as i sit here to write i find myself too entertained to concentrate. It seems like entertainment these days is sitting there and having everything done for us. ever been to a show where it was awkward to participate. you know like out of nowhere in the coffee shop the hippieguy with a guitar decides everybody should sing along and dance. or God forbid, at church... people run around or dance during songs. Ever notice how cool it is to forge all the BS and waiting and crowds to go see an opening of a star wars flick just because of all the mayhem. Interesting how we have an audience response at a media that isn't designed to respond back. We have such a high attendance these days for entertainment that doesn't require anything of the audience. This seems to be the case in modern church too. Kinda cool that we have phenomenae where people are engaging in media that wasn't designed for participation. it is this kind of behavior that gives me a little faith in our society. even though people are economically voting for this sort of entertainment (movies, tv, sports bars), they are revealing that it is still within our nature to participate in entertainment. As technology progresses and mass production and demand increases, allowing things like home theatre to get cheaper, it seems like people should stop going out altogether to view movies. With the internet and screenings floating around, there seems to be little reason for us to even go out and pay to see a movie we could get in the privacy of our own homes for free. But something seems to drive us to step out into the movie theatres and stand in lines with complete strangers and pay for it anyway. Then we go to bars to drink even though it's cheaper at home, and we eat out and pay top dollar. People go out and socialize with strangers. They can't judge you for long, you probably won't see them again. But in churches, people seem to guard thier behavior, fearing judgement. This is what makes me feel awkward in other churches sometimes. I know these are my brothers and sisters in christ but i hate the idea that just being myself with my supposed brothers and sisters would be considered disrespectful. I know a lot of these people go to bars once in a while and probably smoke, and integrate some explatives into thier speech, and there's nothing wrong with that. But it is the sort of conversation that is avoided in church. When we are at a pub having a burger and a beer and someone asks how we all know each other and I tell them from church they are speechless. I have never had a response outside of surprise upon this discovery. I take joy knowing i share real experiences with the people i worship with, but it is saddening to be away from them and even sadder to visit a giant beautiful church with a massive "audience", and the example nothing short of that of a star wars flick. shalom my friends