pop culture

Tabloid Christianity

Frank

While not intentional, this week’s blog carnival topic, faithfulness, is timely and appropriate. You cannot even say the word without images of Tiger Woods or Sandra Bullock filling your mind. Sadly it’s become impossible to define the word without invoking its opposite. What should be the norm is overshadowed by tawdry headlines and tell-all confessions. I say “should” because faithfulness is God’s design. He instituted the sanctity of the marriage covenant to reflect his covenant to his nation, Israel. In fact, if you’re looking for headline-grabbers, look no further than the 28th book of the Bible. There you will see a scandalous relationship as an object lesson for why faithfulness is so important to God.

Like Hosea, we can learn from our own current events. Does it surprise anyone anymore to learn about a Hollywood celebrity having an affair with their co-star while shooting their latest blockbuster? If it does, it shouldn’t. What do you expect when you pull someone from their family, isolate them on location, and then reenact scene after scene of passionate words, warm embraces, and… well you know the rest of the story. It shouldn’t be a surprise when we see the same headlines for our favorite sports stars. They too, are on the road away from their families a majority of their season. It’s not “addiction” or some kind of god-complex that comes with being a celebrity that enables them to think they can get whatever they want. If it was, why isn’t every movie star and athlete an adulterer? Instead, it is the lack of keeping their roots deeply embedded in their homes and their families.

Just as adultery is anathema to God’s faithfulness, the root-causes can also apply to our own spirituality. Should we be surprised to stumble and fall when we’re not firmly rooted in God’s own word? When we spend days, if not weeks, months or years away from God, shouldn’t it follow that we’d have a love affair with the world? That is what’s so tragic about “Sunday Christianity.” A couple of hours a week cannot be expected to compete against a 40 hour work-week. A visit to church on holidays cannot stand against the hours of polluting our eyes and our ears with the filth that comes through our media. So we become unfaithful to our Lord. We have our affair. We have no regrets. Until it all comes crashing down. Then the paparazzi get their pictures, your face is on the front page, you lose sponsorships, you lose custody. Inexplicably your spouse takes you back. He cries over you. He caresses you. He forgives you. The Lord takes you back.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. (Revelation 2:4)

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

Tabloid Christianity

Frank

While not intentional, this week’s blog carnival topic, faithfulness, is timely and appropriate. You cannot even say the word without images of Tiger Woods or Sandra Bullock filling your mind. Sadly it’s become impossible to define the word without invoking its opposite. What should be the norm is overshadowed by tawdry headlines and tell-all confessions. I say “should” because faithfulness is God’s design. He instituted the sanctity of the marriage covenant to reflect his covenant to his nation, Israel. In fact, if you’re looking for headline-grabbers, look no further than the 28th book of the Bible. There you will see a scandalous relationship as an object lesson for why faithfulness is so important to God.

Like Hosea, we can learn from our own current events. Does it surprise anyone anymore to learn about a Hollywood celebrity having an affair with their co-star while shooting their latest blockbuster? If it does, it shouldn’t. What do you expect when you pull someone from their family, isolate them on location, and then reenact scene after scene of passionate words, warm embraces, and… well you know the rest of the story. It shouldn’t be a surprise when we see the same headlines for our favorite sports stars. They too, are on the road away from their families a majority of their season. It’s not “addiction” or some kind of god-complex that comes with being a celebrity that enables them to think they can get whatever they want. If it was, why isn’t every movie star and athlete an adulterer? Instead, it is the lack of keeping their roots deeply embedded in their homes and their families.

Just as adultery is anathema to God’s faithfulness, the root-causes can also apply to our own spirituality. Should we be surprised to stumble and fall when we’re not firmly rooted in God’s own word? When we spend days, if not weeks, months or years away from God, shouldn’t it follow that we’d have a love affair with the world? That is what’s so tragic about “Sunday Christianity.” A couple of hours a week cannot be expected to compete against a 40 hour work-week. A visit to church on holidays cannot stand against the hours of polluting our eyes and our ears with the filth that comes through our media. So we become unfaithful to our Lord. We have our affair. We have no regrets. Until it all comes crashing down. Then the paparazzi get their pictures, your face is on the front page, you lose sponsorships, you lose custody. Inexplicably your spouse takes you back. He cries over you. He caresses you. He forgives you. The Lord takes you back.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. (Revelation 2:4)

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

Best Picture(s)

Frank

Tonight is the Academy Awards and we’re all anxious to see who comes out on top for Best Picture, Actor, Actress and Director. Because you know, we can’t face our day tomorrow without being told what movies and stars are the best. (/cynicism) I don’t really care too much. I don’t make it to too many movies in the theater, so I’m still watching last year’s nominees from my Netflix queue (just watched Julie and Julia Friday night, for example). So I can’t say I’m invested.

