After a 3 week hiatus, I’m back!

To all those who cried themselves asleep at night, feeling the rejection of Adam not posting anything….have no fear, I’m back!  To many of those who read and reread and then read once more my post on Dobson vs. Obama before removing my blog from their daily routine, I am proud to say that this will be a new post.  Life has been 100 mphs since i last left you.  The main thrust of my life has been 2 teams from America invading Livno and remodeling 2 classrooms in Fra Lovro Karaula Skola.  The last couple of weeks were filled with early mornings, late nights, and lots of good conversations with Michiganders (who would have thought, huh…).  I will throw some pics up on here later so you can see the final project.

So if anyone is keeping as close of a count as we are, Krista and I have 3 more days.  So doable.  She will actually be taking over this blog while we are here together, putting up pics and reporting back to our supporters.  So check back for that.  I do have lots to discuss, but I am already sore from typing.  Three weeks out of the game and you lose so much conditioning.

There is one thing that i am excited to report, NFL is coming so soon!  This is the first time that i have lived in a football town during football season.  Very excite (yeah, i just watched Borat yesterday…not that this is an endorsement for it…).  I am still Miami all the way, but i think i could be swayed to favor the Colts. That is until they meet in the AFC championships this year.  Winner goes on to the Super Bowl, yeah I got my money on Miami…

I am also job hunting.  If you have any ideas, i would love to hear them.  I am pretty open.  Let me know what you think!

Dobson accuses Obama of ‘distorting’ Bible

CNN.com reported an article where Protestant leader and author James Dobson has publicly criticized comments made by Presidential hopeful Barak Obama during a speech to a “liberal” Christian group.

Dobson has accused him of “distorting” the meanings and interpretations of the Bible.

“Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy?” Obama asked in the speech. “Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is OK and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or we could go with Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount?

“So before we get carried away, let’s read our Bible now,” Obama said, to cheers. “Folks haven’t been reading their Bible.” He also went on to say that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount ” was a passage that is so radical that it’s doubtful that our Defense Department would survive its application.”

Dobson later said that Obama should not be referencing “dietary codes and passages from the Old Testament that are no longer relevant to the teachings of the New Testament.” You can hear his comments in their entirety here.

“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology,” Dobson said, adding that Obama is “dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.”

What is this all about? Is that not what Obama was saying, that some passages are no longer relevant to us today and more importantly public policy CANNOT always be determined from scripture because what was cultural then is no longer cultural now. Even Paul; you know, the one from the New Testament, said things that do not embrace the nature of the timeless gospel, but rather speak to the culutural insights of the early AD church. If we were to blindly read the word without cultural eyes, slavery WOULD be tolerated, slaves would be encouraged to obey their masters, and women would not be allowed to speak in the church.

To me, what Obama was saying was that public policy cannot simply be reduced to the reading of scripture. Of course I believe that the Bible is our letter from God, but i also know that it has cultural and time sensitive contents. And I totally agree with the statement about the Sermon on the Mount. If we were to take the Sermon on the Mount as literal as it probably should be taken, this world would look a lot different. There is a certain amount of wisdom required in reading scripture. Since we now have the law written on our hearts, scriptures enhance us not define us. We are no longer slaves to the law. Your thoughts…

New Survey Shows More Religious Tolerance

The Indianapolis Star had an interesting article this morning on its website. 35, 000 Americans were surveyed last year about their personal beliefs of salvation. The results showed a growing tolerance for other religions. The survey showed that as most of America still considers themselves “believers,” a vast majority think that their way is not the only way. Let me note that this does not apply to people of other denominations within their own faith. This survey applied to those of other faiths.

Of those who took the survey, 83% of the Protestant responders, 59% of Black Evangelical Protestants, 79 % of Roman Catholics, 82 Percent of Jews, and 56% of the Islam faith believe that many religions can lead to eternal life. Ironically none of those faiths leave any room for other religions holding the same eternal value as their own.

I am not sure why this disturbs me. I am a tolerant man. I think that i have a healthy balance of listening and understanding people of other faiths, but I am not sure i can walk through the door that, though he or she truly believes in what they practice, that their salvation is secure. I know, that is such a close door, bigoted comment. Many who will read this will think that i am an ignorant, intolerant christian…

I hope the principle of pluralism is right. I hope when we get to the end times, people of all faiths will be healed from their sinful nature and that the sacrifice of Jesus crossed religious boundaries and atoned for all the sins of man. However, my interpretation of scripture and interaction with God tells me differently. The God I know does not respond to “earners” of salvation. The God that i know daily and continually gives out grace to those who realize they need it and ask for it. The God I know has many different names in many different countries and cultures. I may not always recognize my God by what he is called to other people, but i always recognize his existence in other people. That is, if they truly interact with the God i know.

