Moving On Over

I’m no longer blogging at this site.  I’ve moved to http://erikullestad.blogspot.com/

(For those who do the rss thing, here’s the new feed — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/blogspot/erikullestad)

Why move?

I’m tired of explaining the “godsnowhere” gimmick to people.  I need a break from WordPress, which is an awesome blog site (probably the best), but the features are limited if I don’t self-host my website (which costs money)…and requires a certain level of tech-savvy that I don’t have.

I’ll be doing the same kinds of things at the new site.  I would be much obliged if you’d join me over at KOINONIA.  Thanks…

Music Video Divina

Chris Scharen, my new favorite scholar / theologian, introduced a new term to us at the Extravaganza — music video divina.  (Similar to lectio divina.)  We used the U2 / Green Day video “The Saints Are Coming” as our focal point.

Some additional input on the intended meaning behind the video (from Wikipedia):

A music video for “The Saints Are Coming,” directed by Chris Milk, was released on video site YouTube on October 27, 2006. The music video shows the two bands playing at the Abbey Road Studio and at the Louisiana Superdome (though the footage from the live performance at the Superdome has been overdubbed with the studio version of the song), intermixed with news footage of the displacement of residents after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The second half of the video shows an alternate history in which George W. Bush redeployed troops and vehicles from Iraq to New Orleans to help victims of the hurricane, with the military personnel fulfilling the titular role of the “saints.” According to Chris Milk, this was done to “make a commentary on the Katrina disaster … from the standpoint of how things can and should be done in the future.”^[4] The video ends with military support vehicles fading out as the camera pans to a sign that reads ‘Not as seen on TV’, alluding to the criticized response to Katrina while also parodying media deception on rescue coverage. The video had more than two million views on YouTube five days after its initial upload. Various critics, including some YouTube viewers have commented on the logistical impossibility of the hypothetical movement of certain pieces of military hardware from Iraq on such short notice as well as the actual functional capabilities of the aircraft digitally edited into the video.

Amazing.  Powerful.  Prophetic.

Unexpected Inspiration

I’m a sports junkie; as much as any church worker I know.  This is not something I’m bragging about.  Sometimes I wonder how much smarter I’d be if a significant part of my brain hard drive wasn’t already bogged down with names, stats, and stories related to sports.  In the grand scheme of life, my devotion to the world of sports is completely and utterly worthless.  I know this; and yet I can’t cut the cord.  

I listen to sports talk radio whenever I’m in the car (the kids HATE it!).  In the past year I’ve subscribed to no less than eight daily or weekly sports podcasts.  I’ve gotten it down to a more manageable number lately — 3 hours a day of the Dan Patrick Show, 30 minutes a day of PTI, and 2-3 hours a week of the B.S. Report.  I just finished listening to Bill Simmons (aka, ESPN’s “The Sports Guy”) and J.A. Adande from the L.A. Times talk about two of my favorite topics — basketball and socio-political culture.  If you are even remotely interested in these topics, or if you just like hearing intelligent people talk with each other, you should carve out some time to listen to the podcast.  (iTunes or Sports Guy’s World)

I realize I sound like a meat-head when I give props to degenerate sports writers for their political insights…but trust me on this.  I have no problem saying this is one of the best sports / race / American culture / Obama conversations ever recorded.  (I didn’t agree with everything that was said – but it was entertaining and enlightening.)

This is especially relevant for people who might be flying in the next few days and want to listen to something on the plane between…say…I dunno…Iowa and New Orleans!!!  Only 4 more days…

Did You Know?

The fam spent much of the day in our Hyundai Elantra going to & from Osage, IA.  The kids traveled pretty well, for the most part.  While they were watching a movie in the back seat, Allison and I came up with a new version of a game my parents used to play on road trips.  Back in the day, when my sisters and I were listening to our Walkman’s and filling out our Mad Libs books in the back of the van, my mom would read Trivial Pursuit cards to my dad.  As we got older, they would occasionally ask the kids some of the questions they thought we would be able to answer. 

Anyway, with the use of my Blackberry Curve and an unlimited data plan, Allison found a random assortment of trivia questions on various websites.  It was a lot of fun…something I’m sure we’ll do on future trips.  One question that stuck with me all day, as we drove past 300+ miles of farmland, was:

 

What percentage of the cost of produce goes to the farmers —  5%, 15%, 25%?

Sadly, the correct answer was 5%.  

 

*Sighs*

Overheard at Panera

I was disappointed to overhear a bigoted conversation between a couple of seemingly sweet old ladies sitting behind me at Panera the other day.  

