I just completed a Website for a local church.

They're big on "declarations," little snippets of Scripture-based spoken words which are supposed to build and strengthen faith.

One of their declarations is "God richly supplies all my financial needs," based in principle on Philippians 4:19.

Today, the first Sunday since I completed the Website, I attended Sunday services.

Their weekly bulletin included the declarations, with a first-time caveat for the one I shared above:



SO:

1). God's promises require no manifestation in the physical, and without that manifestation, or reluctance to believe is equal to a disbelief in God

2). My landlord, who prefers that I pay the rent with a check, should accept God's promises if God doesn't "richly supply all my financial needs" by the first of the month.

I'm a Christian...a "believer"...but this stuff makes my head explode. I got up in the middle of today's services and drove to my own church.

I don't think I'll ever be the kind of Christian who praises God for something He hasn't done.

If the first of the month comes and I am begging and pleading and bargaining with my landlord because I can't pay my rent, I cannot praise God for "richly supplying all my financial needs."

Because my landlord doesn't care about God's promises. He cares about a check in the mail that lands in his mailbox on the 1st.

And God knows that. The whole "God can intervene at any time if he chooses to" mindset simply leaves a way out for the self-righteous to say that He didn't intervene because of my sin, my unforgiving spirit, my slothfulness, my whatever.

On Friday, when I finished the church Website, my work day started at 3:00 AM and ended at 7:00 PM that night, so I'm gonna rule out "slothfulness."

He "could have," but didn't, because I got in his way. I failed, I sinned. I disappointed him.

HOW?

How, God...could you share that with me? Or should I look at the unmet need, the unfulfilled promise, and know that you can never be wrong, so it must be me, but you won't reveal it to me, so I'll praise you for something that didn't happen instead?

Sometimes the comfort of God's promises, in my life, is like the comfort Jack Nicholson felt in "The Shining," running through that snow-covered hedge maze at the end of "The Shining," totally over the edge, dying frozen and broken and alone.

Sometimes. Not all the time, just on days like today.

It was during the exchanging of the rings.

The bride was repeated her lines, and little by little, began to progressively choke up.

A tear started rolling down her cheek.

The groom gently reached up and wiped it away.

I realized in that moment that the romance in me isn't dead yet.

It's disillusioned, impatient, disappointed and pessimistic...

...but it ain't dead.

Just had someone pull that "...are you trying to say..." bullshit in one of my threads.

"Click" on Mr. Little Red X.

Pest gone.





On my Ignore List and it feels so good
On my Ignore List 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
You tried to climb up my ass now you're on my Ignore List, hey, hey

Deferment #1 (student): March 20, 1963 (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/politics... ).

Deferment #2 (student): July 23, 1963 (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/politics... ).

U.S. Military - Deaths, All Causes, Southeast Asia 1963 - 195 (http://www.testgoons.com/ccSEA/Casualties/... )

Deferment #3 (student): Oct. 14, 1964 (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/politics... ).

U.S. Military - Deaths, All Causes, Southeast Asia 1964 - 401 (http://www.testgoons.com/ccSEA/Casualties/... )

Deferment #4 (student, grad school): Nov. 1, 1965 (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/politics... ).

U.S. Military - Deaths, Vietnam War, 1965 - 1,863 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_c... )

Deferment #5 (3-A status, the "hardship" exemption, which excluded men with children or dependent parents...Lynne Cheney 10 weeks pregnant): Jan. 19, 1966

U.S. Military - Deaths, Vietnam War, 1966 - 6,143 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_c... )

Taken with my cell phone, yesterday. The former Vallco Mall (now "Cupertino Square") food court is reduced to JUST Burger King & Popeye Chicken. At the far outer edges there is a new Subways and a teriyaki place that has been there for a while. BOTH of those were ABANDONED...I didn't spot employees in either one. This joint ain't exactly jumpin', is it? This photo was taken around 12:30 PM, which SHOULD be "peak lunch hour traffic"...



Things looked hopeful a couple of months ago when the Chiaramonte Deli chain opened up across from Burger King. Now, they have "limited hours" (11-2:30 weekdays, longer on weekends). When I was there, here's what I saw (that white piece of paper on the bars announces their new "temporary hours"):



And finally, who's THIS handsome bastard?







Check out the Cupertino Square Website's "Events" page...

http://www.cupertinosquare.com/events.html

They have an AUGUST 29th event STILL ON THERE as an "upcoming event"...

...it's on the home page too..

http://www.cupertinosquare.com/home.html

And if you look to the left, you'll see "Leasing Questions? Click For More Details"

There's a creepy little goth-fetish-whatever store called "Armor Geddon" (which was out of its element from the time it moved in) that had a big "Moving Sale" sign in its window. Several other stores / restaurants listed on the Cupertino Square Website as active are gone, just boarded up.

TGI Friday's re-opened, but it is directly adjacent to the mall, not in it. No idea what kind of business they're doing. Parking lot was half-full at peak lunch hour.

...because holy shit, people...the man's been in office for less than 8 full months after eight full years of Bush & Cheney.

Don't have everything you want? You rubbed the lamp but the Obama genie didn't grant all three wishes according to your deadline and specifications?

Stand in line, Chuckie.

Could have been Grampy McBush & Moose Mom up there. How happy would you be right now after eight months of THAT?

I'm not saying that Barack Obama will go down in history as the greatest President of all time. Maybe he will, maybe he won't. He might even piss you off now and then.

Do you know ANYONE who DOESN'T? Our ability to piss each other off while trying to get from one end of the day to the other is what makes us HUMAN.

Barack Obama had the COURAGE to take the job...to FIGHT for the job...after the biggest fuckup to ever occupy the Oval Office crawled out the door and onto Marine One for the final time.

When he was in office for like FIVE MINUTES and the GOP tried to blame him for the economy, what did he say?

Jul 14, 2009 ... “I love those folks who helped get us in this mess and now say, 'This is Obama's economy,' ” Obama said. “That's fine. Give it to me . ...

Give him a fucking chance, or better yet...if you don't like what he's doing, WRITE TO HIM...politely, professionally, and in detail...and offer YOUR solutions.

It's one fucking man against a political machine that's older than dirt.

Chill the f*ck out. I've got this. Love, Obama