Bird's Eye View

Giving students a stake in their ministry

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 04:17:00 +0000

Tonight, our jr. high ministry did something incredibly awesome. We brought in a group of 7th and 8th grade students for a brainstorming slash focus group session in which they were given free reign to share their ideas about the ministry. Topics included our weekend services, our teaching curriculum, jr. high culture, issues that jr. highers struggle with and care about, and specific ways students can bring Christ's love to the community. We also had dinner and played a couple intense games of Spoons.

The feedback the students shared blew me away. The depth of their thinking and the sincerity of their hearts revealed themselves in so many powerful ways, and I can't wait to see their ideas put into action. I was pleasantly surprised by how articulate some of their comments were. This was definitely one of the best experiences I've ever had in youth ministry. We've utilized students on the front-end of our ministry before, but this will open the door to student involvement in bigger and more exciting ways. After all, who understands the world of jr. high better than jr. highers?

Top 5 Things to Do on My Day Off

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:38:00 +0000

As fun and rewarding as it is, working in full-time youth ministry can be exhausting. Luckily, our church gives all high school and jr. high staff Mondays off. In fact, working on a Monday (with the exception of a few unusually-busy weeks each year) is so discouraged that even checking our church email inbox is frowned upon. We're taught to "keep Mondays sacred." God didn't create us to be at 100 percent, 7 days a week. If you never give yourself a break and end up burning out, your ministry will be much less effective.

Since it's Monday, here's a list of my top 5 things to do on my day off:

5. RELAX. Sometimes it's OK to lay around the house all day, especially on the heels of a busy weekend. I'm a big fan of watching TV seasons on DVD and Netflix. Read a book. Update your blog. Or, if you're the gaming type, a few hours with your Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii is great, too. Do whatever helps you relax and recharge your batteries.

4. Exercise. For some of you, exercise might sound like one of the least fun ways to spend a day off. But if you enjoy exercising, your day off is a great opportunity to keep up on your routine.

3. Spend time with people I don't work with at church. It's real easy to exclusively hang out with my friends from work. While developing your relationships with your co-workers is important for the success of a ministry, your day off gives you the chance to spend time with those you rarely see.

2. Spend time with my family. I'm not married, but I'm sure this one is even more crucial when you have a spouse and kids. If you have any family that lives nearby or if you're still at home, don't miss the opportunity to grab a meal or have a significant conversation with the people who matter the most to you.

1. Spend time with God. This is something I value but I don't do nearly enough. On your day off, spend some intentional time with God. It could mean getting away from the house or just having some extended prayer time. No matter what line of work you're in, you'll be more effective if you take some time to recognize God's control and presence in your life.

Christians shouldn't hate religion

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:03:00 +0000

If you logged in to Facebook last week, you probably had a friend or two (or 30) who shared the spoken word video "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." If you haven't seen it, check it out here. The video has more than 15 million views and seemed to resonate with Christians of all shapes and sizes. I agree with much of what Jefferson Bethke says in the video, but not all of it; a more proper title would have been, "Why I Love Jesus but Hate Spiritual Hypocrisy."

Today, a couple of my Facebook friends posted an interesting response video titled "Why I Love Religion, And Love Jesus." It was made by a Catholic spoken-word artist named Phatmass, who argues that the ongoing dissemination of the Gospel requires a context of religion grounded in the Church.

"You clearly have a heart for Jesus," Phatmass says to Bethke, "but it's fueling atheistic opinions. You see, what makes this religion great is not errors of wars and inquisitions; it's that broken men and women get to participate in His mission."

I'm not Catholic, but I love what Phatmass is saying here. Christians should not blame religion for the evils done in Jesus' name. It would be like hating Toyota because a drunk driver crashed his Tacoma and killed two people. It's less black-and-white than the portrait Bethke paints. Still, it's encouraging to see this kind of dialogue emerging on YouTube and in social media.

What I learned at Staff Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:20:00 +0000

Our church's student ministries teams (jr. high, high school and college) returned today from a three-day "Staff Camp" retreat in the mountains. Several intense games of Monopoly Deal, Oh Heck and disc golf transpired during our stay, but the trip's primary purpose was to bring all of us together so we could take a look at our current ministry strategies and brainstorm, collectively and in teams, ideas for boosting the way we share the Gospel with students. Although I had heard many of these concepts before, it was super constructive and uplifting to reaffirm why and how we do ministry.

Several months ago, I heard Rick Warren mention something called the "Nehemiah Principle," which states that a leader must restate purpose and vision every 26 days to keep the church moving in the right direction. I don't believe that student ministries should have a Staff Camp every month (although I could really use some disc golf practice), but it's critical for church leaders to remember that casting a vision isn't a one-and-done deal— it's something that must continually be restated and re-injected into the lifeblood of a church and its staff. Overall, it was an awesome and refreshing three days and I'm stoked to see what God has in store for us during this next season of youth ministry.

John 3:16 Commercial Airs During NFL Playoffs

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:30:00 +0000

An unusual commercial aired during Saturday's NFL playoff game between the Broncos and the Patriots. Paid for and created by Focus on the Family, the ad is a recitation of John 3:16 by a series of children.

