Flaming Sofa

Believe it or not, I can't really think of anything to write about this picture. Maybe you all could suggest a caption--you know, sort of like a contest. I'll look around my garage or music room and find something cool to give away as a prize for the best caption.

I can tell you this: The young man seated on the far left is the son of a firefighter, and if you ask me, it looks like a cry for attention.

How about the casual, almost bored, look of the guys standing in the background, as if they did this every night at the beach. But even more priceless is the expression on the face of the kid giving us the "thumbs up"--the one who looks like Will Ferrell.

No college students were harmed in the taking of this photo...

I couldn't really think of anything to write about it, but as you know, this blog is all about the "cut back"--those odds and ends that don't get posted on my other site. So once again, "Everything Must Go."

Emergent Christians Co-pted

Eight years ago, George Bush tapped into the then-growing conservative Christian movement to help sweep him into office. All of that is old news.

Now, Democrats are co-opting the emergent Christian movement to dethrone the Republicans.

Unlike their parents or older siblings, these emergents tend to be idealistic anti-war and anti-death penalty advocates, and bring a missional zeal to their outward-looking agenda of addressing world poverty and disease.

So the Dems’ campaign slogans about hope and change must really resonate.

Of course, the Democrats don’t give a damn about the emergents’ pro-life stance. The unapologetically pro-abortion rights candidates are perfectly happy to co-opt this well-intended group and take their money and support.

Emergent Christians are being used, and if they were honest with themselves, they’d have to admit that the Democratic candidates are just as incompatible with their ideals as the Republicans.

Perhaps some of us older Christians will pull out our musty “Who’s Next” LP and blast Townsend’s anthem, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

Jesus Rocks the Vote

If I read one more line about who Jesus would vote for, I’m gonna snap.

The truth is, he wouldn’t vote for your candidate. I don’t care how much the guy on your bumper sticker reminds you of Bobby Kennedy circa 1967, Jesus still wouldn’t endorse him. Or her. Or whoever.

That goes for both liberals and conservatives. One side thinks abortion is keen; the other solves problems by sending in troops. You really think he’d sign up for either of these? He’d want to redeem the candidates, not stand beside them on a podium.

Jesus rocks the vote.

He calls into question all of our loyalties, our prejudices, our biases and beliefs. All of those dirty little rationalizations we tell ourselves while we’re standing behind the curtain, punching out chads.

Politicians compromise; Jesus does not. They dissemble; Jesus does not. They act in self-interest, they take revenge, they bargain, they backstab, and offer up that which is not theirs to give. Then they get caught in a hotel room with a high-priced hooker.

So go ahead and vote. But don’t slap your campaign sticker on Christ.

Everything Must Go

In college, my thesis advisor once told me, “Write long, and cut back.”

So this is the cut back, the stuff that didn’t make it on to my other blog, and would otherwise never see the light of day. The remainder bin. The cut outs.

Everything must go.