Miracle in the Foreign Missions Service

The Foreign Missions Service has always been my favorite service of the conference, and this year was no exception. Norman Paslay was the Master of Ceremonies again, but without his usual sidekick, Bro. Paul Mooney, who returned to Indiana to preach the funeral of a minister. (Bro. Bryan Abernathy and Bro. Howell assisted Bro. Paslay throughout the service in raising PIMs and an offering.)

The service was started with old fashioned Pentecostal music. With Bro. C. M. Becton on the piano, and retired FM board member, Bro. R. P. Bell, on his guitar, Sis. Vesta Mangun and Sis. Bobbie Shoemake led us in singing, "All In Him" and "Send the Light". Very fitting for the theme of the service which was A Life, A Land, A Legacy.

In their usual grand parade, missionaries, missionary kids, retired missionaries and former missionaries flooded the floor of the coliseum, carrying their country's flag and wearing brightly colored clothes from their respective nations. The audience gave them a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes as they made their way to the steps in front of the platform, where Brother Howell prayed over them.

Bro. & Sis. Carl Varnell were brought to the platform and thanked for their years of service to the Foreign Missions Divison. Scotty and Krista Slaydon, with their little daughter, Abigail, were introduced as the new Foreign Missions Secretary.

The focus of the service was on the retired missionaries, and the sacrifices they had made for the work of God. As each retired missionary was recognized, Bro. Howell prayed over them and gave them a small trophy, and they had special seating on the platform. Bro. & Sis. Sam Latta, retired missionaries to Liberia and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) were given a torch which was used to light a huge cauldron that burned the entire service. Bro. Howell then announced that the offering would be for the retired missionary account. (Missionaries who have served for a minimum of 20 years receive a monthly check from FMD after they retire, and get their insurance paid. There are 30 retired missionaries being supported by FMD.) The amount they wanted to raise was $350,000. I never heard a final number, but I believe they had raised $300,000 by the time I left the service.

Twelve missionaries were presented that each needed 30 PIMs (Partner In Missions) to get them back to the field. The appeal was made, and as enough PIMs came in to send one family, the missionary was given a torch, which he lit from the burning cauldron. As the last missionary received his torch, fireworks went off all across the platform and it was quite a celebration.

But one of the most exciting events of the night was seeing Timo Simoneaux, 13-year-old missionary kid to Malawi. During the offering appeal, Bro. Howell brought Timo and his parents, Tremayne and Vickie, to the pulpit. At the end of July, he was at death's door with a severe case of bacterial meningitis. He fell into a coma and after a couple of days was flown to South Africa for better medical treatment. God miraculously healed him, but the meningitis left him totally deaf in his left ear and some hearing loss in his right ear. Bro. Howell asked the conference to pray for him, and with much fervor and anticipation we all prayed. After maybe 10-15 minutes, I watched Timo tell his mother something. She bent over and said something in his ear, talked to him for a minute, then she lifted her hands and started jumping up and down, crying and praising God. They got Bro. Howell's attention to let him know that Timo had been healed and he could hear. The coliseum erupted in praise and a time of rejoicing. It was a sight I'll never forget!

Finally, Bro. Ron Macey, pastor from Houston, TX, was brought to the pulpit to preach. He took his text from Job 28:7-8 and preached on "A Path Called Sacrifice". He spoke of missionaries who have sacrificed everything, and their sacrifice brought about great revival in countries overseas. But in modern America, are we willing to make sacrifices? Can we give up the latest tech toy to reach a soul? He remembered William Thompson, missionary to Colombia, who was buried just a week ago. God audibly spoke to Bro. Thompson when he was a child and called him to the land of Colombia. He had never heard of Colombia and didn't know where it was, but he followed the call and was appointed to Colombia in 1947. Johnny Willhoite, missionary to Mexico and several other countries, died on the field, without any earthly possessions or money. But as Bro. Macey put it, if Bro. Willhoite could sing a song, he would plunk on his guitar and sing, "I'm a prisoner of love, a slave to the Master. . . I seek no reward in this world below, but payday will come, when the pearly gates unfold!" What made Missionary Steve Willoughby go back to the field with a wife fighting cancer? "I seek no reward in this world below. . . " What made Else Lund give her life to the work of God in Ghana? "I seek no reward in this world below. . ." He wrapped up the service by asking the retired missionaries to take seats across the steps of the platform. As he made an appeal for everyone to take the path of sacrifice, the altars were flooded with people, young and old, falling on their face at the feet of pioneers who had followed the path of sacrifice.

Hats off to the FMD team and another great service.

Friday Night

The temperature dropped about 25 degrees on Friday and it rained all day. This seemed to affect the Pentecostals, because the booths were empty Friday afternoon - not many shoppers! When the Media Missions Service started at 6:15 pm, there were maybe 300 people scattered throughout the coliseum. Don't think I ever remember such a small crowd for any service. But they rolled on as if the Coliseum were full. Media Missions did a live broadcast that aired on their "There is Hope" program on XM radio. The Heavenview Singers from Heavenview UPC, Winston-Salem sang "Hear Us From Heaven" followed by a short sermon from Bro. Danny Hood. (Kudos to Tiffany Countaway, producer of the extremely organized broadcast!)

Tupelo Children's Mansion followed with a 15 minute promotion -- a very moving video of some of the children from the Mansion. TCM interviewed two of the original children to the mansion, and you couldn't help but be moved to tears as they told how TCM gave them a chance in life and loved them when no one else would. Bro. Steve Judd and his staff run a top notch home for children, and you can't help but want to empty your pockets for them.

The Home Missions service started at 7 pm, and again, the coliseum was not full. By the time the service ended, there were still about 4 sections in the back that were not full. The theme of their service was "This is North America". They began with different people coming out on the platform and quoting Acts 2:38 in every language you could imagine. Then they played a short video clip of people from around the USA quoting Acts 2:38 - must have been at least 50 languages. Cortt Chavis, pastor's son from Spring Lake, NC, is a Native American Indian, and he led the worship service. Fantastic worship leader. A Filipino choir from California sang. Brother Carlton Coon emphasized throughout the service that This is North America now. It's no longer a English speaking only country - there are people from around the world that live in the US, and they need Jesus. He introduced a pastor from Indiana who had a burden to reach more than the white Americans in his community. He first won many Burmese people, then a large group of Hispanics, and it's expanded from there. Then he introduced Bro. Staten from DC Metro. As he came to the platform, he brought some of his saints to the platform with him. A little Hispanic man came up with them and he was jumping up and down, very loudly shouting and praising God. Bro. Staten explained that he had just received the Holy Ghost at conference on Thursday night. This man, Juan, came to his church after his sister was murdered. They prayed for him, he was delivered from drugs and then just received the Holy Ghost this week. He continued to jump and praise God throughout Bro. Staten's presentation. Bro. Staten is growing a great church with very unique outreach efforts. He's even won a member of the Black Panther gang, who told him he couldn't believe a white man could love him or even want to talk to him.