In case you're like me and you missed it, here's the ad.

The following day, Yahoo! News ran a column by Andrew Riggio that said the John 3:16 ad was in poor taste. "It seems un-American to push a religious and political message during a professional sporting event," Riggio writes. "The NFL should probably avoid appearing to promote a particular religion in preference to others. The professional football league is not a religious advocacy group."

Several people disagreed with Riggio in the comments section, pointing out that a commercial about John 3:16 is no more offensive than many of the other ads that air during an NFL game, such as those promoting beer, male enhancement drugs or Victoria's Secret lingerie. What do you think?

Street Sweeping for the Glory of God

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:50:00 +0000

This is a re-post of an entry I wrote in 2010. In honor of MLK Day, I thought I would bring it out of the archives.

"If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well."

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

What if we lived our lives according to this principle? Imagine how much the world would change if we started to realize our seemingly mundane jobs and responsibilities were more than jobs and responsibilities— but that they were each a divine calling, purposefully given to us by God and worthy of our greatest effort. We would never settle for mediocrity or "just good enough." Any dread, boredom, or negativity we normally associate with these activities would succumb to joy, enthusiasm, and the determination to give our all. Except for sin, every part of our lives is an opportunity to serve God faithfully and diligently. We should tackle even the most insignificant or undesirable of tasks with the same fervor Beethoven brought to a composition or Michelangelo brought to an easel. Using the abilities God has given us, let's strive to make everything we produce a masterpiece.

"I want to thrive, not just survive"

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:38:00 +0000

That is the final line in the chorus of Switchfoot's song "Thrive," from their album Vice Verses, which came out in November. One of the reasons I love Switchfoot is their ability to craft lyrics that inspire listeners to trump mediocrity and lead lives of excellence and significance. In "Thrive," frontman Jon Foreman laments about his tendency to drudge through life, putting in the bare minimum to survive. As a follower of Christ, Foreman knows he has the calling and the ability to flourish, to thrive; but so frequently he succumbs to the temptation to merely exist.

I think all of us can relate. For whatever reason, our human condition causes us to fall into the trap of "just good enough." It's a constant battle to wake up each day with a passionate mindset. But Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Not only is settling for "just good enough" sinful, but it completely wastes the potential of the power of God within us. We weren't created to just survive— we were created to thrive.

A steering wheel don't mean you can drive,
A warm body don't mean I'm alive.
No, I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
Feels like I travel but I never arrive
I want to thrive, not just survive.

Parks and Recreation...'nuff said.

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:52:00 +0000

About a month ago I started watching Parks and Recreation on Netflix, after hearing good things about it for years. Now, I admit I am slightly (OK, very much) elitist when it comes to TV shows, especially sitcoms, and many times before I had watched something that came highly recommended and ended up disappointed. When it came to Parks and Rec, I had thankfully received an important tip from my boss Katie that the first season (which is only six episodes) is mostly about character development and that Season 2 is where the hilarity truly begins. If not for that tip, I may have stopped watching after two episodes. Instead, I kept on watching until I was completely caught up. Tonight will be the first time I watch an episode live. I've been reminded that waiting week-to-week isn't nearly as fun as watching five episodes at a time.

Needless to say, I LOVE this show. Arrested Development is comedy series perfection, but Parks and Rec comes close. The characters are all so delightfully funny, unique, and likable. My favorite? Ron Swanson, of course. Second favorite? Chris Traeger ("Ann Perkins!"). Everyone else is a close third.

I knew I wanted to include a Ron Swanson clip at the end of this post, but there are—litrally—dozens of incredibly fantastic Ron Swanson clips, so I included two. (That sentence was meant to be read in Chris Traeger's voice, in case you didn't pick up on that.)

How to Earn Respect as a Leader

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:30:00 +0000

Part of my program at Saddleback Church includes participating in the Leadership Academy, which is definitely as impressive as it sounds. If you're interested in gaining some incredible ministry experience (in youth or anywhere else in the church), be sure to check out the Leadership Academy's website.

This morning we discussed some of the key aspects of being a leader in ministry. One section of our discussion focused on how people in ministry can become respected as leaders, and I wanted to share a summary of the main points here.

Respect is earned through...

1. Integrity. Not just telling the truth— being consistent and confident in your ministry role and your personal life. Question to consider: How honest am I?

2. Humility. Not denying your strengths, but being honest about your weaknesses. Question to consider: How open am I to criticism?

3. Dependability. Following through on what you say you're going to do. Question to consider: Do I keep my promises?

4. Priorities. How you devote your time, and being people-oriented instead of just task-oriented. Question to consider: Am I making the best use of my time?

Ultimately, all these characteristics boil down to your relationship with God. If you are neglecting your personal spiritual needs, it will be impossible to earn the respect of those you lead. Keep God in control, and if you think you lack any of these four qualities of a respected leader, ask God to work on that part of your life.

Making Faith Stick

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:52:00 +0000

Our jr. high team just started reading the book stickyfaith: Practical Ideas to Nurture Long-Term Faith in Teenagers. It was written by the director and associate director at the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI), as well as an associate professor at Azusa Pacific University, and is an analysis of an FYI research study of around 500 young adults who grew up in the church. More specifically, the study tried to gauge whether or not youth ministries were effective at fostering in their students a faith that lasted through college. The authors call the concept of a faith that lasts, or sticks, Sticky Faith.

