Last night I was hanging out with some friends. One young lady was telling a guy (who happens to be African-American) about a restaurant she recently visited: "Yeah, it's called Cuisine of India."
I said, "Actually, it's call Queen of India, she just translated it into ebonics for you."
That was really funny to me... and nobody else.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Surrounded
I just thought of a metaphor. I know metaphors are really overused these days, but every once in a while they're useful. I'm not sure this one fits in that category or not, but I wanted to jot it down anyways.
Being a Christian in this world is like being on second base. (By "this world", I don't mean 21st century America - I mean on Earth, post-Easter, pre-second-coming.) Follow me on this one. On second base, you are surrounded by the opponent. You're in peril, but you're "safe". You can't get too comfortable because you haven't reached your goal - you're waiting for something to happen so you can go home.
Yes, kinda cheesy, but anything that involves baseball and Christianity grabs my eye.
Being a Christian in this world is like being on second base. (By "this world", I don't mean 21st century America - I mean on Earth, post-Easter, pre-second-coming.) Follow me on this one. On second base, you are surrounded by the opponent. You're in peril, but you're "safe". You can't get too comfortable because you haven't reached your goal - you're waiting for something to happen so you can go home.
Yes, kinda cheesy, but anything that involves baseball and Christianity grabs my eye.
Monday, May 18, 2009
This weekend
Such a contrast!
I wish I had written some of this stuff down before I slept, but I'll do my best to remember what I can.
I attended three churches this weekend with my "band" (Vocal Union) and the opinions expressed here are completely my own and should no way be construed to be shared by other band-members. So there's your caveat.
We started the weekend at a very welcoming Baptist Church in Erin, Tennessee. They were friendly, they fed us and had a very nice building. The room we changed clothes in was about 134 degrees, but we weren't in there very long. As we started the concert, I was surprised by how responsive the crowd was. They were very energetic - even clapping in the middle of some songs when they were particularly moved. There were many "Amen!"s and "Yes Lord!"s. There was one physically handicapped gentleman in the front row who was particularly vocal - I was told he drove from North Carolina (about 6 hours) to get there! And he lead the chorus of enthusiasm. There's no way to say this without sounding racist, but it was a white congregation - and that made it a bit more surprising. Regardless of race, we love singing for these kinds of folks: those who give lots of good feedback. We sang about 8 or 9 songs and then took a scheduled break for the preacher to get up in front a take a "love offering." (See the note at the end of this post if you want to know what that means.)
He eventually got to the love offering, but Pavlov took over first: the preacher was standing in front of a crowd, so naturally he preached; and apparently, homosexuality was on his mind. He spoke for about 10 minutes or so, bringing out some old rally-cries I hadn't heard in a while: "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" or "There's no such thing as a gay Christian!" and also some new ones I hadn't heard before: "I'm so homophobic, I won't even buy homogenized milk!" These were said with great pride and conviction - and were met with a response I had experienced only minutes before to messages like "No matter what we believe, what we think or think we know, the world will never see, unless Jesus' love we show." I still don't know what prompted this particular topic, but he was loud and proud.
I was extremely uncomfortable because the vibe of the message was one of hate; rallying the troops for battle against the gays. Regardless of your stance on gay-marriage or homosexuality in the church, etc, this sermon was the opposite of a Christian message because of the hate it conveyed and encouraged. Apparently he had made people uncomfortable before because he addressed this: "When you speak truth, people get uncomfortable!" That's true, but the converse isn't: (if people are uncomfortable, you're speaking truth). I guess I'm homophobic-phobic.
The next morning we worshiped with the "Church in Paris" (in Paris, TN). The color of their words, actions (and skin) was completely different from what we experienced the night before. The message we heard was one of faith, community, acceptance, encouragement and love. There was a collection taken for some medical bills that a family had recently incurred - $240 - put in a envelope and given to the wife of a man who had developed cancer. The worship was wonderful (with a really bad sound system), the generosity was astounding (with only a few people - who live in an economically disadvantaged town), the love was overwhelming. I kept thinking "I want some more of that!" - and I'd have to think that a non-Christian visitor would think similarly. I can't imagine anyone thinking that at the first church.
