Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Disappointment, the death of a dream, and the effects there of...
by Surly Dave
I'm slightly disappointed in my new job. Well, not so much the job as the company. The accountant at the placement agency messed up and put my check in the wrong account, so now my paycheck is now 4 days late. I had a misunderstanding about how much I was going to be paid, so I had to have one of those tough discussions with the boss about money, economy, and such. They have a system of 'probation' and 'eligibility' that is actually kind of weird. As someone whose been in the work force for over twenty years, I've never dealt with it before. Sweeter Half says it's pretty standard for people working through an angency.
I'm a straight shooter: I like to get everything out on the table. Years ago, I would have just taken it with out saying anything, but then I'd let the anger fester within until something got destroyed on the outside, not to mention the depression that comes along with holding anger. I don't like depression, and having dealt with it off and on during my life, I don't want to set myself up.
And then, there is the death of a dream: The Catering and Restaurant Dream. I received the renewal forms for my catering license and decided to pass. It cost a lot of money (which I could come up with if I needed to), but I didn't have enough business last year to justify having it. This year doesn't look any better, so maybe it's time to be a realist and cut it loose. After years of advertising, handing out business cards, doing free events to 'get my name out there', I have invested thousands in time and money with nothing to show for it other than debt and a garage full of pots and pans. I thinks it's time to let 'er go, and give my family the security they need by investing myself into a 'regular' job.
Is this the death and rebirth that we often hear about? That a dream is like a seed, that it must be buried (die) and forgotten until it is reborn? I thought I'd been through all that stuff before: I'd put this dream away before, buried it, figured it was the end. But then I'd get a phone call or two, and I'd be filled with hope once more, that the dream was coming back to life! Maybe now was the time! But it always was more along the lines of Frankenstein's monster: Something pulled from the grave and forced to live rather that something that has germinated, growing from a spark of life within.
What more to say? The end.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Preachin' Stuff
by Surly Dave
My next scheduled date in the pulpit is Nov 19th. Right now, I'm feeling lead to preach on 1 Kings 18, with particular emphisis on verse 41 through 46.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
"There is nothing there," he said.
Seven times Elijah said, "Go back."
44 The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea."
So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' "
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
More later.
An end to the end of surliness...
by Surly Dave
I've decided to continue changing my tone rather than my name. It's kind of a hip and edgy move: People will think, "That guy sez he's 'surly', but he's not!", or, "Dave is the least surliest guy I know. What's up with the nickname?"
Hey, ya have a couple weeks of soul searching and you think about making changes. But enough of the introspection: I have a blog to tend to, and that means opinions to opine, observations to make, and stuff like that.
Gone, however, will be the Bastard Report and beating Garrison Keillor with a golf club. Well, unless he really deserves it.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
A friend in need...
by Surly Dave
I was going to write about what a crappy (not the fish) day I was having until I read this.
Kind of puts the little inconvenience of a bad day into perspective.
For those who pray, let's make sure that this family constantly feels God's presence and the prayers of many in their lives. And those who don't pray, give it a shot: Who knows what will become of it.
An end to surliness?
by Surly Dave
I have decided to cast off my surly ways. It is getting harder and harder to write bitter sarcasm and biting satire as I delve deeper into faith issues. It's harder to make the type of sociopolitical commentary usually found and the discuss faith issues.
It is time for a change. As I stated in an earlier post, I'm going through some spiritual adjustment, and I'm not sure "surly" is the adjective I want describing me any longer.
First off, I need a new handle. Surly Dave just isn't going to do any more. And "Warm and Fuzzy Dave" (As suggested by Uncle Ben) simply won't do.
So I'm opening it up for suggestions. Got any ideas?
Monday, October 23, 2006
Change in Additude, and An Apology
by Surly Dave
A few months ago, I wrote a rather snarky, mean spirited restaurant review in which I slandered my waiter. I wish I had thought to make this apology before he contacted me. I won't go into details, but I have removed the post, and make a public apology to him. Here is the email I sent to him.
Waiter (in respect to his anonymity),
Wow. The Internet makes the world a small place.
First, I was going for snark. It used to be a trademark of mine, but over the last few months (I don’t expect that you’ve read every post since July), my tone has changed considerably. As you pointed out, I state that I am a Christian, and it is true that I was quick to sling out the ole’ judgment stick on you. I was trying to be (and failed, mind you) ‘funny’. I ended up just being an ass.
I have been under going some spiritual adjustment lately, questioning myself about the tone and attitude I present in my writings and other parts of my daily life: Is ‘surliness’ really the prevalent attitude I want representing me, even on a semi-anonymous blog? How does my attitude affect how others see my faith? Your email shows that I have failed representing Christ properly. I would hope that you would read some of my other faith posts and see that I really try to be honest about my faith and some of the struggles I have, and I really believe that I haven’t been overly self righteous. I acknowledge that I was wrong to slander you in the way I did. I apologize, and ask your forgiveness. I will post an apology on my blog, and I will delete the offending post.
Thanks for taking the time to write me with your concerns and “calling me out” on not practicing what I preach. I hope that this shows you that I really serious about how I walk out my faith.
Dave
Friday, October 20, 2006
Uhg.
by Surly Dave
First week at new job.
Nearly ten hours of overtime.
Multiple flights of stairs walked.
I've consistantly been in bed before nine ('cept tonight) due to physical exhaustion.
If I ever end up unemployed again, I'm going to go to the gym and spend 3 hours a day on the stair stepper.
I would say that my calves are in great shape, but some would argue, "Calves hell: Them steers!".
Anyway, I need the exercise, and the job.
And seeing that I don't mind the job or the people I work with, things are going good.
But I need a weekend; some time off my feet. Starting now.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Everyones wondering...
by Surly Dave
What's up, Dave? Why the light posting, Dave? WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, DAVE? DAAAVVEE!!!!!
Or something like that.
Anyway, last week I was caught up in sermon prep and job search stuff. Both endeavors paid off: I wrote a sermon and found a job.
First, the sermon: I preached on forgiveness in the light of the Amish school shootings. It was actually kind of painful. For the first time in a long time I felt that I biffed it. All through worship I felt confident and sure. Once I got behind the podium, I went blank. I couldn't even follow my notes. People I trust told me I did a good job, so I have to assume that God poured out his grace on the situation. I think I'm going to change some aspects of how I prepare and study. I think I'll sharpen up my outline making process a little and lay off the tequila. Just kidding. My outlines are just fine.
Second, I got a job! Yea!!! I'm working as a sign installer/customer rep for a sign company in the north metro area. The fellow I work directly with turns out to be a Christian, and we share a lot of the same beliefs and politics. This is a real blessing for me.
Also, the job is a considerable step up from what I've done it the past. The people all seem professional, the place is clean, and NO WELDING! Yup, I've finally transcended out of welding and into a more customer focused career. I think this is going to work out well for me.
Well, gotta go. Once my schedule smooths out, I'll return to more consistent posting.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Is this the real October surprise?
by Surly Dave
Sure. The Dem's are throwing everything they got at the Republicans, but where the Dem's ready for this? Or this?
Just when I was ready to de-link him.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Give Peace a Chance...
by Surly Dave
As in, " Rest in Peace".
The guy has been given more than any of his victims where ever given. It's time to pull the triggerplug on this whole fiasco.
Iraq
Monday, October 9, 2006
Lust for Laughs?
by Surly Dave
Ran across Iggy Pop's very humorous concert rider over at " The Smoking Gun" this evening. If you have a few minutes, it's worth the time.
***Caution***
There are a few f-bombs in there.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
I just got to say it:
by Surly Dave
I don't believe that democracy and Islam are compatible. I don't think that Afghanistan and Iraq will ever be bastions of peace in the middle east because their religion just won't let it happen. Unless there is some sort of major reformation in Islam, it ain't gonna happen.
Middle East, Islam
What's Keillor Complaining About?
by Surly Dave
Political dissidents aren't being gunned down in the U.S. the way they are in Russia, but you won't hear the left complaining about this because deep down, this is the power that they wish they had.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead on Saturday at her apartment block in central Moscow, police said.
"According to initial information she was killed by two shots when leaving the lift. Neighbors found her body," a police source told Reuters. Police found a pistol and four rounds in the lift.
Politkovskaya, a 48-year-old mother of two, won international fame and numerous prizes for her dogged pursuit of rights abuses by Putin's government, particularly in the violent southern province of Chechnya.
"The first thing that comes to mind is that Anna was killed for her professional activities. We don't see any other motive for this terrible crime," said Vitaly Yaroshevsky, a deputy editor of the newspaper where Politkovskaya worked.
I believe that the commie intellectuals would love to order hits on the people who disagree with them. Even their 'peace makers' like Sheehan and some other gal (whose a peace prize nominee) talk about taking out George Bush. They even make movies about his assassination.
They are showing their hands: They want a Hugo Chavez or a Fidel Castro that has nothing stopping them from killing, imprisoning, and torturing those who would speak against them or their ideas.
Commies
Friday, October 6, 2006
Garrison Keillor is a total fricken' moron.
by Surly Dave
I'll be fisking this Keillor article while pummeling him with a Titleist Pro Titanium 905R Driver. Not that I actually own this club, but if I were to pummel Keillor with a golf club, this wood (get it? Wood? Hahahahahah) do. My weak stomached pacifist friend(s?) would do well to turn away. Now.
I would not send my college kid off for a semester abroad if I were you. Last week, we suspended human rights in America, and what goes around comes around. Ixnay habeas corpus".
Yes.
( circling Keillor ominously while twirling the club like a baton)
I see.
Thugs over seas routinely respect the rights of our people before they (whack to the leg) torture them, (whack to the leg) cut off their heads, and (shin) drag their (other shin) mutilated (forearm) bodies through the streets, you (whack) stupid, (whack) commie (whack) bastard.
Okay. That was the opening paragraph. Moving on.
The U.S. Senate, in all its splendor and majesty, has decided that an "enemy combatant" is any non-citizen whom the president says is an enemy combatant, including your Korean greengrocer or your Swedish grandmother or your Czech au pair, and can be arrested and held for as long as authorities wish without any right of appeal to a court of law to examine the matter.
If there was a plot to use Czech au pairs to blow up trains, set of bombs, kill school kids, destroy the American economy, then by all means, detain them. (whack to the ribs)
If your college kid were to be arrested in Bangkok or Cairo, suspected of "crimes against the state" and held in prison, you'd assume that an American foreign service officer would be able to speak to your kid and arrange for a lawyer, but this may not be true anymore. Be forewarned.
What? These aren't random individuals pulled of the street you dumb ass. These where people with guns and bombs, ( blow to the ribs) dumb ass, not some kids studying at the local community college. You make it seem as if people are just randomly pulled of the streets! ( blow to the kidneys)
The Senate also decided it's up to the president to decide whether it's okay to make these enemies stand naked in cold rooms for a couple days in blinding light and be beaten by interrogators.
This is now purely a bureaucratic matter: The plenipotentiary stamps the file "enemy combatants" and throws the poor shnooks into prison and at his leisure he tries them by any sort of kangaroo court he wishes to assemble and they have no right to see the evidence against them, and there is no appeal.
( whack) SEE ( whack) NOTE ( whack) ABOVE
This was passed by 65 senators and will now be signed by Mr. Bush, put into effect, and in due course be thrown out by the courts.
None of the men and women who voted for this bill has any right to speak in public about the rule of law anymore, or to take a high moral view of the Third Reich, or to wax poetic about the American Idea.
( one huge swing to the groin for invoking the Third Reich)
Mark their names: Alexander, Allard, Allen, Bennett, Bond, Brownback, Bunning, Burns, Burr, Carper, Chambliss, Coburn, Cochran, Coleman, Collins, Cornyn, Craig, Crapo, DeMint, DeWine, Dole, Domenici, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Graham, Grassley, Gregg, Hagel, Hatch, Hutchison, Imhofe, Isakson, Johnson, Kyl, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Lieberman, Lott, Lugar, Martinez, McCain, McConnell, Menendez, Murkowski, Nelson of Florida, Nelson of Nebraska, Pryor, Roberts, Rockefeller, Salazar, Santorum, Sessions, Shelby, Smith, Specter, Stabenow, Stevens, Sununu, Talent, Thomas, Thune, Vitter, Voinovich, Warner.
Now you know who believes in protecting the United States from terrorist.
I'm tired of beating on this idiot. I think I'm just going to finish him off with my TAZER. (bet you wish you had one of those in your golf bag.)
You can finish the article at your leisure. My job here is done.
Commies, Garrison Keillor, Morons, Disturbed Individuals
Amish School Shooting Relief
by Surly Dave
MDS and MCC offer support to Amish community in wake of shooting
October 3, 2006
AKRON , Pa. – Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) express their deep sympathy and prayers for families affected by the Oct. 2 shooting at an Amish school in Nickel Mines.
Both organizations are in contact with Amish community leaders and are offering support through a joint response.
MCC and MDS are accepting financial contributions to assist the affected community. Contributions may be made by phone, by mail or online. (See information below.)
Contributions to the Amish School Recovery Fund will help the affected community with medical care, transportation, supportive care and other needs.
“We call upon churches to unite in prayer and support for the Amish community at this time,” said Kevin King, MDS executive director.
Ken Sensenig, assistant director of MCC East Coast, visited Amish community members after the shooting and said he is observing their resilience, and is impressed with their response.
Families banded together to provide emotional support and tend to immediate needs, such as milking cows while parents rushed to the hospital, Sensenig said. Many non-Amish neighbors helped by giving rides to hospitals.
“What impresses me is how strong this community is in the face of terrible tragedy,” Sensenig said.
For more information, contact Scott Sundberg, director of communications for MDS, at (717) 859-2210, (717) 917-8827 or ssundberg@mds.mennonite.net, or contact Larry Guengerich, media/education coordinator for MCC, at (717) 333-2826 or lrg@mcc.org.
Tax-deductible donations can be made by calling MCC at (717) 859-1151, or MDS at (717) 859-2210. To donate online, go to mds.mennonite.net or mcc.org. To donate by mail, send checks to MCC or MDS at the following addresses with the words “Amish School Recovery Fund” in the memo line.
Mennonite Disaster Service
1018 Main Street
Akron , PA 17501
Mennonite Central Committee
21 S. 12th St.
P.O. Box 500
Akron , PA 17501
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Westboro Baptist plan to Picket Amish Funeral Canceled
by Surly Dave
First there was this:
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - A Kansas-based group that proclaims “God hates fags” plans to picket the funerals of the Amish girls killed in Bart Township.
The Westboro Baptist Church — described as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League — has made a name for itself by picketing the funerals of U.S. troops killed in Iraq. The troops are dying as punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality, the group says.
The Kansas group says the Amish schoolgirls were “killed by a madman in punishment for Gov. Ed Rendell's blasphemous sins against Westboro Baptist Church."
"Gov. Ed Rendell — speaking and acting in his official capacity to bind the State of Pennsylvania — slandered and mocked and ridiculed and condemned Westboro Baptist Church on national Fox TV," the group says on its Web site.
“Rendell also revealed a conspiracy to employ the State's police powers to destroy WBC in order to silence WBC's Gospel message. Co-conspirators identified by Rendell included state officials, citizens, lawyers, legislators and media,” the Web site says.
Westboro Baptist Church said it is "continuing to pray for even worse punishment upon Pennsylvania.”
Well, I'm about to 'blaspheme' the Westboro Baptist Church, so I'm sure they will be calling down fire, brimstone, and all other sorts of judgment and condemnation on me as soon as this hits the web. In particular, I want to go after Fred Phelps, who I place on the same level as Charles Carl Roberts, the man who killed those girls. I think the suffer from the same issue: A failure to understand what true forgiveness is about. (I'm working on a couple of sermons on forgiveness, which I will post down the road).
Honestly, I think that if you were to dig into Fred's past you would find that he either had a homosexual relationship, was molested, or has struggled with homosexual desires all his life. Maybe we should sic MikeWhale Moore or Bob Woodward on this guy...no, never mind. Some how Bush would get dragged into the fray. "Bush lied, Amish died." What causes such hatred? Somewhere in the Bible there is reference to hating the short comings in others that we see in ourselves.
Now, someone can have strong convictions about things. I have strong convictions about stealing, but I don't rally outside of criminals funerals declaring the judgment of the Lord.
Anyway, they have decide not to picket the funerals in exchange for air time one the Mike Gallagher Show. I would like to think that Mike did this as a sacrifice to help those grieving families morn in peace.
Current Affairs
News and Politics
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
School Shootings and Forgiveness
by Surly Dave
"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1: 28-32
Little girls slaughtered by a man with a twenty year old grudge.
A community of people who built their lives on peace and simplicity shattered.
In Colorado last week, an other man pulled the same stunt.
Normally, I would rage that the public schools, at least, should arm their teachers. Give them the option of packing heat while teaching. Never let anyone know who has a gun in their desk, just a sign at the entrance that says something like, "5 Teachers have Guns Today: Do you want to take a chance?" Maybe these suicidal maniacs will just take themselves out without the drive to take as many others with them as possible. At least, maybe, they will leave our kids alone. It's bad enough that kids are shooting kids: We don't need these deranged adults walking through the doors of our school unchecked. But is school security the issue?
Even as I write this, new details are coming out. I just heard on the radio that the guy who shot those Amish girls had brought lubricant with him because he had planned to molest them.
These events leave me broken hearted. When I drop my little one off at preschool, I wonder if it could happen here. After all, if it happened at a Amish one room school house it could happen at a church daycare center.
There are doctors running around trying to find out if these guys had some sort of chemical imbalance, if they had some childhood trauma, or some other excuse. Is childhood trauma and abuse the issue?
When ever one of these tragedies occur, they are always followed by stories of hope. The girl shot in Colorado had sent a text message to her family telling them she loved them. The boys let out of the Amish school house were huddled together praying when the shots rang out. The families of those girls have already made a stand that they are going to practice forgiveness.
And forgiveness seems to be the key here. Both of these men, in fact, all the school murderers in recent years have had 'deep emotional scars'. And now, there are more people, the families of the victims, who have been dealt a grievous blow, who could take up the mantle of victim-hood, but instead choose to practice...forgiveness. These men and their families are being given the gift that they where unable to give: Forgiveness.
I don't think it is the wounds that these men suffered from that caused them to commit these atrocities. I think the issue is that they had never learned forgiveness. They never where taught the importance of it or if they were, nobody ever taught them how. Perhaps, they have never received it until now.
I think I will pray for the families of the victims, and pray that their deaths won't be written off as a 'random act of violence'. I pray that their sacrificing their right to justice in exchange for the highroad of grace and mercy will set an example to the next would-be killer: There is another path for them other than one of destruction.
Christianity, School Shootings
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