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.
Want to follow the Unappreciated Pastor? His Twitter handle is @Rev_Norespect... and he also has started an Unappreciated Pastor blog.
Anno 1701: Das Brettspiel
Mark's Ranking
- 2014: 24th
- 2012: 36th
- 2010: 16th
- 2005: prior to publication
Print Status
Why It's On The List
- 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!.
Africa
Mark's Ranking
- 2014: 25th
- 2012: 28th
- 2010: 40th
- 2005: 41st
- appeared on all four lists
Print Status
Why It's On The List
- A great Knizia exploration game that was sadly under-rated when it first appeared in 2002 because it wasn't the next Euphrat & Tigris.
Tips & Tricks:
- As much as possible, don't waste moves. You can work to set up plays so that you can make sure that each turn has two productive activities.
- Use the "skip a turn, move anywhere" power sparingly.
- Relocating nomads can be very lucrative point-wise, especially if you plan for it.
Extras
- Africa packs a lot of game into 30 minutes... it's worth tracking down a copy.
- Here's what I wrote about Africa for The One Hundred
Suburbia
Mark's Ranking
- 2014: 26th
- 2012: prior to publication
- 2010: prior to publication
- 2005: prior to publication
BoardGameGeek
Print Status
Why It's On The List
- 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).
