Home of the jester in the court of the ragtag soldiers.
Archive for July, 2009
So Drink Your Last Cup Of Sorrow Already
Jul 31st
There’s something fundamentally disinteresting about people who strike a contrarian pose for the sake of getting attention only to complain about the attention they receive when (shock!) it’s negative. Apparently they are so enamored with their own prose it is assumed everyone else will fall in line. Darn those Neanderthals who just don’t get it.
Making a stand for what one believes in and catching flak as a result? You accept the heat. You also know better than to whine about being picked on. Why? You asked for it. And so, if you have anything vaguely resembling a clue, you learn to shrug it off. You know the score.
You’re no martyr.
And you have no patience for those who say they are one.
There’s a fundamental problem for those who play the martyr. Real martyrs aren’t playing. They’re also members of the one and done club. If you’re coming back for an encore, you’re pretty bad at this martyrdom thing. And if you’re coming back for the twentieth time, you really suck.
Playing the martyr on the Internet is such a common practice it’s seemingly standard practice at some sites. Let someone look at someone else cross-eyed in their comments and/or tweets, and woe is he or she who’s been grievously offended.
By words.
On the Internet.
Oh the humanity.
As a sidenote, there are certain practices online that when looked at from a distance are most amusing. Up close they’re hysterical. Take for example perpetually hiding behind a screen name. It’s understandable for a single woman to use one as a measure of protecting their privacy, especially if they’re attractive as there are a lot of cretins out there. And if you want to use a screen name as a nickname, no big deal. I’ve used Diecast Dude when writing about NASCAR for years. However, I never kept my identity a secret. Playing Bruce Wayne/Batman in the blogosphere is silly immaturity. It also testifies you have no courage of your convictions, given how you haven’t the cojones to attach your name to them. But back to the martyrdom theme.
Being a martyr means dying, usually in as brutal a fashion as can be arranged, for a cause. Sulking because some meanies left nasty comments on your blog doesn’t exactly cut it. Despite this, the number of people drowning in their own tears while seated at a corner booth of the Candyass Café never fails to amaze. This is especially true in the political realm, where the moment someone gets called out for snobbery and/or stupidity it’s another chorus of the pity party blues. Boo hoo hoo.
A common defense mechanism is to immediately stereotype the opposition. Take for example Sarah Palin supporters. We’re Palinistas, so we’re told. We can’t handle the least little criticism of her. We’re a bunch of knee-jerk reactionary drone bullies.
Bull.
This junk that all Palin supporters are mindless zombies addicted to a cult of personality is condescending garbage. People who preach it are equally condescending. I’m a fan of Palin because of her policies. Her persona is great, but if she was a wacky leftie I wouldn’t support her. I like Obama personally. His politics? No. I like Palin personally. I support her for her politics. But I digress.
No one can stop someone from having a chip on their shoulder, the one that’s covered in tissue paper-thin skin. That said, people who live like that are standing on the shakiest of ground when they claim someone knocking said chip off is the cyberspace equivalent of being crucified. I already know the One Who actually was crucified, thanks.
You don’t measure up.
So drink your last cup of sorrow and then stop feeling sorry for yourself.
P.S. Speaking of a last cup of sorrow…
[video http://www.diecast-dude.com/gac/faith_no_more_last_cup_of_sorrow.flv nolink]
Captain Lou
Jul 30th
I called him Captain Lou even though as he would oft remind me he never rose that far in the ranks. But he was a US Navy man through and through, fiercely proud of the time he spent in the service during the Vietnam Way. So Captain Lou it was.
Lou was an intellectual, the kind whose social skills lagged far behind his mental acumen. He could hold forth on any number of topics for hours on end, frequently punctuating whatever the given subject might have been with historical quotes and truly bad puns. Such niceties as knowing when to stop or start a conversation? Not his forte. Lou had the rare distinction of being fascinating and irritating company all at once.
His post-naval career was programming, specializing in a machine that was functional yet a throwback. Which was only fitting, given that Lou was something of a throwback himself. A lifelong bachelor who adored women while scaring most of them away with his klutzy interpersonal mannerisms. That was Lou.
