For your enjoyment, I showed this video on Sunday May 31st as a promotional video for Vacation Bible School. This year I am a puppet named Sparx. I threw together the cheapest made video in the history of home video making! Keep in mind that I only shot the Darth Vador sequnces once and just used the same scene over and over again, ain't that something! To tell the trth, I just wanted an excuse to dres up as Darth Vodor...HE'S SO AWESOME!!! I hope you enjoy laughing at my ridiculous nature, I know Im still laughing at myself!
And in case the video above doesn't work, try this one below. same video, i just embedded it from youtube.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
My Secret Love For Wonder Woman
I remember sitting in my room reading the latest issue of the Jutice league of America when I was but a wee little middle schooler. My mom yelled at me from down staris, "Jimmy, are you enjoying your comic?" And to my dismay, I could not lie to her. "No I'm not, Wonder Woman isn't in this issue!"
yes, tis true, I have had this undeniable love for Wonder Woman since I can remember. She is without a doubt the female heroine that defines the comic book female. Strong, powerful, willful, and unrelenting. The respect she holds in the DC Universe has yet to be measured. I can't in anyway possibly express how awesome she is. As I look back on the girlfriends I have had in the past, I always compare them to Wonder Woman......and none of them even come close. Everytime I got a new girlfriend, I always saw Wonder Woman, deep within the pages of my comics, giving me all sorts of looks that showed disapproval, jelousy, hatred, etc etc. Wonder Woman, or Diana, would always win the battle. She always won me....
However, I did meet one woman that won my heart, she is now my wife. I had to really fight my feelings deep in my gut. The question I constantly was asking myself was, "Should I stay true to comic book fantasy girl, or move on and be with Clarissa. Clarissa ultimately won out. The days leading up to Clarissa and my wedding was a brutal one. I was still torn between Clarissa and Wonder Woman, and it was a tough battle. And on the day of the wedding, I was reading issue number 5 of the current run. I looked down at the first page and I swear, I saw Wonder Woman crying. Tears ran down her face, and her arms were extended outward, hoping for that chance to embrace me in her arms. And in that moment, out from that pages of that issue, I swear I heard her say "Don't leave me Jimmy, I can't live without you."
It broke my heart to hear her, in these last moments before the wedding, make a plea for me not to abandon her. but I had made a commitment, I was not going to abandon Clarissa for an imaginary female. I said to her, "Diana, I have to leave you."and she replied, "Will I ever see you again?"
I say, "of course, once a month."
She said, "Do you promise?".
and as she roped her lasso of truth around me, I reply, "Of course, nothing could break the bond that you and I have."
She said, "I will always cherish the times we have had to gether."
And I close the issue and tuck it away in it's appropriate bag and board and slip it into the comic box. I was proud of myself that day. And even though Wonder Woman and I don't really have they same connection we used to, even though we don't converse in the same manner, even though we do not take time and frolick (is that spelled right???) in the fields of dandelions and tulips, When I open the pages of Wonder Woman every once in a while I'll see her wink at me and smile, as if she were saying, "Hey, if it doesn't work out with you and your wife, I'm always here."
So There you have it, my secret love affair with the amazon princess and super heroine. It was a tough battle for me but I believe I made the right decision in who I married. I don't feel that anything could break the bond the Clarissa and I have, NOTHING!!
Wait a minute, oh no! Powergirl issue #1 is coming out this month! WHAT?!?! of dear! she a powerful, strong woman and almost compares to Wonder Woman! oh great Hera, give me strength............
Monday, May 25, 2009
Pride of Iowa Annual Show
So, I was the show production chairman for the Pride of Iowa Choruses annual show that was held this April at Hoyt Sherman Place. It was a comedy based show and I worked exceptionally hard to make sure this show was a success.
however, one thing that seemed to be out of my control was which chapter quartets would appear on the show. My philosophy for this show was "if customers are paying to see a good show, then we shouldn't give them crap." many of our chapter quartets are not good enough in my own opinion to be in this show. So when it was discovered that not all chapter quartets were included, I got a good chunk of chorus members absolutely furious at me. Here are a few comments made to to me, among MANY, from those who were quite angry at me...
"we should include all our quartets! it's the barbershop way!"
"It's quite rude to not include quartets that have been great ambassadors to this chapter."
"You have absolutely no right to say whether or not a quartet can be included in a show or not. That is NOT your decision to make!"
