Society strikes out again!

February 7.  Only seven days left.  Til the national (maybe international, but I don’t know) “here’s a marketing gimmick to get you to spend needless amounts of money to tell people you love them” day.  Also known as Valentine’s Day.  My single least favorite holiday all year long.  I will probably, if not on the actually day, always have something to say about it.  Every year.  No matter my relationship status.  I honestly hope I don’t fall into the b.s. trap when it does change.  Otherwise, will someone please slap me upside my head with a heavy object of any sort?  Thank you!
Anyway…per the yearly complaint and aggravation…I find it reprehensibly disgusting that there is a day where people seem to feel obligated or some other nonsense by society to spend oodles of money for cards, candy, flowers (blech!!), stuffed animals and other items I won’t mention.  Just because it’s “Valentine’s Day”.  Really, what’s wrong with going out on a limb on a day in the middle of the summer?  When you’re fueled by love and love alone.  Not love and some sick guilt or something that you have to do something…because it’s “Valentine’s Day”.
It also disturbs me that while we are still wishing people a happy new year, the stores are already in full fledged Valentine’s Day made.  Umm…excuse me for a minute…we just entered a new year.  A new decade this time too.  Cool it with the Valentine junk already would you?
This whole thing might seem bitter and cynical.  Let me assure you, it’s not.  I really am a big mush ball, just not because of some designated day in the marketing world.  I like to be spontaneous with my mush.
Honestly there is a difference between making one entire day’s activities themed around love and spending money for gifts to perpetuate the ridiculous nature of a holiday that wasn’t even originated for the purpose in which it is celebrated now.  Oh geez, what a big fat surprise.  Obsession with stuff.  Consumerism.  Greed.  Materialism.  Screws up another one.  Bet you didn’t see that coming!
Oh I’m not done!  It’s also ridiculous to me that single people seem to feel the need to have a date on Valentine’s Day so they won’t be “left out”.  I guess they’re okay with it the other 364 days a year.  Oy vey.

Plastic spirituality…

I’m about to slap some people in the face.  Tough shit.  Honestly, what I observed today…Jesus probably feels like He got slapped in the face!
I never really thought about this before tonight but now that it’s been thought and realized…I’m sharing.  So worship this morning at MCC…sounded like a bunch of droning robots who don’t really care.  People who are just there to sing pretty songs to Jesus and then say see ya later.  Okay…it’s not fair to say that about every person in there this morning but it’s pretty sad when the majority sounds drony and completely uninterested.
Worship tonight with the students…did not sound like droning robots.  At all.  They really sounded like they were invested in what they were singing.  Like it was coming from their hearts.  Oh snapppppp!  Sounded like genuine heart felt…WORSHIP!  Oh novel concept.
Just so everyone knows…this isn’t a reflection on either band from today in anyway.  Simply an observation of what I heard and how it sounded…funny that teens seem more in tune with God and what it means to pour their hearts out to Him in comparison with a room full of adults.
A Christ follower is a Christ follower.  It doesn’t matter how old or how young.  But really shouldn’t a roomful of adults and teenagers who are worshiping be just as jazzed about as a roomful of teenagers and wayyyyyyyyyy fewer adults?  Yes I think so.  Oh to live in the land of not the spiritually dead but the spiritually plastic.

Oh no…not a pro-life ad!

I can’t figure out what people seem to have a bigger problem with.  Focus on the Family having a pro-life ad in the mix for Super Bowl Sunday or the fact that Tim Tebow and his mom are in it.  Either way, I’m perfectly fine with the ad being out there for viewing.  Would I be saying the same thing if it were for something I am against?  No probably not.
As much as I wouldn’t speak out in favor of it, for obvious reasons, if some group or whatever wanted to buy a slot for a pro-choice ad to run Super Bowl Sunday, that would seem logical.  The question that would remain is…if there were space for it, would CBS do it?
I don’t ever remember any ad during any Super Bowl since I decided I could sit through a whole game without feeling like the world would before the game speaking to any social issue.  Ever.  I have heard many a suggestion that the only reason the pro-life ad is gonna be run is because of a down economy and lack of companies looking to buy ads.  Whatever the reason it got its spot, maybe the moral compass, even if only on one issue, is shifting more to the side of opposition.  More in favor of life than death.  Can’t really get much better than that.
For those of you opposed to the ad…those of you who are pro-choice.  Or maybe you’re pro-life and don’t want to jam that down everyone’s throat…this one’s title is just for you!

Baseball ramblings

Johnny Damon has once again returned to his “Idiot” ways.  He wants to stay in the Evil pinstripes.  Supposedly.  Just not at the cost of his pride.  Too bad for him the days of reckless Empire spending seem to be over in the Bronx.  Or they don’t want him back and don’t have the balls to say it.  Oh, maybe the announcement that they signed Randy Winn to a one year deal yesterday will do the trick.

