Dave Enjoys » history http://www.daveenjoys.com Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:23:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Dancing in the Fire: Christianity and Homosexuality. http://www.daveenjoys.com/2012/01/22/dancing-in-the-fire-christianity-and-homosexuality/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2012/01/22/dancing-in-the-fire-christianity-and-homosexuality/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:26:18 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=3247 What You Need to Know First:

This post is PG-13. It is not explicit, but the topic at hand does deal with human sexuality and some of the books are likely to be fairly explicit in their consideration of this topic.
I named this post “Dancing in the Fire” due to the explosive nature [...]]]> Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...

Image via Wikipedia

What You Need to Know First:

  • This post is PG-13. It is not explicit, but the topic at hand does deal with human sexuality and some of the books are likely to be fairly explicit in their consideration of this topic.
  • I named this post “Dancing in the Fire” due to the explosive nature of this discussion. Some will call me a bigot and intolerant for broaching the topic while others will suggest that any attempt to enter into the discussion is a compromise of Scripture.
  • I build reading lists – it is what I do – on varied topics. This is my attempt to build a reading list on the topic of homosexuality, its nature, and morality as defined within the Scriptures, Christian tradition, and a historical framework.
  • There is significant work yet to do on the subject. This is a reading list, not a read list. My annotations are brief notes mainly to myself, *’s interest books which I thought looked particularly interesting to my interests (I am particularly interested in hermeneutic arguments and historical relationships). *’s are not endorsements of the books – in fact, I may even remove some volumes at a later time if I find their content to be unnecessarily explicit, hateful, or otherwise useless. I still have another 30-40 volumes bookmarked to add to this list.
  • The titles below have been culled from approximately 1,163 titles listed on Amazon that return when the query “homosexual christian” is entered in their books division (this search was performed on 1/21/12). I also performed briefer searches on IVP Books and Christian Book Distributors (CBD).

A Challenge to the Reader:

When I undertake a controversial subject, especially one regarding a struggle I do not personally experience, I try to keep these verses in mind:

  • “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matt. 7:5, NIV) – I take this to mean that I must do a self-evaluation before attempting an other evaluation. I need to be cognizant of my own weaknesses before criticizing others.
  • “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44, NIV) – I take this to mean that I am to love those who hate and injure me…and in most cases we aren’t dealing with people who hate us or purposely injure us…shouldn’t we treat them as nicely as our enemies?

The Reading List:

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  1. [1] Charismatics and Pentecostals are sometimes accused of being too based in subjective and experiential Christianity. Brown is fascinating b/c he is not a “know-nothing” Christian who revolts against academic pursuit – but rather someone who has managed to merge the two together. This perhaps places him in a similar vein to Dr. John White (a famed psychiatrist who also was a member of the Vineyard Movement), Dr. Jack Deere (originally a professor at the conservative Dallas Theological Seminary who would join the Third Wave Movement), or Dr. Wayne Grudem (who is widely respected for his works, especially his systematic theology, but is also associated loosely with Third Wave). ↩
]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2012/01/22/dancing-in-the-fire-christianity-and-homosexuality/feed/ 1 Book Review: The Money Men (H.W. Brands). http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/12/10/book-review-the-money-men-h-w-brands/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/12/10/book-review-the-money-men-h-w-brands/#comments Sat, 10 Dec 2011 06:14:23 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=3033 I’d never heard of Henry William Brands before reading The Money Men. Despite the late introduction, I suspect that his books will now appear high on my reading list – if they are even able to approach the fascinating quality of this small volume. I do not recall the last time I have [...]]]> Portrait of Nicholas Biddle by William Inman, ...

Nicholas Biddle, Image via Wikipedia

I’d never heard of Henry William Brands before reading The Money Men. Despite the late introduction, I suspect that his books will now appear high on my reading list – if they are even able to approach the fascinating quality of this small volume. I do not recall the last time I have read a non-fiction book as voraciously as I have consumed this petite volume – in fact, there are only a few fiction thrillers I can think of which I have consumed in such a compressed fashion.

The Money Men is part of the Atlas Books / W.W. Norton Enterprise series in which “distinguished writers tell the stories of the dynamic innovators and the compelling ideas that create new institutions, new ways of doing business and creating wealth, even new societies.” I will be keeping my eyes open for other volumes in this series as well – hoping that they compare to The Money Men. Especially peaking my interest are Rich Cohen‘s The Record Men: Chess Records and the Birth of Rock & Roll, Tim Parks‘ Medici Money: Banking, Metaphysics, and Art in Fifteen-Century Florence, and James Buchan‘s The Authentic Adam Smith: His Life and Ideas

.

But let us move on to a discussion of the book proper. It was published in 2006 and is a small hardcover book with attractive dustcover. Contains a total of 239 pages, but the first 206 contain the main narrative with additional resources filling the remaining pages – endnotes, a list of suggested further reading, and the indexes, etc.

The volume consists of a Prologue and Epilogue and five long chapters in-between. The first chapter entitled “The Aristocracy of Capital” discusses the nature of money and financial policy during and following the American Revolutionary War with a significant emphasis on  Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.

Chapter 2 continues the thread by telling the events that led up to and the consequences of Andrew Jackson’s decision to end the national bank and Nicholas Biddle‘s (Bank President) extreme efforts to ensure the bank’s survival.

Chapter 3 tells the story of the American Civil War and how it changed the face of financial policy – in part as a consequence of a stronger federal government and the needs of wartime finance.

Chapter 4 tells the story of the severe speculation in gold in the post-Civil War era under President Ulysses S. Grant and Chapter 5 concludes the story by recording the times of J.P. Morgan and his significant effects upon finance.

The volume reads in a very easy manner – it is both professional and yet accessible. At the same time, my endeavors to understand financial history and policy are still not complete and while The Money Men has filled in some gaps, it does not provide the complete picture I had hoped to garner. That is not to say anything negative of the volume – for it is not a primer in financial history or policy.

I oftentimes judge the quantity of a volume on several factors, such as:

  • How well the volume holds my attention.
  • How quickly I read the volume.
  • How much new or interesting information the volume provides.
  • The clarity with which the author writes.
  • The extent to which I underline, highlight, and write comments or other notations into the text.

By all of these measures, H.W. Brand’s The Money Men deserves the highest praise. The one thing I would like to see is an article by Mr. Brands analyzing the recent financial recession (2008 and on) in light of the historical story he weaves in The Money Men.

