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TripAdvisor.com has named the Hotel Carter in New York as the USA’s Dirtiest Hotel. Sadly, this is the 3rd time in 4 years the hotel has won the award. If the video above didn’t gross you out, read what USA Today had to say about the hotel (the video might take awhile to load, but I suggest you brave it and watch it in fullscreen): 

Roaches, rats, black mold and stains of dubious origin figure prominently in the nearly 800 critiques of the 700-room hotel on West 43rd Street. Its website boasts that rooms were “designed with the budget traveler in mind.”

“The bathroom made me want to vomit,” one TripAdvisor commenter notes. “DON’T LOOK UNDER THE BED!” another cautions. (Apparently, used tissues aren’t the only risk. In 2007, a hotel housekeeper discovered a woman’s body stuffed into a trash bag under the mattress; she had been murdered by the previous night’s paying guest.)

Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day yet? 

Everyone knows you need flowers (probably red roses), chocolates, lots of hearts, and maybe even a cute stuffed animal. But do you have dinner plans yet? Have you made reservations?

If not, why not try White Castle? That White Castle? Yes, that White Castle!

On Valentine’s Day, several White Castle restaurants around the nation will be transforming from fast food to pseudo-gourmet. Make your reservations from 5-9 PM and you can have a candlelit dinner complete with your very own waiter.

There is only one catch: The food is still from White Castle.

Here’s a question for the ladies: If a guy took you to White Castle for Valentine’s Day, would he still have a girlfriend on February 15?

When I was in high school, some of my fellow students referred to their parents as the “cool” parents. It had nothing to do with time that was spent together, wise teaching, or provision. In fact, the opposite was true. These parents were the “cool” parents because they bought their kids alcohol, let them host wild parties, and even allowed boyfriends and girlfriends to sleep over. They were “cool” because they matched the same worldly maturity level of their kids. 

The truth of the matter is these parents were anything but “cool.” In fact, they were a hindrance to their teen’s maturity and even put them in harm’s danger. Their relationship with their teen was actually better characterized with words like “neglect” and “irresponsibility.”

Unfortunately, too many of these detrimental relationships exist. Rather than seeing the importance of the parent-child relationship, many parents prefer to be their teen’s best friend and forfeit the responsibilities of a parent. In many regards, it’s easier that way. The drudgery of discipline can take a backseat and life can be enjoyed as BFFs (best friends forever). However, this lack of parenting is not only wrong in its appearance; it is unbiblical.

In Deuteronomy 6, we are given very specific instructions on how parents should raise children. The passage says nothing about dressing like your teen, talking like your teen, or making sure you give in to your teen’s every demand to avoid problems. Instead, the passage says parents are responsible for teaching their children the ways of God. They are called to be the spiritual leaders in the home and impress God’s Word upon the hearts of their children.

Being a spiritual leader in the home may not be “cool” by teenage standards, but it’s a demand from God. Parents need to uphold that message through teaching, encouraging, disciplining, and rebuking their children when necessary. While it may not always seem desirable, the long-term benefits far outweigh what’s happening now.

Last week the nominees were announced for the Academy Awards. In the category for Best Picture, the following nominees were announced:

- “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
- “Frost/Nixon”
- “Milk”
- “The Reader”
- “Slumdog Millionaire”

Notably absent from the nominees was “The Dark Knight,” which currently stands as the 2nd highest grossing film of all time. 

Some have argued “Milk” does not even deserve to be nominated. However, according to several sources, it was nominated merely because of it’s liberal (gay) propaganda. In fact, writers for Yahoo believe it could win Best Picture. Their reasoning: A retaliation at Proposition 8 and “Brokeback Mountain” losing to “Crash” for Best Picture in 2005.

In your opinion, what movie deserves to win Best Picture, and WHY should it win Best Picture? (Your answer does not have to include a Best Picture nominee)

You have responsibilities.

You are a leader.

You have influence.

Whether we like it or not, the three statements above are true about every one of us. We all have some types of responsibilities in life. Carrying responsibility automatically thrusts us in to leadership, no matter how big or small. What is leadership? Influence. 

September 23-25, a new and revolutionary conference will be taking place in Dallas, TX. The D6 Conference (short for Deuteronomy 6) will be taking its first flight, looking to equip parents, pastors, youth ministers, children’s ministers, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, etc with the biblical principles needed to uphold truth and necessary leadership both in the home and the world.

