Month: May 2005

Isn’t it just a little suspicous that there’s only a one letter difference between ‘garage sale’ and ‘garbage sale’?

So I came into work today and went though my normal routine. Checked the local papers for any stories of interest, checked my inbox, turned on my computer, logged on to AOL IM, opened my e-mail and then noticed a friend was online.
I sent her a message and then bam. AOL punts me off and won’t let me back online. Apparently my account was suspended for some reason. I can’t even find a real person to talk to or give me an answer as to why.
I feel so lost knowing that my friends might be waiting online now and I can’t talk to them.
So, with my AIM down, I have to waste time and try and find a screen name I like. Something that suits me and something that’s hopefully temporary.
And I don’t mean to put myself over, but I had a really long buddy list that’s now just floating in cyberspace somewhere with my suspended account.
I’m getting a little upset.
But why the heck is that? Why is staying in touch with people through a cell phone, AIM or e-mail so important to me?
Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Now I really like all my friends and family, but there’s not many great and unsearchable things they can tell me.
Sure, they can tell me news that’s going on in their world. But is that really great and unsearchable.
Yet, I’m misserable when I can’t keep in constant contact with people and have them available at the click of a mouse or the push of a call button.
I have a direct line to God and I’m worried because I have to change screen names on AIM? Sounds like my priorities might be a little off.
I guess I can be thankful that God doesn’t suspend our accounts like AOL.
I’d have to change screen names every day if that was the case.
The annoyance of man becomes and example for God’s grace. How wonderful He is.
So for those of you who don’t hear from me on AIM for awhile, you know.
Drop me an e-mail and maybe I’ll send you my new screen name.

With postings like this: “All Thumbs,” who needs my comments or thoughts.
I’ve been in a number of conversations lately that have discussed the rules/value and who’s who of Christian music.
What makes music Christian. If you compare a love song by Bryan Adams to “In the Secret” by Sonicflood, aren’t they basically the same song? But we know one as a secular love song to a girlfriend or a wife and the other as a cry to God, simply because of where we heard it. Had we heard “In the Secret” on a secular radio station, we would likely consider it a secular song.
Think about the song, “Every Breath you Take” by the Police. People have considered it a love song for years.
Personally I think its a stalker song.

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you

O can’t you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches with every step you take

Depending on how you view it, I suppose it could be a romantic love song, or a song about a stalker singing to his prey.
In reality, Sting wrote the song about an oppressive government that watched and censored everything it’s citizens did.
So if music can be viewed in numerous ways, what about design in general?
What makes a design Christian or not?
When I send a flyer or postcard to my singles group, what determines if the design is Christian or not?
I remember last year after the Janet Jackson Superbowl fiasco I designed a flyer that had a picture of a sleeveless girl on it.
My church staff wasn’t super happy with the idea because of the previous week’s fiasco. But was it because the design was un-Christian or was it because it suggested things that might not be Christ-like.
Isn’t the human body a thing of beauty, created by the All Mighty Creator?
When Michelangelo sculpted his statue of David was his thought, “I want to make this a Christian sculpture, so I’ll sculpt a figure from the Old Testament” or did he think, “I want to make this as un-Christian as possible, so I’ll scuplt David in the nude?”
Does it matter?
Is there really a difference between a Christian design and a non-Christian design?
When I look at the marketing and design work that “secular” companies put out and then I look at the flyers I get from my church or other churches, I see a definate difference in the design quality but what about the elements?
Should we be concerned about the design elements itself or simply the message it conveys?

Blank has written a posting that takes a look at the books and magazines that inspire us.

As we explore the heart and soul of design, I thought it would be helpful for everyone to take a peak at your library, your coffee table and what’s in your bathroom near the toilet. What I’d like to know is what books have/are giving you a glimpse into the heart and soul of design and why. Break them down into three categories:
~ In your library (books read in the past year)
~ Near the toilet (books you are currently reading)
~ On your coffee table (books you will be reading soon but have not started)

So I figured I’d list my books/magazines and then let each of you list your own in the comment section.
Library – The Hiding Place, The Chronicles of Narnia, A Grief Observed
Near the toilet – Jesus CEO: I’ve been working on this one for quite sometime. I read several sections, get inspired and then set it down for awhile.
The Coffee House Gospel: I’ve just started this one and haven’t made a whole lot of progress mainly due to the other reading near my toilet.
Relevant Magazine (May – June): A constant companion in my “office.” A great article this month on Moby and his faith.
Texas Monthly (May): Another constant companion in my “office.” A great article this month on Kelly Clarkston.
On the coffee table – I don’t really have a coffee table, but most of my mail and magazines end up on my table until their moved to “the office.” Right now I have a recent copy of American Photographer and a number of bills on the table.

Ok, I’m taking this from another website but I think it’s a great idea. See how creative you can be or how creative other folks can be. Here are the rules, follow them as closely as possible and then send in your submission. I’m excited to see what everyone comes up with. If you feel totally un-creative, that’s fine. Just send me an e-mail with the words you chose. I won’t laugh. I promise.

The word for May: Disciple

What exactly is this?
Word It is your opportunity to express in as many words, and as many other graphic elements as you need, what best describes each monthly topic.

Each month we will choose a specific topic, idea or theme. For example: the first theme was “disciple.” So you would go home, or do it at work, and find words, images, artwork, whatever that best describes what inspiration means to you. It could be anything: music, cats, chocolate, museum, love, laundry. Anything that reflects what disciple is to you. You can do whatever you want to it: vectorize it, photoshop it, scan it or build it and then send it to us.

What kind of file must be submitted?
It’s this simple:
› 5” by 5” (yes, that’s in inches). If points are your thing, then make it 360 x 360 points
› High resolution! 300 dpi please. If submitted at 72 dpi it will not be considered for possible publication
› Send a JPG, just remember to save it as hi-res. A Photoshop file (flattened) could also be accepted.
› CMYK files please. RGB is acceptable but frowned upon, the color might change for print reproduction, keep that in mind when breaking the rules.
› Please specify a URL (if you have one) for the image to point at. If you have no web site, the image will link to your e-mail address.
› No self-promotion please. Do not put your name, your business’ name, your tagline nor your URL in the image.
› If you’re clueless about everything above, e-mail wordit@one21media.com and we’ll tell you were you can send your submission via snail mail.

Copyright information
› By submitting, you grant 121 Media the right to reproduce your artwork on the site. We will give you credit, normally. If we decide to print this and make a nice coffee table book that will be the envy of all your friends, we might then contact you to get your official blessing. But don’t count on it. Our record keeping has been pretty bad up until this point.
› Also, and very important, please use original material, pay for your fonts, buy or create your images (no stripping off photos from a Google image search), don’t use anything that is copyrighted in its own way. We will come back to you if this the case.
› Common sense is all we ask for, we don’t want to get sued

› Disclaimer: 121 Media is not responsible for the views expressed by each individual entry and its author. Nor does it represent 121 Media’s own opinions. We have zero censorship (unless deemed completely unpublishable material). If you have a problem with somebody’s entry we ask you to contact the author.

Where do I submit the file?
To: wordit@one21media.com
Please include your name in the file’s name for easy identification.

Only current Word Its will be accepted. Meaning that past Word Its (from past months) will not be considered nor uploaded.

Anything else?
Yes:
› Be creative. And don’t worry, there are no clients around to tell you the type is too small.
› We highly reserve the right to not post what you send. Whether because it’s offensive, pointless or even lame.