Calling all geeks, car buffs, and pretty much everyone else

The other day I was talking with some friends about what my ideal car would be. No, cars aren't a terribly spiritual topic, but joy, friendship and laughter are, and we had a good time joking about each other's dream machines. This was one of mine.

Check this bad boy out.


http://www.oxmonline.com/we-drove-warthog?page=0%252C0

This is WETA Workshop's re-creation of a vehicle from Microsoft's Halo video game series. WETA usually does movie props and such, and apparently there were plans for a movie based on the games.

Anyhow, for those not into sci-fi war games, this is called a Warthog, an out-of-this-world Jeep/Hummer hybrid built for the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) with independent suspension, 4 wheel drive, 4 wheel steering, and a legendary ruggedness, being able to take just about anything you can throw at it. And hey, if it rolls over, just press "X" to flip it! Well ok, so maybe the movie prop version isn't as packed with bonuses (and might be a little more difficult to turn over if flipped), but it is certainly a beast of a machine and I would drive one in a heartbeat, presuming that it became either affordable or street-legal... or had any semblance of gas mileage.

Even so, the attention to detail which WETA put into this thing is amazing.
A geek can dream...



Now it's your turn!

What's your dream car?
(feel free to comment... with pics if you can find them!)

The Unseen Superbowl

For those of you who watched the NFL Superbowl last night, I'd imagine there's a mix of emotions ranging from excitement/jubilation to an intense feeling of intestinal distress.

The Broncos might say something like, "It was a hard-fought game, lots of ups and downs. It was a real battle, but hey, any given team can win any given game on any given Sunday. It just wasn't our day." That's putting it lightly...

The Seahawks would then respond, "They played games and lost. We played football and we won. End of story."

Yet, amid the trash talk that follows, there's a hidden side to the Superbowl that you may not have heard about. Its a darker side, called human trafficking. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking: "Now its time for the blogger to make us feel guilty for living our lives and watching football. What'd I ever do to you?!"

You have to understand, the world is filled with far more evil than you could ever imagine. In middle-class society, we are conveniently sheltered from a good deal of suffering, so we either assume that it's too negative to talk of such things or we pride ourselves that our friends and family are nice and safe and sheltered like we are. Perhaps instead we could all do our part to make a difference? 

I know for me, the issue isn't really, well, at-hand. I don't see it. I don't know what to do to combat it, and after I post this, I will go about my day as-usual. But perhaps someone reading this will be in a different position, perhaps a business leader or someone with connections, able to help. Perhaps if our society was overrun with vigilant people who know human trafficking is real and aren't afraid to blow whistles, then those who do such things wouldn't get away with it? I dunno. There's always the tried-and-true, "Keep your eyes open and call 911 if you see anything."
It's overwhelming and I hate that there are people suffering in this way under our noses. 
We can pray and ask God to show us our part in it. It's a group effort or nothing.
 

I'll leave the rest of this post to a friend of mine...:

"Right now, there are thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children in the world who are victims of human trafficking. They are slaves who are kidnapped and sold into labour or prostitution. In 2010, there were an estimated 10,000 women who were victims of human trafficking at the Super Bowl. Yes, here, in America. And the numbers continue to rise. Slavery is a worldwide epidemic, but here, in our own backyard, girls from ages 12 and up are being sold into prostitution on the streets of our cities.  More facts and stories related to this can be found here:

http://www.policymic.com/articles/79235/you-ll-never-see-this-side-of-the-super-bowl-on-tv

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/the-ugly-truth-behind-the-super-bowl-and-sex-trafficking/

This really bothers me. The Bible says in the book of Genesis chapter One that God created humanity in His image. What does that mean? It means that an artist's creativity comes from God, a soldier's courage comes from God, a father's discipline comes from God, and a mother's affection comes from God. It means that to be human is to reflect the Creator of the Universe (Note I said reflect, not be or be equal to). God has placed immense value on human life. 