We've only read the first chapter, but the book has already mentioned some fascinating and revealing statistics, such as:

*Forty to 50 percent of kids who are connected to a youth group when they graduate high school will fail to stick with their faith in college
*Only 20 percent of college students who leave the church planned to during high school
*In a pilot study of 69 youth ministry graduates, 100 percent reported that they had drank alcohol at least once during their first few years of college

Since I graduated high school, I've harbored a passion for this idea of Sticky Faith. College is such a challenging time for Christians—not only are they living away from home for the first time, but they are also bombarded with new temptations and attacks on their faith that they have never dealt with before. Most college freshmen battle some degree of loneliness, and sometimes the only relief seems to be the party scene and organizations like Greek Life that provide fellowship but have a very liberal attitude toward sex and alcohol.

I'm excited to read the rest of the book and see what kind of conclusions and solutions the authors provide for youth workers.

re·treat :: [ri-treet] (noun)

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:44:00 +0000

Working in ministry, it's real easy to neglect my personal spiritual growth because I'm constantly in a God-centered environment. I take for granted things like prayer, reading the Bible and becoming quiet before God.

I'm a big fan of individual spiritual retreats, in which you go somewhere off the beaten path, by yourself, and spend an hour or two soaking in God's presence. These differ from personal quiet times in three ways: 1) They are more intentional because they require getting out of the house or church and going somewhere you don't usually go. 2) They are longer than the typical daily quiet time. 3) They usually involve unique, more experiential expressions of worship.

When I take one of my spiritual retreats, I like to go to outdoor places where I can admire God's creation in nature. It reminds me of the bigness of God and allows me to relinquish to Him my desire to control my life and my ministry. The word retreat has several meanings, including "the forced or strategic withdrawal of an army or armed force before an enemy." This definition is relevant to the context of a spiritual retreat— you are forcing yourself to withdraw to safety, realizing that doing so is currently your best strategy for survival. The "enemy" mentioned in the definition obviously isn't God, but the prideful notion that you are in control of your life.

The following is a Psalm I wrote during a recent spiritual retreat. This is one example of an experiential expression of worship. Think about things you like to do (in my case, writing) and figure out a way you can use those things to glorify God. How do you retreat?

The Lord inspires peace,
I will take comfort in Him forever.
The Lord gives joy in the midst of death and fear,
I will rejoice in Him always.

O God, my God,
how patient and compassionate you are!
You like my wounds and tend to my pain.
Your gifts are abundant, too many to count,
even when I turn my heart from You.

The Lord assures the insecure;
Filling their emptiness with Himself.
He blesses those who weep and mourn,
so that the sun might break through the clouds.

O God, my God
how can we ever doubt or want?
Before we knew You, You knew us.
You were the architect of creation.
a beauty that goes beyond infinity.

A New Understanding of God's Healing

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Today in my car I was listening to The Lost Are Found by Hillsong Live. It's an incredibly powerful, moving and worshipful song— definitely my favorite from the album (God is Able), and one of my top Hillsong tracks of all time. The chorus, which comes in at the 2:45 mark following a masterful build-up, is as follows:

The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You are God
Forever You will reign.

One of God's many names is Healer. All throughout Scripture there is an emphasis on God's role as the One who heals our diseases and fulfills our deficiencies. During his ministry, Jesus healed countless people who were suffering from a number of afflictions, and before he died he promised to send his Holy Spirit, who would give his followers the ability to heal others like he did.

When I first heard the chorus to The Lost Are Found, I thought of all these miracles (the lost being found, the blind seeing, the lame walking, the dead finding life) in the present tense; that through Christ, the afflicted will find their healing on Earth. But when I listened to the song today, it struck me that the lyrics were actually describing what will happen to God's people when they get to Heaven. The first line ("The lost are found") is in present tense, because once we discover their identity in Christ, we are found. The next three lines are in future tense ("The blind will see") because healing doesn't always take place immediately. I believe I gained this new understanding of the song because of something Erik Rees posted on Facebook shortly after his daughter Jessie passed away on Thursday.

"Dear friends...we have prayed and prayed and prayed for sweet Jessie to be healed here on earth but God's plan was to use heaven for healing."

Erik's words are so insightful and so true. Heaven isn't just a paradise for God's followers to enjoy after dying on Earth— it's an oasis that provides total release from every affliction, every pain, every insecurity, every negative force that contributes to our Earthly suffering. Heaven is the fulfillment of Jesus' promise in Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (NIV). We often expect God to remove our suffering as soon as we accept Christ. We read in the Bible about those who were healed and hear stories about Christians today whom the Holy Spirit has used to heal others, and wonder why God can't step in and alleviate our suffering, too. But we can find comfort and hope in Jesus' promise to give us rest, because we know it's coming in Heaven. Even those whom God has healed on Earth still live in an imperfect world and face pain, insecurity, depression and other forms of suffering. We can never begin to understand why God heals some and not others until we realize that all believers will ultimately be totally healed when they get to Heaven and are in communion with our Healer for eternity. For You are God, forever You will reign.

