The Invisible Man in the Sky

"Religion convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll go to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But he loves you! ...And he needs money! He's all powerful, but he can't handle money!" - George Carlin



I'm writing this because I think I need to be honest with myself. I hope that anyone who reads this who I consider a friend or more, won't see me any different than they did before they read this. After 31 years I have finally come to the realization that I may, in fact, be a Humanist. For the past couple days I thought I was agnostic, holding on to the belief that there could possibly be an omnipotent being out there. Holding on because, come judgement day, I wouldn't be cast into a lake of fire by said God that loves me. I would be able to say, "Hey! I always thought there was a chance you were there, I just wasn't sure. Does it still count?"

Growing up I always loved science. Being able to explain how and why things happened always peaked my interest. We never were the church going types in my family, but my mother is Catholic and she believes in Jesus, God, and spirits. She never forced religion on us although we had the standard crosses and various other religious artifacts about the house. I myself believed in God and Jesus. Being a kid of science, I questioned why the Bible didn't mention dinosaurs and was more fascinated by evolution rather than the biblical version of how the world was created. But I never went any further than that.

The age of the Internet opened my eyes to a whole new world of information and knowledge. Included in that was the various contradictions in the Bible. If this book is the word of God given to men, why are there so many contradictions and scientific inaccuracies. How can an all-knowing, all-seeing God, screw up his/her own words? How can the very being that worked out the intricate details of the human brain, give me false information? Am I making up what I'm saying about the Bible? Not at all. <----click



At the same time, what am I supposed to think about this?






Why should I worship such a vengeful, jealous, and cruel being? Out of fear? Why should I be afraid of someone/something that is supposed to love me unconditionally yet threatens to condemn me to an eternity of suffering if I don't follow certain principles and guidelines. Guidelines, stories, and "laws" that contradict themselves throughout the rule book, supposedly written with words from his very "mouth"? I may be wrong in my basic analysis but something isn't right. Why kill the sinner instead of the sin? Why kill all the first born of Egypt when the Pharaoh was the issue? Why do some "good" Chrisitian people die horrible deaths while some "evil" people live through old age? Why does God allow still born babies?

Do I think religion is bad? Not necessarily. Having faith in whatever you put it in is important. Be it God or the Tampa Bay Bucs winning the Super Bowl, believe what you want but don't force it down peoples throats. How many people have been killed in the name of God or religion in the history of the World? From the Crusades to Jihad, people have died trying to force their beliefs on masses of people. Why would I want to be a part of that? I know there is no "proof" of God, only belief. Can it be that simple for people?


Another thing that bothers me about religion is how people will pick and choose different verses and scriptures in the Bible and state them as fact with no room for deviation. Homosexuality is a big one that people are talking about in the media today. If you're homosexual you're doomed according to the Bible. We are to accept that as fact, nothing more. Yet people fail to mention the other "facts" in the good book. For example,

Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. If I my son didn't get circumcised, I would have to throw him out of my house.

Exodus 31:14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people If I get called in to do an OR case on Sunday because somebody gets in a car accident, I should be killed.

Leviticus -21:16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
21:17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
21:18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
21:19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,
21:20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
21:21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. - You're basically screwed if you're handicapped. God wants no part of you.

God can't stand the sight of handicapped people.The blind, the lame, dwarfs, people with funny noses or blemishes, with damaged testicles, or broken hands or feet, crooked backs, or who have scurvy or scabs, or who have anything superfluous must not approach the altar of God.

Here's a famous letter to Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who famously recited the bibles interpretation of homosexuality. Whether this is an actual letter to her is not the point. It brings up some other "laws" from the bible that religious leaders tend to ignore.

"Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan, Jim "

There are plenty more examples of this yet the general religious population is left blind. Not saying I'm a scholar nor did I study the bible but unless you actually study the Bible, you would never know this (thank God for the good ole Internets)! I've looked at site after site and I'm more convinced in my beliefs than ever. Is this to say that I'm right and Religion is wrong? Not at all. Are Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Baptists, people who practice Voodoo, Gypsies, various American Indian or African tribes wrong in what they put their faith in? Of course not. To each their own. I do know what philosophy I believe in and what I want to be a part of, Humanism.

Humanism is a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion. Affirming the dignity of each human being, it supports the maximization of individual liberty and opportunity consonant with social and planetary responsibility. It advocates the extension of participatory democracy and the expansion of the open society, standing for human rights and social justice. Free of supernatural ism, it recognizes human beings as a part of nature and holds that values—be they religious, ethical, social, or political—have their source in human experience and culture. Humanism thus derives the goals of life from human need and interest rather than from theological or ideological abstractions, and asserts that humanity must take responsibility for its own destiny. - The Humanist Magazine

That's an "ideology" that I personally believe I could be a part of. I believe in being good to people and everyone is valuable. It's not forced and it seems rather simple. It's actually a sound ethical system. It allows me to do unto others because of the kindness of my heart, not from fear of repercussions. I guess I'm not an atheist because I do not reject the idea of God for others. I'm still doing research on the main principles but the basic jest of it sounds good to me.

Like I said, I hope this doesn't make any of the people in my world see me differently. I'm still the same person I've always been. If you want to debate, I'm open to it. If you want to point me in a specific direction that shows me that I'm "wrong", I'm open to it. Critics and criticism, I'll expect it. I just appreciate you reading this and letting me open up.





Hallelujah Hollaback!!
Michael

My Music!!

So I have some songs that been on constant rotation through my IPizzle. Just thought I'd share some music that you may or may not have heard. I'm not your stereotypical black dude. Hip-hop is becoming boring and stagnant. I still love the old stuff but hopefully something good will come along. Anyways here it goes. Something along the lines of the celebrity playlists on ITunes...

Dave Barnes - Grace's Amazing Hands

I don't know why but I can't stop listening to this song. I love the guitar riffs and he seems passionate about what he sings. John Mayer has said he's a fan of Dave Barnes. I can see why.
http://www.johnmayer.com/blog/john/200607#25


Marc Broussard - Home
Marc Broussard - The Beauty of Who You Are

If you needed a song that sounded like Louisana, Home would be it. His voice is alot different than what you hear on the radio today. My kids love this song.

TBOWYA is a song about a girl of course. This song reminds of the old days when people actually sounded like they meant every word they sang. There's alot of feeling and passion with every word he says.


John Mayer - Clarity

This is probably my favorite John Mayer song. I can't help but bob my head to this song whenever I hear it. I love the horn break at 3:17 mark. My favorite part of the song.

Jack Johnson - Wasting Time

This is just a really laid back, chill kinda song. I could see myself swinging in a hammock with this playing in the background sipping on some lemonade.

Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push

I don't skateboard but if I did this would be my theme song. I love the flow and the ka ku ka ku ka ku part is sweet.

Black Eyed Peas ft. Justin Timberlake - My Style

Just a fun song. If I'm cleaning the house I have to have this song on!

OutKast - Slump

Song from the Aquemini album. Big Boi and Dre's flow remind me of their first album. The beat is awesome.

Amos Lee- Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight
Amos Lee - Seen It All Before

Two songs from Amos' first album (Amos Lee). Guitar driven and a slow tempo. If I could sing, I would play these at a gig. Starting at the 3:10 mark of SIAB is my favorite part. When he sings "I ain't gonna be yo fool, baby", makes you believe him.

Elliot Yamin - Wait For You

My favorite Idol contestant ever. His hair has changed and so have his teeth, but his voice is still as rich and soulful as ever.

Keith Urban - Tonight I Wanna Cry

I'm not a huge country fan but I love Keith Urban. I don't know if that's cool or not but oh well. My favorite KU song.

I'm sure I could add plenty of more songs but give these a shot. I'll add them to my myspace page (link to the right) so you can hear them. Let me know what you think.

