So life has been a bit of a whirlwind...out of town visitors, lots of pastoral duties, up to my eyeballs in denominational politics and committee responsibilities...

So I haven't had much to say here...it's been more of an internal time...

But, I've been watching...listening...thinking...and I have some things to share...

1. The Book of Daniel, the power of Christian intimidation: At various times in the past two weeks, 8 different TV stations announced their refusal to air the debut of this new series, after being lobbied by the American Family Association. The AFA says the show is anti-Christian. The 4 Emmis Communications owned stations in Witchita, Garden City, Great Bend and Oberlin ultimately decided to run the show. Stations in Beaumont, Merridian, Knoxville and Terre Haute all decided not to show the debut. The AFA has every right to lobby businesses, but I think for a broadcaster to bow to intimidation and censor a program based on one particular religious group's views is somehow anti-American. Don't get me wrong, it's not "Censorship"...which I think of only as an act of the government. I would hope the AFA would be more interested in condemning the 2006 budget which robs millions from programs for the poor, than with what NBC is programming on Friday nights.

2. The Book of Daniel, a mini-review: I watched the two-hour premiere. People need to get a grip. It's an absurdist soap-opera...with characters who are interesting, funny, screwed-up beyond reality, and, to some extent, worth watching. The writing is clever, the gay son is too perfect. The gay writer is clearly respectful of faith and utterly disrespectful of institutional religion and the "Jesus" character is a funny twist on the hoary old device of the personified conscience. There were moments when I laughed out loud, and other moments when I rolled my eyes. So many red herrings were throw out in the first two hours, I really would like to see what happens next...but I can't help thinking that this is NBC's answer to "Desperate Housewives."

3. The Book of Daniel, a new crazy-assed-Christian atrocity: In Terre Haute, the NBC affiliate caved and didn't show the debut. The WB affiliate stepped up to the plate...AND GOT DEATH THREATS against the station manager and the program director. The Christain Jihadists are really starting to piss me off....because they are starting to make Jesus look like some punk-ass harbinger of hate.

4. Pat Robertson actually shows that he really has gone completely crazy. According to The Wrong Rev. Robbie, the strokes that have laid the Prime Minister of Israel low, ending his political career, are God's punishment for Sharon's granting autonomy to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. By "dividing God's land," Sharon has invoked God's wrath. I honestly have no idea who this God is that Robertson worships....the God of whom he speaks is completely foreign to me.

5. If recent rumblings from the AFA and the Mormon Church are any sign of what is coming, I anticipate that we are about to get a nasty little fundamentalist backlash in response to the upcoming film award season. "Capote," "Brokeback Mountain," and "TransAmerican" are all brilliant films because they are new stories masterfully told. They have won, and will continue to win, awards by the armload. Heath Ledger and Phillip Seymore Hoffman give two of the best performances in the last decade. Perhaps they are not to all tastes, but they are incredible movies. All three are worth your time...worth your 9.50. (Whether any film is worth 9.50 is a topic for another day).

6. Netflix is perhaps the greatest commercial innovation thus far in the 21st Century....unless it's those English cucumbers with no seeds.

7. Has anyone else heard of ParishPay? In all the Roman Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago, folks can sign up for direct withdrawal of their pledge from their checking account. I understand that there are some larger protestant churches that are doing this now too. A question...as efficient as this is for the churches, does it really teach good stewardship? If I don't have to think about writing the check, if I don't make myself do it on a regular basis, is it a spiritual discipline?

8. "Reefer Madness," the Showtime musical from last year that is out on DVD now, is my Guilty Pleasure Of 2005. Silly, catchy music--engaging performances--over the top in every way possible. Too much fun! (Runners up: Mario Cantone's "Laugh Whore" and the Double Chocolate Cake from the Grand Luxe Cafe.)

9. Two years ago, people mocked the "What Would Jesus Drive" campaign. Here's what I wonder...as gas prices once again start their climb into the stratosphere, are those the same people who are lining up to get on the Prius waiting lists....are those the same people reading the new reports that because of rollover and otehr driving-related issues, children are no safer in mega SUVs that other cars? Just wondering.

10. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe verdict: I found it interesting that they were less true to the book on the basic plot points, but HUGELY true to C.S. Lewis' strong substitutiary atonement and myth of redemptive violence themes. I also thought they intentionally made the Queen less attractive than she was presented in the book---but she was a brilliant villain (killing the butterfly was TOO perfect an evil moment (people booed her in the theater the first time I saw it))....All that being said...I really liked it--saw it twice actully. Overall, well done, not the greatest theology, but a very, very well done movie.

I'm seeing lots of post-holiday depression around me. Let us not forget to be joyful...to greet each day as a gift.

P.S. I'm still ticked off about the wiretapping...and I'm SO glad that The Daily Show and the Colbert Report are back...