As a fan of the sport in general, I am mildly horrified that the A’s would throw $10 million at an injury prone pitcher, after he missed an entire season.  Cripe, I’d hand that much dough and more, to Tim Lincecum before I’d even entertain the idea of Ben Sheets.  I guess mediocrity excites Billy Beane.  Either that or he forgot what it feels like to have an injury prone “ace” on his staff and he wanted to remember.

How can someone who’s been elected to the baseball HOF…finally…be unhappy with the cap he’ll be wearing as a member of the elite club?  Give me a break, Dawson.  You should just be thankful to finally be inducted and shut up.  Duh.

Mark McGwire used steroids.  How shocking.  I mean really, no one on working out alone can go from the scrawny kid to the gigantic man without the aid of some kind of drug.  I think it’s funny that people are commending him for admitting to the steroid use.  Really, I find nothing commendable about a man who won’t tell the truth in court because he doesn’t have “immunity”.  Then continues his silence on the subject for another five years.  Only deciding he should probably tell the truth because of his new job as the St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach.  What a fool.

While I know uniforms aren’t exactly a deciding factor in where a player signs, in any sports, I have to confess something.  I saw a picture of Jason Bay in his NY Mets duds and he looked stupid.  Not just stupid…but sick.  Honestly, I knew the guy was thin but my word, Bay looked deathly ill in the photo.  Someone get him a cheesecake…or some other fattening food…quick!

Joe Mauer is a Minnesota kid playing for his hometown team.  At season’s end, he is scheduled to become a free agent.  If at the very least, the Twins organization doesn’t make every effort to keep him long term, they would deserve it if he walked away.  I don’t think that they won’t try and I definitely don’t think Mauer will go anywhere else.  Whether they extend him now or at the end of the season.

Does it seem stupid to anyone else that the Red Sox would try to trade Mike Lowell and hold on to Jason Varitek?  Yes they are both getting up there in age.  But their production at the plate is moving in opposite directions.  Varitek keeps getting worse and Lowell, while not terrible, remains status quo for his capability.  All this with a screwed up hip.  What’s Varitek’s excuse?  Never mind, I don’t care.  It’s not only time for him to be the back up, or even gone, but it’s also time for Boston to name someone else as captain…don’t you think?

Close your mouth!

I’m tired of just writing in here because I think I “have to”.  Or because I think I’ve got “it”.  I want to say something that stirs up conversation.  Challenges someone…whether I’ve ever met them or not.  Inspire change.  Spark some sort of difference.  Be real.  Not point fingers at others and forget about my own flaws and issues.  By the end of what I’m about to say, I hope you can appreciate the irony.
Have you ever noticed it is hard to separate Christians and non-Christians in numerous situations in life?  I don’t just mean in the working world…outside the walls of the churches.  I mean everywhere.  Whether it be in the words spoken or actions carried out.
We all as Christians, at least I hope so, have the opportunity to share God with someone.  Whether we make good on that opportunity or not, isn’t anywhere near what I currently have on my mind.  No, I’m more thinking about how we just live our lives in front of everybody.  Do the words that come out of our mouths match the actions of our hearts and hands?  Are we authentically genuine…through and through.
Do we spit out words that declare how good God is and then turn around only to tear down another human being.  All within less than seconds of each other?  Or…do we act “right” then turn around and spit out the most degrading words we can come up with as soon as our backs are turned the other way?
Whatever the answer might be, it is no wonder people walk away or never catch on to the existence of God.  Never establish a relationship with God.  I mean, if we as Christians aren’t going to establish ourselves as differently from those who aren’t, can we blame them for not wanting what we say we have?
As Christians, we need to think twice, no probably like seven times, about what we say and how we act.  Especially if we want to draw more people to God.  I’m not suggesting we all grab our Bibles, storm the streets of our towns and cram it down the throat of every person we meet.  We do however need to be careful that what we say and what we do are consistent with message of Christ we share.
Honestly, we’re better off sharing by our actions.  They do speak louder than any word ever can.  The point I’m trying to get at is this…we all need to talk less and do more.  I could throw numerous quotes and cliches at you, but I will spare you.
Maybe some of you that know me find it ironic that I would speak out on this subject.  But did anyone catch on that I haven’t said “you” but I continually say “we”?  I know I’m very much guilty of putting my foot in my mouth or doing something stupid that doesn’t reflect well the character of Christ.  I’m not just calling out other Christians and excluding myself.  I’m calling out all Christians.  Including myself.
Here’s to hoping you appreciate the irony of my using words this time!

“Please vote for TWLOHA to win $1 million for suicide prevention: http://bit.ly/7si7Be”

Don’t say that to me!

