Mardel

The wife had a doctor's appointment Wednesday in Tulsa and, as is my custom, I drove her there. We usually make a day of it, eating out and going to Barnes & Noble or some other store she likes (Hobby Lobby & Michaels). This time we ate before we left. The lunch specials at Juana's Mexican Restaurant here in town are delicious and affordable. In fact, my favorite dish, the enchilada platter, is the same one served both on the special and later, but costs a couple of dollars less. As usual we were filled up and satisfied with the food and the price. In the many, many times I've eaten at Juana's I've only had one bad experience and that was when the ground beef in my enchiladas seemed to be slightly undercooked. We'd only eaten there a couple of times when that happened so I was a bit concerned. I needn't have been.

So, the appointment lasted a little longer than I thought it would, but that was okay. I had my iPhone to keep me company during the wait. In particular, the DaVinci pinball app I bought around Christmas time. I've got 9 different pinball tables from Gameprom, which is the best app developer for games of this sort. DaVinci is good, although it seems to be a bit lunkie and slower4 than the others. Compared to my Slayer table it is the turtle racing the hare. Still a lot of fun, though.

Instead of going to Barnes & Noble we opted for Mardel Christian Bookstore. Now don't get me wrong: I love Mardel. It's like the Wal-Mart of Christendom. So huge to be a bookstore. And that's because...it's NOT.

Well, it IS...at least to say that it does sell books. I would go so far as to say that books probably make up the majority of their sales. Not by much, though. They have a huge section devoted to Christian music CDs and DVDs. A relative ton of them (I mean, it's no Sam Goody's, but for one particular genre it's quite impressive). Most of the music in this inventory is saccharine CCM, Christian "rock", southern gospel and Praise & Worship (apparently the most popular sub-genre). When I was much younger (like 17-21 years old) I loved several "contemporary Christian" artists and bands. Daniel Amos was a favorite. Resurrection Band. Keith Green. John Michael Talbot. A lot more. I still think most of that stuff is great music. But I loathe almost all CCM produced in the last 20 years. I wonder about that. I mean, one of the reasons I loved those records is because I could relate to them in different ways. As a Christian, yes, but also in an artistic sense...Daniel Amos, especially, appealed to some hidden intellectual process in my brain (whether it was ever revealed is not evident). I assume that the kids buying Newsboys & Switchfoot discs have a similar connection to that music. Similar touchstones we share in common that make Christian music appealing. So why can't I stand that stuff? What would the CCM consumers of today think of the music I listened to in the early 80s? Would they be able to appreciate it on the strength of "the message" alone? Regardless of the musical style? Because I'll be honest with you...I can't. I think the message is watered down, and even if it wasn't there's still something about it that turns me off. This is exactly how the "anti-Jesus Music" people of my youth felt about the music I liked.

I don't know what all that means, or if it means anything at all. I suppose I could put some thought into it and look for connections and reasons, but this isn't even what I came here to write. I was talking about Mardel, remember?

Mardel...home of the tacky "Christian t-shirts". I've already written a bit about this on my old blog. If you're interested you may find it here: A COMMENTARY ON THE SAD STATE OF RELIGIOUS/ATHEIST SLOGANEERING APPAREL. I don't know if there's anything more to say about them than I did in that article. I couldn't force myself to wander to that section of the store to read them. I literally cringe. I wouldn't be caught dead wearing a single one of them in public, and that's not because I'm ashamed of the gospel or Jesus or anything like that. It's just, WHY? What is the point in wearing them? People aren't going to be intrigued because they're ALL stupid. People are going to laugh, that's what. And they're not laughing at your shirt. It's YOU, because you would wear something so inane. It's YOU, because your evangelistic technique includes ridiculous garments. It's YOU because they know that the main reason you wear them is so you can a.) fit in with a certain clique and b.) repel those who want nothing to do with that same clique.

That's harsh, I know. There are a lot more variables that go into the decision to don such polarizing clothing and no doubt I have barely grazed the surface. But if you think THAT'S crazy and absurd, check this out: Mardel sells CHRISTIAN THEMED BLUE JEANS! Surely with this product we have come to the end of a long road that has seen the gospel of Jesus Christ perverted into all manner of commercial chattel. Who knows. I never would have envisioned hats and shirts and jeans. Maybe it's the norm today. Maybe there are still a few more miles down that road. Jesus themed bras & panties? A Jesus jock strap? Oh, it's so disgusting to think of the day when even that crap has saturated the market and the dealers have to think of something else with which they can mark with religion. Sex toys? If there's to be a rapture surely we'll be long gone history before that innovation.

Mardel...yeah, Mardel. That's what we were talking about. It seems that Mardel is Home School Supply Central. School books and crafts and whatever else you need to turn your den into a classroom. I don't want to talk about the merits, or otherwise, of home schooling here, because frankly I'm just not in the know. My wife seems to thing that it's a good thing, and since education is what she does I suppose her opinion holds some water. But what I don't understand is why, as one might surmise by Mardel's massive supply stock, is the practice so very popular with Christians? Is there really such animosity, for whatever reason, towards the public school system that so many people believe it should be avoided at all costs? Isn't one of the most important things about public school the opportunity to develop on a social level with several different personality types and, in larger cities, cultural and sociological differences? How can kids pick that up if they're insulated, the only student in a school called home? It's no secret that a lot of Christian people who remove their children from that environment will see to it that they are surrounded by others of the same faith. How can a kid be expected to survive in the "real world" if he's kept, Amish-style, out of that arena?

Another topic I could sit around and dwell on all day. But I should wrap this up. The only other things I was wanting to mention were:

a.) The book selection at Mardel is great. Even if a good 75% (at least) of the stock is lightweight self-help stuff. The deep theology selection is parallel to none in the state.

b.) There are enough Bibles in that store that if all the pages were pulled out, pasted together and put to use as wallpaper, you would be able to cover every room in the Empire State Building. Tons of Bibles, the majority of which are the currently popular New International Version translation. And they ain't cheap.

I don't need a Bible. I got plenty. But I will take that 4-in-1 volume of Norman Geisler's "Systematic Theology".