We talked often, a natural byproduct of working for the same company and therefore being in the same building. Lou would engage anyone in conversation at any time, usually when they were at their busiest or otherwise in no frame of mind to talk. Not that this ever stopped him. Lou was the kind of person who needed to engage others, or at least get their attention long enough to make whatever point he felt important to get across at the time.
He loved San Francisco, which was somewhat peculiar in that Lou was as politically conservative as they come. We would agree on the latter while trading jests about our respective teams, he trumpeting denizens of Baghdad by the Bay with me heralding residents of the city with no there there. He had no interest in hockey or NASCAR, which was just as well. We already had enough to discuss.
Had.
Lou died from cancer yesterday morning.
We seldom discussed spiritual matters, and perhaps I’m remembering what I want to remember. That said, the one time that comes to mind when the topic was raised there was a sense of understanding. Only God knows who belongs to Him. Yet I believe my hope is not in vain that as I write this God is getting His ear talked off.
Wish I could do the same.
Godspeed, Captain Lou. I know you were a classical buff, but hopefully you won’t mind this one.
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“They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships” – Kemper Crabb
Only 526,775 Places Behind (And Proud Of It, Sort Of)
Jul 29th
As I write this, God’s Not Dead (And Neither Are We) is the five hundred and twenty-sixth thousandth, seven hundred and seventy-sixth best selling book on Amazon. Culture Of Corruption by Michelle Malkin is first, joining the most recent tomes by Glenn Beck and Mark Levin in the top ten. Which if nothing else proves we conservatives love reassurance. But I digress.
Back to Malkin. This week she’s been dashing to and fro around the country on her publisher’s marketing dime making the rounds of promotional appearances on assorted television programs: Sean Hannity earlier this weekend, the Today Show… well, today. Me? I’m waiting until payday so I can buy a copy of my book and send it to the fine folk at Down the Line. Look ‘em up; it’s good stuff. But again I digress.
I don’t begrudge Malkin her success. I’m not going to suck up to her either in hopes of either riding her coattails or catching some crumbs falling from the master’s table. This is anything but a recommended course of action for one seeking to see their star be so much as visible in the blogosphere and book writing sky with anything less powerful than the Hubble space telescope (when it’s working), let alone rise. But it’s the only way to go for a believer.
Something you’re best advised to learn very early in the process if success if your goal, measured in terms of site visits or book sales, is to spare no efforts at telling everyone you’re a believer while spending as little time as possible actually mentioning said beliefs. The problem with being openly Christian — well, not really a problem; more a fact — is if you actually and actively follow the teachings of Christ, making mention not of your following them in some form of modern-day Pharisaical “ain’t I the holy one who’s oh so proud of his humility” fashion but the actual teachings themselves, is if you’re doing it right sooner or later you’re going to wind up in your own stumbling fumbling and bumbling way imitating Christ in how you conduct yourself.
Which is guaranteed to tick everyone off.
Jesus was an equal opportunity offender. He called out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy even as He chastised His followers for their shortsightedness. His message was demanding and unyielding: take care of each other regardless, love always, follow My commandments. Which when one considers Christ died on the cross so we could have eternal life with Him doesn’t seem like too much to ask.
This leads to moments where you’re going to say, “Hey.” Hey, don’t use cheesecake to promote your blog. Hey, don’t be making “look at me — SQUEE!” your mantra. Hey, don’t be a CWC (Christian when convenient). Hey, don’t be an elitist.
Hey, never become what you profess to oppose.
Bear in mind none of the above will guarantee you a million hits on your blog. One one-millionth of a million hits is more like it. But here’s the catch. It’s okay. If you’re doing the right things for the right reasons, it’s always okay. It’s always more important to do the right thing no matter what. What, God isn’t big enough to get the people who should be reading your stuff connected with same? Better one soul reached for Christ than one hundred thousand sheeples hanging on every word of your latest sermon to the choir while accepting a generous love offering from the congregation.
