Raider Nation - It's Time To Man Up

My boys are 2 - 5.  I thought they'd be 3 -4 after last week with a good chance of being .500 going into their bye week the week after next.  Staring at a losing record a seventh season in a row.  This is horrific.  The Raiders may have been mediocre since their last Bowl win but they haven't losers.  Double-digit losers at that.  That's where they are headed this year.  Wow.

Like Bill Romo says, we need a team that flies around and makes plays.  He played with HOF Ronnie Lott.  He said Ronnie Lott would never allow that debacle.  He would make sure every one held themselves accountable.

Now one muthafucka who thinks his shit doesn't stink is Jamarcus Russell.  Everyone else is holding himself accountable.  The one muthafucka who needs to hold himself accountable is the quarterback.  He needs to recognize that he's fucking up just as much as the other folks he's accusing of fucking him up.

I think it would help the team for him to bang his chest and say it's on me.  For him to point fingers is a bitch move.  He's proving to be a bitch.  Not just in his play but in his post-game comments.

Like Romo, I want to see some excitement.

Raider Nation - Time to Abandon Ship

Maybe with the victory over the Eagles and the dismissal of charges against Tom Cable, the Raiders thought they'd won the Super Bowl.  But then we're not even at the half-way point of the season.  So how do you figure to go back to your suck-ass ways and win?  Really?  Isn't there a definition of insanity that says Insanity is doing things the same way while expecting different results?

What's up with these cats?  I just don't get them - at all!  I wish I could get a refund for the NFL Sunday Ticket because I don't need it anymore.  The Raiders suck.  In fact, as a Raiders fan, I may have to find a building.  Any ideas about one where I can install a dive board?

Jamarcus, the number one pick holdout with 31 mil guaranteed dollars?!  Either the brotha's not getting it or he doesn't care enough to get better.  This offseason Cable hinted as much.  It's evident he has not worked hard enough on the passing game or developing timing with his receivers.  He is vastly overweight.  He has no pocket awareness.  He keeps making horribly stupid decisions with the ball.  And he has not held himself accountable for his horrible play. 

But for the game, what the hell is going on?  First play, he fumbles and puts the defense on the four?  Defense put up a gallant goal line defense.  Not the first time they did it either.  Then he throws a horrific interception that gets returned to the four.  Defense is backed up again?! That's 14 easy points in the first quarter within the first four possessions.  Come on, Jamarcus!

It's not solely on Jamarcus though.  His coach, the play-caller, isn't giving him ANY help.  The fumble?  Why is that a pass play on the first offensive call of the game deep in your own territory with jitterish, inaccurate qb?  You have as much to blame with the horrible start as your qb.

In football, playing defense takes up much more energy than playing offense.  If the offense keeps playing for a couple of minutes with no yards, no first downs, and no points, what the hell is the defense going to do?  Now if you're the Ravens with special kind of players, then you keep it close.  The Raiders play with small balls on both sides of the ball.

As Bill Romo said, the Raiders lack passion, intensity, and excitement when they play.  This is the worse I have seen the Raiders play in my 35 years as a fan.  2006?  That was horrific offense, but it was pretty much no o-line play. 

This year?  It's no o-line play, no linebacker play, no receiver play, no runningback play, negative backwards, assholic quarterback play, no secondary play, no pass rush play, no offensive play-calling play, no defensive coaching play, no personnel play, no drafting play, no goddamn play.

I hate this product.  Even the coach sounds defeated.  But what can he do?  The owner has an outdated philosophy with outdated schemes hoping that outdated profiles of certain players will fit.  Football players that are great athletes will help the Raiders.  I like the drafting philosophy of the Steelers, Chargers, Giants, and other teams above the Raiders.  Jamarcus?  Might be a bust if he doesn't get his mind and weight right.  DHB?  No hands or receiving sensibility.  McFadden?  Always hurt.

We need some passion, intensity, and excitement.  And some football intelligent play from the passing game.  A hardcore run would help, too.  Knocking the shit outta someone on defense would set a tone as well.  Otherwise, this shit really sucks.

Raider Nation - Excitement!!

In the immortal words of PE's Flavor Flav, yeah bbooyyyy!!!!!!  Finally, some fucking excitement on Sunday.  Line-muthafucking-backers.  A goddamn blitz!  Some real professional football!

Jamarcus moved around and got rid of the ball quickly and smartly.  Justin Fargas ran violently.  Make-shift o-line blocked.  D-line whupped ass!!  And the linebackers played like line-fucking-backers.

