Archive for ::: | Collision | :::
The Creation Museum :: Why It Made My Heart Ache
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This morning, Tricia and I had the privilege of visiting The Creation Museum just outside of Cincinnati, OH. We’d been once before, but really desired a return trip with more time set aside to read and experience all that the museum offers.
And we were not disappointed.
The collection of facts and theology, from a creationist point-of-view, is breathtaking. It is stunning and overwhelming all at the same time. Almost impossible to completely take it, the sheer volume of information is enough, if given the proper attention, to truly move you from a position of fact-seeking to a posture of worship.
Let me explain.
Only 30 minutes into our little journey, we found ourselves in a room that, on our last visit, we moved through entirely too quickly. This time, however, we made the decision to be more methodical and purposed in taking in all the small details and videos that the museum offers. And in this particular room, there is a collection of 15 very short videos that range from the complexity of the eye to the complexity of the universe. Each video is well-made and incredibly interesting, but sitting through all 15 seemed to be a bit of a chore. After the first four or five had elapsed, I was almost ready to move on. But I also considered the mindset we sought to stick to; methodical and purposed. So, we stuck it out. Read More→
Lip Balm and Need :: How Necessity Breeds Clear Thinking
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Few things are as painful and annoying simultaneously as severely chapped lips. Not only is there supreme discomfort, there is the constant re-injury of the already aggravated areas every time you smile, laugh, eat, yawn or do anything that involves your lips. The pain induces the dog-like response of licking the wound, which only serves to intensify the existing problem, making the whole process cyclical, repetitive, and incredibly annoying! I hate chapped lips!
Luckily for me, though, I only get this affliction a couple times per year. My lips are like the Porche of lips…0-60 so quick it makes your head spin. I go from normal, no-need chops to a hamburger-like orifice on my face in what seems like minutes. One minute I’m fine; the next, I’m shriveled and cracked, begging for some moisture. It’s really bizarre.
If you know me, you know that I don’t like anything that has to do with moisturizing. I don’t like lotion, conditioner, lip balm, hand cream, etc. Not that those things are bad, I just don’t like using them and I’m stubborn. I could probably benefit from all of the aforementioned products, but I really don’t like having ooey-gooey stuff on me and I’m reluctant to re-apply when needed.
I’m just not a moisturizer.
That is, until the chapped lips strike. Read More→
The Best Valentine’s Gift Ever :: Your Life Laid Down
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Here we are, two days before the most convoluted of all holidays: Valentine’s Day. Shrouded in mystery and uncertainty, this day has become a bit of an aggravation to me over the years. It has been fully embraced by our consumer-driven economy and has become a driving force for sales in most commercial places of business. No one really knows where it came from, but we all know (especially we men) exactly where it’s headed…and it always takes us with it.
I’m not immune to it, either. Not getting something for my wife on this day seems callous, yet bowing down to the goofiness of this money trap is almost more than I can stand. I am among the lucky few who has a wife that honestly doesn’t want the egregiously overpriced flowers on Valentine’s Day, and for that I am so very thankful! But we still play along with cards and a small gift or two. Like I said before, I feel like a jerk if I don’t do something!
So today, I was in Hallmark browsing their card collection in hopes of finding either something really nice and mushy or something absolutely hilarious. I found something in between and settled on it. It was a good card that lacked a certain characteristic I found troubling in probably 85% of the other cards available.
Apology. Read More→
Super Bowl Ads 2010 :: Should We Advertise Jesus?
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The Super Bowl has become something so much bigger than a great game, great rivalry and great football. It has become the de facto standard for big-ticket, big-money advertising. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you about the strangeness of watching a great football game and not being able to “check-out” during the commercials for fear of missing the next great ad. It is a unique television viewing experience, for sure! And after an evening of taking in an extraordinary amount of very pricey advertising, I lied down for bed in recollection of which ad campaigns actually stuck.
- Doritos – Their campaign focused on consumer-created hilarity…and all their ads were very funny and memorable.
- Bud Light – Their campaign was, no surprise, all about fun and partying. Many very funny ads.
- Hyundai Sonata – Nothing flashy or funny or cutting edge…just a good-looking vehicle from a company making the move from mediocre manufacturer to premium car builder. It made me turn my head more than once.
And that’s about it. That was my take-away from all the ad blitz. The first two companies were not offering any new product or pricing; they were simply attempting to get their product stuck in viewers’ minds, and it worked very well. The Sonata took a different approach, offering a new vehicle style and build at a shockingly low price. It really got my attention and made me think, “Maybe I’ll check that out sometime.” In both cases, they got what they were searching for. They made me, the consumer, give some of my precious brain time to their product…to the tune of millions of dollars.
All this made me think about those of us who follow Jesus. Read More→
My Reaction to Avatar :: Are You a Culture Traitor?
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Along with the vast majority of our culture, I can now count myself as one who has seen arguably the highest grossing movie of all time: Avatar. And it did not disappoint. Between the outlandish visual effects, seamless 3-D experience and stunning action sequences, I can easily say this is one of the most entertaining movies I’ve ever watched and hands-down the best movie theater experience I’ve ever had. This is a well-made, mind-blowing, special effects extravaganza with a good story and good dialogue. I can’t say great story or dialoge simply because they were good, not great. The entire package, though, is well worth the ticket price and the drive that may become necessary if you don’t have a proper, 3-D enabled theater near you.
All that being said, there are hundreds and thousands of critical, political and religious reviews about this movie floating around web, and I don’t plan to add to the noise. I read many of these reviews before seeing the movie and walked in fully expecting to have some pretty strong reactions to the film. And that didn’t disappoint, either. I had to fight back the blogger in me and simply sit back and enjoy the film for what it is: entertainment. And after all the tension, adventure and emotional reaction subsided, I found myself walking out of the theater with one word in mind. Read More→
