Christians have several terms for people who aren't christians: lost, damned, pagans, unholy, etc. The term "Unreached People Groups" covers all of these categories. When I was in college, I learned an acronym that helpfully puts all the UPG into one easy to remember term:
THUMB
THUMB acronymizes (word?) into Tribes, Hindus, Undeclared (agnostic or atheistic, but THUMB is easier to remember than THAMB), Muslims, Buddhists. It also helps us as christians strategize in our secret planning meetings - cries of "I've got U under control, someone else take B!" are not unheard of.
I think that this list is incomplete, lacking traditionally one of the most unreached people groups in the world.
I would modify it to THUMBZ - Tribes, Hindus, Undeclared, Muslims, Buddhists, and Zombies.
Based on my exhaustive research, there are currently ZERO christian ministries primarily focussed on saving zombies, and the zombie population remains at a 0% conversion rate.
For shame, christendom, for shame.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Paranormal Activity Review
There are two levels that movies work on, in my opinion.
One is on an artistic level. Movies like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Memento" come to mind - these are movies that are crafted so well as to be art.
Then theres a pure entertainment, a pure visceral level. These are your Transformers and your Cloverfields - a ton of fun to watch, but ultimately meaningless.
Paranormal Activity may have been the most visceral movie I've ever seen. It certainly has no artistic value - but as entertainment, it can't be beat. Assuming of course, that you count sheer terror as entertaiment.
The basic premise is this - Katie has been plagued by a spirit since she was 8, and it's been scary, but harmless. Her boyfriend, Micah, has decided to try and catch the spirit on film. So he sets up a camera to film them while they sleep.
And then the camera catches things happening.
I will say without a doubt that it was the scariest movie I've ever watched in theaters. My wife and I both did not sleep well after seeing it. It was sheer terror. And I loved it.
The difference between this and other ilk of the "found footage" genre (read: Cloverfield) is that I don't think this movie needs to be watched in a dark crowded theater. I think it could be even scarier in a quiet and dark living room.
I probably won't sleep well again tonight. 5/5
One is on an artistic level. Movies like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Memento" come to mind - these are movies that are crafted so well as to be art.
Then theres a pure entertainment, a pure visceral level. These are your Transformers and your Cloverfields - a ton of fun to watch, but ultimately meaningless.
Paranormal Activity may have been the most visceral movie I've ever seen. It certainly has no artistic value - but as entertainment, it can't be beat. Assuming of course, that you count sheer terror as entertaiment.
The basic premise is this - Katie has been plagued by a spirit since she was 8, and it's been scary, but harmless. Her boyfriend, Micah, has decided to try and catch the spirit on film. So he sets up a camera to film them while they sleep.
And then the camera catches things happening.
I will say without a doubt that it was the scariest movie I've ever watched in theaters. My wife and I both did not sleep well after seeing it. It was sheer terror. And I loved it.
The difference between this and other ilk of the "found footage" genre (read: Cloverfield) is that I don't think this movie needs to be watched in a dark crowded theater. I think it could be even scarier in a quiet and dark living room.
I probably won't sleep well again tonight. 5/5
Friday, October 16, 2009
Master Leader by George Barna
Master Leader by George Barna with Bill Dallas
Master Leader was a very interesting book. The basic premise is this – George Barna interviewed 30 leadership “experts” – names you will undoubtedly recognize from the realms of church, politics, sports, and the armed forces. Then George spliced these separate interviews into one organic conversation – allowing these interviews and personalities to meld and flow.
There are times where the flow feels forced or out of left field – but then you realize that even when the conversations don’t feel organic, they’re still amazingly worthwhile for the insights that these “master leaders” have. And don’t get me wrong – 90% of the book feels organic, like an actual conversation.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the book. The insights and anecdotes from leaders I know and respect and leaders I’ve never heard of are truly awesome, and it’s a resource and book I’ll know I’ll turn to when I have questions or want to stir some thoughts. 5/5.
Reviewed for Tyndale House.
Master Leader was a very interesting book. The basic premise is this – George Barna interviewed 30 leadership “experts” – names you will undoubtedly recognize from the realms of church, politics, sports, and the armed forces. Then George spliced these separate interviews into one organic conversation – allowing these interviews and personalities to meld and flow.
There are times where the flow feels forced or out of left field – but then you realize that even when the conversations don’t feel organic, they’re still amazingly worthwhile for the insights that these “master leaders” have. And don’t get me wrong – 90% of the book feels organic, like an actual conversation.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the book. The insights and anecdotes from leaders I know and respect and leaders I’ve never heard of are truly awesome, and it’s a resource and book I’ll know I’ll turn to when I have questions or want to stir some thoughts. 5/5.
Reviewed for Tyndale House.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Nerd Files - 4
I have an unhealthy fascination with minesweeper.
The game that comes on every windows computer.
It's so much fun to me. I used to hate it - because I didn't understand. I thought the numbers were random and meaningless. But they're not! The numbers have purpose!
(The numbers are cursed the numbers are bad 4 8 15 16 23 42!!!!!)