Better play-calling today, too.  The coaches gave Jamarcus a chance to make some plays.

And the defensive coaches stepped it up with the calls.  Blitz!  Thank you.  Welcome to the 21st century.  Al, leave the defensive staff alone.  Blitzing, zone, zone blitz - it worked!  That 1960s, 70s man on man single safety defense can only be part of the package - unless and until you get back Mike Haynes, Lester, Jack Tatum, Rod Martin, Ted Hendricks, Mike Davis, Lyle Alzado, Otis Sistrunk, Howie Long, Bill Pickel, etc.  But let the coaches coach!  Especially on defense!

The Jets are next.  I think we can get in that azz.  The Chargers after that.  We were already in that azz first game of the season.  We might just turn this season around.

HU Homecoming Tears

It looks like I'm about to miss my peeps for the first time since '04.  And it hurts.  I get my Black on when we go to DC.  That's really more home to me than Denver.  All my peeps are there.  To be honest, I really hate living in Denver.  I only live here for love of family.

But my other family - my HU family - I miss.  Roll call: Bob Nunes, Angela Acree, Rudy Acree, Bernard Parks, Robin Smith Rose, Beverly Bains, Antonio, Ernie Champelle ("Fuck you, Soccer Boy!"), Tim Eure, Toya Watts, Lisa Beal, Donald Temple, Chris Cathcart, Petey Cooke, Manotti Jenkins, Howard Hamilton, Mike Bell, Ray Spears, Tiffane White, Tiffany Hamilton, Marc Joyner, Jonny Malone, Chill, Beano, it's getting too many to call, and all the fine-azz sistas from back in the day that wouldn't talk to me, or was it the other way around?  I'll tell you what, I was in love anyway and still am.  Sorry Angel.

HU Homecoming the preeminent Black event.  I hate missing it.

Raider Nation Is Getting Served - And Not In A Good Way, Pt. 5

The Giants' game.  Or as Antonio Pierce put it, "the scrimmage."  Where the Raiders played like some fat, wet, tight pussy, i.e. getting fucked with enthusiasm.  Or better yet, tackling dummies for a team playing like Super Bowl Champions.

It was the first time I turned off a Raider game prior to the ending.  I mean I have sat thru some ugly games.  Everytime they lost to the hated Broncos has been painful.  Real painful.  I've sat thru some lopsided losses, too.  The AFC Championship in Buffalo where the game started at 9a PST.  I was brewed up by then but quickly the high was blown so that by 10a I needed a nap.  But I stayed up until the bitter end.  Then crashed hard - real hard.

The most humiliating thing was sitting thru the Super Bowl where they lost to Tampa Bay.  I was at a Super Bowl party.  Surrounded by Bronco fans and they were in my ear the whole time.  There was a kid (he wasn't exactly a kid just younger than me) sitting behind right ear hollering every time the Bucs did some cool shit (which was like every other minute).  I wanted to whup his ass.  And it would've been very easy. But taking the Raiders' loss out on him and his exuberance in said loss, especially pursuant to several tequila shots, would've been unseemly.

Which brings me to now.  I really can't stand watching the Raiders.  I mean, I'm a lover of football.  And the Raiders rule my football watching universe.  But they are fucking that universe up right now.  It's like going to a tittie bar, and your favorite dancer showing up with shit in her thong all the time.  You gonna allow her to lap dance?

The Raiders under Art Shell and Tom "Bed & Breakfast" Walsh directed an unspeakably bad offense in 2006.  But you sort of knew what you were in store for at the time because the whole offseason was a comedy of errors.

This year was full of youthful promise.  But, goddamn!  This shit is really fucking bad.   Jamarcus needs to step up.  The line needs to block.  And the receivers need to hang onto the ball.  But offense-bashing is reserved for another post.  This post is reserved for the defense.

The linebackers suck asshole and have for quite sometime now.  I know people extol the speed of Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison in the passing game.  Fuck the passing game.  How about stopping the run?  That's really supposed to be an lb's thing.  Knocking the snot outta a running back when he crosses the line of scrimmage.  Stopping the run is the essence of football.  Listening to pads crack and helmets explode at the line of scrimmage is what gets the dick hard.  A "whooo" hit at the line of scrimmage or behind it bespeaks the primitive nature of contact.  Observing the mano a mano competition is what ignites our salivation glands.

