...but you must also SAVE YOURSELF!
You must leave any church that tells you what political views you must have, because clearly that church has an agenda other than Jesus'. Get out before its too late.
My mom told me about a dinner in a restaurant she had with some very old friends, not too long ago. They worked together for years and periodically get together to catch up. They got on the subject of global warming. However, one of the friends went berserk and starting adamantly (and loudly) complaining how "liberals" made up everything having to do with global warming and how his church has been counseling them on what is the "real truth". I'm not making this up. Everyone just got real quiet (because that's how you deal with someone who acts like that).
He later called everyone and apologized. Save yourself, get out.
Changeisgood's Journal
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10/30/2007 16:01 #41887
Jesus Saves...Category: recently learned
10/29/2007 10:46 #41858
The Work Involved with Being AppalledCategory: recently learned
I love the bumper sticker that says "If you are not appalled, you are not paying attention". I sometimes feel like there are very few people paying attention. But paying attention takes a lot of effort and energy and requires people to stop watching shows and reading magazines about celebrities.
drew - 10/29/07 13:17
(e:janelle) somehow finds time to be appalled and read about celebrities. I get appalled as well, although I waste my time on football, the internet and animated television, rather than celebs.
(e:janelle) somehow finds time to be appalled and read about celebrities. I get appalled as well, although I waste my time on football, the internet and animated television, rather than celebs.
changeisgood - 10/29/07 11:13
James - you are right. There are so many things to be ticked at. Yet you'd think my post about it requiring a lot of work to be ticked would warrant more than 52 words. I think I may be part of the problem....
James - you are right. There are so many things to be ticked at. Yet you'd think my post about it requiring a lot of work to be ticked would warrant more than 52 words. I think I may be part of the problem....
james - 10/29/07 11:02
And there are so many things to be appalled about to boot. If it isn't corrupt Alaskan Senators (yes, plural) it is farm subsidies so corn syrup can cheaply be put in every food product, then it is gasoline price gouging, or maybe it is kraft macaroni and cheese which I remember being the most delicious thing on the planet but now tastes like cellophane ass. Who has time to be informed and therefor appalled with half the things one should be appalled at? yikes!
I don't know which part of the poem to quote
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world
The blood-simmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
or
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
And there are so many things to be appalled about to boot. If it isn't corrupt Alaskan Senators (yes, plural) it is farm subsidies so corn syrup can cheaply be put in every food product, then it is gasoline price gouging, or maybe it is kraft macaroni and cheese which I remember being the most delicious thing on the planet but now tastes like cellophane ass. Who has time to be informed and therefor appalled with half the things one should be appalled at? yikes!
I don't know which part of the poem to quote
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world
The blood-simmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
or
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
10/26/2007 14:19 #41817
Mean People SuckCategory: recently learned
Mean people really do suck. We need a penalty box where you have to spend time every time you are mean. You should be forced to discuss why you were mean and then forced to apologize. You would have to stay in the penalty box until you really mean the apology. This is where God needs to take a more active role, because the success of this hypothesis will only work if he does it - as I wouldn't trust anyone with the power or the right to put people in a penalty box. Okay, maybe it's a bad theory. Maybe it only works in hockey.
metalpeter - 10/26/07 16:42
I don't think anyone should be mean just to be mean. But sometimes someone deserves to be treated meanly because of something they did. I'm not saying that what you are saying is a bad idea just that sometimes the person who was mean was in the right.
I don't think anyone should be mean just to be mean. But sometimes someone deserves to be treated meanly because of something they did. I'm not saying that what you are saying is a bad idea just that sometimes the person who was mean was in the right.
10/25/2007 10:18 #41791
Commuters need more "Quality Time"Category: recently learned
It should not be convenient or easy to drive home if you live in the suburbs. You should have to sit in your car for long periods to make up for all the pollution you are selfishly creating coming back and forth far distances every day just because you wanted to live out there. Its like "time out" for adults who make bad stewardship of the earth choices. I propose speed bumps every 25 feet outside the city parameter or pedestrian crossing every 10.
carolinian - 10/31/07 12:23
I say we either put up or shut up: we either put up new energy-efficient, central-air, built-for-modern-conveniances homes in buffalo or we shut up about people moving to suburbs.