Brands remains largely neutral throughout his work and yet in the Epilogue I thought I detected an echo of approval for the economic system at the conclusion of his history. Is this a correct interpretation of his Epilogue? If so, could Brands provide us with additional insights or reflections based on recent events?

For anyone who is interested in history, finance, or politics, I would add this to your “must read” list. It is an excellent and fascinating read!

 

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]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/12/10/book-review-the-money-men-h-w-brands/feed/ 0 H.W. Brands’ The Money Men (A Book Tasting). http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/12/01/h-w-brands-the-money-men-a-book-tasting/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/12/01/h-w-brands-the-money-men-a-book-tasting/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:51:34 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=2997 Yesterday I dropped by the Sunday Breakfast Gospel Mission’s Thift Store (in Penndel, PA). As usual, they had a large quantity of excellent books to select from and I purchased a few (at $.50 each!). One was H.W. Brands‘ The Money Men. As of [...]]]> A portrait of Alexander Hamilton shortly after...

Image of Alexander Hamilton via Wikipedia

Yesterday I dropped by the Sunday Breakfast Gospel Mission’s Thift Store (in Penndel, PA). As usual, they had a large quantity of excellent books to select from and I purchased a few (at $.50 each!). One was H.W. Brands‘ The Money Men. As of late, in part due to the economic turmoil, I have been fascinated by the economic and monetary systems, and attempting to understand how they work. So, I jumped right in and what a fascinating read it is! I’ve only finished the prologue and the first chapter – but already it has had so many insightful historical observations.

As I read through printed books I highlight, write in the margins, circle, asterisk, and so on. I then (sometimes) go back and digitize these notes so that I can refer to them later and search them quickly with the power of the computer. I did this for the prologue and first chapter but found myself moving only what I consider the most intriguing points into my digital document – which I have provided along with some commentary below[1]. I hope you find this as entertaining and informative as I have…and I’d recommend grabbing a copy of the book or giving it to anyone you know who enjoys history, politics, or economics. Amazon has copies in both hard cover and digital (Kindle) formats.

Prologue:

  • “For the first five generations of America’s independent history–from 1776 till the eve of World War I–a single question vexed American politics and the American economy more persistently than any other…The question was the money question.” – 15.
  • “This period encompassed the emergence of the two institutions that made modern America what it is today: democracy and capitalism. From the start an inherent tension existed between the two. The driving force of democracy is equality, of capitalism inequality.” – 16.

