How to Use the Internet - This is an interesting video and website about how to use the internet to its fullest potential. Something I could definitely benefit from!

The Hunger Games - I recently posted about this series, and I found this to be an interesting review as I sort out my feelings about the books.

Kony 2012 - Surely you've seen the Kony video by now. The video has had a staggering viral impact. But when I first saw all the links on facebook and tweets on twitter, my first response was, why all of this urgency now? All of a sudden, this 30 minute video gone viral transformed all of these social networkers to "social activists."

I found Tim Challies' article on it to be an interesting analysis when he stated, "This is a campaign designed to take advantage of the power of social media. . . .Social media campaigns tend to be dependent on one thing more than any other: speed. Do not think about it, just do it! Don’t get the facts, don’t wait a few days to consider it, don’t ask someone who knows more—just click Tweet or Share or Post or whatever else it is that will spread the word. We’re all in this together, we need your vote, we need it now! Go! Go! Go!"


While I adamantly believe that Kony should be stopped, I would be wary of supporting campaigns or organizations that I have not researched. Personally, I would rather give my support to a distinctly Christian organization who will not only provide physical aid but also spiritual healing, as well. (This article gives some great insight too.) All that said, I believe Matt Papa summed it up best.


Senior pictures - I just have to survive until May! =)

I just devoured the first two books of the Hunger Games. (Pun intended.)

Riveting. Spell-binding. These books are page-turners for sure. But there's just something about this series, something that really sickens me. Honestly, I don't really know what to think about them. While I like the action and I like the suspense, there is definitely something I don't like about these books. I just haven't quite pin-pointed what it is yet.

Originally, I started the series after all the ranting and raving I saw about them on facebook. So many of my friends seemed fanatical over them. I wanted to know what all the hype was about. Plus, I wanted to have read the book before the movie came out.

Not knowing much except from what my friends had told me, I downloaded the first book to my kindle. I made the mistake of starting it at the beginning of the week. Needless to say, I was not the most productive person that week. =) I couldn't put the book down!

(Note: I'm not going to use this review to summarize the plot; so if you are unfamiliar with this series, I suggest reading these articles first so that my thoughts make more sense. Focus on the Family, CCB Review.)

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I read the Hunger Games. Generally, a book centered around teens who are forced to kill each other would appall me. I would never think of reading such a book! So why was this one different? Why did I consider it worth my time? I think it's because so many people I knew were crazy about them. They kept going on about how great they were. So I assumed it was just that. Maybe it's just me, but reading about how teens must kill each other to stay alive isn't "great" to me.

While I can absolutely see why people would love this book for its thrilling experience and relate-able characters, I just can't get past all the killing that goes on. Yes, I know it's necessary for the central plot of the story. But it's still a little disturbing. What really bugs me is how I cannot figure out the morality of these books: the morality seems to be so circular. On the one hand, killing is wrong and terrible. But the tyrannical Capital forces you to take innocent lives in order to save your own. But that's all the other person is trying to do as well! The other person is only trying to kill you because they don't want you to kill them, but the only reason you're trying to kill them is because they're trying to kill you.

Do you see how it seems so circular? I just can't figure it out. Is it honorable to kill someone in order to save your own life? If it is, then each one of the Tributes displays honor. And if all of them are honorable then no one is wrong. But I just cannot get past that there is something wrong.

I'm not saying that protecting your own life is wrong. In fact, it's right. But all of the Tributes are trying to protect their own lives. So in essence, the Capital forces these teens both to be the criminal AND the defender at the same time. You become guilty of murdering an innocent person who is only trying to preserve their own life; yet you've just preserved your own.

So this brings me to another question. Can Katniss be considered the "heroine" of the story if she is both criminal and honorable? The book series puts a bazaar twist on the dynamics of the protagonist in this plot. Is she really heroic? And if she is the protagonist then who or what is the antagonist?

I really haven't come to any final conclusions about this series. Maybe some of you could help me. I really want to know your thoughts on this series because I'm still trying to sort out my own. What do you think?

• Why (specifically) are these books best-sellers? What is different in this series that makes these books stand out above the rest?
• Is it okay for Christians to read about gore and death simply because the book is a best-seller or because everyone recommends it?
• What do you think of Katniss as the protagonist or heroine of the story? Is she really a hero?
• What do you think is the main conflict of the books? What is the struggle driving the entire plot?
• What would you say is the morality of these books?
• Is there some kind of political message the author is trying to portray? What are the major themes?
• Are these books that Christians should read?

