When you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME.

This will probably be a random assortment of thoughts all jumbled into one since my life has become very stationary in the past week as I wait for the 21st to roll in (my move in day up in Greeley). Of course, this won't stop me from doing things, but my days blur together in a haze of myspace, satirical stories, loud music and going deaf from my dad playing his videogames at hell spawn scaring volumes. Anyway, enough blather and onto last night!

Last night was a friend of mine's (she shall be named Stacee) 21st birthday and as all good 21 year olds she wanted to get completely plastered. And she did. Started at Old Chicago, nothing big, and then we decided to head on down the streets to some of the bars/clubs in the wonderful five blocks of downtown Colorado Springs. We tried to get into Rum Bay but Rick and Chris (two dudes, that's all you need to know) were told they could not enter this "fine establishment" on account of their dress. Apparently, lots of piercings, all black clothing, and a wallet chain are not "appropriate attire" for a two story bar. So, we said "Screw you!" to that place and went to this club called Eden and unless you consider bad rave music, fog, and table dancers to be paradise, it certainly wasn't. Funny thing that happened there, Stacee was completely piss drunk and practically falling over. As such, being the sociable, bubbly person that she is, she would walk over to you and hug/grab/molest you. Well, her brother took the constant grabbing of her by her friends in our attempt to hold her up as us trying to "cop a feel." Which put a damper on the then five minutes left of our night out.

So, what is all this random assortment of words about? Well, dear reader it is not too hard to figure out. See, all these things happened because of one thing; assumption! Yes, our good friend assumption shows and he's brought his companion judgment along with him. I was talking with my mom this morning and mentioned the Rum Bay incident and she was surprised. Now, for reference, she knows Rick and well, I guess I could post a picture of him but I don't feel like it. So she and I got into a discussion about the prejudgments that people and society hold in general. In Rick's case, his black clothing, piercings, and jewelry would lend you to think that he's probably a Goth (only half true) and most likely some sort of drug using, uneducated, heathen. So, a Goth then. Well, Rick is none of those things, but the fact is that unless you conform to the mold of society in general, there is still a prejudgment. I don't think it's near as prevalent as it used to be (especially among my generation) but the fact remains that people don't look at people as simply people. Rather people look at people as either, "preppy," "goth," "punk," "drunkard," "black," "white," "Mexican," etc. You get my drift. My mom lives in this incredible world that I only hope I could ever live in and that's the world where "people are simply people." As far as I can remember, she has never said one single judgmental word about anyone unless she's knows them and then even if it's negative she always tries to think "how should I as a Christian react?" I think that this is the attitude that we as Christians should take. People are people and they are all created by God and this gives us an immediate value (remember Bible 101?). It's a great thing really, but how often do we live in that kind of world? Does that kind of mindset permeate our thinking and what we say? I'd argue not.

I've noticed that Christians tend to say things (myself included) that are not really in this mindset. For instance, think of the flippant use of the word "gay." We use it to mean something is "stupid" but it still has that connection in this use with the view of homosexuals. How often do we as Christians view homosexuals as, well people? Or do we treat them as lepers? Now, I'm not going to say anything about the act of homosexuality (that's a whole other blog) but rather simply ask whether or not we treat homosexuals as people created by God? None of us are free of sin and no sin is greater than any other, but homosexuality is currently viewed (along with abortion) as the greatest of all sins and anyone who engages in either of these activities should be shunned! They have become the lepers and tax collectors of our time. We as Christians have not reached out the loving and redeeming hand of Christ to these people. No political agendas, no Sodom and Gomorrah talk. We assume these people are the downfall of all civilization, but the fact is that we live in a fallen world in need of redemption. Homosexuals are not the downfall of America, that will happen regardless of what we do. As Chuck Smith once quipped to Dr. Dobson, "it's all going to burn Jim!" Anyway, I think I've made my point (in an offhand sort of manner).

I'll wrap this up with on last thing; think about who we as a society and as Christians hold in the tax collector and leper position. Once you've figured it out, think of it not as how society or the Conservative Christian consensus would treat these people. Think of how Christ would treat them and then apply that to your whole life. I know that I will and maybe one day I can live in that world where "people are simply people."

Something, everything, nothing

"I've read confusing fiction
And lived a contradiction
And I've wondered where on earth I've been
I've known a love forever
A Truth I couldn't sever..."

These are some lines from one of my favorite King's X songs "Life Going By" I won't repsot the entire song as there isn't much need to but I've had a few interesting experiences and one very life changing event this past weekend. First the experiences.

Friday night I went to a very different concert. It was at a Messianic Jewish synagog and it was a group known as "The Liberated Wailing Wall" which is in connection with Jews for Jesus an organization that seeks to bring the message of "Yeshua" (Jesus for all us Gentiles) to the Jewish people. It was quite a different experience listenning to worship songs done in a modern meets tradtional Jewish folk music style (and if that confuses you, well skip ahead). All in all though it was quite a fun and different experience. However, this is nothing compared to with what happened the next morning.

Saturday I went back to the synagog for, well, synagog. It was quite different being a mix of the traditional and the modern but really it was quite cool. I was a bit caught off gaurd with the whole thing but you know it never really felt awkward. Part of that though had to have been how welcome I was made to feel by the people there (which apparently 75% of is my friend Liz's family; thanks again for inviting me Liz.). I will say, it was very, very cool how people actually got up and danced during the worship time (and not in a scary, charasmatic, falling on floors way). I have some more thoughts on it, but I'm still shifting through them. However Sunday was the "life-changing event" I spoke of. Here it is,

I've left Marriage of Convenience.

This is not a decision that I've come to lightly, believe me. I've been wrestling with this all summer (even a little longer actually). I've also probably made the lady who does my financial aid at UNC crazy with my, "I'm staying/I'm leaving" bi-weekly phone calls. In the end, I've decided to stay at UNC because there is a lot up there I am leaving. One, I'm leaving a very good school, one I've done well at. Two, I'm leaving a lot of people that I will sorely miss and three I have my school paid for free of debt right now and that is hard to come by. I have a good church up there, good friends, and yet I've realized that my returning up there is not coming at a small price. It's quite a big one actually. I'm leaving a band I love playing in (though thankfully the guys are very understanding and are not mad at me) and I've made some friends (well ok one) that I will be sad not to be able to hang out with due to the distance. I also feel that God has something for me in Greeley, some reason to be there. I'm not sure what that is yet, but I gotta have faith that it will be revealed to me.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Have a good day everyone. Oh, and a new blog of my "twisted" thoughts will appear soon.