Instead a couple of days ago, the Arts and Faith online group released their list of Top 100 films. Moviefone has a great writeup reminding us that movies don’t have to be hyper-religious to be spiritual. The Bible Films blog notes that not too many are Bible-based and he hasn’t seen as many of the movies as past lists. Relevant has an article questioning why we watch movies? While, if you’re still interested in the Oscars, Hollywood Jesus lists the best Best Pictures. (Waiting to hear something on this list from Gareth Higgins, whose book How Movies Saved My Soul, offers a deeper look at movies we may take for granted.) Enjoy reading as you’re trudging through the boredom of best sound mixing tonight. (At least we have Steve Martin to look forward to)

Back to the list, I wholeheartedly agree with the choices of The Apostle and Magnolia. Personally I would add To End All Wars, Life As a House, and Tombstone (believe it or not, there are many lessons on character to be gleaned from that movie). And I admit, I have a domestic bias, but I do have on my “to see” list Jesus of Montreal and The Gospel of St Matthew and I may have to add some of these to my list as well.

As for tonight, it will be interesting to see how The Blind Side does as a not-really-but-really-Christian movie. Regardless, I agree with moviefone, that a movie doesn’t have to star Kirk Cameron or Stephen Baldwin to be edifying.

Best Picture(s)

Frank

Tonight is the Academy Awards and we’re all anxious to see who comes out on top for Best Picture, Actor, Actress and Director. Because you know, we can’t face our day tomorrow without being told what movies and stars are the best. (/cynicism) I don’t really care too much. I don’t make it to too many movies in the theater, so I’m still watching last year’s nominees from my Netflix queue (just watched Julie and Julia Friday night, for example). So I can’t say I’m invested.

Instead a couple of days ago, the Arts and Faith online group released their list of Top 100 films. Moviefone has a great writeup reminding us that movies don’t have to be hyper-religious to be spiritual. The Bible Films blog notes that not too many are Bible-based and he hasn’t seen as many of the movies as past lists. Relevant has an article questioning why we watch movies? While, if you’re still interested in the Oscars, Hollywood Jesus lists the best Best Pictures. (Waiting to hear something on this list from Gareth Higgins, whose book How Movies Saved My Soul, offers a deeper look at movies we may take for granted.) Enjoy reading as you’re trudging through the boredom of best sound mixing tonight. (At least we have Steve Martin to look forward to)

Back to the list, I wholeheartedly agree with the choices of The Apostle and Magnolia. Personally I would add To End All Wars, Life As a House, and Tombstone (believe it or not, there are many lessons on character to be gleaned from that movie). And I admit, I have a domestic bias, but I do have on my “to see” list Jesus of Montreal and The Gospel of St Matthew and I may have to add some of these to my list as well.

As for tonight, it will be interesting to see how The Blind Side does as a not-really-but-really-Christian movie. Regardless, I agree with moviefone, that a movie doesn’t have to star Kirk Cameron or Stephen Baldwin to be edifying.

Top 10 Movies of the Decade

Frank
When I came out here to interview for my job, I met with the the-campus/singles minister. He asked if I liked movies, since that’s about all there is to do out here. I love movies, and I can’t count the number of movies I’ve seen in that time. My wife and I have practically worn out a DVD player, and I’m sure Netflix hates us for taking such advantage of unlimited movies.

Inspired by this compilation at Slate (with some help from these lists from Entertainment Weekly) here’s my stab at the top 10 movies of the decade:

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). Seldom have I finished a movie feeling so satisfied, like I just finished a good meal.

2. Moulin Rouge! (2001). An odd choice, but I loved this movie so much when I saw it in the theater. It was so original, so layered in its storytelling. And it doesn’t hurt that it was my future wife’s favorite movie. Yes, Come What May was sung at our wedding, what’s it to you?

3. Casino Royale/Star Trek (2006/2009). Two reboots of legacy franchises with high expectations. Both exceeded expectations and surprised die-hards by taking new directions with established characters. Absolutely loved both movies.

