"Purpose Driven Life" written by Jim on estrip.org

12/17/08 10:50 - 30ºF - ID#47096

Purpose Driven Life

Rick Warren is going to be the minister at Obama's inauguration.

He started the whole 'Purpose Driven Life' movement.

It's like the shortest possible summary of what turns me off of religion.

Purpose #1: You Were Planned for God's Pleasure (Worship)
Purpose #2: You Were Formed for God's Family (Fellowship)
Purpose #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ (Discipleship)
Purpose #4: You Were Shaped for Serving God (Ministry)
Purpose #5: You Were Made for a Mission (Mission)
--

This kind of thing is the worst though:

This spiritual servitude only has negative connotations in a culture that is obsessed with asserting the rights of the individual. Civil rights, human rights, gay rights, minority rights-we hear about this constantly. Instead of asserting our rights-even if we have the freedom to do so-we are choosing to set them aside for a greater thing: the opportunity to serve the living God. What are you setting aside in order to serve God? --

I don't get it at all. Hearing that sort of talk is the only time that I believe in the otherwise-unbelievable claim that "religion is the opiate of the masses".

Divorcing 'God's purposes' from actual human justice seems abhorrent to me, and I don't even believe in God.

jason writes at 04:45:21 12/18/08 - Comment #43492: Good point, (e:James). You don't attract bees with vinegar. I also hope this leads to something productive. I also like how you frame the ideological orthodoxy point - it's pretty clear that he does not demand this of his people, probably to the extreme frustration of the left wing, but it seems he doesn't want a bunch of one way thinkers surrounding him, a welcome change.

This is, again, the thing that astounds me about Obama, and something that I've wavered on in my own analysis. He's the one who has made the high minded speeches, which everyone claps for, cries for, and then forgets immediately after they hop in their car to go home. I doubted his sincerity, but it seems he is committed to some extent. There obviously must be something he likes about Rick Warren outside of the Prop 8 trash. It is indeed very surprising. I guess I don't see it as the worst sin Obama could commit.

drew writes at 11:17:30 12/18/08 - Comment #43472: I thought all marching bands were gay.

(please forgive me. Sometimes my inner-middle schooler can't be contained)

Seriously though, I agree with you, James/

james writes at 10:44:50 12/18/08 - Comment #43470: So Warren has a crappy record on choice and GLBT rights.

But Obama is making considerable inroads with the Evangelical movement. This powerful block of voters can't be changed from the evil religious right to a more moderate constituency without engagement. Most Democratic presidents have paid them lip service. Warren reached out to Obama and it is nice that he is reaching back. I hope some dialogue is opened up.

Add to that:
A gay marching band will be with Obama on his parade to the inauguration. A first.
Obama has nominated the first openly gay cabinet member with Mary Beth Maxwell for Sec of Labor.
At the end of the inauguration vocally pro-GLBT rights activist and civil rights icon Rev. Joseph Lowery will be giving the benediction.

So far, the Obama administration has been one of pragmatism and does not demand ideological orthodoxy. So, I can live with a few Rick Warren's so long as there is a good long-term strategy. And I feel there is even with the oft neglected GLBT rights.

drew writes at 10:13:27 12/18/08 - Comment #43469: He put his influence and his money behind it. He directly told his congregation to vote yes. He wasn't THE leader in campaign, but he certainly was a leader.

jim writes at 09:53:54 12/18/08 - Comment #43468: I don't mind Obama reaching out, that's why I voted for him, but I'll continue to disagree with people he brings in that I don't see eye to eye with. I also don't consider this a slap in the face, but I did react viscerally to it when I heard and had to vent.

janelle writes at 09:50:03 12/18/08 - Comment #43467: Did he lead the campaign against it? Or did he support it? A fine difference, I know, but I'm just curious.

drew writes at 09:40:30 12/18/08 - Comment #43466: On the other hand, he hasn't led a campaign AGAINST women pastors either . . .

But you are right. Reaching out pisses people off. Conservatives will get mad at Warren, too.

