The Board Game Faith Newsletter, Issue 18
Hello, Board Game Faithful!
Kevin: Jenny and I had a marvelous anniversary trip to Montreal and Quebec City, but after arriving back home we promptly got COVID. Ugh, it has been rough! We are on the mend but feeling pretty sick, getting better, but having to quarantine is not fun. It’s easy to move on now that the pandemic has, for the most part, subsided, until BAM!
Daniel: We started at our new church this past week. Early morning on my first day on the job, there was a fire. While the sprinklers quickly extinguished the flames (thankfully), the resulting water damage means that half of our facilities are inaccessible for about 6 months. What strikes me most is how resilient the church members are, and how much they have stepped in to begin the recovery process.
Behind the Episodes
Kevin: I wish I wasn’t having so much fun learning Final Cut Pro. I wish I wasn’t such a dabbler. I wish I wasn’t being tempted to buy FCP when the trial version expires… and, check out my latest editing abilities on our YouTube channel! We’ve definitely grown in quality and working knowledge.
Daniel: I had to record an upcoming episode without Kevin due to his aforementioned bout with COVID. Thankfully we had a guest (and a really cool guest at that), so it wasn’t just me sitting silently in front of the microphone waiting in vain for Kevin to say something insightful and witty. I’m glad he’s feeling better!
Coming Up
Kevin: Ooooh, it’s a good one. Really. I don’t want to spoil it. Our special guest has 2 syllables in their first name and 3 syllables in their last name, and those names don’t rhyme with Nicholas Boursenberrywiffle. That’s all I’m saying! No clues at all. Just what I put above. That, and Scythe and Wingspan and Viticulture.
Daniel: Who?? Who is it??!!? Is it Peter Parkerson?? Barbie Barbieton??? So many possibilities! (The actual answer is way cooler than either Peter or Barbie or Nicholas Boursenberrywiffle.)
Games We're All About Right Now
Endurance
Kevin: I’ve discovered indie games and Hollandspiele, and Amabel Holland. Wow! It’s a different kind of production and game with Nicaea and Endurance. They veer towards experiences, role playing games, and moral lessons than a classic “game,” and I love how Amabel pushes the boundaries and definitions. As someone with graduate degrees in Christian theology I learned a bunch from the board game Nicaea about this pivotal early church council/meeting, including that Athanasius was heralded as a saint and genius but he was really just a jerk.
Daniel: I was excited to receive my copy of Expeditions in the mail this past week. What a great game! It does an excellent job of preserving the feel and vocabulary of Scythe, but with completely different mechanisms. I heard someone describe it as a very puzzly game. I agree, and thoroughly love it as a result.
Spirituality
Kevin: I miss going to church! Between our anniversary trip and then COVID I’ve been away for 2 weeks. It reminds me how the pandemic also ended in person religious worship and how I came to miss it (although at first it was kind of fun to skip). I enjoy the faces, the music, the quiet moments, and the sense of purpose and holiness. So I’ll see you next week Mr. Church Place!
Daniel: I agree with Kevin. There have been times in my life when I haven't attended church for a few weeks. At first I’m like, “hmmm….I can how it’s possible to get used to this.” But whenever I go back I always feel almost overwhelmed by the beauty and love of the community. I recognize that is now always everyone's experience, however.
Media We're Digging Right Now
Kevin: Jenny and I are finishing Ted Lasso and it definitely has a culminating feel to this final season. I have enjoyed Hijack on Apple TV+ with Idris Elba (new episode on Wednesday woot woot). The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time from Rolling Stone has inspired me to check out some great music, such as Björk’s Homogenic.
Thank You!
Thanks so much for being a part of the BGF community. We are grateful for each of you and the ways you make the world more awesome. And if you haven’t had a chance to tell us a little about yourself yet, we would love it if you could fill out this form please!