4. The Blair Witch Project (1999). Ok, this is a cheat, but October ’99 is close enough to 2000 to count. Plus it has to be noted how important this movie was for not only how it was made, but how it was hyped. It was the first “viral” marketing campaign. Lost wouldn’t be the same without it. So/so movie, but played to great effect.

5. American Beauty (1999). My second cheat but also included because of the trend it started: the hyper-realistic story telling without any true protagonists. ‘Reality TV’ without the c-list celebrities. This is what you’d see if you put a camera on an average American family in suburbia, and it’s not pretty. I’ve never spent so much time in the parking lot afterwards taking about the movie I just saw as I did with this one.

6. The Passion of the Christ (2004). Demonstrated that christians (intentional little c) are a viable niche market. Good or bad thing?

7. Gangs of New York (2002). A movie that completely overwhelms you. Between the stellar acting, the portrayal of the grittiness of the time period, and the brutal violence of it all, this movie makes me very grateful I didn’t live then. It also ushered in the trend of the ‘histo-drama’, released during the Oscar push that includes movies like There Will Be Blood, which top many lists, but wouldn’t even have been made if not for GoNY.

8. 25th Hour (2002). New York post 9/11 plus Spike Lee. Add a little Ed Norton and you get one of my favorite movies.

9. Gladiator (2000). Never has a movie inspired so many sermons. But revolutionary in it’s combination of the special effects of a summer popcorn flick and the depth of a period drama. Yeah, it’s still just a popcorn flick. But a darn good one.

10. Amelie (2001). Cute. Quirky. Foreign. A movie I loved even though it doesn’t fit in any of my usual favorite molds.

Honorable mentions (maybe not top 10 worthy, but worth a watch if you haven’t seen them):

–Requiem for a Dream (2000). I had a tough time leaving this off. Soderbergh–ish cut-editing. Realistic portrayal of addiction. Don’t watch on a date (ahem, Jim).

–Once/Bella (2007/2006). Little indies that could. Great feel-good movies.

–Friday Night Lights (2004). I needed to include a sports movie. Not sure if this was the best of the decade, but it’s close. Also the first that came to mind.

–Narc (2002). In my opinion better than Mystic River, The Departed, We Own the Night and every other police drama that came out in the last decade.

–WALL-E (2008). This needs to be in the list above, but there’s no room. Hardly any dialogue, but incredibly deep satire for an animated kids’ movie.

–The Prestige/The Illusionist (2006/2006). In the tradition of Armageddon/Deep Impact and other duo/copy-cats, come these two period pieces about magicians couldn’t be more different. And unlike Armageddon/Deep Impact, both were good. Very good.

I’m sure there are others. So help me out what makes your top 10?

Top 10 Movies of the Decade

Frank
When I came out here to interview for my job, I met with the the-campus/singles minister. He asked if I liked movies, since that’s about all there is to do out here. I love movies, and I can’t count the number of movies I’ve seen in that time. My wife and I have practically worn out a DVD player, and I’m sure Netflix hates us for taking such advantage of unlimited movies.

Inspired by this compilation at Slate (with some help from these lists from Entertainment Weekly) here’s my stab at the top 10 movies of the decade:

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). Seldom have I finished a movie feeling so satisfied, like I just finished a good meal.

2. Moulin Rouge! (2001). An odd choice, but I loved this movie so much when I saw it in the theater. It was so original, so layered in its storytelling. And it doesn’t hurt that it was my future wife’s favorite movie. Yes, Come What May was sung at our wedding, what’s it to you?

3. Casino Royale/Star Trek (2006/2009). Two reboots of legacy franchises with high expectations. Both exceeded expectations and surprised die-hards by taking new directions with established characters. Absolutely loved both movies.

4. The Blair Witch Project (1999). Ok, this is a cheat, but October ’99 is close enough to 2000 to count. Plus it has to be noted how important this movie was for not only how it was made, but how it was hyped. It was the first “viral” marketing campaign. Lost wouldn’t be the same without it. So/so movie, but played to great effect.

5. American Beauty (1999). My second cheat but also included because of the trend it started: the hyper-realistic story telling without any true protagonists. ‘Reality TV’ without the c-list celebrities. This is what you’d see if you put a camera on an average American family in suburbia, and it’s not pretty. I’ve never spent so much time in the parking lot afterwards taking about the movie I just saw as I did with this one.

