Don't Ask Me I Am Only A Pastor

Share my plight as an Evangelical Liberal trying to make sense of this world

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Location: San Bernardino, California, United States

I am a pastor... ok an associate pastor. I live in what was rated as the worst city to live in. I am hoping to do my part in helping to change this city.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Rachel Ray's "$40-a-Day" Canceled


The Food Network announced today that Rachel Ray's television show "$40-a-Day" has been canceled. Although the show was popular with both audiences and sponsors, the Food Network decided to pulled the plug due to the realization that eating three meals a day on a budget of $40 was not as hard as Ray made it to be. Stan Johnstone, Vice-President of programming, was shocked when he learned that must people in the world get by with less than $40 a day. "Well, I live in New York [City] where a standard dinner is well over $40, so I was impressed when Rachel was pitching an idea where she only received $40 a day. I remember thinking that she must be on a diet or something."

When asked where he learned of the world's plight to have to dine on less than $40 a day he quickly replied, "I was watching some TV late one night when I saw a commercial filled with poor people. Then an older gentlemen began to reveal that many people are starving and that the price of a cup of coffee a day could feed a little girl. At the same time this small amount of change could send her to school and provide health care. Now that would be a great show!"

Mr. Johnstone acknowledged that Rachel Ray will still retain her "30 Minute Meals" show even though Johnstone recently discovered that millions of restaurants who advertise that "they prepare meals while you wait in your car in a few minutes." Ms. Ray was unavailable for comment.
Fox Broadcasting has announced that they are in the works of a new reality show called "$40-a-Month" where single mothers on welfare compete for extra income to feed and shelter their families.

Monday, August 27, 2007

New Blog

Well I have not blogged in a long time. No excuses. No worries. I have been debating on whether to continue to blog or not. Blogging takes time and energy and I did not know if I wanted to spend those assets on blogging. However, I have decided to change this blog into a satire site of sorts with the hopes of producing a couple of posts every week. At the same time I have decided to create a more serious blog that deals with the issue and concerns that I have in life. Check it out at http://ghettopastor.blogspot.com/

Saturday, April 21, 2007

WTF?

Ok, ok, my sabatical was longer than I thought it would be... so what. Anyways, I just got back home from a 2-day spiritual retreat with my church. It was awesome! The goal of this retreat is to remove the baggage that hinders us from becoming the people that God desires for us to be. It was a powerful time of honesty and healing as people's lives were changed for the better. It is moments like these that affirm my decision to join the clergy. It saddens me to see people who are suffering because they feel that they are unloveable. However it is amazing to see people transform and realize that God loves them and wants the best for them. I know that some people might frown on the idea that I believe that organized religion is the answer to peoples problems. However I feel that the problems that people have with religion lies in the fact that religion can often times be practiced in a disorganized manner that seeks to benefit the few. Even AA and NA acknowledge the "higher power" as a necesary revelation one must accept in order to change. I might seem arogant because I lable this "higher power" in a specific name. But is it not as arogant to claim that there is no "higher power?" The truth is, I do not care. I believe what I believe because I believe it. Is it always logical? No. Is it always easy? No. But at the end of the day I can sometimes sleep at night feeling assured that my life is making a positive impact on the lives of others. My goal is to be a loving person as much as possible. Do I fail? Yes. Do I fail big time? Yes. But it is all worth it when someone thanks me for what I mean in their life. I know that is a bold statement, yet I feel that it should be the goal of every person to be a blessing to at least one person.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

On Sabatical

I have taken a sabatical from bloging to refresh my mind and make this blog everything that I desire for it to be. I will be back next week.
Pastor Stew

Monday, February 12, 2007

Valentine's Day... On A Shoestring Budget

Well, unless you live under a rock or are in dire need of a television, everyone knows that V-Day is a couple days away. Even though VD can lead to uncomfortable feelings such as vomiting, itchy rash as well as long term debt, the simple truth is that one can simply say the three magic words without denting the bank account. Ladies it is simple... SEX. It's free and we like it. All Ladies should stop reading at this point.

However, for the sucker... er... male, the challenge is ever present. With the cost of a dozen roses fetching at least 50 bucks, not to mention the $5 dollar card, $100 dinner and the $20 heart-shaped box of chocolates. That's about $200 dollars and we have not even thought about a present. How is a fella to survive? Well here is a sure fire method on how to show the romance without shelling out the cash.

First off, forget the roses. What a waste of money! All they do is die (by the way this is a great line to drop to her, "Honey, I did not get you roses because I wanted the symbol of our love to be something that never dies"). In fact drop everything that is traditional. Tradition = $$$$, remember that.

