We're So Smart We're Stupid

In response to my last post and my short-term financial woes, there were some that offered encouragement and understanding, and others that suggested reasons for my predicament. Others offered brief sermons (one even with 3 points) and at least one gave me a serious, heart-to-heart pastoral talk.

Now I know this has always been a place of open dialogue and debate. I am one that often keeps the subject matter in theory rather than practice. And even when I wrote the post, my emphasis was on prayer as it related to my situation and not actually my financial needs. However, in the midst of all that, after many had passed by and offered their opinions ... only one person offered to help in a real, logical and practical way.

Thanks Pete. I appreciate the offer, but I will be fine.

I was right after all.

God can't help us... if we aren't willing to help each other.

God shouldn't help us... because we should help each other.

It's Not God's Problem

Last night as I was paying bills, I realized that after I pay my rent there will be $400 in my bank account and I have $500 worth of bills left. That doesn’t include me needing to buy gas for my car or groceries. There are 11 days until my next paycheck.

Then I thought, about a year a ago I would have stopped and prayed about this situation. I would have asked God to somehow miraculously bail me out. But that would be stupid. Even if God could do something about it (which he can’t)... he shouldn’t.

This is my problem not God’s.

Baby Josh

I saw this and thought to myself, "This is exactly how Josh looks after a night of drinking at Patsy's Irish Pub!" Too damn funny.

To get a glimpse of what's going on inside Josh's head these days, check out his latest post.

"Suck It Jesus" Amen.

Even though Kathy Griffin won her first Emmy over the weekend, she’ll still have something to talk about in her act. That’s because when the Creative Arts Emmys are broadcast Saturday on E!, her acceptance speech will be censored.

Upon winning this past Saturday, Kathy said, “Can you believe this shit? I guess hell froze over. … a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. So, all I can say is, ‘suck it, Jesus.’ This award is my god now.”

In its story, the Associated Press would not reprint the “suck it, Jesus” line, instead reporting that Kathy “went on to hold up her Emmy, make an off-color remark about Christ.” According to the AP, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences said in a statement, “Kathy Griffin’s offensive remarks will not be part of the E! telecast on Saturday night.” ~Reality Blurred

This story has received a lot of attention this week, so here's my take.

First... Christians who are offended by this need to lighten up. Of course this ruffles your feathers, but Griffin is an atheist. She was trying to get a reaction and she did. You making a big deal, calling her blasphemous and asking her to retract it only feeds the fire.

Second... Griffin is right. If people think that Jesus had ANYTHING to do or remotely even CARES about the Emmy Awards and who wins or who doesn't... that's just a little wacky. It's like watching Joe Gibbs pray on the sideline Sunday as his team attempted the winning field goal (which they made dammit). That type of display is just embarrassing.

Jesus doesn't give a damn about sports outcomes or Hollywood award shows or whether or not your musical equipment works during worship on Sunday morning... seriously he doesn't. It's all the same. Use your heads people.

Third... What is blasphemous in my opinion is those that accept awards or win the Super Bowl and thank Jesus, and then go out and live lives contrary to what they just proclaimed. And even if you are devout, it's pious and self-absorbed to think that Jesus picked you to win the award or the game over others who may have been "praying" for the same thing.

I know, some of you are gonna say, "Why didn't she say "Suck it Muhammed" or "Suck it Buddha"?? You know why? Because no one ever says "Thank you Muhammed" or "Thank you Buddha" for the exact same reason. It's hip to love Jesus as long as speaking his name in public gets you what you want. Like popularity, an award or two, a warm fuzzy feeling or even something like the presidency of the United States.

Ain't That America

If you have some time, watch this clip from the Bill Maher show the other night (just the first 6 minutes is what I am referring to).

Pay special attention to John Mellencamp's discussion with Maher about the nature of naivete and belief in America. Of course, I couldn't help but think about the church as they talked.

Listen to Mike Gravel as he talks about the solutions of empowering people and how that will decentralize government. Again, I thought about the church.

Am I the only one, or does anyone else see the correlation??

Please, let's only discuss these ideas as they relate to the church. Please, don't bang your political drums here.