The houses can be built with renewable resources to keep the planet from getting further deforested and to appease the liberals. To appease the conservatives, people who buy said houses would receive a property tax break from the city.
Anyhow, it wouldn't shock me if more greenhouse effect leaks through the uninsulated walls of the old houses that comprise majority of the city's housing than through the tailpipes of the cars that commute to the city. What's in the city is as much of an environmental liability as what's outside the city.
I say we either put up or shut up: we either put up new energy-efficient, central-air, built-for-modern-conveniances homes in buffalo or we shut up about people moving to suburbs.
The houses can be built with renewable resources to keep the planet from getting further deforested and to appease the liberals. To appease the conservatives, people who buy said houses would receive a property tax break from the city.
Anyhow, it wouldn't shock me if more greenhouse effect leaks through the uninsulated walls of the old houses that comprise majority of the city's housing than through the tailpipes of the cars that commute to the city. What's in the city is as much of an environmental liability as what's outside the city.
drew - 10/31/07 11:25
Maintenance isn't so bad on these old houses. Move back to the city already! Houses are cheap!
Maintenance isn't so bad on these old houses. Move back to the city already! Houses are cheap!
tiburon1724 - 10/31/07 11:19
yeah but a condo feels the same as an apt. I'd like to be a homeowner and have a yard for the dog to run in. Guess I want everything! Well one day maybe I'll be able to afford a house on Nottingham Terrace or in Parkside :)
yeah but a condo feels the same as an apt. I'd like to be a homeowner and have a yard for the dog to run in. Guess I want everything! Well one day maybe I'll be able to afford a house on Nottingham Terrace or in Parkside :)
changeisgood - 10/30/07 13:49
tiburon - there are several condos being built in the Evillage area - see Buffalorising for details. Low maintanence and a great neighbor!
tiburon - there are several condos being built in the Evillage area - see Buffalorising for details. Low maintanence and a great neighbor!
tiburon1724 - 10/30/07 11:31
I hear ya dcoffee. I currently rent an apt in Amherst but have been slowly looking at buying a house, but want a neighborhood in the city that's 1. Safe (sorry but I don't feel most of Buffalo is safe) 2. Convenient to shopping (I guess #1 would be a grocery store but I'd have to get in my car anyway to drive out to Amherst to do most of my shopping or the Galleria to shop anyway!)3. having moved up from Florida I'm used to certain amenities in a house. I'm not handy at all, so I don't know that one of these 1890's houses would be a good investment for me....pouring money into keeping it standing?
I hear ya dcoffee. I currently rent an apt in Amherst but have been slowly looking at buying a house, but want a neighborhood in the city that's 1. Safe (sorry but I don't feel most of Buffalo is safe) 2. Convenient to shopping (I guess #1 would be a grocery store but I'd have to get in my car anyway to drive out to Amherst to do most of my shopping or the Galleria to shop anyway!)3. having moved up from Florida I'm used to certain amenities in a house. I'm not handy at all, so I don't know that one of these 1890's houses would be a good investment for me....pouring money into keeping it standing?
james - 10/25/07 17:02
so now you want to put speed bumps everywhere? You are a monster changeisgood, a monster. ^_^
so now you want to put speed bumps everywhere? You are a monster changeisgood, a monster. ^_^
changeisgood - 10/25/07 15:03
I need to stress that my comments will always be with tongue firmly planted in cheek. I do not expect the thruway authority to start laying speed bumps any time soon. Besides Parkways into the city being beautiful greenways (instead of gaping scars like the 33 through a once-vibrant neighborhood) they would really slow things down, better for gas mileage but much more time consuming - make 'em pay!