6. The Passion of the Christ (2004). Demonstrated that christians (intentional little c) are a viable niche market. Good or bad thing?

7. Gangs of New York (2002). A movie that completely overwhelms you. Between the stellar acting, the portrayal of the grittiness of the time period, and the brutal violence of it all, this movie makes me very grateful I didn’t live then. It also ushered in the trend of the ‘histo-drama’, released during the Oscar push that includes movies like There Will Be Blood, which top many lists, but wouldn’t even have been made if not for GoNY.

8. 25th Hour (2002). New York post 9/11 plus Spike Lee. Add a little Ed Norton and you get one of my favorite movies.

9. Gladiator (2000). Never has a movie inspired so many sermons. But revolutionary in it’s combination of the special effects of a summer popcorn flick and the depth of a period drama. Yeah, it’s still just a popcorn flick. But a darn good one.

10. Amelie (2001). Cute. Quirky. Foreign. A movie I loved even though it doesn’t fit in any of my usual favorite molds.

Honorable mentions (maybe not top 10 worthy, but worth a watch if you haven’t seen them):

–Requiem for a Dream (2000). I had a tough time leaving this off. Soderbergh–ish cut-editing. Realistic portrayal of addiction. Don’t watch on a date (ahem, Jim).

–Once/Bella (2007/2006). Little indies that could. Great feel-good movies.

–Friday Night Lights (2004). I needed to include a sports movie. Not sure if this was the best of the decade, but it’s close. Also the first that came to mind.

–Narc (2002). In my opinion better than Mystic River, The Departed, We Own the Night and every other police drama that came out in the last decade.

–WALL-E (2008). This needs to be in the list above, but there’s no room. Hardly any dialogue, but incredibly deep satire for an animated kids’ movie.

–The Prestige/The Illusionist (2006/2006). In the tradition of Armageddon/Deep Impact and other duo/copy-cats, come these two period pieces about magicians couldn’t be more different. And unlike Armageddon/Deep Impact, both were good. Very good.

I’m sure there are others. So help me out what makes your top 10?

My Last Post on NBC’s Kings, Honest!

Frank

There was an interesting article in Entertainment Weekly a week or so back asking why science fiction doesn’t work on TV but does in movies. While not discussed, I think the problem lies in a movie’s ability to wrap up a story line in a couple hours rather than stretch a story over an entire television season if not multiple seasons. Our ADHD, 24-hour news cycle culture doesn’t have the patience for it.

This problem is found in shows like Kings or Life, two of NBC’s latest fatalities. An article at the comic book news portal, Newsarama, compares Kings with Eli Stone (another tragic loss), in that not only having to overcome the challenge of a serialized drama they also had to overcome the stigma of being “about God”. (The creators of both series are in the comic book business, but the hope that would translate into a built-in audience never saw fruit.)

While the religious undertones were a part of the problem with both of these shows, other factors such as time slot and marketing were factored more largely. I really liked Eli Stone myself, but there was no way I was going to stay up to watch it after Lost living on the West Coast. That’s one reason my television viewing is primarily online with the occasional supplement of Netflix. And that’s part of the problem- networks still haven’t figured out a way to take into account online viewership or DVD rentals to gauge popularity. I have yet to meet anyone who has seen Eli Stone that didn’t like it, so it was more a question of finding the time to take on a new show. And serialized dramas have the built-in challenge of viewers not being able to jump in mid-season or even second season without catching up on all the backstory. For example, if you’ve never watched Lost I dare you to watch last week’s season finale. There’s no way to watch that show and not feel, well, lost.

Kings was a different case however. It only got a few shows in before being cancelled and the plot wasn’t so complex that you couldn’t figure out what was going on jumping in mid-stream. In fact, some have said that was the problem- they drew out their storylines too far (in comic book terms, the story was too decompressed). But the biggest problem was the accessibility of the show. NBC gave Kings a big push to kick it off, but they never really said what the show was about. I had to read up on it online after seeing the butterfly banners all over LA to realize it was a “modern retelling of the story of King David”. That had me hooked, but I knew it would be hard to hook others. The article mentions how marketing could’ve been handled differently- targeting different demographics by emphasizing different aspects of the story. Really, Kings had it all: it was somewhat sci-fi in that it was an alternate-reality allegory, it had equal parts teen drama (think David and Michele’s relationship in an episode of Gossip Girls) and adult soap (King Silas and his brother, his infidelity and his wife could’ve come straight out of Dynasty), and despite some criticisms the religious undertones were never overstated. In fact there was one episode where the Reverend Samuels didn’t even show up until near the end. And I don’t consider butterflies swarming (do butterflies swarm?) around David to be “preachy.”