There are parts of these books that I like. And parts that I don't like. While I haven't decided for sure what my stance on these books is, I don't think that I could truly recommend them to anyone. To me, they were too hopeless, dark, and twisted for me to call them "great." Maybe there's something I don't see, and I'd love to hear your thoughts! But for now, I guess I'll have to conclude that I didn't like the Hunger Games as much as everyone said I would.

So, I vote we change "Valentines Day" to "National Chocolate Day". First of all, that's practically what it already is. I mean, I'm not even dating and I still have tons of chocolate to eat every year! (Trust me, I'm not complaining.) Second of all, it would take the emphasis off all this gushy-lovey-dovey stuff. Give me something to really celebrate about.... like chocolate!

This would mean more chocolate for all and less of the "singleness blues." Isn't it brilliant?

Okay, you know I'm kidding. But some people take Valentines Day a tad bit too seriously. For instance, see this: Valentines Day by the Numbers - An interesting infograph on Valentines Day. Yeah, I'm thinking 448 million dollars is a little heavy on the candy. Unless it's chocolate.

Oh, and one more thing: Pinterest is awesome.

These were the assertive, opening words of my Worldview Academy student notebook.

The best week of your life. That's quite an assuming statement to make. A very weighty welcome indeed.

But, my friends, they weren't kidding. Worldview Academy stands out as one of the most impactful weeks of my life. By far. This is an impact that lasts long after camp is over. An impact that exceeds far beyond the "spiritual high" after camp.

Worldview Academy is more than a camp. It's more than an experience. It's a launching pad for life.

As Christians we have the responsibility to engage the world and proclaim Truth to a dark culture. Are you equipped? Worldview Academy will supply you with the tools you need to defend your faith and think critically like a Christian, as you learn what it really means to "take every thought captive to obey Christ."

We are the generation of future leaders in our culture. What active steps are you taking to equip yourself with the tools you need to defend Truth? Will you consider attending Worldview Academy this year?

If you are even remotely interested in this camp, you need to act now! Find a camp near you, and get signed up!!! Trust me, it's worth the money. I'm going back this year because it was that incredible. If you're interested or have any questions or just want more information, please contact me! Yes, I am waiting expectantly to hear from one of you! (As an alumnus of WA, I can even get you a special discount on the camp.) I LOVE talking about WA, so don't hesitate to email.

Do it. You won't regret it.



"We're like eggs at present," says C.S. Lewis, "and you can't go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." At Worldview Academy, you will begin breaking out of that shell.


You too can make Worldview Academy the best week of your life.

Children instinctively know how to beg. They are experts in persistence and persuasion. They understand that loving parents cannot long ignore their consistent pleads.

Give Him time to do great things. The greater work He plans, the greater the prayer preparation that may be necessary, including prayer for guidance. God often waits so that He can be even more gracious.
—Wesley L. Duewel

 The chief purpose of prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer. —R.A. Torrey

"You will not gain holiness by standing still. Nobody ever grew holy without consenting, desiring, and agonizing to be holy. Sin will grow without sowing, but holiness needs cultivation. Follow it; it will not run after you. You must pursue it with determination, with eagerness, with perseverance, as a hunter pursues his prey." -- Charles Spurgeon

This video is spreading like wildfire! With over 12 million views (and counting) and all over facebook, this video reaching lots of people. But I've been thinking about it. And I've talked with some friends. And so, I've come to a different conclusion about its message than when I first saw it. Let's take a closer look at some of the lyrics, written by Jeff Bethke:

What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion?

This is basically the whole message of the poem. But you make some BIG assumptions about religion. If religion equals self-righteous laws and working your way to salvation, then you're right on target.

But that's not what religion is. The problem is, this is what most people perceive religion as: rules and regulations and priests and institutions and hypocracy. But Jesus didn't hate religion.

Happy Friday the 13th! =)

Failed Humblebrag? - Jim Hamilton: “Some people think it ironic that Moses purportedly wrote Numbers 12:3, ‘Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth’ (NAS). The irony is obvious, right? It’s hardly humble to declare yourself the most humble man in the world. Unless it’s true.”

50 Rules for Dads of Daughters - This is so sweet!

How many Pages Does the Internet Have? - A lot, apparently. “A group called the World Wide Web Foundation — appropriately founded by Tim Berners-Lee, who pretty much created the internet — is on a quest to figure out, with some degree of certainty, how big the internet really is.”

The Sinful Tragedy of Boredom - "To be bored is to fail to see the many and varied good gifts God has given us, not the least of which is in creation."

Welcome to the English language - And for some weird reason, English is my favorite subject!

The Rollerman -