to be a critic

I know that, because I am one. I try to catch myself, but it just eeks through. I eat a bad meal I could have cooked better, I watch a bad movie I could have made better, I hear a bad song I could have written better...but I didn't.
People put themselves out there despite the possibility of harsh words from windbags like me; that in itself should be commended.
I don't mean everything created deserves accolades, but they don't deserve useless harangues from someone like me with nothing at stake. No piece of my soul bared for the world to judge.
My unsolicited criticisms are about as helpful braille to a deaf person. There may be a problem, but I'm kidding myself if I think I'm the remedy.

to be mysterious

I'm not jaded, but I am definitely not naive. I have had my crushes, been crushed and done some crushing. I have liked smart guys, cute guys, chubby guys and older guys. In my younger years I always found myself attracted to the mysterious, artistic and scrawny.

I wish I could tell my teenage self one thing; it's a cover. If a man/boy/man-boy is aloof he is usually an idiot. I wanted to be the only key that could unlock their guarded hearts.I wanted to peel back the dark, brooding layers and find a jewel...it ain't there. It's usually a void, maybe with a doodle in crayon, some lint and if you're lucky a few moths. If you're unlucky it's filled with an unadulterated passion...for themselves.

I was very fortunate in my choice of mate. What you see is what you get. That is a very underestimated quality these days. I guess it's what you would call honesty.

to be a bad friend

You all know who I'm talking about. The person that only calls when they have a problem. They don't answer their phone, return calls or care. The "friend" that gets offended when you share your time with someone else. The one that can make any situation you are in about themselves.

Then there it is... their number on my caller id. I would have answered if they had called back sooner. I don't want to listen to their lousy excuses on my voicemail, delete. I lurk their facebook and see who they care about enough to actually talk too. Oh no, they're logged on too! Better click off before they start chatting and ask why I haven't returned their call. They probably just want to talk about their loud neighbor and his bad taste in music. That's nothing! I can hear my criminally insane neighbor belch through the...wall... oh... ummmm...

and yet, so hard

In the current cultural climate many people are willing to check the Christian/Other box if need be. But sometimes admitting it, out loud, in public, where people can actually hear you can be a bit embarrassing.

Yes the word 'Christian' might affiliate you with some ignorant, judgmental and arrogant people, but so does the word 'human' or 'American'.

I find people like Rob Bell can take the sting out of it.

I was lucky enough to see him give this lecture in LA and had the privileged of meeting him afterward. I would recommend this DVD to anyone, in public, where people can actually hear me.

to find the real threat

Alright, my views on prop 8 have warranted many a debate with friends and family, which made me realize my argument was incomplete. Here is my conclusion: Homosexuals are not the threat to marriage, the government is.

The Establishment Clause of the 1st amendment to the United States Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof".

The government started regulating marriage in order to control STDs and taxes. By doing so they have secularized it and it has suffered greatly ever since. By setting a government standard for marriage, most conservative, religious, law abiding people will also define their sacred, spiritual marriage by that standard. When the government then offers the same, cold, industrial form of a marriage-contract to couples that aren't Biblically founded, conservatives see it as a slap in the face.

There isn't a state church for a very good reason, and marriage, like every other religious act, should not be controlled by the same 'people' who issue parking tickets.

Stop fighting the battle to make marriage holy and spiritual through the very system that has destroyed it.

It really hurts when I see "yes on prop 8" signs on church lawns. All I see is a thicker wall being built between the church and the masses they are supposed to help. Yes, even the gay ones. I also see a a supposedly sacred institution taking part in expanding the arm of the government, which is a very fair-weathered friend. A monster is being created, it will only be a matter of time before it stops feigning obedience.

Check out this bloggers post

to be righteous

My town is flooded with YES ON PROP 8 signs. They're on every other suburban lawn and minivan I encounter; please tell me why.

As an individual I believe marriage is when and man and women fall in love and want to make a permanent commitment to each other and God. I believe that is what God created it to be. I believe humans mess it up every single day.

I don't believe MY beliefs, or anyone else's, should be enforced by law.

