So wrong... but funny

Is it just a coincidence that the Pope has his tiara in a knot about false apparitions about the same time I run across this video?

I think not.

But, hanging on to anger is so much easier.

So think of one person who really yanked your chain since the beginning of 2009. You know, the person you shouted a few nasty things to in your car or grumbled at as you walked around your office/school/church or thought less-than-wonderful things about when you thought about them/talked to them on the phone. Yeah, that person.

Forgive that person.

He/she needs it and so do you. Yeah, I know he said that insensitive thing or she made that uncourteous move, or they disrespected you in front of your friends/co-workers. Let it go. Yeah, it's somewhat soothing to hold on to that upset, righteous feeling, but it just makes you look like a punk and doesn't really help anyone. What about that time you unintentionally (or intentionally) said the insensitive thing or made the uncourteous move or disrespected someone... even if they kinda deserved it? You would want to be cut some slack, right. Time to take the first step by being bigger than all the egos involved and forgive.

If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm writing this to myself. If it helps you, BONUS! Let me know.

Retro Christmas Music (Important Update)

The guy responsible for the amazingly free 8-Bit Jesus EP has expanded the release and kept the price the same (free). I mention this for two reasons:

1) It's awesome to get it free, but a $15 donation gets you a fully produced CD.

2) His puppy Ein had some medical problems that are making it tough to pay bills and he could really use the donations.

What better way to help someone who really needs the help? You also get some fun music and a CD for your donation! Everyone wins and the world is a better place. What more could anyone ask for these days?


8-Bit Jesus: Full Album

Merry Christmas!

Old Testament Christmas

If this doesn't help us all figure out what Christmas is all about, I don't know what will:

An Old Testament Christmas

Why do we Christians seem fixated on the most gruesome stories of the Bible and worry constantly about salvation we're all promised?

Retro Christmas Music (Free)

Yes, this is free. Yes it's legal. Yes, it's cool. What are you waiting for?


8-Bit Jesus

Oh, and Merry Retro Christmas!

Just in Time for Christmas

If you order one, remember that I'd like one too. :)

http://www.thedinosaurjesus.com/

What's New?

I've been so distracted with politics and living that I haven't posted here recently. So it's time to move forward, but maybe it would be good to bring up a few things that have happened since my last post:

1) The Catholic Church has decided to pronounce their public fear of technology again. Yeah. It's all the fault of technology. :/

2) During the recent election, three states decided to restrict freedoms for a portion of the populace for some unjustifiable and completely UN-Christlike reason. Interesting how so many of those promoting these new laws claim to be Christians and still have trouble embracing the call to treat others as they would like to be treated.

3) The economy of the United States and others worldwide have been experiencing what some refer to as a prolonged mental recession. It would be nice if we would take some of the energy spent worrying about the future and get busy feeding the hungry and housing the homeless. I suppose I'm just whining, though.

4) All in all, things are about the same as they were before. The volume is turned up on some issues and down on others. People are suffering and people are getting relief. So far, however, it seems that the Large Hadron Collider hasn't destroyed the world yet.

There has been much more going on, but I'll stop now and ask what you think about these issues.

Oh, and thanks for popping in to see if I've died. ;)

Been a while...

I've not died. I'm just preoccupied with technology, work, and politics... things that I probably shouldn't be cluttering a religiously-focused blog with. So here's a funny "thanks for sticking around" post:

Conventional Logic Vs. Religious Logic
(found on The Best Article Every Day)

Faith-Based Initiatives

What exactly are "Faith-Based Initiatives"? I'm told that the US government office using that title has historically been a politically-focused office. I'm not sure it's the best representative of this concept. Lots of talk has been generated recently about Obama's resurrection of the idea, so I thought it might be a good thing to discuss.

Who should qualify for funds allocated by such a department? What should it strive to achieve? Is this a good idea? What about the separation of church and state?

Most importantly, what exactly is "Faith"?

JWSTSOOY #007: Faith Healing Instead of Medicine

Prayer is wonderful. Faith is a good thing. I have it, but I don't impose it on others. It's a very personal thing. I wouldn't want someone to judge me on mine and I try my best not to judge others, but it's hard not to find fault on this kind of awful abuse of someone's own children:

Teen from faith healing family dies at Ore. home

This couple were members of the Followers of Christ group in Oregon, and this horrible, easily preventable outcome is consistent with previous deaths associated with members of this group.

Jesus was modern in his own time. So was every prophet who ticked off the authorities or said anything radical for his time. What's wrong with accepting the idea that modern medicine could be a gift from God too? The talents of scientists and doctors I see as such a gift. You shouldn't trust anything (including science or medicine) blindly. I would ask anyone who relies on prayer instead of medical care to read that last sentence again and then post a thoughtful response.

