Check it yo, did you know that the voices of Ace and Gary from The Ambiguously Gay Duo was played by Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell. Who would have thought? I threw this video up there for you just for fun. It’s from the early 90’s which as it turns out was quite some time ago. It’s not really hilarious, but it’s worth while just because it’s from the old school Dana Carvey Show.
I love the Northwest. In one weeks time we’ve had seventy degree sun, sleet, rain, snow, and hail. No joke. Don’t get me wrong I’m dying to get into the summer, to have it be sunny every day. But you’ve got to admit, the NW frickin’ rocks.
Hip hip…
I haven’t checked any of this out…and I probably won’t…but…watch as much of this video as you have time for…creeeeepy
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I’ve been blessed to be in good conversations lately with friends who believe very differently from me. It has grown me quite a bit, and I hope has challenged them too.
Through these conversations though I am becoming more aware of the fact that I view salvation much more different than many.
The way it first came up was the question was posed, what issues are salvation issues to you? I was like”…umm…none really. Well, I guess the only one that I’d really hold to as a salvation issue, as something that would cause you to lose your salvation, is if you reject Jesus. If you reject Jesus you will lose your salvation because you no longer want it. Other than that I don’t think there are any issues that are salvation worthy.” Is this revolutionary? Am I wrong? I thought this was the common belief of Christianity, but I may be wrong about this. Again I ask, am I wrong?
Isn’t this one of the main thing that separates Christianity from every other world view, grace. There is nothing you can do to get salvation. Jesus gives it and you receive it. You’re either taking grace from JC or you’re rejecting it from JC (Jesus Christ). And so that is why I believe there are no salvation issues. You may smoke and drink a lot, but if you’re pursuing Jesus, if you’re saying yes to his offer of salvation then you are saved. (obviously this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pursue better behaviors. But your pursuit of better choices is not tied to your salvation, its tied to your response to your salvation). If you’re serving at the local homeless shelter every single day of your life, you give all your money to poor kids, you don’t smoke or drink or have sex with anything or anyone, and you’re just an all around nice guy, but you’re rejecting Jesus’ offer of grace…you’re not saved. It’s not about your behavior. Am I wrong? I might be. But I think this is central to Jesus following and, well, I want to know if I’m alone in this.
The older generations talk negatively concerning playing cards, the lottery, or gambling in general. Those rank up there with debauchery, incest, and a few other big meaty words that have little place in conversation this century. Good Christians don’t play poker…I’m not completely sure why, but I’m fairly confident that this was the mindset of the blue hairs of our day.
But here’s my beef, and here’s what I think our generation should freak out about that is an equivalent to what gambling represented to the previous generation. Payday loans. Yep, you got it. Check into Cash is evil. You think I’m being funny, but I’m not. At least gambling is fun, at least it’s entertainment. Sure it preys on the poor, sure people get addicted to it, sure it’s a waste of money, sure it often brings out the worst in a lot of people. But at least it can be used for civil and entertaining purposes too. But payday loans are worthless in every way. What a cash advance from leading payday loan places ends up costing is the equivalent to a nearly 400% APR! And think about it, where do you see these stores most? In the ghetto. In the trashier parts of town they are literally (not actually) on every single corner. In every way payday loans prey on the poor, they prey on people in a pinch who feel the need to make a poor choice, they provide an “easy” alternative that ends up costing people an arm and a leg…Ahh, I don’t even want to talk about them any more. They piss me off.
Disclaimer #1: For those of you who choose to use payday loans, or for those of you who have done them don’t think I’m calling you stupid or something like that. I’m not. But there is a better way than this. Payday loans are a rip off and they’re screwing you over. There is a better way.
Disclaimer #2: As much as I hate payday loans, the problem isn’t with them. The problem is the fact that there is one on every street corner because they’re able to make it. Or in other words, they’re here because we want them to be. If we didn’t go there, they wouldn’t exist. Still though, you’re a scum bag Payday, a real scumbag. Leave us alone.