This is not intended to be a post about homosexuality or gay-marriage, but rather a church's response to the issue. Regardless of your opinion, please approach the issue with love and respect. The only people Jesus got mad at were those who were using his Father's name or place of worship incorrectly. He tried to correct those who were living immoral lives, but to do this he chose to use love and conversation instead of rhyming propaganda. Seriously, wwjd.
Note at the end: Okay, a lot of times, we'll sing for a church in exchange for an "honorarium" - which is a set amount of money to cover the cost of gas, food, and also so we can save up for the (all too frequent) bus-repair needs and also paying for the recording that we do. As the singers, we also get paid a little for our time after those other things are taken care of. When a church can't afford to do that, we'll sometimes work out what's called a "love-offering" concert - where there's just a collection taken up for our expenses.
I wish I had written some of this stuff down before I slept, but I'll do my best to remember what I can.
I attended three churches this weekend with my "band" (Vocal Union) and the opinions expressed here are completely my own and should no way be construed to be shared by other band-members. So there's your caveat.
We started the weekend at a very welcoming Baptist Church in Erin, Tennessee. They were friendly, they fed us and had a very nice building. The room we changed clothes in was about 134 degrees, but we weren't in there very long. As we started the concert, I was surprised by how responsive the crowd was. They were very energetic - even clapping in the middle of some songs when they were particularly moved. There were many "Amen!"s and "Yes Lord!"s. There was one physically handicapped gentleman in the front row who was particularly vocal - I was told he drove from North Carolina (about 6 hours) to get there! And he lead the chorus of enthusiasm. There's no way to say this without sounding racist, but it was a white congregation - and that made it a bit more surprising. Regardless of race, we love singing for these kinds of folks: those who give lots of good feedback. We sang about 8 or 9 songs and then took a scheduled break for the preacher to get up in front a take a "love offering." (See the note at the end of this post if you want to know what that means.)
He eventually got to the love offering, but Pavlov took over first: the preacher was standing in front of a crowd, so naturally he preached; and apparently, homosexuality was on his mind. He spoke for about 10 minutes or so, bringing out some old rally-cries I hadn't heard in a while: "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" or "There's no such thing as a gay Christian!" and also some new ones I hadn't heard before: "I'm so homophobic, I won't even buy homogenized milk!" These were said with great pride and conviction - and were met with a response I had experienced only minutes before to messages like "No matter what we believe, what we think or think we know, the world will never see, unless Jesus' love we show." I still don't know what prompted this particular topic, but he was loud and proud.
I was extremely uncomfortable because the vibe of the message was one of hate; rallying the troops for battle against the gays. Regardless of your stance on gay-marriage or homosexuality in the church, etc, this sermon was the opposite of a Christian message because of the hate it conveyed and encouraged. Apparently he had made people uncomfortable before because he addressed this: "When you speak truth, people get uncomfortable!" That's true, but the converse isn't: (if people are uncomfortable, you're speaking truth). I guess I'm homophobic-phobic.
The next morning we worshiped with the "Church in Paris" (in Paris, TN). The color of their words, actions (and skin) was completely different from what we experienced the night before. The message we heard was one of faith, community, acceptance, encouragement and love. There was a collection taken for some medical bills that a family had recently incurred - $240 - put in a envelope and given to the wife of a man who had developed cancer. The worship was wonderful (with a really bad sound system), the generosity was astounding (with only a few people - who live in an economically disadvantaged town), the love was overwhelming. I kept thinking "I want some more of that!" - and I'd have to think that a non-Christian visitor would think similarly. I can't imagine anyone thinking that at the first church.
This is not intended to be a post about homosexuality or gay-marriage, but rather a church's response to the issue. Regardless of your opinion, please approach the issue with love and respect. The only people Jesus got mad at were those who were using his Father's name or place of worship incorrectly. He tried to correct those who were living immoral lives, but to do this he chose to use love and conversation instead of rhyming propaganda. Seriously, wwjd.
