Author: Rev. Joe Dirt

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Pat Robertson believes in Voodoo

pat-robertsonQuote from The Washington Post article about Pat Robertson’s comments on Haiti:

“Evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson says Haiti has been “cursed” because of what he called a “pact with the devil” in its history.  His spokesman said the Wednesday comments were based on Voodoo rituals carried out before a slave rebellion against French colonists in 1791.”

Ol’ Pat seems to be in a permanent state of psychosis when it comes to all things religious.  He obviously believes in God and more importantly a Devil.  I’ve always wondered if Christianity and Islam could exist without the concept of a devil.  If there is not a devil running around causing all the evil in the world then that leaves it up to the omnipotent, Abrahamic god.  To my way of thinking there is a lot not nice things that go on in this world.  Of course, that brings us full circle back to Epicurus’ old questions

 I begun ruminating on his comments, and I decided that he must believe in Voodoo also.  Why else would he think that a ritual performed 219 years ago had the power to eject the colonial power out of Haiti?  Makes you wonder about what else Ol’ Pat believes.

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I pray…

I pray that we come to value each and every human for who they are, not what they are, or what they can produce.

I pray for the day when a person’s race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation does not limit their place/roles in life.

I pray that we come to learn that so many should not be hungry, thirsty or homeless when a few have more than they could use in a multitude of lifetimes. Continue reading “I pray…”

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Gay Teen Worried He Might Be Christian

Well you know…some parents have more issues to deal with than others.

Gay Teen Worried He Might Be Christian @ TheOnion.com

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Save the paragraph

paragraphI am starting a campaign to save the paragraph. I may get bumper stickers printed up.

Email and other electronic forms of instant communication have done much to butcher and change written communication. One of these is the loss of the paragraph in such writings.

For me, at least, it makes some of these hard to read when they run for 100s of words without a pause or logically grouping thoughts.

SAVE THE PARAGRAPH

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Ideas for Liberal bumper stickers

You’ve all seen them. Various bumper stickers denigrating socialism, health care reform, anything supposedly Liberal.

There does not seem to be a whole lot of ones out there of the other ilk. How about coming up with a few?

I’ll start it off.

Capitalism: Where 10% of the people have 65% of the wealth.

Capitalism: Have you checked your 401k lately.

I love how Korporations  manage MY health care.

Canada could teach US about citizen centered government

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The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster by Bobby Henderson available at Amazon.com 

fsm1Okay here is the deal in a nutshell. If you think the probability of a deity being a Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) is on equal par with a deity being Allah, Jesus, Jehovah, or whomever then you will find this book entertaining. If that thought offends you will in all unlikely not enjoy this book. Personally, in the last situation, I think you should read the book just to see what the other side thinks and believes.

The book stems from a letter Bobby Henderson wrote to the Kansas Board of Education when they were putting Intelligent Design on par with the theory of evolution in the public school curriculum. He has a point, if Intelligent Design is to be taught why not yet another point of view.

The book is basically an effort to expand on that original letter. Parts of it are a little dense or dry. Parts of it are very funny. Parts are some what redundant.

I enjoyed it, but take it for what it is a spoof on all things religious.

My future plans involve having a monk’s robe made out of Mexican blanket material, grabbing a pirate hat and patch and going to the Big Lebowski Festival as a Dudeist priest of the Pastafarian flavor.

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The Art of Racing in the Rain

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein available at Amazon.com

Book Review by Sister Lorie

artracingrainI’m not sure how this book came to my attention, it’s not my usual read.  It’s told from the point of view of , Enzo, an aging dog as he recounts his doggie life.  He is a dog philosopher and expounds on his view of humanity and our views.  He is frustrated with his lack of anatomical ability to communicate to his humans and is left with doggie drool and gestures. 

I don’t want this to be a spoiler, so let me just say this.  Anyone who has been emotionally attached to a dog or thought that the dog has understood a conversation will love this book.  I found myself laughing out loud at Enzo’s take on the owners in-laws and his way of letting them know he didn’t care for them.  The end is touching and puts in words what I have long suspected.  Great read if you have or have had a dog.  If you don’t have a dog, this book may give you the desire to spend time with one of creation’s best creatures.

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Avatar

Movie Review by Sister Lorie

avatar_poster5_imaxYou can’t miss the trailers and commercials, so you know the drill. Ten foot tall blue folks don’t like it when humans invade and want to strip mine their world. Evil humans don’t care; they just want the goods. Sounds like ‘Dances With Wolves’ in space. Maybe so, but there is no new story, only new applications of stories. With that said, I liked it. I liked the wonder of a place that was like no other. Animals that were similar enough and different enough at the same time. The wonder of a damaged human who discovers his soul.

Now for the presentation. This movie is what 3-d should have been all along. I found myself wanting to swipe at the ‘floating things’ that got too close to my face. The detail is amazing. I didn’t find anything to nit-pick in the more than 2.5 hours I sat stone still. Ok, maybe a quick intermission for a pit stop would have been useful.

This is a must see in 3-d, don’t be cheap.

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Alternative Charitable Donations

This from an op-id piece by Nicholas D. Kristof, a columnist for The New Your Times. He lists several alternative charitable organizations. Something to think about, and maybe somplace to shoot some some of your donations.

Article “A Most Meaningful Gift Idea” at NY Times web site

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Health Care System Forces Bad Decisions

Some of us get to the fork in the road, see the sign that advises that the bridge is out ahead, and take that fork anyway.  All of us make some bad choices or decisions.  Some of us make more than others.

My brother has probably made more than many.  One of those was to continue smoking in the face of all the evidence of its harmfulness.  Another was choosing to work jobs that did not require urinalysis as part of the employment screening process.

Don’t get me wrong,  my brother is a hard worker.  He is a conscientious worker, and he prides himself in doing a good job.  He does not partake of substances illegal or otherwise during working hours.  Continue reading “Health Care System Forces Bad Decisions”