4 Ways To Beat Social Media Suck

June 24, 2014June 30, 2014 / Alex Doriot / 1 Comment

I admit it – I suck at social media.

I’m not talking about the number of followers I have on Twitter or the number of likes on the new POP GOD Facebook page, although I’m always wishing I had a few more.

I’m talking about the way I use these incredible technologies.

Ever since I got an iPhone I’ve been a lot more connected to Facebook. In the back of my head I was afraid this might happen.

What was once a fun hobby has become an annoyance. I don’t even really enjoy Facebook anymore. Yet I can’t look away.

I still check it religiously, wondering if I missed something important, if someone posted something interesting, if someone tagged me in something or liked my post.

Nope – just another baby picture or irrelevant political opinion.

I used to think the problem was with all of my Facebook friends. Now I think the root of the problem is in myself.

I don’t think my friends have a problem with over-sharing on Facebook. I think I have a problem with over-consuming. Continue reading →

POP GOD POPcast: Episode 23 – John Sowers

June 20, 2014August 13, 2014 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Welcome to the POP GOD POPcast – an exploration into the lives of people seeking God in the present tense.

This week’s guest is John Sowers. John is the President of The Mentoring Project and the author of the new book “The Heroic Path: In Search Of The Masculine Heart”. There’s a major disconnect between pop culture’s view of manliness and the true path to masculinity. John shares about finding this path in the life of Jesus and how a conversation with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien led him there. We also talk about John’s own struggles with being manly, finding God in the myths and stories of pop culture, the biggest enemies of the masculine heart, and more. Plus John offers a look into the life of his friend, the seemingly mythical Bob Goff. Enjoy this deeper look inside the life of an author truly seeking God in the present tense.

Listen to the podcast here:

[audio http://adoriot.podbean.com/mf/web/bqzt76/Popcast23.m4a]

Or Download on iTunes Or Listen on Podbean

Order a copy of The Heroic Path on Amazon or wherever books are sold

Find out more about The Mentoring Project and how you can get involved including attending the Long Live Mentoring Conference

Don’t miss your chance to win a copy of The Heroic Path from POP GOD! Just leave a comment here or on my book review about The Heroic Path and you’ll be entered for a chance to win!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, rate it, leave a comment, listen to all the other episodes, share it on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.

I love sharing stories of people seeking God in the present tense. Let me hear your feedback. Leave me a comment and let me know how to improve things, what you’d like to hear discussed, and give me your ideas as to who you’d like to see on the next episode of the POPcast.

The Dangers Of A Driverless Car

June 19, 2014January 8, 2015 / Alex Doriot / 1 Comment

autoguide.com

Google recently announced a plan to test 100 driverless cars in California. There is no steering wheel. No controls. Nothing to worry about.

These cars are for Google Maps, but we may see a future one day where we never have to step behind the steering wheel again.

I would miss being able to drive my own car. Few things clear my mind like hopping in my truck with my dog, rolling the windows down, putting on some good music, and driving aimlessly down the highway.

If you think about it, the act of driving itself is not so carefree. It’s actually quite the complicated process.

Think of all the things you do in the driver’s seat to keep your car on the road:

You have to keep your foot on the gas. Check your rearview mirror. Glance over to your side mirrors. Stay within the speed limit. Check you fuel gauge. Keep your hands on the wheel. Tap the brake. Watch for stop signs and traffic lights. Signal when turning or changing lanes. All pretty much simultaneously.

That’s not to mention dealing with the windows, wiper blades, A/C, radio, auxiliary port, and whatever or whomever may be riding along with you.

Our walk with Christ is similar. You don’t just go along for the ride with Jesus. Continue reading →

Finding Hope In Something Dumb

June 17, 2014June 28, 2014 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

“Dumb and Dumber” is coming back.

In case you haven’t heard, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels will be reprising their roles in “Dumb and Dumber To” as Lloyd and Harry, a pair of imbeciles who happily stumble their way through life oblivious to the calamities their stupidity ensues.

After 20 years of waiting for a sequel, this is really happening. There’s even a trailer and everything:

(Click Here if you can’t see the video above) Continue reading →

Monday Morning Music: Rise Again

June 15, 2014June 28, 2014 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Mondays can be a like punch in the face.

You spend all weekend having fun, sleeping in, enjoying your family.

Then the alarm hits. 4:30 AM. You struggle to get yourself up. Barely make it through your bagel and coffee before you walk in the door.

You open the door to the office and BOOM. Monday comes at you swinging and knocks you to the floor.