• The reason Jews haven’t been wiped off the face of the earth is because Christians have protected them.  Israel exists because of us!
• Barack Obama is a Muslim, I don’t care what he says, he’s a Muslim.  I mean, his middle name is Hussein, for God’s sake!
• I see the crowds Obama attracts, and it reminds me what happened at Jonestown.
• I don’t despise Obama, I’m scared to death of him.  I don’t trust him.  I don’t know him that well, but just because he’s inspirational doesn’t mean he’s a good man.  Look at Hitler – he was able to inspire people.  I feel like the same thing is going to happen with Obama.
• We’re not the United States of America – we’re a united global society because we welcome all these immigrants.

I’ve taken a break from politics since early November…and I have no desire to re-enter the discussion any time soon.

 

Single Issue Christian

If you followed the presidential election circus, you likely heard pundits talk about “single-issue voters”.  Often times, for Christians, the single issues that get the most traction have to do with abortion and gay marriage.  Tony Campolo, my favorite Baptist, appears to be a single-issue Christian…but on a decidedly different topic:

 

The fact is there are 2,000 verses of scripture that talk about caring for the poor.  I don’t care what else you’re into, but if you ignore what the Bible is really about – helping poor and oppressed people – you’ve missed the message of Jesus.

 

The only description that Jesus gives of judgment day is how we treated the poor.  On that day, he’s not going to ask you theological questions.  It’s not going to be, “Virgin Birth: strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree.”  Here’s what it’s going to be – the 25^th chapter of Matthew.  “I was hungry…did you feed me?  I was naked…did you clothe me?  I was sick…did you care for me?  I was an alien…did you take me in?  What you failed to do to the least of these, you failed to do unto me.  Because I’m not up in the sky somewhere, I’m waiting to be loved in people who hurt.  When you relate to people who hurt, you’re related to me.”

 

There is no Christianity that doesn’t tie us up with the poor and the oppressed of the world.

 

More from Dr. Campolo:

Used To Be

I ran across Lost And Found’s “Early Years” boxed set earlier tonight and unearthed this forgotten treasure:

 

Superman was killed in Dallas.  

There’s no love left in the palace.  

Someone took the Beatles lead guitar.  

Have another Chevis Regal.  

You’re 12 years old and sex is legal.  

Your parents don’t know where or who you are.

 

It used to be the hero of the ballgame would take the time to shake the loser’s hand.  

It used to be that failure meant you didn’t try in a world where people gave a damn.

 

Great big wars in little places.  

Look at all those frightened faces.  

But don’t come here, we just ain’t got the room.  

Love they neighbor’s wife and daughter.  

You cleanse your life with holy water.  

We don’t need to bathe we’ve got perfume.

 

It used to be a knight in shining armor didn’t have to own a shiny car.  

Dignity and courage were a measure of a man, and not the drugs he needs to hide his scars.

 

Can your teacher read and does your preacher pray and does your President have soul?  

Have you heard a real good ethnic joke today? 

Mommy took her speed and Daddy ran away, but you mustn’t lose control.  

They say the kids are wild we just can’t tame ‘em, but do we have a right to blame ‘em?

 

We’ve fed them all our indecision and we’ve raped their minds with television.  

But what the hell, they’re too young to feel pain.

 

But I believe that love can save tomorrow.

And I believe that truth will make us free.

Someone tried to say it, and we nailed him to a cross.

I guess it’s still the way it used to be…

 

They sang it at Church Youth Fest a few weeks ago…I forgot how much that song means to me.  Now I can’t get it out of my head.  ”Used to Be” and “Goodbye” are currently the two songs that have the best chance of making me weep these days.  As always, I remain grateful for the music and ministry of Mike & George.

 

***UPDATE***  Here a recording…the visual quality is a little like an acid-trip, but the audio is decent.  It the only thing I could find…

FOX vs. Palin?

I found this video clip to be a little odd.  These two reporters’ handling of Gov. Sarah Palin seems to fly in the face of the perception that FOX is a conservative-based news organization.  It seems rather harsh towards Ms. Palin.  

 

Either way, I’m soooooo glad that this election season is over!  I’ve officially removed all the political blogs from my Google Reader…at least for a while.  Time to breathe the clean air of a concluded election.  I’m just glad I don’t live in Minnesota.

Election Reflections

The church where I work is a voting site.  As you might expect, there were a lot of people who passed through the hallway that leads from the main doors to our fellowship hall.  Along this hallway is my office.  Needless to say, I overheard a lot of conversations.  The cool thing was how upbeat everyone seemed.  Some people spoke of their passions for their particular candidate(s).  A surprisingly small number of negative comments were heard. 

 

Throughout the afternoon I read stories of all the warm-fuzzy feelings that everyone was exhibiting while waiting in line to vote.  All across the country, people of varying ideologies put the best possible spin on the people the were sharing space with.  A Democrat and a Republican sharing an umbrella in the rain, a group of business men allowing a van of nursing home residents to cut ahead of them in line, and impromptu volunteers assuming responsibility of helping people find a place to park in crowded residential streets.  This is America in its best possible form.  It restored my hope in people’s ability to treat each other fairly and with respect.  When everyone participates and respects each other; everyone wins.  

