Blue-Eyed Christ and the gospel of “Meh”

I received an email today claiming to be the results of an NBC morning poll on whether or not to keep the words “in God we trust” on our money and “one nation under God” in the pledge of allegiance.  The email went on to claim that NBC had a higher number of responses on this poll than any other poll and that the results were 86% in favor of keeping the verbage with a mere 14% against.  The email ended with the question of why is the world catering to this 14%?   Oh, did I mention that this email also contained a picture of a blue-eyed Christ?

I find it fitting to have received this email the same week it was announced that the word “meh” will be added to the Collins English Dictionary.  Meh has many meanings depending upon the intonation, however it started out signifying mediocrity or indifference and has evolved/devolved to infer boring, apathetic or unimpressive.  Now, I know I am rambling a bit, so I will try to make my point……

If 86% percent of NBC viewers truly believe what is printed on their money and stated in their pledge, then why is our nation in the shape it is?  I’ll tell you why, because these same people believe in a blue-eyed Christ.  They have accepted a gospel of Meh.  A gospel of mediocrity and indifference to the truth.  They see the  gospel message through the same narrow world view they see their version of Christ.  The view that sees prosperity in terms of temporal riches rather than a flourishing kingdom of God.  Through this same narrow world view the followers of this meh gospel truly believe only 14% of the “world” wants to banish God from our vocabulary, so why listen to them?  However, the US Center for World Missions reports that only 33% of the world’s population claim to to be Christians.  That would make make that 14% who want to strike God from our national liturgy closer to 67%.  So shouldn’t the question really be; why should the world listen to the 33% Christian minority? 

Maybe if this gospel of meh was exchanged for a lot more passion, commitment and action on the Christian minority’s part, we could do away with this blue-eyed Jesus.  Then we could study, follow and honor the true Christ through the blood stained words of the bible. 

Meh…RT

RT on voting.

While monitoring d-hall today and in between whacking knuckles with a wooden ruler, I have been thinking about today’s election.  Not about which way to vote when I leave here this evening, but about all the hype this election has brought with it.  I have been voting since Jimmy Carter was elected president and I have never seen such hand wringing over an election. 

I don’t believe it is just about the candidates’ political views.  We have survived some bad political agendas before.  Some people would say we have just suffered through eight years of one the worst.  I think it is about the candidates themselves and some really deep-seeded racial and sexist bias.  I don’t believe Obama is the anti-Christ nor do I believe McCain equals more of the status quo.  I also don’t believe either one of them is a messiah.

I do believe it is my obligation to vote and not that it will change the world.  That change will come when each one of us takes responsibility for our own actions and starts living in the shadow of the Cross.

Got to go vote, RT

PS: And if I don’t vote, I can’t complain.

Tis the season…

I know it is a little early, but retailers are already vying for our money and maybe our souls.I was convicted when I watched this video…. too often the true focus of Christmas is eclipsed by unbridled consumerism.  And I admit that I have fallen prey to marketing ploys and societal pressures in years past.  This year I vow to give gifts that promote life.  Join in on the conspiracy at Advent Conspiracy.

If you are interested in giving the gift of life by providing clean drinking water check out Charity Water.  100% of your donation will go to drilling wells in Africa.

Thanks for checking it out, RT

No more fresh salsa….

This week’s frost put an end to the RT victory and salsa garden.   Now it is time to prepare the soil for next year’s planting and harvest. 

Be sure to drop by next summer for some fresh salsa and good conversation.  If you play your cards right, I might even let you pull a weed or two.

Thankful for seeds sown, past and future harvests and a nice ripe tomato every now and then, RT.

Demosthenes may have had a point.

When it comes to public education Demosthenes may have had a point.  If one of his students made a grammatical error, he would strike one of the parents.  Now just think about this for a minute…..actually holding parents responsible for their child’s behavior and education?  Unheard of, it is the government’s and it’s educational system responsibility to provide a free education to all of its citizens.  No child left behind right?  I mean parents just need to make sure that their children make it to dance, piano, soccer, cheerleading and every other extracurricular activity on time.

Believe me when I say that I have felt Demosthenes’ pain.  As a mathematics teacher I have heard parents say countless times (okay I could count them but I haven’t) “oh, I wasn’t any good at math either” as an excuse for their child’s poor performance.  Come on, give me a break.  In 7th grade math we are not talking Calculus or Trigonometry here folks, we are talking everyday math skills and a little pre-algebra.  These same kiddos who don’t know their multiplication facts, know the lyrics to hundreds of songs.  It has just not been made a priority at home.  Have you ever heard a parent say; my child can’t read, but that’s okay cause I never learned to read either?  I haven’t either. 

The vast majority of todays teachers are highly qualified and are there because they feel called, oh and the high pay.  We are one of the few nations that try to educate the masses and provide this service free to tax payers and non-taxpayers alike.  I often wonder if because education is basically a handout, it is not valued as it should be.  I mean, if it is truly free then why should one have to work for it at all.  It becomes a right.

No Child Left Behind should be rewritten to incorporate language, guidelines, and consequences for parents of poor performing students.  Then maybe we would see a dynamic change.

Where’s the Tylenol. RT.

I couldn’t do this, could you?

Several friends have sent this video to me over the past couple of days.  I just want to share it with you.  Each time I watch it, I think as a father I could never do this….Thank God our Father did!

God bless you, RT.