we can fix this stuff...if we would

if i understand things correctly, the high cost of gasoline could be resolved by doing the following:

1. build refineries. we haven't built a new on since 1976.
2. abolish or at least "hamstring" the epa. too many dumb rules that have are killing our ability to accomplish item no. 1
3. drill, drill, drill! if you have to punch right through a caribou's head, drill. (see item no. 2)
4. get on the oil/sands and synthetic fuels bandwagons.
5. get over ourselves. we don't NEED huge suv's and hummers. let's be honest--it's an ego thing.
6. demand better stewardship of the taxes that are collected on gasoline sales ($0.60 per gallon and better).

on to another topic that frustrates me: illegal immigration. this one seems pretty simple to me, too:

1. close the border. close it today!
2. make the process for becoming a citizen simple and streamlined for those that really want to become citizens.
3. require some kind of secure identification for those who have started the process of becoming citizens.
4. no driver's license, no free medical services (government funded), no free social services,(again, government funded) etc. for anyone not having proper identification.
5. children born to illegal parents should not automatically become citizens.
6. stiff penalties for employers knowingly hiring illegals.
7. call them what they are: ILLEGAL. until their status is changed thru the proper channels, they are not "undocumented workers" or "guest workers." the word guest implies "welcome and invited."
8. before you get all riled up and call me "hate monger," check out mexico's stance on illegal immigrants.
9. on an even more sarcastic note: tomorrow has been designated "a day without immigrants." should they actually stay home, i will enjoy at least one day not worrying about being hit by a non-insured, non-english speaking individual on his or her way to their "cash under the table, which means no taxes" job.

catching up

it's been a couple of weeks since i've written anything, so i figured i'd do some "catching up" tonight. i've been reading mark dever's the deliberate church. in the chapter doing responsible evangelism, dever writes:

many american churches have used entertainment-based methods of evangelism-theotainment, as it has been called by some- in sharing the gospel with both adults and children. with adults, it often takes the form of surveying target audiences and creating an evangelistic service in which everything from music to the sermon is geared toward making them feel comfortable- a "sit back and enjoy the show" approach. with children, it takes the form of youth groups or sunday schools that spend most of their time thinking up fun activites that will sneak the gospel in through the back door...remember-what you win them with is likely what you'll win them to. (pg 54)

on the local level and making dever's point, last week, i received a pamplet from a church, inviting me to their easter services. "exciting music and relevant, life-changing teaching from the bible as well as a special guest appearance by six-time world champion kickboxer, denny holzbauer make this a srevice you don't want to miss!" you know, i think i'll pass. i'm having a hard time making the connection between kickboxing and the resurrection of our Lord. the one sunday a year that some people will attend a church service and the one thing they'll probably remember---"man, that guy broke a board with his face!"

the past couple of weeks have been really hectic. meetings at work last week. a three-day sales meeting this coming week, for which i'm in charge of putting together a slide presentation. i'm also in the middle of designing my son's graduation announcements and working on our church's website. oh yeah, i'm also doing some contract programming for a trucking company in town. that should be done in a couple of weeks. graduation (son's) is the middle of may and after that, things should settle down.