photo credit: Tom Hagerty for Metro I4 News

Winter Haven Central Art Festival is a post from: Metro I-4 News

photo credit: SparkCBC

American Idol Result Part 1 of Too Many is a post from: Metro I-4 News

Last night the Top 12 performed the hits of the Rolling Stones….

8:00 PM Chuck: Very Stepford Wife look for Katie Stevens

8:01 PM Lorrie: when did they add an announcer other than Ryan?! Chuck: last year Lorrie: I don’t remember that, somehow

8:02 PM Chuck: They only have 450 fans in the audience? What is that hair on Sioban? Lorrie: I always thought there were THOUSANDS in that audience. How underwhelming, to have 450 fans in the studio.

8:04 PM Chuck: how far the Stones have fallen … Lorrie: you mean to wind up as an AI theme? Chuck: Yes

8:05 PM Lorrie: I feel that I may get blasted for this, but I’m not a Big Mike fan

Michael Lynche starts “Miss You”

8:07 PM Lorrie: well, after saying that, I already have to eat a bit of crow and say that I do like what he’s done with Miss You Chuck: Big Mike dances like Boy George

8:08 PM Lorrie: Every time I see him, I want to call him Refrigerator Mike. Chuck: they’re pushing hard to have a guy people like…

And we meet the judges for the first time tonight….

Lorrie: A 12-year-old boy is sitting in for Ellen tonight. Oh, wait. My bad, that IS Ellen.

Chuck: Wow, Simon cleaned up, he’s wearing a cardigan

8:10 PM Lorrie: I guess you called it on the dancing, Chuck. Simon agrees! It’s funny to hear a white guy call out a black guy’s dancing.

Chuck: Ryan is pissing on Simon’s feet to prove he’s the big dog…

8:11 PM Lorrie: Big Mike is as wide as Ryan is tall.

Chuck: first commercial…. Lorrie: and wouldn’t you know, it’s got an AI winner in it. Chuck: and then it’s Coke

8:17 PM Chuck: Man, the interviews are boring…much like my comments

Lorrie: word.

Didi Benami sings “Playing with Fire”

8:18 PM Lorrie: she’s impressive so far… Chuck: She’s trying to act like Mick Jagger.. lips wise

8:19 PM Lorrie: was just gonna say that when she tries, her mouth is almost as big as Mick’s…I think that high note was a bit of a struggle

Lorrie: wow…I did not see that coming from Randy

8:21 PM Lorrie: Didi makes “fire” two syllables. When I was 4, I made “hey” two syllables….Chuck: Van Morrison could make five syllables out of “Heaven” in “Jackie Wilson Said.”

Lorrie: Yeah, Simon talks about DiDi’s nerves and what nerves will do to you. Nerves? On this big stage in front of 450 people? She probably sang in front of more than that in church.

8:23 PM Lorrie: I like Casey’s hair Chuck: he looks like the Little Dutch Girl… Lorrie: you shut your mouth.

Casey James sings “It’s all over now”

8:24 PM Lorrie: This definitely sounds like his style of song… Chuck: It’s the polka version! Some may call it “country” but remember Germany is a country.

8:25 PM Lorrie: He’s got some slide action goin’ with that guitar

8:26 PM Lorrie: I’m in complete agreement with Randy on The Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Johnny Lang reference.

Chuck: Ellen does her first lesbian joke of the season… Lorrie: please, Ryan tries the lame lesbian reference. Fail.

8:28 PM Chuck: Simon is bored with the average performances…the readers are bored with my average commentary…

8:29 PM Lorrie: Wonder what it says about me that I want to see that Miley Cyrus movie? And I don’t even have a kid to use as an excuse to see it. Chuck: no comment

8:31 PM Lorrie: I LOVE that Verizon fios commercial…. Chuck: No comment.

Chuck: I wonder if Aaron will sing Satisfaction or Beast of Burden? Lorrie: I’m trying to remember who Aaron is. I barely care about the male contestants this year.

8:32 PM Chuck: Aaron, the kid from Davenport. the reason we’re doing this chat. Lorrie: Oh yeah. Whatever. You think Siobhan will sing Wild Horses?

