I am tired of conservatives, and liberals too actually but mostly the conservatives that are so in love with our governmental process that they don't actually love people any more. A couple of weeks ago I heard on the Neal Borts show (libertarian leaning democrat hating right wing talk show on the radio that many people around where I live actulally like) A caller was talking about how hard it was for him to get insurance because of a preexsisting condition. Borts said (and I am not getting the wording right here) "what problem is that of mine?" Essentially I don't care enough about my fellow man to pitch in a few bucks for your health care, so suck it up and find out how to go it on your own. This is America and we only care for ourselvs. That is what churches and private charities are for.
This is why I am tired of Conservativism. And this is what is wrong with america and why we are in trouble.

DCB*

You may know that I am not a fan of contemporary Christian music (CCM to make it easier from here on out). really there are only two Artists (I use the term loosley when it comes to CCM) that I actually like when it comes to the genre. Jars of Clay, because they consistently put out material that is not only obviously christian but musically creative and innovative. And the David Crowder Band. The DCB has been putting out sonically and lyrically innovative stuff for some time now (innovative for a worship band?). Well yes, this is not your tired Michael W. Smith cheesey songwriting here, they actually write thoughtful and catchy lyrics that just so happen to be about God. If more christian artists would think about the craft then just being high-school cheerleaders for Jesus I think more people would actually listen. Anyway I saw DCB thios past weekend and they rocked, more so than any other band at the festival I saw them at. And the best thing about them, no preaching between songs. It's as if they got up there and said "Here is our stuff, sing along if you'd like if not just listen." And they had fun doing it. They don't take themselves too seriously, which most CCM artists do, they don't do silly posturing a la Toby Mac, they just go out and play. Which happens to be my favorite trait of JOC too. I became a fan after I saw them live.

Granted you have to be in the mood for DCB. Sundays is a good place to start. They still are not my favorite of all time (Paul Weller is with a host of others close behind). But in the realm of CCM (which is very small artistically) There are only two that I think matter. Jars becausethey write stuff that is applicable to real life, and can stand up to most secular contemporaries. And DCB because they do it how it should be done, creatively.

I talked to Tyrone Wells once many years ago, and he said this about the CCM industry. He told me that the label wanted them to say the name of Jesus more. That tells me all I need to know about the industry. They Just want to sell Jesus, to make money. No craft, no creativeity, just write some songs that say Jesus and let the CCM radio industry sell it. It is horrible, let these guys write some good songs, so what if it about being angry or getting dumped. Stuff that almost everyone has gone through btw. If someone hears a song they like and can relate to, then maybe they will be attracted to God through the life of the artist not just the song.

Saying Goodbye

Today I had a final chance to say goodbye to my friend Eric. It was difficult, yet joyous at the same time. I have long felt that those who live an exemplary life would have a party of a passing. Well, considering that Eric had cancer and died way too young (37 to be exact) it wasn't the party that I thought it would be. I cried, felt sorry for myself and his widow and children, and at times laughed and was even a bit jealous. But now it is a party. I know that I didn't always agree with Eric. Things like politics and scripture interpretation (on things that are peripheral), were often just unspoken "agree to disagree" things with us. But this I will always see eye to eye with him. God loves all of us, we need to have a relationship with Him, and Jesus wants to be a part of that relationship. So as far as Eric's memorial service goes, I think for the most part, that was made clear. We sang some songs, and it was hard for me. I remember Eric as one who loved to sing, even if it was out of tune, so that was really hard on me. I have led worship at camps and things with him, so I just saw him with us and it was painful. But then I felt as though God was telling me that for today i could sing with Eric one more time. People rememberd Eric for his love and devotion to the youth of our church and community. I share that love, but now I want to share that passion with him too. Imay not be able to be crazy or wild like E but I want to love those kids and my community like he did. Really i want that for all of us. To love those around us like God loves us. Whatever form that takes, feeding homless, volunteering at an elementary school, working with pregnant teens, visiting a convelescant home,whatever it may be. That is what we need to do.

Abortion and killing sounds the same to me.......

