Stormy McThunderson

I'll leave the title to your speculation.......

So - the 'Stros are in the World Series for the first time ever.... and while I'm not the biggest baseball fan on the block, this season has really renewed my interest in the sport I'd forsaken ever since the Oakland A's traded my boyhood hero.... Jose Canseco.... I mean.... when we moved here the Astros were buried at 15 games under 500 and left for dead...... and now here they are in the series...... OK, so Sticky posted a link on his blog (ostrichjockey.blogspot.com) to a song that will change your life...... I must admit that I'd born witness to this video once before when my doppleganger, Tiffany e-mailed it to me..... but I will link it here as it will no doubt bless your life in erstwhile unimagined ways.....

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/llama.php

I e-mailed this link to several of my co-workers after I'd given a presentation at work featuring the following image:


As the great llama revolution sweeps through your hearts and minds - I hope you will remember where you first saw that wondrous video.....

Here's a subject I've been thinking a lot about lately:

Ethnocentricity and the church:

Here in Houston we're surrounded by people of all different cultures....yet for the most part... when I walk into a church and look around.... it's pretty vanilla.....

There's something to be said for the cultural context argument..... we don't necessarily want to americanize all these other cultures in terms of their expression of the worship of Christ, but on the same token how is the church impacting her people to develop any kind of real devotion and compassion for all of God's people.....

If you've been brought up in a run of the mill middle class suburban church where everyone looks like you (politically/socially/economically etc.) how is this preparing your soul for the worship of the Lord with all the saints on that day when we're all before His throne? What would you do? Would you find the suburban worshippers section?

Here's the issue in a nutshell: the church is raising people to love and care about the type of people that would come to that particular church rather than training people to develop compassion for all nations and to love the Body as a whole, not just the local expression of Christ in your neighborhood.....

Seriously... when's the last time someone in your fellowship mentioned that tsunami that wiped out SE Asia? We forgot about it completely because we had hurricanes here.....

Is this issue overcome in any meaningful way by having a once every three month mixer with the Korean church that meets down the street? Is the Gospel being preached in a way that communicates that in the City of God we are all one in Christ Jesus? How do we communicate to congregates a love for all peoples? Perhaps we do this by raising awareness on social issues and missions opportunities? I think that's a fair start..... as fair as the quarterly mixer with the "ethnic" church..... but there's danger here too.....

People go on a mission trip to some country overseas.... and then they develop a "heart" for that country.... which has done little more (with respect to overcoming ethnocentricity) than to transfer that persons ethnocentricic mindset to a different cultural area.....

So what's the solution? Is there something more we can draw out in our corporate confession? Is there an element to the table that we're not expressing? Or perhaps we're at a point where people in general have such a low view of scripture that to get them to develop any meaningful compassion for the people around them is deemed a sufficient challenge?

OK.... I'll move on from there.... your thoughts are appreciated.....


Here's my closing thought:

Erin and I keep running into people who have these really cute little kids - and I think to myself.... I'd like a cute little kid.... but then I meet people with babies and I think..... why has God abandoned you?

A kid would be grand because it would:

1) Challenge Erin and I in every area of our life
2) It would grow us spiritually as we're challenged to be a functioning spiritual unit
3) It would give me something to do when I get home from work and Erin is studying!!!!
4) It would give me an excuse to purchase all sorts of cool sports things like a baseball mitt and a soccer ball

Unfortunately I have no ability to deal with a baby..... I don't understand them, and I don't know what to do with them.... I mean they pee/poop all over the place... or they hurl on your shirt when you're late for work..... they cry all the time... and they don't sleep (all of these symptoms remind me of myself as I was trying to finish my thesis.....)

So I've arrived at a solution: Erin and I can have a baby and then mail it to Utah where it will spend some quality time (3 yrs or so) with its grandparents.... I think between Juanita and my mom and dad, and the Ruds..... this kid will be raised like a champ, and then they can just fax the child back to us when it's 4 or so.... and then I can talk to it, and start teaching it sports and differential equations.....

Tragically Erin thinks mailing our child to Utah for 3 yrs would be 'inhumane' or something to that effect.... It's clear that her moral acumen is impinged by her med school study load.....or else this matter would be clear..... but until she receives some clarity on that topic.... I guess I'll have to pine away for my beloved Battlecat.....

And now: a sonnet regarding Battlecat -

"Battlecat, my heart's desire"

Shall I compare you to a summer's drool?
You are more hygienic and more considerate.
As a beast you are an incomparable fool
for my affections and heart's palpet

Battlecat: romping, and licking and true
Erin will not condemn your excitement
Unlike a llama I cannot ride you
But we shall frolic and make merriment

As we walk down the street paw in hand
Others will look and envy our joy
Is there a fairer quadriped in all the land
Nay, Battlecat for you alone: "Atta Boy"

Battlecat most fair and most hairy
Eating cockroaches so they won't be scary.