The Raiders are not competing on defense.  The safeties shouldn't be making tackles 12 yards down the field.  The linemen can stand up the o-line.  But the linebackers are supposed to crash the gaps and knock the shit outta the ball-carrier.

Instead, they miss the ball carrier.  That would be okay if they at least knocked the shit outta a blocker..  They're not even doing that.  They are receiving the contact.  You're a linebacker and you're receiving, as opposed to delivering, contact?!  Linebackers are supposed to be the most wild-eyed crazy muthafuckas on your team.  And they aren't knocking the shit outta people on the regular?  They are nice guys with speed?   Man, fuck that!  I need some excitement.  Knock the shit outta somebody even if you don't make the tackle.  I want to hear "Whoooommm!" at the line of scrimmage.  Betcha the guard or fullback won't be so bold next time.

Tackling is about attitude and shoulders on the correct side of the body.  You cannot grab.  You must collide.

When I played football, I was used as an example of the correct way to tackle. Because I attacked with head across the body. I drove through the ball-carrier.  And I finished off the tackle by grabbing the ball-carrier behind his kneecaps pulling his legs up and stopping his momentum.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I didn't make that textbook tackle everytime, but when I did, it was a thing of beauty.  My protege, David Tate, went to the pros following that technique.

The Raiders defense is the grabbingnest team right now.  Reminds me of that Vince Lombardi clip from NFL Films.  "Everybody's grabbing out there!  Grab! Grab! Grab!!!"  Fuck grabbing.  Hit some-goddamn-body!  Let's inject some excitement into the game!  Knock the shit outta somebody!

Al has his theories about defense.  Steve Young ridiculed those theories the first game of the season, rightfully so.  But if that's what you want Al, recognize you need some crazed maniac at linebacker because you don't have Rod Woodson, Ronnie Lott, or Jack Tatum to create fear anymore.  I know you don't value linebackers in the grand scheme of things - thinking four powerful d-lineman and cover corners will dominate.  It ain't like that anymore, dawg.  You need linebackers.  Even when you had Lester and Mike Haynes, you had Rod Martin, Ted Hendricks, and Matt Millen holding it down at linebacker.  Linebackers and the strong safety define the toughness of your defense - not your d-line and cornerbacks.

You need ass-kickers on defense.  Who's your ass-kicker on that side of the ball?   Nnamdi?  He's an artist.  You need a thug.  Who's your thug?

We don't have a thug on our roster.  Which explains the problem with Al.  He's used to having thugs on his roster so the X's and O's weren't a big deal.  No thugs.  We need some attention to detail.  Or some thugs.  A blend might bring us back to respectability.

Al, I know you used to be a football genius.  Re-read the phase "used to be."  I just told you what's missing.  Hire my ass.  I need a job anyway.  In the interim, the linebackers need to grab their nuts and let's go!!!

Happy Indigenous People Day

I don't know if I like that title.  I tried to think of a better one.  I didn't want to say "Fuck Columbus Day" because ... well just because.  So maybe Un-Happy Columbus Day?  Point not driven home enough.  I wanted to flip the whole Columbus Day thing to give the Indigenous Peoples (a.k.a Indians, American Indians, Native Americans, etc.) some due for all they've been through since Columbus washed up on the shores of the Bahamas.  I didn't want it to sound so much like a celebration because it's probably more a day of mourning for them.  But I figured some upliftment could do little harm.  Hence, the title.

As a child, you go through school and take the history lessons they give you.  My father turned the whole thing upside down when I was in the first grade.  I came home talking about Abraham Lincoln.  He immediately retorted, "Abraham Lincoln was a fake!"  That fucked me up because I swore they talked about how great he was earlier.  But I took what he was saying as true.  A little while later, I flipped through this book he had lying around called The Autobiography of Malcolm X.  The original hard-back version (which has been stolen from me by Anasa King - yeah I called you out, give me my book back!) with the photos in the middle.

That distrust carried over to Christopher Columbus, especially after I heard the Dick Gregory joke about his discovering America.  Nevertheless, I was fascinated, as a young child, by those tales of the explorers coming over here in search of all this gold.

Flash forward to my law school experience in Los Angeles.  I worked at this fascinating bookstore, Eso Won Books.  During my time there, I became a Derrick Bell freak.  I had them order me a copy of Race, Racism, and the American Law.  One of the two owners, James Fugate and Thomas Hamilton, not sure which one, suggested that if I liked that book, I should check Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.  So I did.

