After some recent religious conversations, I wanted to note something interesting that perplexes me:

Why is it that some religions are called cults by many (most?) Christians, and others aren’t?  For example, mormonism.  It’s legally recognized as a religion in the US, it also has a decent set of family values (ignoring the small sect that marries multiple women/girls).  What makes your religion not a cult, and everything else one?

There was a great quote from someone tonight that paraphrased was "[something] is a cult because it’s not what I believe."….

So, she alone apparently decides what’s a cult, and what’s not? And it’s basically everything but what she follows/believes.

Hahahaha, God hates me or something:

http://www.godhatessweden.com/

And:

http://www.godhatesireland.com/

Damn. I’m screwed!  These sites have been brought to you by none other than Fred Phelps and and his inbred church of "Westboro Baptist."  I find so much irony in the statement on the first site of: "Sweden is land of sodomy, bestiality, and incest."  Considering the source it really amuses me to read that.

I actually have a hard time believing this guy is for real.  Unfortunately, I do know he is not kidding about any of this and this is the group that defames military funerals or whatever high profile funeral might be going on.   The protesting the funerals particularly the military funerals…well, there are no words to truly describe how deeply I feel about that.  I hope to never see these people at a funeral or memorial service.

I just didn’t realize until a random search brought me upon his site and how he hates the Swedes and Irish!  Well. I’m half Swedish and the other half is mostly Irish.  If "God" hates my people, does that make me spawn of satan or something?

While I know he is an extremist and not the norm as far as "Christians" and tolerance goes…the idea of "being saved" and spending eternity in the same place as this guy….well, sounds like hell to me.

…of why I dislike the church, christians, and christianity:

100 Greatest Quotes from fundamentalist christian chat rooms

That is just…wow.  Some of it’s just hysterical.  The rest is just sad.  So very sad.

I had a discussion with a friend recently regarding friendships and what not…and here are some things that I’m now pondering…

So, what do you do, when you realize a friendship from your own perspective seems to be "give give give"…and that the other person is so wrapped up in their world that they don’t even realize that they’ve become a taker?  And well, yes, most people’s reaction would be to say "tell the person" but that isn’t always the right answer.  If they aren’t willing to listen, what good is it to tell them this and potentially create strife?  What do you do?

On the converse of this, what do you do when you know you are the one constantly taking? IE: the other person won’t ever seem to let you be the giver?  As in, they flat out refuse repayment of anything (in money, gift or deed).

Now, let me note that there are exceptions, or periods in all friendships where someone is giving and taking more than the other, but eventually it flows the other way.  And I’m not speaking to those periods as that’s just a friend being there for another.  I’m speaking to when they are consistently one way.

I’m big on friendships being a 2 way thing…and I never know what to do with any relationship that turns 1 way.

So, 2007 was quite an interesting year.  Between working my tail off at work, getting a promotion with a decent raise, knee surgery, and beginning the process for testing for my medic, as well as catching up hours wise at my firehouse….wow!  And that’s not even going into the social side and busyness that created.

Reflecting on the previous year is interesting, it wasn’t particularly good, but not bad either.   My parents visited for thanksgiving, and we had a very nice dinner here at my apartment.  Dinner included Ryan, his mom, and Shana.  Shana then picked up her parents at the airport and came back over for dessert.  It was kind of stressful at first getting everything ready, but everyone enjoyed everything.  And as my parents left to go back to Ohio, I had a smaller family reunion with my cousin Lars.  I don’t believe up until then that we’d seen each other since 1990.

I learned quite a bit about wine last year as well. Also found my so far favorite vineyard in Potomac Point Vineyard.  I’ve been 3 times now, and the owners are really fantastic, and all of their wine is just…good.  If you like wine/vineyards, I can’t recommend this one enough.

There’s also been a recent management change at work.  I no longer report to John, who honestly is probably one of the best bosses/managers I’ve ever had, but now report to someone out of the Cincinnati office.  I’m really trying to give it a chance, but I am skeptical.

I think that really summarizes 2007 for me.  Oh, and of course, I still have the BEST dog in the world.  She’s 3 now!