this one goes out to all my music major friends, music critic friends, haters of pop music, mark ass tricks, trick ass marks, and hos.

never would have thought they would do this

I had a thought last night while brushing my teeth. I had just finished viewing The Bourne Ultimatum and was thinking about how the top brass could just order someone killed - they had a license to kill. Then I thought about the fact that we as a society give permission for this kind of thing.

I made a connection back to the Christian belief that all people are inherently flawed and sinful, we are given to commit evil and wrong. So it makes sense that a society would allow someone to kill. What gets me is that many sects of American Christianity also believe that The United States is somehow inherently good - that this country, though made up of inherently flawed and sinful people, is a force for good and doesnt commit wrongs - or if it does then it was for a good reason.

If society is made up of inherently flawed parts isnt the sum of those parts flawed as well? After all the corruption and deception over the years why do people wave the American flag like it is on par with Jesus?

Have American Christians (certain sects) abandoned God for the false idol of patriotism?

I just found out that if you live in Iowa and want to caucus there is no earthly reason not to. I just made a phone call to one of the campaigns and thought they would tell me where to board a bus to go to Des Moines for a day. Instead they gave me instructions to go to a location about 3 blocks from my home in the evening of Jan. 3 and stand in the section for the candidate of my choice.

Nice.

In fact, I can even re-register to vote to reflect my name change and change of address since the last election.

So, if you live in Iowa, can legally vote, and have chosen a candidate you believe in then for the love of god, go to caucus!

CNN has joined second life Another step into the virtual world. Its interesting to see how far Second Life is gonna go. I was listening to the radio the other day, streaming it from my laptop,naturally, and along with the usual forms of participation - calling in, emailing a question, you could also log on to Second Life, find the show's avatar, and ask your question that way.

He's back. how i wish it were true.

I was going past a church marquee the other day and saw yet another "clever" slogan that is sure to pull impressed people into the service this next sunday. Lately I have begun to notice these signs more and more. Im struck by the banners on the side of churches shouting out mission and vision statements full of words like "hope, caring, love, ordinary/extraordinary, community" etc. Churches truly are copying the corporate world of branding by putting these on their marquees and buying giant banners printed in bold letters. Spending time in meetings with business managers to determine which 5-10 word statement best describes all those outreach activities they are going to do once they have decided on the mission statement and ordered t-shirts.

Its not bad to want people to know you are those things, its good. What gives me pause is that many evangelical churches spend so much time proclaiming they aren't like the "world" and crafting their alternatives to this perceived evil force. Key issues are denounced like abortion, homosexuality, divorce,and pre-marital sex. But in so many ways the church embraces, and is a product of, the very culture it derrides. Damaging things like gossip, boastfulness, pride, gluttony, selfishness, etc. are not called out. That might make people feel guilty, but since the majority havent had an abortion or are gay, those things are safe to attack.

The rampant individualism and lifestyle gluttony is very present in most evangelical families/individuals. They hear about feeding and clothing the poor and think " if only we could afford to help!" and then go blow $50 on lunch after church. For years this has frustrated me. This is one of the reasons I stopped attending services at a church building is because every week was too stressful. When I sought out an older believer for advice and guidance -wisdom! I found few or none. If I found someone who fit the bill, they were already swamped with other people who had found them first and were on the brink of burnout. When I would try to live like Jesus and make changes I found it was a very lonely thing to do. But when I wanted to go bowling or have a Super Bowl party, there were plenty of people lined up.

Im tired, I realized not to long ago. Im tired of searching and searching. As I told Josh this weekend, I miss Jesus. I miss being gathered somewhere I know he is present. I want to know real salvation, feel truly saved from my desperate sin filled state - not just empty promises of "hope, love, care, and above all, Purpose!"

maybe more to come....

This is quickly turning into the joe the cat blog, but i couldnt resist doing this.