"The Book of Daniel" premiered on NBC last night amid a bit of controversy. It seems to have the collective panties of the religious Right in a bunch. Just look at the hate-spewing garbage the "Talibangelists" The American Family Association is spreading: NBC Affiliate Says No To 'Book of Daniel' Other local affiliates bombarded with phone calls, having second thoughts about carrying the program. Terre Haute, Indiana, NBC affiliate WTWO has become the first station to announce that it will not carry the anti-Christian program The Book of Daniel. We urge you to call your local NBC affiliate and ask them to join WTWO in not carrying the program. Please call today and ask others to call. The phone calls do make a difference! Click Here to read a review of the show by AFA's Ed Vitagliano, who has viewed the entire premiere episode of NBC's The Book of Daniel. AFA has also learned that NBC is having trouble securing sponsors for the program. It appears that NBC will be forced to fill the available ad spots with "distressed merchandise" ads which are sold at pennies on the dollar of the going rate, and with "make good" ads which bring in no money to the network. Please call local companies which advertise on your NBC affiliate and ask the local advertisers in a nice way to cancel their advertising on the local affiliate if it carries the program. It is time to make our voice heard at NBC that we will not long remain silent about their anti-Christian bigotry. Here is what NBC considers to be a positive portrayal of Christians and Christianity: The program's main characters include Daniel Webster, a drug-addicted Episcopal priest; his alcoholic wife; his son, a 23-year-old homosexual Republican; his daughter, a 16-year-old drug dealer; a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter; his lesbian secretary who is sleeping with his sister-in-law; and a very unconventional white-robed, bearded Jesus who talks to the priest. It is written by Jack Kenny, a practicing homosexual who describes himself as being "in Catholic recovery," and is interested in Buddhist teachings about reincarnation and isn't sure exactly how he defines God and/or Jesus. "I don't necessarily know that all the myth surrounding him (Jesus) is true," he said. Finally, join nearly 500,000 individuals who have already emailed NBC about their anti-Christian bigotry. Click here to send your email. AND PLEASE FORWARD TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS! WE CAN WIN THIS BATTLE IF WE ALL WILL GET INVOLVED! Sincerely, Don Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman American Family Association

I shouldn't be very surprised that here in my home state of Indiana, the NBC affiliate in Terre Haute will not carry the show. This isn't exactly the most gay-friendly place to live. But I am thinking the so-called Christians need to check out what is going on in their own back yard:

Tulsa pastor arrested on lewdness accusation

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An executive committee member of the Southern Baptist Convention was arrested on a lewdness charge for propositioning a plainclothes policeman outside a hotel, police said. Lonnie Latham, senior pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church, was booked into Oklahoma County Jail Tuesday night on a misdemeanor charge of offering to engage in an act of lewdness, police Capt. Jeffrey Becker said. Latham was released on $500 bail Wednesday afternoon. Latham, who has spoken out against homosexuality, asked the officer to join him in his hotel room for oral sex. Latham was arrested and his 2005 Mercedes automobile was impounded, Becker said. Calls to Latham at his church were not immediately returned Wednesday. The arrest took place in the parking lot of the Habana Inn, which is in an area where the public has complained about male prostitutes flagging down cars, Becker said. The plainclothes officers was investigating these complaints. The lewdness charge carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Latham is one of four Southern Baptist Convention executive committee members from Oklahoma. He spoke out last year against a measure, ultimately approved by voters, to expand tribal gaming. He has also spoken out against same-sex marriage and in support of a Southern Baptist Convention directive urging its 42,000 churches to befriend gays and lesbians and try to convince them that they can become heterosexual "if they accept Jesus Christ as their savior and reject their 'sinful, destructive lifestyle." The Southern Baptist Convention is the nation's largest Protestant denomination. Jan. 04, 2006

I'd have to say that all in not well and these "Talibangelists" live in glass houses. You know how the saying goes...."Those who live in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones."

This show just is not controversial in the ways I might have expected. But somehow, I thought controversial would be Jesus saying liberal stuff. Not the priest saying it. Who cares what a priest says! Who's he anyway? Seriously, I just have never really "got" that. Why one human would be so incredibly respected. It's more like you're supposed to respect everybody. Not just the man who gets paid to talk to you. I don't think priests or pastors (or whatever your particular religion calls them)is above any of the rest of us. They are mere mortal, just like you and I- with the same faults and foibles as the rest of us.

I felt that the show was a little over done but I appreciate the real issues that it dealt with and the portrayal of Jesus as a loving best friend, and not a fireball throwing vengeful deity. I suppose I was expecting more of a "Six Feet Under" feel to the show. I miss that show, but perhaps that is too much to hope for with network TV.

I've been thinking a lot recently about Christianity and will cover my thoughts on that in an upcoming post.

I just started reading "A Million Little Pieces" last night. It is an interesting book, easy to read, yet sometimes hard to read what the author has to write. As I'm not (nor have I ever been) an addict- the concepts in this book are hard to grasp. Yet, somehow, his emotions, his fury, his trials and tribulations are all wholly relatively.

