A little bit of ranting never hurt nobody!

 
:::Neo-Calvinistic Armenianism in a Post-Modern Poly-Theistic and Darwinist-Infused World:::

Actually, that's not the real title of my blog...I just wanted to attract all you smart-type theologians that love to sound really smart by using all these great big super-intelligent churchy words. Me? I'm more of a "grace" and "mercy" and "peace" kind of guy. I love to read books...if you've seen our house, you'll know that we have at least a couple lying around. Give me a good Piper or Donald Miller book, and I'm good to go. I guess my problem has always been that there are too many people out there in our little culture that think when we argue theology, we have to use other sources than the original text. Calvinism, Armenianism, Amyraldianism, and all those other -isms...man, they just freak me out. Not that I don't think we shouldn't be able to back up what we believe with proof and understanding...that is what makes my faith real to me...the words of Scripture coming alive. But when we rely so much on the text of others outside the original source...especially to explicitly defend our theology...there is a great fear that we could confuse non-believers and baby Christians. Back in my school days when I was having to churn out a research paper on a different book every week, I remember never quite understanding why my teachers and professors in both HS and college wanted me to go out and find "other sources" to back up my hypothesis. Shouldn't the original text be enough...not 15-30 other people's take on it? I don't know...that's just me I guess.

Theology can be a very confusing and murky topic...causing a lot of dissention, confusion and even violence in some of our more barbaric times. Yet, it's importance to how we live out our faith cannot be discounted. Let's just always be careful that we never take the word of some long-dead theologian author over the inherent truth of the scriptures, and make it our goal to always use it and it alone as our guiding compass.

:::the bi-monthly update...I'm pathetic:::

Wow...a whole lotta stuff's been going down this summer. So, for those of you still with me, here's my thoughts and rants on the world around us. By the way, if you have toes, I can't guarantee they won't be stepped on during this post. Yeah, I know....great way to start, but I thought I would warn you in advance if you're looking for some flowery daisy-filled muse on how wonderful everyone is doing and all. If that's what you want, you can listen to Bush talk about how strong our resolve is in Iraq and how much progress is being made towards democracy while the clerics and Sunni's prepare for the next great civil war in that edge of the world. See, there I go, already irking off the pro-Bushies that read my trivial tripes. So with that, are you ready? Hope so!

The War in Iraq
Sometimes it doesn't hit home until you get to participate in something honoring one of the brave ones who lost their lives. About a month ago, we were approached by Dave Schaffer of the Miami University Marching Band to do a photo/video tribute for Michael Cifuentes to be shown on the JumboTron during the band's pre-game performance at the September 28th game. I got the proof finished about a week before the game and had Dave come in to watch it. As it was ending, he just lost it...completely broke down...and he talked about what a great kid he was...that infectious smile...his sense of humor...and his dedication to everything he did. The kid was only 25 years old. And it brought even more to the surface for me about this whole darn mess...what are we doing? Is this really worth it anymore, or are we as the USA just being dragged along by our megalomaniacal president who can't see past his own nose? Please, if someone out there can help me understand why Mike and so many others like him are dying, then go for it. I'm just tired of this mess. BRING OUR MEN AND WOMEN HOME!

Hurricane Katrina and Rita
Just a couple of bullet points:
-Give...give here!
-This is not a political or racial issue, it's an issue of helping others in need...period!
-Ray Nagin is a complete idiot and should take the fall for the entire mess...it's his city and he was responsible for getting his people out.
-Celine Dion is the most complete idiot ever! Here's a quote from her via satellite from her opulent dressing room at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas on the Larry King Live show just days after Katrina hit:

"Yes, we gave $1 million but what we expect, what I want to look like the rest of the world, I open the television there's people still there waiting to be rescued and for me it's not acceptable. I know there's reasons for it. I'm sorry to say I'm being rude but I don't want to hear those reasons. You know, some people are stealing and they're making a big deal out of it. Oh, they're stealing 20 pair of jeans or they're stealing television sets. Who cares? They're not going to go too far with it. Maybe those people are so poor, some of the people who do that they're so poor they've never touched anything in their lives. Let them touch those things for once. The main thing right now it's not the people who are stealing. It's the people who are left there and they're watching helicopters flying over their heads and they're praying. How come it's so easy to send planes in another country to kill everyone in a second, to destroy lives?"

Yeah...I'd like to see her say that if some homeless person in Las Vegas broke into her home and stole all her stuff. Hypocrite.

Of Justices and Cronies...The Calamity of a Open Supreme Court Seat
Roe v. Wade WILL NOT be overturned in our lifetime. Accept it, deal with it and get over it! No matter who gets on the court, it won't matter. It is the law of the land. Now, we don't have to like it, but please people, stop picketing and shooting abortion doctors and start caring for these women who have found themselves in a position where they are confused and scared and need someone to listen to them without judgment. Love. It's simple, free and doesn't hurt anybody. Jesus seemed to use it pretty effectively while He was here. You'd be surprised to see their reaction to that.
As for Roberts and Miers. Well, there's stuff for both sides to like and dislike. Roberts is already there, so nothing we can do about that. But Miers is awaiting her tribunal...should be fun. I love seeing the right first jump to her side because their beloved Presi-Messiah has chosen her...then suddenly get really quiet when they find out that she supports gay rights. Funny little conservatives...you jump through hoops everytime Bush says "boo" then always have to back out when you realize he really doesn't care...he's so pig-headed and stubborn, he'll never admit a mistake.

Donald Miller
Read anything this man writes and you'll be delving deep into the heart of my passion for the church. He nails it. I'd put a bunch of quotes up by him, but I'm not lame like Ian, trying to pass things like that off as real posts on my blog. Instead, I just wait 2-3 months between posts, because that's far less lame. (love you, bro, seriously)

I'll share more at a later time.

Peace out, yo.
posted by Stacie @ 5:00 PM