Who are They polling?

I was reading the USA Today and it said by a 3-1 margin, Americans are okay with big government. Did I miss something? These Americans said they were okay with big government “…so long as It backed out..” ummm can anyone tell me what the governent has ever taken control of and then simply walked away from with no strings attatched? One a word, Nothing!!! The GOV is like that childrens book, “If you give a mouse a cookie.” They will ask for milk, a couch and your bed and favorite teddy bear to sleep with.

America was not founded to have large GOV control of everyhing. Here is what the GOV should concern itself with (pay attention Barry O.): The safety of this country (the military which means you should probably stop cutting funding), and up holding the law. Economics should be monitered not controlled, it will always work itself out. Education- where the real history is taught not the presiding opinions of the “leadership”. Energy is acxeptible, not the regulating but how we can better use it in our daily lives.

I do not usually way in on this topic, but I felt I must.

Iphone iblog

I sit here in my car at 606 am est waiting for someone to open the building I work in. Not that I am excited to actually work but rather because I had to drop me room-mate/friend off early. I decided this would be the perfect time to post the first blog from my iPhone. It is harder then I would like but I am getting pretty good at typing on this thing. My topics are, fighting, work and who knows what else!

Word on the street is Rampage is out of shape and still beat jardine. This is a scary thought because “the dean of mean” Jardine is a great fighter and if you can beat him you gave a chance against any one if you are in shape. The Evens vs Rampage fight should be a beauty!! Frank Mir has postponed his death sentance with lesnar do to surgery he just had on his knee. Kind of a bummer that he just can’t seem to stay healthy for very long.

I was talking with a great friend of mine (www.bretttilford.com) and we were discussing the possibility that “the word” (the bible) could be… …more of an alogorical book (especially earlier books like genesis) One of the topics we discussed was the talking snake we find in chapter three. Was there really a talking snake? Was there really a tree or specific garden? Or is it possible that genesis is written to show the choice man has in his/her life? We have come to the conclusion that we are just unsure of the answer.

For those of you who do not twitter I would like to announce something very important, I the author of this post, am engaged to be married to my beautiful and awe inspiring fiancée, Cat!! I am very excited, it will be a longish engagement because wecwant to wait until I am out of the Marines to get married, I am so stoked!!

That is all for now my friends!!!

I was thinking

I was sitting here waiting for my laundry to dry, lost some where between a race and a basketball game when I started to think about my blog.  There was nothing in particular, I was not thinking of any one blog or any future blog for that matter.  If there was a topic to my thoughts it was how has my blog changed the world.  Not the 6+ billion people that exist on this planet, but the 25+ people that read my blog, have I helped them to think about their view points differently?  Have I added new light to their already well lit “arenas” of thought?  or have  i merely contributed to the billions of thoughtless, mind numbingly dumb posts, tweets or any such things that occur on the Internet.  Am I truly just one more person in an Internet world that hosts millions that adds nothing good or new to this world?

I think that for the most part the answer is yes!  How sad, I don’t want to be that person at all, I don’t want to add nothing to this world all the while filling it up with useless drivel!  And so here is the end result of this train of thought, I Brandon Montgomery, will post nothing.  I will post nothing until something that I think will add to this world in a positive matter!  I am not saying that the current post I am working on is the answer, but simply an announcement that I will work hard to ensure that my blog is one of the few that is not self serving, not just in existence to throw random tidbits out, but is here to be provocative, and challenging.

I got a text from my mother on Saturday letting me know that Rush Limbaugh would be speaking at the CPAC conference, he was supposed to have twenty minutes and ended up taking about an hour and a half.  I must admit that there were times when my skin rose in goose bumps, he is a very gifted speaker and he did bring up some great points.  He scoffed at the idea that the “Regan Era” was over, for all practical purposes telling Newt Gingrich to shove it.  He said that, “He hopes the president will fail.”  And I found this to be interesting, he has said this before and the media lost it’s mind, however, he seemed to ignite the crowd with his statement.  I don’t think that he means he wants this country to fail, but rather that he simply wants the policies and bill’s that the President is putting  forth to fail.  But I am getting into a topic I rarely talk about so I shall move forward.

