Did you watch the Oscars?

Some people are really into the Oscars.  Some of us just see it as a night full of back slapping and ”atta boy” giving among a bunch of self-absorbed millionaires.  Of course, if you don’t like the Oscars, you can always watch the “Razzies” the night before to see the worst films and actors “honored” for their work.

Most of us don’t have jobs where we get trophies for doing good work.  We just get a cost of living wage increase.  There’s no awards for best parents, or best mechanics, or whatever.  There’s also no real-life Razzie awards for useless people, which I think is a glaring omission of our culture.

But most of the jobs that capture public attention do have their own awards – films, music, games, teachers, books, to name a few.  Except there’s one industry that’s been capturing public attention longer than any other, and yet doesn’t give out any awards: the church.

Christians get kind of sweaty about the idea of giving awards to people, since our focus is supposed to be on Jesus.  Also, like Crash, a few years ago, a lot of great pastors aren’t well known.  Popularity doesn’t equal quality.  Plus, Christians have a hard time agreeing on whether a pastor is a great communicator or a total heretic.

But let’s put that aside and just have a little fun.  I’ve got a list of a few of my “Best of Ministry” and “Razzie” awards for the last year. 

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I think there’s some kind of movie-related awards ceremony coming up so0n. 

Anne Hathaway and James Franco are hosting, which is exactly why I won’t be watching.  Not that watching James Franco isn’t a great time, because it is.  I just cannot abide the unnaturally radioactive shade of red lipstick Anne Hathaway will be wearing, despite all of her other features.  The lipstick ruins everything.  If someone tells her to choose a more natural shade of red that doesn’t clash with her pallid complexion, I may tune in.

But I’m not talking about movies today.  Today, I want to talk about the assault on our children that is coming into our homes in the form of children’s “educational” television.  I just think the shows I watched were much better, and did not give me epilepsy.  But maybe I’m remembering them with rose-colored glasses.  Let’s think back to some of the beloved shows of our youth.

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Yes, it’s time for Love Month to ride into the sunset of “happily ever after.”

I’ve had a great time featuring Love Month and seeking out interesting people to talk to.  I hope you read something this month that was meaningful to you.  Thank you so much for making February the biggest month since last September in terms of visitors.  (Plus, it’s a short month.  Woo!)

I want to close Love Month with a simple thought.

I don’t like fairy tales.

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“In my house I’m the boss.  My wife is just the decision maker.” – Woody Allen

You know what I love to see my wife doing?  Woman’s work.

Of course, she also likes to see me doing woman’s work.  Couples today probably spend a lot more time debating who has to do what around the house then they used to.  Relationships used to be a lot easier in that way.  But now that we’ve thrown off the shackles of old-fashioned gender roles, we think we’re much happier, even if we can’t agree on who does the dishes.

But what if the June Cleavers of yesteryear were on to something?  What if doing things the old-fashioned, outdated way actually had benefits?  That’s what self-described feminist Rachel Held Evans is asking.  She’s going all the way back to the June Cleavers of the Bible, attempting to live as a “Biblical” woman for a whole year. 

After being a dedicated reader of her blog, and featuring her first book, Evolving in Monkey Town, I knew I had to talk to her about how her new project has impacted her life and marriage.

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Almost every town has one of these places…

One of those shady looking sex stores with the red lights and the scary looking lingerie in the window. 

Yeah, most people try not to be seen going into one of those places.  People are kind of embarassed about being seen there.  So I’ve got a really unique day on the blog…I brought the sex store to you, and no one even has to see you.

Shula Jackson is the proprietor of “Sensuous Wife,” an online Christian sex shop (which happens to be not at all frightening.)  I became acquainted with Shula (who is also not scary) when she was featured on Matthew Paul Turner’s blog, and I knew I had to feature her here.  I know you are probably giggling nervously with curiosity.  You’ll want to read what she had to say.  Plus, you guessed it, there’s a big giveaway at the end.

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Well, the big, gross day of chocolate and hand-holding and cooties is over.  Did everyone make it out okay?  I think we all survived.

Now that everyone’s coming off their candy heart induced love stupors, I’m throwing out a montage blog, all about the tender beginnings and not-so-tender endings of marriages.  Now that people live so much longer before and after their marriages, it’s worth thinking about what we do with all the time we’re not in love with someone.

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