A Few Things To Share and A Few Things To Say

First a few things to share...

This post by BigMama had me literally falling out of my chair laughing with tears streaming down my face.

This post by Bryan Allain had me chuckling too. Probably because I could pick out at least one guy I know for every thing he mentioned.

And this on John Acuff's Stuff Christians Like is incredibly written. I love some good truth sprinkled with a dash of sarcasm. That's how I roll.

Now, a few things to say...

I hate the fact that I've gotten sucked into the world that is The Bachelor/Bachelorette. And that I've started blogging about it. However, this is the raw truth. My name is Katie. I'm obsessed. I'm also opinionated. Hence, el bloggo.

My dear friends, if you haven't been watching this God-awful show. Don't start now. Turn away from the light, Carol Ann.

The poltergiest that is The Bachelorette has sucked me in and won't let go. I'm invested in the lives of people I don't know and now I'm hoping that the one that doesn't get picked will receive an offer to be the next Bachelor so that I can pretend that I would apply and they would pick me to be on the show and he would give me the final rose and we would livehappilyeveraftertheend.

But seeing as how I'm totally against public displays of affection and that show is just one big public display of affection with all the cameras and such and considering that I'm just really against sleeping in fantasy suites with people I've only know for a month and half, I'm pretty sure the odds of this girl being on the Bachelor are about slim to none. However, I would totally take advantage of the opportunity to be the Bachelorette and revolutionize that show. Can we say open and close every rose ceremony with prayer and communion?

Anyhoo, I do have to comment on the sleeze that is "Wes the Country Singer" and the preciousness that is Ed and my excitement that he lives to see another day in the eyes of our Bachelorette Jillian.

For those of you that don't know, Wes who is a country singer (thank you, Captain Obvious), has had a target on his back from the git-go with rumors and allegations that he came on the show with alternative motives (i.e., he had a girlfriend and was just looking for some pub for his soon-to-be unsuccessful country album). In previous weeks, Jillian had been warned by several of the guys about Wes' antics and Jillian, like any self-respecting Canadian would, gave him the benefit of the doubt. (I don't blame her. I'm the queen of "the benefit of the doubt". It never goes well.)

Anyway, last week perfect-but-precious-and-previously-booted Jake (nice alliteration, Katie) came back into the picture to warn Jillian one last time about the sleeze that is Wes. She heeded his warning yet still decided to trust Wes and meet the family. (Duhn-duhn-duhn)

Fast forward to this week, and well...the poo hit the fan, so to speak. Watch here to see the dinner and then the limo ride. I've watched it three times already today and have seriously had to restrain myself from putting my fist through my computer screen. You may remember me saying I would love to do this to him one day. All I need is a plane ticket to Austin.

Some gems that escaped Wes' mouth last night that I particularly loved, and when I say loved I mean I threw up a little in my mouth are:

"I'm gonna be true to myself...numero uno is most important here."

When waiting for the rose ceremony to begin:
"Well, guys, if it's me...you know I'll be home havin' lots of sex." Seriously, dude?!?! Do you want people to buy your album or not?

And in the limo:
"I's born at night but not last night."
"It's on like a bucket of neck bones."

And the classic:
"I'm in Spain...everybody's gonna know my name..."

And for some real classic Bachelor/Bachelorette behind-the-scenes info, read Chris Harrison's (the host) blog. That's some good stuff.

And now we can finally put the Wes thing to rest. At least until the "Men Tell All" and "After the Final Rose" episodes.

Before I change topics though, I have to talk about Ed the Precious, as I now like to refer to him. Ed left the show two weeks ago because he got an ultimatum from his boss. I couldn't blame him because in these economic times, a job ain't nothin' to be playin' with, yo. However, when you've known somebody for over a month and think you might be falling in love with them (insert buckets of super sarcasm), and you go back to your job and they are all you can think about for two weeks, you start to think you could've made a big mistake. And that's just what Ed did. And knowing how long it took Jillian to rebound from the hurt (because we all know two weeks is a long time to grieve the loss of your lover of a month), I was so excited to see Ed come back last week. Why? Well, because he's just the guy I'd pick for myself. Except he wouldn't be an IT guy, he'd be a coach or a minister. And he wouldn't live in ChiCAAAAAgo, he'd live in the Deep South, no more than four hours away from my family.

