dougs digs

once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right

11.22.2005

Which Is It ?

I don't understand how this is not OK; but this, this, this, this, and this (I could go on forever) are OK.
The Internal Revenue Service has warned one of Southern California's largest and most liberal churches that it is at risk of losing its tax-exempt status because of an antiwar sermon two days before the 2004 presidential election.

Rector J. Edwin Bacon of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena told many congregants during morning services Sunday that a guest sermon by the church's former rector, the Rev. George F. Regas, on Oct. 31, 2004, had prompted a letter from the IRS.

In his sermon, Regas, who from the pulpit opposed both the Vietnam War and 1991's Gulf War, imagined Jesus participating in a political debate with then-candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry. Regas said that "good people of profound faith" could vote for either man, and did not tell parishioners whom to support.

But he criticized the war in Iraq, saying that Jesus would have told Bush, "Mr. President, your doctrine of preemptive war is a failed doctrine. Forcibly changing the regime of an enemy that posed no imminent threat has led to disaster."

On June 9, the church received a letter from the IRS stating that "a reasonable belief exists that you may not be tax-exempt as a church … The federal tax code prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from intervening in political campaigns and elections."

LISTEN TO THE SERMON

Contrast that with this :

The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has sent a detailed plan of action to religious volunteers across the country asking them to turn over church directories to the campaign, distribute issue guides in their churches and persuade their pastors to hold voter registration drives.

Campaign officials said the instructions are part of an accelerating effort to mobilize President Bush's base of religious supporters. They said the suggested activities are intended to help churchgoers rally support for Bush without violating tax rules that prohibit churches from engaging in partisan activity.

The instruction sheet circulated by the Bush-Cheney campaign to religious volunteers lists 22 "duties" to be performed by specific dates.

By July 31, for example, volunteers are to "send your Church Directory to your State Bush-Cheney '04 Headquarters or give [it] to a BC04 Field Rep" and "Talk to your Pastor about holding a Citizenship Sunday and Voter Registration Drive." By Aug. 15, they are to "talk to your Church's seniors or 20-30 something group about Bush/Cheney '04" and "recruit 5 more people in your church to volunteer for the Bush Cheney campaign."

By Sept. 17, they are to host at least two campaign-related potluck dinners with church members, and in October they are to "finish calling all Pro-Bush members of your church," "finish distributing Voter Guides in your church" and place notices on church bulletin boards or in Sunday programs "about all Christian citizens needing to vote."


For me this is not about ideology or political affiliation, this is about consistency in upholding the laws of our country. God help us if our laws are built on sand where the ever-changing political climate winds can seriously alter or permanently destroy them for immediate short-term power. Simply frightening.
|| doug, 09:24 || link || (3) comments |

11.21.2005

Jesus, Meet Evolution

Evolution.

Why is this topic always an 'either-or' debate ?

You either support and believe wholeheartedly in creation OR evolution . . . pick a side and fight like hell for it ! ! !

As a Christian (as is for any person of faith I would assume), I never really doubted God created all things that ever have been or will be. Now, I do have some reservations (ok, almost disbelief) in the literal interpretation of the Genesis account of creation, but that is an entirely separate topic that would take an enormous amount of time to sort through. Perhaps if you buy me coffee, we can sit and chat about it.

With that much said, my first recollection of experiencing the 'evolution vs. creation' topic (supporting or dissenting) was as an apathetic college student attending a "Liberal Arts" Christian college (trust me, there is NOTHING liberal about this place, i.e. - John Ashcroft's dad was the schools second President). I was sitting in a painfully boring Biology class; I probably attended this class (and most others) no more than 3-4 times a month, just painful. Anyway, you can guess from that description what stereotypical angle the faculty took in this debate.

Your guess would be incorrect.

The professor walks in and say's, "Today we WERE going to cover evolution, however I can not teach all of the information I want to, so if you want to talk to me after class I will make myself available".

A rebel professor, I was intrigued. So I waited for him after class, the discussion that ensued forever changed my view on the 'evolution vs. creation' debate. To boil down an hour long conversation into a nice talking point, would be this; (professor) "Evolution and creation are not an 'either-or' conversation, rather it is a 'both-and' conversation . . . as a Christian I can not deny that there is an amazing creator and as a scientist I can not deny evolution". Boiled down even further (my synopsis); "God created all things to evolve".

