Ann Curry makes me want to punch someone...by 'someone', I mean her...hard.
On a related topic - give yourself a treat and go to talklikeapirate.com. If you've never been, I think you'll find it ARRR-some.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Sunday funk
So, it's about 9:30 on Sunday morning, Keith and the kids have just left for church and I should be getting ready to meet them there in an hour. However, I have no entered into, what I have recently dubbed, the sunday funk.
It started, ever so slowly, about 2 years ago. Well, truth be told, it was welling up before that. It began as slight irritation and has now escalated to me getting pissed at the thought of going to worship, then having an overwhelming, physical sensation of "I gotta get out of here" about half way through the service. It concludes with me remaining in a funk for the better portion of the day.
Now, I've thought about the various reasons why and how these feelings have come to pass - and the list is long, if not distinguished. I can also hear the rational side of my brain disputing my petty claims, but I don't care. I've tried to "get over it" - it just gets worse.
Among the reasons for my discontent (in no particular order of import): our church has moved to a contemporary style of worship for the second service - which we attend. Now, you might think 'cool'. Well, I thought that too. I was wrong, and so are you. What it has whithered away to is about 40 minutes of basically campfire singing, a sermon, a 'quiet time' and we're gone. Occasionally, there is a scripture read before the message, but not always. There is also no specific prayer time, no pronouncement or affirmation of faith in the slightest. Now, I don't need a stuffy tradional service, however - if it is a worship service held in a church - shouldn't we be not so concerned about offending people with too much 'prayer and stuff' and actually name who and what we're there for? Our pendulum has swung so far to the "let's keep it light and fluffy so everyone can feel peachy" that we've removed any challenge or substinance. On a positive note - the only part of the service that usually offers anything is the sermon (occasionally). Our associate pastor, in particular, is a really good speaker and not afraid to step on some toes. Ironically, every time a message like this is delivered, that's when the church receives complaints, and people gripe among themselves afterwards about how they "don't want to feel guilty after coming to church. It's supposed to make me feel good!" So, again, we swing back to third grade sunday school sermons, you know the theme, "Jesus loves you, so do I , and we're all okay and can't really do anything wrong, so...carry on with your lives!" And, for goodness sake, don't think about this again until next Sunday at this time.
Let me make it clear that I'm not of the Catholic/southern baptist/insert another appropriate denomination here group. I don't think it's correct to be fire and brimstone or anything - our faith is about forgiveness and grace. However, we are also called to respond to receiving that forgiveness and grace. That means doing something. And sometimes the somethings that we're supposed to be doing are out of our comfort zone.
I feel like I'm on an ivory tower here, and don't mean that. I feel very inadequate and not superior at all. It's not that I'm out there being perfect and am therefore frustrated that my church isn't telling everyone else to be like me. Exactly the opposite - I know I struggle with things and would like my church to support and encourage me in those struggles - not tell me they either don't exsist, or to not think about them and focus on the happy bunny part all the time.
This has turned into a bit of a rant - sorry. Not even sure if it's entirely coherent as I'm just typing fast and furious. Anyway, it's now closer to 10 and I really have to get going to church - oh, joy. See...and that makes me feel angry that I've been beaten down to this place!! AHHH!!! Wish I could fill you in on more reasons why my church sucks - but gotta run.
On a bright note, my shining light at the end of the day, something I know will pull me out of the Sunday funk...the desparate housewives season premeire!!!! I can't tell you all how excited I am!! Yipppee!!!
It started, ever so slowly, about 2 years ago. Well, truth be told, it was welling up before that. It began as slight irritation and has now escalated to me getting pissed at the thought of going to worship, then having an overwhelming, physical sensation of "I gotta get out of here" about half way through the service. It concludes with me remaining in a funk for the better portion of the day.
Now, I've thought about the various reasons why and how these feelings have come to pass - and the list is long, if not distinguished. I can also hear the rational side of my brain disputing my petty claims, but I don't care. I've tried to "get over it" - it just gets worse.
Among the reasons for my discontent (in no particular order of import): our church has moved to a contemporary style of worship for the second service - which we attend. Now, you might think 'cool'. Well, I thought that too. I was wrong, and so are you. What it has whithered away to is about 40 minutes of basically campfire singing, a sermon, a 'quiet time' and we're gone. Occasionally, there is a scripture read before the message, but not always. There is also no specific prayer time, no pronouncement or affirmation of faith in the slightest. Now, I don't need a stuffy tradional service, however - if it is a worship service held in a church - shouldn't we be not so concerned about offending people with too much 'prayer and stuff' and actually name who and what we're there for? Our pendulum has swung so far to the "let's keep it light and fluffy so everyone can feel peachy" that we've removed any challenge or substinance. On a positive note - the only part of the service that usually offers anything is the sermon (occasionally). Our associate pastor, in particular, is a really good speaker and not afraid to step on some toes. Ironically, every time a message like this is delivered, that's when the church receives complaints, and people gripe among themselves afterwards about how they "don't want to feel guilty after coming to church. It's supposed to make me feel good!" So, again, we swing back to third grade sunday school sermons, you know the theme, "Jesus loves you, so do I , and we're all okay and can't really do anything wrong, so...carry on with your lives!" And, for goodness sake, don't think about this again until next Sunday at this time.
Let me make it clear that I'm not of the Catholic/southern baptist/insert another appropriate denomination here group. I don't think it's correct to be fire and brimstone or anything - our faith is about forgiveness and grace. However, we are also called to respond to receiving that forgiveness and grace. That means doing something. And sometimes the somethings that we're supposed to be doing are out of our comfort zone.
I feel like I'm on an ivory tower here, and don't mean that. I feel very inadequate and not superior at all. It's not that I'm out there being perfect and am therefore frustrated that my church isn't telling everyone else to be like me. Exactly the opposite - I know I struggle with things and would like my church to support and encourage me in those struggles - not tell me they either don't exsist, or to not think about them and focus on the happy bunny part all the time.
This has turned into a bit of a rant - sorry. Not even sure if it's entirely coherent as I'm just typing fast and furious. Anyway, it's now closer to 10 and I really have to get going to church - oh, joy. See...and that makes me feel angry that I've been beaten down to this place!! AHHH!!! Wish I could fill you in on more reasons why my church sucks - but gotta run.
On a bright note, my shining light at the end of the day, something I know will pull me out of the Sunday funk...the desparate housewives season premeire!!!! I can't tell you all how excited I am!! Yipppee!!!
Friday, September 09, 2005
Things that make you go hmmm....
The Shew Box
Why is it that you can spend $100 on groceries and still have nothing to eat?
Why do people talk of Tom Cruise as a "great actor"?
Why do dogs, when greeted by their owners who have been away all day, almost convulse with excitement - while cats just get pissed off?
Why is George Bush our president?
On that topic: Why does George Bush think referencing partying it up in New Orleans makes him seem like he "understands the loss"?
Why doesn't everyone watch Jon Stewart?
What's up with this new blogging style thing?
Why can't it be legal to kill someone (okay, maybe just mame) if you have undisputed evidence of their extreme stupidity?
Why is it that you can spend $100 on groceries and still have nothing to eat?
Why do people talk of Tom Cruise as a "great actor"?
Why do dogs, when greeted by their owners who have been away all day, almost convulse with excitement - while cats just get pissed off?
Why is George Bush our president?
On that topic: Why does George Bush think referencing partying it up in New Orleans makes him seem like he "understands the loss"?
Why doesn't everyone watch Jon Stewart?
What's up with this new blogging style thing?
Why can't it be legal to kill someone (okay, maybe just mame) if you have undisputed evidence of their extreme stupidity?
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