Derelict Theology

Last week, I received the copy of Rock Band that I had pre-ordered for my Xbox 360. I was eagerly anticipating this game after having enjoying Guitar Hero 1,2,3, and Rocks the 80’s so much, and it didn’t disappoint. However, as I found out yesterday, the true joy of Rock Band comes from actually having all the people together to form a “real” band. And I think it love it so much because it lets me do something that I’m not able to do in reality, which is play an instrument.

After carrying the monolithic box into the house, Erin and I began to unbox everything included inside, which took us the better part of an hour. The box is gigantic, which was a shock to me despite all that it contained. Inside the box, in individual boxes, are a set of electronic drums, a microphone, a guitar shaped like a Fender Stratocaster, and the game itself. It also comes with drumsticks, two Xbox Live headset adapters, and a USB hub for plugging 4 instruments into. I fiddled with the drums while Erin sang a little bit, and we packed it up and took it to my parents house for Thanksgiving. I played through the guitar solo career there.

But yesterday afternoon, some youth came over and we ended up forming our band, which we promptly gave the name “Snakewater”. Snakewater is:

Vocals - Marty
Guitar - Adam
Bass - Thomas
Drums - Walker

Practices have been set up for Sunday afternoons from 1-4 at Walker’s house. We plan on being the biggest, best virtual band in the world.

Now I just wish I could really play guitar.

Movies and Television:

This is what I was wasting my time watching last year -

and now, the best of 2006, part 3: the movies and tv

the best movie of 2006: drama
Facing the Giants - a church in Georgia makes a Christian movie that isn’t cheesy and isn’t about Armageddon, which seem to be the two requirements for Chistian cinema. Wonderful movie about hope and trust. Great stuff.

the best movie of 2006: comedy
Nacho Libre - Not Jack Black’s best stuff, but the pure insanity of the concept of a wrestling monk is just way too over the top not to laugh. Be sure to at least rent this one.

the best thing about tv in 2006
DVR. It’s like TiVo, only not as good. But, because of DVR, I actually watch television now, and I watch what I want! What a novel concept. Until I realize that I’m basically paying my cable bill every month to watch about 5 shows.

best tv show of 2006: drama
LOST and Heroes. I was going to put Reunion here as well, but it got cancelled just when it was getting good! Stupid FOX.

best tv show of 2006: comedy
The Office and My Name is Earl. I’m hooked. Jason Lee and Steve Carrell own my Thursday nights.

best tv show of 2006 that i’m a tiny bit embarassed to admit i watched
The Real World. I just can’t help it. I get sucked in every time. Maybe it’s because I’m a people watcher. Or maybe it’s just like seeing a wreck on the side of the road. Either way, I’m embarassed.

Let me know your lists, yo.

So I’m chilling at the ‘rents. It’s something everyone should do during the holidays, if they have the option. Not only do you get free food, but usually you get Christmas presents too! Erin and I arrived yesterday afternoon to my parents house and a metric ton of food prepared or waiting to be prepared. Already, we’ve eaten some amount of:

-lasagna
-garlic bread
-salad
-fried chocolate pie
-assorted chips
-bacon dip
-and lots of soda

Of course, that’s not healthy at all, but who cares? Christmas calories all count as 0 anyway. After dinner last night, we got our gifts, which were surprises, because they had already spent major bucks on us already (i.e. a Nintendo Wii and two games for me, and a huge Creative Memories scrapbook megakit for Erin. Both are veddy, veddy niiiiiiiiiiiccce.) So, last night, I got Yoshi’s Island DS for, what else, my DS. I also got a Lifesaver’s Sweet Storybook, which is an Estes Family tradition dating back to the Estes Vikings….who, instead of giving each other books filled with candy, gave each other books coated in the blood of their enemies. I guess you can see the similarities.

Erin got a nice baby book since we found out this past Monday that Isaac Soren Estes was indeed a boy! She also got some very delicious Ferrero Rocher chocolate bon bons that I plan to steal posthaste. Mostly, we’ve just sat around, watched movies (Barnyard and Talladega Nights), and ate, which has been wonderful. I have a small case of sore wrist from playing too much Wii (the Opera Browser came available for download today, so now I don’t even have to get on the computer to check my mail!), but that will see to itself. The best part really has been spending time with family, relaxing, and enjoying just being alive. Slowing down for Christmas and Thanksgiving really is one of my favorite times of the year.

If I don’t get to post until then, have a Merry Christmas!

For some reason, I found this to be of the utmost hilarity this morning…..

Check out this video from Fox News with one of the members of Westboro Baptist Church, better known as “those wackos who picket funerals”, and marvel at how she so eloquently makes herself, and pretty much anyone who claims to be a Christian, look like a complete and total idiot.

I just don’t know what to say………….

I just got back from seeing The Chronicles of Narnia movie, and, like many others I enjoyed it. My wife and I took a small group of our youth with us and it was interesting hearing them dissecting the scenes and dialogue on the way home. I’ll be really honest when I say I didn’t know what to expect going into the theater. I mean, I knew it was an allegory, but I didn’t know quite how much I’d like it. As a kid I tried reading the Narnia books but I never could get into them, I guess it didn’t have anything to do with explosions or giant robots, so I didn’t like it. But now I wish I’d have read the books earlier. I think the part that got me, along with many others, I’m sure, is Aslan. The CGI effects for the animals were top notch, and Aslan was so majestic, so regal in his appearance, and so gentle in his movements and speech. But when he fought….wow!

I don’t know why, but I have always loved the illustration of Jesus as a lion. It’s always struck a great chord with me, probably because I’ve always liked lions and because I can see both their gentleness and beauty, and their ferocity and power. And to me, Jesus is this way. He is gentle, and He is beautiful, but He is also ferocious and powerful. He will teach, He will fight. He will bless, He will smite. Many people may not like to think of Jesus in this way, but much in the same way we know we will never understand all of an animal, we will never understand all of Jesus. We can observe Him, experience Him, even smell Him or touch Him, but we will never know all of His thoughts, or why He takes certain actions. That’s my kind of Jesus, the wild, mysterious, totally not tame Savior, who will fight for me in battle, who will lay down His life for me at the hands of the enemy, and who will be patient with this traitorous heart, and love it back to life.