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| Archives - the complete archive of ReALMagazine.com online features |
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Five
Iron Frenzy: Our Last Article Ever A look back at the late, great Five Iron Frenzy, including a complete discography review and random comments from Keith & Micah. |
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Johnny
Cash: 1932-2003 A tribute from a new generation -- thoughts, quotes, articles and albums, all about the Man in Black. |
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The Matrix Overloaded (May 2003) Reviews, reactions, and regurgitations compiled from various sources. |
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The Not-So Average Christmas (December 11, 2002) A semi-hokey short story reflecting on some of the modern Christmas traditions. |
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Eulogy for my Grandpa (January 27, 2002) 1922-2002 |
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Christmas Gift Ideas (December 14, 2001, updated December 11, 2002) A better way to do your holiday shopping. |
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Slaves of the Enemy, Slaves of Christ (September 16, 2001) How should Christians respond to terror? |
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Indie Filmmaker Darren Doane (May 15, 2001) The director who's made over 200 music videos and several independent feature films. |
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Salvation in the Hallway (April, 2001) A personal essay about denominational differences. |
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An Editorial Response (March 18, 2001) Readers respond to "God, Please Don't Bless America" and ReALMagazine.com responds to them. |
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Iraq
Under Siege (March 18, 2001) A review of Iraq Under Siege, a book that chronicles the impact of the sanctions against Iraq. Are sanctions just as devastating as bombs? |
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Will
You Be My Valentine?
(February 14, 2001) A married guy ponders the tradition of Valentine's Day and asks the truly daring (i.e., stupid) question: Do I have to buy my wife something for Valentine's Day? |
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God
Please Don't Bless America (December
18, 2000) An exploration into the issues of the first atomic bomb attack in the world: Hiroshima. |
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A
Full Thanksgiving (November,
2000) Last night the airplane was full of "murmuring." We complained when boarding was delayed because the pilot was late (not his fault, but due to his previous flight's weather complications). On board we continued complaining because he found...FULL STORY |
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Bush
vs. Gore - a
comparison by the issues (November
2, 2001) I have to admit that politics is not my forte. Most of the time, I would rather watch "Friends" than a presidential debate. The electoral college, the intricacies of campaign finance, and social security laws are all a mystery to me...FULL STORY |
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When
God Is Not On the Ballot -
an
editorial (November
2, 2001) I've always assumed that if you are a Christian, you vote Republican. I thought Democrats were inherently evil--a party of atheist, pro-choice liberals who wanted to crush Christianity. No one ever told me this directly, but I've picked it up from pulpits, articles, and Christian rhetoric...FULL STORY |
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And
the Lambs Roared: a
review of Roaring Lambs (July,
2000) If you hang out in the Christian bookstore you may have noticed a sudden flood of items covered with not-so cute looking lambs. There's the display in the corner, featuring way too many copies of the book and the new CD project of the same name. So what's with the slick designs and the flood of merchandise...FULL STORY |
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Rock
Your Radio -
a
Roaring Lambs-inspired challenge
(July,
2000) As part of the Roaring Lambs challenge, I'm stepping forward and reclaiming radio. I read Bob Briner's book, Roaring Lambs, and although it's not the greatest book I've ever read, it did challenge me. Like a lot of Christians I'm good at complaining. Movies are foul and the songs on the radio are no better. Of course, like a good sheltered church-boy...FULL STORY |
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Rain
-
a fiction story in three parts
(May,
2000) "Rain," he thought. "What a perfect way to start the week." The back bumper on his car was tinged with rust, unbroken except for a blue bumper sticker that read, "My boss is a Jewish carpenter." Right below, his muffler poured noxious fumes into the world as his car gasped to life...PART 1 | 2 | 3 |
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ReAL
Funny with Bob Smiley: My
First Missions Trip (March
29, 2001) The first mission trip I ever went on was awesome! I was impressed by the way God so clearly led... no, make that called, me to go. I was in high school and God spoke through Jenny Chaney (the most beautiful undercover angel ever sent to Era, TX) telling me I should go on this mission trip. I remember her exact words pleading with me to join the campaign...FULL STORY |
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University
of the World (March
