November 29, 2007

Motivational Posters!





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By Larry McCallister 0 comment(s) Links

November 27, 2007

I've Coined My Own Sports Word

Have you ever grimaced at hearing what you thought was a stupid word? There is one such word that I find annoying and I keep hearing it while watching my beloved college football: athleticism. I don't know why it annoys me so much but it does. I've wished people would replace it with the phrase "athletic ability" but I haven't been assuaged. I hate that word.

I now have another equally stupid word that, out of frustration, I jokingly use in place of athleticism, and that's masculiniature. That's right:
masculiniature. n. In sports, the athletic ability of a male competitor. See athleticism.
I believe this is the perfect solution to all of my troubles with athleticism. By replacing one stupid word with another, I'm empowering myself by adding to the rich diversity of the English language. Here are some examples of the word in use:

Example:
Commentator One: "Look at the cut Patrick White just made! He's taking it all the way to the house!"
Commentator Two: "That's right! Wow, nobody is questioning his masculiniature in Morgantown tonight!"
Example:
Commentator One: [laughing] "Owen Schmidt just leveled that guy, opening the way for Steve Slaton to gain an additional 15 yards!"
Commentator Two: "That's why Schmidt surely will be drafted in the first round! Not only is he a great fullback but his overall masculiniature is some of the best I've ever seen!"
I'm rather proud of myself. If this word catches on then I will be responsible for adding another stupid word into the English vernacular!

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By Larry McCallister 2 comment(s) Links

November 26, 2007

Flirtology?

Today as I drove around I suddenly became aware of a Chevrolet Blazer in front of me. The back of the vehicle had three decals: a Celtic cross, a Tinkerbell cartoon picture and a palm tree/moon combo. What was most fascinating was the word FLIRTOLOGIST spelled out in fat purple letters across the top of the back window pane.


I've heard of many things in my life but flirtology? Would you want to broadcast to the world that you consider yourself an expert in the subtle (or not too subtle) wiles of flirtation? How does this work? Does the owner of the Blazer want people to flirt back? If she doesn't like the attention could you apologize, saying, "Hey, my bad. I read your chosen profession and, well, thought I'd tell you that I like your field of study"?

It's amazing what we will put on our vehicles. We announce our political backings, our personalities, our favorite hobbies, our beloved sports teams, our alma maters, our religious or atheistic beliefs or even those hideous, "My child is an honor student at ABC Elementary."

When you really think about it those vehicular expressions are like frozen mini blogs that people post to the streets.

I don't have a decal on the back of my sedan.

And I'm certainly not a Flirtologist.

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By Larry McCallister 0 comment(s) Links

November 23, 2007

Sleeping Peacefully in My Bed

No, I didn't brave the elements this morning to join millions of Americans for early morning Christmas shopping. I refuse to do so. If I lose great sales because of it, so be it! I stayed in bed.

I hate shopping for Christmas presents. I love buying gifts that people enjoy but I hate shopping. It's an annual drudgery that I suffer in silence.

Maybe it's the man in me but, honestly, if we just stopped giving gifts altogether I don't know if I'd miss it much. When I think of Christmas these days I just think of being with family and eating great food. Gifts are nice—and fun—but I doubt if I'd miss that tradition greatly if it stopped.

Christmas really is about Jesus Christ and his incarnation, the God-became-man event when he was conceived in the womb of the virgin named Mary.
And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God." (Luke 1.35 ESV)
How this is possible is a mystery of the Faith that we haven't been able to explain for 20 centuries. However, just because we can't explain it doesn't mean that it's not possible with God. Refusing to embrace the mystery (or even its supernatural possibility) is the failing of liberalism and the undermining of Christianity.

Jesus of Nazareth, the God-Man. This is the meaning of Christmas.

(Of course, if someone is in the giving spirit, I'll gladly accept his gift of the BDAG Greek-English Lexicon. This Greek dictionary is the one to own for translators, and it's only $139! And it might be free shipping and handling!) ;-)

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By Larry McCallister 0 comment(s) Links