The sermon was a play written by Tom Trimble. He goes to a hotel to pick up a visiting minister to take him to lunch. He greets the girl at the front desk and fumbles her name - she let him know that he always got it wrong - for the 3 years she had worked there. They go to his favorite restaurant, get his favorite waiter, and he gets his favorite waiter's name wrong. He brags to his minister friend how Ricardo/Roberto is the best waiter, etc. While they're there, Roberto had a heart attack and died. The minister goes to the funeral home and finds that the hotel desk clerk was married to the waiter and they lived right by his church. He had never witnessed to them, never invited them to church and he saw both of them on a regular basis. There was more to the play that I won't get into, but it was very moving and the entire congregation was weeping. It was a wake up call to all of us that we see the same people every day and never even consider that they need God. Fantastic service!

I need to run. More this afternoon.

No Sarah Palin on Thursday Night

So I was late getting into the service Thursday night. Saw lots of friends on the way in, and by the time we got inside for service, Brother Haney was taking the pulpit - at 8:15 pm. Totally missed the music and preliminaries. And no, Sarah Palin did not show up. The coliseum was full, but not packed. We had no difficulty finding a seat, but it was in the back of the auditorium -- nothing available up close.

The theme of the conference is "Stormin' the Gates", so Bro. Haney preached around that theme. He started out telling about his family heritage and how they came into Pentecost. He talked about the Church and it's foundation, and then after a bit, launched into singing the old song, I'm talking about the church, in the book of Revelation, it's built on a rock, got a firm foundation. . . " He eventually preached about the gates of hell not prevailing against the Church.

It seemed like he had some difficulty getting his thoughts together in the beginning, but by the end of his sermon, he was obviously annointed and delivered the remainder of his sermon very powerfully. On a set built behind the pulpit was a pair of large gates, and as he wrapped up his message, men started busting through the gates with posters that said things like, abortion, homosexuality, same sex marriage, addictions, abortion, pornography, etc. As they busted through the gates, thunder sounded, the lights flashed, and behind the platform and around the perimeter of the coliseum, flames of fire flickered, as if it were hell. It was very effective, scaring my 5 yr old son, and a Down syndrome man in front of us. Men then flooded the platform, rebuking evil, stomping the posters, and chasing the evil men away. The altar call came at about 9:25 pm.

The exhibit area is split into 2 sections, so we circled the section with the Home Divisions and Foreign Missions booths, spending most of our time looking at the gorgeous china, tea cups and crystal in Bro. & Sis. Arlie Enis' booth. We ended up at a restaurant at the Sheraton, where we stayed until almost midnight, visiting with old friends.

More later. . .

GC 08 Friday

Not a real exciting GC--not much to blog about. Scotty Slaydon was elected as FMD Secretary. As far as I know, all other secretaries retained their positions.
Attendance is really down. East coast GCs are not high attendance, but this one is really low. Seemed like a very small crowd for the Sup's message Thursday night. I hear 7000 are registered, but although I am not good at guessing crowd numbers, I'm positive 7000 were not there to hear him.
Booth business is really slow. I saw very little action on any of my shifts thus far. Even the PPH, FM, and HM areas--the high profile high sales areas--are seeing very little traffic. Maybe the weekend crowd will pick up for Saturday sales.
It rained and turned cold today--50s and women scrambling to find jackets and shawls. Thank God for mall across the parking lot and shawls in the FM booth area! :)

New FMD Secretary - General Conference 2008

I've been told that Scotty Slaydon has been elected the new Foreign Missions Secretary. More details soon.

Ministers Business Meeting

The Ministers Business Session started at 9 am this morning. They have re-elected Jerry Jones as the General Secretary, and Linda Gleason as Ladies Ministries Secretary.

Carl Varnell is retiring and has announced that he will not let his name stand for FM Secretary. They are voting on that position as we speak. It is extremely important that the right man be elected to this position, someone with great financial knowledge. The FM Secretary literally has hundreds of lives in his hands as he handles the budgets of missionaries, and is dealing with the economy of foreign countries, the devalued American dollar, Cost of Living Adjustments, extremely high overseas housing, months of deputation, and American churches suffering because of a failing economy. This position is more than just being able to preach well and get a crowd shouting.

More later. . .

PMA Songfest

Just got in from the PMA (Pentecostal Music Association) Songfest and my feet are so happy to be out of my pointy-toed shoes.

It's been a hectic day. After we got our kids off to school, my husband and I drove over to Greensboro to attend a marriage enrichment class sponsored by UGST. Fantastic session taught by Cindy Miller. At each break, we would see friends, quickly catch up on the past couple of years, then run back to our class. Lunch in a hotel restaurant was like being on the red carpet in Hollywood. A steady stream of familiar faces, hugs, a kiss in the air, looking over someone's head while talking so you didn't miss seeing who walked by, and all was good. How easily we slip back into that GC mode!

The Sheraton Hotel staff is superb. Very friendly and accommodating. I stopped to chat with a retired missionary widow and she was telling me that she had just left her purse on a shuttle van. As we talked, a staff member walked up with her purse and was so kind and gracious to her.

Several NC choirs were asked to sing in a mass choir tonight, to back up the soloists and praise singers/chorale. The band was superb, as were the praise singers. The concert started at 7 pm with a very small group of people in attendance - maybe 1000. I'm not good with numbers, but I'd say that there were maybe 5000 by the time the concert was over. Not sure why. Maybe they were watching the debate??? We started the concert with You Are Good, and then made our way through some newer songs (I Am Free/I Know Who I Am/Dancing Generation) and then circled back around and sang Nothing But the Blood, Oh the Blood, and How Great Thou Art. PMA Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Priscilla McGruder, Hal Kennedy and Carroll McGruder. Sis. McGruder was very surprised, thinking she was there to help make a presentation to someone else. She is very thin, but looked remarkably good and her voice was strong as she spoke. (Hal Kennedy is a retired pastor from Titusville, FL who used to sing with a southern gospel group called the Dixie Echoes.)

Two winners from the North American Talent Search sang -- Mark Crowder and Brittney Macey. Mark Crowder has so much energy, he makes me tired, but he is phenomenal. Bro. Sam Emory led the congregation in Bye & Bye, and Have a Little Talk with Jesus and got everyone cranked up, as only he can do. Mark Crowder wrapped it up with Freedom and we were outta there by 9:15. No long offerings, no long announcements, just great worship and awesome music.

Oh, you should see some of the hairdo's I've seen. One girl's hair looked as if she had taken a toilet paper roll, rolled her hair around it (right at the top of her forehead!) and sprayed it stiff. You could see straight through it! Another girl looked like she only needed to slide a bone through her hair and she would look like Pebbles from the Flintstones. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow!

I almost forgot. . . after the concert there were hawkers, selling tambourines that lit up and flashed on and off, like something you'd buy at the circus. Is that new this year or have I missed too many conferences?

I'm off to bed!

