Driving to work today alongside of Hwy 29 was a very uncommon sight in Green Bay. There was an older man with a long salty beard, wearing a long black coat, sticking out his thumb to catch a ride. I felt like stopping, but never actually would. However, this hitch hiker struck some feelings in me. Today is my 25th birthday. And now that I am a quarter of a century old, one begins to evaluate where the years have gone. Coupled with this sentiment is all of the feelings brought out by the passing of Jerad's Grandmother, Ceil.
The hitch hiker reminded me that life is a journey and that we might know where we're going, but often we don't know how we're going to get there. Life's journey is sometimes at a screeching halt, and sometimes we are stuck along side that path with no way to go any place. We have to depend on the help of someone else to get from point A to point B. We move much slower along the road when we have to walk. We consider hitch hiking because it is easy than towing our load all by ourselves.
With one life ending recently in my life, Jerad's Grandma Ceil, and another, mine, still just beginning, I feel like I'm trapped in a time bubble. I feel directionless. There are so many things in life that I have set out to accomplish and in many ways already have. I think that this is the most devastating thing. I feel like I have nothing to work towards. I just do not have the ambition to move forward with personal goals anymore. I think that a lot of this stems from the fact that I am now in a "long term" committed relationship.
It's complicated when you have a companion on the journey, and a whole lot of drama if you end up towing a caravan behing you like many of us do. Jerad has opened up avenues in my life that I did not think were possible at the level we have them at our age. Honestly, the last thing I expected at the age of 25 was to be a homeowner. I just didn't think that I would be doing that at this time. I have without even knowing it, resolved to be happy. I have taken on so many responsibilites for things that I never used to care about at all. I have a daily grind. We have a dog. Dog spelled backwords is God.
I don't really know anything else.
Have a great year and I hope you catch a free ride.
LastManOut
"There is no better time than right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching. "
- Some really wise person
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Don't Kick Out The Liberals, Join the Roman Catholics
Once again in our times we have disturbing news. Today ripping through the other headlines is the disturbing news that the Anglican Communion is giving the "liberal" branch of the U. S. Episcopal Church an ultimatum. This week at their conference the Anglican Communion rebuked the Episcopal Church in the U.S. over the blessing of gay partners and ordaining gay clergy, such as Bishop Gene Robinson. They said stop, or face a reduced role in the church.
Before I go all blogger crazy on these people's asses, let me give you some personal back ground information. I am a gay man who attends mass weekly in the Episcopal Church. I have not been formally "received" into the church, however, I consider myself an Episcopalian. What does it mean to me to be an Episcopalian? I was raised a Roman Catholic and even attended a "minor" seminary in high school. I know a lot about the Catholic Church, their politics, and their belief structure. The Anglican Church is what I consider in many cases to be "Catholic without the Pope." The Roman and Episcopal liturgies are strikingly similar, they both have the same sets of clergy, and the belief structure is in the important areas totally compatible. So why might you ask are they two different churches? Gays, Women's role, Authority and Primacy Issues, Power, Money, Mary's role, Birth Control, Sex, etc. These are the issues that set any church apart from the Roman Catholics. Why would any church want to take a step in the direction of excluding a group of people from their church? Today's questions is: Why gay people?
My question to all of these "religious" people is, why do you have to pick on the gays? Why can't you bless us, accept us, pray with us, love us, and ordain us? Why do you have to make it "us" versus them? It even begs the question why gay people even want to be a part of your church when your leaders and members continually blast us and separate us and make us feel unwelcome? Come down off your high and mighty pulpit, swallow your pride, and get to know a gay person. The reason why they won't do that is because, when they do, they will find two people who love each other for no other reason than because they just do. Then they will have to confront their bigotry, hatred, and injustice. The so called "conservatives" just won't do that.
