Deep Something

The Will of God?

August 13, 2008 B. John 483 Views 0 Comments God, methodist, WWII, Leslie Weathehead, Will of God, City Temple, London, Harold Kushner, PFOX

Recently, my Sunday School class has been involved in a study of the “The Will of God.” We’re using a book by Leslie Weatherhead. I don’t find I’m in complete agreement with his definitions, but he does offer a comprehensive interpretation of The Will of God. It has led me to do some deeper thinking about words I’ve heard often. The concept has mostly dumfounded theologians, and I believe is primarily a construct of people looking for some kind of logic in illogical situations.

Society Culture Books Southern Featured Fun Stuff Places

Gray Court Apartments

August 3, 2008August 10, 2015 1291 Views 2 Comments Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem, NC, Grey Court, Apartments, Audible, Audible.com, David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed In Flames

The most recent book I’m “listening to” from my Audible.com subscription is David Sedaris’ When You Are Engulfed in Flames. It’s a collection of essays on the banalities of life. I was listening to one of his essays this past week during a drive to St. Pete, and it stirred up some strong memories about one of the best places I lived for some years. In his essay, Sedaris talks about an experience he had living in a rooming house in Chapel Hill, NC when he was between attending school. This reminded me of living in Gray Court Apartments in Winston-Salem, NC.

Culture Movies Featured

The Dark Knight – A Movie Review

July 28, 2008 B. John 337 Views 0 Comments Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Action, Adventure, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Batman, Gotham City

With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.

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Insurance Rules

July 21, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 259 Views 0 Comments Insurance, insurance industry

This is a great video. If you don’t understand how the rules work with your insurance company, just watch this video and learn. I am sure glad someone figured out how all this works.

Culture Featured Society

No More Pick Up Wiffle Ball in Greenwich, CT

July 10, 2008August 10, 2015 1124 Views 0 Comments Liz Pate, Greenwich, CT, Summer, Lin Lavery, fun, Kids, Wiffle Ball

Just up the road from Greenwich is Fairfield where Wiffle Ball was invented. Across many summers, kids found vacant lots, and turned them into baseball diamonds and whiled away the days. But apparently in Greenwich, Liz Pate, who’s building a new house, wants peace and quiet when she gets home at 6pm. So, after some kids in Greenwich cleared a vacant and overgrown city lot to play a little wiffle ball, here came Liz and a bunch of adults to spoil the fun.

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The 4th of July, 2008

July 4, 2008 B. John 388 Views 1 Comment Jesse Helms, Patriotism, Independence, george bush, Thomas Jefferson, Freedom, 4th of July

Today is a day or ironies. George Bush is visiting Thomas Jefferson’s beloved Monticello on this the 232nd anniversary of our declaration of independence from a king named George. As Jefferson warned that Americans would have to be ever on their guard against those who might turn the presidency into the tool of their “elected despotism,” I doubt he would be greeting Bush. And Jesse Helms, father of the politics of division, died today.

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Craig and Vitter Sponsor Marriage Protection Amendment

July 2, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 426 Views 0 Comments senate, Constitution, Constitutional Amendment, David Vitter, Hookers, Larry Craig, Prostitutes, Homosexual Sex, Marriage Amendment, Marriage

It’s not really surprising to find that a small group of Republican Senators re-introduced the Federal Marriage Amendment to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution. After all, they are mostly behind in the polls, the base is distraught and disorganized, and even fund raising isn’t going so well. What you might find interesting though, is that two of original 10 sponsors is Larry “wide stance” Craig (R-Idaho) and David “I heart hookers” Vitter (R-LA).

Business Culture Economy Featured Religion Society Gay Issues

A Resolution on Social Justice for My Methodist Church

June 24, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 1354 Views 1 Comment Palma Ceia United Methodist Church, Sexual Orientation, Social Justice, Tampa, Homosexuality, Race, Racism, Non-discrimination

I have prepared a resolution on social justice to be introduced at the next meeting of the Administrative Board of Palma Ceia United Methodist Church here in Tampa. It will create an inclusive statement of non-discrimination. However, it goes a bit further. In an on-line conversation I had with a new acquaintance, he made a statement that caught my interest. He said, “People don’t have to pay a price for discrimination against gay people.” I believe this is a true statement. You can’t really change how people feel, but you can change how they behave in public through laws and through action. People who make racists statements pay a price. If they are business owner, they may be boycotted by people who don’t beleive in racism. At work, they may be ostricized, and it can affect their potential opportunities. But for the most part, people don’t pay a price for discriminating against homosexuals. My resolution requires the church to put its money where its mouth is.

Politics Election Courts Society Gay Issues Featured

The Day After – Gay Marriage

June 19, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 455 Views 0 Comments Marriage, supreme court, florida, fl, Constitution, California, Gay Marriage, Amendment 2, Florida Amendment 2, Full Faith and Credit Clause

Well, it’s the day after the first full day that gay marriage was legal in California, and gosh darn it, the sun came up, birds still sang, children were born, people died, there were even some heterosexual marriages, and I still had to go to work. In other words, if God is mad about it, he sure missed that wrath thing by taking it out on the mid-west. This raises a lot of questions, such as what happens next in California, what does this mean to Florida’s Amendment 2 initiative (and see a possible connection), and what does it mean for gay people around the country.

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A Rambling Blog

June 14, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 481 Views 0 Comments Blogging, Air Travel, Amendment 2, Airport, airports, florida, fl, Blogs, Plugins, Wordpress, Deep Something

I don’t get a ton of traffic on this site, and have always been disappointed with the lack of comments. I get a few, but I know I have opinionated friends, and would expect a little more from them. I suspect one of the reasons is that this blog is so far ranging in the topics I write about. I’ve read some good articles lately on blogging, and most say to narrow the focus of your blog. The people writing these articles do have very widely read blogs, so one must give them their props.

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Salvaging A Small Part of A Small Town Downtown

June 5, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 435 Views 1 Comment home, Kings Mountain, Downtown, Small Town, Home Town, Belks, Plonks

I’m from a small town, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, just across the South Carolina state line. It’s right off Interstate 85. Recently my Mom sent me a clipping from the local paper. The main article on clipped page was about an effort to restore the downtown local theater. This started me thinking back to the downtown where I grew up, and considering how it’s changed.