But my guess is that nobody even remembers who gave an invocation at any other inauguration. This choice won't affect anything. Picking Joe Biden was WAY more of a sellout and WAY more substantial.

janelle writes at 09:30:04 12/18/08 - Comment #43465: I think I tended to interpret his "Bring America Together" comments as meaning that he would reach out to individuals across the divide; that he was going to reach out to and try to work with people he doesn't necessarily agree with. It's really hard to be inclusive without pissing someone off.

I think Obama is going to spend his presidency pissing off the extreme liberals and conservatives by reaching out to a variety of people with different political and social backgrounds to see if he can build some kind of consensus over any number of issues. But I'm okay with that because I'm tired of the extremists on either side battling it out and never giving on any issue.

FWIW, Rick Warren is a minister at a church that has no ordained female pastors, I don't believe. But I really don't consider that fact indicative of Obama's views on women or a slap in my face.

tinypliny writes at 01:30:03 12/18/08 - Comment #43461: Actually, I agree with just one phrase of your post: the title. :)
I think we all do live a purpose driven life. Otherwise we wouldn't be living.

Yeah, the rest of the quotes etc are weird. I don't think the ideas in the quote-boxes fit the concept of a purpose-driven life. It sounds more like a someone else's whimsy driven life.

paul writes at 01:11:18 12/18/08 - Comment #43457: This is exactly why I didn't really want to vote for obama as preseident. Without the peer pressure of matthew and terry I wouldn't have. McCain wasn't any better of a choice, its just that I would have rather voted for neither. I mean who is he pandering to with this, he already won the vote.

Here are some quotes from a comment on :::link:::

"Of all the religious figures in America he chooses a God by-the-numbers mega-church celebrity??? Why also did he choose a supporter of Prop 8?"

"As an openly gay donor to Obama campaign the news of Rick Warren giving the invocation at the inaugeral ,is election night deja vu, all over again. Gays and Lesbians were celebrationg with all the rest of America the Obama victory, then at 11pm we get a shiv shoved in our back with prop 8. Rick Warren and the LDS elders were the MAIN SUPPORTERS which attacked LGBT families in CA, making us the ONE minority not covered by the equal protection clause.

I hope EVERY queer and our friends attending the Inaugeral, TURNS THEIR BACK to Rick Warren, a salute of a single finger wouldn't hurt ...either.

I am so disappointed the president to Bring America TOGETHER, chooses to tear us apart at his FIRST

CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE...what's this WE crud? "

drew writes at 12:04:33 12/18/08 - Comment #43456: Here's somebody else's response: :::link:::

I will write more later. I used to hate Rick Warren. But he did some amazing things that no other Evangelical mega-pastor had done.

He poured himself into AIDS/debt relief. Time, money, influence, everything. He took a hit for it (sad, I know), but never backed down.

Then, he broke with the republican crowd. Just suggesting that I person MIGHT vote for a candidate that is pro-choice used to be a career-ender for Evangelical pastors. He hasn't been a radical in this stand, but he has been even handed, which is enough to get him branded a heretic.

But lately, I've liked him less. He said some reall stupid things about war, and war with Iran in particular, and made a video about prop 8 that was not good at all.

Anways, he's a mixed bag. And if outrage gets him thrown out, then I will make myself available.

I am also willing to take the NY senate seat. :)

james writes at 11:19:12 12/17/08 - Comment #43455: I can't believe Obama nominated him to be Secretary of State.

oh wait, he is just saying some godly shit at his inauguration.

While it is a disappointing choice, I understand that in politics you sometimes have to make nice with vile, loathsome people. Though, Obama's history with bizzaro church-folk is a little troubling. I didn't find Jeremiah Wright that troubling. Hey, if you are black you can god damn America all you like with my blessing. Then there was the anti-gay gospel singer Donnie McClurkin.

I mean, wasn't (e:Drew) available for the event?

jim writes at 11:02:12 12/17/08 - Comment #43454: The shorter, twitter version: RICK WARREN AAAAAARRRGH.

Permalink: Purpose_Driven_Life.html
Words: 229
Location: Buffalo, NY

12/14/08 06:17 - 37ºF - ID#47061

Holiday Dinner

Hey Everyone -

I've been out sick the last week and before that on vacation. I guess I totally screwed up my chance to plan an (e:strip) holiday dinner.

Sorry!