That first chapter blew me away.  It spoke about Columbus in a deep way.  Such as he couldn't wait to enslave the Arawaka tribe that resided there.  That his first impulse was to capture and control the people there.  That he felt that he could get them to tell him where the illusory gold treasures were.  How the concept of enslaving nonwhite peoples may have been born during this time. 

And capture and torture he did.    Then he went back to Spain.  Lied and exaggerated about how he found a land plentiful of gold.  Brought back sixteen thousand troops with him and they commenced to invading the Caribbean Islands in search of gold treasures they would not find.  Meanwhile, rape, torture, and pillage they did - on large scale (sound familar?)  A pattern was born.

As Zinn points out, "What Columbus did to the Arawaks of the Bahamas, Cortes did to the Aztecs of Mexico, Pizarro to the Incas of Peru, and the English settlers of Virginia and Massachusetts to the Powhatans and Pequots."  All of these explorers' tales that fascinated me as a child were turned upside down.  I didn't appreciate that those stories were told from the conquerors' perspective.  The flip-side was a different perspective to the stories.

The conquerors' perspective filters down today with a national holiday named after a maniac and liar.  As a result, we label different tribes of people "Indians."  There are over 400 nations of people who we refer to as Indians.  We don't call white people Europeans.  We refer to them by their nationality - English, French, German, Italian, Greek, etc.  How do we disrespect a people so badly but demand the same respect by something as simple yet significant as calling them by their proper name?

It filters down today with the mythology of the Old West and how it was "won."  In many and most movies that are Westerns, we are seeing played out the stories from the conquerors' perspective.  The Indians are the bad guys when it was their land the U.S. settlers were taking?

Think about the terminology - settlers.  Notice how settlers don't want to share but just demand that what they've taken is rightfully theirs? (Sound familiar?)  And if you disagree with giving it to them, they will kill you.

Another word emblematic to the so-called holiday - "discovery."  Like Dick Gregory joked, how do you discover what's already there?  Sure from your perspective, it's a "discovery" because it's new to you.  But in the context of Columbus, it's as if he found a land that suddenly appeared out of the blue, which has been equated to a great deed.  As it pertains to the concept of a flat earth (think about how limited you must be in your thinking to seriously believe the world was flat), he might deserve some recognition.  But for "discovering America?"  No.  Hell no.

It filters down today when Leonard Peltier is still sitting in a federal prison for a crime credible evidence suggests he didn't commit.  But because he found it necessary to fight physical and mental genocide of his people via membership in the American Indian Movement, he remains in a federal prison.

It filters down today when Professor Ward Churchill loses his job for exercising Freedom of Speech about 9/11.  The issue became so convoluted with twists about true "Indian" heritage to plagiarism to tenureship at a State university that you knew it was a fuckery.

Back to Columbus, don't take my word for it.  Pick up a copy of Zinn's book and read the first chapter.  If you cannot afford one (not unusual in this economy), the library is still free.  All you need is a library card. 

But Columbus Day, or Happy Indigenous People Day, is just a paid day off.  It's not a reason to celebrate.

Doghouse, Pt. 2

Ladies, want to train your partner?  Try some silent treatment and a cross-your legs strike.  That will make a muthafucka think about the fucked-upness of his tone and actions. 

Be nice to everyone else.  Get on the phone and laugh with your peoples, especially your girlfriend.  Sports will be on, brew will be cracked, and food will be tasting good.  But the whole time the steam will rise.  "What the hell is so fucking funny?"

Then the inevitable question arises, "What's up?"  But the silent treatment and cross-your-legs strike makes you ponder.

So what happens next?  You clean up the crib the way she wants you to.  Then you cook some real hip meal.  Candles you pass in the store, you buy and not just buy but light up.  You wash and fold the laundry.  You shave.

So you ponder your next move because the mouth doesn't open to you and the legs remain closed.

You shampoo the carpet.  Take the car to the car wash in the middle of the night.  Buy the favorite wine.  Buy a flower bouquet that's not too old.

Not a word, and the legs remain clamped.

You buy a card.  Write an apology.  She remains as upbeat as ever with the world.  But you?  Uhhh ....

So now you start 'fessing up to shit you didn't know you did wrong.  Not a word, but a raised eyebrow.

No more beer in the fridge, sports is off, and she doesn't like the tv to be on while she sleeps.  Oh, and she's wearing four pairs of sweats, by now.

