Had a great time hanging out with Zach, Justin, and Jonathan. We had a chance to talk about what games we’ve been playing as well as discuss “Christian” games. Check it out if you have a moment…or two.
Taking the Devil’s Dare
The sound of a man’s skull being crushed by a car door, not a sound I’ll soon forget.
I know that evil exists. From the psychotically deranged, to those being held prisoner by their pasts. Evil exists in simple lies and even in some of our everyday actions. The Bible calls this depravity sin.
Marvel’s Daredevil is one of the finest products Marvel has crafted on film. The characters are believable and the action is intense. And yet, I cringe as I plunge myself into the darkness of this show. Within the first few episodes I’ve witnessed:- A man impale himself on a spike
- A man flatten another man’s skull with a bowling ball
- Women tortured and treated like dirt
- A car door used to reduce a man’s head to goo
Why is evil so compelling? What makes us watch such things? Is it a hope, a desire down deep, that things will get better? That justice is right around the corner? I’m not sure. But justice in the world of Daredevil is executed by a man who makes himself judge, jury, and executioner. Daredevil is no hero, quite the contrary, he is part of the problem.
And yet, I continue to watch.
What are your thoughts on the series?
Off Campus – UPDATE – The Female Perspective: How Do Video Games Impact Relationships?
Today I am off the JBG campus and over at Theology Gaming. Check out the additional response I received for the videogame relationship survey (A3). The closing line is a keeper:
Keep on gaming (and crafting stuff in World of WarCraft continuously! I need new stuff!).
With the magic of the internet, you can visit Theology Gaming with this nifty link!
Escape From The Lonely Christian Gamers Club
The cars sit in traffic as you pass by. Headphones on, you make your way along the sidewalk, sidestepping those around you. A rain drop hits your arm. Great. Forgot the umbrella today. Quickening your pace, you collide with a fellow passerby. Human contact. You apologize and move on. The rain is starting to come down now. Cold. You are almost home.
Walking into your apartment, you take off your jacket, hang it up, and fling your shoes into the corner. Flipping on the TV, you fire up your console of choice and then head to the kitchen. Feels like a cereal night. Bowl in hand, you park yourself down for an evening of gaming. Alone.
As Christians, we often feel disconnected from other Christians. We forget that there are other believers around us who share our hobbies. Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who enjoy exploring virtual worlds, solving puzzles with friends, and developing muscle memory through challenging play. Even worse, we lie to ourselves out of laziness and embrace an existence that God did not intend. God created us to live in community with others.
When was the last time you played a game with someone else? When was the last time you opened yourself up and talked, really talked, with another human being?
I want to encourage you to turn on the lights. Step out of yourself and invite. Host a game night. Enjoy a meal together. We aren’t meant to go at this alone.
Throwback Thursday – Biological Warfare
As I walked into the house this afternoon, I quickly noticed black ants crawling on the wall in the laundry room. Closer inspection revealed that they were streaming out from a crack underneath one of the cabinets. Odd, I thought, they shouldn’t be there. Last week, I had had an exterminator come out and hose the house down in glorious chemicals. The exterminator also strategically placed “ant bait” (clear goop that ants apparently love) around just in case any of the tiny invaders decided to return. Today they launched their D-Day, their day of death.
Springing into action, I immediately grabbed some of the gooey ant bait and placed it directly in their path. They flocked to it! Soon, the small dab of clear goop was covered in ants. Little did they know that their demise, and the demise of their queen, was but a meal away. All it will take is one ant, carrying the goop back to the queen, to destroy the entire colony. Biological warfare on the insect scale.
For some reason, this scenario of unknowing death got me thinking about bigger life issues. What things am I consuming that could be unknowingly poisoning me? A question I am certainly going to have to spend some time thinking about. What about you?
JohnnyBGamer 