I guess that is how the Internet works

When it comes to the Internet it seems as if the less intelligent a topic is the more successful it will be and it turns out my blog is no exception. A few weeks ago I wrote an entry on sweatshops entitled The Big Mouth Of Our Wallets which was inspired by my friend Laura’s joke about setting up a go commando for Jesus day as the Christian response to sweatshop produced underwear. Today when looking over my blog’s statistics page I noticed that my blog was found twice by Google search for for “give up wearing underwear” where it made the number three hit. Upon further investigation I discovered that my blog also holds the number one Google hit for “go commando for Jesus”. And of course upon making this discovery I had to share it with Laura right away.

John: you’ll find this funny but your comment made it big on Google
John: Google “go commando for Jesus” with the quotes and see its the number one hit
John: on the somewhat more freaky note when reviewing my blog stats found that I got two hits from people that found it by a Google search of “give up wearing underwear” (also in quotes) which is the number 3 hit
Laura: oh my gosh
Laura: what did I do?!
Laura: wait, when I do go commando for Jesus it comes up with song lyrics
John: it needs to be inside the “quotes”
Laura: it comes up with 2 results
John: and the second one is a wife’s justification for skipping underwear when running late while getting ready for church
John: we have the number one hit
Laura: haha I saw
John: looks like we got the message out to anybody that decides to Google it
Laura: yup
John: ironic in a way how the Internet works
John: write a lot of serious entries and they get ignored but if you write a lighter one about underwear and going commando and it gets more attention
Laura: of course!
John: it also makes the first page of Google hits for your name too
Laura: …………
Laura: that’s new
Laura: oh my gosh!
Laura: hahaha
John: hope you enjoy your idea a lot because its now well attached to you
Laura: lovely!
John: plan on sharing your Google success with others?
Laura: hahaha I might…..

prayer as a priority

Prayer Rock instructions
I’m your little prayer rock.
This is what I’ll do,
Just put me on your pillow
’til the day is through.

Then turn back the cover
and climb into your bed,
and “whack” your little prayer rock
will hit you on your head.

Then you will remember
as the day is through
to kneel and say your prayers
as HE would want you to.

When you’re finished,
just dump me on the floor.
There I’ll stay throughout the night
to give you help once more.

When you get up next morning,
“clunk” I’ll stub your toe,
so you will remember your morning prayer
before you have to go.

Put me back upon your pillow
when your bed is made,
and your clever little prayer rock
will continue on your bed.

Because your Heavenly Father
cares and loves you so.
He wants your to remember
to talk to him, you know.

Hopefully, humorous and impractical are things that come to mind when you read the above poem which I first came across as a tag to a small rock covered in cloth years ago at Sunday School. Although after finding it online yesterday and reading it over for the first time in years I’m starting to wonder if there is something more to it. Sure one would have to be a fool to take the instructions literally but doesn’t the example even if its comical emphasis the importance of prayer if someone went through the time of coming up with the idea of such an off-the-wall solution to the problem of forgetting to pray regularly.

Bumper Sticker Theology

Tonight on my way to seminary I spotted a very good theological oriented bumper sticker which in my opinion really sums up the goal of authentic Christian spirituality - “God wants spiritual fruit not religious nuts.” That is what I like about good Christian bumper stickers they deliver a good punch line that sticks at a glance yet they are deep enough to preach an entire sermon on.