Note at the end: Okay, a lot of times, we'll sing for a church in exchange for an "honorarium" - which is a set amount of money to cover the cost of gas, food, and also so we can save up for the (all too frequent) bus-repair needs and also paying for the recording that we do. As the singers, we also get paid a little for our time after those other things are taken care of. When a church can't afford to do that, we'll sometimes work out what's called a "love-offering" concert - where there's just a collection taken up for our expenses.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The difference between Bush and Obama
Experience and education breed cynicism. In Bush, we perceived a man who displayed few mannerisms which are associated with the elite and educated. For this he was chided. In Obama, we perceive a man who displays many mannerisms which are associated withe the elite and educated. For this he is chided. At similar points in their respective presidential campaigns, they both have made calls for Americans and particularly politicians to embrace virtue and throw off partisan politics. Certainly both men are very politically aware, but I don't believe that sermon was insincere by either. I believe both truly want(ed) to embrace a unified, single-minded, virtuous goal for the country. The difference comes from the context in which that impetus is found. One expects naiveté from the grammatically incorrect and the simple-minded, so when you hear them speak of virtue, it is easily dismissed. One expects cynicism from the educated and the elite, so when you hear them speak of virtue, it garners more attention. The fact that we are being called to virtue by one who is, assumedly, well-versed and wise gives his words a different hue (no pun intended).
Perhaps with experience, he will shrink from his assertion: "...we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals... Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake." So far, it seems he has not. We'll see how long that lasts.
Perhaps with experience, he will shrink from his assertion: "...we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals... Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake." So far, it seems he has not. We'll see how long that lasts.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Money
...it's a gas.
Quote from one of my superiors in a meeting last week: "There's no downside, in my mind, if you make more money." Clearly, this is the model for capitalism, but really? After what we've seen in the housing market over the past few months, how can you possibly utter such a phrase? If there's one thing we've learned as a nation (and I'm sure there's not), I hope it would be that there should be higher aspirations than the bottom line. That line has had me a little down over the past week.
Another depressing thought that's been running through my head is that all this bailout talk seems to be rewarding people who've endangered (literally) humanity.
Stephen Colbert: "I believe these guys should be able to speculate and do anything they want to make as much money as they want in any WAY that they want in the good times. And in the bad times, we should help them out so they can do it again later."
With no hyperbole, I believe the men and women in charge of these corporations were participating in evil practices. These practices were the center of their lives which makes them evil people. A few scriptures are running through my head. The most obvious, of course, is that "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." (1 Tim 6:10) Here are some others to ponder...
"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." (Ecc 5:10)
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Heb 13:5)
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Tim 3:1-5)
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matt 6:24-27)
In this last one, Jesus is juxtaposing the desire for money and worry. These two and inherently tied, as we have seen over the past few weeks. Everyone is WORRIED about the FINANCIAL systems' seemingly imminent collapse. We're also worried about the people who've caused this mess being treated fairly. I'll end this blog with one more scripture.
Psalm 37 (I added some emphasis)
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
...
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
...
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
...
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.
27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
...
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
Quote from one of my superiors in a meeting last week: "There's no downside, in my mind, if you make more money." Clearly, this is the model for capitalism, but really? After what we've seen in the housing market over the past few months, how can you possibly utter such a phrase? If there's one thing we've learned as a nation (and I'm sure there's not), I hope it would be that there should be higher aspirations than the bottom line. That line has had me a little down over the past week.
Another depressing thought that's been running through my head is that all this bailout talk seems to be rewarding people who've endangered (literally) humanity.
Stephen Colbert: "I believe these guys should be able to speculate and do anything they want to make as much money as they want in any WAY that they want in the good times. And in the bad times, we should help them out so they can do it again later."
With no hyperbole, I believe the men and women in charge of these corporations were participating in evil practices. These practices were the center of their lives which makes them evil people. A few scriptures are running through my head. The most obvious, of course, is that "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." (1 Tim 6:10) Here are some others to ponder...
"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." (Ecc 5:10)
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Heb 13:5)
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Tim 3:1-5)
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matt 6:24-27)
In this last one, Jesus is juxtaposing the desire for money and worry. These two and inherently tied, as we have seen over the past few weeks. Everyone is WORRIED about the FINANCIAL systems' seemingly imminent collapse. We're also worried about the people who've caused this mess being treated fairly. I'll end this blog with one more scripture.
Psalm 37 (I added some emphasis)
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
...
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
...
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
...
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.
27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
...
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
A summary of the bailout. By Stephen Colbert.
Maybe I'll just post what other people do. It's much easier that way.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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