Why Greek life has no place at Pepperdine

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:00:00 +0000

This is an extended version of my letter to the editor published in the Graphic on April 7.

Fellowship is something all of us crave. We all desire—no, need—to be surrounded by a group of people who include us, accept us and affirm us. It’s in our DNA. Therefore, I don’t fault anyone for wanting to be a part of Greek life. It’s an outlet for building relationships and finding community. On the surface, there is nothing about Greek life that conflicts with Pepperdine’s core values.

Three years ago, when I was a freshman, I had no problem with Greek life. It was simply something I chose not to participate in; I had no strong feelings about it one way or another. To me, it was no different than the other community-fostering opportunities that existed on campus.

My views have since changed. Today, I am thoroughly convinced that Greek life is unnecessary, divisive and detrimental to Pepperdine’s social and spiritual climate. A student body that consists of less than 3,500 students is small enough without being further divided by identity-defining organizations.

At a state school that enrolls tens of thousands of students, there is a legitimate place for Greek life. But at Pepperdine, where there are so many other outlets for fellowship, I fail to see the need for an institution that selects and categorizes people based on subjective criteria (for more on this topic, check out Brendan Fereday’s editorial from last week’s Graphic— he lays out the exclusivity issue incredibly well).

Moreover, there seems to be an attitude among Greek life members that the fraternity or sorority always comes first, before any other commitments or priorities. If there is a conflict, the Greek event wins out. Sororities fine their members for failing to show up to meetings. The prevailing attitude is: go full Greek, or get out.

This isn’t true for everyone who is involved in Greek life, but you can’t deny that there is a tendency for Greek students to embrace their Greek-ness so that it becomes a full-on lifestyle. They define themselves by their Greek organization and often limit their primary social interactions to the people they call their “brothers” or “sisters.” But what is their common bond? The Greek letters on their sweatshirts? That they were “chosen” by upperclassmen who liked their personalities, talents and looks but disliked others’?

I understand that there are many students at Pepperdine who don’t fully identify with the Christ-centered mission of the school. That’s OK. I don’t expect everyone I go to school with to be on the same page spiritually.

Still, as Pepperdine is a Christian university, the administration should do everything in its power to ensure its students aren’t led astray. When I examine Greek life and the values it professes, I don’t see God anywhere in the equation. There are individuals in fraternities and sororities who truly love God, but I don’t see the system facilitating the spiritual development of its members. In fact, based on conversations I’ve had with Greek students and alumni, Greek life seems to have either a neutral or detrimental effect on the spiritual health of its participants.

Many Greek students who are committed to their faith receive their spiritual fulfillment from other avenues on and around campus, which is great. What concerns me is when good-intentioned Christians join Greek life, allured by its promise of fellowship, and become so comfortable in their Greek community that they see no need to seek out true, Christ-centered fellowship. They have 50 new friends who accept them, invite them to parties and eat with them at the caf, so why branch out? As a result, their “brothers” and “sisters” begin to shape their values and choices instead of their true sisters and brothers in Christ.

One of the primary justifications I hear for keeping Greek life at Pepperdine is the philanthropies that raise thousands of dollars for reputable organizations like the City of Hope Cancer Research Center, the American Heart Association and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The heart of these events is in the right place, and I appreciate how they rally Pepperdine students together in support of a good cause.

However, the contents of these events often discredit their respectable goals. In Alpha Phi’s Eat Your Heart Out, students stuff their faces with Buca di Beppo in the name of… heart health? Huh? The GladiATOrs Coffeehouse features a date auction, in which girls bid money for a chance to spend time with an ATO. Putting a price on a human being? I call it prostitution lite. Shirtless, waxed-up guys strut their stuff in Kappa King as girls ogle them from the crowd. I wonder what we would think if the genders were switched, and girls came out in lingerie and showed off their curves. But hey, it raises money for AIDS research, so it’s all good.

In many ways, the Pepperdine administration appears to be devoted to upholding the Christ-centered mission of the school. I respect much of what the University does to aid in the spiritual formation of its students. In other areas, though, I scratch my head.

For example, the school preaches cultural and religious diversity but gives scholarships to students for being members of a particular denomination. We hear so much about the dangers of consuming alcohol, yet faculty in international programs encourage students to “experience the culture” by getting wasted. The administration won’t allow the formation of a LGBT group on campus, believing that doing so would conflict with Pepperdine’s Christian values, but it continues to allow the existence of 12 Greek organizations that often encourage unhealthy and sinful behaviors among their members. I could go on and on. There is a large disconnect between what the administration says and what it actually does.

I am convinced that Greek life has become no more than a recruitment tool for the University. It’s enticing to include “5 fraternities and 7 sororities” on recruitment material because the existence of Greek life boosts the amount of applicants, which in turn makes Pepperdine look more prestigious and increases its standing on the national rankings list. Sadly, that’s all it boils down to.

Pepperdine Greek life doesn’t need to be reformed; it needs to be axed completely. It has no place on a campus with a student body of this size. Without it, there would still be plenty of opportunities for Pepperdine students to that find that healthy fellowship they all crave. As long as Greek life exists at Pepperdine, I will not give a single cent back to the school.

