barackin' the suburbs

A lot has happened since my last post on Halloween, and while I've wanted to blog about certain events not having Internet access in your home makes things difficult. We're still figuring what we want to do as far as internet goes - its just all so expensive!

Anyway, I currently have a glimmer of wireless action from an unknown, but much appreciated neighbor (thanks lewis, whoever you are) and so I will use it to my advantage and spout off about a few things.

Halloween night was awesome. We attended the Avett Brothers concert at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro. It was definitely one of the most fun shows I've ever been too. The Avetts just seem to know how to have a good time and their blend of pop-rock-bluegrass is just so catchy and "sing-along-able". The energy and passion with which they hammer their banjoes and guitars and scream at the top of their lungs, is unreal and one can't help but tap toes and nod heads. The fact that it was Halloween probably made it all the more crazy, and there was much alcohol consumed by the fine folks around us, but the audience was so into it and most people there seemed to know almost every word and they sang along as loud as they could. The Avett Brothers are one of those bands, much like Mute Math, that even if you don't know or even like their music you are going to come away from their performances amazed and a fan. It was great and I can't wait for them to pass through again. . .

And on to the election. . .

Its been a crazy week, since November 4 when Barack Obama was elected the next president. I mean I think in the back of my mind I knew that this was going to happen (McCain gave it a great effort, I think he just had too much to overcom) but I don't think I really knew what to expect when it did. It was pretty surreal watching him give his speech in front of thousands of people in Grant Park.

[side note: I was at a similar rally in Grant Park several years ago after the Chicago Bulls won one of their hundreds of championships, and watched Dennis Rodman, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson and the rest of the Bulls stand on a stage from about 3 miles away - there was A LOT of people there. It was cool and I really don't remember much, and I despite growing up just outside of Chicago never really liked the Micahel Jordan-led Bulls, so it wasn't that big of a deal. Its just cool to say all that because when Obama had his rally, i could say "been there done that" like I'm special or something.]

Anyway, I wasn't as pumped about Obama winning nor was I down about it as a lot of people were. I did vote for the man, and the feat he accomplished is incredible and it's cool to say that I saw it happened and I'm definitely glad he won. I'm also excited to see what the next for years will bring, but I try not to get too carried away with all this stuff. At the end of the day, I'm just going to be me. I'm going to do my thing and live my life, and I know that my hope and salvation does not rest in a young African-American man from Chicago - nor does it rest in an old, 70-something year old white guy from Arizona for that matter. God is going to do with our leader and this country what He sees fit and I'm going to trust in Him and be okay with that.

I watched the election unfold first at Jerry Crain's apartment and then later (after the crushing of the Republican party began) at Clayton and Kristen's and one of things we did was to keep an eye on our friends' facebook profiles. Watching the statuses changes as history was being made was at times humourous, uplifting, but most of the time appaling and depressing. People I know and respect and feel safe calling a brother or sister in Christ said things about Obama that were straight up shocking, and truthfully made me question where there faith lies. Is it in Jesus Christ? or in the US government? It makes no sense to me why people get so caught up in this stuff. Government is not going to change the course of this country and it sure as heck is not going to change the hearts of people. Regardless of who's in charge of this country, the church has a lot of work to do, because its the church and Jesus Christ that are the ones will truly bring change and hope to the people of this country and the world.