I need to stress that my comments will always be with tongue firmly planted in cheek. I do not expect the thruway authority to start laying speed bumps any time soon. Besides Parkways into the city being beautiful greenways (instead of gaping scars like the 33 through a once-vibrant neighborhood) they would really slow things down, better for gas mileage but much more time consuming - make 'em pay!
drew - 10/25/07 14:51
I think speed bumps and/or a longer commute would only make the pollution worse.
Higher gas prices and better mass transit are definitely key.
But I tell anybody who will listen to live and work in the same area (the Elmwood strip, if possible!) I walk to work almost every day (sometimes I need a car for off-site stuff) and I love it.
If I can brag a little bit, this was a deliberate choice (in terms of my home and my job), and one of my better ones.
I think speed bumps and/or a longer commute would only make the pollution worse.
Higher gas prices and better mass transit are definitely key.
But I tell anybody who will listen to live and work in the same area (the Elmwood strip, if possible!) I walk to work almost every day (sometimes I need a car for off-site stuff) and I love it.
If I can brag a little bit, this was a deliberate choice (in terms of my home and my job), and one of my better ones.
james - 10/25/07 14:14
I understand what you are saying. i am just mentioning the innumerable problems that need to be fixed in order to live greener. In fact, so staggering are these problems that i am going to fix myself a drinky-drink to take the edge off.
I understand what you are saying. i am just mentioning the innumerable problems that need to be fixed in order to live greener. In fact, so staggering are these problems that i am going to fix myself a drinky-drink to take the edge off.
changeisgood - 10/25/07 14:07
Please realize my dreamer/slightly off post has to do only with Buffalo. Dcoffee has it right. In Buffalo, that commute is completely by choice. I live on the best street in the city – I would have missed that and the great people if I moved back to where I grew up. I would miss the stranger I say hello to every morning because I am not separated by a car window from them. Let's just make those who choice to live outside pay in inconvenience. Maybe then they will consider moving into the city to avoid all that "quality" time in the car.
Please realize my dreamer/slightly off post has to do only with Buffalo. Dcoffee has it right. In Buffalo, that commute is completely by choice. I live on the best street in the city – I would have missed that and the great people if I moved back to where I grew up. I would miss the stranger I say hello to every morning because I am not separated by a car window from them. Let's just make those who choice to live outside pay in inconvenience. Maybe then they will consider moving into the city to avoid all that "quality" time in the car.
joshua - 10/25/07 13:49
Hah. To be frank, I wish I could telecommute. I am great at working autonomously and I wouldn't have to commute at all in that case. This is why I wish I had a chunk of change - I'd rather be a day trader.
Hah. To be frank, I wish I could telecommute. I am great at working autonomously and I wouldn't have to commute at all in that case. This is why I wish I had a chunk of change - I'd rather be a day trader.
james - 10/25/07 13:38
It is great that you could take the subway. I wish Buffalo would expand its subway system.
But metropolitan NYC extends to the tip of Long Island, down NJ practically to Delaware and 100 miles north into Dutchess county. In all of these areas, outside of the city proper, there are not enough jobs to support 19 Million people. Taking the train is a major pain in the ass. There is very little parking available, it takes you twice as long to get somewhere, and it is ridiculously expensive. Not everyone lives in the city proper and can hop on a subway. People have to drive to the train station, park, wait for the train, take it down to the city, go to the subway station, hop on to the nearest stop and walk to their job. Yikes!
I am not saying that this is good, far from it. I am saying that jobs need to move with people in order to make commutes greener. Public transportation is greener, but it adds an extra hour to a two hour commute for people.
It is great that you could take the subway. I wish Buffalo would expand its subway system.
But metropolitan NYC extends to the tip of Long Island, down NJ practically to Delaware and 100 miles north into Dutchess county. In all of these areas, outside of the city proper, there are not enough jobs to support 19 Million people. Taking the train is a major pain in the ass. There is very little parking available, it takes you twice as long to get somewhere, and it is ridiculously expensive. Not everyone lives in the city proper and can hop on a subway. People have to drive to the train station, park, wait for the train, take it down to the city, go to the subway station, hop on to the nearest stop and walk to their job. Yikes!
