So I have an iPhone and an unlimited data plan. It's 3G; iPhones have lots of cool apps that work over 3G. I listen to Pandora radio at work. Yes, I suppose I could listen on my work computer, but I am aware that streaming music can cause bandwidth congestion. I guess I'm just a little confused because I have an "unlimited" data plan. Silly me, I thought that meant "without limits," and that it would be appropriate to stream over an unlimited plan. From reading the blogosphere, it seems ATT will tell me three or four times, and then it will throttle my usage for two billing cycles.
I just want to get this straight: first they take my money, then they superimpose limits on what I can do with the plan I bought (I'm not even using a cracked app -- this is the legit Pandora!), and then they'll eventually end up offering me less service than I contracted for?!?!? All the while holding my money?!? How can this possibly be legal? Oh, because it's created by lawyers. But how can it possibly be ethical? ATT wanted to get in there first and monopolize the market for iPhone users. That market, the apps, and the data usage have exploded -- how is it my fault that ATT made poor business decisions and could not ramp up its infrastructure in time to keep up with the business?
Anyway. I've turned off Pandora for the moment, but it really pisses me off a good deal. I've grown quite fond of Pandora and don't understand why it's offered as an app if ATT then doesn't want us to use it.
So I read the article about the church banning the interracial couple. It's stupid, of course. Why would a church turn people away? What's the reasoning? But then it hit me (and my Christian friends, especially my denominational colleagues, will take me to task for this): that's what we do with the homosexuality issue. We've decided, because of our reading of Sacred Scriptures, that homosexuality is wrong, an abominable sin. Therefore, we've decided that people who are homosexual are somehow less than the rest of us: less meriting of fellowship, less able to lead our flocks, less able to have their unions legitimized and validated by the State. We've made these decisions as if our readings and understandings of Scripture are the ultimate reality, as if Jesus has revealed all there is to reveal, and as if there's no room at The Cross for anyone else. I just can't get with that. I spearheaded an effort to get someone held accountable, but that was because that someone was in a position of leadership, was married to one person, and admitted to having a relationship with another person. I believe leadership should be held accountable. I do not believe that leadership is, or can be expected to be, without fault -- just that they need to be transparent in admitting those faults (ministers, like doctors, need to "first do no harm." If I'm engaging in an activity that is potentially dangerous to others, I have a moral obligation to stop that activity).
Whether I do or not is between me and God. It shouldn't be between me and you. I should not stand in judgement of you any more than you should stand in judgement of me. We don't always have to condone each other's actions; we should be able to express ourselves, agree to disagree if necessary, and continue to fellowship with one another in Christian love. When we limit our expressions of love to our fellow human beings for any reason, do we not make a statement about the limits of our ability to receive Christ's love in our own lives? Everybody's sinned. Everybody's struggling with something. Wouldn't it be better for us to work together, in harmony, attempting to build up the Kingdom of God rather than to tear one another down? I think where we get confused is in our (self-)righteousness. We have standards, and because we do, we are perturbed, disturbed, or offended when people seem to violate those standards. We want them removed, banished, punished, etc. And that's all good, but we need to remember Romans 5:8, which reminds us that while we were yet in our sins, Christ died for us. If Christ could display the Ultimate Love to us, given our sinful states, how can we do less for each other?
Yeah. I know that will not sit well with some, but it's how I feel. And I'll tell you something else about how I feel. Recently I posted an article about keeping the Christ in Christmas. A friend responded with this article and a comment that it was why she wanted Christ out of Christmas. I don't get it. Christmas is a Christian holiday, and according to this estimate from the 2007 CIA Factbook, the Religions (sic) of the US are as follows:
Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.). The way I calculate it (check it for yourself, since I'm not that great in math) 51.3 +23.9+1.7+1.6 = 78.5% of Americans have some affiliation with CHRISTIANITY.
So if you're of the 1.7% of Americans who are Jewish or the 0.7% who are Buddhist, the 0.6% who are Muslim, the 2.5% who are other or unspecified, the 12.1% who are unaffiliated, or the 4% who are of no religion, it seems to me that prudence would demand you at least acknowledge that more than three quarters of your fellow Americans ARE Christian. Please don't feel that you have to stand outside and look in at a party to which you're not invited. You are certainly invited. But don't get the purpose of the holiday confused with the fact that Constantine co-opted the date as part of a compromise deal in trying to bring his empire together. Don't get it confused with ancient pagan practices that used to occur at the same time of the year. Don't get lost on the external displays of gift-giving (because Jesus is God's greatest Gift to the World), or the lights (because He is the Light of the World, or the Tree (a custom which has come to be associated with Christianity over the years, but which has no Christian theological significance). Those are just external manifestations. The REASON for the Season is Jesus, and without Christ there could never BE a Christmas. So if you're not down with Christ, don't look at the outer trappings of Christmas and long for them. Recognize that CHRISTmas is about Jesus CHRIST. He's the Reason for the Season, and the Source of all the Joy. If HE's not for you, perhaps IT's not for you. The two are inseparable. But don't be sad -- this is truly a joyous time. As much as you may hate to hear it, if you're feeling your spirits uplifted, if the lights and the songs and the way people treat each other actually do make your heart sing, that's OK, too. Jesus loves and believes in you, despite whether you love or believe in Him.
Lest that seem insensitive (because anymore a Christian can't share their faith without somehow appearing insensitive to someone who's not Christian), let me stress that the Reason for the Season is a Gift of Love, and that is absolutely open and available to all. We want to sing with you, we want to share presents with you, we want to share Love with you, and we want to share the Good News, Glad Tidings, and Great Joy with you. We won't even be mad if you choose not to join us.
So don't hate. Celebrate!!!
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