Things I Like

Telling a boy I'd be out of town this weekend and asking him to text me to break up the monotony, then him texting me before I even leave.

#grinninglikeanidiot

Is that so much to ask?

I just want to do ordinary things with extraordinary people. I'm looking to find people of amazing quality, just to be a part of my life for everyday little things. I can't imagine that I'm asking too much.

Review (WaIR#1) - Empire, Orson Scott Card

Following this monday's What Am I Reading, this is my review of Orson Scott Card's Empire. 

I feel like Empire was a good read, but I would have enjoyed it more without the scifi elements which felt a bit forced. As he showed with the secondary sequels to Ender's Game (the Shadow Series--arguably my favorite series of novels ever written), Card is a brilliant author of political intrigue. He did obvious research to get the feel of a military personnel based novel, and do it well. 

Liberal media, gentle but brilliant politicians, a view of the US army that was nothing short of ideal. Within the first few chapters, there is an absurd and successful assassination of the President and Vice President that was planned by Rube, the protagonist. He was assigned through the arm to create a way that terrorists would dismantle our government, assuming others would take his plan and figure out how to defend against it, instead it was passed on to some group of terrorists. The political conspiracy that follows is almost get-out-a-paper-and-map-it-out worthy. Seriously. 

After the assassination, Rube and his new assistant Cole have to face the newly emerged Progressive Restoration movement that has used ridiculous mechs and hovercycles to take over New York City. They have to find the center of the Progressive movement (which is leftist and then some). 

Honestly the political overtones in this novel are exhausting. Up until the crazy, War-Of-The-World-esque "mechs" that were introduced in NYC, I thought this was a brilliant novel, full of intrigue and army playing the media. Sadly, it becomes over evident that Card was approached to write this novel as a backdrop to a modern civil war kind of video game. Even the home base of the Progressive movement is set inside a mountain base that reads like a game would play--choppy and predictable. 

So, honestly, this book gets a 2.5 out of 5 stars ( * * 1/2) which, for me reading Orson Scott Card is disappointing because I really love him. The first half gets an easy 4.5, but the rest pulls it down. 

What Am I Reading? (Week #1)

Today, for the first time, I'll be participating in "What Am I Reading?" Mondays, which is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

And this week, I'm re-reading Empire, a fantastic military, sci-fi drama by Orson Scott Card, best known for the Ender's Game series. I'm also reading Sheri S Tepper's Plague of Angels, an apocalyptic fairy tale set in in the far distant future. Both, incredible reads.

             

Heartless complaining. I know. Bring on the pitch forks and angry mob.

I understand the need to worship freely in church, I really do. I don't want to squash anyone's desire to commune with the Lord, or their ability to do it. Really, I think a sincere expression of faith is a beautiful thing.

But when you're super showy or super loud...it's distracting.

Yes, I said it. Distracting. I'm not saying that everyone should be still and silent in church, not at all! Express, be genuine, whatever!

But when someone screams "amen" at least thrice during a sermon, week after week, every time anyone (normal preacher or guest preacher, or probably even a janitor) stands at the pulpit, I don't believe you anymore. Getting progressively louder doesn't demonstrate that your faith is greater than everyone else's, it shows you care more about getting noticed than genuinely connecting to what is going on. If you want to dance like you're having a seizure, if that's how you show your faith, don't sit in the front row where everyone can see you and is worried about your medical state and unable to have any kind of encounter with God themselves. Waving your arms through every song doesn't show how much you love God, it may show how much attention you're trying to garner. (Raising one's hands during worship, like everything else I'm complaining about, is not inherently bad--but overuse appears insincere. I've been moved to tears by the lyrics of a song in church before, but if I cried during every chorus, I'd be worried about my mental state and not so concerned with what God is doing to my heart.)

SERIOUSLY. Stop being selfish. Church is a community. Don't cause your brother to stumble, you know? Be genuine, but have some courtesy that there are other people around you. You screaming "amen" in their ear is probably going to keep them (and you) from hearing the next line of scripture or explanation from the preacher. You're likely missing the punch line of whatever you're "amen"-ing.

Be enthusiastic. Be sincere. Express to the Lord your heart. You don't have to prove the greatness of your faith to me or anyone else in the room by performing. A genuine faith is what will move mountains.  Faking it is just another reason why so many people are turned off by the current flavor of Christianity.