But once the cat was out of the bag that this show was in any way spiritual it was automatically given the label of religious. I never got the impression that this show was preachy, but then again I was the target demographic. And while there was spirituality involved it could hardly be called religious. There is no mention of the God of the show being the Judeo-Christian God, the Reverend Samuels could have just as easily been Leo McGarry in the West Wing, and in the last episode the protagonist expressed doubt God even existed or if he did then he doesn’t care. But there is a preconceived bias against anything spiritual. Read the comments on Newsarama and you’ll see this (“I can’t turn on the TV without being preached to!”). I was taught in elementary school that all stories have morals even if they’re as basic as “crime doesn’t pay”. Those morals have to be rooted in something, right? Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you is universally accepted, but turn that into a quote from Jesus and suddenly you’re preachy. So while Kings and Eli Stone are cancelled, shows that celebrate hedonism and debauchery (The Bachelor, Gossip Girls, Grey’s Anatomy, et al) continue unrestrained. I’m glad I don’t waste my money on cable.

My Last Post on NBC’s Kings, Honest!

Frank

There was an interesting article in Entertainment Weekly a week or so back asking why science fiction doesn’t work on TV but does in movies. While not discussed, I think the problem lies in a movie’s ability to wrap up a story line in a couple hours rather than stretch a story over an entire television season if not multiple seasons. Our ADHD, 24-hour news cycle culture doesn’t have the patience for it.

This problem is found in shows like Kings or Life, two of NBC’s latest fatalities. An article at the comic book news portal, Newsarama, compares Kings with Eli Stone (another tragic loss), in that not only having to overcome the challenge of a serialized drama they also had to overcome the stigma of being “about God”. (The creators of both series are in the comic book business, but the hope that would translate into a built-in audience never saw fruit.)

While the religious undertones were a part of the problem with both of these shows, other factors such as time slot and marketing were factored more largely. I really liked Eli Stone myself, but there was no way I was going to stay up to watch it after Lost living on the West Coast. That’s one reason my television viewing is primarily online with the occasional supplement of Netflix. And that’s part of the problem- networks still haven’t figured out a way to take into account online viewership or DVD rentals to gauge popularity. I have yet to meet anyone who has seen Eli Stone that didn’t like it, so it was more a question of finding the time to take on a new show. And serialized dramas have the built-in challenge of viewers not being able to jump in mid-season or even second season without catching up on all the backstory. For example, if you’ve never watched Lost I dare you to watch last week’s season finale. There’s no way to watch that show and not feel, well, lost.

Kings was a different case however. It only got a few shows in before being cancelled and the plot wasn’t so complex that you couldn’t figure out what was going on jumping in mid-stream. In fact, some have said that was the problem- they drew out their storylines too far (in comic book terms, the story was too decompressed). But the biggest problem was the accessibility of the show. NBC gave Kings a big push to kick it off, but they never really said what the show was about. I had to read up on it online after seeing the butterfly banners all over LA to realize it was a “modern retelling of the story of King David”. That had me hooked, but I knew it would be hard to hook others. The article mentions how marketing could’ve been handled differently- targeting different demographics by emphasizing different aspects of the story. Really, Kings had it all: it was somewhat sci-fi in that it was an alternate-reality allegory, it had equal parts teen drama (think David and Michele’s relationship in an episode of Gossip Girls) and adult soap (King Silas and his brother, his infidelity and his wife could’ve come straight out of Dynasty), and despite some criticisms the religious undertones were never overstated. In fact there was one episode where the Reverend Samuels didn’t even show up until near the end. And I don’t consider butterflies swarming (do butterflies swarm?) around David to be “preachy.”

