We Hate To Wait

/ Alex Doriot / 3 Comments

It’s hard to live life from the couch. But I feel like that’s where The Roc and I have been stuck the past month.

That’s my dog The Roc on the left. He’s an old miniature pinscher I adopted a couple years ago. Last month he had surgery to remove an infected toe, a cyst above his eye, and a growth inside his mouth.

He’s had a rough time of recovering from surgery. We’ve been back to the vet nearly a dozen times since then.  Just when one area seems to heal up a new problem arises.

My heart breaks for him. He’s not meant to be stuck on the couch with a cone on his head. He’s meant to explore and go on adventures. It’s hard to thrive when you can’t get away from the doctor’s office. Continue reading →

The U2 Trick

/ Alex Doriot / 4 Comments

Who would you say is the biggest band in the world right now? Would it be Mumford and Sons? fun.? Maroon 5? One Direction?

U2-Rattle-and-HumIn the late 80s, the answer to that question would have undoubtedly been U2. In 1989, at the peak of their international popularity, U2 decided to take a break. After ten years of constant touring across the world and six smash records, the biggest band in the world took a few years off to, as Bono said at the time, “dream it all up again.”

When they returned with their next album “Achtung Baby” in 1991, most people expected it would consist of the same uplifting, soul-searching arena rock that was a trademark of U2. Instead, “Achtung Baby” sounded like this: 

“Achtung Baby” was not just a tremendous departure from anything U2 had ever created, but from anything on the radio in 1991. Why would the biggest band in the world completely deconstruct their sound and release an album so far removed from their previous catalog?

Here’s the trick: they wanted to thrive, not just survive. Continue reading →

Argo – A (Best) Picture Of Grace

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slate.com

slate.com

Did they deserve it?

As Argo walked away with the Best Picture trophy at this year’s Oscars, I kept asking myself the question, “Did they deserve it?”

Not the Best Picture award itself. I really enjoyed the movie, especially the nail-biting tension of the final twenty minutes (though I’m not sure if I’d have voted it Best Picture).

I’m talking about the “heroes” of the true story depicted in the movie – the six hostages rescued from Iran through an incredible mission disguised as a location scout for a fake movie.

Did they deserve it? Did they deserve to be rescued? Continue reading →

You Can Be Awesome TODAY

/ Alex Doriot / 1 Comment

Justin Timberlake is lazy. Here’s how you can tell:

How many Beatles songs can you name in ten seconds? (Go with me on this.)

Probably more than you can count on two hands. Can you believe the Fab Four recorded all those songs and countless other ones you know by heart in a span of about 7 years? A dozen of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll albums of all time, all created within just 7 years.

To contrast, Justin Timberlake – singer, producer, actor, all around king of the world – is releasing his eagerly-anticipated third album in March. He released his first solo effort back in 2002.

Just to clarify, that’s 3 Justin Timberlake albums in 11 years, as compared to 12 Beatles albums in 7 years.

What is wrong with that ratio? Continue reading →

How To Be The Most Interesting Man In The World

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Who do you think is the most interesting man in the world? You may be surprised, but my answer is not going to be the familiar spokesman in the Dos Equis commercials.

No, the man I think is the most interesting in the world has held a variety of jobs. He’s been a movie star, fisherman, toy inspector, musician and published author. He hobnobs with celebrities and has played a vital role in many historical encounters. And occasionally he gets into fights with a giant chicken.

That’s right, the most interesting man in the world is Peter Griffin, the main character of “Family Guy.” Continue reading →

Thrift Shop Gospel

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

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Who ever thought the thrift shop would be in style? With his ridiculous ode to secondhand shopping, Macklemore has the hottest song in the country, a horn-heavy homage to the greatness of Goodwill shopping.