 

But then, around 7:45, my outlook took a dark turn.  A gentleman representing the McCain-Palin campaign called my home phone number.  He asked for me by name and wondered if I voted for “our guy”.  I said, “no I didn’t, but I wish you well tonight.”  His reply – “that’s OK, I’m sure Mohammed appreciates it.”  Then he hung up.  I know that the sentiment that Obama is an Islamic terrorist exists…I just never thought it would come into my household.  I’m unplugging my phone for the rest of the night, and praying that the narrow-mindedness of one unethical McCain supporter doesn’t tarnish what has been a rather positive day.  

I took great delight in seeing how the four major networks covered the election as the polls started to close.  It seemed that CBS was really careful to not jump the gun or appear biased.  NBC and ABC pulled the trigger almost instantly after polls closed in various parts of the country.  FOX was surprisingly quick to declare states for Obama, but once everyone declared him the winner at 10:00 CST they stopped updating their electoral vote projections / totals on the website for a while.  Other than those peculiarities, it was a good night in front of the TV.  

 

All in all, the coverage I saw was reasonable.  The only thing that drives me nuts about the whole process is when networks (and they ALL do it) declare someone has won a particular state with 0% of the precincts reporting.  Are their exit polls that accurate?  Why are they in such a hurry to be the first ones to make those announcements?  Don’t they remember the embarrassing situations in 2000 and 2004 when networks prematurely declared certain candidates the victor?  Just get it right, people!

 

Anyway, here are the numbers that I recorded every 15 minutes…mostly accumulated by switching channels on the TV.

 

                   ABC             CBS             NBC             FOX

7:15          102-34        81-39        103-34        82-39

7:30          102-49       102-54       103-58       103-54

7:45          N/A             102-54        N/A            103-69

8:00          174-76       174-100      175-70      200-81

8:15          175-76       174-115      175-76      163-81

8:30          195-90       194-124      200-85      200-90

8:45          200-124     199-124      200-90      200-90

9:00          207-135     206-135      207-129      N/A

9:15          207-135     206-135      207-129      N/A

9:30          207-138     206-141      207-135      N/A

9:45          207-141     206-141      207-142      N/A

10:00        284-145     283-145      284-146     220-138

10:15        333-155     324-155      333-146     297-145

10:30        333-155     324-155      333-156     297-145

10:45        338-155     338-156      338-156     338-155

The Votes Are In…

Actually, just one vote that I can speak to — mine.  I just mailed in my absentee ballot, which sure beats waiting in line next Tuesday.  In case anyone cares to know, I cast my vote for president in the direction of Barack Obama.  Here were a few of the deciding factors for me:

Temperament - Obama is mild-mannered and calculated in his decisions.  McCain is a hot-head with a temper.  It is of paramount importance that a president can keep his cool in diplomatic scenarios.  I trust Obama to do this; not McCain.

Palin – she’s not prepared, and she’s too devisive.  McCain dropped the ball when he picked someone without proper vetting – or without even meeting that person more than once.  It shows poor judgment on his part, and the idea of “President Palin” is genuinely frightening to me.

Taxes – I’d pay about $1,000 less in taxes per year if Obama were president.  So would most of the working / middle class.  The moderate-conservative in me is just fine with that.

“Socialism” – I don’t think Obama is a socialist, but I really like the policies that have caused some people to label him as such.  (As an aside, I invite anyone to read Acts 2:43-47 and tell me if the early Christian church sounds more like “socialism” or “capitalism”…and then tell me why it’s unethical or irresponsible to expect those who have been blessed with an abundance to share with those who have little.  The assumption that all wealthy people work harder than all poor people – and, therefore, deserve more riches – is not only asenine but it’s unbiblical.)

Foreign Policy – most countries around the globe dislike the USA…and most of these countries really like Obama.  It’s essential for our country to repair its standing among the other nations, and I think Obama is extremely well-equipped to do that.

Intelligence – Obama is almost always the smartest person in the room, and he surrounds himself with other smart people.  I don’t think intellect can be undervalued as a voting criteria.

Iraq / Afghanistan – I don’t think we should remain in Iraq indefinately.  I also think we need to put more focus on radical fundamentalist Islam terror orgainzations…and many of these groups – including al Queda – are operating out of Afghanistan.  Obama seems to share my thoughts on these two issues…McCain doesn’t.

Those are my thoughts.  I’d love to hear yours.  I understand this is a potentially volatile topic, so I’d appreciate a modicum of tact and respect among those who are wish to leave comments.

I also thought the Obama “infomercial” last night was well done.  Here it is: