Ultimate Pictionary

I finally got to play a game with some friends tonight who have raved about playing it before.  They call it "Ultimate Pictionary."  While I have no idea where this idea actually originated, it's brilliant.  In short, each player gets a number of scrap pieces of paper (this number is equal to the number of players; 6 players -> 6 pieces of paper for each player per round).  Each player writes something (anything, really: a name, a movie title, a person, a book title, a phrase, anything) on the first piece of paper in the stack.  Everyone then passes their stack (at this point just the first paper has anything on it) to the left.  Now, each player reads this new card and, on the next paper in the stack, draws a representation of what was written on the first paper.  Next, pass the stacks to the left again.  Now, each player looks at the drawing on the top paper (but not at the first paper!), and writes, on the next paper (which is blank), what he or she thinks the drawing is describing.  Play continues like this, alternating back and forth between writing a word-based description and drawing a visual representation of the words.  Ideally, this game is played with an odd number of players, so that by the end of each round, each player has a stack that begins and ends with a set of words - it just finishes off nicely this way.  Regardless of how many players are playing, each round is over when the players all have their own stacks back in their hands.  Each person then goes through their stacks, showing or reading each paper aloud.  There is no scoring and there is no winner; it's just super-fun to see what happens to the original words or phrases.  It's sorta like Pictionary meets telephone.  Please see the following seven frames for an example of how one hilarious round might transpire.

A New Apologetic Method

Okay, so it may not actually be totally new.  But it's new to me, and it's new to many modern Christians.  You see, many "classic" Christian apologetics just aren't as applicable to today society and situation.  With the "New Atheists" as prominent as they are, we must adapt and take on new tactics when dealing with these issues.  Dinesh D' Souza spoke this evening at Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis.  I will blog more on his talk in upcoming days, but here are just a couple of thoughts that he shared with us.

In his mind, Atheism has only recently become as militant as it now is.  In the past, Atheists have sought little more than for removal of Nativities from public places or the dismantling of 10 Commandment replicas from court houses.  However, these days, Atheists are attempting to discredit Christianity.  They try to "make Christians feel like idiots" for believing as we do, as D' Souza put it tonight.  We Christians were taught to defend our beliefs and explain our beliefs by pointing to the Bible.  Quoting Scripture is also recommended.  However, what do you do when somebody inherently disbelieves the Bible and its veracity?  Saying "because it said so" is meaningless when they don't give the Bible any credit to begin with.  Thus, we must become "bilingual," in a sense.  We need to be able to speak secularly with Atheists/secularists.  This is just one tenant of his methodology for dealing with Atheism as it has presented itself in modern society.

More to come soon; right now, I am simply much too tired and it is past my bedtime.  I just want to leave you with one more nugget of knowledge that I gained tonight.  I will perhaps put it in context in a future post, but, for now, know that Heaven is adult Disneyland. :-)

Last-Minute Trip to Indy/Test Post

Well, I'm heading to Indy in a half-hour.  Mark informed us that   Dinesh D' Souza (author of What's So Great About Christianity?, among other books) is speaking at Crossroads Bible College in Indy this evening, so I'll be traveling down there with him to see Dinesh speak.  Should be interesting!  Depending on how the talk goes (and my energy level when we get back), I may blog about it later tonight.

On a slightly geeky side-note, this post is partially just to try out a new method of blogging.  Same service provider (Blogger), but I'm using Microsoft Windows Live Writer (a desktop-based app) to compose and publish from.

A Bridge or a Rug?

Unfortunately, today is the next-to-last day of the E91 devotional that I've been reading. I'll have to find something to take its place, and fast. But I wanted to share, yet again, a very short excerpt from tonight's reading. This one is by Scheduling & Records Director Vonda Gilley. Referring to the choices we have when encountering difficult or pushy people, we may occasionally get walked all over, as the saying goes. But the way we choose to handle these situations is key:

Think about it, both a rug and a bridge get walked on. A rug wears out eventually, but a bridge helps people get from one place to the next.