Many of you disagree with me, and that’s perfectly OK. My intentions aren’t to alienate or demean you for choosing to be part of Greek life. I want to hear from you. Send me an e-mail. Post a comment. Approach me at the caf. Tell me where we see eye-to-eye. Tell me where I’m completely off base. Let’s have a discussion.

Review: Dexter - "The Big One"

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Spoiler Warning: If you're not caught up on Dexter, do NOT read this review.

In last year's season finale of Dexter, the writers pulled the rug out from under the audience with an entirely unexpected, shocking, and sad season finale. Rita's death was such a critical moment in the show—perhaps the climax of the entire series—that the writers had no choice but to make it the starting point of the next season. As a result, Season 5 of Dexter picked up just minutes after Season 4 left off. The season premiere focused on Dexter dealing with his wife's death and trying to grieve despite his inability to feel emotions. As his personal life crumbled, he turned to the only thing that could ever satisfy him: tracking down and butchering people who, by his standards, deserved to die. The season evolved, rather slowly, into Dexter's quest to somehow redeem Rita's death by helping a young woman named Lumen (Julia Stiles) take out a group of men who kidnapped her, raped her, and planned to murder her.

My favorite part of the season 5 finale, called "The Big One," is the aspect that caused many Dexter fans to dislike it— that it didn't end on a cliffhanger or knock-your-socks-off moment. Actually, the pinacle of the episode occurred about halfway in, when Deborah was just several feet and a thin veil from Dexter and Lumen. I thought this was going to finally be the moment when Deb discovered her adopted brother was more than just a socially awkward forensics expert. Instead, Deb announced she knew who they were (although she didn't, really) and then gave them an hour to escape, unidentified. It was an incredibly intense scene. Much of the rest of the episode played out predictably, but there were some other parts of the "The Big One" I liked: Lumen telling Dexter she had to leave (mostly because I wasn't a fan of the whole Dexter/Lumen thing), Dexter saving Quinn from a murder investigation, and the ending. It's always refreshing to see Dexter in a happy and pleasant moment because those instances rarely happen on the show.

Summary: Season 5 of Dexter was good, not great. The Jordan Chase arc was compelling, but the season took way too long to get there. "The Big One," while mostly predictable, was a fitting conclusion to the season. I'm interested to see where the writers will go from here with the storyline and characters. The show has already been picked up for a sixth season, which will begin airing September 2011. I don't know if I can wait that long.

Freaks and Geeks is amazing

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

My list of television shows that got cancelled before their time has a new addition. I've heard amazing things about Freaks and Geeks for years— mostly from its online cult following, because hardly anyone watched it when it aired on NBC during the 1999-2000 TV season. About two months ago, we watched the first half of the pilot in my journalism class. I later tracked down the remaining episodes and quickly realized why it is so heralded by those who have seen it. I don't know if I've ever seen a better balance of drama and comedy on TV. It realistically and hilariously captures the highs and lows of high school during the early 80's (at least I think so; I wasn't alive back then). The writing is top notch, and the cast, which features current stars like James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel before they became household names, is so dang likable. Judd Apatow was an executive producer of the show and wrote or co-wrote five episodes.

Unfortunately, Freaks and Geeks couldn't pull in big ratings so NBC pulled the plug after just 18 episodes. Oh, what could have been. If you've never seen it before, do yourself a huge favor and go watch the pilot on YouTube.

Provocative billboard calls Christmas a "myth"

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 03:27:00 +0000

"Closet" atheists are the target audience of a controversial billboard outside the Lincoln Tunnel in North Bergen, New Jersey. The billboard, sponsored by an organization called American Atheists, depicts a Nativity-esque illustration and reads, "You KNOW it's a myth. This season, celebrate REASON!" Group president David Silverman said the advertisement's provocative message is meant to encourage those who are afraid to admit their atheism to friends and family. "A lot of people in church, a lot of people in the mosque, a lot of people in the synagogue know they're praying to air," he said.

Of course, the billboard, which is located directly outside the tunnel entrance that leads to Manhattan, isn't meant only for those who resonate with its message. Silverman said atheists have been unfairly targeted and discriminated against by believers, and this billboard serves as a response to those who claim atheists are unpatriotic or immoral. The ad went up on Nov. 23 and has already prompted some outcry from Christians, mostly in the comment sections for news stories about the billboard, and there's likely more to come. I'm sure the phrase "war on Christmas" will be thrown around a lot, too. It's interesting that both sides seem to be playing the victim card. Atheists feel they are belittled and shunned because they are a minority, while believers perceive a threat to their religious freedoms from non-believers and secularists.

Both sides need to realize that the other isn't ever going away. As Christians, we shouldn't meet the views of atheists with fear, anger, or frustration. We should see questions and attacks on our faith as an opportunity to investigate and strengthen the foundation of what we believe. We follow a God who is eternal and whose truth is infinitely bigger than the words on a billboard.

Read more about this story here.

