She -- like so many Americans -- could be quite Tyranical in defense of democracy.
-John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany

I went to Rocky Horror Picture Show last night. It was super bizarre and awesome. Then I realized that my mom used to go to that. A lot. Was she really one of those people?????? hella weird.

Sorry(?) I haven't posted in a really long time... nothing to write about, I guess. Merry CHristmas, I guess? I hope it's a good one (without any fear). Hopefully not too much consumerism stressing everyone out... I wish I had experienced the mall so that I could see how stressed everything was... I did all of my shopping at Barnes and Noble, and managed to get my whole family books that they enjoyed. It led to a quiet Christmas since we all had our noses in books, but I was pleased that I didn't epically fail at knowing my families tastes.

I'm part of the way through A Prayer for Owen Meany (thanks efar) and Into the Wild (thanks like 12 angsty teenagers). I've also finished Jesus wants to Save Christians, Rob Bell's latest. He lays out a systematic theology that is much more political/global than anything I've ever read by him. It all centers around Exodus and how God led them out of Egypt and from oppression, and then cautions us from becoming Solomon's Israel and focussing on accumulating wealth and arms. It sounds a lot like anything that Shane Claiborne would write, although much more Biblically focussed. All are great and I recommend them.

damn... 3 more weeks until Blacksburg. Why do we not start around the 10th like normal schools? Oh well, I should be able to knock out a lot of the reading I've wanted to do. I still have something by Brian McLaren and something by Ravi Zacharias that I'd like to read.

One of the funnier things I've seen in a long time...

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

sorry about the language, mom

Micro-lending

Something noteworthy from a book I am reading on Micro-lending:

Development should be viewed as a human rights issue, not as a question of simply increasing the gross national product. When the national economy picks up, the situation of the poor is not necessarily improved. Therefore development should be redefined. It should refer only to a positive measurable change in per capita income of the bottom 50 percent of the population.

One thing that I love about the system that Professor Yunnus, the author, has created is that it is simultaneously holistic and focused on the individual. It truly promotes markets and requires hard work and responsibility.

One thing that I am trying to do while reading this book is to connect successful methods of economic development with the methods we should use for spiritual development. Yunnus is very clear that he wants capital and opportunity and responsibility to be thrust directly on to the poor, not transferred through many hands where everyone gets to take a cut. How often do we spread spiritual fulfillment through local churches and committees and ministries where 10% of the church does 90% of the work spiritual renewal is never taken to the masses. I'll probably be writing more about this book and exploring the economic-spirituality relationship more later, because it is baller.

Brett Favre and the Jets are playing Kerry Collins and the Titans. These guys are old. CBS just showed highlights of the 1996 NFC championship where Brett Favre and the Packers beat Kerry Collins and the Panthers. That game was a long time ago. I watched it at the Ogburns house. This was pre 9/11 and you could hang out past security in airports, and Mix 101.5 did a promotion where they asked people to show up at the airport packed for green bay and they gave away two plane tickets and two game tickets in Green Bay. I went. I was 6. That was a really long time ago. I feel really old.

Sports are weird.

Auto Bailout

This thing is scary. In the words of Thomas Friedmann on Larry King tonight, "The Big 3 are too big to fail but to dumb to succeed."

Please copy the following message or one of your own and forward it to your representative and voice your concern for the Bailout. Taxpayers cannot afford to take care of every industry that is inefficient and dying.

I write to recommend that you oppose the auto bailout currently in Congress. Giving $25 Billion to failing companies, regardless of their size, who have no intention to make changes to their business structure, is far riskier than the reward. Proponents of the legislation point to the success the Chrysler bailout in 1979. However, that bailout occurred alongside significant restructuring. No requirements for major changes in the way that GM, Ford, and Chrysler operate have been given in the current plan. Forcing the Big 3 to enter bankruptcy, consolidate franchises, and restructure Union Contracts will give them the opportunity to return to viability. Not forcing these changes to occur will hurt the American economy and taxpayers far worse than the loss of these companies.

I really don't think we can afford to let this thing pass. Take action!

LET ME OUT

Lately, no music has had the spiritual impact on me that Under Pressure has.

From the Freddie Mercury Tribute, David Bowie and Annie Lennox.


The song's baller. Don't make fun of me.

Most significantly, has been this:

Why can't we give love that one more chance
'Cause love's such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And loves dares you to change our way of

Caring about ourselves

It's Bowie and Queen, the purple is crucial.

I feel like the church I'm seeing isn't carrying this message and isn't out front in the fight to give love one more chance. This is rather concerning. I have a big church post coming in the near future.