Religion:

I have been doing some thinking of late, mostly in regards to creation and the insane concept that is brought to us in Genesis.  My first thought was, how cruel is God.  And I know some of you die hard, bible beating types are sitting there praying that God would remove the demons that make me ask, or say such things.  But just follow me here and you will see.  My first thought was why would God put the one thing Adam couldn’t eat in the middle of everything he could? Second, why would he point it out? (Notice I give you a panel of all green buttons and one Dark green button and then I say don’t push the dark green one, you can push all the others, just not that one, your going to push it) then on top of that he creates an animal that is “craftier” then the others, and then either creates it with evil intent and the ability to talk, or he creates it’s ability to speak and then allow-es Satan (Lucifer if you prefer) to in habit such an animal and on top of it all, puts it in the garden with the tree!?  Doesn’t that sound like Man  was set up for failure right away?

I have to run, but I have many more thoughts and they will follow soon as I can find some time to put them down!

A few things I have seen lately

Actually only one thing: I was watching TED Talks and I saw a great clip on some really interesting ideas.  Here you go:

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/457

just copy and paste it, it is pretty interesting

My latest thoughts

I have been thinking a lot lately about some interesting topics, topics I don’t usually think about.

Government: I have decided that I think it would be best for our country if Governors and presidents were only allowed to have one term of five years.  I think this would allow them more freedom to truly work towards there goals, and towards the promises they give us.  I say this because so many times presidents and governors have to worry about their numbers, they have to worry about their careers.  If they go in there knowing they only have one shot, then maybe some things would get done.

People:  If you know me, you know that certain types of people really annoy me, first are the drama queens. I am not talking about people who have real issues in their life, I am talking about people who decide that everyone should be involved in their lives no matter what is going on.  Like people who get text messages when no one is around, so they laugh insanely loud so people will ask them what is up, as if we care!  But more then those people I can’t stand those leaches on society.  The people who decide that being a single mother with six kids and no job is a good idea, but a better idea is to have 8 more.  BRILLIANT!  Do you know who pays for her kids, that’s right folks, well fare!  SO, let me get this straight, she couldn’t get a job, so she had to have welfare, but she had enough money to go get artificially inseminated?  Does that strike any one else as slightly… …odd.  Welfare, is a nice concept that has gone completely wrong.  It feeds the already large disease that is laziness with in our culture.

I have more but not enough time.  Until next time, keep your head down, and your eyes up.

Quick little Update

I noticed the other day that my enthusiasm for blogging had begun to wain.  Maybe it is because I have been pretty busy and really wanted nothing more then to come home, workout, shower and have a nice stiff drink with my dinner.  Or it could be that I felt I had nothing of value to throw out there.  Not much has changed with these two stances, however, I did have some stuff on my mind and I felt like sharing with my 3.5 readers.

1.  I have begun to notice a few things about myself lately, some new insights into my work habits.  I have noticed that I HATE paper work.  Which for most that can’t be all bad, but for me it is not a good thing.  I plan on getting out and starting to do some Real Estate Re-development with a company that I hope to build (with my beautiful girlfriend) into an empire.  Now I know people are all thinking well you can hire someone to do the paper work and normally I would think that route but I feel that if I am truly going to know my business as I should then at the beginning my hands should be the dirtiest after the days work is done.  By that I mean, I feel I should be rocking out with the paper work, and filing systems just as much as picking out the next project(s) or ripping out some flooring or those terrible cabinets that have been in the house since it was made.

2.  I am out of shape.  Now I am not out of shape as in fat, but I am out of shape for me.  Apparently I missed it but at some point I stopped being able to eat whatever the hell I wanted which really sucks, because I like to eat, I like to drink a beer or 10 on a weekend.  I also learned that my discipline is not as impressive as it once might have been.  Oh wait who am I kidding, I was never the most self disciplined person, but now I find that I am allowing myself to make excuses. Oh well I am tired, or I have to work 12-15hr days!  But all that is BS.  If I really wanted to I could find time, I just… Don’t!

3.  I can not get enough UFC! I love it, GSP rocking and rolling, Mochida knocking little girls out, how sweet it is.

4.  Super Bowl is on tonight and I must admit that I am rooting for the underdog cards.  I like there toughness with Fitzgerald and Bolin.  I like their resolve.  And I make more money by betting on them! haha

Well this was probably a waste of time, but I had to start, just like tomorrow I will restart working out again!!

Until next time, sit back relax and watch the world punch you in the mouth!

UFC 89

Folks,

It is time for yet another night of fights.  No I am not talking about a bunch of people getting hammered and fighting in my Apt (although that is always a possibility).  I am talking about UFC 89 (hence the title of this post: UFC 89) Bisping vs Leben.

Let us start:

Bisping vs Leben:  This should be a pretty interesting fight with both fighters enjoying a good old fashioned brawl.  Bisping has chosen to fight middle weight since his loss to Rashad Evens it has been good for him, having won both his fights at this middle weight level.  Leben has always been one to give a show to the fans, always standing toe to toe.  This could prove to be his demise.  I will have to say that Bisping will win this fight, he is a 205 fighting down to 185.  He is big, strong, fast and very smart. Bisping wins. Oh yeah, I got this one, Bisping proved to be a little to much for Leben, getting a decision win.  1-0 for this card and 8-8 all time.

The next fight features one of my favorites, Keith the dean of Mean Jardine!!  how can you not like this guy.  He is fighting Brandon “The Truth” vera.  This will be a pretty explosive fight, Jardine is willing and able to trade shots with anyone, just ask forest griffen, Chuck liddel.  He is however, susceptible to knock out, Wanderlei Silva. He tends to leave his chin open when he starts swinging for the fences.  If Vera can keep his strikes sharp and technical he will win, if not, Jardine will destroy him.   Jardine wins look for some heavy ground and pound.  Jardine takes out Vera in points.  2-0 for the card 9-8 all time.

Rameau Sokoudjou Vs. Luiz Cane

How can you not like a guy named the Assassin?  Rameau Sokoudjou (pronounced SO-ka-jew) is fun and energetic if not technically sound.  He brings tons of energy and some terrible dreads.  Luiz Cane brings a 9-1 record to the octagon and I think you will see him fall to 9-2 before the night is done.  The Assassin wins.  Luiz Cane wins by TKO. 2-1 for the card, 9-9 for all time

Paul Taylor Vs. Chris Lytle

I am a fan of Lytle, however he has been on a win, lose, win, lose tear with his most recent loss coming form Josh Koscheck.  I haven’t seen much a of Taylor, but I know he likes to come out and bang so it should be a great fight with both men standing in the middle of the Octagon trying to punch the others head off.   Paul Taylor wins.  I should have stuck with my gut, but I didn’t so we find that Paul taylor won, and I am now 2-2 on the card and 9-10 all time.

Paul Kelly Vs. Marcus Davis

Marcus Davis “the Irish Handgrenade” is fun to watch, loves dishing out and even enjoys taking a little punishment.  Look for him to try and stop Paul Kelly early.  If Paul Kelly can weather the storm I think he will win a late round submission.  Paul Kelly Submission win.  Well, I lost again.  The Irish Hand grenade beat down and then submitted Paul Kelly.  It was a great fight, but I am now 2-3 on the card and 9-11 for all time.

None of the other fights are worth talking about since the odds of us seeing them are slim to none.  Hope you can enjoy this, check in tomorrow night to see how i have done and see my running total!

OH Dear!

I figured it was high time I got some time in on the ol’ blog.  I haven’t written anything in some time and I can’t say that I have been too busy.  I have merely had nothing I felt like putting into words.  While I have little to say at this time I feel it is high time I wrote something for my readers… …all three of them!  (Thanks Lover!).  First of all a few shout outs to my peeps!

For my lovely Girlfriend, see (Thanks Lover)

I have  a few friends that are always looking for ways to change the way we do things on the Internet, From creating high quality web addresses, to this new thing that is launching in a few weeks.  This is called Nectar.  I would tell you what it is but why listen to me, as my friend, one of the masterminds of this en devour, and one of his partners in crime explain it on tasty logic.  Great stuff.  To get updates you can look at the blog site for Nectar here. Good luck my friend!!

Over the last couple of weeks I have started watching some vlogs.  for those of you that don’t know what a vlog is here is an example.  My friend Josiah, has started some of his own and I must say, they are funny!  Here is a taste.  I would suggest watching the birthday one, it is great!

Oh, and did anyone see Kimbo “I can’t fight, never could, shouldn’t be allowed to degrade the MMA world that Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Henderson, Randy Couture and countless others made such an amazing sport, and I should just stop know and go back to being a bouncer at a Porno Club!” Slice totally get his faced beat in for 14 seconds against a Scrub Fighter.  ( I don’t even know his name, me, the guy who watches every fight he can, reads every story, and studies this sport with the enthusiasm of a 2 your old trying to get at his/her birthday cake).  Kimbo, if you can read this, stop fighting, unlike Brock Lesner, who has shown he belongs, you fight in a chump league, with chump fighters (no Offense Mr. Shamrock- I do appreciate you being willing to go down a few levels in order to show the world that Ho bo, I mean Kimbo, is a chump!) go back to bouncing, I know a club that needs a big scary guy… …err, well wait, get your eye taken care of first!

And I am Spent!

Sorry that so many of the links are not working my friends, I will get to fixing it as soon as possible!