Permalink: Holiday_Dinner.html
Words: 31
Location: Buffalo, NY

12/12/08 09:58 - 24ºF - ID#47048

Always true.

Permalink: Always_true_.html
Words: 2
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: buffalo

12/12/08 09:28 - 29ºF - ID#47038

Black Ice!

I counted 13 multi-car accidents on the way to work, including 4 accidents just at the on-ramps to the 198 at Elmwood (one at each on-ramp!). Plus a few spin-outs. It usually takes me 15 or 20 minutes to get to work via the 198, 190 and 290 but it took more than an hour.

Black ice, freezing rain, it's a giant mess. I hear the skyway is closed, too.

I was tempted to take pictures but that's stupid while driving :)

Permalink: Black_Ice_.html
Words: 73
Location: Buffalo, NY

12/11/08 11:08 - 27ºF - ID#47035

Cold Day In Hell

Still sick as a dog, but... enjoying exploring a new programming language. XML literals, unrestricted operator and syntax overloading, optional explicit immutability and finally a non-verbose type system.

Scala:

I think maybe I've found my post-Ruby future (not any time soon, though).

Permalink: Cold_Day_In_Hell.html
Words: 46
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: video

12/11/08 01:22 - 28ºF - ID#47025

Ninja Cat

Permalink: Ninja_Cat.html
Words: 8
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: culture

12/09/08 07:09 - 44ºF - ID#47009

Gay Marriage for DBA's

"Y2GAY" & "gaytabases"

Permalink: Gay_Marriage_for_DBA_s.html
Words: 8
Location: Buffalo, NY

12/09/08 10:30 - 41ºF - ID#47003

Just Venting.

I slammed my hand in a door yesterday. What's worse is that it must have bothered me so much in my sleep that I grabbed onto it with the other hand and then somehow rolled onto my stomach, and slept with my shoulder pressing into my hand and wrist all night. It's twitchy and palsied now in addition to hurting and has lost all strength.

Ouch.

*_*

Permalink: Just_Venting_.html
Words: 66
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: internets

12/05/08 03:57 - 27ºF - ID#46974

Natural Harvest

not a joke?

Buy it online:

libertad writes at 03:32:41 12/09/08 - Comment #43120: Did you ready any of those comments that people posted on that website?

"I received my copy of the book last week. It took me and my partner all week to stock up for last night's intimate little dinner party. We decided to go for the man-made oysters, but while we were pouring the semen into the shells, a few drops spilled on the floor. As usual, our Shar-Pei was in the kitchen, just waiting for the occasional food spills. We were both so grossed out when Layla lapped up the spilled semen because when she was done she just looked up at us and licked her chops - begging for more. It's one thing for us to have fun cooking with semen, but it just seemed so wrong for our dog to be eating it too.

We enjoyed our meal very much, but just want to caution other would-be semen cookers to watch out for pets in the kitchen. There's nothing fun (of funny) about watching them licking up your stuff..."

metalpeter writes at 06:44:52 12/05/08 - Comment #43028: I have to admit that I don't think I would want to try any of those dishes. But I do have to give who ever wrote that credit they did mention that it tastes different based on the persons diet, they also mentioned that it kinda changes form it sits around over time. There are a few things they didn't mention though. Is the taste effected if it is more then one persons (if you make a big meal you might need a lot of it, Ha, oh that is so gross), does more semen come out if some other then your self extracts it? How do you measure it, you need amazing aim to get in a measuring spoon I would assume or do you aim for something else and figure you will have to lose some to the sides of the containers. In any event interesting book, I wouldn't suggest giving it to anyone you know who's cooking you eat, well unless you like semen and in that case that is fine a say skip the food then. It might make and interesting secret Santa gift though, HA.

tinypliny writes at 04:46:22 12/05/08 - Comment #43008: Atleast it's not vomit or earwax.

paul writes at 04:36:17 12/05/08 - Comment #43007: I was going to post about it the other day but then thought it was too riske for general consumption - no pun intended.

Somehow I got to it when searching for merengue cookie recipes and then no one would eat my delivious merengue cookies because they thought I spunked in them ;( which I did not.

The grossest one is the "man oysters" which is basically fresh semen on reused oyster shells.