2 CONFESSIONS

#1. POLITICS SCHMOLOTICS:

• I suck at understanding, following, and believing in the political system to change the world for the better. I don't understand the delegate system.
  
• I don't believe that when I vote for a bill that I even know what I'm really voting for because everyone says you have to read the fine print which means two more things: I have no idea where to find the fine print and secondly, even when I read it, I don't know what I just read. I think the whole thing sounds like a circus and I'm constantly waiting for the next rabbit to be pulled out of a hat.
  
• I registered Republican at age 18, mostly cuz my parents were registered that way. I'm not sure I want to be a Republican. I'm not sure I want to be a Democrat. I have no idea what a Green Party is but despite the fact that I'm trying to create new sources for acquiring green so I can be less dependent on my church income and despite the fact that I'm trying to green up my family's use of the planets resources, I'm still pretty sure that neither of those is really what it means to belong to the Green Party.
  
• I'm quite positive I want to be a follower of Jesus and not sure any of those three really has that at their core... so it seems like I'm trying to attach an alter mission to the engine of politics. I'm not sure how to be influential for Jesus in this realm.
  
• I don't care what color your skin is or what gender you are as a candidate. I don't need a white male president or a black female senator or a hispanic govenor or whatever. I think this kind of talk only perpetuates the problems they're trying to overcome.
  
• Change is good. Right now... I hope someone finds a synonym for it soon. I'm tired of hearing it- even if I think we need it.
  
• So yesterday, for the first time ever, I didn't vote. The primaries seemed like a waste- especially on the Republican end- and the stupid 90's ballot issues left me wondering if anyone was really telling me what the fine print really said. All I know really is that evidently we think Indian Tribal lands should be places where we go to gamble and give Vegas a run for their money.
  

#2. ASH WHAT?

• For whatever reason, as a 35 year old pastor, outside of many mainline traditions I've never given up anything for lent or spent a day of repentance on it's beginning- today, which is Ash Wednesday- or the 40 day mark from Easter.
  
• So, for the first time ever, I'm giving something up for lent.
• I'm giving up sweets. No chocolate. No candy. Till Easter. And then maybe I'll tell my sweet tooth to take a hike. I also am not taking the candy jar out of my office.
  
• But, I did not smear ashes in the shape of a cross on my forehead in honor of this new step of faith. Maybe next year.