Here’s what I will tell you.  I hate disappointing people.  With every square inch.  Every molecule.  That makes up my entire being.  More than I hate anything else.  Including snakes, clowns, lightning, etc.
You would be better served to just punch me in the stomach and walk away without a word.  Don’t tell me you’re disappointed.  And please…please…don’t add “in you” to that sentence.
Please.  I knew you would be.  Whether it was mentioned or not.  Like I said earlier, it’d be too easy to have every one of you say you understand.  But did you really have to say that?!
I get it…you’re upset.  You asked me not to do this.  But right now…I don’t feel like I have any other option.  There may be a time when that changes.  We’ll see.  For now I wish you hadn’t said that.  But you did so it can’t really be taken back.  And if I ask you to apologize, I’m not sure that’s right either.  You’re entitled to your feelings.  I guess I just wish they came out in the form of a different word.
I hate how words can just eat at me like this.  Cause at some point, none of you will even remember saying it.  But I’ll still hear it.

I could tell you…

There are way too many thoughts flying around in my head right now.  Honestly.
I could tell you about how excited I was to see one of my favorite people after forever.  I could tell you that I squirmed throughout much of Frank’s message this morning.  I could tell you about the time at Starbucks with another favorite.   I could tell you that I would give anything to be in Ocean City…right now.  I could tell you about being in the toddler room with 20 kids…and three multiple names (2 Andrew, 3 Alexis, 2 Joshua).   I could tell you that there were a number of people I saw and didn’t say good morning to.   I could tell you all of that.  I could also tell you about a song that popped into my head repeatedly during the service this morning.  Or maybe I could tell you that I didn’t mean to disappoint anyone but in a sense I have to.  For now.
That’s just too much stuff.  I can’t do it all justice in one blog.  And I’m not really in the mood to sit here and blog about each individual thought either.  But didn’t I tell you…too many thoughts all at the same time.  It’s like my brain is in overdrive.  Warp speed even.
I could explain all of that but darn sometimes “cryptic” blogs are just so much fun!  I could…but you’re right  I’m not going to.

Are you listening

How does it make sense that I could feel that I can spill my guts to different people.  Know all of them from the same place.  As the same “kind” of people.  Yet get completely different reactions from some of them.  That don’t match with how it should.  Oh wait, it doesn’t make sense at all.
Seriously.  I don’t get it.  I understand that personalities are not all exactly the same.  That’s all well and good.  But shouldn’t the level of care expressed be similar?  Maybe not.  Maybe I’m crazy to think that way.  Maybe I’m not crazy.  And my eyes are a little too open.  And I’d kind of like to shut them just a little bit again.   Since that’s not happening, I guess I’ll just roll with it.
I can be asked the same question “how are you?” by ten different people.  Most of them won’t stop to hear my answer.  Or wait for me to ask them in return for that matter.  If you’re not gonna listen, why ask me?  Then there are those who will not only hear the answer, but they will notice if I hesitate before saying “good” or if it sounds hesitant, unconvincing or weak.  I’m speaking from many instances of experiences.
Coming to this realization by the way of such tangible proof is awesome.  It’s good to know there are people that when I’m not doing good, will not only let me say it, but they’ll hear me.  They’ll listen.  Let me get it out of my system.  Not just give me some pat response and be on their way.

Did they not care enough?

Have you ever wondered why certain things in your life went the way they did?  Instead of a different and possibility better way.
So Monday night I was reading a couple stories.  The main characters in both were cutters.  Maybe not the best move on my part once I caught on to that but I kept reading.  I mean you can’t just walk away from a well written story in the middle of it can you?  No, but maybe it would have helped my day go better yesterday if I had.
Anyway as I was reading those stories I was reminded of my own struggle.  No great shocker there.  The way the characters’ friends pulled together for her and around her.
My reaction to this shocked me.  I mean it made me remember my own deal with it.  It made me remember  a time when my “need” to cut was ridiculous.  I don’t know if I ever had a reason other than “well I want to” during my junior year.  My friends, rightfully so, were annoyed.  We had all at some point or another dealt with this struggle.  Most of us at the same time.  So as I sat there reading how the stories were going, how the friends were reacting, I started getting flooded with questions about how things went down in my life.
There was a period of 3 days junior year where a friend and I weren’t friends.  Because I couldn’t or rather wouldn’t stop cutting myself.  There were many conversations before this “ending” of a friendship.  It was made pretty clear to me that if I did it again, that I was gonna be turned in.  Not even that stopped me.  I cut myself again, for reasons I have no idea what they were now.  I told my friend.  Instead of following through she walked away from me.  That makes no sense!
Okay so by now I’m sure you’re catching on that I was crabby yesterday cause I couldn’t shake the reaction of the friends in the story in comparison to the reaction of my friend in high school.  That’s only part of it though.  The other part was the fact that I couldn’t make sense of why it can apparently still bug me that things went down like they did for me and this friend.