My Other Blog

*I accidentally made this a post instead of a different page, but I suppose my subconscious was trying to advertise!*

Day by Day by Day by Day

"How many of us have read the Bible?  I'm not talking about reading portions of it through a devotional or during sermons and Sunday School, but the Bible, the whole thing front-to-back, word-for-word?"

I've decided to take another blogging journey: reading the Bible all the way through.  I did it once before, but this time is a bit different.

I'm in the middle of reading the Bible a chapter at a time and writing about it.  I have no idea how long it will take, but I truly feel led to do this, understanding that it is a huge commitment.

I invite you to follow me there, too!  I don't foresee numerous deep philosophizing from me, but an honest journaling of this adventure of biblical proportions!

Shh ... There's Christian Rock Music in Rock Band

On April 6th, the Rock Band Network released a new handful of tracks for the Rock Band iteration of music games.  They are:

Anberlin - "Feel Good Drag" (I REALLY want to play this one!!!)
Switchfoot - "Meant to Live"
Thousand Foot Krutch - "Fire It Up"
Skillet - "Monster"
Superchick - "Stand in the Rain"
Hawk Nelson - "Live Life Loud"

What they don't mention is the fact that these artists are typically labeled as Christian artists.  And the fact that each one of them was released at the same time, it couldn't have been a coincidence that the game developers didn't realize.  Is this because Easter was this week?  That's where my money would go (as well as to the Rock Band Network ... if I owned Rock Band, that is).

This isn't actually the first time "Christian" bands have been featured in the annals of Rock Band's catalog.  GameBuddy, in the comment section of Kotaku's treatment of the unmentioned Christian connection between the tracks, lists Kutless, Underoath, and Demon Hunter, among others, as already purchasable.  Personally, I've played Kutless' "The Feeling" and it's got some crazy difficulty!  A lot of people instantly label Christian rock as lame, preachy and altogether lacking of any rock quality.  Makes me sad, but it's no surprise that Rock Band's developers haven't brought focus to the "Christian band" descriptor; it's often treated like a bad smell that people want to avoid.

But major kudos to Harmonix, MTV Games and EA for appreciating these tracks for what they are aside from songs from Christian bands: great rock songs!  These songs rock!  Anberlin and Underoath are two of my favorite bands and have an unquestionable rock mentality (videos of my two favorite songs of theirs, Anberlin's being their new Rock Band track, are provided if you continue reading, just because I love them so).  It's unfortunate that people don't give them a chance, expecting "Christian bands" always to be preaching about Christ and to have a message.

The difference more people should understand is that many of the best Christian bands out there aren't necessarily on Christian labels or are trying to win souls to Christ with every lyric, or even label themselves as Christian bands but a rock band composed of Christian artists.  Honestly, I would prefer them to be more outspoken about their faith in ways other than the Thank You section of their album booklet, but that's between them and God above.  I believe that they're at least doing what God has led them to do and lead examples of Christian living in their daily lives and in their performances.  I was front row when Anberlin came to town on October 2nd, 2008 (ironically, I'm wearing the shirt I wore to their concert today!) and it was amazing!  The performance was loud, jumping, rocking, and there was just a great vibe to the show and they were down-to-earth guys afterward, thankful that I had come!  I say this because these "Christian bands" may not be explicitly vocal about their Christianity, but their good music and performances are reaching a lot of people and providing positivity amidst the rampantly dark atmosphere that "cool" mainstream rock exudes.

But we're here for video games, and I'm just excited that these tracks are offered, for both my own pleasure and that others can maybe hear them for the first time.  I hope both Rock Band and Guitar Hero continue to offer similar tracks and maybe even track packs to cater to the Christian market as well as support good ole rock 'n roll.  But until it might become more popular, Guitar Praise will be the go-to game for the most Christian rock offerings (and they offer Stryper!!!).

"TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL" WOULD HAVE BEEN AWESOME AT THE END OF GUITAR HERO 3

So what do you think?  Should there be more "rock bands composed of Christians" featured in secular music games today?  Do you think they belong?

And if you continue reading below, enjoy Anberlin's "Feel Good Drag" and Underoath's "In Regards to Myself" music videos.  If they aren't rock, then I don't know what is.

Happy Easter

This is why we still have a chance today.  Happy Easter, everyone.

Isaiah 53 (NIV)


1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.


And I don't have an appropriate segue, but here's a random video game easter egg to enjoy:

The "Halo Effect" that ISN'T about Master Chief

One of my favorite new blogs is The Psychology of Video Games.  It's writer, the well-educated, gaming-savvy, Ph.D.'d Jaime Madigan, tries to answer what every other girlfriend, wife, and septuagenarian and older wonder:  Why do we play video games.  There's some very insightful studies, such as the Hot Hand Fallacy that links basketball in the 80s with Modern Warfare 2 (so I guess this isn't true!).  Ok, it's not just 80s basketball but that's beside the point.  The articles are really fascinating, and I've always loved psychology.

His latest entry, "Bayonetta: Witches with Halos" discusses the halo effect, "a cognitive bias that happens when your evaluation of one trait unjustifiably bleeds over into your perceptions of others."  Though the article is more about reaction to marketing and design, as a Christian and a gamer, and a Christian gamer, I'm certain this effect trickles into the perception of individuals.  And part of the purpose of this blog is to defend that "unjustifiable bleeding."

And also, as a Christian, it's on my conscience to say that this article does include a somewhat shapely advertisement of Bayonetta's heroine (there's worse out there, but any little "bit" can lead to bigger "bits"), and the entire blog has pretty good control of language.  I only say this if there's anyone reading this who was born after Jurassic Park was in theaters, aka the young ones.

In the Beginning ...

*standing up* Hi everyone, my name is Jason, and I'm a Christian video gamer *sitting down*.

I am actually not afraid to admit this.  I am a video game fa-NAT-ic.  Unfortunately, being an avid video gamer AND a Christian tends to sound like Greek to the common ear, so my only fear is of being judged.  Not entirely by non-Christians, but possibly more so by other Christians.  It is possible to be a gaming fan and believe in, and worship, Jesus.  But, before we wax poetic and philosophize like crazy, allow me to say a couple of things first ...