Salvation, for me, must come from the greatest expression of grace, which was the atonement of our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Salvation cannot come from “doing good.” It must come from “being” good and one becomes good when their desire to live apart from God is changed and their lives/desires/sins/pursuits/loves are washed with the forgiving blood that was shed as that replacement for those things. Can a Muslim be “saved” (I hate that 50’s protestant way of phrasing stuff by the way…)? Can a Buddhist’s come to know the love, the ever surpassing love of the One True God and become a true follower? Definitely. And for them, God will look differently than He does to me. He must because we still see things through our cultural lenses. But what is “required” is that knowledge of their dependence on God for salvation and God alone…

Of course this is still in process for me. I am open to hear what you believe, whether you agree with me or not. Although I do have my own “convictions” on what i believe is truth (and not only truth but the most fulfilling and freeing reality of all time, that Jesus did the work for us in his death and now we must realize our need for it and respond in a way that glorifies the one who took away our impurities…), I still love to talk about these things. I also truly believe that, although we as people may have religious differences as well as cultural differences, life is to be lived in peace with each other. I will still befriend and lean on people of other religions for the sake of humanity. If I need sugar, I can’t see myself walking down to the Christian neighbor’s house only because they may or may not believe in the same God I do. Does that make too tolerant? If that is my label for what i believe, i can live with that…

Old Men In Speedos…

Most may have spent their Sunday afternoon napping, taking a walk with a loved one, or even sitting on the front porch sipping a cold beer or lemonade chatting with neighbors or family. I spent my afternoon quite different than all those other options. The crew decided to take our little I-talian friend to the sea for the day, The weather was great. The water was great. The speedos were plenty…yeah that’s right. The European phenomenon that just has not made it over the big drink. I lived in Europe for a bit of my life and yet the site of grown men in their skivvies still makes me shiver. Maybe I can only see my future in them…maybe that’s the concern…

I took a poll with all the girls we were with about the attractiveness of the speedo.  My thoughts is that it was something a lot more attractive to the wearer rather than the viewer.  Would love to hear your thoughts…

I feel a bit disconnected these days. My mind is a million different directions these days. Between awaiting AAC, our wedding, and impending job solutions, I feel the pull. I am trying to read, rest and do anything to give me solace. Music is taking me into a good peaceful place, but silence seems to speak the loudest. Outside of that, we had more earthquakes a couple of nights ago, the strongest being 3.4 on the Richter scale. Its crazy to literally feel the ground move beneath your feet. I got a dog now. The Pickslay’s a family who lives in Split, Croatia are headed back to America for a few months and I get to watch their dog while they are gone. Trent will be back in a few days to carry the load, but til then I get to make sure she is fed, walked, and happy. Oh yeah, she’s in heat, so i have to make sure she stays pure as well. This is hard work…

Heartbreak in Livno…times 2

Last night was a horrible night Croatian football fans. Croatia played Turkey last night in the Quarterfinals of the Eurocup 2008. After a convincing 1st round performance in which Croatia defeated Eurocup favorites, Germany, they were had a chance to taking their homegrown, superstar-less team to the semis and maybe the finals. Fortune had another story to write. With the score 0-0 at the end of regulation, Croatia entered into the first extra time period confident. Croatia left 2 goals on the field, one being a header from Olic that bounced off the top cross bar, inches from falling into the wide open goal.

As the first extra time ended, the score still 0-0, fans in the small coffee bar we were sitting out in front off became a little restless. If the score is still tied at the end of the 2nd extra time period of 15 minutes, it will come down to a best of 5 shootout with penalty kicks. Penalty kicks for those who do not know is just one man against the goalie with 11 meters between them. Any fan of soccer hates to see a game end on PKs rather than good ole fashion goals. Its like the NBA championship being determined by a one on game to 5 after 60 minutes of regular play.

We thought none of that would be necessary when in the 119th minute, the last in the 120 minute overtime period, Klasnic struck with a header on a pass from Luka Modric, the “point guard” of the team. With time winding down, seconds from moving on, Turkey’s keeper sends the ball down field, deep into the Croatian box and with the rest of the team anticipating the final whistle blow, Semih Senturk gets free and fires a shot into the top of the goal. 1-1, the final whistle blows…

Pandemonium in the streets. The celebrations had begun, but a minute too soon. As we get into our spaces and seats to watch the shoot out, everyone is nervous of the outcome. Turkey has this new reputation of the being the comeback kids. Could this be another illustration of their fortune. Turkey wins the toss and decides to shoot second. Bilic, Croatia’s coach, sends Modric up for the first kick. Wide right…unbelievable. The Turks spot up and Turan hits easily. 1-0. Darijo Crna is next for Croatia…money. 1-1. Turkey hits their next goal and again its on Croatia to tie and make a stop to stay in it. Ivan Rakitic wide left…Turkey hits their goal to go up 3-1. Its not looking good. Mladen Petric is stopped by the Turkish keeper and that is the end.