1. The Aristocracy of Capital.

  • Alexander Hamilton, born illegitimate, wrote a friend at thirteen, “I wish there was a war.” – 19.
    • Yes, I do sometimes pick the strangest tidbits out.
  • “…Hamilton contended that economics ruled the world, eventually if not at once.” – 21.
  • George Washington.
    • I include in my underlining individuals who I’d like to study more about at some juncture. I may have studied them in the past, but this reminds me to study them again or more extensively in the future. In this way each book provides dozens of jumping off points for further reading.
  • “He [Hamilton] fought int he unsuccessful defense of New York…and in Washington’s retreat across New Jersey.” – 21.
    • Hamilton is well known for his political endeavors, but at least I was not cognizant of his military endeavors as well. He was apparently quite courageous in battle.
  • “He [Hamilton] learned to anticipate his superior’s wishes and to supply them better than anyone else, till he became Washington’s de facto chief of staff.” – 22.
  • “Armies in those days took winters off from fighting. Hamilton had time to visit friends and court the ladies.” – 23.
    • I find the daily life of folks in the past fascinating. e.g. how did they eat, work, romance, worship?
  • “Money is an essential ingredient to happiness in this world….As I have not much of my own, and as I am very little calculated to get more either by my address or industry, it must needs be that my wife, if I get one, bring at least a sufficiency to administer to her own extravagances.” – Alexander Hamilton, 23.
    • I wonder if Hamilton ever told his wife about this requirement? :)
  • “The colonial policy of the British government reflected the prevailing mercantilist notion that wealth consisted of gold and silver and that these must be hoarded in the home country. The consequence was colonial starvation for money.” – 24.
  • “A national bank was the answer [though Hamilton]. Such a bank could float loans in the form of notes that would circulate as currency, but the extent of the loans would depend on the solid assets–chiefly gold and silver–at the bank’s disposal.” – 26.
    • Our currency no longer rests upon any solid asset – gold and silver being removed from involvement some number of years ago.
  • Benedict Arnold.
    • How could one not be interested in studying Arnold? He was a hero for the Revolution at the Battle of Saratoga, and then turned coat!
  • “Elizabeth’s [Hamilton’s wife] wealth freed him from mundane matters of livelihood and let him concentrate on winning fame.” – 29.
  • Benjamin Franklin.
  • John Adams.
  • Thomas Jefferson.
  • James Madison.
  • “…Hamilton’s [Continental] congressional service was brief and frustrating.” – 30.
  • “In June 1783 an angry band of Continental Army soldiers who hadn’t been paid in months surrounded the Philadelphia hall where Congress was meeting. They didn’t exactly threaten mayhem against the delegates, but the latter got the point.” – 30.
    • Sounds similar to Occupy Wall Street and other national protest movements?
  • Robert Morris.
  • “In the 1780s the American economy rested on the twin pillars of agriculture and trade (manufacturing was minuscule as yet).” – 32.
  • “The merchants, many being creditors, supported a stronger currency–one that drove prices down and thereby enhanced the value of the debts they were owed. The farmers, most being debtors, analogously wanted a weaker currency and the inflation it entailed. The merchants won out and in several states imposed deflationary policies.” – 32.
  • “The farmers then demanded stay laws to prevent the seizure of their farms for nonpayment of debts. When the legislature rejected this too, the farmers took matters into their own battle-tested hands. Daniel Shays led hundreds of other Revolutionary War veterans against the courts of western Massachusetts and forcibly suspended foreclosures and the prosecution of debtors.” – 32.
    • Something similar occurred in the area I was raised – Berne, Knox, Westerlo, and so on…There is a book on the topic entitled Tin Horns and Calico.
  • James Bowdoin.
  • “Hamilton believed the current crisis demanded the creation of the strongest possible central government, which in turn required both that the central government gain power relative to the states and that the national executive be free of popular restraint.” – 34.
    • It is easy to forget that the arguments about a strong central government versus a weak one are not new…I sometimes do.
  • Hamilton proposed “The American executive should be elected for life.” – 34.
  • “Government bonds made investors of those who bought them, and investors naturally looked out for their investments. These were precisely the sort who ought to be looking out for the federal government. ‘Those who are most commonly creditors of a nation are, generally speaking, enlightened men,’ Hamilton asserted.” – 40.
    • I’d never heard this argument before…and I ponder how much it holds true. In one sense, I can see it still being true. Foreign countries do not want the United States to fail in order to maintain their investment value (as they have invested heavily in the USA)…on the other hand, this would also appear a significant instrument in war – calling debts due in order to destabilize an enemy country?
  • Hamilton believed in a national bank because “It was too much to ask of human nature to expect politicians to raise taxes when they could simply print more money.” – Ward speaking here, not Hamilton, 41.
    • Another interesting reason for a national bank…I understand what Hamilton is saying, but I’m not sure how this applied to his ideas, since the money (at that point) was to be tied to the reserves of silver and gold – so it would not have been possible to just keep printing money?
  • James Jackson.
  • Benjamin Rush.
  • William Maclay.
  • “[William] Maclay was convinced members of Congress were betting heavily on the bonds. ‘Henceforth we may consider speculation as a congressional employment.’” – 45.
  • “The southern states, dominated by planters with their feet firmly in the soil, considered themselves more fiscally responsible than their northern neighbors, where capitalists frolicked in the bustling cities.” – 46.
    • I’m not sure much has changed on this front…though this might be more around cities versus rural?
  • Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations).
  • “Banks were relatively new to America. The first, the Bank of Pennsylvania, hadn’t been founded till 1780, and at the time of Hamilton’s writing, only three banks existed. Banks were mysterious institutions that swallowed specie and regurgitated paper. This by itself made them objects of popular suspicion. The fact that bankers got rich in the process, without doing anything that looked like work to the large majority of Americans who bent and sweated for their living, made the banks seem more suspicious still.” – 49.
  • “As useful as gold and silver were when circulated as money, they were essentially dead–unable to multiply–compared to what they became when deposited or invested in a bank.” – 49.
    • This is an interesting idea, but one which I still don’t entirely understand. I guess one can easily divide paper notes, but not so easily silver or gold…but still, they are divisible, no?
  • “The beauty of a bank was that its paper issues were–or would be, under Hamilton’s scheme–tied to its supply of specie. Only by increasing its reserves could the bank expand the money it circulated.” – 51.
  • “If the abuses of a beneficial thing are to determine its condemnation, there is scarcely a source of public prosperity which will not be speedily closed.” – Alexander Hamilton, 52.
    • This is a powerful thought. I think we are on dangerous ground whenever we decide not to pursue a course of action simply b/c that course could potentially lead us “down the slippery slope.” I don’t think there is or ever can be a guarantee against the slippery slope – the passing of the baton between generations always involves the potential for the slope to slip.
  • “Much of the agrarian South now deemed his bank a plot by the capitalist North to make the federal government its plaything.” – 53.
    • Hmm…Wish he had some footnotes on what the thinking was before/during/after the American Civil War in the South?
  • “James Madison…portray[ed] the bank as unconstitutional. Madison reminded the House that the Tenth Amendment–which he had drafted, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights–declared that those powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution were reserved ‘to the states respectively or the people.’” – 53.
    • Madison was an advocate of stronger central government, having written the Federalist papers with Hamilton which were circulated to garner popular support for a stronger federal government.
  • “George Washington asked [Thomas] Jefferson whether he agreed that Hamilton’s bank was unconstitutional. The secretary of state [Jefferson] said he did.” – 53-4.
  • “A little difference in the degree of convenience cannot constitute the necessity which the Constitution makes the ground for assuming any non-enumerated power. Nothing but a necessity invincible by any other means can justify such a prostration of laws which constitute the pillars of our whole system of jurisprudence.” – Thomas Jefferson, 54.
  • “It [Hamilton’s bill] passed both the Senate and the House with relative ease, but partly because many legislators saw it as a way to make a personal profit. Thirty members of Congress–more than a third of the total membership, and half of those who voted in favor–became charter shareholders. This hardly surprised the strict-construction [a method of interpreting the constitution] opponents of the bank.” – 55.
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  1. [1] no, I don’t usually provide any extensive commentary in my personal digital notes ↩
]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/12/01/h-w-brands-the-money-men-a-book-tasting/feed/ 1 Conflicts: Operation Barbarossa and Conflicts: D-Day (Android Phone Games) http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/06/26/conflicts-operation-barbarossa-and-conflicts-d-day-android-phone-games/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/06/26/conflicts-operation-barbarossa-and-conflicts-d-day-android-phone-games/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 02:23:47 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=2513 Angry Birds? Who cares. Tetris? Blahh. Minesweeper? Please. Solitaire? Okay. I’m pretty specific in my gaming tastes. I like historical computer wargames. No, not that RTS-stuff “who-can-click” faster genre, but the real stuff that emphasizes mind over eye-finger response time. While there are some exceptions (e.g. the Angry Birds? Who cares. Tetris? Blahh. Minesweeper? Please. Solitaire? Okay. I’m pretty specific in my gaming tastes. I like historical computer wargames. No, not that RTS-stuff “who-can-click” faster genre, but the real stuff that emphasizes mind over eye-finger response time. While there are some exceptions (e.g. the Total War series), I’m generally a fan of turn-based strategical or tactical war games.

There is a fair plethora of these games available for the PC – though still a lack in comparison to the games available in most other genres…but when it comes to mobile games for use on one’s phone…well, until recently you were out of luck. But then came along Joni Nuutinen with two games in quick succession which have single-handedly turned the corner for Android strategy gaming: Conflicts: Operation Barbarossa and Conflicts: D-Day.

While these games are World War II (a historical period I find to be heavily over-simulated), a wargamer can’t be picky when there is nothing else available in the field. Nuutinen has created an intuitive yet challenging series of games on what appears to be a similar engine and this gives me great hope that over time there will be additional releases in the series and perhaps even in other historical eras.

In Operation Barbarossa one takes command of German forces as they launch the initial invasion into Soviet Russia during World War II. One is able to command a variety of units including reconnaissance groups (able to extend line-of-sight), air fleets (able to bombard enemy units), infantry, special forces (e.g. Waffen-SS), tanks, and mobile units.

