The pastors were all away for a planning retreat last weekend so I thought it would be a good time to wear my FCUK shirt since something like this is about as rare (and fictional) as UFO sightings. Then I started thinking, "What the hell is wrong with wearing an FCUK shirt?" You can read it any way you want, but I am pretty damned sure about the way I read it. I agree, it sure as hell sends out messages bursting with sexual innuendoes but you know, at least the people who made these shirts had the guts to be self-expressive.

I hate it when uber-conservative people try to tell you that wearing a "too busy to FCUK" T-shirt is wrong. Or getting a tattoo on your shoulder. Or piercing your ear or nose or lip or tongue or wherever the hell else you think is worth the pain. Why do we have to be boring in order to get to heaven? What is up with the mindset that Christians have to be weirdos? I know we're supposed to be different in terms of our moral values but for crying out loud, for whatever you deem is inappropriate for you to do, don't force it on the others who don't agree.

Whether or not you want to wear or tear these shirts is absolutely at your whim. But what really ticks me off is the negative attention a certain T-shirt company is getting for making provocative Christian T shirts.

The pursuit of self-expression is not a bad thing in itself . We live in an age where maybe more than ever, everyone is searching for identity and meaning in life. This is a culture of many diverse social sub-groups, not so much anymore gender mainstream counter-culture thinking. We have a responsibility to question the mainstream cultural thinking. Jesus was never boring, but rather provoked the pharisees. God has made everybody special and different. Why the hell can't we embrace that? Nevermind that the certain group of boring farts who live and breathe hymnal books aren't creative and/or self-expressive, but it really irks me that these are the same idiots who would bring hades to earth for those who choose to be.

It's just a bloody T-shirt. It's not like we are a bunch of mentally deranged people blowing up trains or crashing planes into tall buildings in the name of self expression.

In short, keep it real.