Maranatha

I consider myself to be blessed.  I have an apartment, a job, and enough ramen noodles to keep me from starving to death.  I have a family who loves me and a church that feeds my soul.  I enjoy my life.  But I look around and see so much pain in the world.  I see young men who feel the need to get tough with their girlfriends because their father was never present.  I see young women who think that having sex is the only way to experience the kind of love they never received as little girls.  I see children who don't get enough to eat because their parents can't get a job.  This pain in the world breaks my heart and leaves me crying out "Come quickly, Lord!"

 

Today is Blog Action Day in which various and sundry blogs are teaming up to focus attention on the issue of poverty, a subject about which the bible has a lot to say.  I find it interesting that the Bible begins in a garden where God provides humanity with food.  And it ends in Heaven at a great wedding feast.  God, from beginning to end, is concerned with something as mundane as food. 

 

Of course, after the Fall and before the Judgment, God's provision of food works a little differently.  Because of the curse it's a lot harder to get food.  So God now provides through his people.  As Christians we are called, not simply to wait for the Kingdom of Heaven, but to work to establish it now.  Will we ever be able to end poverty?  Will we ever be able to feed all the world's hungry?  No.  But one day God will fully establish his perfect Kingdom and personally wipe away every tear.  Until that day, as his church, let us work with him toward that goal.  As his hands can we not begin now wiping away the tears caused by poverty and hunger?  Can we not offer a little food, a drink of water, or warm coat?  As simple as they may be, these small steps toward the Kingdom are important to the God of the universe.

 

Even though our hearts are broken by the pain in this world, we can work to end it.  And even though we know we will never be able to fully end the pain, there is still one more thing we can do--pray.  Come quickly, Lord!

GC 08

Wow, this is a first for me--blogging! Wait till my computer guru son hears about this! :) So I guess 50+ isn't too old to learn new stuff, huh?
Okay, on to the reason for this blog--GC 08. We arrived after a long 15 hour--but beautiful--drive from St.Louis on Monday. Great weather, beautiful foliage--but messed up GPS once we got to the city. Oh well, we got here safe.
Lots of familiar faces, meetings going on, a mall right across the parking lot--woo-hoo!--elevators slowly getting slower . . . typical GC stuff. Wednesday is setup day for those of us manning booths, then the PMA service at night.
Biggest rumor is Palin's appearance for Thursday night--from all I hear, it is more than just rumor. We'll see. We've got our buttons to wear just in case!

Rumors, Restaurants & Revival

The 84th General Conference of the UPCI begins tomorrow, and the Piedmont Triad area is buzzing with Pentecostals. (For the non-Tarheel 90&9 readers, the Triad is an area that consists of three smallish cities, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, all within 20-25 miles of each other.) Board/committee meetings started Saturday and continue through tomorrow. The shopping centers are busy and the restaurants are starting to fill. It's an exciting time if you like seeing old friends, staying up till 2 am, and walking til your feet cry out in pain.

My name is Brenda, and I'll be blogging from my home, right here in beautiful Winston-Salem. My husband and I will be making the 30 minute commute every day to Greensboro to the Koury Convention Center and the Greensboro Coliseum. For those of you who have never been to Greensboro, although it's a wonderful city, it's not the most conference friendly place for a big group of Pentecostals who like to eat and visit with friends. The "headquarters" hotel is the Sheraton Hotel at Four Seasons/Koury Convention Center. It's huge. Miles and miles of hallways. Lots of meeting rooms and ballrooms and restaurants. It's also 2 miles from the Coliseum where we'll be having church. Free shuttle service is provided to some hotels, but if you want to eat somewhere other than your hotel or at the Coliseum, you'll need a taxi or a very sweet friend to grab a ride with.

There are more restaurants this time around, than in '98 when conference was last here. Hopefully restaurants will stay open late for us and I won't end up at Jake's Diner at 2 am after driving around for an hour. Did any of you experience Jake's when you were here in '98? They've moved to a new part of town and are three times bigger. Maybe we'll try them again.

Lots of rumors already swirling about the minister's business session on Thursday. There's the rumor that an encumbant secretary may resign for personal reasons. And who will be elected to fill the editor-in-chief spot left open by the untimely death of Bro. Robert Fuller? Shouldn't it be someone who's respected as a Theologian, but has writing and editing experience? Some surprising names are being tossed around. What about the FM secretary's position?

But the biggest rumor we're hearing is that Sarah Palin may make an appearance at conference Thursday night. We heard the rumor several weeks ago, but had no confirmation. We listened to the news, checked her travel schedule, but she was not scheduled to be here. Then late last night, I heard a breaking news report that she will be speaking at Elon University Thursday afternoon, just a few miles from Greensboro. So, it would work out to swing by the Coliseum Thursday evening, wouldn't it? Apostolic Report says a NC pastor announced to his congregation that she may be here. Hmmmmm. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, I have 10,000 songs to learn for the songfest tomorrow night. So many behind-the-scene details to be worked out. Mass choir practice in Raleigh. Ushers & greeters meeting on Sunday morning. Make a run to Mrs. Hanes Cookie Factory to buy Moravian cookies for a NC gift bag to some committee members. Can we get some Krispy Kreme doughnuts delivered to a meeting at the Sheraton? (After all, this is the home of the original glazed doughnut!) Ensemble practice tonight at the Pentecostals of Greensboro Church, for the Ladies Day Service. Be on the platform tomorrow night at 6:15 for the PMA Songfest. Marriage counseling class with Cindy Miller tomorrow at 9:00 am. Drama practice from 3-5 Friday for the Home Missions service. Sound check at 3 pm Friday for the Media Missions service. Okay, that's enough. Somehow it'll all come together.

I'll try to keep you posted on the conference news, latest Pentecostal fashions and hairdos, and all the services. In the meantime, pray for the conference. We're expecting a huge crowd for the Holy Ghost crusade Sunday night. There are billboards all around the Triad advertising the crusade. We've been passing out postcards, tickets and flyers around our communities, and we're expecting hundreds to receive the Holy Ghost!

Religion, Maher Style

Whether or not your watch movies. Whether or not you care about a devout liberal TV guy, you need to at least stay aware of what’s being said about believers in society today. After all, other people will be listening to him and may actually ask you some questions. From the article:

“Yawn. The atheist/agnostic/unbeliever game has such long white whiskers that it's hard to get worked up when a new player -- howsoever gifted, like Maher, in the arts of entertainment -- reports and suits up. The Catholic philosopher, Michael Novak, in a fine new book ("No One Sees God: The Dark Night of Atheists and Unbelievers") calls atheism "a leap in the dark" and urges "prolonged, intelligent and respectful conversation" among humans who differ on the eternal questions.

Not much chance of a conversation like that with Brother Bill, whose unshakeable grip on certainty protects him well enough from cavils, such as that virtually the whole world is religious in one way or another and so, in his own way is Brother Bill himself: religiously committed to the idea of religion as a nullity, a waste of everybody's valuable time.”

Going to General Conference?

We'd love to grab a contingent of eager volunteers to live-blog the UPCI's General Conference! If you're heading to Greensboro, NC on Oct. 15-20, won't you send us an email at editor@ninetyandnine.com?

