Posted by: Flip
November 9, 2004 05:49 AM

"I need the practice"?

Posted by: Michael Morgan
November 9, 2004 03:52 PM

Why are you up soooo late? Is it to study???

Posted by: Timothy R. Butler
November 9, 2004 04:08 PM

It sounds he stays up to play Halo.

(Of course, I'm not sure I can associate with those who use an unclean system like a Microsoft X-Box -- MS has enough dominance without getting support in the living room. )

Posted by: Pressed
November 9, 2004 05:24 PM

Well, if Apple would come out with a sufficient replacement to the X-Box I would go out and purchase it.

Posted by: Timothy R. Butler
November 9, 2004 07:01 PM

Apple already tried that once -- I doubt with Jobs at the helm they will do it again. Although a nice G5 would make a *killer* gaming system -- especially since all three of the major next-generation game consoles will have a PowerPC related processor in them. Sony's new processor looks especially intriguing and is being co-developed with IBM, so it should probably be fairly easy to port to the G5... MS's new XBOX2 will have a real G5 in it, so that should make porting a cinch.

For now I recommend a PS2 or Gamecube (which has a PowerPC G3!).

Posted by: Pressed
November 9, 2004 09:20 PM

Well, I not only own an X-Box. But I own a gamecube as well. I just can't get away from Mario games that Nintendo produces such as Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart. These games keep me coming back for more. However, I find myself playing the X-Box a whole lot more than I play the Gamecube. While some of the same games exist for both consoles, I have found that the gamecube locks up quite a bit and it's graphics leaves much to be desired as compared to my X-Box.

Posted by: Anna
November 9, 2004 10:29 PM

While I applaud you for coming up with innovative ways to encourage unchurched or reluctant teens to come to church, I do admit I have some issues with your game of choice. I've not seen Halo 2, but I have watched and even played the original Halo. My concern is that Halo, at least the first version, is rated M. You certainly have every right to play an M-rated game at your discretion, but couldn't you choose a less objectionable game for a church function? I am pretty sure you wouldn't watch an R-rated movie with your youth group (except maybe "The Passion," in which case I'm sure you had to obtain permission slips or give a note to parents or something since most of the kids are under 17), so I don't understand why it's OK to play what is essentially an R-rated game with teenagers. I don't have problems necessarily with video games; I play Nintendo when I get the chance myself. But why must you play a game that is the equivalent of an R-rated movie to draw students? Why not choose something less objectionable, especially for church functions? I just don't understand.

Posted by: Pressed
November 10, 2004 09:58 AM

I have no exuse. I bought plenty of other games and put Halo up for an extended peirod of time. It didn't boad well, they just brought their own version of Halo and played it anyway. It's fun, I like the game, and don't have a problem with it. Honestly, there are some rated R movies that I wouldn't have a problem showing either because the rating is for violence alone. The Passion falls under this umbrella of movies.

I didn't just go buy an M rated game and let them play it without any knowledge of what it was. I bought the game and played it for quite some time before I bought it for the youth room. Now, I have done the same thing with Halo 2 and I have decided that I will not be purchasing Halo 2 for our group. They have taken it to another level by adding a large number of curse words.

Posted by: Rob
November 10, 2004 01:54 PM

How can people who claim to be "moral" and have "traditional values" shop at Wal-Mart?

Wal-Mart is bad for workers, bad for communities, and bad for the people that produce all of those cheap products.

According to a Congressional report released earlier this year a typical Wal-Mart store with 200 employees would cost taxpayers $420,750 per year. It also said that Wal-Mart's employees were paid an average of $8.23 an hour in 2001, compared with $10.35 for a supermarket worker.

Cheap stuff which may be good for YOU in the short-run is bad for us all in the long-run.

also see: What Price Wal-Mart?

Posted by: Pressed
November 11, 2004 11:06 AM

Wal-Mart is the only place in my town to shop for most needed items. Don't really have a choice unless we drive 40 or 50 miles just to shop.

Posted by: John
November 26, 2004 02:09 AM

Is there really a clear black and white answer to this question of whether or not to allow Halo2 at church related events? We recently started an xbox ministry at my church which I'm leading and I see 100-150 (mostly high school students) coming each week to this event. The main game of choice is Halo2. We have a large variety of other games, but they hardly every get played. I would say at least half of our attendance is pre-christian people. Can the game really be that bad if it helps to get high schoolers to youth group and gets them out of their houses and out of trouble on friday nights. I've been thanked endlessly by not just high schoolers, but also by adults for allowing for this xbox ministry and for allowing Halo. I've had a lot of teens tell me that if they weren't at our church playing Halo then they'd probably just be at someones house smoking pot.

So I'm asking you again is there really no good that can come out of letting High Schoolers play Halo2?

~John

Posted by: Nathan
November 26, 2004 05:04 AM

I'd don't really see a problem with allowing games like Halo, etc to be played. It does draw in teens wanting to have some fun, but it's also important to remember that they need to be ministered to, all the halo and church attendence will mean squat if churches draw in the numbers but fail to lead people to Jesus.

Posted by: Mugnaio
January 1, 2005 08:16 AM

That with which you covert is that to which you convert. Ministries that attract with Halo 2 & similar will have members who are there for primarily that reason. Take away the games, they'd leave; take away Jesus, most would stay. Sprinkling a little Jesus in here and there--seemingly the smallest dose possible--and calling it "ministry" does nothing to help these young people live regenerate lives in Christ.

Posted by: Pressed
January 1, 2005 12:56 PM

And I agree with that. It's the reason we do things the other way around, meaning, we sprinkle a little bit of other activities in there but make the main thing the main thing. Halo was a phase, one that is coming to its end if you ask me, and to be honest there are many people who came just to play these games that have now been integrated into activily participating in Wednesday night worship services and going on our summer mission trip and so on. If playing games was the only thing that we did and if that was what we spent the majority of our time doing then I would agree with you. However, that isn't the case with our group. It gives them something to do if they come up early on Wednesdays before the services start. Foosball, airhockey, and ping pong serve the same purpose.

Posted by: XBOXYouthPastor
May 11, 2005 10:29 AM

I would like to say that he is not the only one using HALO and HALO 2 to get kids to come to church. The point that many people miss is not how objectionable the content of the game is but the fact that it is getting kids that normally wouldnt come to church to come to church. I started off with 3 kids coming to our game night events and now we have over 25 come every week. This is a great chance to use a tool that most see as evil for good. I have personally started up a ministry like this in several other churches after starting my own at my church that I attend. So, I say game on and let everyone else think what they want but if playing an M rated video game leads a kid to Christ then I say play M rated video games. (The M Rating in Halo comes directly from single player missions, not multiplayer which is played at events)