8:33 PM Chuck: If she does it will improve that song. My wife loves loves it, but I’m not a fan.

8:34 PM Lorrie: I’m liking Lacey’s story. Chuck: Lacey sings Ruby Tuesday. It makes sense. It fits her voice. But why am I hungry?

8:35 PM Lorrie: Agreed. And on a fashion note, I see that Lacey combined two shirts into one tonight.

Lacey Brown sings Ruby Tuesday

Chuck: It’s the chamber music version of Ruby Tuesday. Lorrie: There’s something about her voice that really appeals to me most of the time.

8:36 PM Chuck: She’s trying to put her hook in the song. Lorrie: I don’t like the “stillI’mgonnamissyou” part. Chuck: I did, but Randy didn’t. Wait, Randy called it the most interesting one of the night?

Chuck: Ellen doesn’t like it when people do things backwards. Lorrie: Kara says “I gotta agree with the guys.” Huh? Does she consider Ellen a guy now?

Chuck: What ’s up with Lacy’s hooker shoes?

Chuck: Andrew Garcia is up next. What is he going to do if he can’t sing a girl’s song?

8:44 PM Chuck: Garcia will be known for bringing back the Kid ‘N’ Play hat. Lorrie: how funny that Garcia’s dad thought he’d grow up to be a janitor.

Andrew Garcia sings Gimme Shelter

Lorrie: I like the tone of his voice… Chuck: Gimme earplugs… Lorrie: ehh, not lovin’ this version

8:46 PM Chuck: Randy is shaking his head, but I have to say, so far, they’re doing better with the Stones than last season with the Beatles

8:47 PM Lorrie: He’s got his preacher voice on: “whoa, Cheeldren-nah”

Chuck: If Randy says “you know I love you” then you know you suck.

8:48 PM Lorrie: It’s “War”?! All my life, I thought it was “Whoa.” But then again, I also thought that when Michael Jackson sang, “Billie Jean is not my lover” he was saying “Feel the changes at my door.” And when Eddie Vedder sang Yellow Ledbetter, well, I had no idea what the hell he was saying.

Lorrie: Simon’s really raggin’ on Kara this season about her literal interpretation and I’m glad of it.

Chuck: Kara is right though. Don’ t sing a song you don’t understand.

8:50 PM Lorrie: Chuck, I miss Paula. AI blogging so much fun when at least one judge was on drugs. Chuck: I missed Paula when she was there

8:52 PM Lorrie: One of these judges needs to pick up the torch and say things like, “I could feel your heart in that song” and “I can see the color of your soul when you sing.”

Chuck: Someone should drop acid in their coke

Chuck: Katie?! Oh boy, here comes the train wreck.

Katie Stevens sings Wild Horses

Lorrie: Dammit! What is SHE doing singing Wild Horses?????

8:55 PM Chuck: She says Wild Horses speaks to her? Druggie!!

8:56 PM Lorrie: Already, I want to hate it. I’m so mad that Siobhan isn’t singing this.

Chuck: Sioban will sing “You can’t always get what you want…” Lorrie: Ahhh, that would be nice!

Chuck: Please break the arms of everyone in the audience. I am so sick of them waving their arms in unison.

Lorrie: I just saw Katie spit.

Chuck: Katie is singing the version of the song from Susan Boyle on Britain Has Talent (At least that’s what my wife said.)

8:58 PM Lorrie: I’d rather be dragged by wild horses than have to endure this song from her.

Chuck: Yes, Katie, wild horses can drag you away…want to see?

8:59 PM Lorrie: That party dress she’s wearing is nowheresville. What? Randy! Dawg! Shut up.

Chuck: Why do they like her???

Lorrie: What? Ellen! Ick. WTF is going on with these judges?

Lorrie: Susan Boyle did a great job on the song. Katie? No.

Chuck: Right now I am wishing Megan was here instead of Katie

9:01 PM Lorrie: Megan the one-arm-swinging dancer?! You hated her! That’s harsh. Chuck: Yes, I might even prefer Sanjaya instead of Katie Lorrie: Now you’re just talking crazy talk.