Would I like hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of daily readers. Of course. But not at the cost of not being true to the Gospel. Not that I don’t work the system to my advanatge when available. A good example of this is my post yesterday for the Examiner. Yes, it occurred to me that putting Erin Andrews’ name in the title would probably generate a certain amount of site visits. However, when those arriving at the post get there, any hoping for either hot pictures or a link to the detestable video of her are going to be a tad disappointed at seeing the only photo being a very nice head shot along with a story decrying what has been done to her while outlining the proper behavior for Christian men against such mind-rapes. They’ll live.
It’s not that every word out of our mouths is going to be or even supposed to be “Jesus Jesus Jesus.” However, all of our words should be rooted in Him. That immediately eliminates throwing whatever out there for the sake of generating heat in order to generate ad revenue. If conflict is created by what you say, let it be because you were preaching Christ, not being a contrarian for the sake of being one as an attention-getter for employment’s sake (*coughallahpunditcough*).
Yeah, I’d like to be better known. But it’s far better that Christ be better known. The goal is hearing Him say “well done, my good and faithful servant.” As opposed to Him smacking me upside the head while saying “what are you doing?!!”
Cheap Talk
Jul 28th
Talk is cheap. Except on the Internet, where it’s pretty much wholesale with free samplers available upon request. Or when not requested. One of the many services offered by and for humanity.
The cheapest of cheap talk comes from the political world, where as the saying goes when all is said and done a whole lot more is said than done. Both Republicans and Democrats talk a good game, but when it comes to performance it’s a rerun of President Obama’s ceremonial first pitch at this year’s All-Star Game: kindly angle the cameras so in case the target is completely missed you won’t see the failure. Which come to think of it sums up the overwhelming amount of media coverage when it comes to Obama. But I digress.
Neither party has shown any great, or even mildly above average, predilection toward the middle class. The Democrats cling to unions even as their position and importance dwindle away, while the Republicans cater to the wealthy they seek to become. The middle class? It gets stuck with the bill for the poor’s government-supplied disservices as the rich use their wealth to purchase schemes that avoid taxes. Oh, there’s plenty of lip service about middle-class tax breaks. But in reality? It’s the budget of middle-class families that winds up breaking under the strain.
This is our reality, one demanding an individual with character and nerve who neither kowtows to the party line nor talks the talk while walking sideways. It demands a leader who actually leads, one with a track record of standing on principal and when confronted with inability to effect needed change via one channel seeks out another. It demands a person rooted firmly in Christ, reflecting His love and concern for the world while also exemplifying His refusal to compromise for the sake of the world’s approval.
We don’t need any more speeches.
We don’t need any more politics.
We don’t need any more useless pundits saying look at me as they preach to the choir and whine like the spoiled children they are whenever someone looks at them sideways.
We need someone who doesn’t indulge themselves in cheap talk.
We need Sarah Palin.
P.S. The only cheap talk I want to hear…
Some Of What It Means To Be A Believer
Jul 27th
To be a believer often puts oneself in strange situations. As an example, consider the scenario Jesus faced as recorded in the eighth chapter of John when He stared down a crowd in defense of a woman who had committed adultery. Or earlier in John when He turned water into wine in order to keep a bridegroom from being embarrassed at his wedding reception. Hardly what would normally be identified as elements of Christ the only-begotten Son of God and Savior of those who believe. Yet there it is.
To be a believer means seeing the element in every person that declares they were created in God’s image, thus equally worthy of His sacrifice on the cross. No matter how angry one becomes at the sin in the life of someone else, their foolishness and/or arrogance and/or pride and/or evildoing, the believer can never let slip from their heart and mind the truth. No one is outside the reach of God. No one is unworthy of His grace. No one is undeserving of His love. No one.
Does this mean we meekly accept everyone as they are? No. It is imperative we get out the message of Christ, being His hands and voice in this world, demonstrating through deed and not just word His compassion and care. Sometimes this takes the form of helping those who need help, be it with food or clothing or shelter or caring and sharing. Sometimes this takes the form of proclaiming His Word without hesitation regardless of how it may be received. Sometimes this takes the form of unfailing resistance to the sinfulness of others, confronting them with the truth about themselves. Sometimes chewing someone out is as much a demonstration of love as offering the open hand. It depends on why you’re doing it.