So you put on headphones and play some Antonio Carlos Jobim and EWF to lighten your mood.  Somehow that doesn't work.

Like a bad hangover - time and water.

Doghouse

Sometimes you get placed in there    Sometimes you retire to it voluntarily.  I have my blanket and pillow.  We all have issues.  Sometimes love and understanding can't come quickly enough.  Sometimes time and space help with resolution.  I'm not mad.

Apologies

We love the thought of controlling our Universe.  It just doesn't work out like that.  A phone call can change your world.

I really was very excited about this week's radio show.  But I had to kill it.  It was that phone call.  We won't disclose the call and we should respect privacy.  Part of it had to do with my sloppiness in not keeping up with notes.   For that, I apologize from the bottom of my heart because we don't usually get that loose with information.

But some other stuff surfaced and we didn't have the energy to go off the top of our head.  Again, sorry because if you know me that off the top of the head stuff is my thing.

We will be back soon - maybe as soon as later tonight.  But the energy wasn't there for the show.  Sorry.

DeAng will be back in a BIG m-fing way.  Stay tuned.

Raider Nation Getting Served - And Not In A Good Way, Pt. 4

According to Boomer Esiason, Jamarcus has been fined heavily for being heavy and not showing up to meetings.

See what I'm trying to say?  But they cut Jeff Garcia.  I don't care if Garcia asked for his release.  He would not be released if Jamarcus was cutting up like that.  I'd be more inclined to cut Jamarcus' not willing to work fat ass.

The Raiders just aren't very exciting right now. 

Bench his fat lazy ass right now.  Let him see what's happening in the game from the fucking bench.  If that ain't motivation enough, then he ain't your quarterback.  But the team deserves better than this.

I don't get this.  Not at all.  I want to reject my Sunday Ticket package. 

Raider Nation Getting Served - And Not In A Good Way, Pt. 3

The Texans whupped that ass?!  Really?  The Raiders really are playing like pussies these days.  Not good pussy either.  Dried up not moving in rhythm pussy.  This is shit!  Real shit.  And it's now coming down to coaching.

I don't understand the Raiders program.  At all.  Jamarcus looked like he was trying to to play better.  But that's the problem.  He looked like he tried.  Fuck "try."  How about "accomplish."  "Try" is what training camp is about.  "Try" is practice. 

I like Cable but he is quickly exposing himself as an assistant coach.  Unfortunately, he's the Raiders head coach.  I thought 2006 was awful, and it was.  But this is very frustrating to watch.  I'm unemployed with the NFL Sunday Ticket.  Specifically to watch the Raiders.  I need a refund at this point.

The Raiders should be 4 - 0 heading into the teeth of their schedule.  Instead, they are 1 - 3.  And looking as if they are not committed to playing any level of ball.  I mean, they look real lackadaisical.  Is there any team playing with any leisurely?  They don't hit anybody.  They catch the contact rather than initiating it.  Jack Tatum and Ronnie Lott would never settle for the way these guys play defense.

Offense is offensive.  They don't block.  They can't catch.  They can't throw.  They can't call plays.  Is this a pro team?  I'd rather watch college ball than the Raiders right now. 

Let's not mince words right now.  The Raiders suck.  They are not close.  Until some passion is injected into the team, they will continue to suck.  The scheme is outdated.  The youth movement hurts the eyes.  They obviously aren't practicing well because what you do in practice is what you do in the game.  And the games are sloppy.  They are very unexciting to watch.  This is shit football.  Not the shit but horrid shit.

Oh, and by the way, the Broncos are 4 - 0.

Raider Nation Service - It Sucks and Not in the Way You Think

So Jeff Garcia ain't coming back.  Boy, I such high hopes for him coming back.  Jamarcus ain't getting it done.  Maybe he will. 

Having DirectTv, I have the NFL Sunday Ticket specifically to catch all the Raider games.  Beats going to a sports bar.  With TiVo, I can really study what's going on with the Raiders.  Like Bill Romanowski says, these guys just don't excite you when they play ball.  They don't beat the shit outta people, which to me is the essence of football.  Jack Tatum?  Was handing your lunch to you every game.  I know he made people hate playing eh Raiders.  Nowadays?  M-fs can't wait to play the Raiders so they can pad their stats.  We need a Troy Polomalu, a  Ray Lewis, another Ronnie Lott, someone back there to intimidate the team's offensive personnel.

