My Radio is Haunted by Rush Limbaugh and Other Thoughts...

No real agenda to tonight's post, just a little bit of randomness while I am home alone...

Rush
He really is haunting my radio. I was at work today, enjoying listening to ESPN the radio and secretly thinking to myself how much better on the radio I am than Colin Cowherd, when Rush Limbaugh invades my feed. Sports talk, static, "Terrell Owens is awful", more static, then all Rush. Pot-shots at the liberal media, a lot of yelling and sarcasm, hey, even he attacked T.O.! It soon became too much, so I switched to another sports station and about five minutes in a little static and BOOM, Rush and I are chatting again. Exasperated, I start flipping though the channels and realize that he is on EVERY other channel. Which begs the question, is he actually this popular or does a mini warrior for conservatism live in the stereo at Tesoro? Regardless, the omni-present Rush was giving me a headache, so I turned to FM, which apparently is his Kryptonite, cause I never heard from him again. Take that you sports ruining media mogul!

Green Day
I finally bought American Idiot today. I love it. I really do. This is the first Green Day CD I have listened to that I can see myself still digging when I am old and grey and need to buy a new copy of it on DNA injection disc. Yes the CD is angry, but for the first time in along time a rock band seems to be angry about something (in this case American culture [yes more than just politics]). Specifically their main issue seems to be the "your with us or you are a supporter of evil and tyranny" rhetoric flying all over the American landscape today. They represent a lot of people who feel squeezed out and ignored in today's world climate. And they are angry not only at the US government, but also Christianity. Wait, I am a Christian, so I guess that means I really like an album by a group that is mad at me. Well, yeah. I actually think Billie Joe and company would really like Jesus, if they ever got to really meet Him. They have a lot in common, first of all the guts to speak up, but most of all, they both seem to have a special place in their hearts for those on the outskirts of society. You know, the angry and the hurt ones. So why aren't Christians (me included) producing music, art, sermons, articles, etc that are hitting resonant frequency like Green Day is? Its are question, but one this album keeps leaving me with. That's a good thing. Sample lyric:

I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies

This is the dawning of the rest of our lives

On Holiday

Hear the drum pounding out of time

Another protester has crossed the line

To find the money's on the other side

Can I get another Amen? Amen!

Now do I agree with every theme in the CD? No. But can I relate to feeling like I am fighting a losing battle, and that choosing in truth is a hell of a lot harder than following the majority? Every Christian should. This CD is reminding me that living for truth is hard, and that we are blindsided with lies, sales pitches and worthless compromises all of the time. But we choose whether to cross the line or not. Personally, I am praying for courage and endurance in work for the Kingdom, that resembles what is found in this opera, not because Green Day is right in all that they say, but because they have the courage to say it. So I know truth, what good is it, if I lack courage and endurance?

Oh, and the CD sounds awesome. Pure emotion is poured into every song, the rock opera style fits the content perfectly. Buy it. Listen to the Dookie boys grow up.
Say what you will about contentious times that we live in, it has given the music scene a much needed kick in the butt. And I say "amen" to that.

Metal Gear Solid
Today I purchased the greatest game I have never played. Brought home, amazed at my luck to find it for five dollars. Quickly I unwrapped it, went to play it and realized that I needed a memory card that is no longer made in order to save it. You know how I felt? I felt like I was listening to sports radio and Rush Limbaugh just broke through a moment of static.