To be a believer means taking stances that are on the surface mystifying in the extreme. The spiritually aware believer reminds one and all that even though any given celebrity has zero hesitation in giving their body which was meant to be a temple of the Holy Spirit to the drooling dogs lapping up every nude and/or nearly nude exploit for the camera, they are still to be treated properly and with respect. Despite their not treating themselves in such a manner.
To be a believer means you do the right thing regardless. And when you fail to do the right thing – it will happen, guaranteed – you get up and keep going. Every single time. No matter how scared or hurt or empty or angry you may be. You keep going, trusting that God will see you through. And He will.
This is some of what it means to be a believer.
When Words Fail
Jul 26th
Sometimes the words don’t come easily.
Sometimes not at all.
There is a measure of sorrow in my heart as I look at the world in which I live. So many things I don’t understand; so many things I wish to change but can’t.
I find myself staring at the computer screen, trying to make sense of it all and trying to put the words into proper order. Sometimes they flow with ease. Sometimes… not. Yet I carry on regardless.
The anger I feel over the way things are is tempered by remembrances of my own failings in life. Can I justify being upset over being lied to when I myself have told lies? Can I justify disappointment over those who fail to do what they have promised when I myself have done the same? Not really. Yet the hurt remains.
Sometimes in prayer I ask why things are the way they are. Why the depression; why the inability to break through as a writer. The former, as best I can tell, is to remind me of my total dependence on God for all things. The latter? A mixture of things. Refusal to become that which I profess to oppose, primarily. And I’m not easy to work with. Too stubborn in my ways; too prone to call it as I see it without regard for how laying low opinion-wise is the ticket for success. Or being so utterly obnoxious people let you into the club without knowing the secret handshake for the sole reason it’s the only way to shut you up.
Then again, isn’t one thank you for the book more valuable than one hundred thousand site visits a day to catch my latest political rant? The world is stuffed to the gills with pundits. Very few of us call out to those who were once part of the faithful but have since drifted away “come home.” Very few of us directly tell the artists who gave so much for seemingly so little that someone still appreciates and cares enough to remind all of what the artists did and why. You can’t put a price on that.
It doesn’t pay the bills, though.
I desperately need a rest, a vacation, a rejuvenation.
I want to believe it’ll be all right.
I’m tired of praying “Lord I believe; help me in my unbelief.”
I need peace. Desperately.
And so I pray. And try to write.
Sometimes the words don’t come easily.
Sometimes not at all.
Saturday Night At The Music Video Movies
Jul 25th
Long live the Who!
In the controversial department, “What Matters More” by Derek Webb from his new album Stockholm Syndrome:
From back when they had long and/or funky hair, Kings’s X:
[video http://www.diecast-dude.com/gac/kings_x_over_my_head.flv nolink]
And finally, just because I’ve always loved this song: “Behind The Wall Of Sleep” by the Smithereens.
[video http://www.diecast-dude.com/gac/smithereens_behind_the_wall_of_sleep.flv]
Disease Of Conceit
Jul 24th
Buried deep in Bob Dylan’s catalog is Oh Mercy, the record he released in 1989. On it is a song that garnered little attention. Yet it slices deep. The song is “Disease Of Conceit.”
One of the more ironic elements of the Christian life is how many believers get sucked into a mindset of taking great pride in their walk with the Lord. It’s the parable of the Pharisee and the publican dressed up for the twenty-first century.
It’s alarmingly easy for someone to start thinking they’re really something because of what they believe as compared to other believers. Usually it’s not so much a question about the fundamentals of Christianity as their interpretation. This is often seen in how liberal and conservative believers battle it out over who has the correct interpretation of how Christians should conduct themselves. Liberals accuse conservatives of being too preoccupied with personal behavior and insufficiently involved in outward ministry, while conservatives accuse liberals of treating life as though it was nothing but a party while talking a good game but in fact embracing a hedonistic lifestyle. Instead of the publican beating his breast in sorrow saying “God be merciful to me a sinner” it’s a case of both sides stubbing their toe in the dirt as they point to the other and mutter “God I suppose You have to be merciful to them a sinner even though they don’t deserve it because they belong to the wrong political party.”
