True Rebellion...

Have you ever had the desire to jump out of the cultural flowing river of our Western culture and do the salmon thing....you know...swim upstream. Better yet, jump upstream because some strength and force motivates you, and it is stronger than popular current. I would be willing to bet at one time or another we have all had that desire. The movie the MATRIX was written on this theme. Its time to wake up Neo....
My experience dictates we live in a time when people are searching for a purpose and a greater cause to live for. Our society is becoming disillusioned with leaders, media, sexuality, and the financial system. (to name a few) Causes are springing up to counter this..the Green planet movement..Political shifts...Technology shifts...Economic shifts in the global economy. The sexual and social revolution of the sixties has long past and I there is a new generation that wants to see its own shift...to leave its own mark. I sure as heck do.....I mean come on...you do to...I know you wanted to scream FREEDOM at the end of Braveheart too.
Let me present a few ideas on what I see could be some fundamental "how to's" of cultural rebellion. I am sure these will be out of the norm from what you typically hear....but that's the whole point of rebellion right? Its fun... kind of like chasing your kids around the yard with a water hose. Please...allow me to pontificate on some of my non-conforming points....

• As much as absolutely possible stay out of debt. The "man" the system is being fed by our absolute desire to have it now and our willingness to pay them an absorbent amount of interest to large corporations that operate on virtual wealth. Look at the current lending crisis.. The personal freedom that accompanies living debt free is very much not the norm but absolutely freeing and a fist in the face of popular culture. Buy used clothes, use what you have until it is just done, take care of what you have, and more importantly don't find your identity in things you own. (the cliche' = they own you)
• Seek to understand the Love of God. This could have several difficulties. Maybe you don't believe in God or some experience has formed a bad filter in which you view him. the Truth is you can call Him "daddy" and find some love that is real. More importantly once you have experienced this love you can start to dispense it. Experience is what will cause some to cringe as they read this...and experience is what will be needed to get that Love back...You got to get to give
• Commit to work thru relationships and be a long term father, mother, or friend to a healthy community throughout your life. The only thing eternal is relationship..... Therefore get some good ones and give and receive. Our Western Society functions like relationships are disposable (when its tough bail out and go on). Look at the results of this...your smart....I don't need to say anymore.
• Thru the power of God learn how to see, react, and function in supernatural activity. You know... kind of like being trained to be a Jedi knight or something. Look in the ancient writings of the new testament. They got to have all kinds of fun....spiritual visitations ...prophecy ... seeing into the spirit realm ... healing the sick.... heck ... raising the dead. That is seriously counter culture activity, a little beyond your "Dancing with the Stars" moment. I know people who really do this stuff...how strange.

Our society has come to glorify knowledge without experience, and materialism without fulfilment and love without commitment. This is starting to change, and a culture of counter values is rising up to confront these issues. One thing that we as a society must not ignore is how to evaluate the outcome or "fruit" of our actions. The whole revolution of the sixties did not pan out like many thought..... History is an important subject to embrace so we learn how to create positive change and avoid some pitfalls. Human nature has not evolved that much, and it operates mainly the same as it has since the beginning of time. Many would argue against this point and say that I am full of it...... I would say... Evaluate our current fruit...examine history and get back to me on that. Thanks for your time...you little rebel...

oh yea...ride a big black motorcycle that helps to!