Over time units earn experience, suffer fatigue, and gain specific abilities (e.g. better resistance to mud when traveling, or an ability to stand firm after losing a battle rather than retreating from the field). Supply plays a key role in the game and new units and special abilities are doled out based on one’s holdings. At key points in the game one is able to trade Victory Points (VPs) for reinforcements.

The D-Day game is very similar, except one is command Allied forces in this case instead of German forces. The number of units has increased – there are now minesweepers, paratroopers, and so on. The variety of abilities one can secure has expanded (e.g. air support), but overall it is a very similar game with a different scenario.

Both games are challenging, yet intuitive. If you read the instructions you’ll fully understand how to play within a few minutes – or if you are like me, you’ll play first and read later. In either case, it isn’t hard to understand the game – though there are a few nuances you may not pick up on immediately if you don’t read the instructions, for example:

  • Resting one’s units is key. Unlike in many other games, new units are somewhat rare, so protecting and replenishing beat down units is extremely important.
  • Some resources (like special orders) are applied to a unit but only applicable for that turn, the next turn the unit will be back to normal.
  • Partisans will appear and interfere with your supply lines.

The Operation Barbarossa game is available in a lite version.. This is the same as the full version except it provides only a limited number of turns – but more than enough to get a thorough feel for the game. While the games are of significant depth and quality, their price is exceptional and I’d encourage any wargamer to go buy them right now – even if you don’t intend to play them. Supporting Joni and folks like him will ensure that similar games are designed in the future. The price is $2.99 per game! Try and find a quality turn-based strategic/tactical wargame for anywhere near that price!

Here are a few small items I’d like to see Joni work on as he continues to develop these applications:

  • The ability to create multiple save games. The games save, but they maintain only one save file at a time. So, you can’t play multiple games simultaneously and even more important, you have to start the game over if you really botch things up.
  • The ability to play as either side. Currently it is only possible to play as the Axis in Operation Barbarossa and only as the Allies in D-Day.
  • The creation of additional games in other eras – such as the Napoleonic Wars, Civil War, World War I, Vietnam, and Korea.
  • The ability to play multiplayer.
  • In D-Day when one wins a victory it says that the Germans won, this is small typographical error.
  • The ability to undo a move if it does not involve combat. Occasionally I accidentally move a unit and there doesn’t seem to be a way to undo the move.
  • The ability to merge combat units rather than resting them.

For those who are interested, here are links to the applications within Android Market:

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]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2011/06/26/conflicts-operation-barbarossa-and-conflicts-d-day-android-phone-games/feed/ 2 The Mega Sales from PC Game Digital Download Providers. http://www.daveenjoys.com/2010/12/21/the-mega-sales-from-pc-game-digital-download-providers/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2010/12/21/the-mega-sales-from-pc-game-digital-download-providers/#comments Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:08:53 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=1850 Image via Wikipedia

Updated! 12/25/10 – 11:36 P.M.

Around Christmas time several of the major digital download providers offer mega-sales on their games library and various individual developers offer sharp discounts on various games. I’m not a huge gamer – but I do love wargames.

Now, when I speak of [...]]]>

Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg
Image via Wikipedia

Updated! 12/25/10 – 11:36 P.M.

Around Christmas time several of the major digital download providers offer mega-sales on their games library and various individual developers offer sharp discounts on various games. I’m not a huge gamer – but I do love wargames.

Now, when I speak of wargames I’m using my own definition so let me clarify. By wargames I do not mean:

I do mean:

  • Games that are generally based around historical time periods and the realistic depiction of combat situations during that period.
  • Games that emphasize brainpower over finger-clicking power.

These genres can sometimes cross over – for example, Mosby’s Confederacy and Medieval II: Total War both include FPS elements but using a pausable engine that allows for significant strategizing (and also emphasizes unit movement rather than character).

Additionally, even within this narrowed genre I still eschew many games. I’m what is sometimes derogatorily referred to as a “beer & pretzels” (though I don’t like or drink beer) gamer. That is, I’m not a big fan of games that will consume my life in order to play them. I avoid games with maps that are too large or that require me to micromanage every aspect of combat and production – or even be aware of every aspect.

In any case, I’ve created a list of some of the pretty cool wargames that are currently available at steep discounts (and I mean really steep!). Spend $20 and you can have enough games to keep you busy for at least a year (no, I’m not getting paid to say this :P ).