29, 2001) While television media was globally flashing images of the United States bombing Iraq; While newspaper articles all over the world were giving in-depth descriptions of the president's personal life; While clocks ticked on and schedules were booked; and while the rat-race of Western Civilization took its toll on another semester of college students; there was a place of seclusion, a world completely isolated from the demands I left behind...FULL STORY |
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Wrestling
With the Word (March
29, 2001) The Bible is an intimidating book. It carries with it the weight of history and the authority of God himself. It comes in several dozen translations, from the overbearing King James to the simplistic New International Reader's Version. The book sits on my shelf between my journal and a clip art book, the binding giving out and the corners bent and torn. Sometimes I try not to look at it...FULL STORY |
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Human
Rights: A
different view of life in China (March
29, 2001) If you turn left at the entrance to Fudan University and cross Zheng Tong Lu, walk past the Korean grocery store and the internet bar and stop across from Xiao Jang's restaurant, you will see it. In a space the length of a city block and the width of a school hallway, hundreds of people bustle about, making their living. Hundreds more stop for a snack on the way to work, pick up a live chicken...FULL STORY |
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Do
you see me? (February
28, 2000) Thirty-eight years ago a man named Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. He dreamed of the day when racial intolerance would have passed into oblivion. He dreamed of the day when brotherhood would reign. He dreamed of the day when people would not be judged by their appearance. Five years later Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. It is prudent for us to look back on the dream of this man, and see just how far we have come--and how far we still have to go...FULL STORY |
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Free
At Last? (December
10, 1999) "The wonderful thing about being off the road with dc Talk is the fact that I can say or do whatever I want now." An audience member shouts "That's the way we like it!" to which Kevin Max responds, "That's the way I like it too. Thank you, man." He continues...FULL STORY |
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ReAL
Funny with Bob Smiley: Let
Freedom Ring! (December
10, 1999) College is the reality to the dream you always had when you were little and your parents told you "No." "Can I have another bowl of Ice Cream?" "No." "Can I stay up and watch the late show?" "No." "Can I run down the street in a toga with a rival fraternity's stolen iguana?" "No. Well, okay, but put a coat on. It's chilly out."...FULL STORY |
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Waterdeep:
A review & conversation (December
10, 1999) Priorities are important, especially for young college students who have to balance school, work, and friendships; that's why I rushed out to purchase Everyone's Beautiful the day after it was released. This is Waterdeep's debut with Squint Entertainment after two independent projects that gave the band a substantial following...FULL STORY |
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What
we really need for Christmas (December
6, 1999) December: It's the month that makes or breaks the retail industry. It's the month of Christmas specials on TV, twinkling little lights, and fat, hollow Santas lit up in our front yards. Some things about Christmas really confuse me. We put up pine trees in our living rooms...FULL STORY |
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Jars
of Clay Giveaway (November
19, 1999) See who won our Jars of Clay Giveaway. MORE |
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Delirious:
The British Inversion (November
26, 1999) Thirty-five years ago four lads from Liverpool forever changed American popular music. The British Invasion, led by the Beatles, made America rethink what is music, what it means to be famous, and what it means to play rock-and-roll. Two years ago, five mates from England showed American Christians what they had been missing...FULL STORY |
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The
Deluxtone Rockets - Playing with fire (October
16, 1999) A swing/rockabilly band from western Michigan with a stage show so live you'll be calling the Fire Department. Take a look at this up and coming band and hear about the impressive show they put on for a crowd of twenty...FULL STORY |
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Veggie
Tales - Big Dreams Go a Long Way (August
26, 1999) I walked into the corporate office and immediately knew it was the home of Bob and Larry. Veggie Tales paraphernalia dripped from the walls-banners, posters, the platinum awards for various videos, even concept drawings for upcoming videos. For a moment I thought I had stepped into a seven-year-old’s fantasy...FULL STORY |
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Volunteer
Enlistment - A
college student in kindergarten
(August
26, 1999) With hardly any word of explanation, the principal opened the door and shoved me into the cage, slamming the door behind me. I stood there with a startled look and a group of 25 kindergartners staring me in the face. This should be interesting...FULL STORY |
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ReAL
Funny with Bob Smiley (August
26, 1999) I gave blood yesterday. Actually, I kind of gave twice... the first time and the last time. My church does an annual blood drive where weeks before the event, a spokes person gets up and tells the congregation how great it is to donate. Of course, this man has given so much blood that he himself has the complexion of Elmer's glue...FULL STORY |
