out with the old, in with the new.
tonight we went to the local dance club. yep, that's right. we went with tiffany's brother and sister and her brother's roommate. it's the first time i've ever been in there and it was strange to fully realize that a place like that is in our little laconia.
i'm still in rebellion against stupid fundamentalist christianity and so i'd like to be able to think that going to a place like that is not really a problem. i would still disagree with the reasons fundies would preach against going into places like that (appearance of evil, Christians should be "set apart" from those places, etc.), but now i've got whole new reasons to not go there. i would have to ask myself, "is this really a good thing for this community? is it good for laconia to have this dance club downtown?" i'd be open to possible reasons for the answer to those questions to be "yes," but until that day comes, i can't imagine wanting to spend money to support that place's existence.
i like dancing as much as the next guy, but it seems to generally be just a meat market. people go there to find someone to hook up with, or a place to forget about the difficulties of life, or maybe just to find a sense of community. in the right context, all good things. i'm sure every person has their own reasons. i just wish that it wasn't "the funky monkey" (yep, that's seriously its name) that was there to fill that void.
if only the church was there to meet these people. if only i was there to meet these people. what makes this all the more sad is that our local baptist church, which has been an historic presence in the center of laconia since the Alamo, is leaving their beautiful downtown building in order to move to the outskirts of the city so they can build a bigger building to have more space for their various programs. the church walks away with its marvelous light while the people close their eyes and rock on.
not a perfect parallel, but it reminds me of a water color on the inside lining of the lori chaffer solo album: there's a painting of a bar right next to a church. the sign outside of the bar says "open all day." the sign oustide the church says "open sunday 11:00 - 12:00."
40
"I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?"
-U2
i'm still in rebellion against stupid fundamentalist christianity and so i'd like to be able to think that going to a place like that is not really a problem. i would still disagree with the reasons fundies would preach against going into places like that (appearance of evil, Christians should be "set apart" from those places, etc.), but now i've got whole new reasons to not go there. i would have to ask myself, "is this really a good thing for this community? is it good for laconia to have this dance club downtown?" i'd be open to possible reasons for the answer to those questions to be "yes," but until that day comes, i can't imagine wanting to spend money to support that place's existence.
i like dancing as much as the next guy, but it seems to generally be just a meat market. people go there to find someone to hook up with, or a place to forget about the difficulties of life, or maybe just to find a sense of community. in the right context, all good things. i'm sure every person has their own reasons. i just wish that it wasn't "the funky monkey" (yep, that's seriously its name) that was there to fill that void.
if only the church was there to meet these people. if only i was there to meet these people. what makes this all the more sad is that our local baptist church, which has been an historic presence in the center of laconia since the Alamo, is leaving their beautiful downtown building in order to move to the outskirts of the city so they can build a bigger building to have more space for their various programs. the church walks away with its marvelous light while the people close their eyes and rock on.
not a perfect parallel, but it reminds me of a water color on the inside lining of the lori chaffer solo album: there's a painting of a bar right next to a church. the sign outside of the bar says "open all day." the sign oustide the church says "open sunday 11:00 - 12:00."
40
"I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?"
-U2
why did you choose 40?
Posted by
Anonymous |
April 15, 2006 2:39 AM
good question.
mostly because i was listening to it at the time. but it also captures a sense of how i feel when i'm discouraged.
Posted by
Ryan |
April 15, 2006 11:37 AM
Uhhhh.....
Nietzsche said something one time about how "It's hard enough remembering my opinions without having to remember my reasoning for having those opinions."
I find that to be true of myself, and it's certainly a fault of "fundies."
I also think there's value in moving forward even if you don't have the right opinions or the right reasons for your opinions. In faith, and with a clean conscience, try to do what God wants you to do.
There's my amazing two cents.
Posted by
Anonymous |
April 15, 2006 1:00 PM
i like that nietzsche quote, keith. would you mind clarifying, though, what you meant by:
"I also think there's value in moving forward even if you don't have the right opinions or the right reasons for your opinions. In faith, and with a clean conscience, try to do what God wants you to do."
i wasn't exactly sure what you were referring to.
Posted by
Ryan |
April 15, 2006 2:25 PM