Because Of Me

This is something my friend Seth wrote and published on Facebook. I read through it again today and feel like all of you (okay, more like both of you) deserve to read it:

Because of me.
I want what I cannot have.
I wake when I want to sleep.
I shut up when I want to scream
and inwardly hold my contempt at bay.
I run when I wish to fight.
I cuss when I should pray.
I smile though inside I frown,
and bare my pearly whites like ivory horses parading in duplicity.

In all of my self-induced living, the major cities lose no sleep, nor lose business profit.
The rich live on in luxury. The poor still erode on rusting streets.
And nothing changes in my frustration over trivial selfish pursuits.

I have no real effect on mankind. This is because I am cynical.
And I do not give things away. This is because I am selfish.
And I am wrong, 99.9 percent of the day. This is because I am sinful.
And I quietly judge. I keep secrets from friends. This is because I am insecure.
And I hardly ever love. This is because of me.
But I am loved, still. This is not because of me.

A man is not victorious until he has defeated himself.

- Seth Conover.

PS: I am feeling artistically inclined this afternoon so I might do some actual posting tonight, rather than just mooching off of my talented and insightful friends.

Shut Up

There have to be a hundred other ways to ask for someone to be quiet… Why then, if not to disrespect someone, would we tell them to shut up.

I just perceive that to be SUCH a disrespectful thing to say unless it’s in a joking context or perhaps a moment of severity where immediate quietness is important. Outside of those contexts, it is just disrespectful.

There have to be a hundred other ways to ask for someone to be quiet… Why then, if not to disrespect someone, would we tell them to shut up.

I just perceive that to be SUCH a disrespectful thing to say unless it’s in a joking context or perhaps a moment of severity where immediate quietness is important. Outside of those contexts, it is just disrespectful.

I’m a big proponent for saying what you mean, but make sure it is apparent that you’re disrespecting someone if you intend to. And make sure that you are going to be honest (with yourself and others) about your disrespectful nature if/when you’re called out on it.

Bandwagon

 

Come on, everyone is doing it!

Facebook Update

Facebook said that 9 of my friends became fans… who am I not to jump on the bandwagon?

There aren't words...

Why I Can’t Get A Girlfriend

Reason #435: My sense of humor.

 

I'm just kidding...

Sneak Peak

Here’s a list of topics that are pretty well constantly on my mind. These are topics about which I hope to write in the near future and have been meaning to write about but forget. This list is as much for your previewing pleasure as it is a reminder for myself.

1. Control
2. Social/Religious Pressure (kind of goes with Control)
3. Wisdom/Foolishness; Weakness/Strength (in regards to God’s power system)
4. Religion Vs. Relationship; Being spiritually poor; pertaining to the religious elite of today and the Pharisees of yesteryear.
5. Clean people/places vs. unclean people/places; “Christian bubbles” (should we avoid “sinners” and the places around which they congregate?)
6. Sin: it comes from the heart and not from the hands (it’s not an item on a defined list of “bad” actions–it’s a motivation or lack thereof)
7. Images/Masks, controlling how other people perceive us; harm of wearing Religious masks (see item 4)
8. Brutal honesty vs politeness. Which is more loving? (note to self: Megan Lynn S.); if you have these people in your lives, appreciate them, don’t woe them or seek to change them.

I’m quitting now before I commit myself to a month’s worth of writing.

My Reading List

Books that I have read/am currently reading (I highly recommend all of these unless otherwise specified)

Myth of a Christian Nation: How the quest for political power is destroying the church – Gregory A. Boyd

The Ragamuffin Gospel – Brennan Manning

The Irresistible Revolution – Shane Claiborne

Blue Like Jazz – Donald Miller

Sex God – Rob Bell (decent, but not a fav)

Books that I really REALLY want to read in the near future

Velvet Elvis – Rob Bell

Jesus For President – Shane Claiborne

Ragamuffin Gospel – Visual edition (abbreviated of the normal addition, but with art)

I’ll try and add more to this list as I think of them. Everything so far is as of 11/16/08.

Richard Rohr: Things Hidden: Scripture As Spirituality <- I have no idea why this is linked or what it is linked to. I’ve just seen a lot of quotes from this on WorD and it seems pretty brilliant. – I added this Monday, 12/8/2008