My idle time here in Guatemala has set my mind to musing upon idolatry. I've seen a few of the old fashioned idols here. Guatemala is home to many processions in which villagers carry century-old shrines of the virgin Mary or saint so and so upon their shoulders up and down flower pedal-strewn streets of mud. Playing music, they sing songs and burn incense while onlookers kneel, cry and pray. I recently attended a merenge concert here in San Juan. There was some folk dancing too. They marched a man into the middle of the square. He was dressed head to toe in a devil costume that had what looked like large wooden butterfly wings laced with fireworks attached to his back. The crowd backed away as dancers taunted him and finally lit the fuse. I watched and cheered with everyone when they burned the devil twice. Burning sparks showered the retreating crowd, the devil danced faster and faster as the flame's fury consumed his backside. Rockets shot off into the crowd hitting a woman in the chest. I laughed, she laughed, they all laughed. I'm sure the devil laughed; 'twas only a fake one that was burning.

No longer do we live in an age where the widespread worship of wood and/or stone gremlins is much of a problem. (At least in the U.S.A.) Many ignorantly believe that the reign of such idiocy is a thing of the past. (Although the reign of idiocy has never been more widespread or brutal) Since I am without a dictionary, I'll give my best to define the word idol. An idol (not billy) is anything that is worshiped, served, loved, or sought after by a person more than the said individual worships, serves, loves, or seeks the living God who abides forever.

Now there are many idols to choose from. They come in stay-fresh-collectors-limited edition packaging in the magazine rack at your local Safe Way. We worship everything from Dollars, Dutch Marks, & Yen to Euros, Brittany-Spears-pepsi-poster girls, and good boob jobs. We worship men, and flags, and bow down to them, and serve them. Some worship their own bodies, spending hours upon hours shaping chests, abs, triceps, calves, legs, thighs, and breasts. Men and women worship the penis, the vagina, making bloody sacrifices of conscience and care to the great idol of libido. Others worship the idols of job the lesser and career the greater. There are bands who worship themselves or other bands and fans who worship whoever the radio priests tell them to. The worship of authors and poets is still strong although it has diminished since much of their congregation has been lost to the grand idol of television and his half typewriter brother computer.

With this in mind I must now take hold of my accusing finger and bend it back, the tendons will stretch, cartilage will pop, until finally it will snap and point back at me. I realize that in my youth I too worshiped idols and am therefore an idol worshiper. Perhaps even now I worship a few idols, though I haven't dared to say or think so until now except in some dark silent corner of my mind, lest my conscience condemn me. The open realization of such a thing would crush my fragile mind like a spit-soaked 3-d dorrito chip. Perhaps I am guilty of the worst kind of hypocrisy: that which is done publicly, openly, in front of friends, foes, and peers; yet I alone recognize my folly. Alas, the good ol' Stall itself, that which I once titled "the anti-idol", has been an idol of sorts to me. I thought of it when in peril or pain. I've labored many a late night (as I do now) and early morning, depriving myself of much needed sleep (and a worthy pass time) all to meet a self-imposed deadline, all for my beloved Stall (sadly, of which I am but one of a few readers). At times the stall consumed my every waking thought, it was on the fore of my mind and the tip of my tongue continually. I've looked to the Stall for wisdom, humor, and advise. I confessed my sins, fears, pains, sorrows, defeats, and victories (although I have never thanked the Stall for anything). I have found strength, joy, and comfort in it's pages ever since it was founded back in 99'.

Confronted with this accusation against myself I now must bring countless more. The world grows darker and more bleak with every step this pathetic rambling thought takes. Perhaps I have a Tyler Durden complex pertaining to idols. Now ask yourself "Do I worship idols?" and be honest. What answer did you receive? Can you even be trusted? How many idols do you own? Who do you love. Who do you really love? Burn your idols, put their ashes without the camp, and do it before your idols burn you.

Real T.V.

There is a new trend taking over the air waves. It is reality television, or real t.v. Apparently American audiences have grown weary of television programming that is obviously artificial in content. Yes the days of "Leave it to Beaver" and "Cheers" are sweet syndication memories that are now reminisced only on television trivia game shows. Now we have 21st century television filmed live, no scripts; survivor, bachelorettes in Alaska, fear, fear factor, and now even MTV's "The Ozbornes." Each gripping episode is filled with reality so real, it's only possible via television. Sadly, few have realized the farce. Everybody seems satisfied with this new reality. I want to start on an epic rant to rival any. Sadly, I've picked a poor topic to facilitate such venom. My element of surprise was long gone from the time you read my unpredictably witty title. Obviously television-even "reality" shows resemble nothing even close to reality. It seems to me that the mush minded Populus has been so over saturated by the entertainment powerhouses, that they have begun to crave reality.

Sensing the potential to regain ratings lost to internet chat groups, movies, live webcam porn, and so on, T.V. producers re-invented their trade with lewdness and cruelty rivaled only by Japanese game shows, the federal government, and a few United (communist) Nations regimes.

Television is responsible for brainwashing countless Americans, who, now feel they know everything. I even heard a grown man claim he knew everything about the Waco Massacre. When I asked him how, he exclaimed "I saw it on t.v.!" The Great Emerson once mentioned how people change faces as the news paper directs. I think he'd gouge out his eyes if he saw what we now subscribe to; 900 channels of nothing, 900 ways to waste time whilst losing your creativity and I.Q. points.