  • Games I own have an asterisk.
  • Games I’ve thoroughly enjoyed are bolded.
  • Games highest on my “want” list have a plus.
  • Steam:
    • X-Com – I know I said historical, but I’m making an exception for X-Com. These games are based on an alien invasion and mankind’s unified response. They offer both strategic and tactical elements and are genre-defining as far as gameplay. They began many years ago and still continue to be one of the most innovative and fascinating series available. $1.69/ea.
    • *Take Command: Second Manassas – Simulates the American Civil War battle of Second Manasses, also known as Second Bull Run. Offers a 3D pausable RTS interface similar to that found in Sid Meier’s Gettysburg or any of the Total War tactical engines. $2.49.
    • *Ironclads: High Seas – Naval combat in 3D. Naval games are a rarity, games simulating 19th century conflict even more so. $2.49.
    • *Ironclads: American Civil War – Created by the same folks as created above. Focuses on Civil War era naval combat. $2.49.
    • *9th Company: Roots of Terror – A real-time strategy game that covers the Russian 9th companies’ fight in Afghanistan back in the day (1970′s). This may be more of a straight-up RTS, but the storyline is so fascinating (and applicable to the current War on Terror) that I had to add it. $2.49.
    • *Mosby’s Confederacy - A fun, replayable, strategic/tactical simulation of Mosby, a famed and feared Conferederate commander, raids and battles during the Civil War. $2.49.
    • *Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms - A great expansion pack for Medieval II: Total War. Adds the New World to the game. Requires Medieval II: Total War to play. $3.74.
    • *Rome: Total War Alexander – An expansion pack adding the Greek conquests of Alexander to the Rome: Total War game. Requires Rome: Total War. $3.74.
    • *Birth of America – A beautiful strategic simulation of the Revolutionary War by AGEOD. I find the map to be too large, beautiful, and detailed for my tastes, but sure to be loved by many. $3.99.
    • *Medieval II: Total War – If you only purchase one game – make it this one. It provides beautiful strategic and tactical simulations, rich cinematic cut-scenes, detailed historical information, and while an amazing game is also an educational experience. – $7.49.
    • *Rome: Total War – Gold – Strategic and tactical simulation of the Roman Empire. $7.49.
    • Rise of Prussia – This game is by AGEOD and probably has too large and beautiful of a map for my likes, but I might have to get it anyways, it sounds so fascinating. $7.49.
  • GamersGate
    • *Two Thrones. $0.50.
    • *Crown of the North. $1.48.
    • *Take Command – 2nd Manassas. $2.48.
    • *Rome Total War: Gold Edition. $2.99.
    • *Imperial Glory. $3.48.
    • Entente: WWI Battlefields. RTS. $3.74.
    • *East India Company. $3.74.
    • Combat Mission: Shock Force. $4.98.
    • Crusader Kings. $4.98.
    • Crusaders: Thy Kingdom Come. $4.98.
    • World War 2 Time of Wrath. $5.95.
    • Lords of the Realm 3. $5.99.
    • Civilization IV: Complete. $6.24.
    • Commander: Conquest of the Americas. $7.49.
    • *Medieval II: Total War Gold Edition. $7.46.
    • Squad Assault. $9.98.
    • AGEOD’s American Civil War. $9.99.
    • AGEOD’s Napoleon’s Campaigns. $9.99.
    • AGEOD’s Birth of America II – Wars in America. $9.99.
    • World War One (Paradox). $9.99.
    • +Lionheart King’s Crusade. $14.98.
    • Victoria 2 (Paradox). $19.98.
  • Slitherine
    • *Field of Glory – Click on the title of the game and enter the code ‘fog2010′ to receive 50% off!
  • Matrix Games
    • Advanced Tactics: World War II (33%) – $26.99.
    • American Civil War – The Blue and The Gray (30%) – $13.99.
    • Battle of Britain II – Wings of Victory (30%) – $13.99.
    • Battlefront (33%) – $33.99.
    • Battles in Italy (32%) – $33.99.
    • Battles in Normandy (32%) – $33.99.[1]
    • +Campaigns on the Danube 1805 & 1809 (30%) – $13.99.[2]
    • Carriers at War (32%) – $33.99.
    • Close Combat: Cross of Iron (33%) – $26.99.
    • Close Combat: Modern Tactics (32%) – $20.99.
    • Close Combat: The Longest Day (33%) – $26.99.
    • Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein (33%) – $26.99.
    • Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge (25%) – $59.99.
    • Commander: Europe at War Gold (40%) – $29.99.
    • *Commander: Napoleon at War (40%) – $29.99.
    • Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition (32%) – $33.99.
    • Empires in Arms (32%) – $40.99.[3]
    • Flashpoint Germany (32%) – $23.99.
    • +For Liberty (31%) – $23.99.
    • +Forge of Freedom (32%) – $33.99.
    • Gary Grigsby’s Eagle Day to Bombing of the Reich (32%) – $33.99.
    • +Gary Grigsby’s War Between the States (32%) – $33.99.
    • +Gary Grigsby’s World at War: A World Divided (33%) – $26.99.
    • AGEOD’s Great Invasions (30%) – $13.99.
    • +Guns of August 1914-1918 (31%) – $23.99.[4]
    • Highway to the Reich (32%) – $33.99.[5]
    • Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge (30%) – $20.99.
    • Horse and Musket: Volume 1 (30%) – $20.99.[6]
    • +John Tillers Battleground Civil War (30%) – $20.99.[7]
    • +John Tillers Battleground Napoleonic Wars (30%) – $20.99.[8]
    • +John Tillers Campaign Series (31%) – $23.99.[9]
    • Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets (32%) – $33.99.
    • Korsun Pocket (30%) – $20.99.
    • *Legion Arena: Gold (33%) – $26.99.
    • Napoleon in Italy (33%) – $26.99.[10]
    • +Norm Koger’s The Operational Art of War III (33%) – $26.99.
    • Officers – The Matrix Edition (30%) – $20.99.
    • Operation Barbarossa – The Struggle for Russia (31%) – $23.99.
    • Panzer Command: Kharkov (33%) – $26.99.
    • Panzer Command: Operation Winter Storm (33%) – $26.99.
    • Steel Panthers: World at War – Generals Edition (33%) – $46.99.
    • Storm Over the Pacific (32%) – $33.99.
    • Tin Soldiers: Alexander the Great (30%) – $20.99.[11]
    • Tin Soldiers: Julius Caesar (30%) – $20.99.
    • Uncommon Valor (30%) – $20.99.[12]
    • War in the Pacific (32%) – $40.99.[13]
    • War in the Pacific – Admirals Edition (33%) – $53.99.
    • War Plan Orange: Dreadnoughts in the Pacific 1922-1930 (31%) – $30.99.[14]
    • World War II: General Commander (33%) – $26.99.
    • AGEOD’s World War One Gold (33%) – $26.99.
    • WW2: Time of Wrath (30%) – $20.99.[15]
  • Strategy First
    • I just received an email from Strategy First with a coupon for 60% off all games using the coupon code “STRATEGYFAN” – it doesn’t say anywhere I can’t share it, so I’m sharing it…A lot of these games are available elsewhere, but I think a few might be unique to Strategy First…(be sure to look under both Strategy and Simulation).
    • +Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin
    • +Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord
    • G.I. Combat
    • Jagged Alliance 2
    • Stalingrad
    • World War I
    • World War II: Frontline Command
    • Great Invasions
    • *Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg
    • 1914 Shells of Fury
    • +Ironclads Anglo Russian War 1865
    • +Ironclads Chincha Islands War 1866
    • +Ironclads Schleswig War 1864
    • Rise of Flight: Iron Cross Edition
    • Steel Fury: Kharkov 1942
  • Impulse Driven
    • Crusaders – Thy Kingdom Come – $4.99.
    • World War 2 – Time of Wrath – $4.99.
    • Crusader Kings – $4.99.
    • The Entente – World War I Battlefields – $5.99.
  • GOG
    • *Imperial Glory – $2.99.
    • Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord – $4.99.
  • Direct2Drive
    • Nothing to see over here…pretty disappointing. 66 titles across all genres on sale.

Did I miss any really good games? I’m going to state, off the bat, that I’m usually not a fan of Paradox, AGEOD games b/c they are too hard-core grognard for me, and of 1C games b/c they are usually too RTS for me…but if you have exceptions that I missed, let me know.

