Because it's only been shared on about a million other blogs already, here it is one more time:
How to Talk to Your Kids About Michael Sam
Showing posts with label Humor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humor. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
A Few Good Links
A few recent items from my reading (and viewing) list that were worth sharing:
-Justin Snow's Decline and Fall of the Ex-Gay Movement provides an accurate and fairly comprehensive history of the movement. While it still feels premature to announce its fall, I certainly pray that its decline is terminal as people continue to wake up to the fact that gay people are no more broken and no less valuable than everyone else.
-Nakedpastor's version of the blind men and the elephant nicely sums up how foolish we make ourselves look when we claim to have God all figured out.
-Momastery's Glennon responds to her critics, some of whom sound a lot like those blind men arguing over the nature of their elephant.
-Finally, on a lighter note, here at last is a horror movie that doesn't insult my intelligence.
-Justin Snow's Decline and Fall of the Ex-Gay Movement provides an accurate and fairly comprehensive history of the movement. While it still feels premature to announce its fall, I certainly pray that its decline is terminal as people continue to wake up to the fact that gay people are no more broken and no less valuable than everyone else.
-Nakedpastor's version of the blind men and the elephant nicely sums up how foolish we make ourselves look when we claim to have God all figured out.
-Momastery's Glennon responds to her critics, some of whom sound a lot like those blind men arguing over the nature of their elephant.
-Finally, on a lighter note, here at last is a horror movie that doesn't insult my intelligence.
Monday, September 16, 2013
A Great Debate
At last, a conversation between a Christian and an atheist that makes me smile rather than cringe. It's not our differences in belief that we need to fear, but how we treat those we disagree with...
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Space Janitors
And now for something completely different - a quick plug for a very funny web series...
Monday, May 13, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
One More Episode
Okay, so they exaggerate - but only slightly. A friend of mine speculated that Battlestar's enduring appeal, despite its flaws, may stem from the fact that it offers us with a modern creation myth. In any case it represented science fiction at its best - offering us a lens through which we can view everyday issues from a fresh perspective.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Discoveries
Some interesting stuff that I've come across in recent weeks, all recent if not quite brand new...
But it may someday be possible to actually find out for ourselves, if this NASA scientist is correct. He believes that travel via warp drive, once thought to be impossible for all practical purposes, may in fact be achievable. Perhaps some future generation of explorers really will roam the galaxy in the USS Enterprise after all.
Finally, on a Trek-related tangent, here's a link to a very funny new webcomic, LARPTrek.
In archaeological news, the lost city of Myra (home of St. Nicholas) is no longer lost. (If that link disappears behind a subscription firewall, here's another link with similar info.)
In astronomical news, scientists are now confirming that Earth-size planets are considerably more common than once thought. How common biological life (much less sentient life) actually is on those planets remains to be seen, of course.
Finally, on a Trek-related tangent, here's a link to a very funny new webcomic, LARPTrek.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Miscellany
A few random things that have caught my attention lately...
1. First, a belated nod to this post that nicely sums up why Jon Stewart has become my favorite TV personality. If only there were more journalists ("serious" or otherwise) like him.
2. Ten Cliches Christians Should Never Use. Seriously. Some of these made me cringe even when I was a card-carrying conservative evangelical.
3. Rachel Evans reviews a book I really need to read. Learning how to read the Bible on its own terms instead of literally has only made me love it more, so I'm happy to see more Christians waking up to the folly of treating it like a modern history book and instruction manual.
4. Finally, this picture, which could also be the motto of the religious right...
1. First, a belated nod to this post that nicely sums up why Jon Stewart has become my favorite TV personality. If only there were more journalists ("serious" or otherwise) like him.
2. Ten Cliches Christians Should Never Use. Seriously. Some of these made me cringe even when I was a card-carrying conservative evangelical.
3. Rachel Evans reviews a book I really need to read. Learning how to read the Bible on its own terms instead of literally has only made me love it more, so I'm happy to see more Christians waking up to the folly of treating it like a modern history book and instruction manual.
4. Finally, this picture, which could also be the motto of the religious right...
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Good ol' Jon Stewart
Just in case it needs clarifying, I really am who I claim to be (as anyone who knows me through the GCN and BXG conferences can attest), and not, say, a straight woman from Cleveland...
Friday, February 25, 2011
Odds and Ends
A few items of interest:
-Ray Kurzweil on global warming. While his line of reasoning seems a bit simplistic, it is worth remembering the rapid advances being made in technology - and that moving forward is often a better solution than going backwards.
Are the current changes in climate a sign that modern society is unsustainable? There's certainly a lot we need to do to take better care of the planet we live on, but having grown up in the types of churches that keep the masses terrified by latching onto a new prophet of doom and destruction every couple of years, I've learned the hard way to be skeptical of anyone who claims the world is about to end.
-In the "not sure whether to laugh or cry" category, Tony Perkins' description of the Family Research Council's work: "speaking the truth in love about the most important issues facing our country." The saddest part is that he no doubt sincerely believes himself to be a loving and truthful individual, even though his "facts" about the lives of gay individuals bear no resemblance to reality and the next loving thing he says will be his first.
-On the topic of groups that claim to be speaking the truth in love, Kathy Baldock's take on Focus on the Family's so-called "Day of Dialogue" addresses the whole mess quite well. Sadly, the conservative side of the evangelical world is still far too self-absorbed to see how many people they are driving away from God with their creative definition of compassion.
-Finally, The Onion comes through again, this time foretelling the horrors sure to follow if the Defense of Marriage Act is repealed.
-Ray Kurzweil on global warming. While his line of reasoning seems a bit simplistic, it is worth remembering the rapid advances being made in technology - and that moving forward is often a better solution than going backwards.
Are the current changes in climate a sign that modern society is unsustainable? There's certainly a lot we need to do to take better care of the planet we live on, but having grown up in the types of churches that keep the masses terrified by latching onto a new prophet of doom and destruction every couple of years, I've learned the hard way to be skeptical of anyone who claims the world is about to end.
-In the "not sure whether to laugh or cry" category, Tony Perkins' description of the Family Research Council's work: "speaking the truth in love about the most important issues facing our country." The saddest part is that he no doubt sincerely believes himself to be a loving and truthful individual, even though his "facts" about the lives of gay individuals bear no resemblance to reality and the next loving thing he says will be his first.
-On the topic of groups that claim to be speaking the truth in love, Kathy Baldock's take on Focus on the Family's so-called "Day of Dialogue" addresses the whole mess quite well. Sadly, the conservative side of the evangelical world is still far too self-absorbed to see how many people they are driving away from God with their creative definition of compassion.
-Finally, The Onion comes through again, this time foretelling the horrors sure to follow if the Defense of Marriage Act is repealed.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
Like all members of the secret gay conspiracy to destroy everything, I plan to fully indulge in my sinful gay lifestyle over the four-day weekend. In fact, as soon as I'm done posting this I will be heading down to my parents' house for Thanksgiving dinner. I'll be bringing the pie (unpatriotically sweetened with agave instead of good old-fashioned sugar). My mom also asked me to bring a DVD to watch after dinner, so I've pulled out my copy of Lord, Save Us From Your Followers to corrupt her with.
I'll be spending tomorrow at a board game day being hosted by some friends who, like me, think that sounds like a lot more fun than endless hours fighting the frenzied crowds at the mall. So if the economy doesn't recover in 2011, you'll know who's really to blame.
Saturday, after helping put up the advent decorations at church, I plan to see the new Harry Potter movie with my sister, after which we'll no doubt cast a few Imperius curses on unsuspecting Muggles in the name of the dark lord before grabbing some dinner.
After church on Sunday I'll be helping my parents put up that grand symbol of Paganism, the Christmas tree. A couple of the ornaments even depict Santa Claus. And then I'll cap off the weekend by watching the Amazing Race, which just spent the last two legs boosting the economies of Muslim countries.
In all seriousness, I do have much to be thankful for - a loving family, a great church, a stable job, reasonably good health and the freedom to enjoy them all. God is indeed good. Have a blessed holiday.
I'll be spending tomorrow at a board game day being hosted by some friends who, like me, think that sounds like a lot more fun than endless hours fighting the frenzied crowds at the mall. So if the economy doesn't recover in 2011, you'll know who's really to blame.
Saturday, after helping put up the advent decorations at church, I plan to see the new Harry Potter movie with my sister, after which we'll no doubt cast a few Imperius curses on unsuspecting Muggles in the name of the dark lord before grabbing some dinner.
After church on Sunday I'll be helping my parents put up that grand symbol of Paganism, the Christmas tree. A couple of the ornaments even depict Santa Claus. And then I'll cap off the weekend by watching the Amazing Race, which just spent the last two legs boosting the economies of Muslim countries.
In all seriousness, I do have much to be thankful for - a loving family, a great church, a stable job, reasonably good health and the freedom to enjoy them all. God is indeed good. Have a blessed holiday.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Links
A few links worth sharing:
3. You've probably seen it already, but just in case you haven't: Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns' moving contribution to the "It Gets Better" series.
4. On a lighter note: via CrackerLilo, an entry for the "what were they smoking?" category: the 20 Most Hilarious Company Names on Earth.
Friday, July 23, 2010
That's How You Do It
Wish I could have been there for this. I used to attend the San Diego Comic-Con regularly when I lived in California, but haven't gone as often in recent years. It's a great event even if it is sheer chaos trying to navigate through 125,000 people.
In any case, I wonder what the Westboro folks were thinking afterward. Sure, they got the attention they crave so much, but they also got seriously upstaged by thousands of costumed geeks, most of whom weren't taking them even remotely seriously. And, quite frankly, that's the best way to deal with people like the Phelps clan: laugh. In cases like this, it's often the only constructive thing a person can do...
Friday, February 12, 2010
Snippets
Sometimes wisdom comes in small packages. If nothing else, a good quote can make people stop and think, and that alone can be worthwhile. Here are a few thought-provoking quotes I've come across in recent months...
"A golden rule: we must judge men, not by their opinions, but by what their opinions make of them." -Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
“To be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting.” -ee cummings
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why ships are built." (fortune cookie)
"Sometimes I think Christianity is like an archeological dig, where you have to learn to differentiate between the real artifacts, the stuff that's covering it up, and the stuff that the locals make to sell to tourists." (source unknown - seen on Facebook)
"I'd rather have questions I can't answer than answers I can't question." (source unknown)
And finally, on a slightly less serious note, a counterprotest done right...
"A golden rule: we must judge men, not by their opinions, but by what their opinions make of them." -Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
“To be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting.” -ee cummings
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why ships are built." (fortune cookie)
"Sometimes I think Christianity is like an archeological dig, where you have to learn to differentiate between the real artifacts, the stuff that's covering it up, and the stuff that the locals make to sell to tourists." (source unknown - seen on Facebook)
"I'd rather have questions I can't answer than answers I can't question." (source unknown)
And finally, on a slightly less serious note, a counterprotest done right...
Friday, December 04, 2009
Bits of Interest
1. Here's one creative way of dealing with anti-gay demonstrators. At the very least, it's better than matching venom with venom...
2. One conservative shares why he's parting ways with what currently passes for a right wing in the United States. My own libertarian leanings caused me to begin distancing myself from the Republican party after the 2000 election, so I can relate.
3. Along the lines of questioning dogma, James Hanley shares how he came to the conclusion that there are no good arguments (outside of religious dogma) to be made against same-sex marriage. I remember how surprised I was when I came to the realization that the only reasonably coherent arguments that opponents of gay marriage ever made were based on appeals to the Bible (almost always one or more of the major "clobber passages," when a particular passage was even referenced).
4. Continuing on with that thought, Senator Diane Savino made a strong case for same-sex marriage (and exposed the blatant hypocrisy of opponents) during the New York State Senate's deliberations on marriage equality:
2. One conservative shares why he's parting ways with what currently passes for a right wing in the United States. My own libertarian leanings caused me to begin distancing myself from the Republican party after the 2000 election, so I can relate.
3. Along the lines of questioning dogma, James Hanley shares how he came to the conclusion that there are no good arguments (outside of religious dogma) to be made against same-sex marriage. I remember how surprised I was when I came to the realization that the only reasonably coherent arguments that opponents of gay marriage ever made were based on appeals to the Bible (almost always one or more of the major "clobber passages," when a particular passage was even referenced).
4. Continuing on with that thought, Senator Diane Savino made a strong case for same-sex marriage (and exposed the blatant hypocrisy of opponents) during the New York State Senate's deliberations on marriage equality:
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
Okay, the video doesn't actually have anything to do with Thanksgiving, but who doesn't like the Muppets? Have a restful and happy holiday.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
From the Onion
If God Had Wanted Me To Be Accepting of Gays...
Like anything from the Onion it's over the top, but at the same time I've encountered people who are very much like the woman in this 'editorial.'
For those who might take offense at satire like this, take a moment to consider one point: this is how the rest of the world perceives conservative Christians. If you're still offended, ask yourself this question: would non-Christians (gay or otherwise) describe you as a kind and compassionate person, or do you have to explain to them why you really are compassionate even though they think the opposite is true? If the latter is the case, maybe they're not the ones with a perception problem...
Like anything from the Onion it's over the top, but at the same time I've encountered people who are very much like the woman in this 'editorial.'
For those who might take offense at satire like this, take a moment to consider one point: this is how the rest of the world perceives conservative Christians. If you're still offended, ask yourself this question: would non-Christians (gay or otherwise) describe you as a kind and compassionate person, or do you have to explain to them why you really are compassionate even though they think the opposite is true? If the latter is the case, maybe they're not the ones with a perception problem...
Friday, April 17, 2009
Links
There's always interesting stuff out there in (and beyond) the blogosphere...
-This essay nicely articulates why I view 'liberal' and 'conservative' as opposite faces of the same authoritarian coin.
-Over the past couple of years I've come to see the doctrine of inerrancy as not only unbiblical, but ultimately detrimental to the Christian faith. And now there's a book out that helps to document the latter point.
-Via my friend Eric, this story illustrates how it is possible for us to come together even if we disagree on significant issues.
-Mike and Mel White were my favorite team on this season of the Amazing Race. Here's an interview with Mel that will be of interest to anyone who watches the show.
-I love Stephen Colbert. Not that I always agree with him on everything, but this is an awesome parody.
-Finally, who doesn't love it when the 'ugly duckling' turns out to be a beautiful swan?
-This essay nicely articulates why I view 'liberal' and 'conservative' as opposite faces of the same authoritarian coin.
-Over the past couple of years I've come to see the doctrine of inerrancy as not only unbiblical, but ultimately detrimental to the Christian faith. And now there's a book out that helps to document the latter point.
-Via my friend Eric, this story illustrates how it is possible for us to come together even if we disagree on significant issues.
-Mike and Mel White were my favorite team on this season of the Amazing Race. Here's an interview with Mel that will be of interest to anyone who watches the show.
-I love Stephen Colbert. Not that I always agree with him on everything, but this is an awesome parody.
-Finally, who doesn't love it when the 'ugly duckling' turns out to be a beautiful swan?
Friday, October 03, 2008
Some Links
A few items of interest around the blogosphere...
1. A clever ad that uses 1 Cor. 13 as a statement against Proposition 8.
2. The rather obvious and extremely relevant question nobody seems to be asking about the bailout plan.
3. Peterson's on the radio again. How much longer must we wait before he's finally crowned King (or should that be Queen) of all Media?
4. Finally, don't forget to pick sides in the great debate of our time...
1. A clever ad that uses 1 Cor. 13 as a statement against Proposition 8.
2. The rather obvious and extremely relevant question nobody seems to be asking about the bailout plan.
3. Peterson's on the radio again. How much longer must we wait before he's finally crowned King (or should that be Queen) of all Media?
4. Finally, don't forget to pick sides in the great debate of our time...
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