Homosexuality cannot be entirely explained and doesn't get a good wrap in the Bible because the Bible was written by heterosexual males over 2000 years ago, when reproducing was essential to a races survival. With all the people that the Bible supposedly excludes from any position of status like women, people of other religions and races, gay people, sinners of every other variety, etc, one has to wonder why anyone believes any of it at all? So the Anglican Communion would rather say, stop embracing gay people or we'll cut you out. Well cut me out then, I'll just continue to worship God and continue to pray that one day the "conservatives" will come to an understanding of the pain and injustice they have inflicted on gay people.
What I will do is speak out against these people. I will not tolerate their ultimatum. I will not worship in a church that censures an arm of it for welcoming all people, blessing them, and including them. I will not worship in a church that will not stand up for me as a gay person. I stand for inclusion and the truth. The truth is I'm a gay Christian. I have every right to worship and be recognized for who I am. My partner and I also have the right to be recognized as married because we are. We love each other, care for each other, and provide for each other in whatever circumstance we happen to be in. That is the meaning of commitment. Obviously the Episcopal church has a few things to learn about commitment to its gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.
So again I ask, what does it mean to be an Episcopalian in 2007? Why did I leave the Catholic Church? Why have I put forth so much effort? People are going to leave this church over this. People are going to fall away from Christ and his message of peace and love. One way or another, what ever the outcome, the Episcopal church is setting a date with empty pews and dwindling attendance, just like their Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. So you have to ask, what's the difference anymore?
LastManOut
Relevant News Links
Many Episcopalians Wary, Some Defiant After Ultimatum by Anglicans
Same-sex edict worries Bay Area Episcopalians
Before I go all blogger crazy on these people's asses, let me give you some personal back ground information. I am a gay man who attends mass weekly in the Episcopal Church. I have not been formally "received" into the church, however, I consider myself an Episcopalian. What does it mean to me to be an Episcopalian? I was raised a Roman Catholic and even attended a "minor" seminary in high school. I know a lot about the Catholic Church, their politics, and their belief structure. The Anglican Church is what I consider in many cases to be "Catholic without the Pope." The Roman and Episcopal liturgies are strikingly similar, they both have the same sets of clergy, and the belief structure is in the important areas totally compatible. So why might you ask are they two different churches? Gays, Women's role, Authority and Primacy Issues, Power, Money, Mary's role, Birth Control, Sex, etc. These are the issues that set any church apart from the Roman Catholics. Why would any church want to take a step in the direction of excluding a group of people from their church? Today's questions is: Why gay people?
My question to all of these "religious" people is, why do you have to pick on the gays? Why can't you bless us, accept us, pray with us, love us, and ordain us? Why do you have to make it "us" versus them? It even begs the question why gay people even want to be a part of your church when your leaders and members continually blast us and separate us and make us feel unwelcome? Come down off your high and mighty pulpit, swallow your pride, and get to know a gay person. The reason why they won't do that is because, when they do, they will find two people who love each other for no other reason than because they just do. Then they will have to confront their bigotry, hatred, and injustice. The so called "conservatives" just won't do that.
Homosexuality cannot be entirely explained and doesn't get a good wrap in the Bible because the Bible was written by heterosexual males over 2000 years ago, when reproducing was essential to a races survival. With all the people that the Bible supposedly excludes from any position of status like women, people of other religions and races, gay people, sinners of every other variety, etc, one has to wonder why anyone believes any of it at all? So the Anglican Communion would rather say, stop embracing gay people or we'll cut you out. Well cut me out then, I'll just continue to worship God and continue to pray that one day the "conservatives" will come to an understanding of the pain and injustice they have inflicted on gay people.
What I will do is speak out against these people. I will not tolerate their ultimatum. I will not worship in a church that censures an arm of it for welcoming all people, blessing them, and including them. I will not worship in a church that will not stand up for me as a gay person. I stand for inclusion and the truth. The truth is I'm a gay Christian. I have every right to worship and be recognized for who I am. My partner and I also have the right to be recognized as married because we are. We love each other, care for each other, and provide for each other in whatever circumstance we happen to be in. That is the meaning of commitment. Obviously the Episcopal church has a few things to learn about commitment to its gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.