We just need you to post every day you're there and include pictures if you can. Thousands will thank your efforts.

Everyone's Apostolic

So 90&9 just couldn't pass up the chance to drop anchor at Everyone's Apostolic. We've posted Forum pictures, and even dropped this week's cover in on Saturday as a surprise.

If you're a member, we want to be your friend! Send us an invite today.

Forum 2008 Link Love

So our friends at Missouri Youth gave us some promotion at their site - both with a blurb about the Forum and pictures.

It's fascinating to us how viral certain events can become. We're just thrilled others are catching the vision for this even we co-sponsor with Gateway College of Evangelism.

And here’s an unusual testimony. One attendee enrolled herself in college when she got home. Perhaps the angels don’t rejoice over this type of choice, but our Heaven Father always smiles when we’re willing to push ourselves toward greater excellence. The more tools we offer Him, the more He has to use through us.

Single in the City

Did you realize that the average American female has her first wedding at 26? (At what age do you think the average Apostolic gets married?)

Did you realize San Francisco is the "most single city in America"?

Did you realize 34% of women 25-64 are single?

It's all right here!

Forum 2008

We'll have a full report on the Forum 2008 (and some commentary that may force you into a personal reevaluation), on Monday night (October 6).

Here's a sneak peek of some pictures and participants from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

Temper of our Times

We live in interesting times...a Presidential election...wars and rumors of war...a Wall Street bailout that resurrected the big "D" (Depression) for the first time in decades...

Then, in the arts, which often tell us more about our times (and the past) than the headlines, there is this - two movies with decidedly different agendas, playing only to their bases? It will be interesting to see how audiences and critics respond.

Web 2.0
Likewise, I found this article on Web 2.0 insightful on many fronts. Take these pull quotes:

"The point of this new media landscape is to create something and share it with the world. When we post anything to the Web, we are begging for a conversation. We want to be ridiculed, called out, accepted, talked about, linked to, and, most important, not ignored.

It's easy to criticize the rise of participatory social media as a giant waste of time. And it's true that a fair amount of what's being created is adolescent. But that criticism misses the point: This trend is setting the stage for greater long-term engagement. It's an indicator that people are working to find new ways to collaborate and to be part of something larger than they are individually. The sheer immensity of the participation is the story"

This is an indicator of how people are/will be changing their behavior and goals. To reach them with the Gospel, we must understand these changes to be effective for the kingdom.

Transparent, Totalitarian Iron-Fister Lashes Out At America For Failing To Keep Communist Ideal Afloat Through Proximity

I always love it when socialist nitwits panic every time their Great Satan actually looks like it may be teetering over Hades. Ditto for Vladimir Putin:

The Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin lashed out at the United States today for what he said was its inability to deal with the financial crisis affecting the global economy.

In remarks unlikely to go down well in Washington, Mr Putin was especially critical of Congress's rejection of a $700 billion bank bailout – a rejection that hit Russian financial markets particularly hard.

“Everything that is happening in the economic and financial sphere has started in the United States. This is a real crisis that all of us are facing," the former president told a government meeting in Moscow.

Whoa, wait a second, Comrade. Listening to you, Fidel, or for that matter, that military-hating money grubbing Rep. Cynthia McKinney, it should be precisely our fall that makes everything Kumbaya, right? You know, that whole "spectre is haunting Europe" business?

Let's get the narrative straight, okay?

Spacebo.

-R

Your Political Beliefs (Mathematically Speaking)

Okay, here's a fun "political beliefs" quiz (40 questions, about 4 mins max) on political beliefs that will give you some interesting responses to what your "true" political responses are socially & economically. It was designed by mathematicians & appears to be quite accurate, judging by the analysis on me and a friend.

Yes, it doesn't quite give you every option you want for every question & yes there are caveats to certain questions, but it's a quiz!

Find out if you're a "Capitalist," "Centrist" -> John McCain, "Liberatarian," "Fascist," or "Socialist -> Barack Obama. (Presidential candidates as defined by this quiz, which is also interesting.)

So go take it & let me know what you are. Me? I'm a "Centrist" (which must be why I upset so many people in so many ways! :)

BTW, Phillip Hampton, our original blogger (and an original staffer), is going to take a spin on "Month in the Life" to cover the last 4 weeks of the election. Go check him out, won't you?

Okay, Now I Am Offically Creeped Out

Chances are, if you've already seen this elsewhere, you've already seen the word "creepy" attached to it.

Once again, the vehicle of worship and adoration that should be reserved for a God that will not exactly be treated with deference if they get their way has been out and out commandeered. And the blatant use of children (who fortunately managed to sneak past the Family Planning quotas) to propagate a messianic tone? Sickening.

Watch at your own, Guyana/V-For Vendetta/Soylent Green/all-that-is-missing-is Rembrandt-Lighting peril.

One interesting note as well. Please note the day of the week in which this was shot, as noted by the text at the beginning. How fitting.



-R

When Pentecostals Sue

Alert Reader Billy sends this:

Former Galleria Hollister Worker Sues Over Dress Code
Lakettra Bennett is Pentecostal and says her religion does not permit her to wear pants or skirts if the hemline does not cover the knee.

++++
Is there a line that has been crossed? Should Christians take matters to court when they have been “persecuted” for a bad dress code? Should we insist on our rights? Or, have we become so non self-sacrificing that we shirk at persecution thinking it’s not God’s will? (Think of the first century church and they were fed to the lions)

Consider…
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

and…

“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:” (I Corinthians 4:9-12).

and…

“For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” (I Peter 2:19-23).

On the other hand, didn’t Paul stand up for his Citizen rights after being thrust into prison and beaten wrongfully? Are we Apostolics to be “dumb sheep” never standing up for our rights?

“And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city” (Acts 16:34-39).

What sayest thou, kind reader?

Shades of Grey

As Christians we strive to make moral decisions.  But often the answers are not so clear as we would like them to be.  The evangelical movement, for example, has recently begun to acknowledge that caring for and protecting the environment is a moral choice that had been ignored for decades.  Good stewardship of God's planet means not squandering its limited natural resources.  Newer technologies are allowing us to take better care of our environment on a national, a local, and an individual level.  Such environmentally friendly philosophies, then, are always the moral choice in a given set of alternatives, right?

 

It would seem so, but this story out of the UK reminds us that applying any moral choice to every situation is a dangerous thing, especially when it comes to technology.  In this case, one scientist, Sir David King, is making the argument that environmental philosophies which encourage organic foods and "traditional farming" techniques are, in reality, keeping Africa poor.  Because improved agricultural technologies have become readily available, they should be alleviating some of the hunger and poverty in Africa as they are starting to in Asia.  Instead, Western Non-Governmental Agencies and aid organizations are emphasizing a "focus on nontechnological agricultural techniques, on techniques of farming that pertain to the history of that continent rather than techniques that pertain to modern technological capability."  Such a focus discourages technologies such as genetic improvements that could protect plants against new diseases,  as well as provide drought resistance, saline resistance, and flood tolerance.  In fact, one organization "worried that drought-tolerant crops may have the potential to grow in habitats unavailable to conventional crops.  The priority of providing food to an area of the world in greatest need appears not to have been noted."  King calls such environmental agendas "well-meaning but fatally flawed." 