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13 (NIV)

A Summary of Ministry

More from the E91 devotional. The words of Preaching Associate Dave Mullins (he'll be performing Natalie and my wedding ceremony! or at least he's the official E91 person involved; we're going to have Mark Pike do a majority of the ceremony). Anyway, I really like this summary of the ministry. While it may not be literally a complete, all-encompassing definition, I really like its perspective.

We have been called to the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). We are ambassadors for Christ and let people know that through Jesus and Him alone can all men find peace with God.

His Grace Covers All

An excerpt from my previously-referenced E91 devotional, this one written by Senior Pastor Derek Duncan:

I want you to make a list of what you think God doesn't love about you. Look at it and ask God if He loves you in spite of these things. Sure, we all need to change and grow, but do you really think God would love you more if these things were not a part of your life? The answer is no. He loves and accepts you because of the grace of His son Jesus. So, that the list, write the word "grace" over it, and rejoice in the eternal love of Jesus Christ.

How great that is to think about. His grace, literally, covers our sins, shortcomings, errors, mistakes, and bad habits.

A Nation of Cowards

A Nation of Cowards

Oh my goodness, every American needs to read this article. It may be a bit old (Fall 1993), but it is absolutely excellent. My favorite quote, among many:

As the Founding Fathers knew well, a government that does not trust its honest, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens with the means of self-defense is not itself worthy of trust. Laws disarming honest citizens proclaim that the government is the master, not the servant, of the people.

Student Evaluations

Last Wednesday, March 12, Mr. Fletcher (my supervising teacher for student teaching at Anderson Highland High School) had all the students in the Wind Ensemble write on a piece of paper two things that I am doing well and two things that I need to improve. The responses ranged from very helpful to useless, very serious and boring to hysterical. Overall, the general (useful) themes were: speak up, be more emotional (or just show a personality!), and discipline more/harder. Those are all very valid points. However, I wanted to quote a few specific entries here, because they are just amusing.

I really like Mr. Thom. He is probably one of my favorite students directors I've had. I like how he's not full of bologna like most of the other people that come into here. Like, he doesn't try to act all tough in front of kids to prove he has dominance over us. He if [sic] he was a bit more strict that might help.

I think Mr. Thom is a great music teacher. He actually works with the group until we get it right and doesn't just run through all the music like some special director I know. [Who's that?]

I think is a great well-rounded person
- He directs very good
- He actually think about the band
- He's a nice guy! [all that, sic... yeah....]

Mr. Thom,
Your [sic] doing very well with us here at Highland. You seem to like us and have fun with us. You seem to know what your [sic] doing. The only thing I would say is to [sic] talk to [sic] soft. Just be able to yell at us if your [sic] trying to get us to pay attention. haha!
It's been fun! [It's not over...]

We're getting better at the pieces that he works with us on (different from other student teachers).

You are a very good student director. You have a very good way to direct the band.

Well organized (good planning before directing) [ha! I have them fooled!]

Mr. T is actually the best student teacher that I have ever had. He actually involves his students and makes it fun.
he is Neat-O

Mr. T is very good at being a music teacher. As he teaches us, he is also learning by observing. [uhh, okaaaay....?]

Mr. T keeps control of the class well. He is smarter than most people. He should replace Mr. Stickler. Better than last years [sic] student teachers.

Mr. Tom [sic] is a nice, well dressed guy. He needs a backbone though.

Just give him an "A". He did fine. I'm sure whatever school he will (eventually) conduct will love him.

He has a much better style than the other directors and he is a good guy. [style... conducting style? teaching style? clothing style?]

He is a cool guy and I like his sweater.
But in all seriousness he's pretty good.

I like Mr. Thom because he is very lively, he knows a lot about music. I also like how he knows how to have fun but is serious about what he does.

Keep up the good work. Your [sic] doing a really good job. [oh, thanks, that's informative!]

He's been conducting well. [also useful]

G: tries to keep tempo pretty well
B: go faster

YouTube - Star Wars Cantina By Richard Cheese!

YouTube - Star Wars Cantina By Richard Cheese

This is very funny, particularly if you're a fan of the Star Wars series at all. Just a warning, I don't necessarily condone all of Richard Cheese's work, but this particular video is fine and very funny.