So again I ask, what does it mean to be an Episcopalian in 2007? Why did I leave the Catholic Church? Why have I put forth so much effort? People are going to leave this church over this. People are going to fall away from Christ and his message of peace and love. One way or another, what ever the outcome, the Episcopal church is setting a date with empty pews and dwindling attendance, just like their Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. So you have to ask, what's the difference anymore?
LastManOut
Relevant News Links
Many Episcopalians Wary, Some Defiant After Ultimatum by Anglicans
Same-sex edict worries Bay Area Episcopalians
Saturday, February 10, 2007
My Joy
I have been writing a mass setting and my original inspiration for doing so was to write music for liturgy that is joyful. For me personally, the meaning of an expression of joy is critical because I want joy with sincerity. The first hurdle I faced was finding a musical pallet that had depth, but not darkness. It was also a great consideration to make sure the music was joyful versus happy. Happiness alone is a shallow representation of joy in Heaven, or the Love of God. This is aptly illustrated by the definitions of joy as found in the Merriam Webster Dictionary, “1a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: DELIGHT b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion: GAIETY. 2: a state of happiness or felicity: BLISS. 3: a source or cause of delight.”
The first definition connotes a secular happiness resulting from personal success, luck, and often material pleasures. None of these things are expressly bad, yet they are not necessarily “joy in heaven.” Definition number three is much closer to what I want my music to accomplish, “a source or cause of delight.” Something that has the ability to cause or be the source of joy is much more powerful than that which we commonly know, for my music, such a thing is the delight of God’s love and the source of goodness in our lives as Christians. This source of joy is what needs to be communicated in the music that is written, so that, the person singing or listening to it feels this source of Joy and is uplifted in the expression of joy during the worship service.
The goal for this musical composition is to great a “Total Worship Experience.” I am about mid-way through the project. My concept is to write really more than just the individual mass parts but accompany them with additional music for opening, closing, and communion. I was inspired to take on this project because it was always a terrible disappointment to me as a musician to find the same lifeless music played week after week for service. Our lives as a matter of principle should be led with joy, led with recognition of the love that we share with Christ. Our music should reflect that as well. I look forward to working on this project every moment that I get, my mass of Joy.
The first definition connotes a secular happiness resulting from personal success, luck, and often material pleasures. None of these things are expressly bad, yet they are not necessarily “joy in heaven.” Definition number three is much closer to what I want my music to accomplish, “a source or cause of delight.” Something that has the ability to cause or be the source of joy is much more powerful than that which we commonly know, for my music, such a thing is the delight of God’s love and the source of goodness in our lives as Christians. This source of joy is what needs to be communicated in the music that is written, so that, the person singing or listening to it feels this source of Joy and is uplifted in the expression of joy during the worship service.
The goal for this musical composition is to great a “Total Worship Experience.” I am about mid-way through the project. My concept is to write really more than just the individual mass parts but accompany them with additional music for opening, closing, and communion. I was inspired to take on this project because it was always a terrible disappointment to me as a musician to find the same lifeless music played week after week for service. Our lives as a matter of principle should be led with joy, led with recognition of the love that we share with Christ. Our music should reflect that as well. I look forward to working on this project every moment that I get, my mass of Joy.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Edwards, Donohue, Marcotte, and McEwen
My partner's Grandma is prone to saying, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the pot." You get this vision of angry red purplie monsters running around in steamy boiling water. I imagine it's something like hell. On that note I say, "Welcome to Politics. "
John Edwards is running for the Democratic Presidential nomination. He has shifted his platform from a middle road self made worker's man in 2004 to Über Liberal, I'm the next Howard Dean. Apparently, the conservative right has some issues with his new friends. Notably in the news is his hiring of two bloggers Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwen. Marcotte and McEwen are going to be coordinating Edwards' campaign blog and outreach to the blog community. So with super bloggers on his side Edward's probably thought he was off to a great start.
