Drew's Journal
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07/03/2008 11:15 #44846
Blogging suggestion: heroesCategory: heroes
After talking with (e:Tinypliny) about Roberto Clemente, I got to thinking about heroes, and I thought it might be fun to share some of the people I look up to, as well as invite others to do the same.
I'll get the ball rolling with a post about Clemente (a little later--I should be writing a sermon right now), but I am putting out the invitation:
Who is a hero of yours? Why? What do you wish to emulate about them? How has their life affected yours?
I categorized this post "heroes." It would be nice if every participant did the same.
07/02/2008 08:54 #44840
Great night last nightGood to see (e:Tinypliny) and her friends, as well as (e:Jason) and of course (e:janelle) at the symphony at Bidwell parkway. Also saw some other friends who don't blog and thus don't get mentioned!
Music was good. Beer was good. Company was great.
I even shook down people for money on behalf of the association.
Afterwards, Jason and I stopped in at Essex street.
When I got home, I saw I missed a text from (e:Vincent). My apologies.
Music was good. Beer was good. Company was great.
I even shook down people for money on behalf of the association.
Afterwards, Jason and I stopped in at Essex street.
When I got home, I saw I missed a text from (e:Vincent). My apologies.
vincent - 07/02/08 22:47
Hey, it's cool. I was late in coming. Thanks for the tip for parking ;-)
Hey, it's cool. I was late in coming. Thanks for the tip for parking ;-)
jason - 07/02/08 12:58
It was Southern Tier IPA, Mike. A fave of mine.
It was an awesome time. I love outdoor shows. Good to see you Drew, and everyone else as well.
It was Southern Tier IPA, Mike. A fave of mine.
It was an awesome time. I love outdoor shows. Good to see you Drew, and everyone else as well.
mrmike - 07/02/08 10:26
Sorry I missed it. Maybe it was not being able to enjoy a cool refreshing beer beverage that kept me away, damn prescriptions. Always next week
Sorry I missed it. Maybe it was not being able to enjoy a cool refreshing beer beverage that kept me away, damn prescriptions. Always next week
06/26/2008 21:32 #44794
Re: The supreme court decisionMaybe Chris Rock has the answer:
06/24/2008 11:38 #44766
Religion, Demographics, and the POTUSCategory: religion
Jim looks forward to our first openly atheist president. Given the rhetoric, I can understand why (even Luther said he would rather "be ruled by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian." I think we could easily substitute "atheist" for "Turk." In Luther's Germany, to be a Turk was as bad as it could get).
I think we have probably already had at least one atheist president, who went along with American civil religion (which calls itself Christianity, even when it doesn't look much like Jesus) in order to get elected. This, of course, is difficult to prove, but given a politicians' willingness to say what is necessary in order to get elected, it seems likely.
And, for most of our history, a show of faith has been necessary to get elected in a country where the majority of people make a show of faith.
That, of course, is changing. With each generation, the number of Christians, and the number of Theists, is declining. If these trends continue, we (I consider my self both) will be in the minority very soon. According to some counts, we are already (although not among voters, which is key to this post).
So based on that, the USA may be electing its last Christian president this election cycle. If the president serves 8 years, this is quite likely (especially if young people start voting).
There is a possible mitigating factor, however. More and more Latinos and Latinas are growing as a percentage in this country, and will eventually become a majority. This demographic, while far from monolithic, is far more likely to be Roman Catholic.
Either way, it looks unlikely that Protestants and Evangelicals will remain a force in politics. This will be quite an adjustment for those who are used to running the world. Democracy is a kick in the pants, sometimes.
It may be, that Theists hang on for a while and we have another Roman Catholic president. It depends on whether young Latinos and Latinas keep the faith and/or vote.
My guess? Jim, your wish will come true. We will have an openly atheist president within 20 years. (Provided the nation holds on that long, but that's another post and another time)
And I don't think it will be bad for the Christian church, either. We're better off without power.
I think we have probably already had at least one atheist president, who went along with American civil religion (which calls itself Christianity, even when it doesn't look much like Jesus) in order to get elected. This, of course, is difficult to prove, but given a politicians' willingness to say what is necessary in order to get elected, it seems likely.