 

Adopting any idea or philosophy wholesale without fully considering the consequences is always dangerous.  And to claim that my personal convictions should be applied to everyone in the world is, likewise, dangerous.  It may be a good moral choice for me to eat only organic foods as a way of demonstrating kindness and good stewardship.  But in Africa, where genetically altered crops could save many lives, to insist on low-tech methods of agriculture is certainly not the best moral choice.   

 

Sometimes making a moral decision is not as clear as we would like it to be.  Sometimes it requires wisdom simply to live righteously.  When discussing personal convictions and "the right thing to do," perhaps we should always start where Proverbs 9 starts, with the fear of the LORD.

 

Josh R

What Do You Want To Do Today Brain? The Same Thing We Do Every Day Pinky...

 

This week it was announced that pornography is no longer the king of the internet.  Social networking sites have taken the top spot as Facebook and My Space become the way to stay connected, get connected, or reconnect with friends all over the world.  Analysts indicate that this reflects a major shift in the way we are communicating as a society.  But it's not just an American phenomenon.  Really, social networking sites have become popular all over the world.  Countries as diverse as Sweden, Korea, Australia, Turkey, Colombia, South Africa, and India are all finding web-based friends.  Facebook is leading the way in the global market with tools that allow users to translate their sites while others like My Space have to create a local version of the site in each new market.  It appears the internet is undergoing a change from primarily being used for entertainment purposes to becoming an important form of communication and a major piece of our lives, not to mention actually bringing a small sense of unity to this diverse planet of ours.

 

Josh R

Intellectual Skiier Reaches Bottom Of Socialized Medicine's Slippery Slope

Even though Planned Parenthood's founder, Margaret Sanger was light years ahead of this woman with her brand of racial eugenics wrapped in a woman's right to choose, the aplomb on the public stage is nonetheless sobering. Old and infirm? Do your civic duty. Let the government "put you down."

The veteran Government adviser said pensioners in mental decline are "wasting people's lives" because of the care they require and should be allowed to opt for euthanasia even if they are not in pain.

She insisted there was "nothing wrong" with people being helped to die for the sake of their loved ones or society.

The 84-year-old added that she hoped people will soon be "licensed to put others down" if they are unable to look after themselves.

But is the Baroness doing anything other than front loading the inevitable consequences of socialized medicine? Once health care becomes nothing but a budgetary issue to government--something with inherently no heart or soul--then euthanasia simply becomes a "budget cut."

-R

Only 7 More Days...

...and The Forum begins! Whether you're seeking something fresh in Apostolic ranks, or are interested in contemporary issues ("Should Apostolics Go Green?" "Apostolics & Race - Is Everyone Welcome in Your Church" "The Emerging Church") or wonder what it's like to interact with like-minded young Apostolics, then you need to check out The Forum in St. Louis!

This year's event is headlined by Wayne Francis, but expect to hear from Jaime Morgans, Ray Crownover, Jeff Tracy, Jared Runck, and the Apostolic Comedy of Josh Fitkin!

It's a one-of-a-kind event you dare not miss!

Glitch In Giant Manmade Atom Smasher With Years Of Planning Causes Failure To Explain Event Bearing Absolutely None Of These Criteria

As referenced below, the machine that some were hoping would create some microcosmic Big Bang has suffered a hangup. But that isn't the best part. The best part is how idiotic the little man in the middle of this picture looks--all in his veiled attempt to vacate God from the court record.




I know what you're thinking. "Wow that elaborate, multimillion-dollar intelligently designed object that takes up a football field's worth of real estate totally reminds me of matterless, outer darkness with no physical laws in effect!"

I know. That's what I was thinking, too.

-R

Evolution vs. Academic Freedom

The ongoing battle between Creationism and Evolutionism reached sad low this week when a British evolutionist fell to friendly fire.  Michael Reiss, a member of the Royal Society resigned his position over a controversy centered on remarks he made concerning the teaching of evolution.  While he does not support Creationism as scientific, his comments were met with purely emotional reaction by his peers.  Ultimately it was decided he had damaged the reputation of the Royal Society.

 

What reputation-damaging comments did he make?

 

You can read the full text here , but among the inflammatory rants are such illogical statements as the following:

 

So when teaching evolution, there is much to be said for allowing students to raise any doubts they have (hardly a revolutionary idea in science teaching) and doing one's best to have a genuine discussion.  The word 'genuine' doesn't mean that creationism or intelligent design deserve equal time.  However, in certain cases... it can be appropriate to deal with the issue.

 

Wow!  What an apologists!  Actually, no where in all of his comments does he claim to believe in Creationism or give it any scientific merit.  He simply feels that "creationism is best seen by science teachers not as a misconception, but as a worldview."  In other words, one science class is unlikely to cause an entire paradigm shift in many people.  Instead of focusing on correcting or debunking Creationists, educators should be willing to answer questions, discuss, and actually teach science, even to Creationists.

 

The issue at stake in this discussion is not even Creationism vs. Evolutionism.  It is merely how to teach evolution in a classroom where students believe in creation.  And the issue at stake in the resignation of Dr. Reiss is has nothing to do with origins.  it has everything to do with the academic freedom to raise questions, and freedom of speech.  When scientists are unable to write in a neutral tone without fear of firing--whether they be evolutionists who want to teach creationists, climatologists unconvinced by global warming, or physicists declaring that the universe looks designed--then science itself has suffered a tremendous blow.

 

Josh R

Palin and Young Evangelicals

As the sole female blogger on Collideoscope I'm regretful that I've taken so long in sharing my opinions on Sarah Palin as the VP candidate for the McCain presidential campaign. I will admit that I think it was a brilliant political move and one that certainly energized my interest what had become an uninteresting political slugfest. It seems that I'm not alone.

While polls have not yet been conducted on the "Palin Effect" on younger evangelical voters it seems that many of them have started paying more attention to McCain and his platform as a result of the addition of Palin to the ticket. And the under-30 evangelical vote could prove to be a vital one.

A Pew survey last fall showed under-30 white evangelicals are increasingly up for grabs politically: 40 percent identified as Republican, down 15 percent from 2005. Most who abandoned the GOP were becoming independents, not Democrats.

On the whole, evangelicals under 30 say Palin enthuses them because she's a fresh face with a compelling family story, a reputation as a reformer and a champion of conservative moral values.

The thing I found most interesting while watching Palin's RNC speech was just how much I felt she resonated with middle America. Her feelings on the military, abortion, family, etc. seemed in lock-step with the views of the people I grew up with, both as a part of my church and as a part of extended social groups. As a young female evangelical she appeals to me largely because she is proof that we don't have to be limited in what we strive for by our beliefs or our sex.

"For a lot of young evangelical women, it's exciting," said Colorado-based author Margaret Feinberg, an up-and-coming evangelical voice. "It speaks to young evangelical women who face a glass ceiling in our workplaces, but also the stained-glass ceiling of the church."

