My Crazy Times

Consistently throughout our marriage, Lauren and I have had some of our heavier discussions late into the night…actually how it tends to work is that just as I’m about to drift off into sweet dreamland Lauren will ask, “Hey, you want to talk?” and then a bedtime of 12am turns into 2am.  Let me also note that while I will at times give my wife a hard time (in the most loving of ways) about these talks and release one of my trademark sighs when I hear that question penetrate my ears as my head rests comfortably on my pillow, I would not trade any of the talks we’ve had for a moment of rest and I look forward to the talks that wait ahead…as long as they’re scheduled according to our predetermined “Talk Time Table”.

A couple months back we had one of these late night discussions, and while this instance is an exception to the typical scenario I still give Lauren a hard time about it for bringing up politics at 1am, as we laid there for a few minutes just going over our day Lauren began to tell me of an interview she heard on NPR with William Ayers…yes that Bill Ayers.  Without going into all the sordid little details I’ll just say that our point of contention lie in the difference of what we each consider an “act of terror”.

I thought of our heated little debate when I read the following A.P. story yesterday:

Bush: Hamas attacks on Israel an ‘act of terror’

As of yesterday more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in this latest round of attacks.  You know how many Israelis have been killed?  Wait for it…….four.  Yeah that’s right, four…as in “I could count on one hand…”.  My question is, how are Israel’s attacks, that are killing innocent children, women and men, not acts of terrorism and how can the American government claim an ounce of moral authority when they choose to not even denounce Israel’s clearly disporpotional response.  For a good lesson on proportional responses check out this clip from The West Wing Season 1, Episode 3…(brief summary: an American relief plane has been shot down over Syria and on board was the military doctor who was going to be assigned to the President…hell hath no fury like Jed Bartlet scorned):

and then you have this:

Man, if only we had a person like Leo in the White House over the last eight years who would have talked to President Bush like that.

I love it where the President asks Leo if what they are doing is good (as a form of retribution) and Leo responds with “Of course it’s not good…there is no good, it’s what there is.  It’s how you behave if you’re the most powerful Nation in the world.”  Far too long has the Nation of Israel operated under the misguided assumption that they could gain respect and credibility or at the very least invoke fear through the might of their military.  When in reality all they have done is perpetuated the cycle of hatred, bitterness and violence that has enslaved that entire region for thousands of years.

And in attempt to practice my own bit of proportionality…I’m not of the opinion that Hamas is the guiltless victim in all of this, they adhere to the same faulty logic that through violence they will find peace.  The true victims are the women and children murdered by an irresponsible government and those that will now only know a life of hatred and revenge because their father, mother, child, brother, sister were killed when a rocket slammed into their house.

However, here in America we don’t question our allies…especially evangelical Christians because after all Jesus was a Jew, and that means Israel can do just whatever the hell they want.   Israel should reconsider their approach to dealing with the world, because the whole childish bully thing is really unbecoming.

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Much of what is passed off as art today is just ordinary, a cheap imitation of a once great thing. It applies to all mediums whether it be music, film or literature. Technology has obliterated the walls of creativity allowing anyone with a mac or pc to create whatever their heart desires and then post it on the web for all to see or hear. The flip side to this though is that technology has afforded many great artists to share their gift with a larger audience.

One such artist is Patrick McBride whose debut album All That Remains fills one with hope that great art is still possible. Cut from the same mold as great folk writers Pierce Pettis and James Taylor, McBride pours his passion for life, love and faith into each song.

I’ve found myself captivated by a different song with each listen of the album. Perhaps the most masterful song is the title track, All That Remains. A song born out of heartbreak, but also one that inspires courage to move forward through the uncertainty of life.

Recorded in a home studio, All That Remains, is not polished and over produced and while some may find fault with that, it’s just one of the many factors that makes this album great. An overly polished album is mundane, sterile and simply a poor representation of how life really is. Life is filled with pain and suffering, doubts and questions and it’s the ability to find hope and love in the midst of all the junk that makes awe inspiring art.

Visit Patrick McBride on the web www.patmcbride.com

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Preface: I began writing this piece before the tragic events at Virginia Tech. My heart aches for the families and friends who lost loved ones. Why that person chose to massacre all those innocent people is a question I don’t think anyone will be able to answer. Nevertheless, there are many who will offer up their opinion and in giving their opinion seek to blame someone or something for this senseless evil. In just 48 hours some of those being blamed were Charlton Heston, video games and homosexuals and in time that list will grow to contain conservatives, liberals, gun companies and on and on it grows. Wanting an answer is natural, I just don’t think the truth can be contained in a sound-bite.

H.L. Mencken said, “For every complex problem there is an easy answer, and it is wrong.” What is easy, though, is the answer of how we respond to God and others in the midst of this complex existence. Micah 6:8 (The Message) states:

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what GOD is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously -
take God seriously.

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Why do junkies continue to stick needles in their arms?

Why does the prostitute sell her body, and why does the husband and father solicit it?

Why do many Christians condone the killing of men, women and children through war and yet base their voting decision on whether a candidate is pro-life?

Why can we not consider more than one way to solving a problem?

Why does the husband beat his wife and the father beat his children?

How can the last become first, and the meek inherit the earth?

Why do we do those things we know we shouldn’t and often times don’t even want to do?

Why can’t we be faithful, honest, peaceful, loving and merciful to all persons regardless of age, sex, race or religion?

There are no easy answers. Sure it would be convenient to be able to give a ten-word response to all these questions, but we wouldn’t be seeking after truth. Truth can be difficult to see, hell, Pontius Pilate couldn’t even see it and it was standing right in front of him, but it can be found. We must be passionate and diligent in our search, but truth is available to us all.

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This month M.C.T. will be presenting an exclusive interview with Jars of Clay as well as reviewing their concert at the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio. We’re very excited about this opportunity for M.C.T. and we want to share this experience.

So if you have a question you’d like to ask to Jars of Clay, send it our way. We’ll pick a couple of the top questions and include them in our interview with the band.

Thanks to all of you who frequent M.C.T., keep coming by, we love company.

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Much Love!!

My Crazy Times
For better or worse, it’s all a part of the journey.
Come join in the conversation.

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By: Joel Henderson

As far back as I can remember music has played a significant role in my life. Now I don’t play an instrument, except for that disastrous few months in grade school I attempted to learn the trombone, and I’ve only sung a few times in front of people and was given a charitable “A” for effort. Up until a few years ago my interaction with music was simply what I heard on the radio and then out of nowhere I was surrounded by talented musicians. Many of the original members of M.C.T. have talent coming out their pores (see: Banner), and it was through M.C.T. that I became to know Matt and Trish Nelson, the husband and wife duo who make up New Love Over.

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By: Joel Henderson

It seems to me that the drivel coming out of Hollywood is increasingly getting worse, from spoofs of fairly decent movies to these horror movies that are being churned out like trashy romance novels.

Much like a cold beer on a hot summer’s day, it is quite refreshing to sit down and watch a movie that is not only made well with outstanding performances but offers it’s viewers a message of redemption and love. Through the dysfunctionality of five adults and the innocence and determination of a seven-year old girl, the indie flick Little Miss Sunshine illustrates the redemptive power of the giving and receiving of love.

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