Hallelujah Hollaback!!
MP

Cheap Basketball Shoes

Since I have nothing of intrest at the moment to write about, I decided to post this article about Stephon Marbury's line of affordable athletic shoes. For those that don't know, Stephon plays professional basketball in the NBA for the New York Knicks. As long as the shoes aren't cheaply made, I think it's a wonderful idea. If you don't take time to read it, I won't blame ya. But I do think more athletes should follow this example. Lebron James' shoe cost $150! What 13 year old can afford that? Hell, I'm 30 and I can't afford that!!!


NBA star sells $15 sneakers
New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury makes sneakers affordable

As a kid growing up with six siblings, Stephon Marbury couldn’t understand why his parents couldn’t scrape together $150 to buy him the hot sneakers his heroes wore in the NBA.
When he grew up and understood how much money that was and how little his parents had, he decided to do something about it.
His solution? A $15 quality basketball shoe worn in games by the star point guard of the New York Knicks, Stephon Marbury.
“Anybody who grew up in a household with a lot of brothers and sisters, they know how it is as far as, you know, everybody wearin’ the same sneakers – hand-me-downs,” he told TODAY correspondent Kevin Corke.
The shoe, which comes in a variety of styles and fabrics, is called the “Starbury.” It’s made by Steve & Barry's University Sportswear, and, while it is inexpensive, it’s not cheap or shoddy. Marbury introduced them last August and has just introduced the Starbury II, still at the same affordable price.
Mark Cuban, the outspoken billionaire owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, called the product "the biggest business story of the year."
Steve & Barry’s has given no sales figures, but it has been reported elsewhere that in little more than half a year, some three million pairs of Starburys have been sold. That’s been enough to inspire Chicago Bulls star center Ben Wallace to join Marbury in wearing the shoes for the remainder of this year. Next year, Wallace will have his own Steve & Barry’s line —the Big Ben.
Growth of the signature shoeMarbury grew up in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, while Wallace hails from small-town Alabama. But they have a lot in common.
Like Marbury, who had six brothers and sisters, Wallace came from a big family – he had ten siblings – and wore whatever shoes one of his older brothers had outgrown. Also like Marbury, he was offended at the exorbitant prices the big shoe companies charge for the signature footwear of the game’s biggest stars.
"Why you want your name associated with a pair shoes nobody can afford?” he told TODAY. “I think that defeats the purpose."
Both players are foregoing big endorsement checks by putting their names on – and their feet in – inexpensive shoes. Once upon a time, all basketball shoes were affordable. But then Nike founder Phil Knight realized that if he could design a special shoe and put it on the feet of one of the game’s greatest players, he could charge a premium for them.
In 1985, he signed Michael Jordan, the promising young star of the Chicago Bulls, to an endorsement deal and brought out the first Air Jordan sneaker. The shoe was red and black with a big Nike Swoosh on the side and was so brash in their design that the NBA told Jordan he would be fined if he wore them in games. Knight gladly paid the fines and in no time at all, every kid in America had to have a pair.
As Jordan matured into the greatest player of all time, fans camped out in front of shoe stores to be the first to buy the latest model Air Jordan, and kids were mugged for their shoes. Jordan himself made more money from Nike endorsements than he did from playing basketball.
After that, every new star had to have a signature shoe, with prices running up to $175 and endorsement deals worth tens of millions of dollars.
Marbury has at times been accused of being selfish with the ball on the court, but no one has ever called him selfish in his personal life. Not satisfied with making an affordable shoe available, he’s also given 3,000 pairs to high school basketball teams in New York City. His new Starbury II’s even come in a women’s model.
Not everyone is happyMarbury has been razzed by other players for wearing $15 sneakers, and there’s been some jibes traded between Cleveland Cavalier megastar LeBron James, the current king of the high-priced shoe market, and Wallace over the shoe’s quality.
The big companies say it’s not built as well as their shoes. But one of the shoe’s designers, T.J. Gray, told a newspaper reporter, "We're building them with the same construction, we're using similar materials.”
And consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who has been challenging James over conditions in the Chinese factories where his shoes are made, singled out Marbury for praise in an open letter posted online at LeagueOfFans.org.Addressed to James, the post said that Marbury "challenged the entire basketball sneaker industry, in part, to present inner-city kids with an affordable (yet still stylish and well-made) alternative to the $150 shoes that you and others endorse."
Instead of taking millions to wear somebody else’s shoes, Stephon Marbury decided to take nothing up front to wear his own. Instead, he gets a royalty on each pair sold. Wallace has the same deal.
To both, it really isn’t about the money, but about the satisfaction of knowing that they’re doing something for kids and families by giving them a well-made shoe with NBA cachet at a price affordable by all.
“You see the smiles on kid's faces,” Marbury said. “I've had so many people come up to me and just . . . it's not even about basketball.”