Seems secondhand stores are bigger than ever. Besides general thrift stores like the Salvation Army, specialized consignment shops are popping up everywhere paying top dollar for used clothes, DVDs, cds, and books. Even big businesses like Best Buy and Toys R Us are now giving away cash instead of taking it, buying back old video games and Blu Rays.

Just the other day I put together a pile of movies and books cluttering up my shelves and headed to the local thread of thrift stores in Augusta. I rode into parking lots pumping Macklemore’s hit on my speakers, expecting to walk into the store with twenty dollars in my pocket and walk out with a secondhand swagger, or at least with twenty more bucks in my pocket.

I ended up just keeping most everything I brought in as I saw the trade-in value come up on the screen when each item was scanned: 75 cents, 15, cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 1 cent. How could a DVD that cost $15 have a trade-in value of just a penny? The stores didn’t even want some of my movies, rejecting them out right.

And then I remembered this always happens. I build myself up with dreams of easy money from trading in my unwanted things. Instead I walk out feeling cheaper than ever, the collectibles I valued so much now deemed worthless. Continue reading →

Everything Counts

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

darkness on the edge of town“Springsteen aims for moon and stars; hits and moon and stars.” – Rolling Stone review of Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978

At the age of 29, Bruce Springsteen was receiving incredible praise like the quote above on a regular basis for his latest album, Darkness On The Edge Of Town. 

Amidst all the accolades though something is missing. What the reviews don’t say is that before reaching for the moon and stars, Bruce Springsteen was nearly dropped from his record label on a couple of occasions because his first three albums failed to light up the charts.

Before he encountered those problems Bruce Springsteen paid his dues for years serving as an opening act for of-the-moment bands who rode a quick wave of success before falling by the wayside. Bands like Sha Na Na (Yes, really – these guys).

Before those problems Bruce Springsteen struggled to find his voice in a number of local New Jersey bands like Steel Mill, Earth, and Dr. Zoom and The Sonic Boom (Yes, really).

Before that Bruce Springsteen got kicked out of one of his first teenage attempts at a band after two days because he just wasn’t good enough.

Success that hits the moon and stars never comes without pain and failure along the way. In fact success only happens because of the opportunities our failues allow us. Continue reading →

What Is POP GOD?

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154123-headphones-headphones

Does God still speak to us?

The last book with His mark on it, the book of Revelation, is almost 2000 years old. That’s not very Pop Culture friendly.

Pop Culture is of the moment. Rarely does Pop Culture have a lifespan of longer than 6 months. Pop Culture is transient and fleeting. It is rapidly evolving, growing, and fading with every tweet, every post, every new message and medium.

It would be easy to dismiss the Bible as an outdated book and the main character of God as an antiquated invention. After all, when was the last time you read any other 2000 year old book?

So after finalizing the Bible, has God really been silent?

I don’t think so. I think we just have a hearing problem.

God created humanity in His own image. We are created in the image of a Creator. We are created to create.

Through His creations and their creativity the Creator is reflected and His voice is heard.

God makes himself visible in every moment. He is, as Ephesians 4:6 says, over all and through all and in all. He uses stories to draw us closer to Him. He can use the Pop Culture of our world to reveal truths about Himself to us. If only we would look.

There is plenty about God that is not easy to understand (sorry, Book of Leviticus).

There is also an abundance of truth about God waiting in the world around you. It’s there in Pixar movies and Bruce Springsteen songs. It’s there in WWE matches and 80s sitcoms. God’s presence exists in the present tense, speaking to you.

POP GOD is not an endorsement of every aspect of pop culture. Nor is it necessarily an endorsement of all the aspects you see on its pages. POP GOD is an exploration into God’s presence and voice in the most present and vocal avenues our world uses to communicate.

For God is timeless. He exists in time and out of time. And He is present in the now. He is just as alive and vibrant and vocal today as He was 2000 years ago and He will be 2000 years from now.

This blog is an exploration of God in the present tense. For He still speaks every single day. He is present in the culture. He is present in the pop.

He is a POP GOD.