- 6:20 PM, Sunday,
April 5th, 2015:
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- What a
chapter...
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- This took up far
more headspace than I let-on in the video,
basically because I didn't want the video to be
20 minutes long. So that's what the entries are
for...
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- I have a personal,
profound and overwhelming issue with "Mega-Churches".
Joel Olsteen and the like are absolutely con-artists
to me. I don't doubt they started out with
integrity but somewhere the money level just got too
high and they actually think it's reasonable to live
like kings because they're doing "God's work". They're
not simply reaching a bigger audience, they're buying
private jets.
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- So when
I googled the location of this church after
I booked it, seeing an ARENA actually made my jaw
drop. They have 10,000+ parishoners. They're paying a,
well, pun intended - ungodly amount for the Delorean
andit felt wrong to me. It sat with me for awhile.
Back and forth. I could afford to let this go...
but I probably wouldn't because it's my biggest
gig and they haven't really done anything wrong except
spend a lot of money....
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- ...and then the
Indiana Pizzeria said they would refuse to cater a gay
wedding (good luck finding a gay wedding that wants a
pizza place to cater it) and although I believe
that was a publicity stunt it kinda hit me in the
head: if I find it repulsive that they will
refuse service to people their religion tells them are
"sinners" - would I be any different because of
how I feel about these churches? My issue with
the money is certainly indirect. Tithing is something
you choose to do and the only pain it causes is of
your own doing. I hate that they're funding WASTE
when there's just so many other things that money
could go to (and don't even get me started on the
tax-exempt status) but really? They're not hurting
anyone. I didn't see anyone with flashy cars and
although the complex was MASSIVE (there's also a
school on the grounds) it didn't seem particularly
wasteful. Their camera equipment was ridiculously
expensive considering their skill levels (sorry guys)
but the truth is? They're a successful church, they
have the money and they probably have a certain budget
for their Easter Services and Christmas Services and
they put on one helluva show. Three 90-minute
performances, full band, tap dancer, guy painting
incredible pictures live on-stage - a
DELOREAN TIME MACHINE dropping off 2 of
their youth ministers... did I wince when they
said the bible was the most historically accurate book
ever written? Of course. But there was no hate, no
exclusionary stuff... and can I say this? New
paragraph for this:
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- They were the
nicest, most gracious people I've ever met. Only time
I've ever been booked in a hotel where they INCLUDED
incidentals (I only had 2 meals and internet -
couldn't bring myself to buy a bunch of porn just for
the laughs in my head later), gave me a healthy per
diem for food outside of the hotel and during the
rehearsals, etc. and
HANDED ME THE KEYS to one of their
church's SUVs to use. Plus 3 full day-rates. I mean,
not to be blasphemous (alright, totally to be
blasphemous), but godDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAMN. They were
remarkable. They didn't try to convert me, the kids I
worked with on the video were hilarious... I just
cannot say enough nice things about everyone involved.
Yes I think the money could be better spent
helping the community... but their over-the-top
services bring more people and they do actually help
their community. Kinda like how I use the
Delorean Time Machine to raise money for charities on
GolfKon. It seems extravagant, but in the end? It
contributes to the ability to be able to raise that
money in ways that wouldn't be possible without
it.
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- And also? I've
never done an event where I thought: "Yeah, I would've
spent this much on this rental if I didn't own the
car..." Because in the end? I'm not really that fan.
Maybe the drop-offs for $199.95 plus miles if I had a
premiere to go to... I mean, I was willing to give
Paul Nigh $300 for gas money for the Memorial Event
(before I knew my car would actually be complete)
but it would've simply come out of the donations...
I'm just not sure I could justify renting a car
for my birthday party for $500. But real fans? It's
the best day of their lives. They're beside
themselves. And you know what? I've never had
disposable income. Ever. Isn't that crazy? Like, 95%
of what I buy is to create more content. Not exactly
disposable when you're buying a camera or a
computer... it's my life line. There's never been a
"aw fuck it! Let's go to a really expensive restaurant
and spend $300" in me. I don't enjoy it. Money means
free-time to me. The more I save, the more time
I can spend with my family. That is how I
look at it. So disposable income feels like throwing
away time to me. My brain just can't compute
it.
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- But not everyone
is like that, and I respect that. And I'm not going to
refuse a rental based on my idea about how life should
be. As long as you're not doing anything illegal, you
can rent from me.
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- Kind of an
eye-opening weekend,
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- Adam
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