What's Going on Here?

July 31, 2007
1:24 p.m.

By: Joshuah Ellis

I will be the first to tell you that what you are about to read is more along the lines of a tangent rather than an article. To be quite honest, after being away from the website for a while, I return to the front lines a bit annoyed to say the least. I am simply unaware why, in spite of all that is going on in this country, we as the American people seem to be so obsessed with such idiocy. Most people seem to have no problem complaining about our country or our government, and it is quite irksome that their righteous anger is put on the back burner because a new episode of ''Lost'' comes on. Don't misunderstand me, I like ''Lost'' just as much as the next guy. I just don't understand why the majority of our focus, as a country, seems to be on things that don't matter.

If you were to turn on CNN right now, you would most likely hear a few tidbits about the recent democrat debate and the upcoming republican debate, but that would be short lived because of the breaking news that Paris Hilton was spotted at Starbucks. For sobbing out loud, I just turned on CNN (I felt I might be acting to hastily and I wanted to make sure there is validity to my writing) and the headline was a YouTube contest where the winner gets to be P. Diddy's personal assistant and hold his umbrella for him. COME ON PEOPLE! ARE YOU KIDDING?

I guess my main question about all this is, ''who cares?'' Who cares if Lindsey Lohan is arrested at a club in L.A. with drugs on her person Even I know that's not news! Have we forgotten that there are elections coming up? Have we neglected to realize that our country is on the verge of a turning point with the left pushing abortion and gay marriage and idiots like Michael Moore trying to communize your healthcare? We cannot be so immature to think that these things will not matter for us, can we? Of course, if that is true, I am sure that way of thinking will be changed when we are being herded through the doctors office like cattle after having been on a 6 month waiting list for a flu shot. Please, stop me when I start to sound bitter.

I am sure I will reap plenty of criticism for posting this and I am ready for it, but first, let me say that I am not demanding anything different than that which would be expected in our spiritual lives. I simply demand it under secular circumstances. Paul tells us to keep our mind on things above and not on things of the earth (Colossians 3:1-4). Does this mean that we cannot ever think about things of a secular nature? No, but it does teach us that which we should deem most important. We should put our time and energy into the things that matter most, and let the rest of it fall to the wayside.

I realize that this sounds quite critical, but let me assure you, this is something that I plan to work on as well. I would encourage us all to reprioritize if necessary. Ask yourself, what is most important in your life. Then, ask yourself what should be most important. If they are not the same, make them so. ''{1} Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, {2} looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God'' (Hebrews 12:1-2).

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