9:04 PM Chuck: Did Michael Lynch sing tonight? Lorrie: LOL

9:05 PM Chuck: O yes, I’ll download Katie on iTunes…

Lorrie: I want to cut this kid Tim’s hair. Chuck: He has the Peter Brady cut…

9:06 PM Peter BradyRRRRRRRR

Lorrie: It’s definitely BradyRRRRRRRRR than Peter’s

Tim Urban sings Under my Thumb

Lorrie: OMG…this reggae beat brings back memories of Jason Castro. Chuck: A bad flashback

9:07 PM Lorrie: Next week, he’ll be singing “Pass the Dutchie” Chuck: He does kinda look like one of the kids in Musical Youth

9:08 PM Chuck: Bring back Katie! Send him home! Lorrie: …pass the dutchie on the lef’ hand side….

9:09 PM Lorrie: Ellen’s comment was funny. Chuck: It did sound like you’d want to order a Pina Colada on the beach…

Lorrie: Again with referencing “the guys” Kara? Ellen may dress like a 12-year-old boy, but she does wear makeup, for crying out loud.

9:10 PM Chuck: Simon says it didn’t work. True dat Lorrie: I agree wholeheartedly with Simon

Chuck: “It was a crazy decision” to do that song that way. Lorrie: Amen to the “I can’t look like the Rolling Stones comment”

Lorrie: You need to get drunk, high and fall out of a coconut tree onto your head a few times to look like one of the stones. Chuck: Nice Keith Richards reference

9:11 PM Chuck: They’re saving Crystal for the end. When do Adam Lambert & Danny Gokey sing?

9:14 PM Chuck: Why is Will Smith’s dad talking about teaching? Lorrie: Wake up Chuck. It’s gonna be ok. Get through this blogging assignment and maybe Catherine will let you listen to your Adam Lambert CD.

9:15 PM Lorrie: My girl SIOBHAN! Love her! Chuck: I see Irish people!! She has a Mary Poppins tattoo! Just like the one I want.

Lorrie: Irish hippy people! She is cool as hell.

Siobhan Magnus sings Paint it Black

Chuck: Paint it black!!! Lorrie: Chuck, you nailed it, didn’t you call it? (Chuck: Did…Before the show.)

Chuck: Do the patented American Idol “kick it up!” UP UP….there you go

Lorrie: She’s got her Molly Ringwald a la Sixteen Candles hair on. Combat boots with that dress. Yes. Yes! BTW, that’s how I dressed in 1992- dress plus combat boots. Personally, I think it still works today. I wish she would move some more… Chuck: This is a singing comp, not SYTYCD. Lorrie: Tell that to Big Boy George Mike.

Chuck: This is how you change a Rolling Stone song, Tim.

9:18 PM Lorrie: YES!!! Chuck: Best so far Lorrie: God dang, that girl can hit that high note like nobody’s business! In the words of my husband: “She busted the balls off that one.”

9:19 PM Chuck: See! Kara is having Adam Lambert flashbacks

Lorrie: I ought to punch Ellen in the face for comparing this amazingly talented girl to Snookie’s Poof

Chuck: OK, I admit I am old. Snookie’s a Poof?

Lorrie: The skeezball on Jersey Shore. Chuck: I don’t watch Jersey Shore. I grew up with real Italians.

9:21 PM Lorrie: I don’t watch it either, but the cast is on every entertainment show I watch, and one of the SNL guys does the funniest impression of her.

Chuck: Snookie is a her? Lorrie: Snookie is a her. A midget “her” She’s almost a midget, I mean. I don’t think she’s 5 feet tall. Or, “little person.” I mean no disrespect.

Chuck: Careful, I HEART a petite woman. Lorrie: She is certainly taller than that. Chuck: She says she is 5′ 2” or meters or something.. Lorrie: So how tall is that in real people measurement?

9:24 PM Chuck: “Hot Tub Time Machine” means that ALL movies have been done.

Lorrie: I want to see that movie! It reminds me of my youth.

Lorrie: yuck. Paige Miles. Me no likey.

Chuck: It’s odd to actually watch commercials and not fast-forward.

Chuck: David Cook is back? Lorrie: Dude, no lie! Chuck: He doesn’t look like his brother Chikezie.

