U.S. television is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but every time I take a trip outside of the U.S. I find myself watching way more sports on television than I do while home. For example, here in the Philippines I’ve been glued to the tube watching several tournaments unfold: you have the Asian 9-ball championship with the likes if Jian Li Bo, Chin Chan Wan, etc. Then, later at night I get to watch the semi-finals of a Snooker Championship with guys like Selby and Murphy playing a race to 17. In between that you’ve got the LPGA British Open along with the FedEx playoffs for the PGA tour.

It’s not like you can’t watch some of this stuff in the U.S., but for some reason when I’m home I don’t. Actually that’s probably easily explained, as when I’m home I’ve got my Tivo working and rarely watch things I don’t record.

I’m a big fan, though, of obscure sports that aren’t all that popular in the U.S (including the NHL). I gave up on baseball in the mid-90’s and was never even remotely interested in either college basketball or football. College sports is a huge deal in the U.S., but it does absolutely nothing for me. Seriously, I’d rather watch some random Asian dudes play 9-ball than watch the final four of March Madness or a confusing bowl game that crowns the national champion by a vote? I’m sorry, but the college bowl system, in my opinion, is the most ridiculous system in all of sports.

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I’m in the Philippines helping to launch the first ever Asian Pacific Poker Tour (APPT). I was shocked to see over 250 entries for the first ever event and imagine that they’ll get even more in Seoul, Korea and the final in Sydney, Australia.

As much as I would have liked to do well, I was severely jetlagged and couldn’t get my schedule right in time for the tournament. It was a 2:00pm start time and I found myself waking up at 3:00am! Not the best way to prepare. I found it extremely difficult to focus and pay attention, and ultimately I played some sloppy pots, thinking that it was going to be difficult for me to play well for 10 levels on day one.

Once again I’m awake at 3:00am local time and am back to watching the finals of the Asian 9-ball tournament where Ronnie Alcado is waiting in the finals. For a guy who likes to spend his leisure time golfing, playing pool, and playing Wii, I feel as though all I’m really missing is a Wii World Championship on television!

I’ll be staying here until the end of the tournament and heading to Barcelona for the launch of the EPT’s season. In the meantime, I’m hoping to go golfing here, or maybe even to a driving range. If I can’t manage that, at least a pool table or something, watching all this pool has me inspired.

I’ve also been watching some evangelist television which is prevalent here in the Philippines. Half the channels seem dedicated to evangelism. There was one dude in particular, I forget his name, but he seemed really cool and I liked his message. I’m really not into the whole charismatic thing, I like laid back pastors that don’t give off of the vibe of a used car salesman. You know the type, “Ahhh yes, this moooooorning we had a miracle my brothers and sisters. Brother Paul has been HEEEEEEEEEALED and you can be healed too (for the low, low price of $49.95 I’ll rid you of that nasty AIDS problem you are having).

I also watched a six hour program on CNN called, “God’s Warriors,” that dealt with the various Christian groups in America and their influence on politics in this country. Much of it was really disturbing, frankly, but I also saw some people who’s message just felt right to me. Of course, the Christian right call him a heretic, but they’ll label anyone who doesn’t cooperate with their agenda as a heretic. Truth is, I think they are the heretics, totally missing the message of Jesus.

Too many church leaders mess with political issues and it’s very damaging to the church more than anything. It’s divisive and inappropriate for a pastor to nudge people to vote one way or another.

The guy I liked was named Greg Boyd and he brought up some amazing points about how dangerous the conservative Christian right’s influence on government can be. Jimmy Carter, a true Christian, also echoed those same sentiments. Despite his personal beliefs he sees the damage that can be caused when church meddles with state.

There is this other guy, Ron Luce or something like that, who heads “Battle Cry” and a Christian school called, “Teen Mania.” This dude gives me the heebie jeebies. He’s a former drug addict who now leads an army of teenagers and sculpts their ideas of right and wrong. The thing I don’t get about his message, is how does he think being confrontational and judgmental towards homosexuals and those that are pro abortion will further his cause?

Let me explain, this guy thought it would somehow be a good idea to bring his troops to San Francisco, the most liberal city in the country, and have a rally. Of course, what you end up seeing is a shouting match between the locals and his troops singing out, “We have a voice and we will not be quiet.” I just don’t see how that does any good at all. You don’t win people over by shouting at them.

Anyway, back to the guy that I do like, Greg Boyd. He believes in things like this, “Rather than have heated and divisive battles over abortion and gay marriage, why not focus on things that everyone, those in the secular world and those of all religions, believe to be important. Like tackling poverty? You want to end abortion, well one of the best ways to do that would be to address poverty worldwide since the majority of abortions are a product of poverty.

He also talked about homosexuality and said something like, “It’s not the ideal God had in mind, but when Jesus talks of homosexuality he talks about it in the same breath as greed, gossip, and gluttony. In fact, homosexuality fits right in between greed and gossip, yet the Right seem to have singled out the homosexual lifestyle, somehow ranking homosexuality as more sinful, than say, gossip. Where did they get their info from? I don’t remember seeing points associated with different sins in the bible? “Murder, that’s a 45 point sin right there, Blasphemy that’s 35 points, cursing is a 10 pointer, homosexuality, that’s off the board bad, like a billion point sin right there. Judging others in the name of God? Eh, we’ll let that one slide since we had good intentions.”

The right want to fight for the wrong things. Instead of focusing their energy on helping the poor and taking care of the Earth and it’s creatures (it is written in Genesis that we need to take care of the Earth and all of the creatures in it), they instead waste too much of their energy trying to tell you who to vote for (people that will push their own agenda) and condemning homosexuality and gay marriage. Why are their priorities so out of whack? I have no clue. The bible can be interpreted in so many ways I guess, but I’m sticking with people like Greg “The Heretic” Boyd and Pastor Rob Bell. They won’t tell you who to vote for. They teach love and tolerance, not politics. They teach the message of Jesus without letting political agendas cloud their judgment.

Boyd brings up another good point: In the time of Jesus politics was a huge deal, with all kinds of hot button topics. If it was important for our pastors and preachers to sway us in voting for the “right” leader, why would Jesus make no mention of it at all? You’d think he would have said something about it?

Oops, over 1000 words now, that’s what happens when I watch too much television! I’m sure I wrote at least a few things in there that are going to get on peoples nerves (not the first time, won’t be the last), but these are just my opinions. I’m no expert on any of it at all and don’t claim to be. These are just my personal thoughts and I don’t want to pretend like I have to be right. I could be dead wrong in everything that I’ve said. You should all know by now that I’m not one to be afraid to share my opinion. If you disagree with me, which I’m certain many of you will, that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends does it? J