I am not saying that this is good, far from it. I am saying that jobs need to move with people in order to make commutes greener. Public transportation is greener, but it adds an extra hour to a two hour commute for people.
jason - 10/25/07 13:25
You would think that making people sit in their car longer would sort of undermine the point of such a "punitive" action.
You would think that making people sit in their car longer would sort of undermine the point of such a "punitive" action.
dcoffee - 10/25/07 12:57
In Buffalo on the other hand... housing near the city is Cheap!! The city is still the source of the jobs, but people choose to live a more expensive lifestyle in sprawling suburban homes. What's up with that? In North or South Buffalo, or many inner ring suburbs, you can get a good house, with a garage and a fenced in yard for $60,000 - $100,000 but people would rather pay more to live an inconvenient isolated lifestyle where they drive absolutely everywhere, and shop in warehouse chain stores full of grumpy teenage employees!
What is so great about being isolated? And what's so great about needing a car to run the most basic errands? If I want beer, or creamer for my coffee, I walk to the corner, but for most people in Erie county, walking to the nearest store could take an hour. They would rather step into their attached garage, get in the SUV with the windows rolled up and the AC on, drive 20 minutes to the nearest Tim Hortons and go to the Drive thru! No human interaction, and wasting money, that's paradise?
In Buffalo on the other hand... housing near the city is Cheap!! The city is still the source of the jobs, but people choose to live a more expensive lifestyle in sprawling suburban homes. What's up with that? In North or South Buffalo, or many inner ring suburbs, you can get a good house, with a garage and a fenced in yard for $60,000 - $100,000 but people would rather pay more to live an inconvenient isolated lifestyle where they drive absolutely everywhere, and shop in warehouse chain stores full of grumpy teenage employees!
What is so great about being isolated? And what's so great about needing a car to run the most basic errands? If I want beer, or creamer for my coffee, I walk to the corner, but for most people in Erie county, walking to the nearest store could take an hour. They would rather step into their attached garage, get in the SUV with the windows rolled up and the AC on, drive 20 minutes to the nearest Tim Hortons and go to the Drive thru! No human interaction, and wasting money, that's paradise?
jbeatty - 10/25/07 12:19
When I lived in LI I always felt kinda sorry for the poor saps who had to sit on the train for two hours a day just to go to work. It never made sense to me why people would even bother taking the LIE during rush hour, then attempting to navigate the gridlock of Manhattan and paying out the ass to park or even worse looking for a spot and trying to decipher the code of six signs attached to the same post.
When I lived in LI I always felt kinda sorry for the poor saps who had to sit on the train for two hours a day just to go to work. It never made sense to me why people would even bother taking the LIE during rush hour, then attempting to navigate the gridlock of Manhattan and paying out the ass to park or even worse looking for a spot and trying to decipher the code of six signs attached to the same post.
changeisgood - 10/25/07 12:14
James - I lived in NYC for 7 or 8 years. Took the subway every day. When I moved here I choose a house near where I worked and I walk to work everyday. We make choices about where we live. I am just saying, let's not make it easy in Buffalo. Because you and I know there are PLENTY of places to live here. Let's not make it a breeze to truck out to Eden everyday. Sure someone can do it, but it should be a choice weighed with a down side. A down side reflecting the down side for the city and everyone else who breathes.
James - I lived in NYC for 7 or 8 years. Took the subway every day. When I moved here I choose a house near where I worked and I walk to work everyday. We make choices about where we live. I am just saying, let's not make it easy in Buffalo. Because you and I know there are PLENTY of places to live here. Let's not make it a breeze to truck out to Eden everyday. Sure someone can do it, but it should be a choice weighed with a down side. A down side reflecting the down side for the city and everyone else who breathes.
hodown - 10/25/07 11:52
James- I second that. I feel it is insane for people to drive SUVs for a commute to and from work, however like (e:james) said in areas like NYC there are a lot of people who'd love to be able to walk to work, but thats something only the rich who can afford to do- live close to work.