Lorrie: Lee was a cute little boy…. Chuck: Wow, Chicago accents… Lorrie: hmmmm….lookin’ forward to this

Lee Dewyze sings Beast of Burden

Chuck: Beast of Burden…the Bette Midler version?

Lorrie: He’s another whose tone I really love Chuck: Contemporary as Simon will say…Thank god it isn’t as sexual as the original…

Lorrie: He needs to get a handle on that herky jerky right leg movement. It looks weird. Well done, overall.

Chuck: He’s safe…Randy thinks it was dope

9:30 PM Like a hospital gown? Ok, it was less than Ellen expected…

9:31 PM Simon agrees that he doesn’t shine. Lorrie: Is Lee gonna cry? Chuck: I hope so. He needs to stop taking the valium

9:32 PM Chuck: So far…voting for Sioban and Lilly Allen Lorrie: Let it go, Chuck. Lilly ain’t comin’ back… Chuck: They let Anoop in as #13! Bring Lilly back!

9:35 PM Lorrie: Glee! I love that show. Chuck: I won’t watch until they release the box set. Chuck: The fast forward button is not working!

Chuck: Paige…oh….joy Lorrie: Ditto

9:37 PM Chuck: They just said Paige has “it.” Is she Clara Bow? (Very old reference there…)

Lorrie: yeah…totally lost on me. Sorry.

Chuck: Here you go…

Paige Miles sings Honky Tonk Woman

Chuck: Paige starts Honky Tonk Woman? omg Lorrie: Honky Tonk woman?! God help us.

Chuck: oh…dear…lord. Lorrie: is she wearing a jumpsuit? Chuck: She is wearing a romper. Lorrie: LMAO. Romper!

Chuck: So she is the prostitute? Lorrie: from singing in the church to prostitute. Her mama is proud

Chuck: She is neither a woman nor from a honkey tonk.

9:39 PM Chuck: Again, please tie all arms down at the next show….

Lorrie: he blew her nose….Yikes. That is barely better than that contestant and his “onesie” who didn’t make Top 12

9:40 PM Chuck: Randy is insane…Ellen is also insane….Kara is also also insane

Lorrie: Agreed

9:41 PM Chuck: Simon is a bit better. “Taken into account your voice sucks…you sounded great”

She has a sore throat? They’re playing the sympathy card…

9:42 PM Chuck: Aaron Kelly – Why does he deny he is from Davenport??? Lorrie: Would you admit to being from Davenport? I mean, have you BEEN there? Chuck: I’ll edit that out for you

Chuck: He doesn’t sound like his mother? The woman who adopted him? We need to explain genetics to the kid

Aaron Kelly sings Angie

9:43 PM Chuck: I said he’d sing Angie …. to someone….somewhere

Lorrie: You are 2 for 2 Chuck: I like the way you count.

Chuck: It’s 1977 and a kid is singing along with “Angie”…and not getting it.

9:44 PM Lorrie: 12-year-old girls named Angie all across the country are crying at this moment… Chuck: good one

Chuck: My wife thinks he is doing a good job, but there is no pain in his voice

Lorrie: I like his voice. He’s just such a baby-faced thing! Randy mentions Aaron’s tender moments….that sounds funny coming from The Dawg

Chuck: Randy thinks he sounds like Justin Timberlake? Someone lock up Britney.

9:46 PM Chuck: OK, Ellen is still crazy. Lorrie: Don’t even try to compare this little pimply-faced boy to Siobhan. Puh-leeeeze. Thank you Simon for clearing up that whole Justin Timberlake thing.

9:47 PM Chuck: Has Michael Lynche sung already? Lorrie: LOL

Lorrie: Crystal. Yes! Chuck: finally

9:48 PM Lorrie: I think it’s a clear sign that I’ve been writing far too much about dentistry when I look at Crystal’s smile and I think “congenitally missing teeth.” Chuck: yes, time for a career change

9:50 PM Lorrie: As much as we love her voice, my husband and I call her Crystal Dirtysocks because she looks like the kind of girl who, no matter how hard she scrubs, always looks dingy.

Chuck: Are you prejudiced against the perpetually earthy? Lorrie: I bet she smells like patchouli

Chuck: Our local Fox newscaster is wearing the latest Amish fashions? Lorrie: LOL. She was! I bet she churns butter during the news breaks..