Speakers such as Jim Daly, Angela Thomas, and George Barna will be there to guide you with their own personal insight. Mark Matlock, Darren Whitehead, and Jay Strother will be there to show you how YOU can make an impact on today’s generation. Other speakers include Fred Stoeker, author of Every Man’s Battle, Dr. John Trent, Dave Ramsey, and comedian Tim Hawkins. 

This conference has the potential to change everything you know about leading your family and doing ministry. But there’s a catch: You have to be there!

IF you register by February 2, you will receive an incredible early-bird savings on the conference. Simply go to the D6 Conference website, www.d6conference.com, to register and find out more information about this incredible conference.

Yes, the economy might be rough right now, but you can’t put a price tag on what you will learn at this conference. It’s not just for husbands and wives; it’s not just for parents with children; and it’s not just for those who already have it all figured out.

This conference is for anyone who is interested in learning how to take a strong Christian lead in his or her home and world.

Please check it out. You don’t want to miss it!

After yesterday’s inauguration, President Barack Obama has officially become our 44th President of the United States (or is it 43rd? Thank you Grover Cleveland for messing that up!)

Many people have different things they would like to request of President Obama, such as:

- Bring our troops home from war
- Solve this economic crisis
- Find alternative uses for fuel
- Discontinue the BCS and institute a playoff system in college football

If you had the opportunity to ask President Obama for one thing, what would it be?

During my junior and senior years of college, iPods started popping up all over the place. It seems like everyone had some form of MP3 player in their pocket, and music blaring through their headphones to go along with it. 

One day, I was walking down the street and passed another student. I could tell he had his earbuds in but I didn’t think much about it. As we approached each other, I looked over to him and said hello. His expression showed that he had no idea I was there or even said a word to him. We had been walking towards each other for about 100 feet and no one else was around. He had to know I was there. However, his head never turned and his mouth never opened. He was so lost in his iWorld he failed to recognize a simple hello. 

Later on that year, I sat in the lobby of the girls’ dormitory waiting to go down to eat dinner. There was only 1 other guy in the lobby at the time. He had his earphones in and was staring into space. Since we were only about 3 feet apart and the only 2 people in the room, I decided to strike up a conversation. I asked him a question and got no response. I asked again, and still nothing. Finally, I said something else to him. Instead of responding or even looking at me, he just put his head down, completely ignoring eye contact or conversation. I know he had to hear me, but he used this iPod to isolate himself from my conversation.

We’ve all been around people who have stepped out of reality to soak in their music. Whether for enjoyment, relaxation, or just to ignore us, they completely cut off communication with those around them.

We’ve probably also been around people who blast their music so loud that we can hear every note, beat, and lyric through their headphones even though we’re 10 feet away. 

The people who sing along with their iPods are everywhere. We can’t hear the music, but they assume we can. So they sing along, replacing all the words they don’t know with “Yeah, mmmmm, yeah yeah, uhhh, ohhh, yeah yeah something.”

And of course there’s those who plug their iPods into mini-speakers and carry them around in public like they’re in Run DMC.

Does iPod etiquette exist? If so, what are some rules that people should follow when plugging their headphones in and drowning themselves in music?

Before the Tennessee Titans drafted Adam “Pacman” Jones with the 6th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, he had already been in trouble with the law. Since that time, Pac Man has been arrested 6 times, which charges ranging from assault to allegations that Jones hired someone to shoot an individual.

He has been present at shootings in strip clubs, started fights with his own bodyguards, and shown no respect or gratitude for his teammates, his job, or anyone/anything other than himself.

No matter what Pacman does, it always makes news. ESPN is always quick to report the mayhem he’s caused himself, his team, or someone else.

However, there is a lesser known story you may not have heard of. It doesn’t involve Pacman; rather it involves someone on the opposite spectrum. Read more…

At the beginning of 2008, IUPUI men’s basketball coach, Ron Hunter, decided he wanted to make a difference in the world. He did something that had never been done before at the major college level. Coach Hunter took off his shoes and coached barefoot during one of IUPUI’s games.

Why would Coach Hunter do something this odd? He wanted to raise awareness for Samaritan’s Feet, an organization that seeks to provide shoes to children in other countries who do not have shoes. Read more…