@Orioles Lose Another… #Fan that is. Thanks #PeterAngelos! #Orioles

My 5 year old son hates wearing hats.  It makes me kinda of sad because I think he has the perfect head for a baseball hat and it brings back memories of me playing baseball at his age.  I love baseball.

I grew up as an Oriole fan.  My first memories is sitting in my father’s lap watching Earl Weaver’s last game (the first time) in 1982.  As fans cheered and cried, a bawling Earl returned to the field after the game to wave his goodbyes.  I remember crying and asking my dad “why does he have to leave?”

The next year the Orioles were playing the Phillies in the World Series.  It was my birthday and everyone was celebrating it in the dining room except me.  I was in front of the TV watching the game.

From 1988’s 0-21 start, ’89’s Why Not? season, ’92’s Camden Yards birth and the Jeffrey Meier debacle in 1996… I have remained a true fan that bleeds orange and black.

Even now after 14 years of losing I can’t escape my love for the O’s.  Each spring brings a renewed spirit of hope.  Maybe this year they can finish above .500.  Perhaps this is the year Wieters will become great or the young pitching will fulfill their talents.

But in the end we can’t escape that the O’s owner is the worst owner in all of sports.  He has taken a proud franchise and ruined it.

I may be too old to change loyalties.  My heart is stuck with the Orioles.  But there is one thing I can do to Peter Angelos…

Yesterday my son wore a hat and kept it on for the first time.  We went to the park and he looked so handsome running around and playing on his scooter… adjusting the hat as the wind blew it around on his head.  He reminded me when I was a kid playing outside with my baseball hat on.

But my son was wearing a Cardinals hat and I couldn’t have been more proud.  The Oriole hat I bought for him will gather dust as it remains on his bedpost until it is donated to the local thrift shop.  I want my son to have the chance to not just follow a winning franchise… but a team that cares about it’s fans.  Sadly, that is not the Oriole Way anymore.

Establishing #Atheism as a #Religion

Websters Dictionary defines religion as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe; a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.

Whether it is a belief that there is a God or a belief that there is no God – a belief is a belief.  And a set of beliefs is a form of religion.

Atheism is organized into denominations/sects (Link) and Atheist can join a church (Link) and even become ordained pastors.  Like other forms of religion, the only way atheism grows is through evangelism and conversion (Link).  Their congregants struggle with such religious terms such as spiritualism (Link).

Like other religions, Atheist use the political system to change laws to ensure their beliefs are not discriminated against.  They have a group of lobbyist (Link) and are working to establish a political party (Link).

Much like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism… there is no doubt that Atheism looks and acts like a religion.

If it looks like a duck… and quacks like a duck… it must be a duck.

Do you vote based on #Electability or your #Beliefs?

Republicans around the country are in a quagmire.  Each of Mitt Romney’s opponents posses qualities that resonate to a core block of GOP constituents but there isn’t a single candidate that are seemingly strong enough to knock President Obama out of the presidency – except for Mitt.

In many ways – Mitt says all the right things.  He has been playing his best right wing song and dance for awhile now, but he will always have the cloud of being a social issue flip flopper hanging over his head.   No matter what Mr. Romney says conservatives will likely continue to wonder if he is going to shoot left if he is elected as our next President.

The other candidates – Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – each have very strong beliefs.  Paul is a strict constitutionalist but many of his views are unreasonable.  Santorum is a hard right candidate but lost his last Senate bid and seems to be coming down with the classic Perry Foot-n-Mouth Syndrome.  Gingrich is a highlight reel home run hitter of a candidate but strikes out way too much to be trusted for the #4 spot in the lineup.

This is a fatally flawed group.  President Obama and his political engine will eat them for lunch if nominated.

So… what is a Republican to do?  Vote for a candidate that may or may not be the person he says he is but can win the presidency or vote for a candidate that more closely falls in line with the voter’s beliefs but is more likely to lose against Obama?

#Bluegrass music, #religion and #politics will ruin #family gatherings.

I don’t know if a natural progression in musical taste is to begin enjoying bluegrass music when you reach your mid to late 30s.  What a surprise it was to me that while recently scanning the FM dial I found a local honky tonk station and the dial hasn’t changed since.  Banjos, fiddles and mandolins rock!

This isn’t your run of the mill bluegrass station, but a Christian station that mixes in some hard hitting talk.

Now, I will periodically listen to a pastor’s sermon but I have not really listen to Christian talk until my switch.  My verdict after giving a listen is that Bluegrass music is good… Christian talk – not so good.

And here is why.

I have a real problem when we mix our faith with politics when 90% of what I hear on Christian talk is bashing the Democratic platform with very little biblical based alternatives.

I am a Republican.

Going to my parent’s house is like listening to a very long winded Christian talk program.  I am labeled a liberal by my family because I ask questions like this:

“You don’t like Obama’s healthcare… so what are we as Christians going to do to fill this gap because we are called to take care of the poor.”

Oh, he’s just an Obama lover!

“Tree hugger, huh?  But aren’t we called to take care of God’s Creation? ”

That hippie!

Don’t get me wrong.  There are inconsistencies on both sides of the aisle when faith and politics mix.  I just believe that our beliefs and actions should be more consistent with our Christian faith than a political party.  Don’t you?

 

Would it be easier to be a dedicated #Christ follower if you lived under #persecution?

Let me ask you… and think about it before you reply:  Would it be easier for you to be a dedicated Christ follower if you lived under persecution?

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them.”

– Jesus (John 16:1-4a)

When I checked out my twitter feed this morning I saw another report of a church bombing that left several dead and even more injured.  There is little doubt that the church in Asia, the Middle East and in some parts of Europe are under attack.  Christians are being persecuted and dying for what they believe in.  Others are in constant fear for their lives and their family’s lives.

Persecution is not a trending topic for Christians in the West.  We become upset about disintegrating biblical values that many Americans used to follow – but very few fear for our lives as we daily live our Christian faith.

Much like the 40 days Christ spent in the desert preparing for his ministry and the cross,  perhaps we are living in a season of Lent – a time of  preparation for a coming persecution.

Will we take advantage the freedoms that we have and become dedicated Christ followers during a season of preperation?  Or will we wait for a time of persecution – when our lives may depend on it?

#Lent: What it means to me

My first real Lent experience (I want to say lental – but those are beans) came about 10 years ago on Ash Wednesday.  For one reason or another I went to a church close to where I worked and had the ashes crossed on my forehead.  I went back to the office and the first things one of my workmates said was “oh, I thought you were Jewish.”

It wasn’t until 4 years later when I really observed Lent.  Over the years I have given up fast food or candy… and all that is cool.  It doesn’t of course compare to the 40 days Christ fasted in the wilderness.  But I can honestly say that it is the closest I have ever connected to not just Christ, but his followers over the past 2,000 years.

That is what Lent means to me.  Christmas and even Easter are holy holidays that have moved me in the past – but there is something deeply spiritual and powerful about Lent.