GRACE & PEACE

Category: Entertainment

  • How NOT to Read the Bible

  • Bob Newhart: Just Stop It

    During the NCAA Championship football game last night, between Oregon and Ohio State, comedian Bob Newhart unexpectedly began trending on Twitter and Facebook.  Likely this was because of the games referee, who had an uncanny resemblance to Newhart – a much more buff Bob Newhart.  When I first noticed this resemblance I did not say anything, assuming the association was probably in my mind only.  Not long after another guy in the group shared his observation, and several others agreed.  Before long one of the guys checked Twitter, and lo and behold the trend.

    As a kid I watched The Bob Newhart Show on many a Saturday night. In fact, it was because of that show I briefly thought  becoming a psychologist, and counseling for a living, might be an interesting career.  But that idea soon faded.  So it seems a little ironic that, as a pastor, a fair amount of my time is spent in counseling.

    While  have posted this video before, several years ago, because Bob Newhart is back in vogue – at least for today – I thought I would post it again so that those who never had the opportunity to see The Bob Newhart Show, or those who have forgotten, can see the master at work.  Of course this video is not from the actual TV show, but rather is a comedy sketch. Nevertheless, it is Bob Newhart counseling a client.  His approach here in not one I would intentionally employ, but I do have to admit there have been times it would be tempting.

  • Good Friday: The Cup & The Crucifixion

  • Cotton Candy Christianity Scorecard

    I don’t want to become one of those bloggers who becomes known for what he is against, or for pointing out how wrong other guys are, but this was just too funny to pass up.  It is also important to distinguish the gospel from all its counterfeits. For as Paul warns in Galatians 1.6-7:

    I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

    Upon further thought, it might not be as funny as I thought.  It would be funny, if it were not so serious & sad.

    Thanks to the folks at Modern Reformation & White Horse Inn for the scorecard. As they said:

    “It’s like Bingo… Only better.”

  • Worship For the “Me” Church

  • John Piper is BAD

    Michael Jackson asked:

    “Who’s BADD?”

    The answer, apparently: John Piper.

    I don’t know if it is because John Piper staunchly believes in the doctrine of Total Depravity (as do I) – which recognizes that as a consequnce of the Fall all humnaity is infected by sin in every aspect of our personality – or if there is some other underlying motive, but someone has produced this clever video:

    Just in case you are curious, Piper has seen the video and he thinks it’s funny.

  • St. Patrick’s Breastplate

    This famous prayer, one of the earliest known European vernacular poems, has been attributed to Patrick – though some scholars say a few of the words indicate a later period. But there is no question that they ooze the spirit and substance we see in Patrick’s Confession. And they reverberate with the power of Christianity that Patrick gave to his adopted land – Ireland.

    Some Christians today find great value in memorizing this classic prayer and repeating it each morning upon arising. But even if that is not something you think you might want to try, at least take some time to read through this prayer, reflect on the awesome truths expressed in thus poetic prayer.

    ***

    I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity. Through belief in the threeness, through confession of the oneness Of the Creator of Creation.

    I arise today through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism, Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial, Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension, Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom…

    I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me: God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to save me from snare of devils, from temptations of vices, from everyone who shall wish me ill, Afar and anear, alone and in multitude.

    I summon today all these powers between me and those evils, Against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and soul Against incantations of false prophets,against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry, Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

    Christ to shield me today against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

    Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

    I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the threeness, through confession of the oneness, Of the Creator of Creation.

    ***

    Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

  • Cell Phones in Church

    This seems reasonable to me…

  • I Will Rise

    I will rise and seek my God,
    And bowed down beneath my load,
    Lay all my sins before Him;
    Then He will wash my soul from sin,
    And put a new heart me within,
    And teach me to adore Him.

    O ye that fain would find the joy –
    The only one that wants alloy –
    Which never is deceiving;
    Come to the Well of Life with me
    And drink, as it is proffered, free,
    The gospel draught receiving.

    I come to Christ because I know
    The very worst are called to go;
    And when in faith I find Him,
    I’ll walk in Him, and lean on Him,
    Because I cannot move a limb
    Until He say: “Unbind him”.

    – Robert Murray M’Cheyne

  • One Thing I Think Should be Posted on the Church Nursery Door …

    Here’s the verse I have always wanted to post on the door of the Church Nursery:

    “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…”

    ~ 1 Corinthians 15.51

  • Youth Group Trends

  • Reformation Crunch

  • Calvin Crunch

  • Calvinist Pick-Up Lines

  • What Happens at an Atheist Concert?

    USA Today reported last week that the US Army has approved an atheist-themed concert at Fort Bragg (NC) after a group complained that they had not received the same support as did organizers of an Evangelical event held last year.  Among those  scheduled to appear is Richard Dawkins.  I didn’t know Dawkins was a singer! But then again, I really never gave it a thought.

    I wonder: What does an Athiest concert look like? In other words, what would distinguish an Atheist concert from a simply secular concert, or a humanist concert? Do people gather for anything? Or do they just sing and talk about what they don’t believe?

    Comedian Steve Martin might give us a hint.  In the video above Martin takes the mic at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz festival and shares what he calls “The entire Atheist hymnal”.  Funny!

    Here are the lyrics to Martin’s Athiest Don’t Have No Songs:

    Chris­tians have their hymns and pages,
    Hava Nag­i­la’s for the Jews,
    Bap­tists have the rock of ages,
    Athe­ists just sing the blues.

    Ro­man­tics play Claire de Lune,
    Born agains sing “He is risen,”
    But no one ever wrote a tune,
    For god­less ex­is­ten­tial­ism.

    For Athe­ists there’s no good news. They’ll never sing a song of faith.
    In their songs they have a rule: the “he” is al­ways low­er­case.
    The “he” is al­ways low­er­case.

    Some folks sing a Bach can­ta­ta,
    Luther­ans get Christ­mas trees,
    Athe­ist songs add up to nada,
    But they do have Sun­days free.

    Pentecostals sing to heav­en,
    Cop­tics have the books of scrolls,
    Nu­merol­o­gists can count to seven,
    Athe­ists have rock and roll.

    For Athe­ists there’s no good news. They’ll never sing a song of faith.
    In their songs they have a rule: the “he” is al­ways low­er­case.
    The “he” is al­ways low­er­case.

    Atheists don’t have no songs.
    Chris­tians have their hymns and pages,
    Hava Nag­i­la’s for the Jews,
    Bap­tists have the rock of ages,
    Athe­ists just sing the blues.

    Catholics dress up for Mass,
    And lis­ten to, Gre­go­ri­an chants.
    Athe­ists just take a pass, Watch foot­ball in their un­der­pants.
    Watch foot­ball in their un­der­pants.

    Atheists don’t have no songs.