There's a pretty cool art exhibit highlighted CreativeReview Blog in a post titled 'The Bible According to Google Earth'. The works are very interesting, so please take a look. Here's one of my favorites... can you guess what it depicts?
Keep reading...
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Cool Art Exhibit Uses Google Earth on Noah's Arc & Moses
Woman Reading Bible Aloud Booted From Public Bus
Have you heard about this Fort Worth, Tex., woman who was removed from a city bus after refusing to stop reading her Bible?
It's an interesting story, but in summary, I think the woman is wrong and should've just done as she was asked to do. So far, I haven't heard if any other passengers on the bus had anything to say in support of either the woman or the bus driver who made the demand.
A Fort Worth woman wants an apology from the city's mass transit system because of how she was treated Saturday while on her way to church. Christine Lutz claimed she was kicked off The T for reading the Bible aloud to her children.
Lutz said she was sitting in the back of the bus, but wasn't being disruptive. She claimed she was stunned when the bus driver interrupted her reading.
"She asked me to stop reading my Bible," Lutz told FOX 4. "I said, 'No, I'm reading the Bible, I'm teaching the kids, I'm going to continue.' And I continued."
Lutz said the next thing she knew, the bus had pulled over and she was being escorted into a supervisor's van, which then took her and her family to church.
Anyway, this woman says she wants an apology. What do you think? Should she get an apology...?
Read the rest at MyFox.
Keep reading...
Pat Robertson's Annual Questionable Prophecies
Without being mean, let me say that Pat Robertson gives me the creeps. There is just something off about that man every time I happen across his 700 Club on TV. I'm not kidding. And these annual 'prophecies' he makes...do I really need to say more on that? Please take a look at the story and note his comment about being afraid to reveal to0 much for being laughed at...that sounds like an obedient servant of the LORD, doesn't it?
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson said Wednesday that 2008 will be a year of violence worldwide and a recession in the United States, followed by a major stock-market crash by 2010....
Praying about events in the coming year and sharing what he believes God has told him is an annual tradition for Robertson, founder of the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network.
...He also predicted that there will be a recession, oil will reach $150 a barrel and the U.S. dollar will continue to fall. He added that there will be a major stock-market crash in 2009 or 2010. (Read the rest at DailyPress.com)
Robertson's past predictions have included presidential politics; in 2004 he said God told him President Bush would be re-elected in a blowout. He declined Wednesday to say who will win the 2008 race, though, because "some old man on '60 Minutes' would make fun of me."
Prophesying is great -- when you are truly directed by GOD to do so. I can't say I believe 100% that the LORD GOD Almighty directed Pat Robertson to speak publicly about these events, much less if He actually spoke to Robertson.
And while we're at it, it seems Jamaicans make it an annual event to also publicly disclose prophecies from the LORD, and the media seems to treat these religious folks a lot gentler. All in all, the Jamaica Gleaner has published their 62 prophecies...that's right, 62:
It's that time of year again and the prophets have rolled out their predictions for 2008. So far, eight of them have thrown their hats in the ring. They are - Apostle Steve Lyson, Prophet Donovan Creary, Prophet Donovan Edwards, Prophetess Doris Hutchinson, Prophetess Marsha Creary, Prophetess Sophia Dawes, Minister Nadra Daly and Minister Carolyn Grant-Hamilton.
I'm completely skeptical... how about you? Is it OK for people of the faith to disclose prophecies in such a public manner?
Keep reading...
GOD's Amazing Hanydwork
Have you ever stopped to contemplate your own body -- how perfectly it has been made? Have you ever looked around you, at nature, and been amazed how well it all seems to work?
I came across this video today and although it's a bit old, I felt compelled to share.
Isn't it amazing how varied and beautiful all of His works are?
Keep reading...
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Top 10 Most Embarrassing Ways to Die in the Holy Bible « El Santo//Rooktopia
Top 10 Most Embarrassing Ways to Die in the Holy Bible « El Santo//Rooktopia:
"The Bible chronicles some of the world’s most violent times. There were people getting mutilated, strangled, set on fire, defenestrated, and beheaded. But there were just some ways to die which were downright embarrassing. Getting killed by jawbone wielded by an Israelite superman named Samson … that ain’t so bad. Crushed by the engulfing waves of the Sea of Reeds? Kinda epic really. So which were the most embarrassing ways to die in the Bible?"
I came across this post a few weeks ago. It's pretty funny and it's actually correct as far as I can tell. If you're at all familiar with the Holy Bible, you know well enough that there are many, many passages that make you wonder why some things happened the way they did -- the slaughter of women and children every time a town was conquered by GOD's people, women treated as mere possessions, prophets told to marry harlots, being killed for accidentally touching the Ark of the Covenant while trying to keep it from falling...it goes on and on.
Anyway, here's my favorite...