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1"

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 04:30:00 +0000

In its opening weekend, the second-to-last Harry Potter film amassed $125 million in North American box offices and $330 million worldwide. It was the sixth highest opening ever in North America, and, excluding summer release films, the second highest of all time, behind the latest Twilight flick. Yes, Harry Potter mania is still rampant, even though the final book in the series was released well over three years ago. Fortunately for Potter fanatics, the series' penultimate (I've always wanted to say that word) and most financially successful movie is also its best.

Splitting "The Deathly Hallows" into two films was a win-win decision for everyone involved. Not only did it guarantee Warner Bros. more money, but it also empowered screenwriter Steve Kloves and director David Yates to craft a two-part epic that would fully capture the essence of the final Harry Potter novel. And it shows— Part 1 is the perfect mix of source loyalty and creative liberty, including virtually every detail from the first half of "The Deathly Hallows" but with Yates's imaginative and aesthetic fingerprint. The film is enchantingly poignant, funny, exhilarating, and above all, dark. There's an ominous undertone accompanying every scene. What was once a colorful and youthful fantasy world crumbles at the hands of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and the audience is drawn into the protagonists' feelings of terror, hopelessness, and isolation. But, like a line George Weasley (or is it Fred?) says early in the film, Kloves and Yates intersperse enough humor and lightheartedness to "diffuse the tension." The movie also features a breathtaking animated depiction of the Three Brothers tale, directed by Ben Hibon.

Several reviewers have complained that Part 1 of "The Deathly Hallows" feels incomplete. If you've never read any of the books, you'll probably feel the same way, as the film ends abruptly and without much resolution. It is, after all, half of a story. As a fan of the book series, though, I found Part 1 to be an incredible experience from beginning to end. It's as flawless an adaptation as any Potter fanatic could hope for.

Score: 5 stars out of 5

Google wins me over with Chrome

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:41:00 +0000

Until very recently, my web browser of choice had been Firefox. A couple weeks ago I made the switch to Google Chrome. I'm not sure what took me so long; Google seems to be the Zen master of technology nowadays, so it was inevitable their entry into the web surfing market would be the best. Strangely enough, I can't really put my finger on what makes Chrome better than Firefox (and Safari and Internet Explorer)... it just works. It's sleek, it's customizable, it has most of the add-ons that Firefox has, and it's by Google. What more could you ask for?

Here are some of the better extensions I've discovered in my limited experience with Chrome:

*AdBlock - Exactly what it sounds like, and it works in the same way as the Firefox add-on of the same name. Allows you to manually hide online advertisements and even has an option to do it automatically.
*Facebook for Google Chrome - This nifty little extension puts a Facebook icon in the top-right of your browser, lighting up whenever you have a Facebook notification.
*Facebook Rounder - Another Facebook add-on. It gives a rounded shape to the images, buttons, and comment boxes on Facebook pages and your newsfeed, making the site cleaner and sleeker.
*FB Dislike - Adds a 'dislike' button to Facebook.
*IE Tab Classic - Some sites are designed specifically to work in Internet Explorer. This application allows you to create an Internet Explorer tab in your Chrome browser so that you can properly load such sites.

Rethinking Time

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 06:35:00 +0000

There is a passage in C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters that describes mankind's twisted view of time. In the novel, an experienced demon named Screwtape writes to his nephew Wormwood about how best to hinder, impede, and derail a human being's Christian life. In one letter, Screwtape writes that mankind tends to have "the feeling that he starts each day as the lawful possessor of twenty-four hours" seeing time as "his own personal birthright." As a result, he becomes irritated when a quiet evening at home is interrupted by an unexpected guest, or when a meal with his close friend is ruined because his friend's talkative wife tags along. How dare somebody else trespass into what rightfully belongs to him, he thinks to himself.

This concept, that we have an "ownership" over our time, is something we take for granted. We recognize that God gives us tangible things like a home, a family, or our daily bread, but how often do we thank him for giving us time? If God exists outside of time (which is a debated but widely-accepted notion of Christianity), we can deduce that God created time. Therefore, like anything else we "own," the twenty-four hours allotted to us each day come from God. They're not ours, they're his; and he entrusts each hour, each minute, and each second to us so that we may have a framework in which we can serve him. Putting it into perspective, we shouldn't feel violated, cheated, or even irritated when things don't go according to plan. As Screwtape writes later in his letter, we would be very much relieved if our day's worth of service to God simply entailed dealing with a friend's chattering wife or having a conversation we didn't want or anticipate. And we'd be disappointed if God appeared to us only to say, "Now go and amuse yourself for the next 30 minutes." There are 86,400 seconds in a day, and each is a gift from God. We can easily invest this time in ourselves, but instead we should give it back to God by carrying out his purpose for our lives.

Album Review: Weezer - "Hurley"

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 06:43:00 +0000

This is my rather long-winded and outdated review of Weezer's latest album, which came out on September 10.

For nearly 10 years, Weezer has been under a curse. In the 90s, the group set the bar high with two outstanding albums—the bright, melodious self-titled debut (commonly and affectionately known as the “Blue Album”) and the more emotional Pinkerton—that were so close to perfection that they could never possibly be topped.

Even so, fans and critics alike have used what I call the Pinkerton litmus test to assess the six albums Weezer has released in the past decade, and every time they’ve been disappointed. Fans want to see Weezer return to its glory days, when frontman Rivers Cuomo sang earnestly about sweaters, Mary Tyler Moore, and that time he was crushing on a girl who turned out to be a lesbian. There was something irresistible about the group’s blend of rock energy and geekiness. As a result, Weezer will always be cursed by unfair yet understandable comparisons to its early stuff.

In 2009 the band put out Raditude, which was easily its worst album. It had two great songs (“If You’re Wondering If I Want You To” and “Trippin’ Down the Freeway”) mixed in with a bunch of generic, forgettable material. It appeared as if Weezer had lost all its dignity— then it released Hurley, a surprising breath of fresh air that includes some of the best music the band has recorded in years.

Hurley, so called because of its peculiar album cover, quickly grabs the listener’s attention in “Memories,” the album’s boisterous opener and first single. After a clip of an orchestra tuning its strings, the guitars break through and Cuomo starts singing about the early days of Weezer, when a typical concert was characterized by the group members “pissing in plastic cups” and “playing hacky sack back when Audioslave was still rage.” At first, the song comes off as forcibly raw and obnoxious, but after a few listens it becomes unnervingly catchy.

The album’s high point is its second track, “Ruling Me,” which is the best song Weezer has recorded since the 90s. The melody is so smooth, so Weezer-esque, and the lyrics reflect a clever quirkiness that hearkens back to the “Blue Album” days of “Buddy Holly” and “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here.” In the chorus, Cuomo sings, “All the pain and the ways/that you’re driving me insane/It’s no mystery why you’re ruling me,” referring to the exhilaration and enrichment he experienced when a romantic interest was ruling his thought life.

“Unspoken” begins as a slow and thoughtful acoustic piece but progressively builds, adding flute and background synth until the entire band breaks in just past the two-minute mark. The result is powerful and invigorating, and you really get a sense for Cuomo’s heartfelt warning: “And if you take this away from me/I’ll never forgive you can’t you see/our life will be broken/our hate will be unspoken.”

There are several more highlights, such as “Run Away” and “Hang On,” which are similar in that their lyrics express a level of transparency and emotion we haven’t seen from Weezer since Pinkerton. “Over and over/we swore it was over/but just like wild clover/love grows at light speed,” croons Cuomo in “Hang On,” a song featuring the background vocals and mandolin skills of Michael Cera (yes, that Michael Cera). “Trainwrecks” has rather bland lyrics, but its overall sound is easy to dig.

Then there’s “Where’s My Sex?” Based on an incident in which Cuomo’s young daughter mispronounced the word “socks,” the song describes a troubled individual who wants to go out but can’t find his “sex.” It includes lyrics like, “Mom made my sex/she knitted it with her hands” and “I can’t go out without my sex/it’s cold outside and my toes get wet.” The band also made a strange decision with the bridge, which is in a completely different key and tempo than the rest of the song. Apparently Weezer was going for the “it’s so dumb it’s smart” image with this track. “Where’s My Sex?” is mind-numbingly juvenile, although the chorus is admittedly catchy.

The tail end of Hurley is nothing special. With its generic melody and lyrics, “Smart Girls” sounds like it should have been on Raditude. However, the song includes a brief rockin’ guitar solo, a rarity for contemporary Weezer. Wrapping up the album are “Brave New World” and “Time Flies,” two songs that aren’t bad but are mostly forgettable.

Even when applying the Pinkerton litmus test, Hurley is a solid album that is worth adding to any Weezer fan’s collection. The strong material, especially the delightful “Ruling Me” and the progressively rousing “Unspoken,” outweighs the weaker stuff at the back end of the album. For those who were turned off by Raditude, rest assured that Hurley is leagues ahead of its predecessor. Hopefully we will see more of the same from Weezer in the near future.

Score: 4 stars out of 5

Does the Constitution protect the right to hatefully protest at funerals?

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:56:00 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating on whether or not nutjobs who protest at military funerals are protected under the First Amendment. The members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas have garnered media attention and infamy due to their controversial message that the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality and abortion. They protest outside military funerals, holding up signs that say things like, "You're going to Hell," "God hates fags," and "Thank God for dead soldiers." They even get kids involved. There's no doubt that what they do is despicable. Their hateful message is an evil perversion of God's Word. Not only that, but they're intruding on the privacy of the bereaved. I wonder how they'd feel if somebody protested outside the funeral of their son, daughter, or spouse.

The members of the church, led by Reverend Fred Phelps, argue they are simply expressing their First Amendment rights. "No American should ever be required to apologize for following his or her conscience," said Margie Phelps, daughter of Fred Phelps. On the surface, they're right; the First Amendment protects their right to convey their message. Therefore, the Supreme Court needs to decide if the bereaved have a Constitutional right to bury their fallen loved ones in peace, and if that right supersedes funeral protesters' freedom of speech. It's a tough issue, but hopefully the Court can reach and justify a decision that results in the prohibition of protests at or near funeral services. What do you think?

Read more about the case, Snyder v. Phelps, here.