Da, Da, Don.........Just when Edwards' brilliant scheme to bring liberalism to all America was underway, Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League was outraged that a fine man like Edwards could hire two "foul-mouthed, anti-Catholic bigots." Donohue is demanding that Edwards fire these staffers for the remarks they have made about the Catholic Church and Its teachings on Marcottte and McEwen's personal blogs.
So you ask, other than the sensationalism of it all, why is this important? This is going to set the tone for Edwards with a segment of the Catholic Church. The alienation of middle America is about to begin. I think this is the begining of Edwards not getting the Democratic nomination because Edwards is going to get type cast as a rich lawyer Liberal. I do realize how petty it really is that Donohue is picking on Edwards because of what a couple pundits do on their own time. However, Edwards has done something truly remarkable for a politician in our day and age. He has actually not fired Marcotte and McEwen. I applaud this. This means that Edwards is really serious about digging in to capture the heart and soul of the Democratic party, the very liberal left.
The other thing about this story is more personal. Many people maintain blogs to publish their own ideas and opinion. These blogs are of a personal nature. Just because something can be accessed by everyone, does not mean that it is no longer of a personal nature. Whatever these two ladies have expressed in their own publications should have absolutely no bearing on their employment. Tolerance is obviously something that Bill Donohue is still working on. Strange that he is so demanding of it for his Church.
LastManOut
I had the ability to look up information on this topic, which stragely was not all published together in the original article.
The original news ariticle: Yahoo News
The Catholic League: http://www.catholicleague.org/
Amanda Marcotte's Blog: http://pandagon.net/
Melissa McEwen: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/
John Edwards: http://johnedwards.com/
John Edwards is running for the Democratic Presidential nomination. He has shifted his platform from a middle road self made worker's man in 2004 to Über Liberal, I'm the next Howard Dean. Apparently, the conservative right has some issues with his new friends. Notably in the news is his hiring of two bloggers Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwen. Marcotte and McEwen are going to be coordinating Edwards' campaign blog and outreach to the blog community. So with super bloggers on his side Edward's probably thought he was off to a great start.
Da, Da, Don.........Just when Edwards' brilliant scheme to bring liberalism to all America was underway, Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League was outraged that a fine man like Edwards could hire two "foul-mouthed, anti-Catholic bigots." Donohue is demanding that Edwards fire these staffers for the remarks they have made about the Catholic Church and Its teachings on Marcottte and McEwen's personal blogs.
So you ask, other than the sensationalism of it all, why is this important? This is going to set the tone for Edwards with a segment of the Catholic Church. The alienation of middle America is about to begin. I think this is the begining of Edwards not getting the Democratic nomination because Edwards is going to get type cast as a rich lawyer Liberal. I do realize how petty it really is that Donohue is picking on Edwards because of what a couple pundits do on their own time. However, Edwards has done something truly remarkable for a politician in our day and age. He has actually not fired Marcotte and McEwen. I applaud this. This means that Edwards is really serious about digging in to capture the heart and soul of the Democratic party, the very liberal left.
The other thing about this story is more personal. Many people maintain blogs to publish their own ideas and opinion. These blogs are of a personal nature. Just because something can be accessed by everyone, does not mean that it is no longer of a personal nature. Whatever these two ladies have expressed in their own publications should have absolutely no bearing on their employment. Tolerance is obviously something that Bill Donohue is still working on. Strange that he is so demanding of it for his Church.
LastManOut
I had the ability to look up information on this topic, which stragely was not all published together in the original article.
The original news ariticle: Yahoo News
The Catholic League: http://www.catholicleague.org/
Amanda Marcotte's Blog: http://pandagon.net/
Melissa McEwen: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/
John Edwards: http://johnedwards.com/
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Why America Rocks!
One of the beautiful things about our country that we often take for granted is our freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is not absolute, but most types of speech are protected by the Constitution. Speech that is political in nature is especially protected. Even beyond “protection” by the Constitution, political and religious speech in our country is by most people respected to the point that a regular discourse does not incite a riot, murder, or terrorism.