After this huge fuss was made, a committee was formed behind my back to decide what we need to do about the decision I made to only invite certain chapter quartets to be on the show. I told them my philosophy and the entire committee thought this was a wrong way to go about deciding what quartets should be on the show. So, the decision was made without my approval, to invite all chapter quartets to be on the show but limit them to only one song.
I was very disappointed and angry with this. I felt I was being under minded to death. not only that but many complaints were made about the script and demands for a rewrite were made known. I had presented the show idea to the chorus months in advance, and told them exactly what was going to happen and what the theme was to be, and I heard no complaints. and when I finished the script 3 weeks before the show and e-mailed it to the chorus discussion group, I had about half the chorus angry and concerned with the script. And with 3 weeks o go, I had to do a 50% revamping of the script in order to please the chorus. What made it worse was how many ride comments I got about the script.
So needless to say, with the quartet situation and the rapid rewriting of the script I had to do, it was clear to me the the control I had on the show was limited. But what made me very happy were the comments that the audience members left on their comment cards after leaving the show. Here just just a few samples, pay close attention to the bold faced comments....
however, one thing that seemed to be out of my control was which chapter quartets would appear on the show. My philosophy for this show was "if customers are paying to see a good show, then we shouldn't give them crap." many of our chapter quartets are not good enough in my own opinion to be in this show. So when it was discovered that not all chapter quartets were included, I got a good chunk of chorus members absolutely furious at me. Here are a few comments made to to me, among MANY, from those who were quite angry at me...
"we should include all our quartets! it's the barbershop way!"
"It's quite rude to not include quartets that have been great ambassadors to this chapter."
"You have absolutely no right to say whether or not a quartet can be included in a show or not. That is NOT your decision to make!"
After this huge fuss was made, a committee was formed behind my back to decide what we need to do about the decision I made to only invite certain chapter quartets to be on the show. I told them my philosophy and the entire committee thought this was a wrong way to go about deciding what quartets should be on the show. So, the decision was made without my approval, to invite all chapter quartets to be on the show but limit them to only one song.
I was very disappointed and angry with this. I felt I was being under minded to death. not only that but many complaints were made about the script and demands for a rewrite were made known. I had presented the show idea to the chorus months in advance, and told them exactly what was going to happen and what the theme was to be, and I heard no complaints. and when I finished the script 3 weeks before the show and e-mailed it to the chorus discussion group, I had about half the chorus angry and concerned with the script. And with 3 weeks o go, I had to do a 50% revamping of the script in order to please the chorus. What made it worse was how many ride comments I got about the script.
So needless to say, with the quartet situation and the rapid rewriting of the script I had to do, it was clear to me the the control I had on the show was limited. But what made me very happy were the comments that the audience members left on their comment cards after leaving the show. Here just just a few samples, pay close attention to the bold faced comments....
Parking unsatisfactory-Run a shuttle
Handicap accessibility is lacking
Do show somewhere else
Move to accessible place (The first 8 comments came from the drawing cards)
Show too long
Chapter quartets were not good. please raise standards for future shows.
Lose the puppets
Have music playing before the show
Great Show
First half show quartets need more rehearsing or perhaps need to qualify to sing
Puppets were a disaster
Customers on same side of auditorium as puppets could not see a good portion of stage
Guest quartet should have spent more time singing, less time talking
Show great, but way too long
Some quartets not good enough to sing on show-set standards higher
Ticket prices are expensive for a family-should be $10-$12, kids should be much less
Kids liked the puppets
Jimmy did a great job-Lots of good comments about the puppets
Show was way too long
A quartet or two is not up to par-have higher standards to sing on show. Have criteria and stick to it
Arrange to have some youth group sing with us or for us on every show. Give free tickets to parents and friends of youth. (so long as we are not selling out the house)
Give couple of free tickets to big advertisers
Please qualify quartets to sing on the show. Most of the chapter quartets were not good enough to be on the stage.
Kids loved the glasses-nose-mustache
Be better organized at Saturday Rehearsal-Too much wasted time
Pleased to see narration between songs rather than just "concert" style performance
Good box lunch-Good food at afterglow
Please have quartets qualify to sing onr show, it was very evident that some are not good enough to be singing on a PAID show!
Four people in loge, which blocks view of balcony guests sitting behind them
Auditorium not good for handicapped people. They need to get there earlier before main crowd so they don't have to step over people to get to their seats. Ticket sellers need to indicate to Greg that the customer has a physical problem
Paradigm, Jurassic Larks and Storm front were the only good quartets on the show. please raise the standards for chapter quartets!
