Thank God It's Friday...

I don't think people realize just how often I "bite my tongue." Or how many times I hold my peace, stave my pen, or more contemporaneously silence my keyboard. There are a great many things I would like to comment on, especially many posts put on this Facebook thing. But I am a writer and sometimes all the thoughts I have bottled up just spew out. This is one of those times. As Popeye would say "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more."


This past summer someone posted a comment, I cannot exactly recall but it was along the line "It's 72 and sunny, God is good" Another similar one was basically praising God that Spring was on the way. What about days when its cold and snowy? Is God bad that day? Does the other person think if he/she doesn't thank God for Spring he won't allow it to happen? Maybe it is just my Deistic leanings, but I've about had it with all the stuff blamed on or accredited to God. Does he really have anything to do with Spring or the weather? No, not really. Do people really think God is, wherever he is, planning the weather for their next vacation? Why would anyone thank God for it being 75 and sunny in July? That's not real uncommon you know. What if it was rainy and 49 on July 4th? Would you curse God?


When someone dies, it isn't because "its his/her time." Stop saying God has anything to do with death. He doesn't and never claimed to. "Oh my friend just died, I know he was 500 pounds, thought bacon grease was a condiment and had a heart covered in lard, God must have decided it was his time to go." God didn't have anything to do with such a person's death, THEY did. Another thing, just because you say grace before a meal and ask God to bless it, doesn't mean he will or can. Do you really believe he is going to give that Whopper the same nutrition as a bunch of broccoli? "Dear God bless this greasy burger I am about to ingest and clog my arteries with, those same arteries you gave me" (which by the way he didn't give you, they come with the body, they're standard issue).


So you really think God had anything to do with your positive test results? Does he hate all the other people with negative results? What makes you so special? God isn't some megalomaniac looking down on earth saying "I decide who lives or dies!" People just die. People just have bad news. People live. People heal. It rains. It snows. It becomes sunny. It all just happens naturally. If I lost a loved one to a wreckless driver, I wouldn't blame God for the death, I'd blame the driver. If I keeled over with a heart attack and died, my family won't blame God for it, they'll blame my horrible diet and lack of exercise.


Athletes thanking God whenever they win the big game is preposterous. As if they won because they happen to be on God's favorite team. Maybe they are just on his fantasy team? Don't tell me they are simply thanking him for giving them the ability to play the game. I suck at basketball, should I curse God for that or just ignore him for it? The ability to play the game has nothing to do with being born healthy, staying healthy, having a decent diet, spending hours in the weight room and exercising, using the right amount of steroids, or that snort of cocaine before the big play, it was all God and nothing else.


A stanza from "Frail Grasp on the Big Picture" by the Eagles.
And we pray to our Lord
Who we know is American
He reigns from on high
He speaks to us through middlemen
And he shepherds his flock
We sing out and we praise His name
He supports us in war
He presides over football games
And the right will prevail
All our troubles shall be resolved
We have faith in the Lord
Unless there's money or sex involved


Frail grasp on the big picture
Nobody's calling them for roughing up the pitcher
It's a frail grasp on the big picture
Heaven help us


I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs or personal philosophy. I am all for complete and utter liberty to live and believe as you please. But perhaps people should think a little before posting something that might make their God or their religion sound a bit...

Michael Vick (or Anyone Else for that Matter)

I find it quite odd whenever someone is convicted of a crime--and committing a crime is so easily done these days--they are chased away from everything in life that meant anything to them or that can help them back on their feet. Shunned by nearly all of society, ostracized by family/friends, forbidden by the state from a myriad of things, and presented with a never ending supply of "hoops" to jump through. Hmm? Is it really any wonder ex-cons tend to return to the very thing they were convicted of? It has become the only thing willing to accept them. When a price is paid for an offense, it should be over-done-finished. A little forgiveness and a good old fashioned second chance may just help in true rehabilitation--for all. Michael Vick should be allowed to play ball because he's good at it, and it's what makes him a complete person. Frankly, it's no one's damn business anyway unless you were the one who hired him. Now do us all a favor, put down your stones (John 8:7) and move on with your lives...