The Art of Potty Training and Random Follow-ups

Is there really an art to it? Honestly I thought it would be much, much harder. Reagan had maybe 2-3 accidents the first week but has transitioned to "big girl" status with no problems or issues at all. We even let her go to bed without a pull-up and she managed to make it through the whole night incident free. She also let us sleep the entire night without having to get up for a visit to the potty.
Dylan...he views the toilet as a way to stall bedtime. He couldn't care less about Spiderman underwear at this moment in his life. Oh well, at least we don't have to buy diapers for 2.

Random Followups....

* although the Tourney isn't over, I am out of the running for the prize money. Damn you Kansas, Texas A&M

* My van is no longer contributing to the Global Warming problem (at least no more than any other vehicle)

* This weekend may be the weekend I get a kite in the air. If I don't, I'll blame the kite and buy a new one

* Got my replacement IPod after 3 weeks of misery. I am now 114 songs into my day.

* I still don't deserve my wife...

* I scored a 100 on my Air Force Fitness Test. Ran 1.5 miles in 9:15 seconds...I almost died I think

*I may go fishing tomorrow. I would love to take the kids but I'm afraid they would
A. be bored
B. Fall in
C. Fall in

* Anyone have any Bonsai tricks???

Random Thoughts

* Loved the movie 300, I don't think I coulda been a Spartan back then. Too much yelling and spit flying...


* Reagan's doing so good with her potty training. She does not want to pee on her Princess underwear. Dylan....that's another story

* I'm pulling for Kansas to win this years tourney. Not that I'm a fan, it would help my pool...

* Global warming is real, too bad my van is contributing to the problem...

* I suck at flying kites. At least the getting them up in the air part...

* My new IPod died. It was less than 3 weeks old. WTF?!?!?

* If there's one thing I could change about me, it would be my voice...

* I don't deserve a woman like my wife...

* If it wasn't for 9/11, there would be no Dylan and Reagan, I honestly believe that...
* It bothers me that Tiffany doesn't put on her seatbelt until she's halfway down the street...

* My Physical Fitness test is on Friday and I'm sick.....

* I don't have a favorite song....

* This may be my favorite website....... http://postsecret.blogspot.com

* Almost time to start fishing again.....

* I still have the first fish I caught here in the freezer, don't tell my wife.....

* I need to take swimming lessons....

* I'm so glad I didn't join the Army

* I want to vote for Obama, not because he's black, but because he seems to be the most sincere.

I admit though, I don't know too much about him...

* I love bonsai trees. I would love them more if I could grow one without killing it...

My Weird Taste in Music......


Someone once looked at my CD binder a few years ago and told me I had weird taste in music. I remember getting laughed at by Ebony (can''t remember her last name but yeah, she was black) in 8th grade for having a tape of Gun's N Roses in a cassette holder on band field trip. Everyone laughed because I guess it was funny for a "black" kid to have rock music in 1990. I was kinda embarrassed when it happened. I didn't know I was only supposed to listen Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em or Ice, Ice, Baby.