It was a tragic way to go but a good lesson in finishing the game after the final whistle blows. Croatia played sloppy in the first half and did not capitalize on open shots on goal. The second half there was more intensity, but they must play through the whistle. Heartbreak in Livno, part one.

I went downstairs around noon to print some things off and I ran into the girl who cleans our office. She told me we have a big problem with our freezer. Its turned off and there is 100 lbs or sour meat inside stinking up the joint. We had to bag up the meat, take it out to the road and proceed to scoop up the stank juice at the bottom of the freezer and flush it down the sink. If anyone knows me, they know my nose is super sensitive. I have a huge tolerance for pain, physical and emotional, but smells make me woozy. This was no exception. I cannot describe to you the rank smell that came from that freezer. Nikolina would reach down and stick her head in the freezer, filling up her bowl of foulness, and there I am holding the freezer door open with a flushed look on my face. She is a machine. I am a grown child. I still smell it on me now. I must shower. But we took the freezer outside, cleaned it, and now its drying in the warm sun. If you learn anything from this, make sure your freezer chest is plugged in. Go check. Now.

Heartbreak part 2…

Lawmakers can have the toughest jobs sometimes…

Let me start off by saying I am amazed by technology. Yesterday Krista and i were talking on the phone for free, surfing the internet and checking out the same sites. This 7 week stint apart would be a lot different 2 years ago when we only had a Livno number here and dial up internet that would stay online for a few minutes at a time and then cut out. But, like i said, we were surfing the internet, looking at how much marriage licenses are and what needs to be done to obtain one. As we were looking at one site, I scrolled down to the FAQ section and this is the question i found: Are cousin marriages legal?

And this is the response they gave: Yes, cousin marriages are allowed. Cousins may marry as long as both are over the age of 65. I was curious, so I looked into it a little more and this is the exact wording of the law: IC 31-11-1-2
Marriage to close relative prohibited; marriages between cousins; exceptions
Sec. 2. Two (2) individuals may not marry each other if the individuals are more closely related than second cousins. However, two (2) individuals may marry each other if the individuals are:
(1) first cousins; and
(2) both at least sixty-five (65) years of age.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.3.

Now Indiana prevents gay marriages and even common law, defending their notion to protect the sanctity of marriage and yet cousins can marry…well as long as they are over the age of 65. I just thought that was so funny and yet sad. Lawmakers had to sit down and talk about and eventually vote on that law. I can hear it now. “I would be in favor of this law, but only if they are old and have no chance of procreating.” All in favor…

So as Krista and I were talking on the phone yesterday, we were also planning our honeymoon (Which i am really excited about…but not that excited, Wes…) and we booked our plane tickets. We were looking at going to Seattle and even thought we might get a timeshare there for the week, but it was all booked up. So we started brainstorming about some other places to go and we settled on Charleston, SC. It will be warmer than Seattle and we are both geeked out by the history and culture there. And crab legs happen to be one of my favorite foods that I rarely get to eat! So we booked a couple of tickets and have started looking into housing. Krista’s coworker is looking into letting us trade in one of her bonus timeshare weeks for a week in Charleston. We’ve got our fingers crossed…Given our present separation situation, planning a trip is so much fun. I think just the thought of going somewhere together is exciting right now in itself. I know after the process of planning and participating in a wedding, a week in Chucktown will be much deserved. We cannot wait!

Croatia plays Turkey tonight. I cannot wait. It will be a tough game, but Croatia should roll if they play smart and not write Turkey off before the game even begins. Germany beat Portugal last night, 3-2. So if Croatia plays levelheaded and beats Turkey, we are looking at a rematch of the Croatia-Germany game! Hajmo Hrvatska!

Summer Finally Arrives In Livno!

Finally some warm, sunny weather here!  So glad.  The team from NC State took off today for a 3 day stay in Sarajevo and then off to Turkey for a week.  I am kinda jealous.  I want to travel some more, but then again, it would not be as fun alone.  I hate to be gay, but I am really missing my fiance these days.  I go out at night with some of my buddies, and the whole time i am thinking, this is not what i like to do anymore.  Don’t get me wrong, i love going out and what not, but its not the same being forced to go out alone when I know i have someone to join me, but she’s just not here.  Only four more weeks…

Everything seems to coming along for the wedding.  Got a location, a band, reception, photographer, food, dresses, and tuxes.  The bride is still on board, and that is the main component for me!

