If you want 1-2 cups of extremely tasty coffee, get Chemex!

When considering the value of the Chemex, consider the artistic element to it’s design.  It’s really a device that is worthy of being displayed in your kitchen:

When you pour the water on the coffee, it blooms (expands) and develops a variety of colors (depending on the coffee beans):

8)  Teaching to Change Lives: Seven Proven Ways to Make Your Teaching Come Alive by Howard Hendricks:

Did you know that you are a teacher?  Your student may be your children, your spouse, your friend, your parents, your co-worker, or countless other people in your life.  You teach people on a daily basis.  That said, you may not be a very good teacher.  You may even be an awful teacher.  Dr. Hendricks’ book “Teaching to Change Lives” is excellent because it teaches you how to become a more effective teacher.  Dr. Hendricks does this through a Christian perspective along with decades of experience being a professional teacher.  The book is short and challenging and if you read the book and don’t become a better teacher because of it it, you probably didn’t actually read the book.

9) The Little Mermaid (Blu-ray):

Disney recently released the classic Little Mermaid movie on Blu-ray.  My daughter is a big fan of the Ariel character. She has some Ariel dolls and some books that have Little Mermaid characters in them.  When I heard the movie was being released on Blu-ray, I knew I had to own it.  We aren’t much of a TV family, and our daughters are (thankfully) too young to be addicted to TV.  This film is good old fashioned, family friendly, Disney fun.  I put the movie on and listened to my daughter comment about Ariel, flounder, and the other characters.  She also loves the soundtrack. From the adult perspective the picture and sound quality is excellent.  Disney did a great job on this project. Both parent and child alike will benefit from adding this treasured film to the family collection.

10) Citizens (Music):

I don’t attend Mars Hill Church in the PNW, nor am I a huge fan of Pastor Mark Driscoll.  When I heard that one of Mars Hills bands (Citizens) was putting out an album I didn’t know what to expect.  I took a chance and purchased the album on my good friends recommendation.  Citizens has quickly become one of my favorite albums of 2013.  I’m not a big fan of the cliche Christian music that’s been peddled the previous 10 years.  When Christian artists release records that aren’t mainstream, contain actual musical talent, and have theologically correct words, I get giddy. Citizens is all of that plus much more.  Every song is good on this record!  I highly recommend that you buy this record for your loved one for Christmas.

I have plenty more to say about each of these items, but for the sake of the reader I will keep the descriptions short in this post.  Please comment below if you have any questions about any of these items, I’d be happy to discuss them in greater length.