Sorry. I'm having Lost withdrawals. But yeah - the numbers tell the number of mines around that space. So using some logic and deduction, you can almost always solve the problem.
Until you get to the last mine. Where logic leaves you with two equal possibilities. A 50/50 shot after spending 346 seconds logically solving the rest.
Here's a secret - I fail approximately 90% of my 50/50 tests. Seriously. I've never won when it came down to that.
But that doesn't stop me from trying.
The game that comes on every windows computer.
It's so much fun to me. I used to hate it - because I didn't understand. I thought the numbers were random and meaningless. But they're not! The numbers have purpose!
(The numbers are cursed the numbers are bad 4 8 15 16 23 42!!!!!)
Sorry. I'm having Lost withdrawals. But yeah - the numbers tell the number of mines around that space. So using some logic and deduction, you can almost always solve the problem.
Until you get to the last mine. Where logic leaves you with two equal possibilities. A 50/50 shot after spending 346 seconds logically solving the rest.
Here's a secret - I fail approximately 90% of my 50/50 tests. Seriously. I've never won when it came down to that.
But that doesn't stop me from trying.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Writing Tips - 10
Have you ever tried free association writing?
How it works is this - take out a notepad, open up MS Word, do whatever you need to do to be ready to write.
And then write. Every single thought that you think you thought.
Don't bother with grammar / punctuation / capitalization / rules. Just write, like a train of thoughts and ideas spilling out of your head.
This is a wonderful way to journal, which can help clear your mind to write better, or give you ideas on what to write. If you notice themes in your free association, maybe you should explore those in more detail in a different type of work.
All in all, it's a wonderful thing to try.
How it works is this - take out a notepad, open up MS Word, do whatever you need to do to be ready to write.
And then write. Every single thought that you think you thought.
Don't bother with grammar / punctuation / capitalization / rules. Just write, like a train of thoughts and ideas spilling out of your head.
This is a wonderful way to journal, which can help clear your mind to write better, or give you ideas on what to write. If you notice themes in your free association, maybe you should explore those in more detail in a different type of work.
All in all, it's a wonderful thing to try.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Somebody Smarter Said - 21
"I think of myself as an intelligent, sensitive human being with the soul of a clown which always forces me to blow it at the most important moments." - Jim Morrison
Friday, October 9, 2009
Nerd Files - 3
I played my second game of Warhammer 40k last night.
Here's the basics of how the game works, and then I'll walk you through the game. You and your opponent decide on a point limit for your game. Points can be used to purchase certain units - more powerful units cost more, etc. Then you both deploy your army on the table and decide who goes first. You play 5-7 rounds each. Each player gets a turn in a round and the turns go Move - Shoot - Assault.
So last nights game... 1500 points. Space Marines vs... Space Marines!
I have a footslogging / heavy tactical squad army. He was playing an all drop pod army. So on his first turn, he drop pods in two dreadnoughts who... completely missed everything! That was great luck on my part. I turn around and blast him, immobilizing his dreadnoughts and destroying one drop pod. In close combat, his dreadnought immobilizes my dreadnought, rendering them both permanently stuck in close combat.
Then his terminators deep strike in. And the game switches from close with an edge to me to a decisive edge to him. His terminators spread out, and I pump endless bolter shots into them... to kill 3 out of 11. They charge a combat squad, my elite squad, and the immobilized dreadnought - destroying all of them in one assault phase.
At this point, my spirit is mostly broken. My best two units... Gone. I've also missed something like 8 lascannon shots... His assault squad deepstruck nearby, and I shot/flamed a couple down.
From here on out, his terminators just punched me in the face. It wasn't even close. The only other item of note was that my scouts got assaulted, and turned around and MURDERED four assault marines. It was truly awesome and brought a grin to everyones face.
Here's the basics of how the game works, and then I'll walk you through the game. You and your opponent decide on a point limit for your game. Points can be used to purchase certain units - more powerful units cost more, etc. Then you both deploy your army on the table and decide who goes first. You play 5-7 rounds each. Each player gets a turn in a round and the turns go Move - Shoot - Assault.
So last nights game... 1500 points. Space Marines vs... Space Marines!
I have a footslogging / heavy tactical squad army. He was playing an all drop pod army. So on his first turn, he drop pods in two dreadnoughts who... completely missed everything! That was great luck on my part. I turn around and blast him, immobilizing his dreadnoughts and destroying one drop pod. In close combat, his dreadnought immobilizes my dreadnought, rendering them both permanently stuck in close combat.
Then his terminators deep strike in. And the game switches from close with an edge to me to a decisive edge to him. His terminators spread out, and I pump endless bolter shots into them... to kill 3 out of 11. They charge a combat squad, my elite squad, and the immobilized dreadnought - destroying all of them in one assault phase.
At this point, my spirit is mostly broken. My best two units... Gone. I've also missed something like 8 lascannon shots... His assault squad deepstruck nearby, and I shot/flamed a couple down.
From here on out, his terminators just punched me in the face. It wasn't even close. The only other item of note was that my scouts got assaulted, and turned around and MURDERED four assault marines. It was truly awesome and brought a grin to everyones face.
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