And, for most of our history, a show of faith has been necessary to get elected in a country where the majority of people make a show of faith.
That, of course, is changing. With each generation, the number of Christians, and the number of Theists, is declining. If these trends continue, we (I consider my self both) will be in the minority very soon. According to some counts, we are already (although not among voters, which is key to this post).
So based on that, the USA may be electing its last Christian president this election cycle. If the president serves 8 years, this is quite likely (especially if young people start voting).
There is a possible mitigating factor, however. More and more Latinos and Latinas are growing as a percentage in this country, and will eventually become a majority. This demographic, while far from monolithic, is far more likely to be Roman Catholic.
Either way, it looks unlikely that Protestants and Evangelicals will remain a force in politics. This will be quite an adjustment for those who are used to running the world. Democracy is a kick in the pants, sometimes.
It may be, that Theists hang on for a while and we have another Roman Catholic president. It depends on whether young Latinos and Latinas keep the faith and/or vote.
My guess? Jim, your wish will come true. We will have an openly atheist president within 20 years. (Provided the nation holds on that long, but that's another post and another time)
And I don't think it will be bad for the Christian church, either. We're better off without power.
metalpeter - 06/24/08 18:39
With out putting a lot of thought into this I think we will have a former Priest or Preacher first. Yes perishes are shrinking and there are more people who go to church on holidays only. Weather you are Joel Olsteen (I don't watch him but I watched him once for about 5-10 minutes and you had no idea he was a preacher) or a baptist minister there is one thing you have in common you are a great talker. Granted it takes a lot more then just that. But being up there in front of everyone you also have to be a great leader. If you do some stuff you maybe shouldn't then you know how to cover things up as well. I think that someone who used to maybe even go on to run a church would have a lot of the same skills you need to be president. Of course you would also have to be a good politican. But say I was some guy leading a church in a poor area I preached to try to get people to make there lives better and went out into the community and made peoples lives better. Then I got sick of every time I tried to help people out there was some red tape in the way then I give up my spot and run for office. Hey if I'm as good as I was there then I could get well known and maybe Run for the presidentcy. In terms of money I'm sure people from what ever church I used to be from would give money and if it was from a big city or even maybe I was on one of the reilgous stations I could have a great base. I'm not saying it will happen but It is very likely it could.
On a side note does being a man of god make you any better, didn't JFK have all kinds of affairs and had some mob ties?
With out putting a lot of thought into this I think we will have a former Priest or Preacher first. Yes perishes are shrinking and there are more people who go to church on holidays only. Weather you are Joel Olsteen (I don't watch him but I watched him once for about 5-10 minutes and you had no idea he was a preacher) or a baptist minister there is one thing you have in common you are a great talker. Granted it takes a lot more then just that. But being up there in front of everyone you also have to be a great leader. If you do some stuff you maybe shouldn't then you know how to cover things up as well. I think that someone who used to maybe even go on to run a church would have a lot of the same skills you need to be president. Of course you would also have to be a good politican. But say I was some guy leading a church in a poor area I preached to try to get people to make there lives better and went out into the community and made peoples lives better. Then I got sick of every time I tried to help people out there was some red tape in the way then I give up my spot and run for office. Hey if I'm as good as I was there then I could get well known and maybe Run for the presidentcy. In terms of money I'm sure people from what ever church I used to be from would give money and if it was from a big city or even maybe I was on one of the reilgous stations I could have a great base. I'm not saying it will happen but It is very likely it could.
On a side note does being a man of god make you any better, didn't JFK have all kinds of affairs and had some mob ties?
06/24/2008 10:04 #44765
Obama and religionCategory: religion
A good speech here:
I never said that they had to be celebrities.
Nice idea! :) I don't have any celebrity heroes, however. :/
Maybe I could just post about everyday heroes. :)
That's interesting. I appreciate your sense of history. I remember the shock when he died here, being all of 8 or 9 at the time. I can only imagine what Pittsburgh folks must have been feeling, especially considering the mission he was on when he passed.