The burning Bush...

He's going down in flames.

Bush has realized he's had one of the worst presidencies... ever. He's admitted to many of his failures in an ABC interview (which you can read here). I don't think he has much ground to defend himself on. His wife feels differently. But come on. Really? She really thinks he's made a difference for good in the world? I think Dora the Explorer has improved more lives in the past four years than George W Bush.

Listen, I don't know the dude. I'll lay it out there and say that Dick Cheney is probably as evil as I think he is. Though I have my inklings about Bush, its hard to tell. I don't believe a word he says. I think he's allowed big business to run our country. I think he started a war for profit and has let it get totally out of hand. I think he's let spending get way out of hand and has greatly handicapped our nation by putting us so far in the red. I think he's the worst president this nation has seen.

You can make up your own mind. I won't miss him. January 20th can't come quick enough. Reading all these articles and interviews with Bush and his counterparts lately has kept me entertained but unable to understand how anyone can still support the dude.

I've been busy...

I really have. So here's some updates and thoughts from the past two weeks...

Dick Cheney is an evil man. I've thought this for a while. But he basically agrees with me now.

We've already been through the bailout of the mortgage industry. That made me sick. We, as American taxpayers, are paying for the greed of others. Now this. American automakers keep killing technology that could cut our dependance on foreign oil and continue refusing to cater to the desires of the majority of their potential customers. I drive a Honda with good reason. Why is it our responsibility to save companies that maybe shouldn't exist anymore anyway? Survival of the fittest in business, right? I know its a complicated issue, but still...

Ann Coulter is talking again. She had her mouth wired shut for a while, and the world was a better place. Now she's running around demanding apologies for the hateful diatribes she delivers on national media outlets. Listen, lady: everyone else has been sworn in using their full name when taking the presidential oath of office. Barack Obama has every right to use his full name. I proudly use all three names that my parents gave me--Barack Hussein Obama should, as well.

And while we're on the subject of Barack, let's talk about something. I know the man is of a mixed ethnic background. I'm fully aware of it. But I can't believe how many people I've heard tell me something to the effect of: "People are making too big a deal over the fact he's black. He's not even really black. His mother is white and we determine our race by our mother." By saying something like that, I feel like people are admitting to their own racist tendencies. His race is a big deal because the majority of the country is still very prejudice--particularly here in the South. And as far as his mixed racial background, let's just put it out there: he's obviously not white. I dare say that if we were to mix him in a crowd of people and have the typical white person from Kentucky go down the line and identify his race, he would be labeled "black." So enough with the bigotry, as Ben would say...

Speaking of such issues, I got to visit the National Civil Rights Museum while I was in Memphis a couple of weekends ago. Brittany and I went down with several friends for the St Jude Memphis Marathon weekend. No, no--I only ran in the 5k. But still, I ran. It was a fantastic weekend. Rendezvous' world famous barbeque and Flying Saurcer and BB King's Blues Club and oh my gosh there was lots of good food. Beale Street was just as much fun as you would think--but, oddly enough, that's about all there is to night life in Memphis. Anyway, after all the races were over on Saturday, we walked down to the Civil Rights Museum. Its partially housed in the Lorraine Motel where Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated. It was interesting and very educational and exceptionally eye-opening. The trip really makes you think about how far we've come and reminds you of how far we have to go. It was certainly worth visiting. Though I was a little disappointed we didn't visit Graceland... Elvis will have to wait.

We lost a tremendous human being on Friday the 12th. Dr Kela Fee finally succumbed to her battle with cancer. She was an amazing lady. After being diagnosed in 2004, she did so much to raise money for cancer research and to give hope to others. She will be sorely missed around Broadway and Bowling Green in general.

I've found a new slice of Sabbath during the week. At Total Fitness' gym on Russellville Rd, they have a super hot tub and steam room. Who knew a gym membership could be so relaxing? I went this afternoon while Brittany was helping Dana paint the Beasley-Brown's new place. I slipped into the hot tub, turned on Ryan Adams' "Heartbreaker," closed my eyes and forgot the world for a little while. Its quite heavenly.

