Archive for September, 2007
Halo 3, Rated M
I’ve posted on this issue before (see end of this post for links) but now I have a 10 year old in my house. I’ve been talking with one of my friends who has a son about the same age as Cooper. We’ve decided that the hardest age group to determine what is appropriate for them is the 10-12 group. Lots of developmental things go on during this time…hints of maturity and then hints of “this child can’t be human.”
Then the largest game of the decade gets released and “everybody” is playing it. To Cooper’s credit – he doesn’t use that argument anymore. It doesn’t work in the English house. But Halo 3 is in my house, it’s rated M and I have a 4th grader who wants to play it.
I’ll be the first one to admit that the ratings board puzzles me. For example, I’m a huge Splinter Cell fan. Then SC, Double Agent came out. First, the game wasn’t near as good as Chaos Theory but the M rating was because of violence and language. Like intense language. Language to the extent, I’ve quit playing it (and will never play it with kids awake in the house. Why game makers think that is necessary to a game is a whole other topic.)
Halo 3 (and it’s precursors) on the other hand does have its d’s and h’s (as well as some hilarious one liners – Sgt Johnson on a .50 cal saying ‘Oh I know what the ladies like.’) but (at least to this point and from what I have heard) doesn’t have any of intense language that SC, DA has.
Halo is violent – and man there is nothing like lighting a Brute up with a rocket launcher…but it’s not anymore so than Call of Duty 1,2, or 3, or Star Wars Battlefront…which by the way were all rated T. (COD 4 has been projected to be M…which again, makes me scratch my head.) It could be argued (but not by me!) that COD is more intense of a game because you’re shooting at humans and it is real battles.
I don’t fully understand the nuances of rating a game but I do know this concerning the ratings board…
1. It’s not a legal board but a self-governing entity of the game industry. They exist to help companies sell games.
2. Companies submit their games with their recommendation as to what they think the game should be rated. Almost 9 times out of 10 this will be the rating they get.
3. The age group that spends the most money on games – 18-34 males.
So one explanation COULD be that Bungie wanted the M rating to market to the group that buys the most games.
As for me and my house…I’m a hypocrite/schizophrenic parent when it comes to video games. I will allow Cooper to play Madden and College Football but not the latest editions of the NBA Street or NFL Street (all rated E to T). The trash talking in the Street games – I don’t want Cooper learning or repeating. Not good. I don’t care what the rating boards say how appropriate it is.
I have allowed Cooper to play Star Wars: Battlefront and Halo 3. I will NOT allow him to play SC, Double Agent and I’m in debate on Call of Duty (the answer is “Not now” at this moment).
As he gets older and how he handles the games he currently plays will determine what games we play together in the future. Which brings up one more issue – I try to play the games with Cooper. Yeah, partly because I love playing Xbox myself. But mainly because it’s something we can do together and it allows me the opportunity to talk through stuff.
Another issue is time. He doesn’t get to play Xbox during the week. That time is for school, reading, playing outside and the like. He only gets a couple of hours to play on the weekends. I want him to have a life, not addicted to the Xbox.
It just goes back to what I’ve told parents for years and now I actually have to live it out – you know your kid best. Experience the game/movie first yourself then decide if it’s appropriate. Don’t be afraid to be the bad guy and say “No” or at the least “Not now.” It’s not good enough reason that every kid in the neighborhood is playing the game. Or in our household – “Dad gets to play it, why not me?”
For the same reason dad can drive, have a credit card, buy alcohol, and vote and you can’t. You’re not old enough or mature enough.
Related Links:
Video Game Ratings, Part 1
Video Game Ratings, Part 2
Is Halo a Game Christians Should Play?
Sick
I’m down. I can’t even talk on the phone for long periods of time without needing a nap.
The only silver lining….my laptop and Halo 3. (Which by the way…exceeded my expectations.)
The Tide and the Hogs
I’m not an Arkansas fan but I can empathize with them.
The Tide lost a close game with a good Georgia team. What Saban has done with the same talent that Shula had is pretty impressive. Can’t wait until Alabama gets some talent and experience.
I was talking with my dad about the Tide and he commented – “I hope one day that Saban gets a back as talented as McFadden. Love to see what he’d do with that kind of talent.”
Which got me thinking about all my friends who are Arkansas fans. Gotta be one weird year…you are going to have a Heisman Trophy winner, a losing record, and with a new AD at Arkansas – possibly a new coach.
Milk Cartons
The Denver Bronco defensive linemen and linebackers should all get their own milk carton…
as in…
Missing…if you see them, contact Mike Shanahan immediately.