I bring up freedom of speech because of a recent article published by the AP, Some Lebanese eye ban on political talk, By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer. The article discusses how shop owners and other public businesses are placing signs in their windows asking people not to discuss politics or religion inside. In America today, the very act of placing that sign would probably be upheld by our courts as infringing on your right to speech. The idea of banning speech has gained momentum because of “street violence” erupting from political and religious speech. Well, I guess street violence is just one of those annoying little habits the Lebanese are going to have to break, sort of reminds me of the smoking bans in the Fox Valley.
Here’s where I really take issue. The whole thing seems patently idiotic because tolerance is not taught through bans on speech, tolerance happens when dialog takes place. Some professor in the article (I won’t mention his name) thinks the signs are a good way to “avoid emotional reactions.” I feel like the people giving advice in this situation are playing the “let’s not talk about it” white Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) card. The WASP card is not going to work. If these people start to suppress their feelings they are only going to blow up like a failed marriage or student groups in the 1960’s. What they really need to learn as a society is tolerance.
What is tolerance? Tolerance is shutting up your damn mouth when some crazy guy sitting next to you in a coffee shop is venting about so and so political leader. Tolerance is staying home and spending time with your family versus shooting your neighbor between bakeries and delicatessens. I can’t even imagine the audacity of some crazy dude interrupting my breakfast because he has a problem with the world, let alone a whole fricken town of them. Listen Lebanon, if you want to make your country better, do something productive like offer government subsidies for people to go to school for psychotherapy and for people who need treatment. I’m guessing your country needs a whole troop of shrinks.
The point is simple. Treat others as you would like to be treated. The “golden rule” is equally subscribed to by most all major religions in one way or another. It is positively screwed up to bomb your neighbor. I hope Lebanon enjoys me exercising my Freedom of Speech, mostly because I don’t ever plan to do anything more than write about it on my blog.
Peace be with you,
LastManOut
You can read this article for a limited time at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_no_politics_please
I bring up freedom of speech because of a recent article published by the AP, Some Lebanese eye ban on political talk, By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer. The article discusses how shop owners and other public businesses are placing signs in their windows asking people not to discuss politics or religion inside. In America today, the very act of placing that sign would probably be upheld by our courts as infringing on your right to speech. The idea of banning speech has gained momentum because of “street violence” erupting from political and religious speech. Well, I guess street violence is just one of those annoying little habits the Lebanese are going to have to break, sort of reminds me of the smoking bans in the Fox Valley.
Here’s where I really take issue. The whole thing seems patently idiotic because tolerance is not taught through bans on speech, tolerance happens when dialog takes place. Some professor in the article (I won’t mention his name) thinks the signs are a good way to “avoid emotional reactions.” I feel like the people giving advice in this situation are playing the “let’s not talk about it” white Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) card. The WASP card is not going to work. If these people start to suppress their feelings they are only going to blow up like a failed marriage or student groups in the 1960’s. What they really need to learn as a society is tolerance.
What is tolerance? Tolerance is shutting up your damn mouth when some crazy guy sitting next to you in a coffee shop is venting about so and so political leader. Tolerance is staying home and spending time with your family versus shooting your neighbor between bakeries and delicatessens. I can’t even imagine the audacity of some crazy dude interrupting my breakfast because he has a problem with the world, let alone a whole fricken town of them. Listen Lebanon, if you want to make your country better, do something productive like offer government subsidies for people to go to school for psychotherapy and for people who need treatment. I’m guessing your country needs a whole troop of shrinks.
The point is simple. Treat others as you would like to be treated. The “golden rule” is equally subscribed to by most all major religions in one way or another. It is positively screwed up to bomb your neighbor. I hope Lebanon enjoys me exercising my Freedom of Speech, mostly because I don’t ever plan to do anything more than write about it on my blog.