Chapter quartets need to qualify to be on show. If they dont meet qualifications, don't put them on the show.
Need to have professional ushers or at least have 6 more volunteers than we had
Second half of show much superior to first half
Would prefer concert style rather than so much talking in between, especially when the talk is not funny.
Have scripting between songs for chorus members, but it should be available 6-8 Weeks ahead of time
Doesn't the chorus have better chapter quartets to sing on your show?
Nice to have afterglow at Hoyt Sherman
Consider matinee, as it could certainly be marketed to retirement centers.
Move tables to end of hallway, as small lobby is very congested
if you espect people to keep coming back to your shows, you need to have good chapter quartets singing.
Tag singing in lobby was very enjoyable, as some guests joined in
Storm Front should sing more and talk less
Need more help with risers, both at show and at rehearsals. Same guys do it all the time
Great to have afterglow at Hoyt Sherman
We Need higher standards for chapter quartets that appear on our show (comment left by chorus member)
Show was way too long
Put drawing card info as part of regular program and have customer tear it out. Then we won't have stuffers failing out of program
Storm Front should have sung more and talked less. Their last number at afterglow was awesome.
Better dialog and jokes for puppets
Afterglow being held at Hoyt Sherman was perfect
These comments were read aloud to the chorus during our chapter meeting the week after the show. Many people on the board were in agreement with the comments that we need to have higher standards for quartets to appear on the show. The board is currently talking about making sure that quartet qualifications for every chapter quartet that wishes to appear on future shows be made in order to make our shows worth seeing! And I personally hope it shed some light on the chorus that when you put on a show, you don't do it to make yourselves happy, you don't it to please the audience...since they are the ones paying to see the show in the first place!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Good Literature
So I was asking myself this morning as a stumbled out of bed and onto my mountains of clothing which I have yet to put away since doing my laundry a week ago, Why do I enjoy Science fiction/fantasy literature. what is it about that genre that captivates me, that thrills me, that makes my blood pump vivaciously? (no rhyme intended he he!) I tried reading other literature genres and non excites me more than sci-fi/fantasy.
My favorite author right now is a tie between Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore. My favorite Book (graphic Novel) is Watchmen by Moore, my second favorite more recently is American Gods by Gaiman. My favorite film is tied between the Dark Knight and V for vendetta. My favorite comic book title is green lantern right now, (although it changes a lot....from week to week mainly.) i find myself arguing with some people about vampires super hero's a lot, like it's the most important thing to discuss with people!
But not only that, I prefer reading stories where people are tortured, heartbroken, diseised, mutilated, gorged, yelled at, pummeled, battered, torn, ridiculed, twisted, skinned, raped, murdered, violated, and just plain rude than any other type of literature. I like the dark twisted stories, where the end is not the end you want or not the ending that makes you feel all "happy dappy" inside. Stories that go against the norm, or whats popular, or what people believe is the "right" thing to do.
Then i asked myself...Why do I like this? why do I enjoy a story where the truth about mankind is revealed as a desolate and twisted way of life? I thought about it, and I decided because it was how I was raised. And I mean that in the bets possible way!
I would hear from people so often things like "TV will influence your kids to become drug dealors" or "this stuff will twist your son an daughters mind in the worst way" or "If they read (or watch) this, I fear for how you will grow up." many people in my life have question what I value and enjoy.
"Jimmy, this book looks really wierd. why don't you read something a little more pleasant?" told to me by an adult in protest of me reading a batman comic book. "
"A four hundred and eighty paged comic book? that ridiculous Jimmy! I do not approve!" By an adult who was protesting against a graphic novel titled The return of Superman.
growing up, I was always taught that reading books, watching movies or tv shows, or being involved with certain things that were typically viewed as a bad thing would be awful for me to experience. Those things would twist my mind, cause me to lead a terrible, unfullfilling life where I would become a member of a gang, or a pimp or drug dealer where I would end up in jail and go in and out of jail continuously my whole life. Or, since comic books have some of the most beutiful people in the world in the most revealing outfits in the world, that I would become a sex addict and cheat on my wife because of it. that and more!!
but look at me now? Im out on my own, working a great job, (took a little bit to get a good that I lied of course) and im married to a woman who supports me and loves me, and I live life to it's fullest.......And I have never stopped reading and watching the things I did when i was younger. And it makes me wonder, why are we scared to allow our children to experience that which we are not familiar with? why do our parents believe that just because a story or a film is about something twisted or weird, that they shouldn't watch it or read it? my mom read so many vampire novels an still does to this day! Her mother didn't really approve of what my mom read and watched, but she did it anyway. Now my mom is one of the most loved professors at her school! She's a well rounded person, who loves and cares for so many people. Same with so many people I know!