Make a special edition for the special teams as well.
The only thing worse than the game on Sunday were the announcers. I thought Rich Gannon was bad.
Randy Cross was worse. “I don’t understand why Mike Shanahan is going for it on 4th down on his own 8…with 4 minutes left in the game…and no timeouts.” Gee Randy, I don’t either. Could it be because he has no way of stopping either the clock or Jacksonville if he punts the ball away?
And get this – Shanahan called exactly the perfect play, Cutler delivered the perfect pass between the numbers. All that was needed was a catch…alas, Daniel Graham had been hanging out with the special teams and dropped it.
Next week – the beatings continue as the Donkeys travel to the Colts. That is going to be one ugly game.
Doing God A Favor
This is part of our e-journey through the gospel of John. This week’s from John 16.
“People will think they are doing God a favor when they kill you.”
Jesus, to his disciples the night before he is betrayed and murdered.
The disciples had to be thinking they were getting the worse motivational speech of all time. They didn’t understand half of what Jesus was saying and when he stopped to explain it, it just made it worse.
Then Jesus ends it with this doosy – “A time is soon coming when you ALL will leave me ALONE.”
In other words, Jesus is telling them they are about to fail on a major level. Jesus is telling them – “hey, you are going to abandon the very man you said you would die for and with.” Jesus knows they won’t do either…at least not on this night, not now. One day – yes. But not tonight. And Jesus knows it and he tells them as much. “You guys are all about to fail very miserably and very publicly.”
What kind of motivational speech is that? It’s actually one of the greatest ever.
Jesus knows the extent of their coming failure and tells them so that they would have peace about it. Read it…right there in verse 33.
I think Jesus was trying to make sure they had enough faith…not great faith, just enough faith to make it to Sunday. Do they have enough faith to hang in there and wait for Jesus? Reading back on Jesus’ words here – that’s what it sounds like…
I’m sending another to comfort you. I’m coming back. I will be betrayed. You will leave me. I’m telling you all of this so that when it happens, maybe something (someone) will remind you of the good news I said as well. The news that I will rise again. The news that I will return and rebuild the Temple…the true Temple. I’m telling you these things so that you can have peace in knowing that God is still God.
There will be a time when their faith is tested to the core and they will die for Jesus. There will be a time when their faith is GREAT.
But not now. And for right now, it looks like Jesus just wants them to have ENOUGH faith to get to Sunday.
Isn’t that the truth for most of our circumstances? Don’t a lot of us rush off and try to fix things instead of having ENOUGH faith to wait for Jesus.
That’s what I’m praying for you today – have ENOUGH faith today….GREAT faith will come.
Weekend Wrapup
Amy had her time away and we had a great time. We stayed up late and watched the Shaggy Dog. We went to the Museum of Nature and Science. They are renovating the planetarium and the Discovery Zone play area – so we didn’t get to do those things.
We learned that our favorite restaurant closed – Moe’s. We went to the mall and learned the Disney Story is no longer there.
I took them to afternoon mass at The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. (That was an experience!)
Watched the Tide lose – post coming. Watched the Donkeys get blasted – post coming. Watched one of my Fantasy teams get rolled over, watched the other one lose by 4.
We had a blast in spite of the disappointments.
I didn’t have/get to play dress up so no pictures there. Sorry to disappoint.
Amy’s Much Needed Recharge
Amy gets the weekend off. She’s going on a women’s retreat/getaway/stay-up late and eat junk food binge with other women this weekend in LoDo. She’s going with Kitty and Anita and Suzanne and well…that’s not what’s important.
What’s important is this – she gets a chance to recharge. It’s not that she is dragging and is miserable. It’s just being a mom is full-time work and she hardly ever gets any time off. Especially this last year as I’ve dragged her across the country.
The added benefit for me is that I get a weekend to go the Museum, eat at Moes, play dress-up, play X-box, and go to a football game with the greatest kids on the planet.
So pray for Amy – for a time of recharging and refreshment.
The Jena 6 aren’t The Little Rock 9
The short version of the story is this – a few white boys hung a noose in front of school and made racially insensitive (and stupid) comments. One of those white boys got beat up by 6 black boys. Except they weren’t boys, they were men or at least were tried as men in the courts of Jena, LA.
The white boys got suspended from school, the black guys go to jail. And in the middle of this, Al Sharpton (who has never rejected any kind of press coverage in his life) shows up and claims that it is the return of 1963.
Excuse me if I don’t immediately come down and join the protest.