So I am very troubled by the killing of an abortion doctor, at Church no less, in Kansas. I am no fan of abortion, thinking it is ending of a life, but is killing those that perform the act any better. We might as well go so far as to kill the mothers (or former moms) for having the procedure done. Is that really the solution? If the anti-abortion groups really wanted to make a change, why don't they try to get people to fall in love with God and have a good upstanding relationship with Him? Other than berating and verbally bludgeoning the poor people that go to the clinics. Today I heard the leader of Operation Rescue call the now deceased Dr. demonic. Demonic? He was shot at church for cryin' out loud, how can we treat others like that. Give the dead a little respect. Maybe the job he did was highly disagreeable to about half of the nation. But we live in a broken and disturbed world, and we have long ago (Adam) strayed from the life that God wanted us to live. We cannot assume that this Country does everything the way God wants us to. That is the most arrogant thing we can do. We all (even the conservative-right-evangelical-mainstream-fox watching folks) just need to walk humbly with our God, and go from there. Yes that is a bible reference, so I'm going with it.

Have you read the shack?

So I just finished The Shack By William Young. Great book, really I haven't felt this way about a book since I read Blue Like Jazz. I will not tell too much about it other than it talks about conversations with God, in three persons, and how those conversations effect the main charachter Mack. Truly go get it and read it all of you. If you have read it, lets talk. I desire conversaitons about it and all the odd things that it brings up. The thing I liked best about it was the idea of living in relationships that were circular, everything revolving around the relationship. People only caring about people nothing else, but living with God in a relationship, and handling their earthly relationships in the same way, as God would, and intended us to do. Any how read the book then we will chat. Seriouly read the damn book.

Cancerous

I am not very happy. A good friend of mine has what appears to be , no final word yet, several tumors all over his body. I am pissed frankly, on several fronts really. One, his wife and mine are really good friends and my wife has spent the last three days caring for her and their three children. Two, I help my friend out at the church, our church, where he is the youth pastor, so I volunteer my time and for three weeks I have been running the middle school ministry on Wednesdays. Three, I feel like I have to figure so much out that I was not planning on just three days ago. Four, I am pissed that I am so damn selfish sometimes. You see, I have know several people with cancer, from an uncle that I actually never met, to a grandmother that I dearly loved, to family friends that have just died two years ago, if that. And I still can't wrap my head around the disease, and the effect it has on people. I mean there are guys like Lance Armstrong defeating it, and yet there are millions more that don't. It seems so indiscriminate, I mean my friend is 37, young and healthy, strong and smart. Yet God obviously has something better in mind, yet I can't figure it out. Which leads me to what I am most angry about. Life is not a play about me with you all as supporting actors. Why am I so frustrated by this disease. Because it doesn't fit into my plans. I don't want the hassle of helping a friend out in a dark, dark hour. I have better things to do, but I know that this is just a small episode in time. Not my time really. Not my Play. Not my story. I just ask that prayers be said for Eric, and me regardless of what I have in mind, it is really not up to me to decide. Thanks for listening...............

I just finished a book by Rob Bell, and some other guy I don't know the name off hand, that I think was really great. It is called Jesus wants to save Christians, go get it and read it, really now. I will sum up in my own words and then you should go and read it. The idea of Exodus is the theme of the book, the idea of coming out of one way of life into a better one. Well I have thought about these ideas (not is so many eloquent words mind you) of moving to a better way for a long time. In the boook The authors point out that the ancient Israelites were rescued from slavery in an "anti-kingdom" and called to be the body of God here on earth. Well to be brief, we here in america are seeming to be living dangerously close to an "anti-kingdom". Don't get me wrong I am a proud american, but when it becomes about us more than them we are treading a dangerous path. King Solomon went downthat path, the book argues, and it led to exile in Babylon. I can't tell you haow many times I have heard or thought this line "We're Americans Dammit!" and thus justifing what ever action that may or may not be good for us. Like I have said before, we need to get out of the country more. We have this massive wealth here and we spend it on destruction and harm, not only to people but the earth as well, and we think that because we are the last superpower we can do whatever we please. In my opinion, and I think it comes out in the book I started with, we should be doing good things with our money and not just for ourselves. I get so tired of hearing that we need to bomb more or invade more for our security, well God is my security and I don't need to kill anybody to keep Him around. If we are going t call ourselves a Christian Nation (another debate entirely) we need to be acting like Christ to other nations, the humble wounded servant Jesus that I know. This is not just some bleeding heart love fest either, but all Jesus called us to do is love God and our neighbors, not be a political action committe for a particular party, and tell other people about how God loves them. It isn't hard folks, it is not about me. It is about something much higher than me, I am just along for the ride.