I turned out fine, and the literature, films and stories introduced to me by my parents is something I'll cherish for my entirely life. And I will never regret the things that they exposed me to. The type of literature, films, places in the world, etc etc etc, helped shape me to the person I am now! And they raised me with an open heart and mind. thanks mom and dad!
I turned out fine, and the literature, films and stories introduced to me by my parents is something I'll cherish for my entirely life. And I will never regret the things that they exposed me to. The type of literature, films, places in the world, etc etc etc, helped shape me to the person I am now! And they raised me with an open heart and mind. thanks mom and dad!
based on the evidence that here that shows me all of our parents fears of how their children will turn out because of all these things that they fear, Im convinced that it isn't necessarily the stories we are exposed to that shape how we turn out....It's how we comprehend those stories. My parents did a great job at exposing me to all types of dark and twisted stories, but they knew how to explain the meaning of those stories. If we understand the stories, we can accept them for what they are....just stories. Of course they can influence us and do desensitize some aspects of life, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will be a bad influence. We must allow our children to experience the new, the different so they may learn about who they are and what they should become and what they should do with their lives.
My favorite author right now is a tie between Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore. My favorite Book (graphic Novel) is Watchmen by Moore, my second favorite more recently is American Gods by Gaiman. My favorite film is tied between the Dark Knight and V for vendetta. My favorite comic book title is green lantern right now, (although it changes a lot....from week to week mainly.) i find myself arguing with some people about vampires super hero's a lot, like it's the most important thing to discuss with people!
But not only that, I prefer reading stories where people are tortured, heartbroken, diseised, mutilated, gorged, yelled at, pummeled, battered, torn, ridiculed, twisted, skinned, raped, murdered, violated, and just plain rude than any other type of literature. I like the dark twisted stories, where the end is not the end you want or not the ending that makes you feel all "happy dappy" inside. Stories that go against the norm, or whats popular, or what people believe is the "right" thing to do.
Then i asked myself...Why do I like this? why do I enjoy a story where the truth about mankind is revealed as a desolate and twisted way of life? I thought about it, and I decided because it was how I was raised. And I mean that in the bets possible way!
I would hear from people so often things like "TV will influence your kids to become drug dealors" or "this stuff will twist your son an daughters mind in the worst way" or "If they read (or watch) this, I fear for how you will grow up." many people in my life have question what I value and enjoy.
"Jimmy, this book looks really wierd. why don't you read something a little more pleasant?" told to me by an adult in protest of me reading a batman comic book. "
"A four hundred and eighty paged comic book? that ridiculous Jimmy! I do not approve!" By an adult who was protesting against a graphic novel titled The return of Superman.
growing up, I was always taught that reading books, watching movies or tv shows, or being involved with certain things that were typically viewed as a bad thing would be awful for me to experience. Those things would twist my mind, cause me to lead a terrible, unfullfilling life where I would become a member of a gang, or a pimp or drug dealer where I would end up in jail and go in and out of jail continuously my whole life. Or, since comic books have some of the most beutiful people in the world in the most revealing outfits in the world, that I would become a sex addict and cheat on my wife because of it. that and more!!
but look at me now? Im out on my own, working a great job, (took a little bit to get a good that I lied of course) and im married to a woman who supports me and loves me, and I live life to it's fullest.......And I have never stopped reading and watching the things I did when i was younger. And it makes me wonder, why are we scared to allow our children to experience that which we are not familiar with? why do our parents believe that just because a story or a film is about something twisted or weird, that they shouldn't watch it or read it? my mom read so many vampire novels an still does to this day! Her mother didn't really approve of what my mom read and watched, but she did it anyway. Now my mom is one of the most loved professors at her school! She's a well rounded person, who loves and cares for so many people. Same with so many people I know!
I turned out fine, and the literature, films and stories introduced to me by my parents is something I'll cherish for my entirely life. And I will never regret the things that they exposed me to. The type of literature, films, places in the world, etc etc etc, helped shape me to the person I am now! And they raised me with an open heart and mind. thanks mom and dad!
