Guacamole

Unless you live in a cave on a desert island, you are aware that in a few days the NFL will crown its annual champion. Across the country there will be celebrations large and small where friends gather to cheer for their favored team and enjoy their favorite party foods. There will be chicken wings, little smokies, meatballs, various chips, and dips. My favorite party food is, without a question, chicken wings. My favorite dip is guacamole. Until the last two or three years, I hated guacamole. I had tried it. I found it to be disgusting. It had absolutely no redeeming value. But tastes change. I was willing to try it again. Now I love guacamole. It is one of my favorite dips and taco/fajita toppings. This has been my tribute to guacamole. Below is Rhett and Link's tribute to guacamole. Their tribute is funnier and more clever. Mine love for guacamole is at least as sincere as their love is. I hope you enjoy it. In the comments, tell us what your favorite Super Bowl party food is.

Fortune Cookie Advice

I enjoy Chinese food. It seems like I can't get enough lately. Today I had lunch at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Tyler. As I neared the end of my meal, I was given that absolute staple of American Chinese food, the fortune cookie. I am always interested to see what it says my fortune is. I don't place any stock in it, but I find it interesting. The fortunes are generally so vague that they would apply to anyone at anytime. Today, my fortune read: "This year your highest priority should be your family." See what I mean? So generic. So true. As a husband and father, my highest priority (outside of God) should be my family. I should prioritize there needs above mine. It is my responsibility to see that they are cared for. It is so easy to make school (for me) or work or ministry the thing that takes most of my time. But it shouldn't. She who must be obeyed should get my time and attention. I am a model for my children. Heavy, very heavy. This advice from the fortune cookie was a timely reminder for me. I hope it is for you, as well.

PS: My lucky numbers are 9, 22, 27, 32, 43, 44. Good luck.

Joke Contest Winner

We have a winner! It is basically a winner by default, since there was only one joke submitted. You can go to the comments in the original post to read it. Congratulations to Chris for his bad joke, and I do mean bad!

Best Bad Joke

Best Bad Joke Contest from John Collier on Vimeo.

The Next Billy Graham

One week from now, we will have a new President. I have some opinions about all of that, but I will keep them to myself. President-elect Obama has asked Pastor Rick Warren to pray at his innauguration. Of course, Warren accepted. There have been a number of reactions to this. It has proven to be a little sticky for both Warren and Obama. Because of Mr. Obama's positions on the issues of abortion and homosexual marriage, many conservative Christians have taken the opportunity to use this as ammo against Warren. Cultural liberals, especially the homosexual lobby, have accused Obama of teaming up with Hitler (or worse). Obviously, neither of this is true. Liberals lump Warren in with ultra-conservative, fundamentalist Christians, and they would never claim him as their own. The reverse is also true.

Because of the attention given to Warren, along with his hosting a couple of political forums, the media is making the case that Warren is the next Billy Graham. I have a great deal of respect for Billy Graham. His testimony has been above reproach in the areas of finances and marital fidelity. He typically did not get involved in partisan politics. This opened the door for him to preach in countries that have traditionally been closed to the Gospel. Between his large crusades and television specials, he has preached to more individuals than anyone in the history of the church. I respect that. I also know that he has primarily been an evangelist, partnering with local churches for follow-up. This gave him the luxury of not needing to (publicly) clearly define a number of doctrinal positions.

Rick Warren is a church planter and a local church pastor. He has been responsible not only for evangelism, but also for developing a plan for discipling converts and growing a church in the community.

I do not think Rick Warren is the next Billy Graham. I do not think there will be another Billy Graham. I think Rick Warren is the next Rick Warren. I think God works in seasons. Seasons come and go.

This Is High Tech?

This past weekend wrapped up the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. It is an extravaganza of all things electronic and high tech.

A number of states and municipalities have made it illegal to use a mobile phone while driving without using a hands-free device. Do you want to use your phone but don't have a hands-free device? Did you forget to charge your bluetooth device? Are you too cheap to upgrade to a bluetooth enabled phone? The Cell-Mate may be the answer for you.



This may be the most stupid mobile phone accessory ever produced. What do you think? Would you use one of these? For those of you still wondering, no, I would not.