Chuck: Crystal is from a small town? EVERYONE is from a small town this year! When do we have John Mellencamp night? Lorrie: Crystal would NAIL that night.

9:53 PM Chuck: Her Daddy shows his feminine side…

Crystal Bowersox sings You Can’t Always get What you Want….

Lorrie: Why Chuck….are you 3 for 3???? Chuck: I do like how you count.

9:54 PM Lorrie: I think you must have had a main line to the contestants this week. Were you holding out on me?

Chuck: You can’t always get what you want…hmm where have I heard that?

Lorrie: I like her version of this. Chuck: Funny thing…I haven’t liked a Stones song made since 72…

Lorrie: I know…on that e-mail quiz where they ask Beatles or Stones? You always choose Beatles, right? Chuck: exactly!

Chuck: She is channeling Janis Joplin heavily this week…. biggest applause of the night

9:56 PM Lorrie: My husband thinks Crystal probably could store a spare pick in that space in her teeth. Is it mean for me to laugh at that? Chuck: yes, but if we had real health care…

Lorrie: oh sheesh, you Socialist. Let’s stick to the Idol, if you don’t mind.

9:57 PM Chuck: When will Crystal admit she is pregnant?

9:58 PM Lorrie: Oh, hell yes. Simon is right on that Siobhan was the one to beat tonight.

Chuck: Simon called Crystal the front-runner. That’s always the kiss of death. She turned that back on Simon well

Lorrie: yeah. She grew up hard, Man! She can dish it.

And we get the end of the show recap….

Chuck: Hey…Michael Lynche performed?! Didi did too!

Lorrie: Ready for a pick of the Bottom 3?

Chuck: Andrew or Katie is going home and….Tim

Lorrie: Andrew, Katie and Tim

Chuck: damn

Lorrie: Dang it!

Chuck: we agree

Lorrie: Top 3- Siobhan, Crystal and Lee

Chuck: Sioban, Crystal, and Lilly Allen!

Lorrie: LOL

Chuck: The way Lilly sang 19th Nervous Breakdown…chilling!

Chuck: and I have Didi #4

10:03 PM Lorrie: My pick for who’s going home is…Katie

Chuck: I say, Andrew

photo credit: donbuciak

Watching American Idol… is a post from: Metro I-4 News

Playing primarily at the Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven and Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale*, the teams also use fields at Henley Field, Polk Community College, Southeastern University, Webber International University, Warner University, Pat Thomas Stadium and some of the area’s top high school fields.

It’s well played Spring baseball without major league prices and Metro I4 News photographer Tom Hagerty has attended many of the games. Here are a few shots…

See the rest of the Central Florida Invitational photos here…

* – Corrected after reader feedback. Originally read “Playing primarily at the Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, the teams also use fields at Lake Myrtle Park, Henley Field….”

photos credit: Tom Hagerty for Metro I4 News

At the Central Florida Invitational is a post from: Metro I-4 News

photo credit: Nathan Mark Phillips for Metro I4 News

At Spring Obsession is a post from: Metro I-4 News

photo credit: Tom Hagerty for Metro I4 News

Preparation is a post from: Metro I-4 News

photo credit: Tom Hagerty for Metro I4 News

Duck? No, Oriole is a post from: Metro I-4 News

On to regionalism. From the “see I told ya so” category, you have to read this post from Homebuilder News. In it Lennar announces huge investment in our region, including new jobs and housing starts. They credit the High Speed Rail project as the prime incentive for their investment.

Related, The Sentinel and other news outlets this week reported that the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research declared that the recession has ended, but as importantly, that population growth will return to Florida. The report echoes information I discussed here a couple of months ago from economists over at UCF. UF agrees with them that our region will lead the state out of the recession as well as lead the way in population growth.

I can tell you that the folks at Lennar aren’t stupid. On the contrary, they know what they’re doing and they invest where they know they’ll be successful. Our region is poised to come out of the recession attracting job creators whom we hope will fill up the housing starts with high-skill, high-wage occupants. But please remember: private sector investment flows to regions where the capital is welcomed, and leveraged by quality planning and infrastructure investment.

