An open letter to “Pastor” Terry Jones:
First let me say – just because you can doesn’t mean you should. With freedom comes great responsibility.
I implore you to reconsider your foolish and selfish act, especially when there could be blood on your head as a result.
Your act will not save any souls, it will not cause the Quran nor Islam and its worshippers to go away – surely you realize it will only strengthen their resolve and give them an excuse for violence?
Why do this? Why put our military and country in even more danger? A military, ironically, giving their lives to fight for the rights of fools like you.
One can only hope our Islam brothers and sisters recognize you as an extremist and not someone that represents the majority of Americans – just as they hope we don’t judge them based on the actions of the extremists in their midst.
No good can come of this, Jesus would not condone this and, if you are truly a church that worships Jesus, how can you act in a way that He would not condone?
There are a lot of things and people I don’t agree with but Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Does your act reflect this verse? I think not.
The Bible also holds preachers to a higher judgment - "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment" (James 3:1)
Are you prepared for the judgment your act will incur from your God? I think not.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
Are you truly doing the will of God? I think not. Sounds like you’re doing “your will.” The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) says, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
It doesn’t say “Pastor Terry Jones’ will” – it says “God’s will.”
Your act makes you a hypocrite – not a martyr, not a hero. Turn the other cheek, sir.
And, as for the media – you’re also responsible for how you use your freedoms. Don’t give this fool the time of day – otherwise, you are just as responsible for fanning the flames of discord as he is.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Goodbye Lost
Goodbye "Lost"
After six glorious seasons, the best show on television is coming to an end.
Lost has been full of cerebral mysteries and intrigue, but in the end it was always about the characters.
And, in the end, so too the Lost viewing experience has been about the incredible community that was created -- the Losties. Fans and theorists became fast friends. We embodied Jack's "Live together, die alone" mantra. We shared, we theorized, we obsessed! But, in the end, we became a family.
To Damon, Carlton, Bender and all the incredibly talented folks involved with Lost -- thank you! Thank you for your vision, for creating and sharing an incredible gift with us that will never be duplicated and that we will forever treasure.
To the actors -- thank you for bringing the vision to life in such a believable, powerful, and beautiful way. For creating truly iconic characters that will forever live in our hearts.
To the Losties -- thanks to all of you, for your crazy theories, your intelligence, your generosity and, most of all, your friendship.
As of this writing, the finale has not yet aired but I am already grieving the end. But I know that, however it ends, I'm a changed and better person for having watched and experienced Lost.
We, the viewers, are the survivors of Flight 815....
After six glorious seasons, the best show on television is coming to an end.
Lost has been full of cerebral mysteries and intrigue, but in the end it was always about the characters.
And, in the end, so too the Lost viewing experience has been about the incredible community that was created -- the Losties. Fans and theorists became fast friends. We embodied Jack's "Live together, die alone" mantra. We shared, we theorized, we obsessed! But, in the end, we became a family.
To Damon, Carlton, Bender and all the incredibly talented folks involved with Lost -- thank you! Thank you for your vision, for creating and sharing an incredible gift with us that will never be duplicated and that we will forever treasure.
To the actors -- thank you for bringing the vision to life in such a believable, powerful, and beautiful way. For creating truly iconic characters that will forever live in our hearts.
To the Losties -- thanks to all of you, for your crazy theories, your intelligence, your generosity and, most of all, your friendship.
As of this writing, the finale has not yet aired but I am already grieving the end. But I know that, however it ends, I'm a changed and better person for having watched and experienced Lost.
We, the viewers, are the survivors of Flight 815....
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Sixth Sense?
Just watched a video re a product in the works called "The Sixth Sense." While truly amazing, I actually find it somewhat disturbing and ironic. (www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html)
Ironic in the sense that, it's called "Sixth Sense" but is the type of product/technology that is going to lead to humans losing their intuition and their developed, God-given natural senses. We'll begin to depend on technology and machinery to the point that our real senses and intuition go by the wayside. So, rather than it being a "Sixth Sense," it will be our only sense.
Think about the humans in "Wall-e" -- they were completely dependent upon technology to do everything for them, to make every decision for them. To the point where they didn't trust their own decisions and could not think for themselves. They weren't living life, they, in essence, had become the "machines." Or, slaves to the machines.
Every time I read or see something about new technology that sounds like it will lead to human dependence on machine rather than self, God, etc., I'm reminded of Stephen Vincent Benet's poem, "Nightmare Number Three" (www.brewerb.com/BREWERBLOB/Nightmare_Number_Three.html). Written in 1935, it presents a world in which the machines Man has come to depend on take over. No one saw it coming but they should have. How prophetic.
Does anyone ever stop to think, "Are we building a technological Tower of Babel?"
I also wonder which came first. Meaning, have we really, truly ever invented anything or have we just taken ideas from long-ago Sci-Fi movies, books, stories that are now made possible due to technological advancement? What would we invent if we had not ever been influenced by those stories, those "literary inventions?"
The thing that bothers me most about the video/product that started this electronic soap box is the end statement on the video -- "Who knows, maybe in another 10 years we'll be here with the ultimate Sixth Sense brain implant..."
I for one will not be waiting in line for that.
