Monday, January 09, 2006

Track 2: American Empire

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NOTES:

The American Dream operates as a hook for so many folks. It's the idea of having anything you could want or need: security, wealth, nice things, more stuff. Most people that get on that track can't seem to find their way off. I know it's been hard for us to take our name off that list...to secede from the American Dream. But we're trying.

It's allure is hollow and shallow and worthless on some levels. A way of life supported only be the colonialization and oppression of 'weaker' peoples throughout the world. The American way of life is not sustainable.

Perhaps you've wanted to secede as well? To get off-track? Take heart. There's a whole group of us trying to do that...so know that you're not alone. Not alone...

LYRICS:

Well you take me out and you drag me around
But I'd do anything 'cause all I've found in you
In you
You broke my heart with my soul laid bare
But you didn't know, didn't care, now did ya?
Even care?

Still I followed you
'Cause you promised me
More than I ever really wanted

Well damn this American Empire
We all overpaid to be sure I know it
But even still
All these needs and wants and toys and taunts
They follow me everywhere
Everywhere

But still I followed you
'Cause you promised me
More than I ever really wanted and now

I wanna get my money back
I wanna get my life off-track
I wanna find my one true friend
If I could just begin again
I want to find my way back home
I want to find I'm not alone
And I'm not alone
Not alone...

Well the money's in the plate and your life's in my hands
And you wonder if I'd even understand your situation
In this great nation
Where the sick heal the sick and us blind lead the blind
Maybe together we can find what we're looking for
What was it we were looking for?

So don't follow me
'Cause I'd promise you
Nothing more than what you need and

You'd wanna get your money back
You'd wanna get your life off-track
You'd wanna find your one true friend
If you could just begin again
You'd wanna find your way back home
You'd wanna find you're not alone
Friend, you're not alone
Not alone...

Here's hopin' I find my way back to you
Here's hopin' that one day I'll follow through
Here's hopin' they read me between the lines
Until then I'm fine, I'm fine, we're all fine

So we don't get our money back
Let's get our lives off this track
Maybe you're my one true friend
Here we go, let's begin again
Maybe we'll find our way back home
Now that we know we're not alone
Not alone...

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1 comment:

Agent X said...

Ryan,

Looks like youve been reading Colossians Remixed. I cant remember now for sure, but it seems like that might have been what originally drew me to Relational Tithe to begin with. A mutual interest in that book and its themes.

Thanks for resisting and subverting. Your efforts and your blogging, encourage me to do likewise. Keep it up.

Do you read N.T. Wright? He teaches that if Jesus is Lord, then Caesar is not! The Gospel message is these 3 words... "Jesus is Lord!"

Go read Philippians. Imagine Epaphroditus carrying that letter past the Roman "Nazi Gestapo Police" with the message that "at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..." This letter to the church under the nose of the Roman colony: Philippi, where people are constantly saying the slogan "Caesar is Lord." It was a prayer before the football games, or the first-century equivelant. The crowds would have chanted thunderously... Caesar is Lord! Caesar is LORD!! CAESAR IS LORD!!!

You could get in trouble in Philippi for not saying those words at the appointed times. But Paul has planted a cell of Emperial Resistors under their noses. They chose to love enemies and pray for those who persecute etc... They chose to shun the Roman (read American) Dream.

You are doing a wonderful and daring work. God bless you in it.