It Continues...

I can tell the elections are getting close by the amount of email & posts I'm getting & seeing that are don't necessarily exhibit the best intellectual or integrity levels in pre-election material. Here's a few to share with you:

The USSA (brought to you by USAWakeup.org) - this site, emailed to me, hosts a video about how the US is on its way to becoming the next social state with "Socialist Barack Hussein Obama" at the helm. I had thought about spending a few hours going through and addressing each of the points in this video - but really don't have the time. Needless to say, you'll see no acknowledgement of the Republican culpability for laws passed in this piece of propaganda. Now, less my ranting gets confused for support. Some of these decisions were awful and I do think that the $700 billion bailout is a move towards a more socialist society with the Gov't owning coorporations. However, criticism of others must come with a recognistion of our own culpability and, last time I checked, the US was still a two-party state and Republicans couldn't have all abstained from the actions mentioned and them still pass - so, if we're not where we want to be - to what degree have we, as Republicans, become accomplices in that? (not to mention, it's a little sketchy when a website like this is run by ONE person who refuses to be held accountable by interacting with others).

Christian Radio Banned on the Airwaves - it seems that there's been a revamped version of the earlier email that went around about petition 2493 saying that Christian broadcasts would be banned on the airwaves. While the copy I recieved referred to Joel Olsteen, Joyce Meyer, etc., the body of the email is the same content as this one. The basic story behind is that there was a petition named 2493 back in the 70s (?) that was around all of one year before being voted down. The idea in the bill was to protect frequencies set aside for Education from being used by anyone - including religious groups. Doesn't seem like there was any malicious intent targeted at Christians with this one.

A List of All the People Who Need Jesus - a fairly lengthy version of those banners that people hold on street corners. Interestingly enough, this one "loud mouthed women", "sports nuts", "Catholics" (to whom Protestantism owes a huge debt and with whom Luther never desired to fracture), P.K.'s (?? Pastor's Kids??), "effeminate men", and "high folutent* sophisticated swine", and, as my friend Cody points out, a creator who didn't know how to use apostrophe's currectly.

*sadly enough, in case there was any confusion, the use of "folutent" almost definitely means this is from the South or Midwest somewhere...as if we didn't have a bad enough wrap already with the KKK (who unfortunately align themselves with Christianity) and the "God Hate's Fags" group in Kansas.

Christians Shooting Themselves in the Foot

MSNBC had this article on their website that a friend forwarded to me today. The article, entitled "Christian Right Steps Up Attacks on Obama", goes on to point out moves by Focus on the Family Action, Charisma (Pentocostal magazine), and the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission to use scare tactics against Obama's popularity - while spending most of the time on Focus on the Family Action's "Letter from 2012 in Obama's America". Here's a couple of exerts for you:

"Terrorist strikes on four American cities. Russia rolling into Eastern Europe. Israel hit by a nuclear bomb. Gay marriage in every state. The end of the Boy Scouts."

"Among the claims:

• A 6-3 liberal majority Supreme Court that results in rulings like one making gay marriage the law of the land and another forcing the Boy Scouts to "hire homosexual scoutmasters and allow them to sleep in tents with young boys." (In the imagined scenario, The Boy Scouts choose to disband rather than obey).
• A series of domestic and international disasters based on Obama's "reluctance to send troops overseas." That includes terrorist attacks on U.S. soil that kill hundreds, Russia occupying the Baltic states and Eastern European countries including Poland and the Czech Republic, and al-Qaida overwhelming Iraq.
• Nationalized health care with long lines for surgery and no access to hospitals for people over 80."

It's unbelievable to me that Christians would (A) write this kind of stuff and (B) be proud of it. Explain to me, how does this coincide with Paul's call for us to deal with people "with all gentleness" that we see in Phil 4 and Titus 3? How does this communicate love and respect for people - especially with those we disagree? How is this loving our enemy? Come on people!

The spokeswoman for Focus on the Family responded with this:

"The goal was to "articulate the big picture," said Carrie Gordon Earll, senior director of public policy for Focus on the Family Action. "If it is a doomsday picture, then it's a realistic picture," she said."

Are you kidding me?!! Who thinks that Obama's really going to do all this? The guy hasn't done much in his career up to this point - I promise you, he's not going to squander the country in four years. Four years that are likely to be very unproductive.

But bottom line, regardless of Obama's politics and rhetoric, we, as Christians are called to so much more than this. We are called to be Christ and Christ's ambassadors to the world. So, to those who have chosen to take the "low road" like the groups above - thank you for the damage you've done to those of us Christians who are trying to build bridges into a liberal world that needs to be respected and honored before they'll ever listen to us. Thank you for not being what Christ called us to. Thank you for using your voice - that could be significant - for something that, five years from now (if not sooner) isn't going to matter. Thank you for deciding that, because God's not in control, you needed to resort to these kinds of tactics/measures to "save the world."

Oh wait...didn't Christ do that 2,000 years ago? Isn't his Kingdom advancing and the gates of hell won't prevail in stoppping it?

So, in the words of a friend of mine, "This is why it is I don't want to be associated with Christians when it comes to political matters."

Fun in the Workplace: A Google Example

“ With a little creativity, some motivation, and a culture that embraces fun (and food!) as a necessary component of our work, inspiration will flow, and spirits (and blood-sugar levels) will run high. One proof point: Recession-Proof Brownies.
—

Official Google Blog: A Googlicious time

I am deeply convinced that a workplace like this (that embraces fun - and maybe food) is both a much more effective workplace as well as a place that retains it’s staff at a higher level of performance. There’s enough of the “old gaurd” still managing businesses, that I don’t expect this to become widespread any time soon (although it’s growing with companies like Gore-tec and Semler Co).

404 Error Page & Religions

Just saw this on a friends blog. Incredible and evidently a real page that some got. Enjoy!

Water + Mac = Bad Day

As the title suggests, my computer's out of commission for a while. I was cramming this afternoon for some reading that I hadn't finsihed and spilled half a mug of water all over my computer. YIKES!!

Needless to say, after trying to dry it out this afternoon, it wouldn't turn on. I'm going to take it apart tomorrow and dry it piece by piece, and we'll see if that helps. Chances are (esp. since I tried turning it back on and it didn't work) that it's fried.

Blog posts will be scarce for a while, as will email, and facebook (although recently, it has been really scarce and I'm way behind on it. Sorry!).

I'm trying to figure out what to do. Here's my options, let me know what you think:

1. Dry it out tomorrow, turn it on, it works, and we're back to normal. Of course, this is the best scenario, but the one that I can't really make a decision to change (other than try to dry it out).

2. Go without a computer. Jack doesn't have a laptop and just does everything he needs to in the computer labs. This is appealing in the sense that I would not be in my room so much...but not very appealing in the sense that it means Skype and IM are pretty much out of the question - and it effects storing pictures and music as well.

3. If it's shot, buy a new computer with money I don't have. Either I'd be paying for it on my student loans (that haven't quite come through yet) or putting it on a credit card and paying it off with student loans over the year (I get them in three installments). While the idea of going into debt for a computer (again) isn't exciting, I did have my last Mac for 4 years (this month, actually). Which leads me ot another question - do I buy something cheap that will work (say $500) or do I buy another Mac that I know I'll use for years (for closer to $1000)....I don't know!

Thoughts? Opinions? Similar stories of woe from your computer getting fried?

I Love It!

[I originally posted this on the other site for my year in N. Ireland, but wanted to blog it here as well. Since it really reflects on much of my whole life, I thought it fitting to post here too.]

I just got back from the Christian Union not too long ago. I can't tell you how much I love being with other believers. I know that sounds like a cheesy, Christian card, but I really do. I get excited on Saturdays about church on Sunday. I had a great time at Communion Sunday morning, hanging out with believers at the Carson's house for lunch, and going to Sunday night service at Fisherwick. Then, on top of that, the CU tonight. Really, I think I'm a Church junkie...

On a more serious vein of thought with all of this though, I've been reflecting on the family of God around the world. I often find myself wondering why it is that God's given me the opportunity to travel to over two dozen countries, as young as I am. I still don't know all the reasons - but I know for me it has become a huge piece in the foundation of my faith and my understanding of it. Whether I've been at a church service in Zagreb, Prague, Fortaleza (Brazil), Bangkok, Paris or elsewhere, being with the family of God, worshiping has been similar in all corners of the world. At times the language, style, and form is different, but the heart, passion, and presence of God is always evident wherever I've been.

Having seen the people of God passionate for Him the world over, I don't worry about God's Kingdom advancing. The reality of "His Kingdom come, His will be done" is taking place each day, changing lives, changing communities, and bringing glory to the Father in every part of the globe.

In the same vein, no matter what country I've been in, I've always felt as though I was with family. Spending the afternoon at Robert & Diana Carson's on Sunday with Naomi (N. Irish), Nialls (Irish), Edwin (Dutch), Spencer (US), Vasco (Italian), Jack (US), and Robyn (US) was incredible. None of us had known each other for more than a couple of weeks - most for only a couple of hours - yet we came together (Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic, Bible church, etc) and simply enjoyed each other's company. It's been the same experience for me wherever I've gone.

I've come to believe that this is unique to the body of Christ. My non-Christian friends here simply don't have any other similar structure to which they can fit in - so, no matter where they're going, they begin their relationships from scratch. I hope and trust that they'll see something different, something appealing in the family of God and Christ in and through them this year.