Everything including the kitchen sink... but with special attention paid to board games, Jesus Christ, my family, being a "professional" (and I use that word loosely) Christian, and the random firing of the 10% of the synapses I'm currently using.
No, this is NOT a comment on my former role as a senior pastor & youth minister - this is an re-introduction for all my faithful blog readers to my favorite Twitter feed. Anonymously, a Southern Baptist pastor (you don't make WMU jokes w/out a little SBC in your blood) has been Tweeting some truly funny (and truly pointed) stuff. I'm re-posting this because Facebook kicked him off for being a "fake account" - and so he's started a new Facebook account that clearly labels himself as a fictional character. (I will note that anyone who has experience in a Southern Baptist church will realize that he doesn't have to use all that much fiction. Sigh.) What follows are some personal favorites... I've added a few recent ones since the last time I posted this.
on worship services
Excited about my sermon this morning "Christ is alive! So why is our Church So Dead?" Working on my resume too.
Why do we have an invitation? Mainly to keep the worship leader from leaving the service when the preaching starts.
I don't know what the big deal about changing the music style is. What does it matter which type of music you don't sing?
Special thanks to the Seminary student for his topical sermon on why we should preach expositionally.
Be on the lookout for our Summer Sermon series: "Eight Sermons I Preached At My Previous Church".
"It's important to be yourself in your preaching. Now, sign up here to learn how to preach like Andy Stanley."
on being a pastor's wife
Well, I met this beautiful girl & she said "The Lord told me I was going to marry a pastor" & that's how I found my calling.
I have no idea why so few people have signed up [for the Valentine Banquet]. My wife is super excited about spending Valentine's Day at the church.
on church life
Some people are so politically minded they're no heavenly good.
Nothing says “discernment” like saying “There’s a sign up sheet in the foyer if anyone wants to teach children’s church.”
Most people came to Jesus wanting one of three things: Food, a miracle or to argue. I'm so glad things have changed in the church.
We have a few members who don't believe in total depravity. We're making them teach the preschool class at VBS.
on Baptists
Pretty sure the groundhog is a Baptist. He makes his once a year appearance and expects everybody to listen to him.
The Buffalo Bills are looking for their 5th coach in 11 years. I'm betting a Baptist owns those guys.
on being a pastor
I think I'd do well on American Idol. I'm used to criticism and getting voted out.
I became a pastor because I desperately need the disapproval of others.
How did I become a pastor? I was abandoned at birth, dropped off in the Bible belt and raised by a pack of wild deacons.
The Pastorate is the only job I know of in which people that don't like you get mad because you don't visit them.
While I didn't like Klaus Teuber's attempt to make Anno 1503 deeper via an expansion - I thought it was bloated & made the game much too long - I think his 2nd attempt at a similar game was very, very successful. And that's Anno 1701, which feels like a cross between The Settlers of Catan & Anno 1503.
Tips & Tricks:
There are lots of options to harvest victory points (which can win you the game) - but you can't try to do all of them.
The island tile sets are nearly identical - the brown ones are just farther from the starting point.
Extras
Sadly, this game has never been published in English - there are some translation issues but they shouldn't be an insurmountable barrier.
Not liking Settlers of Catan does not necessarily mean you'll dislike Anno 1701 - give it a try!.
A city-building game that does three things really, really well: 1) it plays cleanly, 2) it uses the Age of Steam braking system in a way that doesn't make me want to throw myself out a window, and 3) every player ends up with a city/neighborhood with it's own personality.
Tips & Tricks:
Do not forget the goals... they can often spell the difference between victory & defeat. You don't have to win them - you just can't let your opponent(s) get those points.
Cash flow is key - you don't have to be rich (unless a goal specifies it), but you can't let yourself go under financially.
In some ways, the 2 player game is more swing-y than the 3 or 4 player game... because of the number of tiles you don't see in the game. (I still really like as a 2 player game.)
The Suburbia app for the iOS had a rocky launch but has turned out to be a lot of fun.
Extras
The first expansion - Suburbia, Inc. - is an excellent addition to the game.
The next expansion - Suburbia Five Star - will come out this fall (October 2015).
follower of Jesus, husband, father, "pastor", boardgamer, writer, Legomaniac, Disneyphile, voted most likely to have the same Christmas wish list at age 58 as he did at age 8
