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trying out a new thing with tags. trying to broaden the smaller reader base i have through technorati’s tagging system.

drove home from nashville tonight with carrie. We took a slight detour around an accident which led us throught he burgeoning metropolis of kingston springs, tn. i also accidentally turned the wrong way on the interstate. kinda frustrating. but we made it. now its time for snow.

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snow

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Lately I’ve been thinking about global warming, probably because a group of evangelicals including Brian McLaren, and the president of Abilene Christian University, signed a statement showing their commitment to helping stop global warming, well, to stop the pollution we create that supposedly causes global warming.

I’m not sure exactly where I stand on this issue. On one hand, I definitely appreciate the efforts of evangelicals to adopt some sort of environmental position. We were given dominion over creation, but that does not mean we should just blatantly destroy it, and I believe its about time that evangelical christians jumped on to help this. However, I’m not sure that there is enough supporting our use of chemicals causing global warming in order to shut down the our economy. The Kyoto Treaty, which many liberals cite as a cure all for everything from severe hurricanes to melting glaciers, to tornados and crippling snowstorms, in actuality will do very little to end global warming, if in fact we’re causing the vast majority of it. Kyoto does not have any regulation on China or India, two burgeoning economies in the world that are polluting at dramatic rates, yet it imposes strict regulation against the United States, Great Britain and other developed countries. The motivation behind this legislation is purely political. It serves to “level the playing field” for other nations through the guise of saving the environment. The fact is, its not leveling the playing field. It is punishing the success of American Capitalism. I support our government’s refusal to sign this legislation until it applies to everyone and until significant evidence that we are the cause of global warming, not a warming sun or any other climactic patterns.

In some reading that I’ve done, I’ve noticed that there has been climate change on our globe far before we began burning fossil fuels for energy. Several Ice Ages have come and gone before technology reached the point where air pollution was anything more than a nomadic group sitting around a campfire cooking meat from a mastadon. The earth goes in cycles of warm and cool. Right now, there are factors contributing to warmth that we must be aware of, such as the sun going through a hot phase. When this happens, the earth warms significantly for several years, melting polar caps and glaciers. This causes a desalination of the oceans, which in turn causes the gulf stream to either slow down or cease flowing. Once the gulf stream slows, warm air is no longer being pushed into the far northern hemisphere in europe which causes a dramatic cooling of the earth, or even a shocking climate change into some sort of ice age, which refreezes glaciers and polar caps. One can see this when you notice where there were glaciers during ice ages and there aren’t now (ie the great lakes were formed by glaciers during an ice age. Can you imagine what would be going on now if the great lakes were ice and people noticed them melting significantly. People would go ballistic, just as they are doing now. Climate change is natural on our planet, to a certain extent, and we need to realize that before we draft legislation that will actually hurt the poor more than rising oceans and catastrophic storms.

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For those of you who think the republicans are the only party in this country with fascist tendencies… think again.

The city of Calbasas in California has now banned smoking in public OUTDOOR areas. Yes outdoor areas.

No smoking outside of businesses, not in parks, not on the sidewalk.

Seriously, what’s next?

I’m reminded of Portland Maine which bans smoking inside any public buildings and does not allow drinking alcohol outside any buildings. The two things that are meant to be done together can’t be.

So, Republicans are fascists in my bedroom. Democrats are fascists in my buisiness and in my personal space.

Vote Libertarian.

http://www.theacorn.com/news/2006/0209/Front_page/001.html

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I understand the good things about communal living. I understand that the early church practiced it and it worked all right for them, but I just don’t think I’m very good at it or something. I can’t stand living with people who don’t do any work, which leaves an overwhelming amount for me to do. Its like, if you’re living in a communal setting, the person with the worst work ethic gets the best deal. I’ve got a roomate who makes more than his share of messes and cleans up, well, he doesn’t ever clean up. Its really frustrating. Also, we don’t pool our food resources, yet, my food has a tendency to disappear, and that is also a frustration. most recently I realized that my laundry detergent is almost gone and, no joke, I bought it at the beginning of January. normally it takes me 3-4 months to use a whole thing of detergent, but since someone’s been using mine, its gonna be much less than that. And I won’t say anything to ayone cause I’m not one to make a big deal out of stuff. These kinda things make me wish I lived on my own, cause I constantly feel like I’m being taken advantage of.

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I really wish that I could be a professional writer.

I know I’m not very good or anything, but, I could see myself sitting in a coffee shop, drinking some hot brewed beverage, typing away at my laptop whilst listening to whatever obscure indie rock band is my pick of the day.

I guess that’s kinda what I’m doing right now, actually. My headphones aren’t on, and I was listening to Panic! At the Disco, but still.