Gay Marriage

Why do people get their proverbial panties in a wad when a homosexual couple gets married? I simply don't understand. Can someone please explain this to me?

If you have no idea why I mention this now, check this out.

Earth + Plastic + Plastic Eaters = :)

For everyone fretting over the future of the planet as we coat it in plastic, it seems Daniel Burd in Waterloo may have found at least the beginnings of a solution to our mess.

Let's hope this pans out!

You have to admire...

You may not be a fan of hip hop or scratch music, but given that this Japanese girl is only 9 and her brother (or friend?) is only 6, you have to admire the God-given talent apparent here:



If you believe (as I do) that Art can be the purest expression of faith, it's all relevant. Want more? Check out the SaraScratch YouTube Page.

Sometimes Faith is Boring

Have you ever found yourself at the point where you're bored with faith? Not that you don't believe anything anymore (although I suppose that could be at play here too), but more along the lines of not feeling the spark of faith... like the honeymoon is over. I guess I shouldn't expect that I will always be a frenetic happy point in my experience of faith.

Usually when I find myself here it's because there's some "hard work" to be done. You know what I mean: The messy, scary stuff!

What do you do to put the romance back into your faith?

Break Time: Home Video

All music videos should be made at home if they come out this cool!

Living In Tolerance

What is intolerance? In the definition I find most useful for this discussion, dictionary.com says it is the incapacity or indisposition to bear or endure. That definition begs the question: Why are we intolerant? This is a much harder question to answer, but I think it typically boils down to four reasons that I will phrase from my own perspective:

• I have experienced something irritating or offensive that I refuse to revisit.
  
• I have a prejudice against something I refuse to tolerate.
  
• Something I have never experienced before seems similar to something I can not tolerate.
  
• Something frightens me and my reaction is to reject it.

Given the above, it seems that intolerance isn't always a bad thing. There are reasonable circumstances that would trigger the conditions above. Some of those you and I might not agree upon, but that doesn't make them any less valid. In other words, my reasonable intolerances may seem unreasonable to you. Hopefully they don't trigger your level of reasonable intolerance.

Whew!

This can easily cause conflict even when everyone is reacting in a way that is reasonable for them. So where is the gold here? I think it's in giving people room to be who they are... to meet people where they are even when they seem irrational or unreasonable. I'm still working on this.

What do you think?

Not sure what to say

So let's say you've done something wrong. (Of course, you and I are perfect, so this is strictly academic.) And let's say you've just recognized what you've done and are living in that moment between realization and resolution. You're not sure what to say or do to make things better... if that's even possible.

Does the Bible talk of this state of being? It's one we rarely talk about except quietly to ourselves. Many people I know (including me) are exceptionally talented at playing such scenes over and over in our heads, but to what advantage? If I'm able to come to a healthier conclusion about how to categorize my actions or react to them, it would seem this is a wonderful exercise, but so often that's not the case.

What do you do when you find yourself in this place? I suppose it depends on the circumstances, but maybe a little public discussion about this is in order. When this happens to me (all too often, it seems) lately I've been trying to find a balance - that delicate balance - trying not to feel awful and unforgivable without letting myself off "the hook" too easily. It's tough, but I have to wonder aloud if it's not a fairly universal experience. It seems easier for me to forgive others than to forgive myself. Even though sometimes I'm as hard on other people as I am myself, I'm able to let go of my judgement of others more easily.

Maybe it comes down to this: How easily should we forgive ourselves?

Let's Learn Together: Grand Mosque Seizure

I work with a wonderful Pakistani man and we both enjoy having regular spirited discussions about religion, politics, and world events. Being very ignorant about Islam, I take every opportunity to encourage him to elaborate on the subject when it comes up in conversation. Today, he began educating me on the Grand Mosque Seizure of 1979. It was quite the turning point in the history of Islam and I'm going to learn as much as I can.

Do you know anything about this event? Can you recommend any good books or anecdotes on the subject? I'll share what I learn along the way so we can all learn together.

Defending God (Please, Just Shut Up)

I had one discussion with my parents when I was a teen about the existence of God. It went something like this:

Me: I'm not sure... I mean... I don't know if... Sometimes I think God doesn't exist.

Father: YOU'RE WRONG! YOU'RE JUST WRONG! (repeat as needed)

Mother: (silence)

Let's just say it wasn't very helpful in my struggle with belief or the existence of God. Now comes Rep Monique Davis of Illinois. It seems that she and my Dad may have graduated from the same school of theological debate.

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/08/ill-rep-monique-davi.html

JWSTSOOY #006: Yearning for Zion Ranch (Polygamists)

WTF is up with Texas and weird, explosive/abusive religious cults? I mean, I live here and it's really puzzling me. I don't know. Here's the latest as of yesterday:

Authorities make another arrest in search of Texas polygamist compound