Finally, I’d love to see some of the smaller independent vendors throw up some great deals. For example, Matrix Games doesn’t seem to have anything too exciting going on, nor does Battlefront. Suppose I should surf over to Jeff Lapkoff games and see what he is up to…

{Update: Matrix has some pretty decent deals, Battlefront is still disappointing, Lapkoff’s games are always reasonably priced, but no sales…}

P.S. There is a lot of overlap between Steam and GamersGate, check both before making a purchase – you never know which is going to offer the better price, and oftentimes there is a significant price difference (don’t ask me why – I’m just telling ya the way it is, not why…since they are selling the same game!).

Related articles
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  1. [1] WWII, from SSG. ↩
  2. [2] Adanac Command Studies. ↩
  3. [3] Australian Design Group, 2007 ↩
  4. [4] Adanac Command Studies. ↩
  5. [5] From Panther Games, released 2003. ↩
  6. [6] Boku Strategy Games, 2009. ↩
  7. [7] Repackaged from the old Talonsoft titles. ↩
  8. [8] Repackaged from the old Talonsoft titles. ↩
  9. [9] Includes repackaged WWII Talonsoft titles includes East Front, West Front, and Rising Sun scenarios. ↩
  10. [10] Hussar Games, 2007. ↩
  11. [11] Koios Works, 2004. ↩
  12. [12] This is a Gary Grigsby game originally released in 2002. It covers the Pacific theater at an operational level. ↩
  13. [13] Gary Grigsby game, 2004. ↩
  14. [14] Gary Grigsby game. ↩
  15. [15] Available for $5 through Impulse Driven. ↩
]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2010/12/21/the-mega-sales-from-pc-game-digital-download-providers/feed/ 1 Diary of an Old Soul (George MacDonald) http://www.daveenjoys.com/2010/10/20/diary-of-an-old-soul-george-macdonald/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2010/10/20/diary-of-an-old-soul-george-macdonald/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 04:03:20 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=1563 Image via Wikipedia

One of my favorite books is a slim little volume by George MacDonald entitled Diary of an Old Soul. George MacDonald is one of those fantastic authors who maintains timelessness across the span of time and who speaks to the human condition with unfailing [...]]]>

photograph of george macdonald, taken in the 1...
Image via Wikipedia

One of my favorite books is a slim little volume by George MacDonald entitled Diary of an Old Soul. George MacDonald is one of those fantastic authors who maintains timelessness across the span of time and who speaks to the human condition with unfailing contemporaneity. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, MacDonald fell a bit out of favor even with C.S. Lewis constantly pointing back to MacDonald as his inspiration. Its about time MacDonald was rediscovered.

Diary of an Old Soul consists of daily poems – only a few lines long – that George MacDonald wrote chronicling his relationship with God over an entire years time after losing two of his children in the same year to death.

You can pick this small volume up for less than $15 at almost any bookstore – and it is such a light and powerful read – I highly recommend it.

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]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2010/10/20/diary-of-an-old-soul-george-macdonald/feed/ 0 Eleven Must-Read Christian Non-Fiction Books. http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/11/06/eleven-must-read-christian-non-fiction-books/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/11/06/eleven-must-read-christian-non-fiction-books/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:42:02 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=191 Its November, soon it will be December and “Christmas” – the time of gift giving. In this post and several others to follow it is my intent to offer brief recommendations on some of the best products I have experienced – especially in the books/movies/software arena – the sort of things that make a perfect [...]]]> Its November, soon it will be December and “Christmas” – the time of gift giving. In this post and several others to follow it is my intent to offer brief recommendations on some of the best products I have experienced – especially in the books/movies/software arena – the sort of things that make a perfect gift. I hope you’ll also give me feedback on the titles I’m missing. All links will take you directly to the associated product’s Amazon page.

Caveat: I am recommending not only books that I believe are right on but also books which I believe are so thought provoking that the challenges to our thinking are worth the risks. The reader of the book must take it upon himself to wrestle with the fallible interpretations of like offered by each author.

  • Metamorpha: Jesus as a Way of Life – Wow. A supremely readable, yet deeply intelligent primer on the Christian faith. Written by a young voice (Kyle Strobel) it manages to embrace the best of real Christian spirituality while challenging the separatism currently occurring in churches between the young and old.
  • Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist – I am a voracious reader and yet it took me well over a year to read this book. John Piper, without a doubt, is one of the most profound voices within modern Christianity. Every page of this book is packed with wisdom, Scripture, and the voices of our past. This book is readable – but expect to take it a few pages at a time – there is just too much to process on every single page. Piper’s essential argument is that man was designed for pleasure – but that that pleasure is to be found in God.
  • Inside Out – Larry Crabb is a controversial figure within Christianity. As a psychologist he finds many Christian doors closed. His background and admiration for Freud doesn’t help anything. That said, he has made a sincere effort to understand how the science of the mind fits into the Scriptures. Most won’t agree with everything he suggests in this book, but everyone will be challenged by the heavy emphasis he places on the reality of our brokenness as human beings and the need for a supernatural healing.
  • The Purpose Driven® Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? – Rick Warren and Saddleback Church have become extremely influential in American Evangelical Christianity. His Purpose Driven Church book has formed the basic plans for many churches around the nation – and his youth pastor Doug Field’s book Purpose Driven Youth Ministry has done the same for youth ministries. Now Warren has released what may be considered his basic philosophy of life. Written in a forty day devotional format the book offers Warren’s understanding of the biblical worldview and how it affects our lives.
  • Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth – Richard Foster comes from a Quaker background and is a continuous student of the historical methods of connecting with God spiritually. He helps us understand the way that spirituality integrates into our lives – more than just over prayers before meals. He divides the practices we can use to connect to God into three sections – inward (meditation, prayer…), outward (simplicity, solitude…), and corporate (confession, worship…). A great starting point for experiential Christianity.
  • A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN – Yeah, the book has a really long title, and it is a bit dry at times with lots of footnotes. But Brian D. McLaren is one of the leading thinkers in the emerging church movement and is important to understand whether you agree with his theology or not – and he makes an awful lot of good points, even if you don’t buy the whole load.
  • How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth – I’m sure glad I’m not the only one who struggles with understanding Scripture. This extremely readable and informative little volume by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart is a must-read for new and experienced students of the Bible alike.
  • The Story of Christianity – I must admit that Justo Gonzalez is one of my heroes. This book – originally two separate volumes – is a monumental achievement in itself. Numbering around a thousand pages it was an extremely readable and balanced history of the Christian faith from start to present. I would suggest that having at least a rudimentary understanding of Christian history can profoundly affect (in a positive way) our understanding of the gospel and interaction with fellow believers as well as the world at large.
  • American Evangelical Story, The: A History of the Movement – Douglas A. Sweeney offers a readable and fairly comprehensive history of American Evangelicalism. A must read for evangelicals.
  • The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer The Questions Challenging Christians Today – Josh McDowell’s extensive research into the Christian faith in an attempt to establish an apologetic defense. Essentially, an encyclopedia on the historical/scientific/evidentiary reasons for belief. Covers topics such as the biblical text, the historical Jesus, and biblical criticism.
  • Life Application Study Bible NLT – Whether one gets a Life Application Study Bible is not so much my concern – though there are a number of useful maps, charts, study notes, and etc. in the Life Application Study Bible…But I do think a New Living Translation (NLT) Bible is an excellent addition to any library. I am assuming one already has a word-for-word literal translation such as the NASB, NIV, or NKJV. These Bibles are excellent for understanding the minutaie of the text, but I find the NLT provides a more readable translation for devotional reading. Sure, when one hits a controversial passage pull out your NASB and lexicon and dive into the words and commentaries…But for the larger context/story flow I personally enjoy the NLT.
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]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/11/06/eleven-must-read-christian-non-fiction-books/feed/ 4 One Man’s Hero (Movie). http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/09/03/one-mans-hero-movie/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/09/03/one-mans-hero-movie/#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:04:29 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=144