The time to cooperate with each other to ensure we are making the right investments in the right places through a 50,000 foot long-range vision for our super-region is now more than ever. If we take the opportunity that economic recovery presents to plan for the future by making smart decisions it will make all the difference in the world. So, as you read about the day-to-day fights and short term challenges, I urge you to take a deep breath and remember the long view.

photo credit: westpark

Take the Long View is a post from: Metro I-4 News

The group was surprised mostly because of the abrupt exclamation of his statement; it was so matter of fact. The words were uttered with such assurance that you would have thought he was stating a prophetic proclamation. I couldn’t tell if the group silence that followed was a moment of contemplation, agreement or bewilderment.

During this Lenten season I am leading a group on faith building at a local church. The participants are of a wide range of ages, male and female, and in a broad range of economic situations. And, comparable of the society we live in, about 10% of the group is gay.

The man who uttered the comment is a middle aged gay male who had most of his faith and religious development in a Unitarian church. It is not like the man was naive of most of Christianity. He just seemed to have no concept of how anyone who read the gospel in the light of Christ could ever judge or condemn someone for being in a prayerful, family-centered, monogamously loving relationship.

After some group agreement and a bit of biblical discussion around churches and Christians who look at scripture inherently, I seemed to be getting the group back on our original Lenten topic. It was not more than four or five minutes before once again the man exclaimed, “But how can they call themselves Christians?”

It was of no avail, when the Holy Spirit moves, so must the best intentions of the Lenten lesson I had hoped to stick to. For the first time–in quite sometime– I found myself speaking to a group of like-minded liberal Christians about how fundamentalist believers could be Christians just like progressive ones.

The problem with dogmatic scripture interpretation is that it often picks a mystical intention of God’s voice and disregards the time, place and community of the person writing the words. These believers feel God calls them to live first to the historical Word written in scripture. Though I sometimes feel these traditionalist’s judgment and interpretation of scripture and people lacks the possibility of an ever-evolving human relationship with God.

When I hear radicals using scripture as a weapon rather than a tool for love, I do grow weary. Though I do wish they would validate the reality God’s daily hand in our human condition at the moment, I still feel they should nevertheless be called Christians.

The truth is I get just as frustrated with fluffy Christians as I do fundamentalist ones, lovey-dovey Christians who worship an “I’m okay you’re okay” God every Sunday. Never addressing human suffering, sin or injustice, they avoid having to love their neighbor not by judging them but simply by pretending they do not exist.

We need to return the judgment of who is Christian to God and Christ. You cannot get more literalist than Jesus saying:

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will
live.” (Luke 10:27)

No matter how our religious life is being studied, lived and interpreted it is certainly our quest for truth that sets us free. When any faith or religion places itself as judge or dictator of the legitamacy of another’s loving relationship with God, I fear it is creating a God in man’s image rather than allowing God to be one with their image. Whether it is as simple as a forced prayer in a city meeting or as serious as a plane crashed into a building when religion ceases being of free will, we, as God’s creation, must always worry.

What I had to explain to that gentleman in my Lenten group was that he has no more right to deem someone unchristian than they do in deeming him unchristian.

I simply ask you to consider this in your prayers this week.

photo credit: renmel

Are they my neighbor? is a post from: Metro I-4 News

photo credit: Tom Hagerty for Metro I4 News

Tampa Highrise is a post from: Metro I-4 News

Last August, I posted that I needed a new view. After years of sitting at home cranking out news, reviews, and (insert your favorite description here) I was bored with the view.

I received three offers almost immediately. (Obviously, they weren’t all that familiar with the sites.) One didn’t work out, but I accepted the proposals from two Lakeland concerns. I figured I’d spend a little time at each. Nothing too much or I’d drive them crazy. One came from the wonderful folks at NFocus. A spot to call my own and all the filmmaking I could stand. You’ve no doubt noticed I’ve mentioned their film, Endure, a time or two. It’s great learning the film marketing process after a film is finished. I also accepted their request that I put together the film’s “electronic press kit.” It has made it difficult from the news standpoint, as I’ve had to not print some information. A couple of times I felt I was out of the loop enough I could write a news story, but I added a note about helping out the team.