I love my job. I really do. Tonight, Brittany and I went shopping for a family that just moved into the TC Cherry area. The children were in real need of clothes, coats and shoes. Someone at church had handed me a $500 check last weekend to take care of a situation just like this--crazy timing. But Broadway has come so far in the last year. Its a beautiful thing to see a church begin to shift its focus in the right direction. Don't get me wrong, Broadway as an institution still has a long way to go--but at least we're on the right track. Helping develop local service agencies. Mentoring students at a local elementary school. Winterizing the residences of families who couldn't afford to do it otherwise. Providing home furnishings for individuals and families in need... People are beginning to get it. I hear it in the stories they tell. You see it in their eyes when they talk about being in the home of an under-resourced family. All the preconceived notions about "poor" people fade away when you see hungry children or a family without heat in their home or an elderly lady that hasn't had hot water for three years. They know they have to do something. Not try to do something. Not try to convince them of their idealogies. They feel a deep need inside of them to reach out and help another child of God... and it changes them. I love my church. I love the Church. I feel more hope now for the future of our community, state and world than I ever have. Like I said, when a church starts taking steps to follow in the way of Jesus, its a beautiful thing.

The JAWS of Life's former members still haven't picked a new name. Seth, Allen, Collin and I have talked about lots of options, but nothing has emerged as a clear winner. We're on the hunt, though...

Speaking of music, last Thursday night we got to go see Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb of God" at the Ryman in Nashville. It was a great show--really, really great. Andrew Peterson, Andy Gullahorn, Jill Phillips, Gabe Scott, Ben Shive, Randall Goodgame, Andrew Osenga, Bebo Norman... so many great musicians, writers and singers. For me, Andy Gullahorn was tops of the evening. The dude can write a song. Really. I loved the concert.

That's about enough for tonight. More posts soon.

High five.

The heights from which we have fallen...

COLDPLAY STEALS MUSIC! - For more amazing video clips, click here

First three Coldplay albums = amazing
Fourth Coldplay album = pretty lame
Stealing other people's music for fourth Coldplay album = extremely lame

I still smell like Beale St...

Went to Memphis this weekend with a bunch of folks to run in the St Jude Marathon weekend. I ran the 5K--in 33:37 (official time) and was pleased. That's the longest I've every run in my life and I had a great time doing it. The weekend was wonderful--I'll blog about it soon, but this week at work is going to be killer.

So, in the mean time, here's something to chew on:

The Story of Stuff

You are what you eat and you should be responsible for what you buy. Think about it...

"You're not your freakin' khakis."

So we didn’t buy anything on the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday—which, by the way, I find to be a very appropriate name). We weren’t “sticking it to the man.” We weren’t changing the systems. We were just taking another step.

We stopped shopping at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. We still shop at Target. So are we making a huge difference? No. Are we taking a step in the right direction? Yes.

We started trying to eat local as often as possible—cooking local food and eating at local restaurants. Do we always do this? No. Is it making a huge difference in the lack of accountability at supermarkets and fast food chains? No. Is it a step in the right direction? Yes.

We are trying to sell one of our cars to take us down to a single car between Brittany and I. Do I still ride the scooter (which is gas powered) a lot? Yes. Does it get 70 mpg and save us a lot of money on fuel? Yes. Do we still go on road trips when we want to? Yes. Am I opposed to flying in planes? No. Are we making a huge difference in American’s addiction to oil? No. Are we taking a step in the right direction? Yes.

That’s the thing with all of this. We’re trying to move in the right direction. The steps we are taking aren’t near as drastic as others—we even have some friends who are taking more extreme measures to change our country and world. But we are taking steps. We are trying to change.

That’s why we didn’t shop the day after Thanksgiving. In doing so, we weren’t changing all that is evil within our capitalist economic systems. We were simply taking a stand and saying we will not take part in things like this anymore. We aren’t perfect. We’re not ready for a lot of steps yet. But that’s why I say “steps.” One at a time, we’re working our way towards a goal of living in a way that is both environmentally sustainable and conscious or product origins.