I believe God gave us free will to decide if we want to follow him or not; I don't believe the government should have the right to take that away.

I believe if God doesn't want to recognize a marriage as legitimate, for any reason, he doesn't have to, even if they have a California state certificate.

I heard some parents are worried about what children will learn in school about gay marriage. I don't care if they teach marriage is between a man and a goat, children learn about marriage from their parents. That is where children should learn about morals, values and beliefs. I went to public school, I was bombarded with theories and myths DAILY, mostly from other children. I knew what was true and what to second guess because of what I learned in my home.

People, let's work in our homes, our families, our churches and most of all ourselves before we start to legislate what others should do. According to the Barna Group, Christians are just as likely to divorce as non-Christians. I personally proved that to be true. We will NEVER be perfect, but let's try to lead by example, not law.

If nothing else, as a small government person, when the state is able to tell someone they are not allowed to do something that doesn't cause bodily injury to a bystander they have too much power. The government should not be here to protect us from ourselves or our sin.

to get sucked in

For some it's The Bachelor, others The Tyra Banks Show and for those gullible masochists like me, it's Paranormal State.

I hate the thought of anything not alive coming to visit me in the middle of the night, yet I watch these dedicated, attractive, super-nerds battle the paranormal every Monday night only to lie awake the following Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. By the time I catch up on the lost hours of rest and the bags under my eyes subside I do it to myself all over again.

I believe these people are genuine, they had been doing it long before A&E decided to pay them for it. Plus, Chip Coffey is the most lovable, effeminate medium this side of physical realm.

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe anyone should dabble in paranormal/spiritual matters they don't understand. But I like to watch other people try to help.

to be sad

How many sad movies, songs and news stories does it take for the realization to occur that it's easy to be sad?

When I was and adolescent in the 90s I was always a little miffed at experiencing such a wonderful, storybook childhood. Nothing to brood, paint or write songs about. No good reason to throw myself at cute guys to find self worth. It wasn't until the pressures of life piled up that I realized happiness is the exception. It's what great works of art should be about, depression and emptiness are the norm. Sadness is in effect, mediocre.

Movie critics have it all wrong. They praise the filmmaker that can twist your soul with despair, and bring you down to their dreary level, but the film that inspires and encourages (without being ridiculously cheesy) is the real masterpiece.

You might argue this observation by saying you know plenty of idiots who are blissfully happy. I don't mean them. I don't mean ignorance which doesn't know any better. I'm talking about the person who has to pay bills, help friends, protest injustice and then cook dinner.

A person struggling with a deflated soul, head down on the table, hears that they have it tough, when it is much more difficult to pick your head up off of that table and decide to contribute. While it does hurt to be sad, it's much more tiring to be happy.

Is it easier to make someone laugh or make someone cry? While it may take more effort, at the end of the day you'll be able to sleep without a pill.

to be fooled

Bailout? Rescue plan? Please.
How long will America take to realize the people who got us into this mess are not the ones to be trusted with getting us out.

I read a great quote today, "The only thing we learn from history, I am afraid, is that we do not learn from history." Congressman Ron Paul.

Can the folks in Washington open their dusty history books and read a paragraph about the great depression? It was only last century, I'm pretty sure McCain was alive through it. Propping up mortgages and wall street behemoths that are failing because of federal intervention with MORE federal intervention (aka magically minted money with rapidly diminishing value) will only leave them, and the rest of us unwittingly tied to their kamikaze attempt to make EVERYONE happy, further to fall before we hit bottom.

Blaming the American people would be like blaming a spoiled child when they cry for more, faster, better. Isn't it the fault of the parents for giving in in the first place? Even still, giving the child what they scream for doesn't fix the problem. They have to eventually realize the corner they have backed themselves into; there will be an embarrassing meltdown before any progress is made. The sooner the meltdown occurs the quicker the rehabilitation can begin.

America should protest together. Refuse to pay taxes. Refuse the government the right to steal from you in order to dig themselves deeper into debt, wars and lies. Either that or I suggest everyone buy some Euros and grow a garden.