"I want a drink. I want fifty drinks. I want a bottle of the purest, strongest, most destructive, most poisonous alcohol on Earth. I want fifty bottles of it. I want crack, dirty and yellow and filled with formaldehyde. I want a pile of powder meth, five hundred hits of acid, a garbage bag filled with mushrooms, a tube of glue bigger than a truck, a pool of gas large enough to drown in. I want something anything whatever however as much as I can." One of the most harrowing sections for me to read is when James willingly submits to major dental surgery without the benefit of anesthesia or painkillers. He fights the mind-blowing waves of "bayonet" pain by digging his fingers into two old tennis balls until his nails crack off. He is strapped down to the dental chair to complete the two root canals. I've had several root canals myself and I cannot begin to fathom what James endured. I don't want to imagine. The saddest part of all, the pain in the dental office is minor compared to the rest of his miserable life. This poem begins the book:

I am not normally a political person. That isn't to say that I am not an opinionated person. I am. Today is the opening day for the Indiana State Legislature. There is a ban on "overtly-Christian" prayer. "Lawmakers are under a federal court order to keep all prayers non-sectarian. The prayer before the session begins cannot mention the name 'Jesus Christ.'" Speaker Brian Bosma (R - Indianapolis) explained his decision to the entire legislature "We are a nation of laws, even laws that we disagree with." http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=4318525 Please, is there nothing else more important this state can focus on this year?

What ever happened to Separation of Church and State? Isn't that a foundation on which this country was built?

I for one think that it is perfectly fine to not mention Jesus Christ in a State setting. Not everyone is a Christian- not everyone has to be a Christian and not everyone should be made to participate in a Christian prayer. Just because Christians are in the majority in this area does not allow us to force our agenda on those who are not Christian. Tonight on the news there was an opponent of the prayer issue. She was carrying on about "rebuking all the liberals". Is it being suggested that if you are not a Christian you're going to burn in hell? What about all the Muslims, Buddhists, Jews who do not pray to Jesus Christ? How can any one judge millions of people in the world? It infuriates me and I find it extremely hypocritical that some of those who tout themselves as the most "Christian" are the first to condemn those who are not like themselves. Okay- I'll get off my soapbox now.

Wow, I have to admit that work was even worse than I anticipated it to be. Nothing like exceeding expectations, is there? I guess I am realizing how much I detest my job. It is unfufilling and unsatisfying to me. I know I need to change, but the thing is- I don't know what else I want to do. Besides, once you've done something for so long, the money is too good to give up. I have too many responsibilities in my life to do what I enjoy instead of do what pays the bills. I'm too tired to come up with something witty or deep tonight. That is too bad because I enjoy writing in here. It may be painful for me to think deeply and introspectively, but I need to do it. It is healing for me in some ways. It gets it out, gets it flowing. I figured out that I need to get it out so it doesn't fester in me anymore.

On a much lighter note- the tooth brush in the photo reminds me of one my mother had when I was a kid. Unfortunately (for her) I had a belly button obsession at the time. I found the sulcus rubber tip at the end was perfect for cleaning my belly button. I was one sick kid!

Why does life have to be so complicated? You think you know what you are doing, then -BAM- you find out you have no idea. I think it is easier when you were a kid- when you thought you knew everything and were naive and ignorant. Ignorance can be bliss, that is really true. Or, if not bliss, then blissfully uncomplicated. Which is just about as good. It is when you have to start examining things in life, really closely examining things- that is when everything you thought you knew (and actually didn't) goes flying right out the window. How do you know where to draw the line, when is enough introspection too much? I know that some is necessary and good- but too much and when is there time to live your life? "You twist to fit the mold that I am in" I've spent too much of my life twisting to fit the molds that were set out before me. I have a talent (if you want to call it that) of figuring out what is wanted of me and becoming exactly that thing. That doesn't leave much room for being what I want to be. It has been so long, my whole life really, I don't think I even know what, who, I want to be. Not most of the time. I am getting better at it though. It is easier for me to know what I don't want, how I don't want to be. One thing I do know is that I want to be accepted my my "differentness". That is what makes me special, what makes me- me. I've finally figured out I can't ever be what everyone wants. It will tear me apart into a million little pieces. But as I've spent years trying my best to give those around me what they want of me, the change can be quite upsetting to others. If you're used to me being one way (i.e. your way) and suddenly, I stop doing that- well, hell- THIS is a no good thing. For them anyhow.... So I am learning to deal with that. Not pleasing others. Figuring out what I want then figuring out how to get it. Talk about complicated....

Well, it is 2006. Hard to believe. Let's see how long it takes me to write the correct year on checks and things like that... Did you used to watch Rudolph's Shiny New Year when you were a kid? I know I did. I always hated that ugly buzzard Eon. Which is funny, because I named my sweet son Ian, which is awfully similar. Anyhow- I felt so sorry for Baby New Year. I could empathize with him. He and I have similar ears! Actually I had the nickname Baby New Year for a while just for that reason. Maybe that is why hats don't fit me very well. It isn't that I have a large head- I have large ears that make the hat not fit. I'm hoping that 2006 will be a good year. I don't really make New Years resolutions though. They seem silly to me. If I am wanting to change something, I can do that any day of the year- why wait until January 1st? I figure most people give up on their resolutions by February 1st anyhow. I'm happy to announce that all of my Christmas decorations are put away now. I hate un-decorating. I enjoy the decorating part. It is so depressing somehow. Really rather anticlimactic. Then there is the whole entire long dreary winter to get through. Personally, I am sick of the whole cold and snow thing by the time mid-January rolls around. I am a warm weather and sunshine type myself. I hate to be cold. So I spend most of the winter finding ways to stay warm. Tell me again why I live in the mid-west?