Last night, I was really disappointed. In the interest of full disclosure, I’d like to let everyone know that I am a weather nerd, and have been since I was about 3 years old. My most striking obsession with the weather is snow. I love snow. I love snowstorms, or as much “snowstorm” as we have in the mid south. Yesterday, the weather persons were all forecasting between 4- 6 inches of snow for the Nashville area. I was pumped. I’d been driving around, and occasionally, I would pull up to Krystal wireless hotspot and check the radar and temperatures, as well as the new forecast models. I’d compare the position of the low pressure with that of the forecast models, to see if it was moving according to schedule. Things were looking good. The snow was moving in. I called Memphis, where my family lives, and they were receiving heavy snow, About an inch an hour rate. Their temperature had dropped ten degrees in about 30 minutes, which excited me because one of my worries had been that it was nearly 50 degrees yesterday in Nashville, and I was concerned that it would be too warm for snow.

I went to work, where I didn’t have access to the internet for 3 hours, though I did finally get to check the weather on television. Temperature had dropped. The snow had all ready started in northern Davidson County, and it had begun to mix in with the rain in Antioch. I was pumped. When we left, snow was falling, though the temperature was slightly above freezing so it was a wet, slushy snow that was having trouble accumulating. No worries, right? I noticed that a little more rain had begun to mix in around 7, and the next time I checked the radar, I saw it. Warm air was streaming northward, right up I 65. Not a good sign. All the snow from middle tennessee was changing to rain once it reached the I 65 corridor. I hung my head in disappointment. It wasn’t going to happen. Not only did the warm air push in, but the low pressure didn’t pull in nearly as much moisture as had been anticipated. The weather persons had let me down again. Memphis got 4 inches. I can’t remember the last time Memphis got 4 inches of snow. I think it may have been 2001. Or before. Regardless.

I’d like to apologize to all the school children of Nashville (and all snow loving adults). Its my fault. Just like the storm that Jonah caused while he fled Ninevah, God is punishing me (but for an unknown reason) by not letting it snow. Memphis has received more snow than Nashville every year since I left. I’m convinced at this point that if I moved to Buffalo, NY that the lake effect snows would cease. Seriously.

In other news, tomorrow is the first sunday in the new building at Otter Creek. I’m singing on praise team, and am excited about having 45 extra minutes to sleep. I’m also excited about being able to go to class. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve gone to class at OC since I’ve been there.

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Sunday was the last service at the Granny White Pike building for Otter Creek. I’d have to say it was one of the most emotional services that I’ve ever attended. I’ve only been attending OC for two and a half years now, but it feels much longer than that. While I was attending Lipscomb, I had trouble making friends. Despite my love of performing, college has brought about the realization that I’m somewhat of an introvert. I don’t make friends very easily, maybe because of my constant struggle with self esteem. Regardless, through the lonely times at Lipscomb, Otter Creek was always a refuge for me. That building became a place of comfort. Sunday morning worship was the highlight of my week, and the church, and the few relationships that I built were ones that encouraged me, and kept me from missing home too much. No matter how down I might have been after a Saturday night spent alone in my dorm room, when I walked in the doors on Sunday morning, I forgot about whatever had been getting me down. I knew I’d see BST’s smiling face, and get a bear hug (he gave me a bear hug the second time we met actually, which was a little awkward) and Tim’s preaching was always an encouragement, even through his angry period. I had my pitiful crush on the unreachable Amanda McKinney now Vickers, who became a big sister to me and gave me some much needed encouragement through emails. All those feelings kinda are wrapped together with that sanctuary, but they will come with me.

I remember the sunday before Labor Day, 2004, as soon as service was over, getting a phone call from my dad that my grandmother had died that morning. I was standing in the second row middle section, thinking about where I was headed to eat and the phone rang and I just knew what was happening. That’s a memory from the building that I will never forget.

But back to the service. I know I haven’t had the memories that many have had in that building, but Sunday morning, I could feel them. I could feel the excitement, the sadness, the nostalgia, the memories. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of. It was wonderful to walk through the history of such and amazing church, one that has drastically affected my life in so many positive ways. It was so refreshing to hear John Rucker, in his 80s, admit his humanity to a church he’s attended nearly his whole life. It was amazing and surreal.

However, I am excited about this new building. I’m excited about the great things that OC will be able to accomplish for the Kingdom at its new location. I’m excited about the fact that this new building hopefully will be the building where my family is born and raised, and where I’ll get to see my future children grow and learn about Christ. I’m also excited about only one service and 45 extra minutes of sleep on praise team mornings.

I praise God for Otter Creek and all that its doing and will do for the cause of Christ!