First, let’s be honest – if the roles were reversed would the treatment be different? In Louisiana? You better believe it would have been different. That part of the outrage, I get. Roles reversed, the black guys would have been expelled from school, possibly charged with something. If the white guys beat up the black guys, they would not have gotten near the severity of the punishment that the black guys did get. It’s home-cookin, Deep South Racism at its core.
And anyone who has ever grown up in small town south knows that.
But it is an insult to the Civil Rights Movement and the Little Rock 9 to equate the Jena 6 to that level. I don’t think any of the Little Rock 9 or MLK, Jr ever beat anyone within an inch of their life. I don’t think the Jena 6 are completely innocent and just trying to go to school.
I’m okay with calling for an investigation. I’m okay with the people in that community doing a peaceful protest. Just don’t insult my intelligence with the comparisons.
Fantasy Football, Week 2
The dominance continues…
In ECFC, another solid week of points, another divisional game, and another incredibly close game but this time I get the W. It had to be the timeout I called right as he was preparing to kick the game winning field goal.
Parker Highlanders (1-1) – 141
Da Bears (1-1) – 139
TABC League – I got a W against my good friend (and divisional foe) Nate Terrell. He’s an ESU prof, one of the all-time greatest smack talkers, and a Chief fan. Can’t have everything. It was so much fun beating him.
Parker Envy (2-0) – 91
Team Terrell (0-2) – 83
I realize for the female side of my audience, these posts are riveting drama. I’m here to serve.
National Talk Like A Pirate Day
Avast, ye scurvy dogs and welcome t’ da talk lika Pirate day.
Here’s an English t’ Pirate translator t’ use through out t’ day t’ confuse your mateys and buckos.
What do you wear on Talk Like a Pirate Day?
Well, mateys – it’s TALK like a Pirate Day, not DRESS like a pirate.
You can certainly dress up in pirate garb if you want to, but that seems like a lot of trouble. Besides, there already is a Dress Like a Pirate Day. It’s called Halloween. I’m not a huge fan of costume parties (well, maybe I’m huge, but not a fan) and tend to go with what’s comfortable.
Ol’ Chumbucket is partial to Hawaiian shirts, the gaudier the better, while Cap’n Slappy prefers the “classic look,” i.e., any T-shirt he finds in his laundry that doesn’t smell too obvious.
Our Quarterback’s So Good, He’s Got 2 Names
The Tide pulled it out, thank you Mr. John Parker Wilson.
Roll Tide.
I don’t ever want to play against Darren McFadden. He’s a beast and this game just shows you how good of a player he is. With McFadden in the game, Arkansas ran up and down the field. Classic smashmouth football. He’s quite honestly the best back in college football right now.
Without him, they were predictable and very stoppable.
Incredible game.
Jason – check your email. 
How many Arkansas fans called me today before the game: 5
How many called afterward: 0
ECFC Uni/Logo Rankings, 2007
Last year’s ratings revealed both the lack of creativity and honesty of the East Coast Football Club. After the initial ratings were released it was revealed that some of the owners (cough – Memphis Mojo, Da Bears) had STOLEN their logo from other professional sports teams, others had LAZILY (cough – Your Mama) lazily grabbed a suggested picture from the CBS Sportsline file, while others just used Sunday School clip art material.
The embarrassment and cover up that followed led to a re-ranking and questions whether or not this would ever happen again.
Being the Uniform Czar, I took my share of the responsibility for not doing enough research on the designs as well as having a very poorly designed logo and color scheme myself. However, it is hard to design for a team called the Hairballs. This year, I hope to do better in both areas.
So for the next 7 days, we will have a vote on the logos of the ECFC. Make your rankings, 1-10, 1 being the best, 10 being “I can’t believe they even tried.” We will have TWO special category awards as well.
Most Improved (as compared to last years logo)
Most Likely to Found on a Kids Cereal Box (aka Most Ridiculous)
Here are the teams, owners, and logos. The first logo is the current look, the second one is the look from last year. Those teams with only one logo – you guessed it – there was no change from last year.
Vote early and often. I do reserve the right to completely ignore the results.
Budapest Brawlers, Tom Seely
Tom had no change in logo this year.
Cincinnati Blue Darters, Matt Ely
The Blue Darters had no logo change this year. We’re still not sure what a blue darter is but we kinda like the upside down lightning.
Da Bears, Richard Coy
Coy made a change. After a barrage of insults, he went with the blue-tongued Bear. We think it’s a message. What makes a bear’s tongue blue? The Blue Darters? Mojo?
versus 
Memphis Mojo, Brian McCurry
No change from last year. He probably isn’t going to change it since he’s winning hardware with it.