I don’t want to say too much about retail extravaganzas like Black Friday for fear I’ll hurt someone’s feelings. (I obviously don't think ALL purchases made on that day were bad ideas or a waste of money.) Then too, I realize full well that I’m as much responsible as anyone else for humanity’s current state—so I admit my hypocritical tendencies. But after hearing about this, it’s hard to be quiet. Are the sale prices worth all this? Is this what people need to get excitement in their lives? Do children need the next Tickle Me Elmo or video game system so bad that it’s worth all this madness? Advertising like Best Buy’s “You, Happier” campaign makes me want to vomit. To sum up Tyler Durden, advertising and media and marketing has us chasing cars and clothes and crap we don’t need.

I guess I say all this for two reasons: 1, to defend my actions and worldview; 2, to remind us all that we have to change. We should be responsible for the things we purchase. We should spend less on useless gifts. I encourage everyone to check out the Advent Conspiracy. It’s a great first step for those interested in taking one.

On a side note: Brittany and I have figured out a legitimate and legal way to setup back enough money to move to Europe before next Christmas. We’re keeping our fingers crossed…

Socio-Political Animated Films and Me

This movie blew me away. 90% of the movie has no real dialog. Its brilliant.

I know this movie is aimed at children, but it has a lot to say to adults. People in the movie become totally reliant on technology, which, eventually, results in their becoming fat and stupid. Their insatiable need for buying larger amounts of cheap products results in the destruction of the earth--mainly through the overwhelming amounts of waste. They are all so absorbed in the technology they've been surrounded by since birth, that they're all totally unaware of the world around them. The connectivity brought by technology has caused a lack of real relationships and active lifestyles.

Not only is there all of this stuff going on under the surface, but it has laughs. I loved it.

According to you, God must be lonely...

I've talked about Doug Pagitt's book "A Christianity Worth Believing" on here before. Its a great book--well worth your time to read. But just as great as reading the book was getting to go to the book tour stop in Nashville, helping setup the lights and sound, and hanging out with Doug, Tony Jones and Mark Scandrette. When Doug was doing his book reading/share time, he was talking about his opinion on tracts--and it was a enlightening moment.

I know you've probably seen the "Gospel tract" before--here's an e-version of one. They attempt to explain the whole story of God in a short, concise manner so as to convince someone to "personally invite Christ" into their life. (I use quotations only because I'm quoting the text from the page, not because I'm poking fun at what its saying.) Anyway, a lot of times these tracts show man and God separated by some great void that sin has created. (See here.) Doug made the point that God, who is (according to the diagram) all by himself on the one side of the void, must get lonely over there.

I've been thinking about that a lot. Not the joke. I got the joke. It was very funny to me. But I've been thinking about the separation from God that these tracts proclaim. One of the most beautiful teachings within Methodist doctrine is prevenient or preceding grace. (Decent explanation here.) It basically boils down to the idea that God is always part of all of our lives--his grace, his love is an active part of every individual's existence.

That's my problem with tracts. That's my problem with a lot of evangelism styles. They always boil it down to the "fact" that we're broken people (which I agree with) who are sinful (which I also agree with) and because of that, are separated from God (that, I don't agree with). I think God is always part of every life. For instance...

I think we all have an inherent sense of morality. Try cutting in line at the water fountain after recess at your local elementary school. Try cutting in line at Wal-Mart during their Day-After-Thanksgiving-Sale. Try sleeping with your wife's best friend, tell your wife about it, then blame it on her. Try living in Columbus, Ohio and supporting the University of Michigan. Try eating more than two Big Bufords from Rally's. There's just some things you KNOW you shouldn't do. You don't have to be told. You know.

That's just one example, and to some of you, that's a piss poor example. There's plenty of others we could talk about. But the point is this: there exists all kinds of evidence that God is at work in the life of every human. God isn't on the opposite side of some void or chasm, waiting for us to "invite Jesus to be our personal Lord and Savior." God is involved here and now--pointing us towards a better way. God's grace is present in all of our lives.


Psalm 139:7-8
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.