The challenge will be in motivating these newly energized voters to stay engaged and to turn out in November. McCain/Palin also need to find a way to reach those young evangelicals who are more center or left-of-center who are rather unimpressed and who view her appointment as a purely political move and who have serious concerns about the possibility of Palin becoming President should McCain have unexpected health issues. Personally, I think Palin will prove that she is up to the challenge.

This Means I Must Be Einstein!

"Caloric overcompensation following intellectual work, combined with the fact that we are less physically active when doing intellectual tasks, could contribute to the obesity epidemic currently observed in industrialized countries," said lead researcher Jean-Philippe Chaput at Laval University in Quebec City, Canada. Read more in "Thinking Makes Us Pig Out."

Thanks to Alert Reader Steve for the link.

Trig Palin & A More Fitting Political Cartoon

My whole theory as to why Sarah Palin's Vice Presidential nomineehood has the left freaking out can be summed up in three words.

Unaborted Downs Baby.

Twenty years ago, I took it with a grain of salt when I heard Rush Limbaugh refer to abortion as the "sacrament" of the otherwise irreligious left. Now I think he was WAY ahead of his time. Something about that cute little Trig Palin is making them nuts.

I really didn't think the transparency of these things would emerge so soon, but they have. And all it took was for John McCain to nominate Sarah Palin.

At first, the press went straight ahead with the predictable "stupid hick" meme, hoping that McCain would falter on one of his Maverick turns and spirit her out the gate called Eagleton. That was immediately evaporated by crack Internet research and one speech to the convention. Then they tried to explain little Trig's existence as the pregnancy of a naive girl and an embarrassed mother trying to cover it up by saying it was her own. That failed, about the same time that the Daily Kos, notorious for their malevolent sendoffs of dead conservatives, found themselves even too embarrassed to be seen standing next to that smear.

So what did that leave them with? Sarah Palin: A woman who loved her genetically-damaged child enough not to kill it.

This is an abomination too heavy for the left to handle. But again, I, the raven, quoth too much. I'll let the horses usher their transparent malfeasance, right off the bit. Take, for instance, Carol Fowler, the chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party:

South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler sharply attacked Sarah Palin today, saying John McCain had chosen a running mate "whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn’t had an abortion.” Palin is an opponent of abortion rights and gave birth to her fifth child, Trig, earlier this year after finding out during her pregnancy that the baby had Down syndrome.

Of course , this was retracted the minute it saw print. Er, eh . . . wait. Not exactly:

"I personally admire and respect the difficult choices that women make everyday, and I apologize to anyone who finds my comment offensive. I clumsily was making a point about people in South Carolina who may vote based on a single issue. Whether it’s the environment, the economy, the war or a woman’s right to choose, there are people who will cast their vote based on a single issue. That was the only point I was attempting to make."

And she was trying to make the point without ever once apologizing to the woman she insulted: Sarah Palin.

Even worse, we have the medical community attempting to weigh in with--and I mean this--a "concern" that Sarah Palin's high-visibility amongst the rest of humanity will . . . and I can't believe these words are coming out . . . encourage those with protractible special needs pregnancies to seek methods other than the saline catapult to answer fate's whisper:

Sarah and Todd Palin's decision to complete her recent pregnancy, despite advance notice that their baby Trig had Down syndrome, is hailed by many in the pro-life movement as walking the walk as well as talking the talk.

But a senior Canadian doctor is now expressing concerns that such a prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice president of the United States completing a Down syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of abortions.

Though I guess I won't know until Judgement, I still cannot understand just what exactly it is that Hell accomplishes with this. I for one don't believe that the unborn fill Hell's coffers. But the spirit behind this is almost tangible, and practically ectoplasmically visible.

I just don't know why.

-R

Talking in Tongues Political Cartoon

If you haven't seen the Washington Post cartoon yet about us benighted believers, then here it is.

Phoebe's Blog has a Scriptural response that's worth reading. (She was also the first to flag us on this one.

In the meantime, remember that the point of political cartoons is to provoke thought. This appears to be outright ridicule.

Just remember we're not to respond as the Muslims did about the Danish editorial cartoons of Mohammed, but to turn the other cheek and pray for others. You can send your well-worded, compassionate-but-forceful comments of disappointment to ombudsman@washpost.com or executive.editor@washingtonpost.com.

Got any thoughts on the matter?

Woefully Underdressed Savant Promises Not To Cause End Of World

This will be perhaps my shortest post, ever.

I logged on to Fox News a minute ago, and found myself treated to this story. A story which inaugurates itself with the following, mind-numbing salvo--pertaining to the guy to the right:

A British physicist has claimed he can explain the secrets of the Big Bang Theory, but his controversial experiment has scientists believing he could bring about the end of the world, the U.K.'s Daily Mail reported.

Unlock the "secrets?" Of a "theory?"

Time to turn off the computer. I need to go and find out what "Sherlock Holmes" was "really like."

-R

Me? I'll Be Over Here Blaspheming Like Elijah

I'm always on the semi-defensive when I walk into my local Barnes & Noble, as I am fully aware that they will have erected a shrine to something in there for my immediate visual benefit. Either it's global warming, replete with some ill-written tome on how I can be exactly like Ed Begley Junior, DaVinci Code knockoffs or the pantheon of atheistic drivel that masquerades as independent thought and rationality.

Today, however, I am treated to a Stonehenge-rivaling stack of books that bear the following dust cover to the right:

I don't care who you're voting for. The canonization of Barack Obama has finally hit sickening levels. The messianic gravity assigned to this man--especially by people who hate the real Messiah--is enough to trip my semi-antagonistic gag reflex (apparently, my attempts to lead a public prayer to the bibliophilic monument were considered uncouth, but I digress).

This complaint is not something dredged up by a right-wing talking points committee. We are talking out and out pathology here.

But I quibble using my own words. Quoth the Called:

"Many even see in Obama a messiah-like figure, a great soul, and some affectionately call him Mahatma Obama."
-- Dinesh Sharma

"We just like to say his name. We are considering taking it as a mantra."
-- Chicago Sun-Times

"A Lightworker -- An Attuned Being with Powerful Luminosity and High-Vibration Integrity who will actually help usher in a New Way of Being"
-- Mark Morford

"What Barack Obama has accomplished is the single most extraordinary event that has occurred in the 232 years of the nation’s political history"
-- Jesse Jackson, Jr.

