Sing-a-Long

Do death metal audiences sing along with the band? Seems like an easy thing to do. Though it would probably be a good idea to hand out throat lozenges to people as they're leaving.

Why I Believe

I do believe in God. In a day when belief is hard (for some of us) and the road is difficult (for some of us), the end of the day arrives. At the end of the day, when the world is hushed from its feverish pitch of grasping at straws, there comes an ominous silence. And time to reflect.

I believe in God, not because I have scientific evidence, nor because I'm a master of puppets, nor because I have a wild imagination. I believe in God, not because I feel God in my heart, nor because I get telepathic signals, nor because I'm afraid not to believe.

I believe in God because there is love.

Love is all around us. It can be seen if we set ourselves aside for a moment and really take a look.

By love, I'm not talking about a sticky, sappy emotion that only seeks to benefit the self, nor am I talking about romance and being swept off of the feet. By love, I mean a selfless and sacrificial service that seeks the good of the other. This love is a giving away of the self to others so that others can be placed in a position to give themselves away to others. But this love doesn't demand the love of the other in return.

This kind of love cannot be measured in a laboratory. But it can be seen. Here's one example.

Think of the woman whose husband has been stricken with Alzheimer's Disease. She gets out of bed every morning knowing that her day is going to be completely spent in caring for her husband. She bathes, dresses, and feeds him. She has to stay with him because he can't take care of himself.

She can't hop in the car and go see a movie. She can't go for a hairdo and a manicure. She can't go sit in a park and read a book. She can't go out for lunch.

Oh, wait... I take that back. She can do all of those things if she wanted to. But she doesn't because that would leave her husband to fend for himself, which he is incapable of doing. So she stays home with the man she married.

To us, it would look like this woman doesn't have much of a life. To her, she wouldn't have it any other way. Perhaps she has more of a life than do many of us, for her life is not centered on herself. She gives of herself so her husband can be safe. She is present with him. And she has no regrets.

That is love. There are countless other examples, but this love cannot be bottled or placed in a beaker. It can only be seen in and through what it does. But the love itself is unseen.

And that's why I believe in God-- because there is love. It's all the evidence that's necessary.

And the end of the day, love reigns supreme.

"Political" Media Coverage is Great Entertainment

I'm not against politics. Actually, the root of the word "political" is polis (Greek, meaning "city"). Politics determines public policy and jurisprudence. It's necessary for an orderly and functioning society. We are a nation of laws, and most of us wouldn't have it any other way. So, in my book, politics is necessary.

Both Republicans and Democrats are trashing each other in this national election cycle. And people say, "It's just politics." And I say, "No, it isn't!" Trashing your opponent is trashing your opponent. It is not politics. Politics is what goes on in the crevices and crannies of governmental institutions, such as legislatures and executive offices.

The stuff you're seeing on Fox Noise, Cable Nuisance Network (CNN), and MicroSoft Nutcase Barack Climaxes (MSNBC) has very little to do with politics. It has more to do with party loyalties and personalities. If they were honest they would say their coverage is about politicians. But they're nothing more than big sales pitches to a consumer public without making this important distinction. There isn't much in the way of substance or something to think about. It's more like an unfolding soap opera. Politicians become rockstars and rockstars become politicians. Great stuff!!

And don't fall for this "fair and balanced" nonsense. Fox is definitely slanted right; CNN and MSNBC are definitely slanted left. There will never be a truly unbiased news network because next to no one would watch it. I certainly wouldn't. I would be bored out of my skull.

So, I watch the news networks. But I don't watch them to bolster positions I might hold. I watch them because they just ooze with B.S. And it's a lot of fun to me. It's great entertainment. Better than watching Survivor. My personal faves are Bill O'Reilly's Pinheads and Patriots segment, and Keith Olbermann's Worst Person in the World segment. Truly magnificent works of television artistry and punditry.

Please note that the terms pinhead, patriot, and worst person are descriptive terms originating from the biases and opinions of the people speaking them. They are not political terms. But they continue to call their programs "political coverage", and I love them for that.

Undoubtedly, my most favorite shoutfest is HANNITY!!!!!!! and Colmes. They bring on these supposedly insightful commentators and just let them talk over each other so you can't understand what they're saying. That's a pretty neat trick. Nobody is allowed to get their point across. It's just a bunch of noise. And it's hilarious!!

Character assassinations, half-truths, innuendos, rhetoric, hyperbole, hubris-- it all makes for a great evening of entertainment. Forget politics. If you want to watch politics, go to a city council meeting. Yawn. But if you want to watch people destroy each other, then the news channels are where you oughta be!!

On second thought, you're probably better off turning the tv off and reading a book before you become a miserable cur like me- hee hee!!

Guitar Praise-- Whoo. Hoo.

I don't know what to say about this. The words just escape me right now. I'm completely beside myself. I'm rendered speechless. My brain is about to explode. I'm afraid to get out of my seat for fear of leaving parts of me behind on the chair.

I wonder if they have a Christianized version of Grand Theft Auto.

BTW-- The same company markets a Praise DDR set. Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Discuss, please.

When Did This Start?

I meet and hear so many people who think their deceased loved ones are looking down on them and smiling.

How and when did this sentiment start? I suppose it helps people feel better and deal with their grief, but it's tinged with Gnosticism. I've always found it to be a bit sappy myself. But I never know how to respond to it.

So, when I hear it I just smile and nod, smile and nod, smile and nod.