But once the cat was out of the bag that this show was in any way spiritual it was automatically given the label of religious. I never got the impression that this show was preachy, but then again I was the target demographic. And while there was spirituality involved it could hardly be called religious. There is no mention of the God of the show being the Judeo-Christian God, the Reverend Samuels could have just as easily been Leo McGarry in the West Wing, and in the last episode the protagonist expressed doubt God even existed or if he did then he doesn’t care. But there is a preconceived bias against anything spiritual. Read the comments on Newsarama and you’ll see this (“I can’t turn on the TV without being preached to!”). I was taught in elementary school that all stories have morals even if they’re as basic as “crime doesn’t pay”. Those morals have to be rooted in something, right? Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you is universally accepted, but turn that into a quote from Jesus and suddenly you’re preachy. So while Kings and Eli Stone are cancelled, shows that celebrate hedonism and debauchery (The Bachelor, Gossip Girls, Grey’s Anatomy, et al) continue unrestrained. I’m glad I don’t waste my money on cable.

Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!

Frank

“It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Luke 17:2)

We are a country of voyeurs, unable to keep from rubber-necking at the latest train wreck. I really try to avoid such headlines, but I am embarrassed to admit I’m a sucker for celebrity gossip, especially given that gossip is a sin. But my personal voyeurism isn’t (usually) a self-righteous schadenfreude, but rather cause for inner reflection and prayer about the sad state of our culture and our American Idol worship. I feel for those caught up in the frenzy of the paparazzi and the sacrifice of personal privacy. I especially feel for innocent bystanders, the families and friends of said celebrity. But honestly some just bring it on themselves.

Take Nadya Suleman, shamefully dubbed by the media as “octomom”. On the one hand, she brought this on herself, but on the other, our culture encouraged it with shows like John and Kate Plus 8 and the altar of Oprah’s couch. The latest I hear is an offer to star in a porn movie. Yeah, that’s dignified and respectful. Thankfully she quickly declined. Newsweek has a good piece on why we care so much and why we should be ashamed of it.

Ironically, from there I clicked a link about the aftermath of The Bachelor, a show I wanted to publicly decry as soon as I heard the premise for this latest season- the bachelor is a single dad. Nothing like hawking your children for fame and fortune. Surprisingly, the bachelor dumped his fiance and went with the runner-up. Actually, it’s not that surprising, I think only one of the bachelors have actually married (or has stayed married) to his televised choice. To quote the article, “his relationship… took a turn for the worse when production ended and they returned to reality. He said the chemistry was off…” Go figure. Sadly, this season’s finale was the highest rated program of the night and highest rated Bachelor finale since 2003. I sure didn’t watch, did you?

Regrettably, the victims in both of these cases are the children. It’s one thing to be the child of a celebrity, but when that celebrity is a function of your very existence… well, you end up like Paris Hilton. I pray that’s not the case and I pray that these children can somehow grow up in a functional home, free from our prying eyes. But this brand of “entertainment” needs to stop. If we’re going to keep calling ourselves a ‘Christian nation’ we need to start acting like it.

Culture War: Marketing

Frank

I’ve talked about “marketing the Gospel” a couple of times before, but in the commercial spirit of Christmas it’s worth bringing up again. I admire those who emphasize the theological roots of Christmas by giving religious themed cards and gifts. One of the many Christmas letters I’ve received from family was actually divided into two parts- one giving the usual year-in-review, and the other encouraging us with the spiritual perspective. I’ve always wanted to be one who gives the religious card, but I find most to be cheesy. Of course, that’s my problem- I have a regrettable bias against the overtly religious. So I got quite the kick when I saw this advertised at Family Christian. If you’re in need of a last-minute Christmas gift, you can thank me later for the idea.

I love Guitar Hero. Ok, you got me, I can’t play it. But I love watching it. I’m a total classic rock nerd. But some of the “satanic” stereotypes of rock and roll are overplayed in that game. If it’s not the demon on steroids playing bass, it’s the inflatable devil ripped right from Spinal Tap. So I thought a Christian version of the game would be pretty cool. Except that I can’t think of any really rockin‘ Christian music. Sure, the game has P.O.D. and Thousand Foot Krutch, but also tobyMac, really? There are some I haven’t heard of, of course (darn you XM radio for cutting The Torch station!) so one of my coworkers humored me and let me listen to his Pillar playlist on his MP3 player. Hmmm, not bad. But not Skynyrd or Rush.

Maybe I need to embrace this more. There are tons of products that are geared away from the World and I’m a sucker for what the major media cranks out. And who knows, maybe I’d be better trying to shred a Kutless lick instead of trying to imitate Hendrix.