7. - Mauled by bears for calling someone a “baldhead” (2 Kings 2:23-25). This is one of those examples that critics of Christianity love to point out. Elisha’s walking along, some “youths” (or teens as we would call them nowadays) call him a baldy, and God sends some bears to maul them. Why in the world would a just God do something as petty as that? Well, some context: 1.) This was the time of King Ahab and his descendants, and the prevailing religion was Baal worship. Anyone practicing Judaism, in fact, was considered the enemy of the state. Prophets, few that there were, had to hide out in the mountains. 2.) The Bible says there were at least 42 youths doing the taunting. There’s a good chance they were planning to do something a lot more to a known political fugitive. There’s another point: if I remember my Bible study correctly, the leader mentioned that the youths were mauled, not killed. If they were killed, the Bible would not hesitate to says so. I guess that might make this item exempt from this list … but I really can’t pass up on an “attacked by bears” bulletpoint, so there you go.
Read the rest at Rooktopia
Keep reading...
Top religion news stories of 2007 - Dayton Daily News
Top religion news stories of 2007: "Contributing Writer"
Religion finds its way into the media every day and these stories often have a way of shaping our culture and our lives. Here are just a few highlights from the top religion news of 2007:
James Cameron claims to have discovered the lost tomb of Jesus in an ossuary outside of Jerusalem. Experts respond to the award-winning director with a collective shrug as they wonder why no one told Cameron that the name "Jesus" was very common during biblical times.
It's an interesting list that incorporates religion in sports, politics, entertainment and other areas. My only surprise was that the author noted the deaths of Jerry Falwell and Ruth Graham, but neglected to mention the death of Tammy Faye Messner (aka Baker). I a little familiar with some of the foolishness that the Bakers' did, and I know that Ms. Messner eventually repented and it appears died in love with Jesus. Besides all that, though, she was a major figure in the religious world and I think her death should have been noted on the list.
Anyway, what do you make of the list? Anything missing or that just should not have been added?
Keep reading...
Embarrassed By Praise and Worship
Have you ever been to church, any church, and there was always at least one man or woman who seemed to be really wrapped up in praise and worship? Like, they were stomping, hollering, waving their hands and just acting like a nut for the LORD? Well, I have. When the Spirit hits my mother, she'll be yelling 'Hallelujah!' for days, rocking side to side, and sometimes she kind of has to just stomp her feet a few times. Growing up and witnessing this quite often, I used to be embarrassed and ashamed to have my mother behaving like this in church front of so many people, people who I often heard snickering, or saw shaking their heads or just showing a look of disapproval, irritation or scorn.
As time went on, however -- specifically after I accepted the LORD Jesus as my Saviour and began to grow in my faith -- I soon stopped caring about what others thought about my mother's display of affection for GOD. After all, isn't that what we were in church to do -- praise the LORD? Not everyone worships the same way and there is no instruction in the Holy Bible on how to exactly express yourself to the LORD when in worship. Some people clap their hands. Some people stomp their feet. Some people waive their hands. Some say 'Hallelujah!' Some do all of these...and some don't do any of these at all. Some folks don't even open their mouths to whisper 'Amen' or seem to can even lift a hand half-way into the air. I know because that's how I used to be. Not only was I embarrassed by my mother's public display of affection for the LORD, but I was super self-conscious about opening my own mouth or even lifting my hands in church for fear of looking, I don't know, foolish? to others. That doesn't even make sense, does it? But that's how I behaved and that's what I thought. But no more, of course.
The Spirit moves all of us in different ways...some of us more than others, and He should since we are worshiping the LORD in spirit. At various instances in the Holy Bible we are encouraged to praise GOD, to exhort his name continually. So why do some people seem to look down on those who praise so freely? Why is it offensive to you that someone wants to jump up and down for the LORD? Now, note that I'm not talking about those taken over by demons or evil spirits who make an open mockery of the LORD and themselves with undignified behavior (I'm referring to those involved with the Toronto Blessing mess...GOD wouldn't have you rolling around on the floor like a dog or barking...show me that in the Bible). Instead of condemning someone for hooping and hollering for the LORD, why not rejoice that there is one who seems to love the LORD so deeply? I mean, who should believers be concerned about impressing or offending?
2 Samuel 6 (New KJV): 12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.
20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. 22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
Note: Image taken from TextWeek.comKeep reading...
What I've Just Read: David Commits Adultery, Murder
I've been reading the Book of Samuel 1&2 recently, which primarily concerns David, a king of Israel.
If you're at all familiar with his story, you know that Daniel was a man after GOD's own heart -- he loved the LORD dearly, and the GOD loved him from his youth. No doubt you know also about David and Goliath...how David killed the mighty man (the Tanakh doesn't say Goliath was a giant) using only a sling shot. That was the beginning of 'stardom' for young David, as GOD never let him lose a battle (as far as I've read, anyway). GOD gave him a kingship, territories, wives, riches and anything his heart could desire.
But one day, as David was walking on the balcony or roof of his castle, he spied a beautiful woman bathing. He had his servants fetch her. King David and the woman -- whom he discovered was married to one of his soldiers -- had sex and he sent her on her way.
2 Samuel 11 (NKJV): 2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
Remember, David already had numerous wives and concubines. Also, the Commandments says folks aren't to covet -- desire that which belongs to someone else -- nor to commit adultery. But apparently the very just and wise King David gave no thought to the law.
