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They just thought I'd know better...

Does anyone ever read my blog anymore? No, because I suck at updating it. I'm beginning the slow demise into the abyss of bloglessness. Life is just getting tricky to write about in this open, honest way. Is that weird? I guess it's because now, the things that matter often happen in the context of a committed and intimate relationship, and even though these things aren't secret, they are better kept private. Is that cryptic enough? lol

So speaking of this guy that is indirectly affecting my blogging ways... Tom is, as you all should know, a huge Guns N Roses fan. Pretty crazy. I mean it's not everyday you run into someone who's favorite band is GNR.

But the band has grown on me so much - I kid you not. They make really fun, really rocking music. I can't believe I said rocking but that's the only word to describe it.

And the actual point of this post is that you should look online for a song from the upcoming GNR album Chinese Democracy. There are tons of songs that have been leaked. But the one that I love is called "Better." Check it out. It's pretty amazing. Apparently some GNR fans think it's horrible but Tom and I are big fans of the new direction of things.

Oh, and if you're like, GNR? Are they still around? Basically Axl Rose bought the rights to the band name, got all new band members, and has spent 10 years and $15 million working on Chinese Democracy. Will it ever really come out? If the songs are like "Better," I hope so!

Kurt Vonnegut has left the building

I'm sad. Even though I really didn't read that much by him, everything I did read resounded and made me laugh. He's direct, says it like it is, emphasizes the real human tragedy of it all, and then laughs because really, life is so ridiculous that what else can you do but laugh...

Here is a really excellent reflection on the man.

You might also try Google Video or You Tube to see some videos of him. I saw him on The Daily Show last year and was terribly entertained and enlightened.

What we're spreading

"I find this so unsavory ... they‘re going out and killing people around the world to spread democracy, and what are we spreading? A form of government based on how much money you can raise from rich people."

- Chris Matthews, host of Hardball with Chris Matthews, on the record-breaking campaign fundraising figures for the 2008 presidential election. (Source: MSNBC.com)

Holla' if you like open source software

So, I'm really not that much of a computer nerd, but I am aware of this little phenomenon called "open source software." I'm no expert, but basically it's software by the people, for the people! And that means it's free (but donations are always welcome).

I'm appreciating it anew today because I recently got a new computer. I sucked it up and had Microsoft Office 7 installed on the system, but what I didn't realize until just the other day is that I bought Office basic. Meaning, though I do have Word, Excel, and Outlook, I am missing FrontPage and PowerPoint. Those are two programs I actually have to use for work, too!

So, I was debating about what to do, and even called my friend John to get his advice (which was great. I kept trying to copy the old program files but thankfully he told me that madness was futile and wouldn't work.) But then I started wondering if there was an equivalent to either program.

Thankfully, there is! The "equivalent" for FrontPage is called Nvu ("New View") and you can get it at http://www.nvu.com. The "equivalent" for PowerPoint is called Impress and you can get it as part of OpenOffice at www.OpenOffice.org. (They also have replacements for Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, CorelDraw, and I'm not sure what else.) I put equivalent in quotes because it's not super helpful to think of them as replacements. They are different. But for all intents and purposes, they do the same things. Sometimes, you might argue, they even do it better.

So far, everything is working perfectly. You can even save things in Microsoft-compliant formats. For example, even though I'm creating a slideshow presentation in Impress, which is a totally different program, I can save it in a format that PowerPoint users can handle without any problems.

You probably know that Google is on top of this whole software thing as well. They have created web-based versions of these software programs, as well as web-based email and calendars. I'm sure that's the way it's going...

I am happy for the creativity and development of companies like Microsoft, but I have to admit my little heart leaps when there are democratic solutions like this available.

Update on the letter: Kudos to the NAE

Evangelical Body Stays the Course on Global Warming

Rebuffing Christian radio commentator James C. Dobson, the board of directors of the National Association of Evangelicals reaffirmed its position that environmental protection, which it calls "creation care," is an important moral issue.

Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, and two dozen other conservative Christian leaders, including Gary L. Bauer, Tony Perkins and Paul M. Weyrich, sent the board a letter this month denouncing the association's vice president, the Rev. Richard Cizik, for urging attention to global warming.

The letter argued that evangelicals are divided on whether climate change is a real problem, and it said that "Cizik and others are using the global warming controversy to shift the emphasis away from the great moral issues of our time," such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

If Cizik "cannot be trusted to articulate the views of American evangelicals on environmental issues, then we respectfully suggest that he be encouraged to resign his position with the NAE," the letter concluded.

he Rev. Leith Anderson, the association's president, said Saturday that the board did not respond to the letter during a two-day meeting that ended Friday in Minneapolis. But, he said, the board reaffirmed a 2004 position paper, "For the Health of the Nations," that outlined seven areas of civic responsibility for evangelicals, including creation care along with religious freedom, nurturing the family, sanctity of life, compassion for the poor, human rights and restraining violence.