Most of all, we need a quarterback.  As nostalgic as we get about Jim Plunkett, he sucked most of the time.  Rich Gannon was the shit though.  And we need another Rich Gannon.  Someone who might be an asshole but who worked hard and made sure everyone else worked hard.  Jamarcus ain't getting it right now.  Not saying he can't be that guy or get there.  But time's a wasting.  And Al is 80 years old and counting.

Which brings me to Al and Rich Gannon.  That was some real cheap shots Al took at Rich when Rich made, what I think, are valid criticisms of Jamarcus.  "A journeyman who fucked up the Super Bowl?"  Al, Rich was a diamond in the rough everywhere he went .  He didn't get the chance to be what he could be until you gave him a chance under your famous last chance umbrella.  I'm sure he's thankful, but you can't give a guy a chance and then spit on him because you gave him that chance.  You look bitter when you do that.

I know you'd rather be right than consistent.  But that shit with Gannon is a gash on your soul.  And because you tie everything up in the team, that means the fans' collective karma has to overcome your bullshit. 

So Jeff Garcia comes in here hoping to restore the luster on the Silver and Black, but you shut off that opportunity because you want Jamarcus to shine.  Jamarcus ain't working hard enough to get it done.  Why haven't you shown him similar harshness?  Get that fat m-f to ball up and make our investments outta our pennies worth it.

We're really getting sick of your experiment.  You haven't been right in a while, Al.  We love you, but you have to develop a new game plan, okay?  Apologize to Jeff and Rich, and let's get this thing going back in the direction we love.

Don't Ask Me To Go To Church

"Religion fucked a lotta people up." - Richard Pryor

I really don't get folks who ask me to go to church with them and then get hurt and/or offended when I say no.  Now, at the risk of offending some of my church-going friends - some of whom are church officials, I don't plan on going to church unless it's a wedding. 

My mother, who faithfully goes every Sunday, stopped asking me.  My father-in-law tried to twist my arm to go this Sunday because it's his birthday.  We can have a cake and cook some food over here.  But I'm not going to church.  Sorry, and I would appreciate if you wouldn't put me in an awkward position like that again.

Half the time when parents want you to go, it's because people in their congregation ask them, "Where's your family?"  So they feel this compulsion to produce evidence that they do, indeed, have a son or daughter or grandchildren.  The other half seems to be so they can show you off to their church friends.  Maybe those two are related.  And then there's the belief that they must help you avoid Hell, and they wouldn't be good parent if they didn't do that.  And if there's another category that doesn't fit the cynicism, I apologize for missing it.

What bothers me is how bothered I feel about saying no.  I don't feel like debating how my Soul needs Church to get into Heaven.  I don't necessarily believe in Heaven in the Sky or Hell Down Below After Death.  Heaven and Hell are right here right now, depending on what you're doing.  Unemployed like me for close to a year? Hell.  An explosive orgasm?  Pure Heaven.

Also, I don't believe I need to go to church to find salvation.  I don't even need the Bible to find Salvation.  I believe if you are true to yourself and others, and you treat others as you wish to be treated, you're a long way towards God.  Maybe that's simplistic for some folks.  But I believe the lessons you learn in church are variations on those themes, albeit with more detail in various directions and branches from those directions.

Don't get me wrong.  There may be some utility in church for some people.  I'm just not one of them.  I used to go to church when I was a young man.  I got what I feel I need out of it.  Unless I want a musical show and to watch the original form of rapping, I'd rather stay home and watch football.

Part of my problem with church is demarcation.  The Saved versus the Need-to-Be Saved.  It's almost a moral elitism based on church attendance but then fraught with hypocrisy by the actions outside of the church. 

In some instances, it's the intolerance for other moral or religious philosophies.  I don't believe there is only one way to the Creator.   And anyone who says with complete conviction that there is only one way and that's through church, let the Sun stop shining on that person because that's ludicrous.  We may all feel we have found the answer for ourselves, but we have not found what works for others.  Rather than preach, it might be better if we teach based on our experiences, and what we learned from them. 


But this vibe that one feels it's his/her duty to ask you to come to church is officious.  I don't ask you to come to a bar for a drink, do I?  Why?  Because you might tell me you don't drink.  I'm not going to come down on you for that because that's where you are in your life.  Please don't come down on me for not attending church.

Now, if the contents of this post have offended anyone, please pray on it or for me.  In the meanwhile, enjoy yourself at church while I watch the Raiders.  In fact, while you're at it, pray for Jamarcus.  I might have to.