James- I second that. I feel it is insane for people to drive SUVs for a commute to and from work, however like (e:james) said in areas like NYC there are a lot of people who'd love to be able to walk to work, but thats something only the rich who can afford to do- live close to work.
james - 10/25/07 11:46
Having grown up in a far flung suburb of NYC let me tell you a little something.
People commute two hours both ways five days a week out there. There are no jobs out where they live but housing costs are ridiculously high because everyone works out of NYC. The metropolitan population is 19 million, which is the same population of the total state of New York. Creating jobs in smaller hubs for all 19 million is much more difficult than making people suffer for a poor ecological (but the only economical) choice.
Having grown up in a far flung suburb of NYC let me tell you a little something.
People commute two hours both ways five days a week out there. There are no jobs out where they live but housing costs are ridiculously high because everyone works out of NYC. The metropolitan population is 19 million, which is the same population of the total state of New York. Creating jobs in smaller hubs for all 19 million is much more difficult than making people suffer for a poor ecological (but the only economical) choice.
jason - 10/25/07 11:06
Alright, if the government can come up with a way to guarantee people great paying jobs withing a specific radius of their home, for all time, I'm willing to hear it out. I'd love to be able to walk to work.
Alright, if the government can come up with a way to guarantee people great paying jobs withing a specific radius of their home, for all time, I'm willing to hear it out. I'd love to be able to walk to work.
joshua - 10/25/07 10:42
I work in Williamsville and my brother works on Grand Island. We can't have it our way all the time.
I work in Williamsville and my brother works on Grand Island. We can't have it our way all the time.
paul - 10/25/07 10:24
I agree. I find it totally ridiculous that some people I work with live as far away as eden to the south, if not further in the northern direction. Lots of them drive that distance in SUVs or trucks. Its not like they just have to pay more in gas. We all have to suffer the consequences of increased air pollution - not to mention the socio-political consequences of increased gas consumption.
At least we have such a low population density that it is nothing like the yuckiness of a big city with massive idle speed commutes.
I agree. I find it totally ridiculous that some people I work with live as far away as eden to the south, if not further in the northern direction. Lots of them drive that distance in SUVs or trucks. Its not like they just have to pay more in gas. We all have to suffer the consequences of increased air pollution - not to mention the socio-political consequences of increased gas consumption.
At least we have such a low population density that it is nothing like the yuckiness of a big city with massive idle speed commutes.
10/24/2007 09:11 #41774
My thoughts on PrejudiceCategory: recently learned
Anyone who is prejudice is that way because they know they have faults. They just need to feel better about themselves by putting someone below them on some screwed-up hierarchy. Therefore, prejudice is a reflection of the prejudiced person's self-loathing. Knowing this makes me feel really bad about openly demeaning the Rangers, yet I can't help myself.
changeisgood - 10/30/07 13:52
metalpeter - incorrect
metalpeter - incorrect
metalpeter - 10/26/07 16:44
So would I be correct to assume that since you hate the rangers you are an Islander fan.
So would I be correct to assume that since you hate the rangers you are an Islander fan.
joshua - 10/24/07 12:57
My pleasure. You never know with the confessionals and those priests these days.
My pleasure. You never know with the confessionals and those priests these days.
changeisgood - 10/24/07 11:13
Joshua - thank you for the absolution. Estrip absolution is clearly less messy than a confessional box.
Joshua - thank you for the absolution. Estrip absolution is clearly less messy than a confessional box.
joshua - 10/24/07 10:37
We all know that the Rangers are exempt from all rules involving not loathing them. You are safe and need not feel conflicted!
We all know that the Rangers are exempt from all rules involving not loathing them. You are safe and need not feel conflicted!
That's very interesting, Drew. I have a copy of God's Politics. In the Bible I can find a reason for disapproving of gay relationships, to be a vegetarian, to let the lazy rot, to care for my fellow man, among other things. I think I'll go back and re-read what Jim Wallis had to say. I don't have any problem with him (I bought his book).