Parker Highlanders, Grant English
Name change and logo change. Both needed.
versus 
Pyroclastic, Rob Williams
Name change and logo change. Rob went with only one name because…well…he thinks it makes his team sound scary. Like Prince, right?
versus 
Psycho Dirt Zombies, Paul Oyler
Name change and logo change. Although we loved the Freak Dawgs last year.
versus 
Raleigh Ronions, Brian Fields
No change..still looks like that character from Bob the Builder.
Swamp Fox, Right Reverend Bill Hayes
No change but the guy can preach.
Thuderbirds, Mike Powers
New name, new logo…shame it looks like a turkey.
versus 
Waterford Wombats, Luke Turner
New name, new logo
versus 
Your Mama, Kurt Kerin
same old, same old…You just got beat by Your Mama…still funny. Logo is another story.
ECFC League Trade Alert
I just traded Clinton Portis, RB, WAS for Roy Williams, WR, DET. In this league we get a point per reception plus yardage plus TDs.
I need the WR depth…I still have Travis Henry and Edge James as RBs.
Thought you’d like to know…ha hah
Belicheat Caught
So Bill Belicheat was caught video taping and stealing signals from the Jets sideline. What is the commission going to do?
I have no idea but I know what he should do.
What happens to a player when he cheats? He misses games and isn’t allowed to practice with the team.
That’s what Goodell should do to Belicheat. Suspend him a couple of games and be done with it.
Taking away draft choices from the Patriots is like taking away salad from a defensive lineman. The Patriots are so stacked, it’s unlikely anyone they draft next year makes the team (besides that, they only have two picks next year.)
Fantasy Football, Week 1
A good week for both leagues in terms of amount of points scored. Ran into a juggernaut in my ECFC league.
ECFC
Parker Highlanders – 135
Memphis Mojo – 143
This game was decided with 6 minutes left in the Monday night game. It was tied until Boldin caught the TD pass from Leinart. Heartbreaker to lose that way. But the team put up 135 points. If we can do that every week…I’m golden.
TABC
Parker Envy – 115
Purdy’s Olathe Squad – 85
Cooper’s my GM in this league. I’m letting him decide who to start, who to try to trade and pick up as free agents. Harder to score points in this league, yardage and TD’s only, so to drop 115 was awesome. Good start to the season. I think I’ll do better in the TABC league than the ECFC. Mainly because my team is younger, only 10 teams, and they are more willing to trade than the other league.
I’ll keep you posted because I know you just are dying to know!
What Grows On This Vine?
This is part of our e-journey through the gospel of John. Today is from John 15.
I’m serious – what kind of fruit grows on this vine?
The right is answer? None. This vine will never produce any fruit, ever again because it’s no longer connected to a source of nourishment.
Trick question? Not really. Just basic biology…AND spirituality.
Jesus says this…”The only way to bear fruit – to live a life that is productive for the Father – is to stay connected to the Vine. If you get disconnected from the Vine, you’re toast. You’re done. The only thing you’ll be good for is fire starter. Stay connected to the Father.”
How do we do that?
“Love me.”
Thanks for such a practical, non-mystical answer, Jesus. No seriously, how do we love you?
“Obey me. If you love me, you’ll obey. And when you obey because of your love, your joy will be complete. And love each other.”
That’s it?
“That’s it. And by the way, when you do that – love me and each other, obeying because of your love – the world is going to hate you for it.”
Well, that just makes perfect sense…NOT.
“When the Counselor comes, it will become all clear.”
Counselor???? Who the heck is the Counselor??
So it goes with Jesus. Just giving enough clarity for the next step and enough fog for a lifetime. Just stay connected, it’ll get clearer later. Just stay connected, relief will come later. People will hate you, just stay connected. Whatever happens and whatever you do – just stay connected.
We’re tempted to do a lot of things for Jesus and for other people. We’re tempted to distraction at every turn… just stay connected.
Parking Lot, Part 2
Okay, guys. Rain made our lot mud. Rain going away, lot returning to dirt. Pavers coming tomorrow.
Which means – youth is at my house on Wednesday night. See ya’ 6.30. We’ll be done at 8. Bring your bibles and some snacks. We’ll provide the caffeine.
Also – anybody that wants to come over tonight and watch MNF on HD with me – you’re welcome.
The Only Good Hog is a BBQ’d One
I’m saying it now and sticking by it. Alabama is going to roll up and all over the little piggies from Arkansas. It’s going to be a blowout. It will be over before halftime.