"This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal."
-- Barack Obama

"Does it not feel as if some special hand is guiding Obama on his journey, I mean, as he has said, the utter improbability of it all?"
-- Daily Kos

"He communicates God-like energy..."
-- Steve Davis (Charleston, SC)

"Not just an ordinary human being but indeed an Advanced Soul"
-- http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/2008/03/not-just-ordinary-human-being-but.html

"I'll do whatever he says to do. I'll collect paper cups off the ground to make his pathway clear."
-- Halle Berry

"A quantum leap in American consciousness"
-- Deepak Chopra

"He is not operating on the same plane as ordinary politicians. . . . the agent of transformation in an age of revolution, as a figure uniquely qualified to open the door to the 21st century."
-- Gary Hart

"Barack Obama is our collective representation of our purest hopes, our highest visions and our deepest knowings . . . He's our product out of the all-knowing quantum field of intelligence."
-- Eve Konstantine

"This is bigger than Kennedy. . . . This is the New Testament." "I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often. No, seriously. It's a dramatic event."
-- Chris Matthews

"[Obama is ] creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom . . . [He is] the man for this time."
-- Toni Morrison

"Obama's finest speeches do not excite. They do not inform. They don't even really inspire. They elevate. . . . He is not the Word made flesh, but the triumph of word over flesh . . . Obama is, at his best, able to call us back to our highest selves."
-- Ezra Klein

"Obama has the capacity to summon heroic forces from the spiritual depths of ordinary citizens and to unleash therefrom a symphonic chorus of unique creative acts whose common purpose is to tame the soul and alleviate the great challenges facing mankind."
-- Gerald Campbell

"We're here to evolve to a higher plane . . . he is an evolved leader . . . [he] has an ear for eloquence and a Tongue dipped in the Unvarnished Truth."
-- Oprah Winfrey

“I would characterize the Senate race as being a race where Obama was, let’s say, blessed and highly favored. That’s not routine. There’s something else going on. I think that Obama, his election to the Senate, was divinely ordered. . . . I know that that was God’s plan."
-- Bill Rush

Just when I thought these people wanted religion out of politics, they go off and melt down all their jewelry and start dancing naked around the abortion plank. What's a theocratic upstart like me to think?

I for one, refuse to pray to the meme. If Obama's skin color alone has the redeeming power I'm supposed to think it has, then why isn't Condoleeza Rice considered his baptismal forerunner?

Sometimes, it seems, a little blasphemy is in order--especially when the god is a false one.

-R

NOTE: If one thinks I'm kidding about this, go here. You'll be treated to a chronicle of photographic canonizations that rival Renaissance-levels of halo gracing the Madonna--all in one place.

This Means I’m a Billionaire!

Or would’ve been in past years, as 2008 hasn’t been especially kind to my reading commitments.

If You’re Rich, You Still Have Time to Read

Respondents making more than $100,000 annually said their average hours online had grown to 22.1 each week from 10.7, while the time they said they spent watching TV sunk to 18.6 hours from 23.7 in the 2003 survey. And they said their time spent listening to the radio had declined slightly. But they said they're regularly reading an average of 15.3 print publications, a notch above 15.1 five years earlier. Readers making more than $250,000 said they read just as many publications, 23.8 now, as they did in 2003.

Gustav Strikes Us Out

Hurricane Gustav has broken our web master's electricity, so all the new articles are piled up in an inbox he can't reach. Alas! No new articles at the Mothership, but know this - there are a lot of people who aren't going to like the cover wen it runs.

We Are The 90&9!

Alert Reader Kris tipped us off to this sign that hangs in the tabernacle at Minnesota camp. It was apparently signed by Senior campers a few years ago.

As you might guess, we like it a lot. :)

Because You're Different

You're the curious type seeking like-minded Apostolics.

You're always wondering about the less publicized young leaders in Pentecost.

You're having problems thinking of who else you can forward this to because you don't fit the typical Pentecostal mold, yet you're proud to be Pentecostal.

You're looking for The Forum.

Go ahead and tell this to your friends. Just in case they're like you.

Now Why Would They Think Christians Are Kooks?

From a staffer at Focus on the Family. Just how believers want to be represented. ARGH!

I Really Dig This Stuff! (Get It?)

I know you probably get sick of hearing archaeology updates, but I think they're really cool.  And since I have a forum to share them with the rest of the world here you go:

 

The Dead Sea Scrolls are going digital !!  Finally!!  Web access to one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century!  Not only have the scrolls provided a glimpse into the minds of a unique Jewish sect, but they have also supplied an abundance of material for understanding the Bible better.

 

 

Using simple photography doesn't do a wonderful job of showing the text (see image), and it also exposes the delicate fragments to too much harmful light.  However, using NASA infrared imaging technology, scientists have been able to get easily readable digital images.  These images are to be posted on the web so that any and all can access them.  Now all you need is a good working knowledge of 1st century Hebrew !

 

Josh R

Blue Like... A Democrat State

Evangelical author Donald Miller was invited to give the benediction at the Democratic National Convention last night.  Although the term "Religious Right" is often used to describe evangelicals, many have rejected this label and seek to move beyond party affiliations in serving the Kingdom of God.  Symbolically, Donald Miller did this by praying at the convention for both Democrats and Republicans, and for a united America.  But he is not just some liberal fluke of the evangelical movement.

 

In fact, Cameron Strang, editor of Relevant Magazine was first invited to give the benediction.  He accepted as an opportunity "to show that this generation of values voters doesn't necessarily need to draw political battle lines the way previous generations have."  Then he found out that he would be front and center on television--very prominent in the coverage of the convention.  As the editor of a bi-partisan magazine, he didn't want to be seen as endorsing either candidate so he declined the invitation.  Instead, he offered to find someone else and put in a call to Donald Miller.

 

With young evagelicals appearing so close to the Democratic camp (without fully endorsing), and older evangelicals refusing to support McCain, the "Religious Right" may just be a thing of the past.  Personally, I'm glad.  "Political battle lines" have never been helpful in propagating the Gospel.

 

Josh R.

The American Reformation?

Just like in the days of Martin Luther, a handful of brave souls are standing up for truth and righteousness!  ...or at least proper grammar.  Jeff Deck and Benjamin Herson were in court recently over their uninvited correction of a sign posted in a state park.  It appears a conspiracy is afoot with collaboration between the federal government and British college professors to destroy proper spelling and grammar.  Is this anything less than an attempt to undermine the very foundations of civilized society?  Anarchy will reign!! People will go around spelling "apple" "orange" just because they can!!! Something must be done to stop them.  These two are heroes, and the first casualties in the coming war.  The conspiracy must be brought to light! 

 

But seriously, I do have two questions.  1) If you make something better is it still destruction of property?  2) Could the federal government maybe spend a little less on ugly art and a little more on spell checking state park signs and historical markers?

 

Anyway...

Josh R

Are You A Phelps Phan???

Millions of viewers (myself included) stayed up well past their bedtimes this past week to watch Michael Phelps make Olympic history by winning an unprecedented 8 gold medals. Of course now swimming is over and most of us won't see another meet until 2012 when the games move on to London. Olympian value (and money making for the athlete) is largely tied up in advertising so the question now is how to capitalize on Phelp's "phame" before the world loses interest.

Mr. Carlisle, Phelp's agent, has received a huge array of offers for Michael over the last week.

A man in Omaha, Neb., offered to sculpt a statue of the chiseled swimmer. As strange as that sounded, a similar offer came from China. Several book and movie deals were suddenly on the table. A dog-food idea was pitched, given Mr. Phelps's well-known love for his British bulldog, Herman.