I do have to say that the part of their date that made me a little uncomfortable was the make-out session (fully clothed, praise Jesus) in the fountain while passersby stopped and stared. (See: previous mention about PDA) I kept whisper-yelling (because the roommate was asleep) at the television, "Jillian. You're in a fountain. And you have a white shirt on. And you're getting wet. Consequences abound, my dear!" Yet, when you are blinded by a thick cloud of passionate lust, you tend to forget the details.

But my favorite part of their date was during the evening session (I love how I've compared the Bachelorette dates to a some sort of convention -- day session, night session). Jillian was again lamenting about all the time they lost in the two weeks that Ed was back in ChiCAAAAAgo trying to save his job and began to ask what his family was like. After being asked what they would do after spending QT with the family, Ed responded, quite matter-of-factly: "Uh, Karaoke." Like there was no other option. And then I fell a little bit more in love with Ed the Precious. Because as we all know, the way to a girl's heart is through horribly sung 80's hits.

And that's my two cents on the Bachelorette.

Shifting gears and in closing, I became like a sheep today and joined the masses in watching the Michael Jackson Memorial. For two reasons: 1) It's all that was on. 2) I'd seen the same epidsode of Sportscenter three times already.

Although it was a very (is sweet the right word here?) celebration of Michael Jackson's life, career and humanitarianism, I couldn't help but realize the lack of Gospel represented in the memorium.

Of course, I loved when Stevie Wonder came out and sang (because frankly, Stevie Wonder is the bomb.com). And was mesmorized by John Mayer rockin' the guitar on "Human Nature". And I teared up a little when Usher sang. And then the kid from Britain's Got Talent came out and blew the roof off with his amazing rendition of "Who's Lovin' You". But I still sat there watching this production, like it was the Grammy's or something. I kept thinking, "Who is running this thing? Where is the stage manager?"

I realize that so many people were touched by MJ's music. So many. Like a whole world full. And folks, his legacy will never die. That's the good thing about music. It never, ever goes away. I, too, was touched. "Thriller" scared the fecal matter out of me the first time I saw it. "I Want You Back" will forever be one of my most favorite songs, and I will never hear it without thinking of my high school band doing the Michael Jackson theme my junior year and seeing my guy friends dancing to that song.

The only semblance of God I saw was when "The Reverand" Al Sharpton spoke (which I muted because I just can't stand to listen to the man. No offense. I just don't like his voice.), when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter quoted scripture and when his brother Marlon spoke of "our creator" and his belief of eternal life (which encouraged me a little).

But with all the "We Are The World" and "Heal The World" talk, I just wanted to go up to the top of the Vulcan here in Birmingham and scream, "It's not about him!" As I read a friend tweet today, "...so many confused people." And all I could say was "Amen".

I wanted to scream about the God who saves. The One who I hope saved Michael Jackson. The One who gives us hope in such times as these. The One who gives us the gifts like Michael had to use to honor His name. The One who gives, and takes away, only so we can see who He truly is and praise His name for it (Job 1:21).

Let's face it. The Michael Jackson we all knew and loved and idolized has been gone for a long, long time. And I'm sure we would have all be blessed to have known personally the Michael that so many people spoke of today. But instead of grieving his loss and speculating what happened and why it happened and who gets what in the will and plastering it all over the news for weeks when there are young men dying for our freedom overseas who aren't even recognized for their efforts, can we celebrate what he did for our culture, appreciate it and move on? And I don't mean "move" on in an apathetic way. I mean, let the man rest in peace and let his family and friends grieve the loss of a loved one without sticking a camera in their face and asking them to relive it over and over and over again.

I know God will get the glory from this. I mean, we don't have a say in that. He's going to get his glory no matter what. I just hope that the people who are idolizing MJ in such a messianic way, will see the One who created Michael and all the people of the world in His own image (Genesis 1:27), who sent his only Son to die for the world's salvation (John 3:16), and who defeated death so that we can live eternally with Him forever to bring glory and honor to the name of the Almighty God (Romans 8:21, 34-39).