That is if McFadden misses the bus or is abducted by aliens between now and the kickoff.
If any of you guys end up in Tuscaloosa for the game (Derek), go to Dreamland BBQ and get the pulled pork sandwich. Let’s hope that’s what the Tide do on Saturday.
I’ll be watching the game on ESPN in HD. First real test for the Tide. We’ll see how much difference a coach can make. Can he kick field goals?
This time last year, I was in Fayetteville with my awesome friend Bruce and Cindy and Jason Lofton watching ‘Bama choke on pork. I could do without the sequel this year.
If the Hogs win, I’ll let Lofton write a guest post on my blog.
Excerpt from Sunday’s Sermon that I’m struggling to write…
He interrupted me at this point – “Are about to sell me ‘follow Jesus and your life will get better’ crap? Because I’m not buying.â€
“No. I’m not selling that because it’s not accurate, it’s the exact opposite of what Jesus says. What Jesus says he’ll do is make you a better person, he’ll make you whole and complete, he’ll redeem you, ransom you, and he’ll heal you. He never says anything about our circumstances other than to expect them to be hard.
He seems to be quite pleased in making us better people as opposed to removing the pain we experience or change the circumstances we find ourselves in. He’s quite confident in his ability to change us, which I guess on one hand is a much more difficult task than merely changing circumstances.
Cayden, age 5
New haircut, new Dora “chicken” (kitchen), same Cayden smile…
Happy Birthday, Precious…don’t grow up too quick.
Cooper at Mile High
This was 10 days ago. We went and saw the Cleveland Browns preseason game. We had a blast…thank you Rowland. Great seats.
YM Article Published
Journal of Student Ministries published an article on event vs. relationship driven ministry. Here’s the first bit of it.
Stick around student ministry long enough and somebody will ask you something like this: Are you an event pastor or a relationship pastor?
Most of the time the question is asked in a way that lets you know which kind of pastor you ought to be. If you’ve ever interviewed with a church, someone will ask the question thinking it’s a great question.
I even used to think it was a great question. But in actuality, it’s a ridiculously poor question. It unnecessarily polarizes people. But more importantly, it misses a much larger picture of ministry.
You can get the rest of the article here. And yes, I did write it. So go ahead and critique away…I think my fragile ego can take it.
Fantasy Alert – Trade in TABC League
As was noted in the comments of this post – it could be feast or famine in regards to my RBs.
Just pulled off a trade that could help in that department.
I gave up Vince Young, Santonio Holmes for Brian Westbrook and DJ Hackett.
It’s a trade that actually helps both of us out. He was thin at QB and Vince gives him a solid backup with the potential to be huge. Will I kick myself for trading him later? Possibly. He could kick himself for trading Westbrook. Both sides took a risk to help with their weak spots. We’ll see how it plays out.
I Can’t Wait Til I Grow Up…
This is part of our e-journey through the gospel of John. Today is from John 14.
…then I can do what I want to do when I want to do it.”
“Like eat dessert before I eat dinner.” One of my children – who will remain nameless – made this observation the other night. It was a shocking revelation to both Amy and I. We had no idea that we were oppressing our children in making them eat dinner BEFORE dessert.
We also had no idea that as adults we could do what we want when we wanted.
“I’m no longer doing laundry or cooking dinner.”
“I’m no longer going to work,instead I’m going to hone my Xbox 360 skills.” But Grant, that is work isn’t it? But I digress.
The greatest disappointment of my life was when I realized that I’d grown up and no longer had to do what my parents told me to do. Instead, I had a boss, multiple professors, a coach, a girlfriend, and goals.
It’s a cruel twist of logic. We think “growing up” means more when according to Jesus, it means less. We think it’s more freedom, more money, more time, more choices. Jesus’ example was less. Less of me, more of God. Less of my will, my wants and more of God’s. Less of me trying to figure it all out, more of just doing whatever the Father tells me to do.
Jesus says a lot of deep things in this chapter – but the one that sticks in my craw is “I do only what the Father tells me to do.” He wasn’t out for self-preservation or glory. Just doing what his father told him to do – no matter what it cost him.
Could that be the true mark of growing up? You think less about yourself than others? You think less about yourself and more about what (or who) you are investing your life in?
Blessed is the man who loses his life, he’ll find it.
The man, in his joy, went and sold all he had to buy the field that had the treasure in it.
Go sell all you have and follow me.
That kind of abandonment can only be done by those who have truly grown up. Here’s to becoming that kind of person.