Ironic in the sense that, it's called "Sixth Sense" but is the type of product/technology that is going to lead to humans losing their intuition and their developed, God-given natural senses. We'll begin to depend on technology and machinery to the point that our real senses and intuition go by the wayside. So, rather than it being a "Sixth Sense," it will be our only sense.
Think about the humans in "Wall-e" -- they were completely dependent upon technology to do everything for them, to make every decision for them. To the point where they didn't trust their own decisions and could not think for themselves. They weren't living life, they, in essence, had become the "machines." Or, slaves to the machines.
Every time I read or see something about new technology that sounds like it will lead to human dependence on machine rather than self, God, etc., I'm reminded of Stephen Vincent Benet's poem, "Nightmare Number Three" (www.brewerb.com/BREWERBLOB/Nightmare_Number_Three.html). Written in 1935, it presents a world in which the machines Man has come to depend on take over. No one saw it coming but they should have. How prophetic.
Does anyone ever stop to think, "Are we building a technological Tower of Babel?"
I also wonder which came first. Meaning, have we really, truly ever invented anything or have we just taken ideas from long-ago Sci-Fi movies, books, stories that are now made possible due to technological advancement? What would we invent if we had not ever been influenced by those stories, those "literary inventions?"
The thing that bothers me most about the video/product that started this electronic soap box is the end statement on the video -- "Who knows, maybe in another 10 years we'll be here with the ultimate Sixth Sense brain implant..."
I for one will not be waiting in line for that.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Delusional Egos
You probably know one. That so-called "intelligent" / "academia" person who is so caught up in their little ivory tower of a world that they truly believe everyone outside that world is an idiot and doesn't even realize how transparent they are.
They say backhanded things to you because they truly believe you're too stupid to recognize that that's what they're doing.
Sooo annoying!
I just let them think I don't see what they're doing and have a good laugh and an eye roll about it later. (But it is still annoying!)
They say backhanded things to you because they truly believe you're too stupid to recognize that that's what they're doing.
Sooo annoying!
I just let them think I don't see what they're doing and have a good laugh and an eye roll about it later. (But it is still annoying!)
Thursday, May 07, 2009
The Grasshopper, the Ant, and the Flu
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, feeling well, chirping and singing to his heart's content. A worker from A.N.T. ("Action Negates Trouble") passed by, bearing along with great toil vaccines, Tamiflu, and other medical supplies -- taking them to be stockpiled for the winter.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of overreacting and toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up medical supplies in the event of a pandemic," said the A.N.T. worker, "and recommend you do the same."
"Why bother about a possible pandemic or the possibility of a bad, mutated winter flu?" said the Grasshopper. "We're all well right now and the Swine Flu is not all that bad and everyone overreacted -- come on!" But the A.N.T. worker went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper began to cough and run a fever and ache all over; he had no vaccine and no Tamiflu, and found himself dying of flu, while it saw A.N.T. distributing every day medical supplies from the stockpile they had created during the summer.
Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of overreacting and toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up medical supplies in the event of a pandemic," said the A.N.T. worker, "and recommend you do the same."
"Why bother about a possible pandemic or the possibility of a bad, mutated winter flu?" said the Grasshopper. "We're all well right now and the Swine Flu is not all that bad and everyone overreacted -- come on!" But the A.N.T. worker went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper began to cough and run a fever and ache all over; he had no vaccine and no Tamiflu, and found himself dying of flu, while it saw A.N.T. distributing every day medical supplies from the stockpile they had created during the summer.
Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
Monday, April 27, 2009
"Swine" Flu
This flu seems aptly named because if and when Swine Flu spreads, it will be because of the lack of courtesy in this day and age. I am constantly amazed at the number of people who are obviously sick that don't seem to think twice about going shopping, going to church, taking their kids to school sick, etc.
Mostly because they would be "inconvenienced" if they didn't or so they think. Never a thought that the person who catches their illness will most likely be "inconvenienced" or that they might be coming in contact with someone whose immune system isn't as strong as theirs.
Please, people, I beg of you, take this seriously. DO NOT get out in public if you're running a fever and know that you're sick. DO NOT pump your kids full of Tylenol in an effort to hide their symptoms before dumping them off at school. BE RESPONSIBLE! BE CONSIDERATE!
Be part of the solution -- not part of the problem. If this flu is as potentially serious as TPTB say it is, you could be complicit in killing someone if you continue to insist on being inconsiderate and spreading your germs.
Mostly because they would be "inconvenienced" if they didn't or so they think. Never a thought that the person who catches their illness will most likely be "inconvenienced" or that they might be coming in contact with someone whose immune system isn't as strong as theirs.
Please, people, I beg of you, take this seriously. DO NOT get out in public if you're running a fever and know that you're sick. DO NOT pump your kids full of Tylenol in an effort to hide their symptoms before dumping them off at school. BE RESPONSIBLE! BE CONSIDERATE!
Be part of the solution -- not part of the problem. If this flu is as potentially serious as TPTB say it is, you could be complicit in killing someone if you continue to insist on being inconsiderate and spreading your germs.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tolerance
Funny how those that demand "tolerance" are so intolerant when someone states an opinion that they don't agree with.
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