When was the last time you had a power outage??
Can there be a modern life without internet, TV, and cell phones? Can a person function well in this new era of hyper-technology? Can you carry on business as usual? Can you succeed without being plugged into the information flow? When is it too much? When does technology begin to truncate life. When does technology turn from servant to master? I want to go back. I want to go back to when I wasn’t dependent on technology. I want to go back to when I didn’t have a cell phone appendage, or unlimited information at the touch of a button, or constant connectivity and pseudo-omniscience. I want to go back to playing outside, I want to unleash my creativity because it is necessary, not because it’s a hobby. I want to feel private,...
What it be.. ??
So, I see this and I’m not sure what to make of it. (linked) Is this a rip-off or redemption? Is this Gospel transformation or cultural campaign bait? What’s the motive? I do this with my own music in my head. I ascribe personal “Christian” significance to songs written with decidedly non-christian meaning; but is it OK for the pulpit to do it?? Is there a difference between a personal action and pulpit action? What does it mean if I make a statement opposed to my pastor making the same statement from the pulpit? I can’t put my finger on it. Help. Why do I feel icky about...
Shame on You… Shame on Me
Saturday night I took my family out for a fun evening of shopping. It was a break from the ordinary. We rarely go out weekend nights, so this was a real treat-even if it was to our local Goodwill. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but then I began to process the evening objectively. Poverty sucks. It makes me feel ashamed. I am a teacher and my wife doesn’t work. I am supposed to provide for my family; which I do. We are blessed to be without real want. We lack nothing. We have a nice house, plenty of food, two moderately-functioning cars, and health insurance. Why then, do I feel so slighted and embarrassed that I can’t afford new things for my family?? Why do I feel like I owe my wife an apology? I blame myself. I have bad eyes. My eyes...
Are we really a model for good democracy?
With all of the election energy flowing it is probably treacherous to ask the question John Stossel raised in his October 20/20 piece “Voting for Dummies” : Is the American public qualified to vote for a leader? I think that the founding fathers had the right idea. There should be conditions set forth to be a voter. As to what those conditions are….. that is for someone smarter than me to answer. I am not doctor, lawyer or a soldier. I do not study politics. I am, by all accounts, an average person-neither exceptional nor deficient. I am an average American. I teach high school. I see the new crop of young voters walking through my door on a daily basis. Some of these voters cannot read, pronounce the word “accepted”, or follow...
A Culture Apart
Below is an edit of a 3 minute video I was recently sent. The laugh track was added by “The Soup” who got hold of the video (and is also the source of this edit). I think the 30 seconds sums it up but is tainted by the laugh track. If you want to see the original, entire video view below. I have mixed emotions about this My first impulse is that of shock and awe. Laughter crept in but then suddenly anger and embarrassment. The question sprang from my lips,”What are you doing??!!?” Why does this performance bother me? I had to wrestle with this...