Shawn Stutz

I had breakfast today with Matt (my Onion Video supplier). Of course, we ran the gambit of conversational topics while enjoying egg and pig portions. We had a good time… a great chance to swap cultural influences. A few times during our meal we referenced awkward relational moments, bummer blog comments, or unwanted advice.

But, what I thought was humorous was realizing the voices we give to “said people”, comments, or advice-givers when retelling those stories. Needless to say, the voices aren’t usually complimentary.  More often than not, the voice over is slower, slightly NASCAR FAN induced, and a bit educationally deficient. Voice-overs are very telling about the amount of respect that I personally give to another.  Isn’t truth wonderfully convicting.

All of that to say this: “May my voice-overs be my voice that I might learn to love my neighbor as myself.”

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Click here.  Thanks Matt.

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My anger has slowly subsided over the last week into a sense of genuine concern following a recent post. Needless to say this issue brought varied responses. For further clarification, let me paint the picture that gave rise to the original post.

I was sitting in my bedroom watching the news– which I hardly ever do because it usually consists of “murder, war, protest, surprise public figure fall, foreclosures, lawsuit, traffic jam, weather, and local pointless curiosity story” with intermittent commercials for cars, anti-depression drugs (wonder why), and fast food (the other American anti-depression drug). {for any English majors, I apologize for the previous Pauline sentence}

Anyway, during the news on Iraq, anchor-person commentary was freely offered concerning suicide bombers and the state of countries with this regular activity. The irony was overwhelming! We’ve have 7 major suicide-esque shootings since early December ’07. How is that any better? How have we, as a nation, arrived as such a place to pass judgment on suicide bomber nations? Our post-Christian country stands on level ground with our Muslim counterparts in many ways– whether we would like to believe it or not.

Hear me! I’m not arguing for no guns as an absolute. However, if we cling to our rights without resigning to some socially beneficial change, there will never be change. And statistically speaking, these countries have the lowest murders and some of the highest gun control laws (thoughtful thoughts for a few comments).

Switzerland 2.3 // Gun control law

Japan 0.5 // See chart about 1/2 way through

True, there are many factors that come into play: population, stress of life, drugs, mental illness, etc. I’m not trying to take away your gun, but I am asking the question, “Is restricting the right to bear arms a right to be reconsidered.” Either way… the real crux of my literary lashing was the irony of a news broadcast.

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Well, President’s Day brought some much cherished rest and relaxation. The day consisted of a late morning workout, a free movie rental (which is always nice), and a random bike trip to Barnes and Noble. While perusing their multitude of books, I stumbled on The Mutt Book in the bargain section (which I gleaned knowledge from and did not buy.  Is that visual piracy?).

The book is designed to help the average All-American Mixture (mutt) owner discover the parental roots of their family pet. I spun the through two-thirds of the book before hitting the canine heritage jackpot. Our dog, Champ,  has, according to this book and our friends at the AKC, all the official markings to belong to an honest to goodness breed! What a relief that must be for him.  He’s no longer a mutt. Seriously, the emotional scaring could be profound; however, we are hoping this truth wasn’t discovered too late.

We learned a lot on our Champ online too.  People with dogs like this actually have a club.  Breeders stats say that he might actually reach 100 lbs. and remain a puppy for 2 years (with a 9 month period of house-training– yeah!).  Additionally, we read that Swissys (as referred to by truly dedicated Greater Swiss Mountain Dog owners) can have an irritable digestive track. Of course, we already knew this fact– trust me; “I had a bad experience!” (name that movie…).

The moral of this story is: Your dog just might be grander than you think so don’t judge a dog by its lack of papers.  I guess this lesson could also be applied to books and their covers, people and their skin, and boxed-chocolate inners by their geometric shape.  Oh, and a lesser known moral– the next time you need the cold hard facts about the world’s oddities, Barnes & Noble just might be the place.

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I’m angry… so this is going to be a long post!

I have every right to be angry! Now, I know that it’s not one of the amendments, but should bearing arms still be a right? I know this post will sound irrational at times and will most likely tick many people off… but that’s okay. Supposedly that’s what makes our country great; verbalizing how we disagree with others.

I am continually overwhelmed with gun related deaths. There have been many in close proximity lately.

1. Missouri Shooting (Friday, 2.8)
2. Northern Illinois Shooting (Thursday, 2.14)
3. Oxnard School Shooting (Thursday, 2.14)
4. Lane Bryant Shooting (2.3)
5. New Life Church Shooting (12.9.07)
6. WYAM Shooting (12.9.07)
7. Louisiana School Shooting
8. Virginia Tech Shooting
9. Oklahoma City Mall Shooting
10. Not to mention the notorious Paducah School, TX Church & Columbine shootings
11. There are more as well…

I’m coming to the point where I think the “right to bear arms” law has become a bit outdated. The circumstances that generated that law are not the same today. In fact, they are no where close. We are over 200 years past the occupation of Britain. And the last I checked, we’re friends (even with Simon Cowell).

Now, I’m sure you have a great point about intruders in your home. How many times has that happened? Why not put a sign saying “THIS HOUSE IS A 2^ND AMMENDMENT HOUSE” verses “THIS HOUSE PROTECTED BY ADT”? In addition, would you have even been able to get to your “locked” gun by that time? Is that time frame just as easy for children in the house?

Not only can you buy a gun, but you can load up on massive firearms fairly easily. If you’re looking for a gun show, just Google it. If this is a right, should 12 guns be a need? Should an AK-47 be included? Are we crazy to license the right to own a personal arsenal?

You’re probably saying, “What about hunters?” Great! Some people can handle it, some can’t. Maybe their guns should be checked out from a government station before hunting. Maybe they should have a psychological screening before getting a gun. Maybe!? I understand people’s joy in hunting—I get it. However, if changes can help save lives, is it worth it?

However, it’s usually not the normal guy with a gun. It is the wing-nut that lost his girlfriend who opens up on everyone and then cowardly ends his own life. Maybe guns aren’t to blame! Maybe it’s parents, or prescription drugs, evil bosses, or wicked ex-girlfriends, or Moses(?).

Oh… and what about this argument. If we take the legal away, the illegal quantities will grow and we won’t be able to regulate it at all. That’s the same argument made by pot-heads who want to legalize marijuana. We don’t cave into that logic, do we?

I’m upset. It will subside, but I’m still concerned that this is the news flash of our nation to the world. We worry about AIDS, world hunger, and young men and woman dying in IRAQ. And with those issues, we should worry. However, what about people dying right here at home in same suicide bomber sort of way? What do we do? Cling to rights or surrender a right for a greater cause? I’m not so sure anymore if my rights are the real issue here.

Oh… Lord, please come soon, and grant us grace and mercy in the meantime!

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There is nothing like a day in the California mountain snow. We visited Leleand Meadows yesterday. Here’s a little video of Kaitlyn and I. There was quite a bit more snow than last year.

Take 1

Slide 2

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A recent video of Kaitlyn and her guitar lessons!

My son, the gymnast. He must have gotten this from me… ha ha!

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I read an interesting article the other day about a guy who decided to tithe only through relationships. He would give his money to the kingdom of God, but only through people with which he had direct relationship (or certain levels of friends of friends).

The idea sounded really intriguing.  This guy has even established a website to encourage others towards more direct relational giving. At first I was struck by the awkwardness of the idea, but the more I read the more that it felt like the early church.

Check it out and give me your thoughts… (and don’t be afraid to relationally tithe to me– haha!).

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check out the updates now.

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I am one who believes that much of the debate in “current church life” resides in the use of words and their various meanings. Check out what I mean here. See for yourself words that have tricky meanings. How would you define them?

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