As fellow believers, it is vital to remember the word “fellow” is part of the equation. Christ’s message was never one of setting believers against one another to see who’s on top. As He demonstrated to the apostles when they were arguing this by stating all who approach Him need to do so with the faith and wonder of a child, so all who embrace Christ must do. It is vital for following Jesus, in order to be anything other than window dressing and where applicable cultural trappings, to throw away personal notions of superiority or inferiority, instead seeking His will, word and way. Faith is license for neither strutting your stuff nor slamming yourself over failures to love. It is a vessel through which allowing God to be God points us in the right direction of helping each other and strangers, mindful that even as the sardonic truism that no good deed goes unpunished rings true on this earth, neither are they unrewarded by the only One Whose opinion actually matters.
Avoid the disease of conceit.
There’s a whole lot of people suffering tonight
From the disease of conceit.
Whole lot of people struggling tonight
From the disease of conceit.
Comes right down the highway,
Straight down the line,
Rips into your senses
Through your body and your mind.
Nothing about it that’s sweet,
The disease of conceit.There’s a whole lot of hearts breaking tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Whole lot of hearts shaking tonight
From the disease of conceit.
Steps into your room,
Eats your soul,
Over your senses
You have no control.
Ain’t nothing too discreet
About of disease of conceit.There’s a whole lot of people dying tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Whole lot of people crying tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Comes right out of nowhere
And you’re down for the count
From the outside world,
The pressure will mount,
Turn you into a piece of meat,
The disease of conceit.Conceit is a disease
That the doctors got no cure
They’ve done a lot of research on it
But what it is, they’re still not sureThere’s a whole lot of people in trouble tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Whole lot of people seeing double tonight
From the disease of conceit,
Give ya delusions of grandeur
And a evil eye
Give you idea that
You’re too good to die,
Then they bury you from your head to your feet
From the disease of conceit.
I’m Now Fifty, So Naturally I’m Going To Talk About A Sixteen Year Old… And Get Your Mind Out Of The Gutter, It’s Not That
Jul 23rd
It’s my birthday. Rather than some weighty ruminations on reaching the half-century mark, how’s about I reprint my most recent column for the Examiner?
Demi Lovato’s antidote for teenage pressure
Pity the Christian parent of a teenage daughter or daughters in the East Bay, or for that matter anywhere on this planet. In a world of pop culture drek and high school societal pressures to play along with the crowd by indulging in recreational sex and alcohol consumption, even the most loving parents are confronted with a tremendous challenge above and beyond dealing with their child’s rampaging emotions as they make the transition from child to adult. Easy it is not.
Since as most every parent knows there are going to be more than a few moments when in fits of adolescent isolationist pique their children will tune them out because there’s no way Mom and/or Dad could possibly understand – or have a clue about anything – trying to aim your kid in the direction of someone they will listen to even though the message is identical to parental counsel is an important if not vital element of surviving the teen years. Pastors, especially youth pastors, are invaluable in this. Yet they can’t function alone. People gravitate to their peers because they know what’s going on. Or at least it’s perceived they know what’s going on by dint of sharing the same timeline.
So in whose direction should a parent gently nudge their tweener or teenage daughter, hoping their attempt won’t be so heavy-handed as to be noticed as such by the intended recipient?
Enter Demi Lovato.
Lovato is one of the current crop of Disney tween/teen artists singing and acting their way through assorted innocuous television programs and excursions into music. Although the closest association Disney has with anything close to an overt Christian message is the Candlelight celebration each December at its theme parks when a mass choir sings traditional Christmas carols while a celebrity reads the Christmas story straight from Scripture, more than a few of the aforementioned contemporary batch of performers make no bones about not only being Christians but committed to maintaining their virginity until the day they wed. There is a tendency to assign this to a cynical notion Disney goes out of their way to find young Christian performers for the sole reason of hoping their faith will keep them grounded, thus avoiding any embarrassing flameouts as they navigate the treacherous waters of teen stardom. This may well be true, but as Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians about those who preached Christ in the hope it would make trouble for him, what difference does it make? The important thing is Christ being preached.