On Friday, the association's board approved a 12-page statement on terrorism and torture. Anderson said that Cizik gave a report to the board on his work in Washington as vice president for governmental affairs and that there was no effort to reprimand him. "I think there was a lot of support from me, from the executive committee and from the board for Rich Cizik," said Anderson.

(Article Source: By (AND) - www.andnetwork.com)

Conservative Christians... you baffle me

So James Dobson and the conservative evangelical crew have written a little letter about Rich C. at the NAE. Read the letter here. Seriously, read it. It's very fascinating. It gives me a strange sense that history is unfolding in my midst when I read it. Indeed, a major change is taking place, and it's impossible to guess what the outcome will be.

I've met the head of the NAE before. It was as part of a group that focuses on helping American Christians find ways to alleviate the suffering of people in poverty. I was and continue to be, all about that. I was proud of him for being involved. A powerful Christian leader in DC could be doing a lot of things other than spending time on helping the poor. That was good to see.

I've been to meetings on Capitol Hill. One time at a meeting in a Senate office building, I was approached about Christians in leadership being part of the solution on climate change. Very little was being done. Ever since then, I've been happy to hear whenever more is being done.

But the most fascinating part of the letter is this... and I have to thank Sojourners in DC for highlighting this letter and this portion in particular.

They wrote:

"... we have observed that Cizik and others are using the global warming controversy to shift the emphasis away from the great moral issues of our time, notably the sanctity of human life, the integrity of marriage and the teaching of sexual abstinence and morality to our children."

Oh... my... God. They did not really write that, did they?!

The great moral issues of our day are (very narrowly defined) sanctify of human life (ABORTION), the integrity of marriage (NO GAY LOVE) and the teaching of sexual abstinence and morality (SEX IS PLAIN BAAAD!)

Sometimes it's hard to believe how different Christians can be from each other, because I wear the CHRIST nametag too but I feel like I have almost nothing in common with these misguided freaks.

The sanctity of life... how about defining that as it relates to issues like Iraq, Afghanistan, poverty, Hurricane Katrina victims still living in squalor, inner cities abandoned because of racism, the horrible travesty of public education in thousands of U.S. cities...

The integrity of marriage? Cool, if you're excited about that, if you've found the One, then cool. But Jesus did not harp on this. He mentioned it once. He also mentioned selling all your possessions once. Who has the hardened heart?

Teaching our kids sexual abstinence and morality? Again, what in the world is this preoccupation with SEX? How about we teach our kids love, tolerance, patience, integrity, honesty, generosity. These things don't making loving Jesus impossible or even compromised. They make loving Jesus real and tangible.

Ugh. The whole thing is disgusting. I am so tired of powerful Christians intimidating each other. I am tired of ideologies being used as a heavy vehicle for rolling over and smashing other people. (A moderate Democrat or Republican is often mercilessly berated by their own party.)

Anyway, I guess that's a whole 'nother conversation... I just find this letter very telling and very disturbing. Dobson is probably planning a coup as we speak.

Ann Coulter calls Edwards a faggot

This incident was so, so inappropriate.... remind me again why this woman is famous? She is the political equivalent of Paris Hilton. I love hearing that some of her advertisers split and some publications pulled her column. John Edwards is a lawyer... he should sue her for defamation. That would be fun (albeit a huge distraction from anything that matters).

Whether she's talking about Democrats or Al Qaeda or whatever other stuff she talks about, she thinks she's so hilarious. Well she's actually a little hate inciter, and I can't stand her. Blah. Go away, Ann.

If you aren't convinced, check this out:

Women's Voting

During an episode of Politically Incorrect, she said: "I think [women] should be armed but should not vote... women have no capacity to understand how money is earned. They have a lot of ideas on how to spend it... it's always more money on education, more money on child care, more money on day care." She also once said: "It would be a much better country if women did not vote. That is simply a fact. In fact, in every presidential election since 1950 - except Goldwater in '64 - the Republican would have won, if only the men had voted."

Don't tell me she's joking. She puts so much truth in her joking. That's why she's a VICIOUS NUT!

The Uncyclopedia

The Uncyclopedia - The content-free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Wow. Did people really spend this much time to make something this random into a spoof that is this close to the real deal? lol This is the best thing ever.

Where did 38 people go?

US accused on 'missing' prisoners

Thirty eight people believed to have been held in secret CIA prisons - or black sites - are missing, according to a report by a US human rights group.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report also details allegations of torture by a terror suspect who was held in secret custody for more than two years.

The group has asked US President George W Bush to reveal the location of these detainees and close all US black sites.

Last year Mr Bush said the prisons had all closed and had not used torture.

'Missing' prisoners

In a televised address in September, Mr Bush admitted that 14 detainees had been held at secret CIA prisons that used interrogation methods that were "tough" but "lawful and necessary".

"The United States does not torture," Mr Bush said at the time. "It's against our laws, and it's against our values. I have not authorised it - and I will not authorise it."

He said the prisoners had since been transferred to the US military camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the CIA was not holding any more terror suspects.

But in a report published on Tuesday, HRW has named another 38 people who were believed to have been held in secret CIA prisons, who are now missing.

