#4: A Polita-wha???

Politics are a very intrinsic part of today’s society but they also can lead to huge debates, name calling, fist throwing and even more inane acts of idiocy.  And this happens between “mature” adults who are supposed to run our country.  A part of me almost believes our country would be better run by infants, but of course we all know that to be a fallacy as they do not possess the cognitive thinking skills required to make decisions beneficial the nation as a whole.  In this I took a political compass test and even though I thought I was more centered it showed that I was left-libertarian.  While I am still debating over what this means for me has an individual I do know I am in good company as The Dali Lama and Ghandi are also left-libertarian.  That makes me feel good about where I stand, knowing that my “test” is almost the exact same as these two famous figures of world history. 

Originally growing up I considered myself republican and nowadays would consider myself more of an independent.  However with this test if may behoove me to take a closer look at my political foundation and delve deeper into its core.  I’ve always found politics to be a bore because they never seemed to affect me much, but as the years have passed that has definitely changed.  It is hard to care about our electoral system when in its setup it feels like one vote doesn’t matter. If the electoral college wasn’t involved and our president was elected by popular vote I know I would feel like my vote had more power.  This year could be one of the most important election years for our society in my lifetime.   

P.S. Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are almost the exact same on this political spectrum. Be weary of who you vote for.

#2: A Haunted Reality

A chanting that you can barely hear or understand occurs down a dim hallway with light from a TV escaping the room.  As you walk closer you begin to hear a rhythmic and repetitive chant: “they say, they say, they say” is what your mind takes in.  You turn and begin to run in terror trying to escape the voices, the ones who tell you what you should buy or should do or who you should be.  While you’re running the voices just get louder and louder, you turn to see that the TV that was once set on its stand in the room is now chasing you blaring advertisements in your face.  The horror has just begun as you realize that it’s not alone but accompanied by the very devices you thought you were safe from.  The phone that you so often use to play games or stay in touch with your friends has now become a collaborator, determined to brain wash you.  It has become an ally and enemy wrapped up in one nice, neat little package.  Not very threatening looking or suspicious because after all, it is what is kept closer to you than anything else.  Your next sight you see disturbs you to your core.  You see your laptop hopping a long with a mischievous dark glow.  It’s opened your favorite browser to the next gadget you want showing all these people having a great time and it seems to be hinting at: “you could be one of us” but only if you had what it shows.  You run, headed for the door to escape your nightmare and see it shining like the sun as it seems to offer hope of freedom. Grabbing the handle you twist it open and exit as hurriedly as you can and lock it behind you. Exhausted you place your back on the door and slide to the ground. A few moments go by and you realize that this, this isn’t right.  You open your eyes and there in front of you are even more advertisements targeting you directly, either via social media, billboards, politicians, movies, music, news channels or by clothing worn on a stranger.  Eventually though, you realize you have the strength to move and not be persuaded by what you want but by only what you need and your nightmare drifts away as you wake up.  You realize it was only a dream and breathe a sigh of relief. Or was it?

"#1: God vs Evolution"

In the beginning of Summary: Theory for Beginners the author goes into detail talking about evolution.  I have nothing against evolution or its theory but I do have a problem when someone, no matter how well educated begins to talk about evolution as fact.  Evolution is still considered a theory.  Evolution is as a theory as creation, but evolution is able to being scientifically tested whereas creation is taken as a "God-did" this and anything "God did" is untestable but taken as religious fact.  However as anyone ever really thought about the ability of the two theories to coexist?  What if God did create the beginnings of everything and from there guided nature into what we call evolution of species?  Is this theory improbable? Probably.  Doubtful? I say unlikely.  The chance of anything evolving from absolutely nothing has to be zero.  Even in the Large Hadron Collider where they are trying to create an explosion similar to the Big Bang Theory still has something that wasn't here previously, molecules of all shapes and size.  The smallest known particle or atom had to be created by something, something that can cause physical objects to come into existence. Whether a person believes in the Christian God or not, to understand that nothing is always equal to nothing is a simple test of logic. An outside force of some unknown power had to have a hand in the beginning of our world and our universe.  Even a simple mathematical formula can show this concept: Void*(0) = 0. When something is affected or multiplied by zero, it always equals zero. Now if we change the equation Void*(G) = unknown explanation that we collectively call our universe. The author also suggests that since we no longer have to hunt and/or plant for survival we have “evolved”.  The actual term for this change in our world is called adaptation.  We have adapted to our current advances that make life easier.

Tebow Time

If it weren't for the NBA lockout(tentatively resolved) and some other issues revolving around Penn State and Syracuse for sex allegations this could easily be the most controversial topic in sports. The unorthodox way in which this man, Tim Tebow wins, is surprising. Of course just this weekend has been full of surprises.-UK beating Tenn for first time in 26 years(with a wide receiver at QB) and UNC falling to UNLV.

In college as many know, Tebow was a spectacular quarterback. His size, speed, and athleticism made him tough to impossible to stop for most college defenses. He didn't have to be the most accurate passer in that offense but he was still able to lead his team to a national title using pitch and catch short field passes. Credit him for the victory then or for the coach having the foresight to see his weaknesses and create a game-plan that exploited the other teams weakness and showed his strengths?

With all the criticizing of Tebow going on for being an inaccurate passer, which I don't disagree, I will say, it's the coaches job to work with the players and improve on their weaknesses and create a game plan that works. Apparently it IS working. And I fully believe Tebow's success comes from his faith in God and Jesus and that He is lifting Tebow up. Keep it up!