Back to Lovato. Her sophomore record Here We Go Again was released earlier this week. Like its predecessor Don’t Forget, it is chock-full of catchy tunes firmly rooted in Disney’s stock in trade: danceable power pop with cleaned up harder rock flavorings sprinkled throughout. Lovato does this as well as any of Disney’s other artists. Actually, she does it better. Lovato has a much stronger voice than Miley Cyrus, and she uses it to full effect.
Lyrically, the record also sticks to the Disney way: teen relationship joy and angst minus any genuine unpleasantries, a world where nothing more than a kiss is permitted. Nothing here will be mistaken for anything that comes from Bono’s pen, but neither is there anything for a parent to worry their daughter listening to is going to encourage dangerous experimentation. If anything, the sentiment expressed more than once that the boy going bye-bye isn’t worth getting worked up over is a positive reminder to those at an age where every everything is usually seen as overwhelming and in no context other than the immediate.
No, Here We Go Again isn’t in the same category as No Line On The Horizon by U2. It isn’t trying to be. It’s safe music nudging its intended audience in the direction of relationship sanity at an age when such seems impossible, especially for those looking in from the outside. Like Mom and Dad.
Sneak your daughter a copy of this record if she hasn’t already asked for it. Just don’t let on it’s good for her.
Addendum: In the record’s ’special thanks to’ liner notes Lovato starts off with this: “God – Without Him, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have a voice and I definitely wouldn’t have a second album. All of my passion comes from Him, and I hope this work inspires someone because this isn’t my work, this is His.” Hardly the standard lip service to God so many artists mouth.
A Relatively Realistic Birthday Wish List
Jul 22nd
Tomorrow is my birthday. Naturally, this means I want presents.
Rather than wishing for the at best impractical dovetailing into implausible (“I want a million dollars and a pony”), or that which will lead into either maudlin moroseness or me getting slapped by various members of the fairer sex – hey, I’m a guy, okay? – thought I’d put together a birthday wish of the relatively realistic. Some more than others, but hey. My birthday; my wish list.
- An external keyboard for the iPhone. The iPhone has grown into being a terrific mobile platform for productivity. E-mail, writing, blogging, etc. Compose it, transmit it. Whenever AT&T is in the mood to do so, that is. (The iPhone I love; AT&T, not so much. But I digress.) However, one factor limits its usefulness. In order to write anything you have to tap tap tap away on its minuscule on-screen keyboard, which even in portrait mode is anything but comfortable on which to write more than a brief note. An external portable keyboard of a decent size I could simply connect the iPhone to and write away would be a terrific tool. Come on, Apple!
- A special hardback edition of the book. This falls more into the “if I can ever afford it” department. It’s also not so much for me as others. After all, I’ve read the book already. Anyway, what I’d like to do sometime in the not too terribly distant future is publish a hardcover version of the book; not so much for sale as to be able to give a special copy to each of the artists in it. Hopefully someday, although at the moment given the financial aspect of life I haven’t been able to so much as send all the artists a regular copy.
Let’s see what else I’d like…
- I’d like to be able to earn my living as a writer doing pretty much what I’m doing now. Borderline fantasy there, but it’s not utterly beyond the realm of possibility.
- I’d like to spend time in person with my online friends.
- I’d like Marillion to tour the U.S. And have really great seats for the show in my neck of the woods.
- I’d like to get all the artists I want in the next book in there.
- I’d like to do some high profile promotional spots for the current book in addition to more like the ones like I’ve already done.
- I’d like the high rollers to treat me and others in the same manner they want to be treated. Unless that’s nothing more than being sucked up to. I can’t stand that.
- I’d like to see Allahpundit have a head-on encounter with Jesus Christ. Maybe then he’d get it.
- I’d like to meet the Palins so I can tell Sarah how much I appreciate and respect her. And talk some NASCAR with Todd.
There are other wishes. But that’s enough for now.