Quoting US intelligence officials, The Washington Post says more than 60 people have been held in the prisons since 2001.

'Beaten and burned'

The group has called on the US to reveal the location of all detainees held by the CIA since 2001 and end its "illegal" secret detention and interrogation programmes.

Palestinian Islamic extremist Marwan al-Jabour told HRW he saw or spoke to a number of those named in the report while he was held by the CIA between 2004 and 2006.

Mr Jabour, who was arrested in Lahore, Pakistan in May 2004, also detailed torture tactics he says were used against him while he was in US custody.

He says at various periods during his 28-month detention Pakistani authorities kept him naked and chained to a ceiling. He says he was beaten, burned and handcuffed in stress positions.

During this time he was also reportedly interrogated by US agents for hours on end, but Mr Jabour says he was only tortured when the Americans were not around.

Mr Jabour admits that in 1998 he trained in Afghanistan in the hope of fighting in Chechnya. He also says he helped Arab militants who had fled Afghanistan for Pakistan in 2003, but he denies any links to al-Qaeda or terror activities.

EU threat

Meanwhile, the US has warned the European Union that ongoing inquiries into secret CIA flights within Europe linked to the black sites are threatening intelligence ties between Europe and the US.

The investigations "have not been helpful with respect to necessary co-operation between the United States and Europe," John Bellinger, legal adviser to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said.

Mr Bellinger also labelled a European Parliament report into the flights, released earlier this month, as "unbalanced, inaccurate and unfair".

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6405089.stm

Are love and faith the same?

I hope you don't mind, Philip, but what you wrote was so wonderful... I've never heard 'love' and 'faith' defined like this. You should be writing my blog! lol So I pulled your comment off the post below and put it here for all to enjoy:

I don't know how different love and faith actually are. Love seems to be (according to a list of authors and speakers listed later) an authentic approach toward another in which you are transformed, while leaving that other as is - in other words, not internally likening it to yourself or otherwise denying its individuality. It's an "internal" experience which requires some sort of response or reaction - even when you have no idea how to react.

Love at its core is both relational and personal. It only arises in relationship to another, but it's still ultimately you who loves, no matter the response (encouragement or otherwise) of the other. Even if the object hurts you or otherwise refuses your response, it is still your responsibility to love.

NB: THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "RESPONSIBILITY" AND "DUTY". You have no duty of any kind to stay in an abusive relationship of any kind or continue to love when such an attachment can kill you - in that sense that no one can force you to act otherwise apart from your consent, you're free. The flip side is that you are responsible to the relationship - it is your response to that other person which is ultimate.

Faith seems to be similar - approaching life/god/reality in a way that leaves you transformed and open to new possibility. It too requires a response which at any given time you might not be capable of performing, but the call must lead you on. It is the direct encounter with and responsibility to the Ultimate, and not mental assent to some creedal statement. No guarantee things will turn out right, and the probability that things will go badly and it might well be your own damn fault Yet you continue blindly into the unfolding world, listening ahead for the one who saves you from your finitude.

...writing this, I felt way too many influences. Levinas, McLaren, Buber, Krishnamurti, Gene, B. Katie, the gospels, a whole lot of Buddhist teachers and a little bit of Derrida. I can't say that a single thing above is even original, or accurate, or even internally consistent...especially since my experience at loving and at faith is virtually nil. They seem like smart people, though.

Random note: Don't look up what "pistis" means in Lithuanian. And if you do, don't read 1 Corinthians or Luke (or the other gospels, or Acts, or any letter besides 2 John) with that meaning in place of the word "faith" in translation.

(Credit, All of It, Due to One Philip S.)

Love is greater than faith

You know how the banner of the Reformation was "saved by grace through faith" ? Sola Fide... faith alone. Not by works but by faith. Yada, yada, yada. (Hehe I saw the Seinfeld "yada" episode last night. That's a good one.)

Anyway, I've just been thinking a lot about love lately.

But now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(1 Cor. 13:13)

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
(Galatians 5:6)

And it's just funny to me that we put so much stock in faith... so much faith in faith, really. When God has said pretty clearly, over and over, in story and even directly, that what really matters more than anything is love.

The greatest commandment is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
(Deuteronomy 6:5)

Not to have soul-saving faith, not to have correct theology (we'll be lucky if 2% of our theology is right, in my estimation), not to pray the right prayer... but the greatest commandment is to love the Great God of the Universe, the Maker of all things both seen and unseen, that Great Artist and Amazing Lover

And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.
(Mark 12:31)

You could say faith is a necessary first step to loving. You might call me crazy but I would say love makes faith almost irrelevant. It's no longer even a question of faith. Love overshadows the whole faith issue.

I get along very well with people who understand faith as something that is only real when it is felt or expressed as love. I think Jesus liked those people, too -

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

(Luke 7)

Okay so he used the word faith at the end... hehe maybe my grand point isn't adding up. Hmmm I wonder if I could pull out some Greek and prove he used a special faith word that means love. Phil, can ya help me out? lol

Well let me just leave you with this one...

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.