Movie Review: "The Social Network"

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 07:37:00 +0000

What began as an idea from the mind of an ambitious Harvard undergrad quickly metamorphosed into a social phenomenon and a pair of multimillion dollar lawsuits. Who knew the history of Facebook was so compelling? David Fincher, who directed some other films you may have heard of (Fight Club, Zodiac, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to name a few), once again proves he has an eye for film in The Social Network. Beautifully shot, masterfully paced, and brilliantly acted, The Social Network stylishly lives up to the hype.

There's much to be said about Fincher's and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin's ability to create a movie that is engaging even though most of the characters are unlikable. There is no clear-cut hero or villain; all of the characters' good intentions are polluted by their ambitions for recognition and money. The protagonist, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, comes off as utterly self-absorbed and disrespectful to both authority and his peers. Actor Jesse Eisenberg, most known as the Michael Cera-esque star of Zombieland, drives the lead role and the film with a nonchalant, quietly-confident and often smug demeanor. Justin Timberlake stars as Sean Parker, the young entrepreneur who founded Napster, and is portrayed as a self-aware a-hole. The only character who's portrayed in a mostly positive light is Zuckerberg's former best friend and original Facebook CFO Eduardo Saverin, played by Andrew Garfield. Much of the film's conflict arises from the relationship and eventual tension between Zuckerberg and Saverin, with Parker occasionally stoking the fire.

Authentic, sharp dialogue keeps the scenes flowing, and Fincher/Sorkin's decision to go with a nonlinear storyline by jumping between the past (the creation and growth of Facebook) and the present (the depositions for the lawsuits brought against Zuckerberg) added to the tension. The depiction of Harvard student life is believable and provides a colorful—albeit rowdy—context and backdrop to the storyline. You really get a feel for the social climate that allowed Facebook to explode in such a short period of time.

“The Social Network” is a must-see film. It soars in every cinematic aspect and will likely garner more than a few accolades at the Academy Awards in February. Although the story of relationship ethics and betrayal would be engaging enough in any context, because the film is about Facebook—perhaps the most prominent and pervasive social phenomenon of this era—“The Social Network” easily resonates. It's one of the best movies in recent memory.

Score: 5 stars out of 5

Prayer as a continual conversation with God

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:41:00 +0000

I recently read a book called The Practice of the Presence of God. It's a collection of letters written about and by Brother Lawrence, a 17th century French Catholic lay brother who mastered the art of unceasingly recognizing and grasping the presence of God. As the book describes, Brother Lawrence's prayer life was continual; all his thoughts were directed to the Father as part of a never-ending conversation. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul urges Christians to "Pray ceaselessly." This is exactly what Brother Lawrence did.

"I have quit all forms of devotion and set prayers except those to which my state obliges me. And I make it my business only to persevere in his holy presence, in which I keep myself by a simple attention and a general fond regard to God, which I may call an actual presence of God—or to speak better, an habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with God, which often causes me joys and raptures inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great that I am forced to use means to moderate them and prevent their appearance to others" (pg. 35, Eremtical Press version).

Finding time for consistent prayer has always been a struggle for me. I feel overwhelmed by all I could possibly pray about, so when I start to speak with God it's impossible to stay focused. But if I had a continual conversation with God, one that occupied my thought life when I wasn't sleeping or speaking with another person, one that demonstrated an intentional recognition of my need for God and His blessings, how could I ever be overwhelmed? As soon as my heart and mind recognized something that needed prayer, I would bring it into the conversation. It would be instantaneous. All impure and extraneous thoughts would quickly disintegrate because of the immediacy of God's presence. This is the ideal I'm striving for.

This is how you write Christian fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:18:00 +0000

A goal of mine is to someday write works of fiction that have Christian themes without hitting the reader over the head with blatant spirituality. I want to craft powerful stories that cover topics like forgiveness, redemption, and sacrifice yet still appeal to a non-religious audience. A couple years ago, I stumbled upon a murder mystery series written by a talented Christian author named Steven James. The series is about an FBI agent named Patrick Bowers (yes, probably influenced by 24's Jack Bauer) who tracks down serial killers using a specialized technique called environmental criminology. If you're a fan of mystery thrillers, you'll love this series; there's so much depth to the plot and characters. Each book (there have been three so far) is a fascinating and addicting read.

Author James is a Christian, but his books don't feature conversion scenes, on-the-nose preaching, or 'come to Jesus' moments. The spirituality is there, but it's much more subtle and accessible than what one would expect to find in Christian fiction. Actually, I wouldn't describe the genre as Christian fiction. It's well-written general fiction with a healthy dose of spirituality. James's thrillers are called The Pawn, The Rook, The Knight (noticing a trend?), and The Bishop, which comes out August 1.

Find out more about Steven James here.

World Trade Center excavation yields strange discovery

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Bird) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:06:00 +0000

Last week, workers excavating the site of the future World Trade Center found remnants of an 18th-century ship buried in the ground. According to archaeologists, the vessel had been there, sitting 20 to 30 feet below street level, for more than 200 years. When I read the story, my immediate thought was, "That sounds like something that would happen on Lost." There is a logical explanation for the ship being underneath Lower Manhattan, though. It had allegedly been torn apart and placed in the ground to be used as landfill material many years ago— not quite as exciting as Lost's explanation for the old slave ship that found its way to the middle of an island jungle.

Read more about this story here.