I just happened to come across this, and as I don’t really watch South Park, it was the first I had heard of it. In a recent episode, the South Park authors have attempted to redefine the word “Fag,” which has traditionally been a slur against homosexuals, to what the word is more commonly used to refer to – “an inconsiderate douchebag [like a harley rider],” according to the animation.

“You can be gay and not be a fag…a lot of fags aren’t gay.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Many people (like the one below) do not realize that employers, colleges, and other institutions that have the ability to accept/deny people often take social networking and media profiles into consideration as part of the process. Further, many institutions continually monitor their employees’/students’/etc profiles even after they have approved someone, for the entire time that person is with that particular institution. This allows them to constantly keep that person under review.

While this does present creepy privacy concerns, it does have a bright side. It helps “prune” the workforce and educational system of morons that have absolutely no common sense (see picture).

Prosperity and happiness don’t come from money. Here’s what really counts.

In America as well as many other industrialized countries throughout the world, wealth has unfortunately come to be known, for the most part, in a financial sense. This, however, is a great shame because money in actuality is the least meaningful and significant aspect of wealth. There are so many things that are so much more valuable and that provide a much richer understanding of what wealth really is.

For the remainder of this article, I will discuss some of the things I believe constitute true wealth, and suggest some ways to achieve the wealth found in these sources.
Read the rest of this entry »

Dear friends,

For many of you, this is just one of several notes from me that you’ve been reading during the past few months. For some, this may be the first. For some, you may barely know me, or perhaps not have a clue who I am! Regardless of how you’ve ended up here, I hope you’ll spend a few minutes reading. However you may have arrived, I believe that you’ve ended up here for some reason. Please pass it on (links are good) if you feel there are other people who should read it as well.

In just 20 days, I will board a plane with 17 other college kids from Kensington church, headed to do mission work in eSikawini, South Africa. Many of you have been following along with me during the incredible journey I’ve been on leading up to this trip, through my letters, emails, and website. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Thank you to all of you who have given donations, as well as to all of you who desired to contribute but simply cannot with today’s grim financial conditions. I understand that times are very tough now and simply wish to express my deep, sincere gratitude for your willingness and desire to help me in all the ways that you have as I strive to follow where God is leading my life.

This past Wednesday, our New Community service featured the commissioning of many mission teams, including the one I will be working with. The pastor teaching during the service was Dr. Craig Mayes, very arguably my favorite, who himself is also embarking on an exciting journey with God this summer as he leads a church plant team to New York City. I would like to invite you to view the service online by visitng the following link: http://kensingtonchurch.org/message_video/index.asp?id=1771&zzwa=2008-06-04M . Craig’s sermon was absolutely remarkable this past Wednesday, and I would like to highly encourage you to set aside some time to listen to it using the above link. If you look closely, you can see me up on stage a few times!

The remainder of this note will serve as a status update for the different aspects of this very soon upcoming trip.

Spiritually, God has been thoroughly preparing me for the mission through my study of the scriptures as well as through sermons I have been hearing over the past several months. I have also been attending meetings with the mission team and leaders as well as a short retreat this past weekend in Port Sinclair. I feel that I have grown a tremendous amount in the time I have spent preparing for the trip, and look forward to much spiritual growth to take place through serving the Zulu people.

Financially, I am not nearly as prepared for the mission as I had hoped to be. I still need just under $2000 in order to be able to go, and will need to pay for whatever I am unable to raise by myself. If you would be willing to make a tax-deductible donation to this trip, please contact me as the deadline is extremely soon. I would very greatly appreciate your help! I will also be selling Africa t-shirts, available for $15. If you are interested in one or more of these shirts, please contact me.

I wish to thank you again for all the support you have shown me in any way, and ask for your continued prayers as I go through the final countdown before I leave on this mission. Thanks again, and God bless all of you!

Be part of an exciting journey in faith as “C” Branch author Chris DeMarco travels to Africa this Summer!

Among the many exciting developments that have unfolded in my life during this time is an opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip to Africa. Upon much thoughtful prayer and consideration, I have decided to take up this opportunity, and will be traveling to eSikhawini, South Africa for two weeks this July, along with a team of seventeen other college-age students from Kensington.

You can read more and will find many useful resources here.

If you haven’t heard yet, you might be interested in hearing how Dr. Neil Warren, founder of eHarmony.com, found love on the internet. There’s only one problem. It was on one of his major competitors’ sites, match.com! Take a look at this: http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/news2008/neilwarrenlove.html

And now that you’ve read through that, we can learn two valuable lessons:

1. Online dating is kinda a joke.

AND

2. Always look at a calendar before you believe stuff