Now Accepting.. Applications for New Church

The last 2 Sundays I have been out screening applicants. I am thinking about hiring a church. A place to experience religion and it's benefits. The sense of belonging, the satisfaction of tithing, so that God's joy may be spread worldwide and most of all, salvation.
In the church I have been going to, they wanted to hire me, except I have not met their qualifications. I have not attained Sainthood, my tithing isn't big enough and I can't quit drinking coffee. They are big on worldwide missionary work, rock solid in steps toward salvation, but the fences around the flock are restrictive, especially if you are a woman. As with aspects of many religions, women are considered spiritually challenged. There is a glass ceiling to God, built right in. At least we are among the marginally accepted. They absolutely draw the line on gays. Liberalism is held in disdain and somewhere a prayer is probably offered in hopes that the offender will "see the light".
Somehow, I hoped for better. Something a bit more unconditional, inclusive and forgiving. So, I'm taking applications and I have a few that are looking promising. One church even promises that their views on practical Christianity is configured to honor all the world's religions as pathways to the one true God. Now we are getting somewhere. They even allow gay couples to have union ceremonies or dare I say? Marriages! They have women pastors, as well. I saw ponytails on several males in the congregation. Maybe I died and went straight to heaven! I'm giving this church a second interview next Sunday.

Katrina

Katrina has invaded the virginal, naiive borders of my assumptions about living in the United States. I always assumed we were far better off than the countries affected by the tsunami. I was glad and safe in my own little bed knowing that my country could and would protect me in a disaster. A handsome, smiling national guard man would drag me from the jaws of death, fix my wounds, feed me chocolate and even rebuild my house if necessary.
The stark reality of Katrina has chilled me to the bone! The people that are being left to die, as a decision... a choice, no food, no shelter and living in such desparation to resort to primal law. The lowest basal urge to survive at all costs. Who would ever have thought that a hurricaine could push a civilized people to ferral rage in the depths of lethal plight? So we stop and we start rescue operations. We weigh the costs against the possible outcomes. We move so slowly that death is an inevitability for a staggering number of people. All this in a country that exhorts its citizens to reject not only abortion, but stem cell research in the name of, "Thou shall not kill..." I guess the Bible wasn't clear enough about not allowing to die needlessly. So I stare in abject horror at the last theros of death in the delta valley. The TV whines on about the Red Cross and funding and refugees and hope. Don't feed me pablum! This is the fall of the American Society and we gave up before we started! This is the state of our civilization. It took 4 days to dissolve brotherhood, Christianity and charity. What an overinflated legend I believed in! Being murdered in my bed is not any matter to the government of the United States. Next week, I could be killing someone for a gallon of gas.