Debate over.

All of this was sparked by an article I received this morning, Jesus, Meet Evolution.
|| doug, 17:10 || link || (1) comments |

11.19.2005

Joaquin The Line


















Walk The Line is by far the best movie of the year and one of the, if not 'the', best movies I have EVER seen. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon chillingly incapture the spirits John and June, definite locks for multiple Oscars.

The most amazing part of this masterpiece is that Joaquin performed all of the songs himself without being dubbed and learned to play guitar from scratch; and Reese did her own singing and also had to learn to play the auto-harp. Reportedly, both were even personally chosen by John and June to play them before they passed.
ps - check out Jason's and Eric's (identical?) takes on the experience.
|| doug, 14:23 || link || (1) comments |

11.14.2005

I’ve Got Another Confession To Make

Hi, my name is Doug and I'm an addict.
|| doug, 00:01 || link || (1) comments |

11.13.2005

With One Headlight

While walking through Westport tonight, a cop in a patrol car cruised down the street toward us. I motioned to him to slow down and to roll down his window. After a brief second to try to figure out what I was doing, he complied. I told him he had a headlight out, he said thanks and he'll get it fixed. I let him off with just a warning, no ticket this time.

|| doug, 23:09 || link || (1) comments |

11.12.2005

Iceland Meets the Heartland


Sigur Rós

• feb 22 • kansas city (mo) •
• uptown theater •
• tickets on-sale nov 22 •

|| doug, 00:01 || link || (0) comments |

11.11.2005

The Best Is Yet To Come

As it prepares for its maiden tour of South America, which begins November 22 in Santiago, Chile, Pearl Jam is still working on its first studio album since 2002's "Riot Act."

The as-yet-untitled set is due next spring via Sony BMG's J Records label.

"It's been a difficult record and it's like sometimes the harder something is, then the more valuable it becomes," frontman Eddie Vedder said during a Brazilian radio interview earlier this week.

"It's easily the best stuff we've done but also some of the hardest stuff. It's very aggressive, because again, it's kind of a product of what it's like to be an American these days. It's pretty aggressive, especially when you turn it loud."

entire article

On a side note, one of the best tv shows in a long time get's cancelled by FOX. I have a feeling they'll bring back the Bluth's after overwhelming demand and record dvd sales, just like they did the Griffin's.

|| doug, 21:50 || link || (0) comments |

11.04.2005

trūth (n.) : freedom from deceit or falseness

Isaiah 59:14
Injustice is everywhere; justice seems far away.
Truth is chased out; honesty is shoved aside.


Jim Wallis and Sojourners have dispatched the following “action alert,” enabling readers to petition Congress for an independent investigation to determine if and how the Bush administration manipulated intelligence to justify war in Iraq.

(here is an abbreviated version of the “action alert”)

Nearly 60 years ago, President Harry Truman earned the slogan "Give 'Em Hell, Harry." During the 1948 presidential campaign, the story goes, he was giving a speech when someone shouted it from the crowd. Truman supposedly responded, "I don't give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell."

With the 2,000th American soldier's death last week, tens of thousands of Iraqis dead, and the criminal indictment of a top White House official for perjury and obstructing justice, it's time we are told the truth. It would be the best way to honor the dead and perhaps prevent the death of countless more lives than by simply staying the course. A bipartisan and independent commission, such as the 9/11 Commission, must be created and empowered to conduct a full investigation that can provide answers.

As of this morning, more than 20,000 of our readers have sent messages to Congress. It's time to keep the pressure on, and, indeed, to increase it. Help us reach--and exceed--our goal of 25,000 signers, and keep building momentum for the truth. For the first time, the Democrats are showing some courage on the war in Iraq, and that could be the first step in ending the tragic war. But this is not a partisan issue. We need Americans across the political spectrum to demand the truth about Iraq.

If you have not yet responded to our action alert, click here to ask Congress for an independent investigation to determine if and how the Bush administration manipulated intelligence to justify war in Iraq.

|| doug, 16:16 || link || (1) comments |