Television has the potential to replace almost everything that one can lack. For the stupid we have PBS. If you lack relationships or interaction with other people, watch a soap opera. If it's sex you crave, there are plenty of porn channels to boil your libido. Can't cook? No problem, there are whole television networks dedicated to cooking and homemaking. (In fact this got so popular that most stations dedicate at least a small segment of air time to that sort of stuff.) What's that, you can't find time in your busy day to listen to music while you do other things? When you get home just flip on the boob tube, there is a variety of music video stations waiting for your listening and viewing distraction.

I find it worrisome that much of what is voted upon is debated and decided by what voters see on television. And why call it T.V.? It's fucking television! Television audiences, viewers, owners are becoming too lazy to even call it by it's real name! Thousands now live in an artificial reality. I tell you, it is a prelude to the matrix. It's revolting to see people in the act of watching television. They look like lobotomy victims, with their vacant expressions and half open drooling mouths. Some complain drugs are corrosive to society, but these twits never point out the real villains responsible for transforming America into an obese, cancer-ridden, retarded, fat farm. Parents, I beg you, I urge you, remove the television cancer from your home. Kids, stop violating your mind. "Accidentally" bump the television off of it's alter. I'm off to desecrate the grave of the man who invented this plague.

IT'S ALL BEEN DONE

Sitting here, now. The universe whirls in exponential directions and speeds around me. The wonders, they lose their wonder if you see them too much. Almost all of us seem to think that all rabbits come from silk hats. As you read this, consider how you are one of the few people who have ever (or will ever) read the Writing on the Stall. It's almost as though you suffer from a disease so rare, it's been named after you. I'm not trying to write something so shallow that modern art freaks will claim they understand the genius behind my simple, semi-pathetic rambling. In fact, I am not sure what I'm writing about, but if I keep wasting ink like this, I'm bound to scribble down (this was originally authored in ink) something that will justify the time I am wasting on this... never mind, scratch that, I apologize for my temporary optimism...... well, I've wasted sufficient time waiting for a good idea, so I'll resort to the classic rant. Where first heffey ? Politics or religion? Money? Global warming? Globalists? Murderers? (I am being somewhat redundant) Kiddy murderers? No, not good enough. Those are all the product of one thing; mankind. They (always the mysterious they) say there are about 7 billion of us. Many good & many bad ones too, in fact with 7,000,000,000 of us about, there is an ample amount for each category. I cant judge them because judgement requires the ability to execute said judgement. I can (and sometimes do) observe, assign names, (based upon characteristics) and from time to time dip into the swarm like everyone else to accomplish something that significantly affects me and insignificantly affects the swirling universe. Last night I spoke to a dear friend of a dear friend about a great deal of things. Self-enmity was on the table, Jesus said to love our enemies, which rather dooms self-enmity (a pass time of mine). Still, loving one's enemies doesn't mean one should allow them to hurt you. Love, what an odd tragedy that many people think that love is the desire to or act of releasing bodily fluids. All too often members of our "peaceful/loving" society satisfy this desire by releasing sperm or spilling blood. As the world champions of peace rape, sack, and burn the world over, those who claim to protect human rights hack apart babies and liberties. Teachers profess lies, healers inflict disease, Congress legislates to prohibit God worship in order to protect "freedom of religion" (freedom from religion). Perhaps what is worse than one who lies to others is one who lies to himself. Some say that those with great minds talk about ideas, those with an average mind talk about events, and the small-minded speak only of other people. However, I beg to differ. A great-minded man's words are few, and wise, and truthful. The average fellow speaks the truth when it is convenient, he speaks more but says less. A fool speaks often, though he says little, and truth rarely escapes his lips.

Everyone crawls for the top. Many lead their lives scarcely doubting they will get there, someday. Never considering why they seek the top or why life at the top is really better than life at the bottom or middle for that matter. Many of us fail to realize that a man can only eat so much food before it becomes harmful, own only so much before being owned, or have so much money before it burdens unbearably. Too much pleasure dulls the senses until the world loses all color, all flavor, all feeling. Yet we all continue striving to fill a full cup, though the hole in the top swallows everything. The higher we build our towers, the less we appreciate each floor. With such a clime, we only gain a longer harder fall in the end. Oh vanity, oh humanity! As we overstuff our marble sacks, we risk splitting a seam and losing everything, for one last lousy marble. Some say "Live a little!" knowing they only tell you to earn death. Our fear(risk)less leaders ride a media parade touting the slogan "God bless America!" they regard the creator as a mascot that is to be kept in a shoe box until he is needed to rally the dupes, evoking heart-felt, blind, zealous nationalism to grease the wheels of war and tyranny. Such men despise God in both thought and deed. They will create strife and conflict then train, finance, and feed both sides. Each side gladly accepts the aid out of necessity or in hopes of gaining an advantage over their foe; not knowing or caring that the goal behind such "help" is to destroy both sides.

All too often people sacrifice character, conscience, family, friends, and self-reliance, all for career. People will kill for paper or because of what is written on it.

My words don't come from a bitter heart or tortured soul, but rather, after I have seen that which is good, I also know what is not. I have thus far enjoyed my life in the beauty and comfort that I've found in this world. All things (that I just now thought of) considered, this world is a wretched place, not because it was created as such, but because of the evils that we (mankind) have sewn, nourished, and reaped and reaped and reaped.

ROMANS CHAPTER 2 VERSES 29-32

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

So, in conclusion, or perhaps continuation. My advise to you is this: Shape up, repent and ask Jesus to help you lead a better life. Ask him to take away your sins, sorrows, pains, and fears... and He will. All He asks in return is for you to love Him like He loves you. Now, I'm off to see about taking my own advise.