OK, this is how we are going to do this. The theme for this year is going to focus on the cheap puppy dog love of childhood. First assure your lady friend that you have VD all taken care of. Tell her that it is going to be a special day (and since you are saving cash it is very special). Now you have to spring into action. You will need the following items in order to pull this off.

Equipment:

Kids Valentine's Cards - We all had these as kids. These are the cheesy Scooby-Do/G.I. Joe cards that had crappy sayings like "I like you more than a scooby snack." Anyways, a box of 20 of these gems are waiting at any store for about a buck. You could give your date 20 cards for cheaper than any Hallmark. If you happen to have access to a younger cousin, sibling or a niece/nephew then you can "borrow" one for free.


Sweethearts Candy - Again you can find these almost anywhere and they are cheap. What is even better, you can open the box and spread the wealth throughout the entire day by placing a few here and there.



One Package of Lifesavers - I'll explain latter. Let's just say that it adds that certain sparkle to the evening.



One Shoelace - See above.




A Clump of Dandelions - Cheap flowers... FREE flowers. Include at least one puff ball in the "arrangement."




Two Happy Meals - Ok, I know, but we have to splurge somewhere. If you can't handle the $5 dollars then you probably do not have a date for Valentine's Day anyway.




The Plan:

Well looking at the calendar, you only have a day. Fortunately most of the equipment can be found in one place so that makes it even easier. You first objective is to drop as many hints as possible the day before about how special Valentine's Day is and how you cannot wait to surprise her with the day you have planed... for at least a month. That way she will think that you took effort into this day and will guarantee you at least some form of sympathy if she was expecting Lobster and Diamonds. Make sure to stick with the theme of reminding her about how your relationship reminds you of puppy love and how when you are with her you feel like a kid because you still get goose bumps when you see her or that your stomach cramps up with butterflies, crap like that.

Step One - Take one of your Valentine's cards and write the introduction that will set up the day's theme. Make sure to throw in the idea that you wished you met in kindergarten or something like that (if you actually did... bonus!). Sweeten the deal with some of those Sweethearts. Make sure to try at least one to make sure they are not poison!

Step Two - Write old cliches on the remaining cards and place them in the provided envelopes with candy. Label the cards with various "pet names" that you have with your lady, like "honeybuns." Place these in various locations that she will see them through out the day. If you can sneak a few in at her work that will be great because then she can show of how creative you are to her co-workers for added points.

Step Three - Take the shoelace and string it through a Lifesaver. Make sure to pick the color that you think she will like best. This serves three purposes. One, this is a play on an old commercial that we grew up with which helps on the nostalgia aspect. Two, the popular jewelry piece this year is the diamond circle pendant so she will think that you are up with what is hot. Three, girls have a psychological condition that every circle she sees brings up the notion of ring. Ring = (insert what ever you desire).

Step Four - Pull out of ground fresh dandelions. Kids think dandelions are flowers and let's face it, so do guys.

Step Five - Pick up dinner. You don't even have to leave your car! Make sure that you give her the best toy. Can you say free toy?!?

Step Six - Present "gifts."

Step Seven - Come and get it! WINK ;)


I hope this helps you guys out there to save some cash this year. The cheapest option is to dump her for a day and then "realize" that you can't live without her or pretend to be sick but these can backfire in your face so play it cool.



Sunday, February 11, 2007

Don't Worry

I have tried to blog several times these last few weeks but have had people ask me to do things for them as soon as I begin. I plan on blogging at least thrice next week.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Things I Contemplate While Hacking Up a Lung

  • I have never seen an episode of American Idol
  • I finally played my XBox360 for the first time since Thanksgiving
  • Disney Land is truly the place to find sluts
  • Seeing an embarrassing dad with a video camera is funny, seeing a black man do it is freaking hilarious. Proving once again that black people are genetically funnier than white people
  • It is 1,000 times easier to find crack than it is a Nintendo Wii
  • Dietrich weighs 15lbs 13 ozs and yet he is a very little guy... like me
  • Growing a beard does not make you look younger
  • Would Christianity have made it so far if Jesus rocked a Fumanchu?
  • My son only cries when he leaves daycare
  • Fillet Mignon and Lobster is a good Birthday dinner... especially when it was free!
  • Thanks to Sarah, I just bought a two pack of Old Spice deodorant
  • Chicago in June looks like a reality
  • I am glad the president mentioned to human suffering in the Sudan as well as my adoptive country of Burma. Too bad he ain't gonna do crap about it!
  • Senator Webb is a classy man
  • Stay Classy Everyone