Peace be with you,
LastManOut
You can read this article for a limited time at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_no_politics_please
Monday, February 05, 2007
Birth Control Joke
Why did the 90 year old lady go on birth control pills? - Because she didn't want to have any more grandchildren.
Election 2008
The temperature in the political climate right now is red hot over who will be running for President in 2008. Here is a rough list of the interested parties and people who could be nominated, these have all filed with the FEC (Federal Election Commission):
Democrats:
Sen. Hilary Clinton - http://www.hillaryclinton.com/
John Edwards - http://johnedwards.com/
Joseph Biden - http://www.joebiden.com/home
Mike Gravel - http://www.gravel2008.us/
Dennis Kucinich - http://kucinich.us/
Barack Obama - http://www.barackobama.com/
Bill Richardson - http://billrichardsonforpresident.com/
Thomas Vilsack - http://www.tomvilsack08.com/
Republicans:
Sen. John McCain - http://www.exploremccain.com/
Rudy Giuliani, former New York City Mayor - http://www.joinrudy2008.com/
Gov. Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts Governor - http://www.mittromney.com/
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee - http://www.governor.arkansas.gov/
Duncan Hunter - http://www.gohunter08.com/
Tom Tancredo - http://tancredo.house.gov/
Tommy Thompson - http://www.tommy2008.com/
Other:
Christopher J. Dodd - http://www.chrisdodd.com/home
James Gilmore III - No website found at this time.
It is definitely worth your time to do your homework on these candidates. The 2008 election issues are going to be heavily weighed down with Iraq and military spending as you might have guessed. Also look for domestic agendas that spend a lot of time on health care, jobs, and immigration. This is really a very interesting and competitive race. As of right now, there is no one running from the Bush Administration. (Well look at his approval rating, I wouldn't run if I work for Bush either.) I know I'll be compiling my list of who I think might end up winning the primaries. Though, it is still too early to tell. Other candidates could still emerge. Hope you enjoy this resource!
Yours Truly,
LastManOut
Democrats:
Sen. Hilary Clinton - http://www.hillaryclinton.com/
John Edwards - http://johnedwards.com/
Joseph Biden - http://www.joebiden.com/home
Mike Gravel - http://www.gravel2008.us/
Dennis Kucinich - http://kucinich.us/
Barack Obama - http://www.barackobama.com/
Bill Richardson - http://billrichardsonforpresident.com/
Thomas Vilsack - http://www.tomvilsack08.com/
Republicans:
Sen. John McCain - http://www.exploremccain.com/
Rudy Giuliani, former New York City Mayor - http://www.joinrudy2008.com/
Gov. Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts Governor - http://www.mittromney.com/
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee - http://www.governor.arkansas.gov/
Duncan Hunter - http://www.gohunter08.com/
Tom Tancredo - http://tancredo.house.gov/
Tommy Thompson - http://www.tommy2008.com/
Other:
Christopher J. Dodd - http://www.chrisdodd.com/home
James Gilmore III - No website found at this time.
It is definitely worth your time to do your homework on these candidates. The 2008 election issues are going to be heavily weighed down with Iraq and military spending as you might have guessed. Also look for domestic agendas that spend a lot of time on health care, jobs, and immigration. This is really a very interesting and competitive race. As of right now, there is no one running from the Bush Administration. (Well look at his approval rating, I wouldn't run if I work for Bush either.) I know I'll be compiling my list of who I think might end up winning the primaries. Though, it is still too early to tell. Other candidates could still emerge. Hope you enjoy this resource!
Yours Truly,
LastManOut
Thursday, February 01, 2007
More Lily Photo's
Lily didn't fit in her Pet Taxi for very long, we discovered her last week on her back, feet in the air, trying to bust out. :) LOL
Lily with Mary's Puppy Marle, Lily and Marle are very good pals.
Lily loves to play in the park!
You've never seen a more adorable puppy!
Lily is 20 weeks old this week and survived her spay on Tuesday rather well. She's more full of energy than ever and starts puppy school in about two weeks.
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