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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.

You wonder how some things make it to the store shelves. Is it a desire to make a quick buck? Was it a great idea that a marketing department mangled beyond recognition? To me, these are the victims of the Bad Burrito Syndrome: a good idea that comes in the middle of the night – often brought on by indigestion – that don’t translate all that well once you’re awake. Our third annual Bad Burrito Awards winners didn’t allow that to stop these products from actually being sold. Before you shop. Start your quest for Christ­mas gifts by going to Liberty Counsel and downloading their Naughty or Nice list of merchants who use the word Christmas in their signs and advertisements. That’ll show them. (lc.org) Looking for answers? If finding the right gift is a problem, maybe you need help from the “Answer Me Jesus” from Perpetual Kid. It combines the sacredness of a pink replica of Jesus with the fun of the classic Magic 8 Ball. I drank today where Jesus walked… Recent Southern Baptist decisions decrying alcohol aside, when you are looking for a good wine, what better source is there than the Holy Lands? Haroz Vint­ners sells The Grapes of Galilee, “inspired by the rich and ancient culture of Galilee, combining history and contemporary elegance into a new tradition of wines.” In the same vein, Westerham Brewery capitalizes on the slave-fighting quest depicted in the movie “Amazing Grace” with Wilbur Wilberforce Freedom Ale; or, just look for the more simply-titled God’s Wallop Beer. Faith on your sleeve. Does the American flag as clothing make you uncomfortable? A recent ad promoting Jesus as T-shirt art from CMU International may also be questionable, even if “after three years of working on religious and secular drawings, only one had the power to elevate people's consciousness and feelings.” Sales update: they are having trouble screen-printing Jesus. Of course, you can also combine your clothing and a statement about drinking with a “Heavy Drinker” t-shirt from a variety of companies. If the viewer gets around to reading the back of the shirt they will see John 7:37 written out. And let’s not forget the kids! Teach them about faith each night when they put on their Armor of God PJ’s, for both boys and girls, complete with a shield pillow. Faith on your coffee table. If you feel people can’t relate to the image of a crucified Jesus, consider figures of Jesus running for a touchdown, riding a bull, riding a motorcycle and more – all while wearing a crown of thorns. Faith in your toy box. Why settle for an action figure, when you can give your figures some action? That’s what you’ll get with rock-em, sock-em…nuns? That’s right, nun-punching puppets with fist-controlling levers. You can also gather the family around the Salvation Challenge board game “that is taking the Christian world by storm.” A video intro reminds you that you can only be saved once. More games coming! Fish: The next generation. First there was the fish icon for cars. Then evolutionists added legs and the word DARWIN. Now you can get the Christian symbol as a magnet with BUSH in the middle and the stripes of the American flag in the background to show your love for God AND country. And, the site states they do not suggest the President is devine. You’re a grand new flag. Frustrated that our American flag doesn’t demonstrate your faith? The folks at U.S. Christian Flag have developed their own flag, “‘America’s Great Wave Offering’ to our LORD.” Wrap up your selections. When you’ve purchased and wrapped your gift selections, don’t use transparent tape. Instead, buy Jesus tape with 82 feet of adhesive helpfulness from Archie McPhee. There is nothing wrong with sharing your faith. Nevertheless, how it’s done can sometimes be questionable. May your Christmas be not only Merry, but Meaningful. Ken Satterfield is Word&Way’s advertising and marketing coordinator. He welcomes your product suggestions. By the way, inclusion in this article does not constitute an endorsement.  Past Bad Burrito columns: 2019   2018   2017   2016   2015   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007   2006   2005

Last Christmas, this column reviewed odd and bizarre Christian retail items. I dubbed these the “Bad Burrito Awards” as a tribute to great ideas that develop in the middle of the night (possibly brought on by spicy food) and that, frankly, don’t make much sense the next morning.