When Monday knocks you down you don’t always want to get back up. Sometimes it feels like you can’t get back up.

You need an anthem. You need to know you can Rise Again. You need some Monday Morning Music.

Continue reading →

Do You Ever Mistake The Voice Of God?

June 12, 2014June 18, 2014 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

hortondoors.com

If I could change one thing about myself it would be my voice.

I don’t hate my voice, but it’s just not very manly. I have evidence of this.

Over 50% of all my visits to a drive-thru window result in the worker saying back to me, “Would you like anything else, MA’AM?”

It’s not just drive-thrus either. Whenever I call the cable company or the plumber or another phone system the result is the same. “Yes MA’AM what can we do for you?”

It doesn’t help that Alex is a gender neutral name. So people just have to go off what they hear when the voice comes out.

Here’s the worst part – I got mistaken for a woman in person the other day as well. Continue reading →

Choosing The Heroic Path

June 11, 2014June 18, 2014 / Alex Doriot / 9 Comments

When you’re in Sunday School you’re taught about Jesus being fully God and fully man.

But have you ever been thought about Jesus being fully man?

Jesus was not just a human, but our model for masculine behavior as well.

With a world rejecting the importance of gender more and more everyday, I can’t think of a better time for a book embracing the manhood of Jesus and the masculine heart in general.

In The Heroic Path, author John Sowers does just this, charting his quest to find out what it means to be a man in a brutally honest and relatable fashion.

It’s not too manly of me to admit that I teared up often while reading the book. The stories of John’s struggles to be a man’s man and failing hard along the way are so relatable – so many things I have struggled with over the years.

In fact, I would bet there are more men like author John Sowers out there that can’t seem to maneuver a lawnmower than there are brawny lumberjack men nowadays.

Sowers has a lot of experience searching for masculinity. He details a life story of feeling outmanned by his peers at every turn from high school to adulthood. Continue reading →

The Best Date I’ve Ever Had

June 10, 2014June 18, 2014 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

LaserDome

The best date I ever had was in the third grade.

It wasn’t all that romantic. It took place at Q-Zar Laser Tag Center.

And I didn’t go on the date with my grade school crush. I went with my dad.

Part of what made this date so special is that my dad didn’t ask me out in advance. He surprised me.

One day, during school, I got called up to the office. “Alex, your dad is here to pick you up,” the voice beckoned over the intercom.

I was confused. I did not remember having a dentist appointment, family vacation, or any other reason to be called out of school. Besides, it was typically my mom who would take me out to do those things.

But there was my father, standing in the office, signing me out for the afternoon. I think I waited until we were buckled up in the car, out of the parking lot and in the clear, to ask my dad where we were going.

That’s when he told me that we were going to play laser tag. In the middle of a school day. Just the two of us. Not for my birthday. Not for good grades. Just for fun. Continue reading →

What Your Facial Hair Says About You

June 9, 2014June 18, 2014 / Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

The future version of me always had a mustache.

As a child whenever I envisioned the older, ideal version of myself I always just assumed I would have glorious facial hair.

Nothing outlandish – not a Duck Dynasty type of growth. Just a full, even beard stretching from ear to ear.

Of course it didn’t work out that way.

Sure, I can grow a beard. And I like the way it looks. I even get a lot of compliments on it.

But it’s not the beard I always wanted. It takes longer to grow than I wish it would. It’s not really the color I want it to be. It doesn’t have the fullness I always hoped for.

And I think if you asked most men, they would say they’re unsatisfied with their facial growth. Continue reading →

POP GOD POPcast: Episode 22 – Steve Swanson of WAFJ

June 5, 2014June 20, 2014 / Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Welcome to the POP GOD POPcast – an exploration into the lives of people seeking God in the present tense.

This week’s guest is Steve Swanson. Steve is the Station Manager and Program Director of WAFJ 88.3 FM in Augusta, GA. WAFJ is celebrating their 20th anniversary serving the CSRA with Family Friendly Music. But as Steve shares, WAFJ is about more than music. The station has truly been a ministry, building a family and community across the country. Steve shares his story and what led him to radio at a young age, as well as the story and the impact of WAFJ. We talk about the incredible power of music to connect people, some of his favorite guests to come in the station’s doors, the beauty of a Vinyl record, and much more. Enjoy this deeper look inside the life of someone truly seeking God in the present tense.

Listen to the podcast here:

Or Download on iTunes Or Listen on Podbean

Check out the WAFJ website to listen live, download the app and support the station

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, rate it, leave a comment, listen to all the other episodes, share it on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.