Say what you will, but you cant argue with the fact that Tebow is 5-1 as a starter.

-A Tebow fan in the making.

"Occupy Movement" and House of Representatives

I remember reading post on Twitter months ago via Anonymous about "Occupy Wall St" and for the most part I agree with their stance against corporate greed, corrupt politics, a disproportionate dispersal of wealth.

Am I totally against capitalism? No. Economically it probably is one of the best practices, when working correctly. Now though, it is not working like it's supposed too. The wealth between the top 1% of the nation and the other 99% is roughly the same as it was during The Great Depression.

Forbes posted a story about the 147 companies that control everything that you can read here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/bruceupbin/2011/10/22/the-147-companies-that-control-everything/

There was also an infographic showing how much CEO's made per hour compared to their employee's per hour. This is going off memory and I dont expect you to believe me, I just cant seem to find it again but here's what I remember:

1970: CEO $45/hour Employee: $1/hour

Today: CEO +1200/hour Employee: $1/hour

National banks have screwed you over. They charge +18% interest while they only offer, maybe 1% interest on savings, charge you fee's to use YOUR money that YOU worked for. If you need to use a bank pull your money out of the national bank and put in a local credit union or local bank. They work for YOU, not the investors on Wall St that only want to take your money and send your jobs out of the country.

If a company decides to send a job out of the USA they should be penalized as it takes away jobs from hard working American's causing a failure in our economy.

I am supporter of the "Occupy Movement". I am a part of the 99%. Btw, all the people who say you aren't a part of the 99%, news flash, unless you have an adjusted gross income that puts in the top 1% of EARNERS, then you are. The 99% represents the rest of us who don't qualify for that stat. You may not agree with everything the 99% represents and that is okay. I believe they are trying to wake American's and the world up to what is really happening, hence why all of these offshoots are springing up throughout the WORLD.

Oh, and for the haters who want to say get up and get a job here's my response: I do have a job and I do go to school, full time. 20 hours at that this semester.

"House of Representatives"

If you know me, you know I have a a very strong distaste for politics which makes this thought process all the more illogical, or maybe logical. The thought process is of running for House. Campaign strategy? Use facebook/twitter/youtube completely to engage as I do not have the financial ability to travel and therefore would not use taxpayers money.

If you aren't sure where I stand, ask.

American politics are open to the American people, not just career politicians. Lets take back OUR government!!!

Again, this is purely theoretical right now, just throwing the thought out there. What do you think?

Unabated Wanting

There is this gnawing at me constantly, a want of mine that is as elusive as the Holy Grail. But why do I want this want? So the want does not remain undefined, I'll define it: too date someone or just go on 1 date. Seems silly, I know but I believe God gives us this desire to want to be in relationship with others. Sometimes though(quite often actually) I wish it wasn't one of mine. Alas, it is. Why do I want this?

This could actually be the worst time in my life to be in a relationship with someone. It would be nice to have someone to go to the movies with, or walk or share a ride with, these are things I enjoy doing and would love to bring someone along aside. But I couldn't see myself asking someone to make time for me when during this semester I would barely be able to make time for them. 20 credit hours in school, work 20+ hours a week, sleep, homework, social life.

Thankfully I am good at time management, hence why I have the time to write this blog that rambles on. Hopefully I will be able to keep my schedule straight, this could be interesting.

I wish I had a definitive answer about this unabated wanting of mine but I dont. It's a nagging that just wont go away. There are definitely moments when I enjoy being single but being single in my mind doesn't compare to being able to share moments with one you love.

Alright, my minds fried, time for bed. I should try writing sometime when I'm more coherent. Maybe the quality would be better :)

"Christians" vs "Followers of Jesus"

This will be a highly opinionated post. One that may or may not get the fire hot under your collar. This is your warning.

"Christians" are highly obnoxious and extremely hypocritical. Do this, do that, they say, when they dont do it themselves. Eye's are closed to the darkness of the world and they stay within their rituals and their safety nets. They look away when evil is right in front of them. They stay quiet when they should speak and speak when they should stay quiet. "Christians" drive me crazy. Ghandi said it best when he said: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ". I definitely believe he was onto something, something deeper.

Unfortunately "Christians" don't like confrontation. They want to stay in their perfect little world and brush every little piece of conflict aside. They dislike being questioned about their actions and will find a way to twist any and every piece of scripture to pardon their behavior. Not all "Christians" are this way, but unfortunately there are too many.

Then there are "Followers of Jesus". These are the people who willingly go into dark territories. The sex industry slave trade, gangs and inner cities, persons of other religions, and continuously break the law to spread the news of Jesus Christ and what he did EVERYONE. They face persecution day in and day out, not knowing what tomorrow will hold for them.

Are "Followers of Jesus" perfect? Short answer: No, they are not. They know this though and do not expect perfection from others. Everyday God gives them is another day to get to know their Lord and Savior on a more personal level and BECOME more Christ-like. No one on this side of Heaven will be "perfect" as our flesh is easily tempted. Followers beg for experiences to draw them closer to God and will willingly go where He leads them. Sometimes it's into the darkest places imaginable or even worse(martyr) or better depending on ones perspective of the situation.

As for confrontation again its not enjoyed but they actually confront. Proverbs 27:17(NIV) says: "As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another." This allows for character building to occur and a true brother/sister-hood of Christ to be formed.

What are your thoughts on the 2 groups? Agree/disagree? Let me know. I want to hear what you have to say!