My ears were always attracted to different music. I had a good friend at the time named Jeremy who was infatuated with Def Leppard. I would come over and he'd have all these Hair Bands plastered all over his wall and Pour Some Sugar on Me playing at least twice an hour. "Dude, I love this song!!!!" he would say. No shit?! Poison, White Snake, what the hell?!?! The names were so cool!! How could I not want to listen to this? So I gave these bands a chance and what the hell!?!? I did like it!


My friend Tyrone was a big Ice Cube fan. We would just walk to the gym rapping the lyrics to AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. It was ok to dance to Hip Hop back then so our little clique would just listen to rap and have a good time. Hip Hop was a part of my life but admittedly, not as much as other kids. I didn't know the lyrics word for word of Run DMC or LL Cool J...well maybe LL. I think it was because my group of friends were so diverse and of course I had a Filipino mother who loved filipino music.

I was being constantly bombarded sonically by Jeremy's Hair Bands, Tyrone's (friend) Ice Cube, my father's 60's and 70's R & B, my mothers Imelda Papin (filipino singer), and Mr. Benard's (band teacher) sheet music. No wonder I like all this crap!!! But it wasn't cool at the time to be as musically diverse. I remember Aaliyah talking about how much she loved Nine Inch Nails and Jay Z and Kanye West both admit to liking alternative and rock music. They had to have liked these genres when they were younger, right? Did they have to hide their likes in fear of being capped in the hood? I would like to think so.

So what about these days you ask? Well, I learned to play the guitar not to long ago so now it's on to a whole new group of artists and bands. I see myself almost like a vine that grows and wraps itself around something for a while before growing more and grabbing something else. My wife seems to think I get obsessive over different artists. Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Jack Johnson and now Amos Lee. Maybe a little bit. But I like what I like and I don't think it's weird or uncool anymore. I kind drive down the road, pull up next to another car at a light, with my windows down and be just as comfortable playing Phil Collins as I would Nas. I'm too old to be cool. So what if a "black" guy owns an N'Sync or a Metallica. It's not weird or stupid or uncool. It's just me being diversified and I love it.

Hallelujah Hollaback!!!

Life and Death.....

So here it is or should I say here I am!! Blogs or diaries? Never been good at them. I tend to not say much. Shy quiet type so you would think I would have a lot to write. I think it just has more to do with the fact that I'm lazy (shh don't tell my wife).

So what's new in my life? Loving being a father. Dylan and Reagan are becoming individuals and it's funny, hard, nerve racking, and exciting. Watching them develop their own little personalities and becoming their own person is the best thing ever.

Reagan? Ms. Priss. She is a little girl through and through. Loves braclets, purses, rings, her clothes... Daddy's little girl, no doubt. She loves to sing and always wants me to sing during bathtime. One of 2 people in this world who enjoy me singing!

Dylan? My rock star! Loves the guitar, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and food. Loves Music and has his mom's dance moves. The more stubborn of the 2 but also the most sensitive. Think the later part of that is from me. I'm too sensitive maybe...better than being insensitive I think.

So ya, I love being the father of twins. Tiff and I always wonder what couples with 1 kid do with all their free time. Anyone?


Onto Death.....My IPod mini died. Talk about a tragedy! I should have seen it coming though. The battery wouldn't hold a charge even after charging it all night. It was bound to happen. After 3 years of IPod bliss, I was devastated. The little sad IPod icon showing up on the screen to mock me.
Very tragic, I must say. I tried all the usual methods of fixing it...dropping it, throwing it against my desk, smacking it with my hand. Alas, no response. What am I going to do without one thousand songs available at my fingertips?!?!?! Get one that holds 7500!!!!! Yay!!!!!

I guess I'll try to keep this updated. Don't know who'll read it but what the hell, I'll keep flying this plane.


Hallelujah Hollaback!!!!