I have been in a Ryan Adams and U2 mood lately.  Polar opposites, but both are speaking to me.  I have had no time for myself lately, so that means no reading, no quietness.  I am hoping to score some today as i head up to the 500 year old Turkish lookout tower above our city.  I will let you know if i have any revelations…

Here are some things I am missing back home…my lady, our garden, and our new pet living under the stoop…

Save me a spot on Franklin Street!

So i read Sunday that all three players from UNC that declared for the draft have taken their names out of consideration and are returning back next year.  A college athlete is allowed to do this if they do not hire an agent.  All three players who declared early, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green worked out with NBA teams and more than likely were told this is not the best year for them to come out.

Good news in Tar Heel land!  With all of their returning starters back from the 2008 Final Four run, my Heels will be the team to look out for in the 08-09 season. Lawson does have a DUI charge to sift through now and I hope that proper punishment is handed down.  And once we move past that bone head mistake, I am intrigued to see what kind of run the Heels can put together next season!  Oh sweet Carolina Blue…

I Likea Do The ChaCha Like A Sissy Girl…

So Tomo introduced me to this new phenomenon called chacha.com.  I am now a chacha guide!  People send in questions via text messages to 242242 and guides get an alert with the question.  We search online for reliable answers from reliable sites and send them back to the user’s phone.  Check it out!

Also, there was a small earthquake in Livno tonight.  It was my first one.  I have heard rumors of earthquakes here, but they always happen in the middle of the night.  Well, I got my wish as around 10 PM, the ground around me began shaking.  Even to the point where the lamp in my living room rattled against the wall.  Of course this was no big deal in the realm of earthquakes, but it definitely changed my perspective on them.  To be able to literally feel the ground below me moving was crazy.  There are still little tremors shaking even now, but I feel strangely safe.  I can still fall asleep tonight.  It may have to do with me being butt tired.  I am trying to stay up to talk to my fiance, but I am fading fast.  A 6 hr time difference is hard on a relationship.  But its so dang worth it!  She is so dang worth it!

Croatia moves on into the 2nd round of the Eurocup!

With a lackluster win against Austria and then a huge 2-1 win against the Eurocup favorite Germany, Croatia came into their 3rd first round game against Poland with a number one seed within their grasp. They secured their appearance into the second round with the win against Germany, so Slaven Bilić, Croatia’s coach, decided to field his second string team to rest the starters and prevent them from getting more yellow cards and possibly having to miss future games. We were all a little nervous at halftime as the score was 0-0. With a win, Croatia’s opponent would go from an 11th ranked Portugal to a 20th ranked Turkey. The bar Josh and I watched the game in erupted when in the 53rd minute Klasnić scored from inside the box on a pass from Danijel Pranjić. The game finished 1-0 an Croatia moved on as the first undefeated team in the Eurocup first round. Next up: Turkey on Friday night!

Turkey had an impressive come from behind victory against the Czech Republic on Sunday night. Turkey was down 2-0 until the 75th minute when Arda Turan struck from within the box delivered by a teammate’s cross. That is when the drama began. Right after that goal, the Croatian announcer said, this might be interesting. And it was! Turkey became aggressive and in the 87th and 89th minute, Nihat Kahveci scored 2 goals to put Turkey into the driver seat. It was a great first round finale for these two teams, but only one team was allowed to go on. So sorry to the Czech fans out there…

Looking ahead. Croatia will have their work cut out for them. Croatia has been good at marking one to two strikers for their opponents, but Turkey has 3 really decent strikers. Hopefully they can mark them all and make another midfielder come up to take shots. Croatia should have some well rested players to go up against this emotionally charged Turkish team, but sometimes that can backfire as the rested players come out lackadaisical to start. Turkey needs to be mindful of Luka Modrić as he has been doing a superb job of drawing a lot of defenders in and dumping the ball off to Ivica Olić and Mladen Petrić. Modrić has stepped up way since the loss of Eduardo, Croatia’s imported Brazilian who went down with a broken ankle in a club game in February. Croatia has a great chance of winning the Eurocup this year and each game from here on out will be win or go home. So we will see how they take on that pressure. History has proven itself against them in big, do or die games. But I have confidence Bilić has them believing something different. Either way I will be at Cafe Otok watching the game and cheering on the Red and White!