The first historical period I became fascinated with was the War for Texan Independence, and specifically the Battle for the Alamo. I was introduced to this battle via Disney’s Davy Crockett film and would continue my interest by reading a variety of [...]]]>

Cover of "The Alamo (Widescreen Edition)&...

Cover of The Alamo (Widescreen Edition)

The first historical period I became fascinated with was the War for Texan Independence, and specifically the Battle for the Alamo. I was introduced to this battle via Disney’s Davy Crockett film and would continue my interest by reading a variety of books on the subject and seeing the various films produced concerning the battle – from John Wayne‘s epic The Alamo to Thirteen Days to Glory and most recently The Alamo with Dennis Quaid as Jim Bowie and Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett.

As I grew older I moved on to other historical periods – partially because of the moral ambiguity relative to many of my country’s actions during this time period. I still have not had the time to sit down and re-study those periods and draw a conclusive ruling in my mind on the morality of the actions taken – but there is at least great doubt in my mind. In any case, recently I was on Hulu and stumbled across a movie they were offering called One Man’s Hero. Unlike the many films I had seen previously this one portrayed history from a Mexican perspective.

One Man’s Hero tells the (true) story of the Saint Patrick‘s Battalion, whose most famous command was John Riley. The Saint Patrick’s Battalion fought with significant distinction and dedication during the Mexican-American War and consisted largely of combat veterans, mainly Irish, mainly deserters from the U.S. Army, but also including a wide variety of other nationalities – Germans, Canadians, English, French, Italians, and so on – mainly of a Roman Catholic religious persuasion. In any case, for a variety of reasons these individuals chose to fight (and many died) with the Mexicans.

It is a fascinating film and I would recommend it. While released in 1999 it has an older epic western feel to it – very similar to John Wayne’s The Alamo. One should not expect an action/adventure movie as so many of our films are these days. But if you are interested in history and/or enjoy westerns – this film is for you. While rated R it would easily fall as a PG-13 film in these days. There is a moderate amount of profanity, a significant amount of violence, but no nudity/sex. If you don’t have time for the film, you may be interested to read the Wikipedia article on Saint Patrick’s Battalion.

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]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/09/03/one-mans-hero-movie/feed/ 0 Creation Museum Review – Part 2. http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/08/23/creation-museum-review-part-2/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/08/23/creation-museum-review-part-2/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:00:16 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=98 Well, I said I’d come back to the Creation Museum…so here goes. If you haven’t already, read my first post on the museum. Today we are only going to cover their core exhibit – The 7 C’s of History. This will be mainly a photographic tour. As with its other exhibits, I was immensely [...]]]> Well, I said I’d come back to the Creation Museum…so here goes. If you haven’t already, read my first post on the museum. Today we are only going to cover their core exhibit – The 7 C’s of History. This will be mainly a photographic tour. As with its other exhibits, I was immensely impressed by the quality of the 7 C’s of History exhibit. While you may disagree on a philosophical basis with the premise of the Creation Museum, there is no arguing with the quality of their presentations.


As we started our tour we saw some beautiful tanks with fish and other water creatures, this was set into a larger picture of some ancient individuals fishing.

You can see one of these people sitting next to a small dinosaur. By this you can tell the great emphasis of the Creation Museum – the co-existence of creatures in a rather short time span rather than the evolutionary scale of millions of years.

They had a number of nifty poisonous frogs as well. Here is just one of them. Amazing how brightly colored they are.

The Creation Museum attempts to lay a foundation for all of its exhibits and beliefs by stating that both creationists and evolutionists have the same evidence, they just interpret it through different lenses.

And these guys just pop up all throughout the presentation. But look at the beautiful detail of the artwork!

A comparison of the philosophical basis upon which creationists/evolutionists base their theories and the results of these divergent viewpoints.

Same as above, but concerning cosmology.

Looking at biological diversity.

Geological issues.

Summing up how the different “assumptions” all bring to their studies result in different endpoints.

Traveling through biblical history…the giving of the ten commandments to Moses, etc.

Martin Luther. He was unpopular in his times as well. The Creation Museum takes him as an example of how change needs to occur even in the face of adversity and that popular opinion or authoritative opinion does not always arbitrate truth.

A number of old bibles. Charity pointed out to me one Hebrew version where the last letter on each line was stretched out to take up the rest of the page so they could start a new word on each new line.

Notice the penguin mixed in with Adam and the rest of the animals. The Creation Museum doesn’t insist that a penguin was actually present in the garden – rather that its ancestors where…but is attempting to suggest that the original variety of creatures could have all been present in the garden simultaneously. This in part would be possible because the various specific types of animals we have may have come from a few common ancestors (natural selection, not molecules-to-man evolution – a distinction they heavily promote).