If you are reading this and you're a Christian, the Bible calls us into action against this cheapening of human life. If you are not a Christian, I don't doubt  that this bothers you too. Stand up, be heard, be seen. If you are curious about ways to help fight human trafficking, then check out the End It Movement. Their sole purpose is to raise awareness and support efforts to end human trafficking. You can also check out the International Justice Mission, as they combat Human Trafficking and other Justice related issues. Check out the links below.

http://www.ijm.org 

http://enditmovement.com "

Push button for happiness... *boink*

(image credit: http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/article_142.shtml)

This will be a brief observation, but I've noticed something in myself and in pop culture broadly that's of concern to me.

We live in a time where computers and the internet allows us to shop, do our banking, watch television, search for silly videos, listen to music, connect with friends, search for pictures, play games, and so on, all with the push of a button. Instantly. Its addicting. Whether good or bad, fun or boring, we have a world of information and entertainment at our fingertips, more than any generation before us.

As I write, I've listened to a comedy routine on Youtube, searched for pictures to use with the blog background, received emails and text messages, and so on. I turned this computer on fully intending to read a few helpful PDF files (offline, I might add).

This phenomenon isn't limited to the internet on the personal computer. It extends to television marketing, fast food restaurants, relationships, churches, and all manner of products and services. Its all about... you guessed it... ME. The individual. Convenience. And it is addicting. It's almost liek we're worshipping our own desires, and that's a scary idea.

What if I have a bad day, no one seems to be around to talk, and I am left to decide how I want to spend my time? The better option to solve this problem of course would be to do something beneficial, such as exercise, reading a good book, finding a friend or loved one to visit or talk with, finding someone to help or serve, perhaps some way to volunteer time or improve one's quality of work or relationships, etc.
Yet which is easier to do, go do something that requires thought and effort, or to simply press a button, sit down in a soft chair, and have happiness at the push of a button? Obviously, pressing the button is easier. Getting McDonalds is easier than cooking. Searching for dramatic stories to read online is easier than writing them oneself. Playing a video game simulating a sport or exercise (Madden NFL anyone?) is far easier than finding the time (and friend-group) to actually play the sport. And so on it goes.

Of course, this chasing convenience doesn't ultimately satisfy or give lasting happiness. The point is, the pace of life for those who have bought into this mindset (and those who think they have it under control) is only increasing and the allure is addicting. Effort is replaced with ease. Doing the hard things is replaced by paying others to do the hard things. And community gives way to convenience (ever noticed how easy it is to leave a church these days?).

In the midst of all the craziness, Jesus' words speak clearly and abrasively to this culture:
Matthew 11:28-30 (HCSB)
²⁸ “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.
³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”


The Son of God offers something to the world which this on-demand, self-orientation cannot comprehend. We've ignored and offended Him and sinned against Him, yet He freely offers us amnesty and a relationship with Himself if we will but surrender, lay down our weapons, and trust Him. It involves rest, yet we are expected to work. It involves work, yet He offers rest. Here's what I mean...
"For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—  not from works, so that no one can boast.  For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB) 

We're offered rest from our futility, from our attempts to find meaning, and, most especially, from our attempts to please God by our faltering actions, which couldn't make us perfect anyhow. Only Jesus' death on the cross could do that. Once we DO trust in Him, we're bought. We are His, and we are expected to go out from that and dare I say it, change the world. Or at least be faithful to do our part well where we are based on what He says is right.
Does a lighthouse exist to point everyone to the lighthouse? Lighthouses are cool and all, but no. It exists to serve and warn those ships who would otherwise run aground on dangerous rocks. Its builder designed it and placed it where it needed to be to make a difference in its small way, namely to save lives (and ships!). And that's what we're supposed to do.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

The more we're about self-fulfillment, the less we will be fulfilled. But the more we embrace this idea that Jesus is "at the center" of our universe, the more fulfilled we can be. It's not a promise that you get everything you want; its a promise that eventually God will teach you to want the right things.

Will we persist in this crazy pursuit of on-demand self-pleasure?
Or will we seek out the only well that can satisfy our thirst?

Life will only get crazier and crazier. Will we persist in this pursuit of happiness, or will we seek to pursue the one who created happiness in the first place and live our lives to honor and serve Him?
"Come to me," Jesus says.
What will be our response?