RE:think

Tears for Fears, Literally

Props to Karissa on this one… I laughed till I couldn’t stand it… You have to watch all the way through because there are some super funnies all the way through and a mullet reference at the end…

Taxing AIG Bonuses, Ridiculous

First, let me say, these guys should have been volunteering the giving of these bonuses back. If your company needs government money to stay afloat then your performance is obviously not good enough to rate a bonus for anyone.

That said, it's ridiculous for Congress, who knew months ago about these bonuses and signed off on them in the bailout, to tax this money punitively. Their outrage is feigned people! They knew about it! And even though these execs shouldn't have gotten this money, this type of action sets a scary precedent.

But all the little sheep out there will keep bah-ing about the unfairness of the bonuses because the media tells them they should. All the while our government gets bigger and bigger and grabs more power. One day we'll all be sorry.

And do you know the REAL dirty secret in the AIG bailout? More than half the money was funneled to ailing banks that wouldn't take money in the bank bailout... Didn't know that did you?

House Approves Taxing AIG Bonus Bonanza

One More Reason to Like Coach K

I am a Tar Heels fan through and through, but have a lot of respect for Duke's Mike Krzyzewski. And since Bush got lambasted (deservedly) for golfing in the middle of a military crisis, let's do the same here with Obama. Coach K may have said this tongue in cheek, I don't know, but I think the statement is dead on.

Duke Coach to Obama: Worry About the Economy, Not NCAA Picks - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com.

"Somebody said that we're not in President Obama's Final Four, and as much as I respect what he's doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said from the Blue Devils' first-round site in Greensboro, N.C.

The Missiology of St. Patrick

Being involved in a church plant right now, I thought it would be good to point you to some great info on the guy we are celebrating today. St. Patrick's story and his methods of evangelism are interesting and useful to say the least. It's a shame all that people know about the guy is that on this day are suppose to wear green and get sloshed. So check out the Article below. It's a good one. Here is an excerpt and a point that really hits home with me:

Patrick was a savvy missionary and developed numerous ways to communicate the gospel which reflected thoughtful engagement of culture. When confronting pagan Druid religion, which used the circle to represent reincarnation, Patrick superimposed the cross onto the circle of reincarnation to demonstrate the triumph of the cross over druid belief. Hence the Celtic cross. Notice that the circle never overlays the cross, but the cross is on top of the circle.

To be sure, this was no artistic whim; it was a direct power encounter with the pagan belief of his day. Patrick new that the gospel must interact with the world; it must reject, redeem, and recreate life and culture under the lordship of Christ. Maybe we need to come up with a cross over the top of a $100 bill! It was also Patrick that used the indigenous shamrock (three-leaf clover) to explain the Trinity to the Celts. Three leaves, one clover; three persons, one God.

The Missiology of St. Patrick � Church Planting Novice.

Boxee + iPhone = Bliss

I have fallen in love with Boxee as my media center app of choice. I run it on my Mac and the Windows Box I have set up as a media center on the TV in our family room. I thought it couldn't get any better.

Then yesterday the Boxee remote control app for the iPhone hit the iTunes store. Oh. My. I can remote control all my media and internet tv from my iPhone now. Rock on.

If you don't have Boxee, check it out asap.

Boxee iPhone App: A Little Late, but Worth the Wait | Geekdad from Wired.com.

The Coming Collapse of American Evangelicalism

This is a fascinating article and one that pretty much agree with down the line. It's worth it for all of us who associate ourselves, no matter the degree, with this movement. Here is a point that I think is true and should floor us all...

Evangelicalism needs a "rescue mission" from the world Christian community. It is time for missionaries to come to America from Asia and Africa. Will they come? Will they be able to bring to our culture a more vital form of Christianity?

Can a movement that usually prides itself on missions admit that America needs missionaries and accept them? Or will our pride not acknowledge our need for them?

I suspect most Evangelicals will read this and disagree. They just can't see it coming, so it can't be true. I say let's head these words and be ready for a new landscape here in America.

The coming evangelical collapse | csmonitor.com.

People and Politics

It never ceases to amaze me how you can take two people who like each other and can talk about anything and screw it all up in less than 60 seconds. All you have to do is get them talking politics. (Sis, I am not talking about you and me. he he he…) Immediately all good will goes out the door and they are, at least for a time, mortal enemies. You can almost criticize someone’s Mother before you can their candidate or office holder. Don’t believe me, try it sometime. But don’t blame me when I am wrong and that Mama joke gets you a black eye. I did say “almost”.

You can even give people a chance to be positive and they’ll take a shot. I posted an honest question on Facebook about Obama and whether his supporters still felt the “hope”. I wanted to see if they were as fervent a month in as they were a month before the inauguration. Some actually answered the question with no political statement infused in the answer and no knocks on the other side. At least one response I remember decided to take yet another swipe, and a few others were defensive in their answer. I guess they assumed I meant ill with the question. In hindsight I shouldn’t have put hope in quotations, but I think too much hope in politicians is a bit silly, no matter who you like. That probably made some people think I was asking the question to catch them and pull them into a debate. That was not my intent.

But seriously, it’s crazy how we fight the way we do when we have so many things to overcome. I know it’s human nature and I know it’s not going away, but I just wish people would learn to think more about their own issues and actually listen to the other side. Generally, that person on the other side is not a monster and actually has good intentions. They are hoping for the best, just like you. They are someone’s son or daughter, brother or sister. They love their kids and want good things for them, just like you.Both sides have kind hearted and caring people. They give to charity and look out for those who can’t look out for themselves.

On the flip side neither contingency has the market cornered on morality. People on both sides have had abortions, affairs, lied, stolen, coveted, and committed every other sin you can think of. We are a wretched lot at times. Lest you think your side has the moral high ground, think again. I will throw out a few high profile names. Bill Clinton, Ted Haggard, Rod Blagojevich, Larry Craig, and Tom Delay…

So try and show a little grace. Have open and honest debate. Be willing to admit the areas your side is lacking in. Treat the person you are talking to in a manner you’d like to be treated. Kindness and respect are powerful things my friends.

Good day.