Change. Sure enough. Coercion is bad. Good religion doesn't do this (which tends to make it less effective, at least in the short term)
Some people DO complain about Wallis, but they have to do their homework, first, as he makes a REALLY good case, and does it straight from the Bible (that tends to get to conservatives!)
I did not claim to be an expert on the subject.
Generally this is true - you don't hear anybody telling Jim Wallis to back off, do you? It has to play both ways or the whole endeavor is pointless.
Anyway, I've always been fascinated and amused by people who are not religious acting as if they are experts on the subject.
In response to Drew's post in response to mine - I totally agree that people of faith live every minute of their lives based upon that faith. But a person must come to his or her understanding of faith as a destination after a journey they alone must take. We take in information, interpret the lessons and arrive at that faith. We cannot be forced fed and have it truly be faith.
Examples are two friends of mine I knew when I lived down South. They grew up in VERY 'charismatic' churches and VERY strict religious dogma. It took them quite some time away from those towns and households before they 'shook off' some residuals of their upbringing – as Kristi had put it, a form of brain washing.
That's what I'm taking about. The kind of force-feeding that makes you react outlandishly to long-time friends and warrants the apology the next day. History is replete with examples of people doing hateful things when that kind of fervor is triggered.
I'm going to have to read about said crack-up.
As for us preachers working outside our field, we have been trained not to do so (at least most of us). Even though I have a little bit of counseling training, I know better than to use it, make a lot of referrals.
I'll blog about faith and politics later. (A favorite topic of mine)
In Sunday's NYtimes magazine was an article about the "Evangelical Crackup" happening in Wichita, Kansas where very conservative preachers are being replaced with more religion-centered preaching styles. Essentialy, they are firing preachers who bitch about abortion, the gays, etc and hiring ones who talk about god, and Jesus, and the rest of the gang. read it <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/magazine/28Evangelicals-t.html?_r=1&oref=login">here</a>
And preachers shouldn't limit themselves to just religious topics, though those are nice. Jesus, after all, seems like a bit of an Anarchist or a Socialist at least.
What bugs me is when people go to pastors and preachers for marriage problems or psychological issues, as preachers are not trained to handle these things but are considered sources of authority.
I think I didn't explain my point very well, (e:changeisgood).
Liberal churches and conservative churches alike preach politics from the pulpits. Conservative churches are more likely to get slammed for it. People who slam churches for playing politics are more likely to be liberal. So they're more likely to slam conservative churches for playing politics than they are to slam liberal churches for playing politics, since they share similar views as the liberal church. It's hard for liberals to slam a liberal church for supporting gay rights since they support gay rights too. I'm just pointing out a double standard that exists for conservative versus liberal churches. I'm on the liberal ends of things, but I like to give my conservative brothers and sisters a fair shake ;)
janelle - "taking dominion"? Creepy.
You don't hear people complaining about the other side of the spectrum because (it has been my experience) those folks just LEAVE a church. Oddly, they don't hang out to try to convince anyone. Isn't that strange? It has also been my experience that conservatives seem to want to be around their own and those 'more to the right' (a bad term) seem to hang around a little longer or learn to just put up with other's take on things (and complain about it).
It's really not strange if you understand/know the christian conservative movement. At the most extreme are individuals who believe in the theology of "taking dominion" over the earth. The earth and its resources exist for man to use for humankind's purposes. The earth can't be destroyed by the purpose for which it exists. At the less extreme of the conservatives are people who believe that humankind can't destroy God's creation on their own. Neither of those beliefs are mine by the way =)
Although, I wouldn't feel comfortable in a church that demands I have a particular political view, its not unseemly for churches to encourage religion/faith to guide ones political outlook. Also, I think people tend to feel more offended by churches maintaining strong political views when those views are conservative, because I don't hear anyone complaining about churches where ministers are calling for an end to the war in Iraq from the pulpit.
Church + Global Warming? that's strange.
Hell, Obama stumps at the General Synod of the UCC, and they weasel their way out of trouble. Let's just let churches tell people how to vote - it's sort of already done in a wink-wink manner all over the country anyway.