Oklahoma may allow college students to carry guns - CNN.com

Oklahoma may allow college students to carry guns - CNN.com

We can only pray that this is allowed to stand and that other states follow suit.

Or maybe I'll just move to Oklahoma :-p

Kingdom Dream vs. American Dream

I was just reading today's devotional entry in the 40-day devotional guide published a few weeks ago by my church in Indy, East 91st Street Christian Church. This week's study is from Matthew 6:19-34.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." - Matthew 6:19-24 (NIV)

Student Pastor Todd Holzworth, referring to our desire for material things, money, comfort, retirement, travel, and the so-called American dream, writes:

... recently God has showed me something bigger. I don't know what to call it. Maybe it is the Kingdom dream because it is so much bigger than the American dream.

I think that's a terrific name for what our "dream" should be. Furthermore, it reminds me of the Casting Crowns song entitled, appropriately enough, American Dream.

Casting Crowns
American Dream

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy
But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul
But he's moving on full steam
He's chasing the American dream
And he's gonna give his family the finer things

"Not this time son, I've no time to waste;
Maybe tomorrow we'll have time to play"
And then he slips into his new BMW
And drives farther and farther and farther away

So He works all day and tries to sleep at night
He says things will get better
Better in time

And he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

His American dream is beginning to seem
More and more like a nightmare
With every passing day
"Daddy, can you come to my game?"
"Oh Baby, please don't work late."
Another wasted weekend
And they are slipping away

'Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
He tells them things will get better
It'll just take a little more time

He used to say, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins"
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end
I'll take a shack on the rock
Over a castle in the sand

Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It's not getting any better
Looks like he's running out of time

'Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

All they really wanted was You
All they really wanted was You
All they really wanted was You

Wisdom from Bible Study

This evening's Bible study was a good time, both spiritually fulfilling and just fun. Kristen made a comment at one point that I feel like quoting here. This comment is a bit out of its original context (which is, at this point, irrelevant), but I think it has an even deeper meaning than how it was originally intended.

Everything that happens makes us forget what He said.

This is actually quite profound. If you think through our daily lives, we get very busy and preoccupied with things that worry us, concern us, frustrate us, even excite us, and just otherwise take our time and concentration. It is often easy to forget about the Bible and the words of Jesus. However, if we just remember His words, our everyday lives can be changed.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

How true it is that "everything that happens makes us forget what He said."

On a side note, I also told my group tonight that "'sup," roughly translated from the original Hebrew, means "peace be with you." :-)

FOXNews.com - Violent Jet Landing in Storm Caught on Tape in Germany

FOXNews.com - Violent Jet Landing in Storm Caught on Tape in Germany

Whoa, make sure you check out the related video. Major kudos to the pilot for trying and then (smartly!) aborting the landing, but also major kudos to the plane for holding together for this ride. Commercial jets aren't exactly known for their nimble handling skills, but this is pretty good given the circumstances.

Sitting in a Live Concert

So this is cool. I'm sitting in the Student Center at Ball State University, watching Jon Hainstock perform live for a Late Nite event. I've had the opportunity to see Jon at least three other times, all of them in Muncie. In fact, the Christian Campus House has had him in to play twice as a part of our Stone House Stage series. He's a great guy, a Godly man, and a terrific singer/songwriter. And the band he has with him tonight sounds especially good (I suppose it's his new touring band?).

This concert is just another instance of the great partnership with UPB and Late Nite that we have had this year. We have had the opportunity to bring some of what we do to the campus, rather than doing what we can do bring the campus to us. Though that certainly has its merits (after all, the hope, even here, is that we would be able to be a place that students can come to in order to get plugged in), this is a much more effective way to meet and talk with people. Even if we never see them show up at the Campus House, we can hopefully at least have a few minutes' impact on them for Christ. And while these events are not explicitly a "Christian" show, they are nonetheless co-sponsored by us, and we are available at these events to talk with anyone who wants to talk.

On a side note, I'm doing my best to take mental notes as I will be in charge of activities like this next year. Yikes!