I don't have a clever title for this one. Maybe next time.

How ironic is this??!! They don't even believe in Christ and they're getting their own Christmas stamp, but don't dream of posting the ten commandments on federal property? USPS New Stamp If there is only one thing you forward today.....let it be this! REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of PanAm Flight 103! REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993! REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon! REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the military barracks in Saudi Arabia! REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the American Embassies in Africa! REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the USS COLE! REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on 9/11/2001! REMEMBER all the AMERICAN lives that were lost in those vicious MUSLIM attacks! Now the United States Postal Service REMEMBERS and HONORS the EID MUSLIM holiday season with a commemorative first class holiday postage stamp. REMEMBER to adamantly and vocally BOYCOTT this stamp when purchasing your stamps at the post office. To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors. REMEMBER to pass this along to every patriotic AMERICAN you know!!

So, this was sent to me this week via annoying forward. I know that they are people who are going to read this blog and think that I am too liberal. I know that there are people who are going to read this blog and say that I am too open minded. You better just stop reading right now. I have something to say and I won't be stopped.

I thought that the Muslim world had made it perfectly clear that they were not all fascist terrorists. I thought that any person with a reasonably average IQ could separate the small rift of Muslim extremists from the rest of the group of law-abiding Muslims, and Arabs for that matter. But, apparently I was wrong. Apparently, we have forgotten one basic human fact. We have forgotten that every group of people has aspects of their history they would rather forget. Every group of people has its black sheep. Not every Christian jumped in to help with the Crusades. Not every German worked at a concentration camp. Not every rich white American had a slave. It's true that as a whole, these groups have had to pay the price for these dirty memories of their history. But, is that right? And, should we ask the Muslims to pay the price for that rift that would see people die, see people in pain?

Why shouldn't they have their own holiday stamp? There is a rather large population of Muslims in America. Rather, there is a large population of American citizens who are Muslims. Why shouldn't they be allowed to celebrate their holidays in public? I know there are Hanukah stamps and Kwanzaa stamps and I have yet to get any forwards about those. (Sidenote: It's not technically a Christmas stamp, it's an EID stamp. I don't know why the person who wrote this forward is referring to it as a Christmas stamp.) I don't think I need to remind you why the Pilgrims came over on the Mayflower. Religious freedom is one of the values that this country was built on. Diversity is on of the things that makes America beautiful.

One more thing: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That is another value that America has been built on. I won't disrespect you for your beliefs. In fact, I'll do my best to hear where you are coming from and treat you with respect. Do me a favor, respect me, yourself, and the people about whom you have an opinion, and have an informed opinion. Ignorance doesn't do anyone any good. There are some things I have a hard time understanding. I don't have to agree with you, but I refuse to disrespect you. If there is on thing I can promise you, it's that I will approach you and your conflicting view with respect and an open mind. If you do the same, then only good can come from any discussion we may have. I don't like to admit it, but I have been wrong before. Thinking critically about what you believe can only lead to a stronger you.

I am a Christian. I am proud of the fact that Jesus is my savior. I am proud of what He has done in my life. I am proud that my dad is a preacher, that my half my uncles are preachers, that my grandpa is a preacher. I am proud of the fact that I have a Christian education. Those are aspects of me that I wouldn't trade for a million catrillion dollars. It's more than just a part of who I am. I would love to see every person accept Jesus as their savior. In fact, I believe that every person needs to so that they can experience a full and abundant life. But, no one will ever be won if we only tell them what they have been doing wrong. Tony Campolo once said that anytime make a person feel less like a human, dehumanized, we have sinned. And don't forget that the Bible says that a brother offended is harder to win. So in our quest to fulfill the great commission, perhaps we should think twice about how we treat people with different beliefs.

Ahhh...the smell of gas.

So, this is what happened to me today. I got off work at 5:35, as usual. I thought to myself, "perhaps, I should get some gas before I make my way home." But, I decided against it because I don't live that far from work. It's really just a short jaunt on 96. Unfortunately, they was a bit more traffic than usual and so, it took a little longer than usual. I called Crystal, and just as I said that I was concerned that I may run out of gas, I ran out of gas. Right on the exit ramp of the freeway. So, she came to save me.
We went to a nearby gas station. They had a gas can that would hold one gallon of gas. But, you had to have a five dollar deposit to use the gas can. Of course, I didn't have five dollars in cash. I probably don't even have five cents in cash. So, Crystal knew the guy, so she just flirted a little. You know, used her womanly charms to her advantage and he let us take the gas can without leaving the deposit. We filled the gas can and drove back to my truck. We put the gas in my truck, but it wasn't enough. So, we went back. It still wasn't enough. So, we went back. And, it still wasn't enough. The best part, my truck wouldn't turn over any more.
So, we figured we would have to jump it. Crystal had this contraption that jumps your car without using another car. We would just have to open my hood and hook up the contraption. So, we popped the hood, but we couldn't get it open. We tried and tried and tried. So, Crystal called everyone she could think of and no one was answering. Then, her friend, Rachel, found us and told us she would talk to her neighbors and see if they wouldn't mind helping. So, we waited. We watched all the cars pull up behind my car, even though my hazards were on and we were standing outside the car. We wathced everyone look at us and not ask if we needed any help. Aaron called and said he would come save us.
But, while we were waiting for Aaron, a cop stopped. I was concerned, it's true. I was blocking one lane of an exit ramp. Oh yeah, and my plates are expired. So, finally, after a million years, the cop gets out of his car. Just as he was getting out of his car, Aaron showed up with his roommate, Jeff. So, we told the cop that we did have some help, and we would get out of the way as soon as we could. He asked what the problem was, so we told him. Not only did he open the hood for us, he waited with the lights on and then blocked traffic while we pushed the car across the street.
Anyway, in the meantime, we tried Crystal's contraption, which didn't work. So, Aaron pulled his car up to mine, and he and Jeff tried to jump my car that way. And, no, that didn't work either. So, they tried again and again. Well, then it was decided that the car needed to be pushed across the street. So, Crystal, Aaron, and Jeff pushed my car across the street while I steered (And no, I didn't do that good of a job. I just don't know my rights from my lefts.) And, so my car is still in the parking lot, waiting for me to figure out what to do.
Crystal, what an adventure we had! But, why does everything have to be an adventure? Why?
Jeff and Aaron, I doubt you will read this, but just in case, I think you should know, not many guys would do what you did, in the rain, for a girl you don't know. And, not once did you make me feel stupid for running out of gas. Today, you are my heros.
And, I think I have gas in my hair. Is that bad?