September 11th, Conspiracy Theories, Radical Islam, Freedom... Or, Simply Put, What is Going Through My Head Right Now.

As I was reading everyone's posts on Facebook this morning about the September 11th attacks, something just hit me.  Maybe a couple things hit me, not just one.  First,  we live in a world of constant information. The majority of America saw the attacks happen in real time, BUT, there are people who say it was a facade.  A giant conspiracy.  The government did it.  The Jews did it.  Whatever people come up with, it's ridiculous.  The Boston bombings are recent in our memories. There was the same conspiracy theory reactions to them.   Are we at the point in life that we believe what someone wrote on a computer more than what we see and hear with our own eyes?  Yeah, this is a real still photo of the plane hitting the building.  Unfortunately, it did happen and to far too many people it was their last day on this earth.

Photo Courtesy of http://images.nationalgeographic.com/

I think we do this for a reason. I think we don't want to believe there is that kind of evil in the world. We want so believe we are all good and want the best for each other. We don't. We want what we want.  These radicals want an end to civilized society. They want Sharia law.  Look at what is happening in the middle east right now.  Look at what happened a year ago in Benghazi.  We can go back further than that, but why?  Again, it's painful to look at because it's the worst parts of humanity.  It's real.

We can go into the theology of all this,  but here is the thing.   We are all made in God's image.  That's the good side of us.  The side that is heroic and runs to save people in a burning building.  The side that overcomes fear, to keep others safe.  We are also given free will.  God didn't want a bunch of mind numbed robots walking around.  He gave us the choice choose Him and choose life, or choose evil and choose death.  Far too many of us choose death.  When it happens, we suffer as a whole. 

I will say briefly, that there is a better way.  God made it by sending His Son to die for us all.  If you want to know about it, here is a passage that might help you.  It's pretty simple, actually it's very simple: Romans 10

So today, while we remember September 11.  Pray for wisdom to see through the conspiracies.   Pray for the people all over the world who are being oppressed by radical Islam.  Christians who are being killed because they will not renounce their faith in countries like Egypt and Syria.  Churches that are being burned down.  Pray for the children who live under such brutality.   Pray for freedom for these people.  Not just American freedom, freedom in God. While you're praying, thank God for your freedom, because as September 11 showed me, it's not to be taken for granted.

Robert Griffin THE Third...

The other day while I was riding in the truck, I was listening to the local sports radio that carries a certain unnamed 4-letter mega sports channel.  The host of the radio show was complaining about RG3 and how much press he was getting.  The first thing I did was scream, 'Then shut up!".  Of course, the radio did not relay my message of wisdom to the host and he kept speaking.

You see, the host's mega channel as been promoting Robert to the inth degree.  Robert has been the first story in every broadcast for the last few months.  For example- Robert says he wants to play.  Coach Shanahan says Robert can't play right now.... In depth coverage with our NFL insiders to follow in a few minutes.  What do the insiders say, you ask?  Well, basically that Robert wants to play, but his coach wants him healthy.  Ahhh, Duh?!  Robert's knee brace was off when he came out to practice!!!!  Oh the humanity!  Do we have a clip of that?

The host was also lamenting that Robert had a documentary on the 4-letter mega sports channel.  REALLY?  It's your channel!  Go to the network and say, "Enough is enough.  We are not reporting any more about Robert."  Isn't the fact that he is complaining about the documentary bringing publicity to said documentary?  Seriously, give me a break.

So in the spirit of complaining about sports figures and the fame they are being given, I have a list for the 4 letter mega sports channel, which I will now refer to as ESPN.

1.ESPN,  I am tired of you building up people, to only tear them down.  The list is too large to mention, but lets just name RG3, Tebow, A-Rod and Johnny Football (ok, so the last two may deserve the tearing down part a bit) to start out with.

2. I want to know what is happening in the world of sports.  I want to see replays of key plays in games.  I want to know who is getting signed by whom.  Who has been cut.  I want to watch live sports.  I want SPORTS STUFF!!!  Lots of it.  Stop the blabbing.

3. I do not want to see any more chickified stories about "so and so" or "what's their name".  Stop playing stories with the slow sappy music and people crying.  Please reserve those for news programs or Oprah's next interview.  I want to see home runs and run saving catches, football hits and touchdowns, NASCAR crashes, basketball winning shots, and of course GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLSSSS!!!!!!!!  If I want to be moved to tears, I can watch The Notebook.

4. Lastly, keep the politics out of sports.  The thing is, sports is a getaway from the stress of the real world.  I don't want to know about any politician's prognostication on the Super Bowl, the Final Four, the World Series... You get it.  They are politicians.  Most of them have never been athletes.  If you really want to mix it up, go to B-Dubs and get your normal guy or gal watching the game to give their pick.  It would probably be a lot more entertaining.

Where's the Outrage? Or, not...

It seems like every day there is another new reason to be outraged.  Whether it's some former teen star acting a fool or some dumb political decision being made in Washington.  Maybe some athlete has done the, dare I say it, UNTHINKABLE!  Like it's really unthinkable.  Are we surprised at anything anymore?

Am I the only one just getting worn out and tire with the outrage side of things?  I've even heard a major sports network this week have a moment of outrage that it might SNOW during the Super Bowl!  Are we really outraged or are we just jumping on the most recent media bandwagon?  It's almost like the media guides us to have conversations about hot button items.

I mean, what are we gonna do about these things we are outraged about?  We constantly complain, rage, whine... you name it, about the newest outrage.  We say, "I can't believe..., but how often do we vow to change it?

Maybe we could start by not putting celebrities and athletes on a pedestal.  They are people.  They have a talent.  That's it.  In some cases the talent did not come with common sense, decency, self control, etc...  Well, let's face it, in a lot of cases it didn't.

We could be thankful for the many gifts we have, like family.  We could spend a little more time working on the next generation and less worrying about someone elses kid start that has gone bad.  We could use the time to explain to our kids how they should act as responsible adults and maybe even emulate that behavior to them.