Lindsey called me tonight and asked me to turn the television to the FOX network, and from the sound of things, Satan had landed. It actually turned out to be an episode of Trading Spouses. Basically, a large "Christian" woman was wobbling around screaming, accusing, and generally acting less than intelligent. If you were unfortunate enough to see this crazy spectacle, then you know what I'm talking about.

I don't know if FOX meant to portray Christians in this way or if they simply got lucky. Either way, they knew what they were sending out.

There has been a lot of discussion (AKA hellacious burning hot flame wars) about religion, God, creation, science, evolution, and so on. The main battle goes like this: Those who don't believe in God/religion say those with faith are unintelligent and weak. Those who believe say those who don't are unenlightened and are in need of some sort of deliverance. In tonight's case, it was obvious as to why atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians feel the way they do about Christians. The worst examples sometimes become the archetype. If all Christians were as that lady, I would feel the same way.

I could go on, but it all boils down to a couple of things. I think we should stop focusing on the religion as a problem when the true problem has to do with knowledge. We're not going to solve disputes of beliefs, but it is possible to educate. With education comes tolerance, understanding, and, hopefully, wisdom. We can never overcome ignorance, bias, and apathy fully; some just can't handle assimilation after their brains have hardened. I just think that focusing on information would help us with this situation and all others.

A plea: Those against Christians, please take into account the good that has come from religion, and not focus solely on the bad. Although you are thinking like a lawyer because you're hell bent on disproving there exists such a place as hell, it might not be the best way to go about things. I believe it is always in one's best interest to examine a thing from all sides, measure every angle, and explore every abstract approach. The same goes for Christians. Let's all be a little more tolerant about personal beliefs. If you think it's a crutch, who cares? It has bettered a person's life. Perhaps they are simply going with Pascal's Wager.

As for me, growing up in a small Christian town and in a large Christian family provided years of love, understanding, support, opportunity, happiness, experience, communication, exploration, thought, and love. I mentioned love twice because it's that important. For the human, knowledge takes a backseat to emotion most of the time, which explains heated debates about religion occurring in the first place. So I try to remember this, and go with what has supplied me the most fulfilling experiences (emotional and intellectual) of all.

Lindsey and I drove to Raleigh last night to watch Brian Regan perform. Brian is a very funny, underappreciated stand-up comic who bases his material on observational humor. He's very smart and wacky, and makes me laugh more than just about anyone.

I bought tickets in June, so we had fairly good seats—6th row, smack in the middle. The Meymandi Concert Hall isn't exactly the most stellar or expansive place ever; however, it was packed. Paul Mercurio opened the show with about 20 minutes of C+ comedy. Brian Regan then regaled the audience for 90 minutes, including a hilarious interactive encore.

We also had the experience of eating in a forgotten Applebee's, which was abandoned save a gay waiter with longing eyes.

Again, I'm thankful that I'm healthy. I have clean water and food; I'm without disease; and have a nice place to live. There's no gunfire around my home other than Mr. Minsey trying to shoot muskrats. I have family and friends, and they'll help me celebrate a wedding in May.

Gig has died, but I'm thankful he was with me for so long. I have a car, a cell phone, and other luxuries when so many throughout the world think of bread and clear water in a one-room shack as high-living. I'm receiving an education (and one in which I can choose what to learn). I live in a rural area; we have heat and air conditioning; and there are hospitals that actually have up-to-date equipment and real, live doctors.

I say these things every now and then to remind myself that I have a good life, especially when compared to most of the world.

Here are some other things for which I'm thankful:

• Green beans
• Lindsey
• Family cookouts and get-togethers in which Papa is still able to participate
• There are people who hold faith and practice religion with intelligence and wisdom
• Those who aren't religious but demonstrate tolerance and understanding because they share the wisdom common to all humanity
• Fall, summer, spring, winter
• Sarcasm, subtlety, and understatement—some of our greatest tools
• The semester is winding down
• Harmonicas, banjos, and bagpipes
• Barnes & Noble gift cards and sales at Borders
• Rain and wind (but also bright, blue Saturdays)
• Bush can't serve another term
• Lindsey
• In-jokes, secrets, and times alone
• Dirt roads and rusty mailboxes
• Beach trips with family
• The selfish merchants and gluttonous colonial leaders who severed us from England.
• Cracker Barrel
• Cameras
• New family and friends given to me by Lindsey
• Lindsey