So everything was going fine until this woman found out she was preggers with the King's baby. Uh-oh. What was David going to do? Fess up and ask his loyal subject and GOD for forgiveness and try to smooth things over? Nope. King David decided first he'd try his hand at some trickery.
He called back the woman's soldier husband from the battlefield and tried to get him to go home...since men who've been away at war for long periods of time want to hook up with the wife as soon as they return...I guess. But the loyal soldier remained at the castle to protect the King. Oh well, that didn't work too great. What now?
David then decided to have this loyal, innocent soldier placed at the front of the battle so that he would be killed. Sure enough, that plan worked. So David brings the newly widowed woman with child into his home and plans to go on with life as usual after having just committed sins of adultery, lust, coveting and murder. However, GOD wasn't going to turn a blind eye -- kings, common folk, priests, prophets, etc. aren't exempt from His law.
So GOD judged David by killing the baby and cursing his house with violence. Overtime, one of David's male sons raped his half-sister; another son killed that brother in revenge; the murderous son eventually seizes the kingdom from David, who ends up on the run. How far the mighty have fallen!
As I was reading these passages, I kept wondering how David could have so easily sinned, so easily forgotten his GOD's laws. After all, he was the one his servants came to for judgment and settling disputes, and his decisions were usually righteous and fair. What on earth was he thinking by taking another man's wife and then murdering the man? He could have had any other woman on the planet! Now GOD had to take him low for him to regain his right standing with the LORD.
But we all do that, don't we? We're not so different from David. We say we love the LORD, yet many of us still have yet to kick these nasty, unrighteous, unbecoming habits...like drunkenness, greed, cursing, lusting, fornication, cheating, stealing, lying, etc. None of us are perfect, but goodness, if you can't be distinguished from the rest of the world then what kind of Christian are you? That is the whole point, after all, isn't it? To separated from the world because you do not do as the world does. You do as Jesus the King does...live a clean life.
Is there anything in particular that you're trying to change in your life to improve your walk with GOD? As for me, I'm trying to work on my temper...I have too many knee jerk reactions to some things that should be handled with a bit more maturity and calmness.
Keep reading...
Coloring Book Warns Kids of Pedophile Popes
OK, so this is the actual headline: Catholic coloring book warns US kids of pedophile priests
...and the title of the coloring book for kids is "Being Friends, Being Safe, Being Catholic"
Yeah, this is a great idea, and it's pretty sad that the entire world knows that the corrupt Catholic church (in the U.S. anyway) has systematically been raping little boys (and some girls) for decades now. Many in positions of power have known about this for decades as well, but had chosen to do nothing about it. Since victims have been stepping up, thousands of these scumbags who have been lurking inside churches and stinking up the pulpits have been defrocked, very few have been imprisoned and most of them get to wake up everyday and breathe GOD's fresh air, bathe in his sunshine and eat the food he has put into the earth. Hopefully, you get exactly how I feel about these animals because if I have to continue I'm gonna end up saying stuff I'll regret later.
Here's a page from the book, courtesy of GregJohnsonOnline :
Keep reading...
"Spiritual Bottled Water" Takes It to the Next (Shameful) Level
Revolutionary "Spiritual Bottled Water" Delivers Health and Prosperity Through Prayers and Purified Water That Quenches Material and Spiritual Thirst - PR.com
This is a joke, right?
A drinks company is banking on some divine help in a new venture -- selling spiritual water in bottles featuring Jesus and carrying prayers -- despite warnings this promotion could backfire.
Spiritual Brands Inc., a start-up company from Florida, is hoping to make a splash in the competitive bottled water market, worth over $11 billion a year in the United States alone, with its new Spiritual Water.
Available in 10 varieties, one flavor "Balance" features a picture of Jesus on the front with The Lord's Prayer on the back in both English and Spanish while "Focus" carries a likeness of the Virgin Mary.
While the labels are different, all 10 kinds of Spiritual Water, which made its official debut this week at a trade show in Miami, are the same -- purified water -- with a suggested retail price for 16.9-ounce bottles of up to $1.99 ($1.69 really).
...Elicko Taieb, company founder and chief executive, said...the company chose Christianity first, since it is so prevalent in the United States, but has plans to expand.
"We are working on covering everyone, from Muslims to Jews to Buddhists," said Taieb. "Hopefully by next year we will begin to launch those products, by right now we are working hard on getting distribution." More at Reuters.
Yeah right! I'd like to see him market a bottle with Mohammad's face on it! Muslims get so worked up over a teddy bear, imagine what kind of lunacy would happen off over bottled water with an image of Mohammad.
Anyway, I was considering getting the Spiritual Water 6-Mix Pack. I mean, after reading this on the manufacturer's Web site: "Do you need to have a better day? Do you want to do better in your life? Grab a Six Pack of Mixed Spiritual Water bottle, read the prayer, believe in God, believe in yourself and the sky’s the limit…" how can I resist!
Oh, and of course, part of the proceeds go towards the Spiritual Foundation, 'a foundation for children in need.' