What Say You (06.19.08)

Read the First Edition here....

2nd Edition Here There is still time for you to add your 2 cents to this conversation, it has just been me and Gary so far and how can that be any fun?


This time, not so much a one line quote as an 8 minute video from a manly and courageous son talking at his dad's memorial service.




I know these things get overblown because what makes Tim Russert better than any other dad. We're only seeing this because of his national noteriaty. But sometimes none of that matters, emotion just takes over.

Context

Cheez-it, cheez-it.

One of the worse kept secrets right now is the continued rising price of gas. $4 a gallon right means to me that it costs me $12 a day for one round-trip drive to work (25 mpg, 76 miles round trip). And that's if it's normal and then I do no errand running during lunch or after work. $60 a week isn't too bad and thankfully, Michele and I are in a spot right now where it is affordable for us. None the less, I've been trying to figure out a way to car pool. Back in 2006 and the very early part of 2007 I was able to car-pool with a co-worker. You know back when gas was $2.50 a gallon! We took turns driving weekly back and forth to work. At that time we were working on the same team and were able to hold the same hours. Since then we've both been promoted. Me within my same team and she took a position with a new company that my company spun off. So both our hours kind of increased and she had to trvale more and then we had Seth and I needed to have a car in case I had to run home...so it has fallen apart. Now no one lives close enough to me to car pool.

So, I started looking into the bus system. It is very extensive system in Detroit actually. It's surprising actually. I live in Lincoln Park exit 42 off of I-75 (same house you and JP visited me Gary, way back in the summer of 2001). It's about 8 miles South from downtown Detroit. I work in Auburn Hills, MI (exit 79 off of I-75) about 3 miles from the Palace of Auburn Hills. My normal daily routine is that I leave the house no later than 6:45am (6:30 ideal). Arrive at work by 7:30 and then leave anywhere between 4pm and 5pm. Sometimes I take an hour lunch sometimes I don't. I prefer not to take a lunch and leave as soon as possible so I can be home. I kind of figured the bus thing would result in more time away from home, but would include some cost savings as well as the experience in public transportation. The ability to meet all kinds of people, see some different parts of the Metro Detroit area, even allow me to some work on my laptop as I occassionally have to do at home.

So I started to research the routes and potential pick-up and drop-off points, would I need a ride to the bus-stop or from the bus-stop, how much would I have to walk. All those details.

So what does all this have to do with Cheez-Its?

I'm getting there.

I was shocked at what would be required of me to use the bus system. The best I could find for my trip to work was to leave at 5:13am and arrive to work by 8:06am. This meant I would have to walk a total of 45 minutes, wait for a bus for 13 minutes, and ride 2 different buses for 2 hours combined. And that was just to get to work by 8:06am. But to get to the bus stop by 5:13 meant I'd have to get up at like 4:30am at the minimum. Not that ideal.

Then for my trip home, assuming I can leave after working a straight 8 only (not that likely). I would hop the bus at 4:18 and be home at 7:46.

Basically I would have less than 9.5 hours at home...throw in 6 or 7 hours of sleep and I'm down to a couple hours of awake time at home. My kid goes to bed now at 8:30 - 8:45, I'd see him for an hour a day at the best, thus leaving just an hour with the lovely and talented one and myself.

This idea kind of went out the window almost immediately.

And then I got to thinking....

Sometimes you need context.

Con-text, con-text.

No idea how I remembered this movie, and if you search YouTube you'll find a lot more on this movie. But we've all heard the stories from famous athletes, people on TV, and the kids down the street or in our Youth Groups.

Sometimes we all deserve a slap in the face.

Context, context

How can this be?

Anyone else bothered by the fact that Catholic's in America are actually Roman Catholics?

I mean, America is in a different hemisphere, a different continent, 4,000+ plus miles away, and 6 time zones from Rome, yet they are called Roman Catholics. Is this ridiculous?

If you are kind of nodding your head right now, then DO NOT click here, I don't want to advocate such unneccesary reading.

Nothing but love brother....nothing but love.

What Say You (06.09.08)

Read the First Edition here....

2nd Edition...

"Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well" - Josh Billings

So, what say you about this statement?

Some of you are big card players (you even excercise your Christian liberty this way sometimes). How do you play a hand that holds no pairs, or just deuces, or a "farmer's hand"?

What about playing "partner's best?"

Is this State Prosecution Exhibit 1A for over cliched statement that's easy to say than do?

Is it even possible? How do you know if you've played your cards "well"?

I eagerly anticipate your repsonse and the discussion to follow....

FREAKY!!!!

So, I just had to save a file while at work. One of the requirements is to date all work files when updates are made, this way old work doesn't get lost, you can see trends, maybe mistakes, blah, blah, blah.

ANYWAY, I saved my file 06.06.08 and it dawned on me....


2 years ago was 06.06.06


FREAKY!!!!!!!!

I almost couldn't click the save button, my heart was fluttering so bad......

Hillary Widmore

This is for all you "Losties" out there......


Hillary Widmore!!!!

It Never Gets Old

Watching the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup. Way to go Boys!!!!

After spending Monday night downtown in the D hoping to cash in on the celebration and getting one of the biggest gut punches ever (as well as no sleep), last night was awesome to see.

I was pulling for a Saturday morning parade but they're having it Friday instead. Little bummed out, I was seriously thinking about packing up the family and taking in the experience on Saturday. Oh well, with the way things go, there should be more opportunities.

For those that watched the game and especially the last 1:47, was that not the wildest minute and forty-seven seconds ever in sports!?!?!?! Mad dash, scrambling, the puck all over the place and literally floating just in front of the goal mouth...AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, awesome to see.

What Say You? (06.02.08)

I'm a big "Planner" guy. Meaning, I have a Franklin Covey planner and write everything down in mine. It's how I schedule things. It's how I get things done. I even keep a revolving 4-year historical file of all my planner entries. I'm not into the whole Franklin-Covey thing where I prioritize and delegate and all that jazz. But just the basics with monthly and daily tabs. Being that I get free supplies through work, I just work with what I can get. I've kind of created my own "system" (doesn't everyone?) and it works for me.

I say all that to make my blog entry look bigger and have more lines. Kind of like how Rob Bell writes his books

like this where each line

is written in shotgun blast form

to make it look cool and fill up

150 pages with just 50 pages worth

but I chose to implent both of the obvious choices

authors use to make their writing look more than it is

double spacing short sentences and rambling on about

nothing related to the original intention of the writing.

ANYWAY.....

Each daily sheet has a quote for you to read and if we want to to think about. Famous people, athletes, actors, complete nobodies. Authors, poets, famous movie lines, Bible verses, slogans, etc., etc. Many of them are really good.

Well today's was this:

"To work in the world lovingly means that we are defining what we will be for, rather than reacting to what we are against." - Christina Baldwin

So, to borrow from a famous blogger, what does this quote mean to you? What do you think about it? Can you define what you are for and not react?

A Warning to My Readers

Do not think me gentle
because I speak in praise
of gentleness, or elegant
because I honor the grace
that keeps this world. I am
a man crude as any,
gross of speech, intolerant,
stubborn, angry, full
of fits and furies. That I
have spoken well
at times, is not natural.
A wonder is what it is.

A Warning to My Readers - Wendell Berry





Perhaps I owe everyone an explanation. Maybe I don’t.

But for all intents and purposes, I’m done with the blogosphere. I gave it a try for a three and a half years and I think I’m just done. I think I am just sick of it. It’s become predictable on what exactly will be said and who will take which sides and say certain things. I mean, as soon as I hit “submit” I pretty much know who is going to say what. And I think if everyone else was honest they’d admit the same thing. There’s been nothing new. Corey goes Pomo on everyone (sorry Corey, its true) with artsy language and fancy writing. Toby takes the opposite side of any subject that the Religious Right or Evangelicals are in an uproar about it, he’s going to dig it…a lot! If it’s a squishy subject with the same group, he’s going to take the other side. Every time. And then Gary, well, actually you know what, there was some change. Gary did come out of the closet. The atheist closet I should say. But I feel like I’ve known this for like 12 years. I greatly apologize for this Gary but this has kind of the same feeling to it as that kid in high-school (or maybe your uncle) everyone kind of thought, might be, kind of acts, *gulp* gay. You know, he says something once and awhile that makes you stop and think, but you say “nah, no way” and the other guys in the circle of friends kind of think it themselves but never out and out say it. And then the 10 year reunion happens and sure as monkey crap (that’s one of those odd phrases), they’re there and with their “partner.” It’s fully confirmed now, and you’re happy that they’ve come out and can go on from there, but you’re also bummed out that they gave into that inner turmoil. That they’ve made the wrong choice….

Wait?

You’re not bummed?

They didn’t make the wrong choice?

And that’s the problem. I am grieved, horribly, that Gary caved in and made this decision. And the collective response everyone had opposite this proves what I think I always knew, but needed this little three and a half experiment to prove.

I’m not Postmodern, I’m not Emergent, and I am very, very, very set in my ways. So much so, that I’ve actually been very out of character in the last couple of years in the blogosphere. I don’t get Pomo or Emergent and I don’t want to…at all, ever!!

This isn’t to say that I won’t converse with you and have an intelligent discussion with you. I am well capable of that. I have 2 college degrees from an accredited public university. You know the kind that makes you take 20% of your classes from the “diversity” catalogue of classes. I served as an Executive Officer on student government, the business club, and a National Fraternity. I’ve managed white-collar and blue-collar workers from all different kinds of nationalities and backgrounds and ethnicities. I’ve minored in Philosophy and Journalism. But to be honest, didn’t complete either of them. I like to talk, not postulate and write. I mean, this whole thing you are reading right now is written at 5th grade level!!! And I think I’m smart with 2 college degrees, and I write a 2300 word essay at a 5th grade level!

And through all of that, the number one book I use to shape my mindset and set of ideals is the B-I-B-L-E (yes that’s the book for me). Now, don’t get me wrong, I kind of suck at living it. But the Bible is the book. It is the guidepost, instruction book, how-to manual, reference guide, devotional, whatever good or bad designator you want to put on it, for me. Now obviously, culture plays a role in my life too, I wear khaki’s to work and blue jeans to church. I drive a car and drink coffee. I listen to the radio and watch TV. But I don’t let culture dictate my mindset. Influence, yes, obviously, anyone that says otherwise you probably shouldn’t listen too anymore. But not dictate, not be the final word on the matter. This is more than frameworks and artworks and good works.

See, Jesus didn’t operate in a postmodern mindset. That’s different than culture. Culture does change and evolve. But a mindset is different than that. Yes, Jesus went around as a radical. Hanging out with the folks in the margins AND hanging out with the established religion of the day. He was a guy that everyone wanted to hang with. Why else are the religious people always around? I know they tried to trip him up and take him to task on a lot of things. But he made them look bad…a lot. But they kept coming around and seeing what was going on.

He brought some radical teachings to the people of his lifetime. They were operating in one set of cultural norms and he was bringing them to another set of cultural norms. But his mindset was always the same…that of his own, which is to say of the Father. And within that he always “spit the truth.” Culture didn’t influence his mindset.

He told some people to leave it all behind and follow him, he told others to just believe in him. He spoke hard truths that resulted in thousands leaving him. He outed some people within the midst of their dysfunctional living and showed utter compassion and love to others in the midst of their dysfunction. He showed up at some places and partied and he showed up at other places and threw everyone out in a rage. He talked and conversed and asked questions and answered questions. He told awesome stories. He taught people, he amazed people. And he always, always, always made sure to tell everyone that he was the only way.

Way to what?

The Father. Not heaven, necessarily, or not a way to not get to hell, necessarily. A way to the Father. This is huge, because that was the purpose of our Creation. And at the fall, it was lost, all of it. But Jesus showed up and offers a way back to the Father. And that is the goal (if you will) of all of this.

I’m not trying to make this a heaven or hell argument. But, wherever God is, Jesus offers us a way to that is. And to not be with God is not good and is very, very, very bad. Call those heaven (with God) and hell (not with God) if you want to. As for me, I do. But in the end, I don’t really care if heaven (as we all know it to mean) exists and if hell (as we all know it to mean) exists. But in the end, we are judged. Those that went through Jesus get eternal life with God, those that did not, get eternal life without God, which includes being in the same “locale” with satan. And I have no doubts that that means eternal damnation and ultimately eternal torture. How different would life be if you knew, with every inch of your body, heart, mind, soul, and spirit that God was gone? Never to show himself to you in any context ever again? That is damnation and torture. Maybe it includes “hell fire”, maybe it doesn’t. I just know I want absolutely zero part of that.

Jesus taught love God, Jesus, your neighbor, and yourself but he makes it clear there are definite black and white sides to be taken by all of us. He most definitely teaches and commands, no, demands we believe in him and chose his side. And those sides are to be taken here in this lifetime. It’s about choosing Jesus, all of him. Even the parts about him that make you feel uncomfortable. It isn’t about how anyone of us feels or about what anyone of us experience. It isn’t about your worldview and my worldview. Sometimes things are black and white even though they cannot be explained. Sometimes science and faith mix and sometimes they don’t. That doesn’t remove black and white from the equation.

With the exception of a couple of you, this is not a big deal. For those that it is….uh….too bad. And to sound clichéd, I’m praying for you. And I am specifically praying that you will realize how wrong you are and the grave danger you are in. I’m not going to condemn you and for me to say “If you don’t believe you’re in trouble” is not condemning you. It’s just telling what is. Plain and simple. If my mom had told my brother and I to not hit each other in the head with a baseball bat or we are in trouble, and my brother hits me in the head and I tell him, You’re in trouble, I’m not judging him. That’s up to someone else, namely my mother. So, I am praying for anyone that doesn’t believe this. Sometimes it is by name and other times it is in generalities, but still the same. More than praying I am grieved for you.

For those of you with no problems so far. Then let me try and give you one to have with me. There are things that I believe that really aren’t open to debate, (yes…per the Bible) namely:

** Abortion is wrong.
** Sex outside of a husband and wife is wrong…all and any sex whether hetero or homo.
** Husbands are the head of the household. It doesn’t matter who makes the decision, the husband will answer for all of them. And this isn’t to say that men have more value than women, but equality does not work.
** Women shouldn’t be in a leadership role of the church that results in them teaching men.
** Professed, practicing homosexuals should have ZERO leadership in the church.
** Divorce? Sure, but you cannot get married again unless it is to your original spouse. Basically, except for death, we’re only allowed one spouse in this lifetime.
** Pastors should not agree to officiate the marriage of anyone that has been divorced.
** Church is a requirement for Christians.
** I think Jesus would vote if he were here today, and I think any pro-choice candidate would never be an option, no matter their other political beliefs.

I am sure there are a lot more things, but these are the real hot button issues that I have primarily engaged in within the blogosphere. Many of other subjects like pre-destination, Calvinism, rapture timing, etc…..I just do not care. People spout off Bible verses and teachings of profound authors over the centuries on both sides of the argument and throw in their own 2 cents and “feelings” on the matter. None of that matters to me on the basis of how I live my life. And, none of the stuff above appeals to me anymore to argue over them. To argue over any of the above is just stupid. It’s wasting our time. It’s an excuse to avoid the hard stuff and life Jesus calls us to live for him. I’m just about done fighting and arguing over the peripherals.

We just keep re-hashing the same arguments over and over. We keep taking the same sides of the argument over and over. We keep spinning our tires and taking up our time saying the same thing we’ve always said. At times I find enjoyment in that, and most times I do not. But to go over and over the same stuff is kind of like this essay has been. A rehashing of stuff you all already knew about me.

So why’d I do it? I don’t know, like I said in the beginning, maybe I wanted to offer an explanation? Maybe I wanted to remove any and all doubt as to where I stand? Maybe I wanted to feel good about myself? Maybe I really do like to argue but didn’t want to admit it? Maybe I’m trying to drum up comments to my blog? Maybe I wanted to remove my BS filter? Maybe I just needed to throw a temper tantrum like a 3rd grader? If everyone else can throw a temper tantrum over what, if any, prepositional phrase to put in front of the word “church”, to really make it “church” (I thought you just needed Jesus (who is everywhere so that’s easy) a couple people and a C, a H, a R, and a U…….you can do that playing Wheel of Fortune and get “church” and that’s in the bonus round where you can win $50,000 or a new car, or a trip to Fiji or something) can’t I throw one for the lunacy and absurdity that is blogging?

In the end, I’m still here. And I’m still going to pop up once and awhile. But first, I’m going to read my Bible and go to church, and pray for people who have and are turning their backs on Jesus. I am going to change my son’s dirty diaper and rub my wife’s feet and pull weeds from the garden. And after that, if I have time, I’ll blog. And even then, only if I want to.

As you can see, I have a lot of issues to get over……

Bureaucracy vs. Humanity

In Poland, traditional farmers are being driven out of business because of European Union regulations favoring factory farming. The ironic thing about it is that cultural and culinary trends are shifting in the direction of precisely the kind of traditional farming that they do. But they are going to be wiped out by Brussels' cookie-cutter regulations.

Kirk said that true conservatives have an "affection for the proliferating variety and mystery of human existence, as opposed to the narrowing uniformity, egalitarianism, and utilitarian aims of most radical systems." Conservatives ought to be on the side of the Polish farmers. I've no doubt that many who call themselves conservative will sneer at this thought, and say that the Poles should give way to market efficiency. Well: the price of something doesn't always reflect its full cost.