My last cigarette...

I think I like when Christians are Christian instead of church-people. "Church is for people who like church, just like a moose or elk lodge is for people who like lodges"
I also like when people aren't extreme with their use of profanity, but don't talk in the completely sheltered vocabulary range of goody-Christians.

So if you aren't going to be at New Harvest (or weren't at New Harvest) on Sunday June 7th, then I'll just tell you that the guy who we videoed is cool because he says cuss words. Not that he was any good at it, but it was way funny and very down-to-earth. He told a story about this man (if you know the name of the man, please remind me: we stopped recording when this story was told) who went to a foreign country and was approached by two very young (12-13 years old) girls who offered to do anything he wanted all night long for $10. He almost walked away, but instead clarified, "Anything?" to which they affirmed. He invited them to his room, and gave them $10, and sat them down on the sofa to watch Disney movies all night. The man (while personally telling the story) said something like, "What the fuck am I doing?" and then stopped, having made this exclamation in a crowd of.. ahem.. 'holy people'.. and made this second statement, "You are more concerned with the fact that I used profanity in my story telling than you are for the two girls who will, for many years if not the rest of their lives, live on money received from prostitution."

Another instance where that kind of point was made was at a youth conference (probably Acquire the Fire) in which a very fun black lady told us all about different sexual things. When she inevitably told a statistic about how many men get and STD on their penis, she stopped and made the same statement about how we care more about what word she used than the outrageous amount of STD trafficking.

There are some things that are more important in the world than being a perfect saint. Its one thing to abstain from immoral actions, but when it makes relating to people who don't share the same qualities an awkward thing, it's time to adapt. I may not cuss, drink, smoke, dope up, sleep around, etc.. but I won't make my interactions with those who DO be negative. It's just not worth a bad example of Jesus to obnoxiously follow rules.
What I'm saying is this: Don't wince when someone blasts vulgarity; Don't scowl when people confess to 'naughty' things; Don't judge others. It's not your place

OMGWTFBBQZ

I was looking at the books on the shelf at the Center the other day and spied one titled "The Revolution | A Field Manual for Changing Your World". Curious, I opened to see what it was about, synchronously asking Jason what it was about. He had never read it, and I proceeded to discover that it is a collection of several essay-like stories and articles about controversial issues the world over. By controversial, I mean that the chapters are titled,
"1) Clean Water
2) Gang Violence
3) Women's Rights
4) Fair Trade
5) Hunger
6) HIV/AIDS
7) Capital Punishment
8) War and Peace
9) Torture
10) The Environment
11) Human Trafficking and
12) Poverty".
So, as I was flipping through this book, I saw a quote placed at the beginning of the first chapter.

A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; An optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty" - G. Donald Gale

I would like to add that a giving person has already found a thirsty person before happening upon said glass.

Something from this morning at the Center:
"As I write, I see Bruce walking away from the Center, with his own special beat that drives his steps and posture. He is going to take care of some business and will be back soon. I love him. He entered this morning in a very subtle voice and pose, exclaiming a 'good morning' as he took a seat on the couch opposite me. An up-beat song serenaded the room, adding to his pep. He asked about my book, and listened intently as I described it. From that point until his harbinger of leave, he sat in content and joy, smiling and bouncing in time to the music. A quick look in the mirror, as is custom for him, showed his hat, a new white brim, correctly centered on his head. His upper raiment, a royal blue T-shirt, read 'COLLEGE' in box-like text. Enigma consumes the need and desire to be with and encourage Bruce. 'Love. For that is the greatest'"