Media & Entertainment

Have you ever woken up, trying to remember that great idea that you had during the night — only to find out it was the result of indigestion more than inspiration? If so, you’ll understand the inspiration of the annual Bad Burrito Awards for “What were they thinking?” examples of offering products and services for believers.

Have you noticed how many people say that there's nothing they really need, yet when Christmas rolls around, they still find gifts under the tree? This column suggests long-lasting gifts that will bless all year long.

Selling (or buying) tickets, candy or wrapping paper, washing cars or manning a game booth, even giving an extra dollar in a store purchase can help a worthy cause.

Believers also have opportunities to support the church or a ministry through “giving by living,” generosity funded by everyday activities. Perhaps these options can benefit you and others, too.

When you hear about big organizations whose websites are attacked and customers’ private information is compromised, isn’t it a relief to know that no nefarious foreign hacker would care about your blog or website?

Then it happens to you.

Maybe it’s happened to you. It starts with a nagging ache, an odd rash or a persistent cough. You don’t seek medical help too quickly to avoid looking like a hypochondriac — and at the same time, don’t want to wait too long. Nobody wants to ask a doctor the proverbial stupid question, and everyone wants to avoid an emergency room bill at all costs, so to speak.

Growing up, I liked to create Easter eggs, learning to dye them and use wax to make interesting designs. Plastic Easter eggs in which my parents would hide surprises, like money or coupons, were fun, too.

Today, “Easter eggs” are still fun and exciting, with hidden surprises and inside jokes.

Do you ever scratch your head at an advertisement and think, “What were they thinking?” My theory is that many of these ideas were inspired by drowsy people jotting down ideas caused by indigestion in the middle of the night. That’s the idea behind the Bad Burrito Awards for questionable religious ideas and products, now in its eighth year.

Word&Way's media columnist highlights this year's questionable or different Christian products and marketing with his annual Bad Burrito Awards.

Ever wake up in the wee hours after a good dream – or a bad burrito – with a marvelous thought? One that in the light of day really makes no sense whatsoever? This column takes note of similar (I suspect) Christian-based notions that no one stopped before marketing. This year marks the fifth-annual Bad Burrito Awards for bad gift-giving ideas or inspiration.

You ate something that didn’t agree with you – say, a burrito – causing you to wake up in the middle of the night with what seems to be a brilliant idea, one that loses a lot of its luster in the light of day. In what has become an annual Word&Way tradition, we want to acknowledge our Bad Burrito Awards for these types of seemingly-sincere but head-scratching religious merchandising ideas.