 

I have been intrigued to say the least about this whole idea of a “post” modern church.  I will try to chronicle my mental adventure as it has been carried out thus far:

 

“Dude, B, you gotta read this, it is crazy!” that was my introduction to Brian McLaren (Goodness, does the current church just love this guy!) and the idea that the church is or could be growing from its current state. 

 

“Yeah, sure dude, I will get right on it.”  And that was my response to my friend, Brett, who had told me about it.  I had the book, and it sat on my shelf in my closet for about 2 months until I was so bored one day I said fine, I will read it.  I picked it up and began to reading the book as I promised… …hey I never told him when I would read it, just that I would.  Eventually I just couldn’t take it any more, I was tired of it blowing my brain away and deep down I almost had the retching type feeling.  As if I was going totally against what I had been raised to believe, if not practice, my entire life.  (I feel now that I am allowed to say that phrase since I am a couple months shy of being half a century old). 

 

Brett: “Dude, have you read it yet? You got to finish it!”

Brandon “I started it, but I had to put it down, I mean I am SoOOO busy with this school (I got off every day, or most days at around two in the afternoon for about two months.  I will as soon as I get out of this school.” 

Brett: “you will love it man, I think it might be what you have been searching for.”

Brandon: “yeah sounds great….” Here I began to trail off and try to distract him from the fact that it had been about 4 months since I had received the book. 

 

Finally I had run out of material to read so I broke down and really started reading the book.  I was thrilled, appalled and intrigued by the ideas that the book presented me.  Here were some of the more pressing thoughts:

 

1. Okay, I get that we are in a post modern time frame in our world.  But if God is unchanging, how can anything he is affiliated with change? 
2. I have been struggling with how the current church is running much to the point where I have refused to even attend any more. (outside of when my mother begs me to)
3. The idea that God’s word is more of a “family” story, rather then factual data is a little risky. 

 

There were some great emails between my friend and me, but I have been unable to get his permission to post bits and pieces and therefore will leave them out.  Needless to say (I hate this phrase because I will eventually say what is not needed to be said) it left me with plenty of things to think about and debate internally and with discuss with others. 

 

I eventually let this go and decided I needed a break from this, so here I sit trying to find some books to read for the trip I have just taken to Florida for work I might add, and I see A New Kind of Christian (ANKoC) yet again.  I decide to take another crack at it, and while I was at it I figured I would Google the topic and see what I can find.  Here are just a few of the words associated with the “Emergent Church” from all corners of the globe:

 

1.      Careless

2.      compromising

3.      reductionists

4.      unbiblical

5.      (my personal favorite) Alley to the Al Qaeda (clearly whoever wrote this article had not met them,  Not so much Alleys)

6.      Ambiguous

7.      Relativists

 

And the list goes on.  Most of these are coming from “Scholars” and southern Baptist preachers (no shock there).  And then they wonder why so many people are growing weary of the same hell fire and brimstone speech.  I mean, come on, “The boy who cried wolf” any one? 

 

When I read this book again, here are some of my new thoughts (it is amazing what you see when you are not shocked):

 

1.      Modern Christianity pre-supposes that God is in control, like a machinist is in control of the devise he is using.  Where pulleys and buttons make every movement possible.  But is it not possible that God’s control could mean something entirely different?

2.      Modern missionaries have usually spoken out against cultures mixing their way of life into a “Christian” life.  Native Americans were told there dances to the Great Spirit (a form of worship they enjoyed) were not suitable. 

3.      In the Modern church the bible is the foundation to everything!  Should not Christ be that foundation?  Not a book that has been translated more times then your cars odometer has changed!

 

Well, that is where I am at currently, I plan on continuing my thoughts on this Emergent church!  I will let you know if and when I stumble on something!

“Ripped like Jesus”

I am tired of being constantly bombarded by the idea that Jesus (very funny man, but a bit foul with the language so watch out)  was the most appealing man to ever walk the planet.  I am no genius, but I am willing to bet that after 40 days and nights in the dessert he was probably smelly, and probably didn’t look very well kept.  Is the reason we make him into this beautiful man who carries sheep just cause he wants so that he will be more appealing to the public?  Do we make him out to be this sweet gentle man because we are afraid if the truth was out there people might not be attracted to him?  I don’t know what he looks like but I can almost promise you he wasn’t blue eyes, he wasn’t ripped.  It saddens me that we feel we have to dilute the message of Christ and try to make him more pleasant and desirable.  Just saying shouldn’t his offer of a life filled with his love and the love of the father be enough?  Should not the sacrifice he made on the cross be enough of a message, should not the words He spoke be enough?  Just my thoughts