I don’t like the politics of church. I don’t like most of the fellowship (read: people getting together to gossip and be overly dramatic about everything while being highly critical of those outside their circle). I don’t like the judgment and stereotyping: how the inside is high and mighty, their wrongs are okay (sure when they realize they’re wrong they can ask and be forgiven, but so can anyone who is sincere) while everything outside is basically evil. Yes, the “outside” stereotypes the inside as well, but is the inside doing anything to break that trend and mold? From my perspective, (“on the fringes” maybe) the inside strengthens that negative stereotype in 85% of their interactions with the “outside.”

This is only part of it, but I believe that too often the people of the church forget that they’re in the world, there’s other people out there and they matter to God just as much as you do. They matter even more, remember the parable of the lost sheep?

Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

But instead of creating community with others, people of the church create an insiders clique.
Jesus made friends with sinners, people who were not part of the church circle.

Mark 2:13And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. 15And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

For me, while I’m “in the church,” I’m also in the world, which isn’t all bad, after all it’s the world that God created for me to be in for a time and I have a purpose here. I am not of the world, but I’m also not of the church, I’m trying my best to be of God.

For now, I think watching church on TV may be my best choice.

Next time you need to promote something, think of Christvertising it. Hilarious. (via Joshua Blankenship).

At this moment I am drinking my coffee with granulated sugar. I am not a happy camper. While I only have a few snobberies about my coffee, this is one of them. It reminds me from part of the movie Le Divorce, where Naomi Watts’ character feels insulted by her mother-in-law calling her use of sugar grains “original.”

“Sugar grains. Original.”
Meaning how bizarre.

Meaning, “Why don’t you have sugar cubes
like a proper French girl?”

I’m also listening to the music you guys recommended right now and will make a post about it shortly. Though I should be finishing up this book I’m writing a review of for the school paper, and doing my other school-related reading.

Caring for Your Introvert: Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am for the most part what one would call introverted. This is a good piece to read if you know any introverts and still an interesting read if you are one yourself. I don’t like the title of it though, I don’t think we need to be “cared for;” it would be better titled “Understanding Your Introvert,” or “How to Act (and Not to Act) Around Introverts.”

What Would Jesus Buy?: Trailer for a Morgan Spurlock (of “Supersize Me”) film on consumerism. I have not yet seen it, but looks very um…interesting. Check it out.

Super Mario Galaxy in Amsterdam: This site is not in English, but it’s the pictures that are great. It’s the celebration of the release of Super Mario Galaxy in Amsterdam. The first pic is awesome.

Bake a Book: Gizmodo post about book technology (yes BOOK technology) with thermo-reactive ink. Basically, the pages are blank until you bake the book in the oven, then words show up.

50 Years of Lego: So I missed posting about the birthday of the Lego brick, but here’s the timeline (also Gizmodo).

Polaroid to Nix Polaroids. What?: Yep, no more instant photos (aka Polaroids!) from Polaroid. Next thing we know Aunt Jemima will quit making syrup, rain will stop being wet, and we’ll here that the John Montagu (look him up if you must) never ate sandwiches.

Defend Your Coffee Habbit: I must have at least 2 cups of coffee every afternoon, if I do not you do not want to be around me. I’ve used each of these defenses at least once.

Bradley Hathaway Interview: A wonderful interview with Bradley Hathaway from HM Magazine. The best parts are what he says about love, both God’s love and romantic love. If you don’t know who Bradley Hathaway is, educate yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

And I’ll end with a quote:

“American movies have been using satire for years to take the edge off sex and violence. Occasionally, perhaps sex and violence should be treated with the seriousness they deserve.” – Roger Ebert

I guess that’s it for goals. Now if I were to make a resolution, and I usually don’t, it would be the same as a couple years ago: a never-ending quest to find beauty in everything, aka find God’s love in everything.

Saw some old friends, met some new ones, had a good time with God.

Best part of coming home: my own coffee, my own bed, oh and taking my contacts out! I forgot to bring my contact case or my glasses so I had to sleep with them in for 2 nights.

Tomorrow I will be leaving for Ocala to go to Holiday Youth Convention. I made a sort-of last minute decision to go; I’m getting to old for it and I figured if I didn’t go this year, I would definitely feel too old to go next year—not that there won’t be other older than I there, there definitely will be.
I’m bringing my laptop along in hopes that there will be free wireless in the hotel, but with the expectation that I won’t have much time to use it anyway.