Which Trail?

Recently I found myself in uncommon circumstances-on a car ride with an 8 year old girl. She smiled a lot and talked even more while her long brown hair danced back and forth as if afraid to rest for too long on her shoulders. I hardly know her, but in less than thirty minutes I had grown to love her. In spite of my affection, her oration offered a terrible insight into our culture and struck me with sadness. Don’t let me get ahead of myself though.

School shopping was the latest adventure of my young friend and the main topic of discussion. She told me about Hannah Montana shirts she bought-five of them. Next were her Hannah Montana jeans-three pair. Apparel could be accessorized with Hannah Montana pencils, folders and shoes. My opinion of Miley Cyrus aside, I was astounded at her desire to identify herself with the name ‘Hannah Montana.’ Like an American flag pin (worn or not), it was clear where her allegiance lay-an army of one, bearing the emblem of a pop star who would never know her personally.

I realized that this brown-eyed whirlwind just wanted to feel like she was ‘someone’ in the sea of humanity that is 3^rd grade. Even at the elementary school level she sought acceptance (which is part of being human) but was sampling a lifestyle where she would continually define herself by the flavor of the week. As Hannah Montana becomes passé she will add a pinch of color and a dash of magic to define herself by some new temporal entity. Each time she will be seeking something that is unattainable through material possession.

Initial steps on this path will eventually come to a dead-end unless a new Way can be blazed that embraces life. I had forgotten the power and subtlety with which our culture leads us along winding trails to nowhere while we seek to end our inner lostness. What is most sad to me, is that my young friend is only one of millions beginning this trek.

Just Kickin' It

Currently the congressional democrats are attempting to pass a second economic stimulus bill as the economy continues to flounder. Justifiable skepticism exists, from me included, about the effectiveness of such measures.

One source of opposition comes from President Bush and the GOP. The White House is not holding the position that another stimulus check will be minimally effective, but the benefits of the previous stimulus check have yet to been seen.

Unfortunately, Bush’s economic plan for an economic boost has already kicked in-offsetting the effects of declining economy under his administration. This may be ready apparent to most people but I did the numbers.

If I drive 10 miles a day to work, get 25 miles to the gallon and drive nowhere other than work, I pay $64.48/month in gas. This is almost $25 more monthly than two years ago ($2.5/g)! As a dependent of my parents this past year, the $300 from the federal government allows me to break even. I don’t foresee anything else ‘kicking in’.

Fact Check

It would hardly surprise most Americans to assume that fact stretching and truth bending occur in the political arena to court voters. In an unfortunate event for the McCain campaign, a Florida based commercial targeting Spanish speaking voters reaches new heights in fact distortion. Only one of the half-dozen figures given regarding Florida and Latin America's relationship is correct. All others are totally false or egregiously exaggerated. The official video has been removed from the McCain website and Youtube or I would have posted a link to those locations. Just goes to show that you can't believe everything you see on TV.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/145031

Resolution 1

As I make this resolution, I must give credit to Johnathon Edwards for the initial popularization, Caleb Drahosh for his continuation of the tradition of resolutions, and Kaytlin Kaiser for her encouragement toward resolutions as they resound with my personality.

Resolve
To cease worrying over things that are truly out of my control; instead, simply respond to each situation as it arises through diligent prayer, creative problem solving, and perseverance as I trust in God's provision for each scenario.

No Starbucks?

It is startling to the me the ease at which Americans fall into fear and anxiety as a result of media broadcasting. Mainstream news broadcasting offers a limited view of unfolding information on a regularl basis. Many American’s know this but continue to be caught in the maelstrom of hype and reactionism as news is reported to them. It is time to know all the facts, whether they are reported to us or not. Paul Harvey often spoke about ‘the rest of the story’. Here is one such case.

Headline: Starbucks plans to close 600 stores nationwide (CTVglobemedia).

Amy Roback of the NBC’s Today Show began her segment on this issue by informing us that “millions of Americans will be heading to their local Starbucks today to get their morning fix, but if they are headed one of those six hundred stores slated to be closed by next year, they may soon have to find somewhere else to go.”

“Somewhere else” indeed; now, American coffee addicts will have to go to one of the remaining 10,084 stores nationwide (http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/Company_Factsheet.pdf). If consumers are unable to find a new location to frequent, they can choose to wait until the end of the year for one of the new 200 still scheduled to open (msnbc.com).

Panic not America-know the whole truth.