I turned out fine, and the literature, films and stories introduced to me by my parents is something I'll cherish for my entirely life. And I will never regret the things that they exposed me to. The type of literature, films, places in the world, etc etc etc, helped shape me to the person I am now! And they raised me with an open heart and mind. thanks mom and dad!
based on the evidence that here that shows me all of our parents fears of how their children will turn out because of all these things that they fear, Im convinced that it isn't necessarily the stories we are exposed to that shape how we turn out....It's how we comprehend those stories. My parents did a great job at exposing me to all types of dark and twisted stories, but they knew how to explain the meaning of those stories. If we understand the stories, we can accept them for what they are....just stories. Of course they can influence us and do desensitize some aspects of life, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will be a bad influence. We must allow our children to experience the new, the different so they may learn about who they are and what they should become and what they should do with their lives.
I Believe in Nothing
If you were to ask me what my religion is, I would respond "I believe in nothing." Now when I say that, I don't mean to imply I have no convictions or no moral core, I only mean that my theological foundations in my younger years are so skewered that I'm not at all sure what exactly I believe in. And I mean that in every way possible that you could think of. The history of myths branch out everywhere and throughout all forms of literature that it's impossible for me to declare that it is undeniable that the power of myths and embellishment didn't transfer itself into the biblical narrative. And for us to say that the stories the Bible are 100 percent true, knowing for a fact that it was written in a time period that valued the importance of a moralized story, is a tall tale I just can't subscribe to.
And the people within the Church I grew up in continually live with the deluded belief that the Bible, in every way possible is a document that tells us nothing false, contains no fiction, that it was untouched by human hands and meddling. They treat the Bible as if it's this book of rules, of laws, given to us so we might know what we can and cannot do. A piece of literature which sole purpose is to show us what our limitations are, and what behavior is acceptable in order for us to be allowed into Heaven. I was taught the Bible is a book that tells us the absolute truth, and that if you read it correctly, if you read it the way it was meant to be read, if you read it with the love of God in your heart, you will know it's true meaning and what it requires of you as a Christian.
I honestly feel that this view of the Bible is an absurdity.
As I educated myself, as I grew more and more as adult, as I sought more knowledge to help me better understand the Bible and it's teachings I came to one fundamental and undeniable truth....people are stupid!
Last year I told something to someone who now views me as a lost soul. We were talking about the issue of women in leadership roles in the church. I told him (as well as everyone else in the room) this..."how can we claim that the people within the first few centuries of the world were right? It was a time filled with patriotic bastards that had no more respect for women than we do for the feces we flush down the toilet into the sewer on a daily basis" They continually make claims that they have this monopoly on the truth, and they constantly deny what is most obvious....that their lives resemble absolutely nothing of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th (and so on and so forth) centuries of the world. Why does the Church of Christ (and any church for that matter) constantly operate under the belief that they have it all right?
The truth is something that the Church of Christ attempted to drill into my head as early as age zero. They attempted to use FEAR as a way of showing me that I need to become a Christian ASAP. "God has no patience for sin" another fear tactic. Fear was used on me to convince me I should become Christian. It's the truth that I fear me most, The truth that the Church of Christ (or any church with a closed minded view of the Bible) wants all of its members (and the rest of the world for that matter) to believe in. It's that concept of "truth" that continually digs in whacks itself into my brain. Trying to find the "truth" is the most important and vital thing that the adults want their youth to learn in the Church of Christ.
I feel I was pressured more into becoming a Christian first, and than after that very "happy" event occurs, I learn about what a Christian is. Going about things in this manner seem quite backwards. We never allow someone to run for President until they have reached a certain level experience. We never allow someone to receive a job unless we know they have the qualifications necessary. We never allow people into our home unless we know that they are not concerned with hurting us. We are such a nation of people who want to be certain of people before we we accept them. But when it comes to becoming a Christian, no no no, you need to become one first, then you learn about it!
The CoC has so very little value on educating our young first and allowing them to come to the decision of what they should do with their religious lives. They pressure them so hard that we ultimately scare them into becoming something they do not truly understand. And then once they are "Christian" they continually live in ignorance that they are living a Christian life because of the Mere fact that they are members of the "One True Church.".......I know this because I grew up this way.