Note the serpent in the tree above Adam and Eve. Funnily enough Charity pointed out it doesn’t have limbs (whereas Scripture would seem to indicate the loss of limbs was a punishment for the fall).

The results of sin…the necessity for a sacrifice. A constant reminder of the insurmountable evil (death) caused by sin.

The first murder, when Cain kills Abel.

Building Noah’s Ark.

They had a wall of the ark built out.

A cross-section of what the ark may have looked like.

A model of the ark.

And another…you can’t see the people and animals trapped on the rock – very sad.

An interesting set that repeated a video series using CGI of a worldwide flood sweeping over the earth. One of the few poor design decisions in my opinion – this should have been project based rather than four small LCDs.

How diversity came from the original creatures.

Well, that’s all I have folks. Tomorrow we’ll try to get back to some more normal length articles. Just to summarize up – the Creation Museum was quite the experience. No matter your philosophical viewpoint on origins, I think you’d enjoy walking through this museum.

]]> http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/08/23/creation-museum-review-part-2/feed/ 1 Creation Museum. http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/08/18/creation-museum/ http://www.daveenjoys.com/2008/08/18/creation-museum/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:06:59 +0000 davemackey http://www.daveenjoys.com/?p=70 Friday morning I rented a fifteen passenger van and loaded twelve teenagers along with Charity and myself into the van. We drove – including rest stops – for around twelve hours to Florence Kentucky, where we spent the night at Hyatt [...]]]> Friday morning I rented a fifteen passenger van and loaded twelve teenagers along with Charity and myself into the van. We drove – including rest stops – for around twelve hours to Florence Kentucky, where we spent the night at Hyatt Place. The next morning we would drive another twenty minutes to Petersburg Kentucky, home of the Creation Museum. We arrived around 10 a.m. and stayed nearly till closing – leaving sometime after 5 p.m. Today I’d like to give you a bit of a guided tour through some portions of the Creation Museum and talk about our experience.

The Grounds & The Petting Zoo:

The Creation Museum was packed when we arrived. Lines of people were everywhere and parking attendants were a frequent appearance as they waved us deftly into new spots. Once we secured our group tickets a group of us walked through the grounds. The Creation Museum has set up some very beautiful gardens. Several bridges cross over and stand near a large pond where small fish are frequent appearances and small machines allow you to purchase for twenty-five cents a handful of fish food to throw into the waters and watch as the fish flit about just below the surface.

The bridges are built in true Indiana Jones style – they bounce and jiggle as you run/walk/jump across. An adventure in and of themselves. Dozens of flowers, bushes, and other plants are everywhere, giving a unique botanical feel. A small portico is a nice place to rest and sculptures of sea creatures and dinosaurs made out of moss dot the landscape. A little smaller than I had expected, covering perhaps one acre – but extremely enjoyable none the less.

From there it was up to the petting zoo – a highlight for myself and many others. Unfortunately, I hadn’t been taking many pictures at this juncture so you will have to use your imagination. But amongst the creatures we saw were zorses (a cross of a horse and zebra), donkeys, llamas, a camel, goats, a pig, turkeys, peacocks, and rabbits. Many of the animals you could actually walk into their pens and pet and feed them. I spent some time in the pen with the goats feeding them. I also fed the donkeys – unfortunately one choose to gnaw on my hand (left a red mark, nothing more). The camel was enjoyable – it doesn’t even use its tongue to get the food off your hands, just these two gigantic lips. Below is one of the donkeys…

The Food:

The Museum has several different locations to eat at – Lakeside Grill (outdoors, burgers and hot dogs), Noah’s Cafe (indoors/outdoor patio, soups/sandwiches/wraps), Noah’s Originals (indoors/patio), Palm Plaza Cafe (Tex/Mex). All very reasonable priced – I think everyone was able to get a full meal for well under $10 (mine was around eight for a large burger, fries, and a soft serve ice cream). The atmosphere was very nice as well in each location. [1. Two small negative items where (a) they charged us a small fee for a cup for water and (b) two of the teens were held up for 30 minutes getting food, while the rest of us received ours within around 10 minutes.]

The Movies/Planetarium:

The Creation Museum has a number of top-notch documentary/entertaining videos one can watch. One of their features is a humorous/sarcastic Men in White video lasting 15-20 mins. in a special effects feature. Well-done, I was not entirely comfortable with the presentation due to its lite-handed dealing with evolutionists[2. Something that bothers me often on both sides...Evolutionists constantly ridicule Creationists as well.]. The rest of the videos were more documentary in nature – and of similar quality as one would find at any general museum or on The History Channel (I personally enjoyed one on dragon legends).

We also attended the Planetarium. An extra eight dollars, this showing was a highlight for many of the teens. I was looking forward to it as well, unfortunately I was exhausted and fell asleep for around half of it. Very comfortable seats (that leaned back) where available. The presentation helped one understand the scope of space – comparing the size of various stars and the distance between planets, etc. The unfathomable magnititude was both impressive and overwhelming. Well-done for what it was I had hope more to just take a tour than learn about distances.

The External Exhibits:

There is a main exhibit – the seven c’s of history – which we have not even begun to cover yet and then there is all we have mentioned as well as some external exhibits. The external exhibits where all very professionally done and one could as easily have been in the Smithsonian or any other popular museum as the Creation Museum. Impressive artifacts where everywhere – fossils, geological formations, etc. There was also an entire dinosaur section which I enjoyed very much. I’ve included some photos below.

Okay, I lied. Not a dinosaur, this is a rhinoceros skeleton, but I wanted to throw it in here somewhere.

Now we see some dinosaurs! The large one here is a stegosaurus.

Here you can see the sort of information they gave us on the dinosaurs.

Ain’t he cute?

Could be wrong…but I think this was an Archaeopatyrx.

Rather not run into him while hiking.

A fossilized dinosaur egg.

Raptors – apparently the ones in Jurassic Park where 3x the size of real ones!

A triceratops skeleton.

One’s friendly T. Rex.

They had a lot of dinosaurs…

As you can see – the artists where extremely talented!

They also had little videos running at different junctures offering insights into dinosaurs and CGI renderings of them in action.

Well…I’m tired of writing for now, so I’m going to hold off here…Tomorrow I’ll try and post Part 2, which will include a tour of the main Creation Museum exhibit. For now, let’s just say the Creation Museum gets a 4.9/5 stars from me!

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