Sinners!

You will all be relieved to know in advance that I am NOT going to make this a random rant about ostriches, peanut butter, toast, and/or spoons, and that I actually intend to delve into some deep water today.

Theoretically, I am first and foremost a child of God.

However, the title of "Christian" has many, many unpleasant stigmas attached to it, including, but not limited to, the Crusades, televangelists, witch burnings, abortion clinic bombings, "Christianizing"/killing off millions of Native Americans... the list goes on interminably. It may be fair to say that the number of wrong, messed up things done in God's name is almost equal to the number of good things done in His name. Also, the number of positive things done by non-Christians is probably equal to those by Christians.

We've given ourselves a bad reputation, and, worse, we've turned God into a figurehead for a political agenda.

Christians forget that even homosexuals, women who have abortions, and liberals are every bit as loved by God as "we" are. Sure, they're sinners, but no more so than you or I. I'm not going to condemn them for their actions unless I've got my act together, which is not going to happen. (I believe that humankind is sinful by nature and that we are all doomed to hell unless we throw ourselves on God's mercy, but that's a topic for another post. Most of my Christian readers will agree with me without thinking, but others (this means you, Adam) will question that statement's veracity.) Besides, how exactly is "you're going to hell unless you do what I say" the kind of thing you want to say to someone who needs God? He wants to woo us into a willing relationship with him. Are you helping or hindering the process? Is God working through you or in spite of you?

Eating trail mix

First, the peanuts. The bane of the trail mix.

Next, raisins and other assorted nuts, except the cashews.

Cashews last. Bite them in half, find the tastiest one, and eat it last.

Nothing left but a handful of M&Ms.

Sort the colors. So.

Only one green. I eat it first.

Two browns.

Hmm. A dilemma. Three each of orange and red. I eat them in alphabetical order.

Nine yellows.

Thirteen blues.

The way people look at me, you'd think they'd never seen trail mix before. In my own defense, the only thing I am not willing to compromise on is that the M&Ms must be last. Who wants to finish a handful of trail mix with peanut-taste in their mouth?

Augh. I wish I had a life I could write about. Not badly enough to do anything about it, mark you...