The second proposal was as quick, but it’s taken this long to actually move into the space. USF Polytechnic CEO and President Marshall Goodman asked me to take a space at Blue Sky West. At the time, it was just an office space in need of serious rehab, but I really liked the idea to bring a little Silicon Valley sideways thinking into downtown Lakeland. It seemed a good fit with Lakeland Local. Especially since I’ve started focusing on City Hall and downtown Lakeland activities.

To quash a couple of rumors — I am not employed by USFP, nor am I a volunteer. I will sit independent inside Blue Sky West, neither as a client nor staff. I will interact with both groups and with the general public, limited to offering my thoughts, mentoring and occasional advice. I’ll do what I can to help because I think such an incubator as Blue Sky West can work, and work well, for Lakeland. Working in the midst of it, especially under these conditions, is not something any hyperlocal reporter should pass up. You could say I’m embedded, but not beholden. I’ll praise Blue Sky when it deserves it, and criticize when that is called for.

I trust my independence has never been an issue. My wife is an employee of USFP. When the idea for USF Polytechnic was floated, she was all for it and I wasn’t convinced. Many liked the new name. Guess where I stood? Though I had hoped for a liberal arts college, I’m not against the idea of “polytechnic.” When an old media newspaper did a particulaly bad job with an editorial on USFP, I responded.

(And if you’re wondering…I still prefer the name USF Lakeland.)

This was cross posted at our sister publication: Lakeland Local

Mi4 Production Moved to Lakeland Office Space is a post from: Metro I-4 News

Polk County Voter Registration Deadline is a post from: Metro I-4 News

photo credit: Tom Hagerty for Metro I4 News

Colin Kaline is a post from: Metro I-4 News

However, this last week I got myself caught up in a bit of a political/religious dialogue at the Hookah Palace in downtown Lakeland. Passing a Hookah pipe around a group of friends, conversations arise that might not ever find space or time in the “small talk” world of most of our daily lives. One of the quaint niceties of the Hookah Lounge is that each little table/couch setting is sectioned off by a partitioning curtain. The curtains give the idea of privacy but give little actual seclusion from anyone else.

As I sat reading the other day in my little couch area, the group next to me was discussing the recent words of Virginia State Delegate Bob Marshall, Republican from Manassas.

The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the firstborn of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children. — Bob Marshall, R-Manassas

Apparently he really believes that children born with disabilities are God’s punishment for abortion. Mr. Marshall based his understanding of God’s punishment off Exodus 13:2.

Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal.

In all honesty the conversation would not have bothered me enough to say something normally. People are always warping scripture to put God on the side of their power and control issues. What surprised me was that the group of college students started naming other tragedies, illnesses and disasters that they believed could be caused because of God’s wrath. I think I actually laughed out loud though, when I heard one person say that they thought that the earthquake in Haiti could have been God’s response to Obama becoming President!

I would like to tell you this misinformed conversation of the group that day was the simply the result of classism, racism and bigotry, though I want to blame schools, media and the literalist babblings of right winged bible thumpers. I fear the blame needs to fall on our churches, synagogues and other religious bodies who have either not taught their members how to love or taught them to love and then allowed them to keep their light –under a bushel.

It is easy for open minded, educated, loving people to turn the other cheek, in essence saying “I know God loves me…to hell with you!” I think this is one of the reasons why when Jesus talked about the spiritual gift of tongues, he focused more on the interpreting of tongues rather then the gift of speaking them.

5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. (1 Corinthians 14:5)

It has been convenient for liberal minded, educated Christians to blame the moral, ethical and spiritual brokenness of society on close minded churches and believers. However, I fear the injustice and misunderstanding are more likely a consequence of the apathy of educated, Christian minds. Our society listens to Fox News, Rush Libaugh, Pat Robertson and Virginia State Delegate Marshall because they are the ones who are willing to teach and share answers to people’s questions.

It is of no good to anyone to have love, knowledge or inner peace if you are not willing to share it — fight for it — teach it — and when it comes to justice, sometimes even die for it.

Do your friends, family, co-worker and church know what you believe in — what you stand for? With all your education, years of church, bible reading and services attended, are you living a gospel of grace or just talking one?

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photo credit: Zooopreme

Sharing the Hookah is a post from: Metro I-4 News