Now I don't mean to say my childhood was by any means bad, I just acknowledge that the religious part of my life has been so very conflicting and misguided. My parents did their very best to keep my head level as possible. But everyone else in my early religious life continually used fear to teach me and to accept teachings I did not understand or comprehend. And to see how the Church of Christ continually teaches, knowing what I do now of myself, of history, and of the value of a good story, it makes me sad and scared at the same time. To know that their are young people within this church that grew up with the deluded and misguided ideas of what the Bible is, and to know that their will be some that end up like me, not sure of anything as far as religion goes, and ultimately come to the same realization I have come to....that I no longer believe in one truth, truly does make me wonder about so much in my religious upbringing . I no longer believe in absolutes, or unaltered history or a perfect religion. And because of this declaration of myself, I am in the eyes of many church of Christ people, a lost soul.
It makes me very sad....
And the people within the Church I grew up in continually live with the deluded belief that the Bible, in every way possible is a document that tells us nothing false, contains no fiction, that it was untouched by human hands and meddling. They treat the Bible as if it's this book of rules, of laws, given to us so we might know what we can and cannot do. A piece of literature which sole purpose is to show us what our limitations are, and what behavior is acceptable in order for us to be allowed into Heaven. I was taught the Bible is a book that tells us the absolute truth, and that if you read it correctly, if you read it the way it was meant to be read, if you read it with the love of God in your heart, you will know it's true meaning and what it requires of you as a Christian.
I honestly feel that this view of the Bible is an absurdity.
As I educated myself, as I grew more and more as adult, as I sought more knowledge to help me better understand the Bible and it's teachings I came to one fundamental and undeniable truth....people are stupid!
Last year I told something to someone who now views me as a lost soul. We were talking about the issue of women in leadership roles in the church. I told him (as well as everyone else in the room) this..."how can we claim that the people within the first few centuries of the world were right? It was a time filled with patriotic bastards that had no more respect for women than we do for the feces we flush down the toilet into the sewer on a daily basis" They continually make claims that they have this monopoly on the truth, and they constantly deny what is most obvious....that their lives resemble absolutely nothing of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th (and so on and so forth) centuries of the world. Why does the Church of Christ (and any church for that matter) constantly operate under the belief that they have it all right?
The truth is something that the Church of Christ attempted to drill into my head as early as age zero. They attempted to use FEAR as a way of showing me that I need to become a Christian ASAP. "God has no patience for sin" another fear tactic. Fear was used on me to convince me I should become Christian. It's the truth that I fear me most, The truth that the Church of Christ (or any church with a closed minded view of the Bible) wants all of its members (and the rest of the world for that matter) to believe in. It's that concept of "truth" that continually digs in whacks itself into my brain. Trying to find the "truth" is the most important and vital thing that the adults want their youth to learn in the Church of Christ.
I feel I was pressured more into becoming a Christian first, and than after that very "happy" event occurs, I learn about what a Christian is. Going about things in this manner seem quite backwards. We never allow someone to run for President until they have reached a certain level experience. We never allow someone to receive a job unless we know they have the qualifications necessary. We never allow people into our home unless we know that they are not concerned with hurting us. We are such a nation of people who want to be certain of people before we we accept them. But when it comes to becoming a Christian, no no no, you need to become one first, then you learn about it!
The CoC has so very little value on educating our young first and allowing them to come to the decision of what they should do with their religious lives. They pressure them so hard that we ultimately scare them into becoming something they do not truly understand. And then once they are "Christian" they continually live in ignorance that they are living a Christian life because of the Mere fact that they are members of the "One True Church.".......I know this because I grew up this way.
Now I don't mean to say my childhood was by any means bad, I just acknowledge that the religious part of my life has been so very conflicting and misguided. My parents did their very best to keep my head level as possible. But everyone else in my early religious life continually used fear to teach me and to accept teachings I did not understand or comprehend. And to see how the Church of Christ continually teaches, knowing what I do now of myself, of history, and of the value of a good story, it makes me sad and scared at the same time. To know that their are young people within this church that grew up with the deluded and misguided ideas of what the Bible is, and to know that their will be some that end up like me, not sure of anything as far as religion goes, and ultimately come to the same realization I have come to....that I no longer believe in one truth, truly does make me wonder about so much in my religious upbringing . I no longer believe in absolutes, or unaltered history or a perfect religion. And because of this declaration of myself, I am in the eyes of many church of Christ people, a lost soul.
It makes me very sad....
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