And still more: bobblehead dolls, acrylic paintings, commemorative coins, car rims and tuxedos. Some just wanted to give him things, like all the pizza he could eat for a year, or free dental work. And certain female celebrities and athletes wanted an introduction from Mr. Carlisle.

Phelps already does advertising (is endorsed by) Speedo, Visa, Omega and Hilton Hotels among others. Now the bidding wars will begin to see who can keep him and can best ride his wave of popularity.

"Michael Phelps would be worth $40 or $50 million to Nike," Mr. Bloom said. "He could literally allow them to launch a massive swimwear company, and I think you are going to see an incredible bidding war for him."

That means that current sponsor, Speedo, will have a huge gap to fill to improve the $1 million they offered him for these games.

Phelps may never make as much money in endorsements as Tiger Woods who makes $100 million a year in advertising alone playing year round but it is estimated that he could be worth $100 million over his life time. Not bad for a gangly, ADHD kid from Baltimore.

Do You Trust In God?

Some don't .  But NBC is currently running a poll on whether we should keep this motto on our other god... er, money.  Don't know how long this poll is going to be up so go ahead and vote.

 

Josh R

Kid Drops Out Of School To Guarantee Place Among Ignominous Dropouts

Alert reader, Steve, sent me this article, one that describes a 16 year-old's cunning plan: one that involves inattention to one's basic educational bedrock and explores the glories of . . . Guitar Hero:

In fact, young Mr. Peebles is dropping out of high school... in order to focus on Guitar Hero full time. Peebles hopes to join the small but growing crew of players looking to make gaming a job. Citing his victories in Guitar Hero tournaments, which include "gift certificates, gaming equipment, and chicken sandwiches," Peebles thinks he has the chops to play competitively and earn actual money in the process. As the story notes, top gamers on the competitive circuit can earn up to $80,000 a year (though $25,000 is more common). Peebles, of course, can count his 52 Chick-fil-A combo meals toward that total.

I have to admit a slight convulsive reflex that makes me want to to live-heckle anybody that employs the word "chops" in the same sentence with descriptive braggadocio and hubris that seems to follow these lords of the Stylized Simon genre. But I won't. Unemployment will do it for them.

On a larger note, the ratios of fantasy to reality, and the seemingly non-existent line that separates them is really bothersome. The kind of isolated pathology that had Bela Lugosi wearing his Dracula suit to the grave has metastasized--to the point that a whole legion of non-guitarists think they are guitarists--along with an applauding and abetting world.

Next thing you know, Martin Sheen will think he's actually President.

-R

Do You Want To Fly the Friendly Skies???

Southwest Airlines is currently holding a contest, "Nuts About Southwest", looking for a video blogger that they will fly around the country to blog for the airlines.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. All you have to do is upload a short audition video to YouTube and then let (have, encourage, demand ????) people vote for you. Look for the rest of the details here.

If you decide to do this let us know here on Collideoscope and we'll make sure to let everyone know to vote for you!!

Keeping Up With the Jones

If you're the kind of person who loves your $600 sunglasses and your $2000 Louis bag, and you just can't wait for people to ask how much they cost, this fantastic new product may be just for you.  I know, I know, you're feeling a little down right now.  That fancy new I Phone you bought to impress your friends when it first came out has been reduced in price and reduced again.  Now even the middle class can afford it.  But there is a way to spruce yours up and make it shine once more!

 

The new "I'm Rich" ap!  It is just a little button on your phone that reminds you, and anyone else, just how well-off you are.  If you have it, it means you were able to spend $1,000 on nothing.  That's right, the button does absolutely nothing!  Well, not nothing.  It does give you that little tingly feeling every time you see it.  The perfect electronic accessory for rich rulers young and old!

 

Josh R

Pop Culture Politics

John McCain and Barack Obama have revealed their pop culture favorites. Batman, Indiana Jones, Shrek, Sinatra and Dylan all make the presidential lists along with some surprises. As a self-proclaimed student of pop culture I have to say...

What does this have to do with a presidential election!? I sure hope nobody uses this list to choose who they vote for!

Josh R

Segregated Sundays

In his day, Martin Luther King, Jr. lamented the fact that Sundays are the most segregated day of the week.  In our day... things aren't much better.  According to this article only about 5% of American churches are racially integrated, and about half of those are in the process of becoming all black or all white. Forty years after the Civil Rights movement why are american churches not more integrated?

 

As with any complicated issue, there are number of reasons.  Racial tensions still exist even inside the walls of the church, and many members just aren't willing to deal with those tensions on the weekend.  Cultural differences lead to conflicts over worship and preaching styles.  Also, issues and perceptions of power can disrupt congregations working toward integration.  For example, a black pastor in an integrated church is statistically likely to cause many of the whites in the church to leave.  And as segregated churches become more integrated, the formerly predominant race is likely to become uncomfortable with changing demographics, even to the point of expressing fear of a "takeover" by another race.

 

It seems that, while racism has suffered great blows in America, it has not been utterly defeated.  I have seen this most clearly displayed in romantic relationships between blacks and whites.  Inter-racial marriage finds little acceptance in many churches.  Sometimes this is more an issue for parents, however.  As their children get to be old enough to date, many parents in integrated churches will simply leave.

 

But what makes integrated churches work is a shift in attitude from seeing "they" or "them" to seeing "us" and "we."  Many integrated churches recognize that there is a difference in cultures and backgrounds, but seek to transcend those differences.  It's not about making all the blacks act white or all the whites act black, it's about people from various backgrounds coming together and acting like Christians.  This article is definitely worth reading (and sharing) if you are in trying to make your church more integrated.  If you are seeking to rid yourself of racism on a personal level there is also an extremely well-written article ;-) on 90&9 this week dealing with that.

 

Josh R

Living God's Love

America is, in general, a very self-centered, consumeristic country.  As Christians this is something we should mourn and fight against, but how?  Perhaps the best way is to begin by examining ourselves.  Where am I spending too much money on me?  Where am I passing up opportunities to help other people because it would inconvenience me?  Where could I make a sacrifice to help someone else who cannot return the favor?  One apostolic couple chose the occasion of their honeymoon to practice self-sacrificing love.

 

Brian and Lauren Elrod (son-in-law and daughter of the presiding bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World) sponsored a child in Zambia, but weren't satisfied simply sending money.  For their honeymoon they decided to go there themselves and visit some of the sites that have been supported by their church.  Along the way, they also had the opportunity to meet the child they had been sponsoring.  Perhaps in the most self-sacrificing part of the journey, Brian even allowed the in-laws to join them. 

 

Thanks to Brian and Lauren Elrod for providing both inspiration and a challenge to give a little more of ourselves in sacrifice to God .

 

Josh R

THE FORUM - September 26-27, 2008

Tired of conferences all being the same? Then you aren't going to want to miss this!

THE FORUM in St Louis, Missouri

Featured Speakers - Wayne and Claudene Francis

For more information: www.iqforum.net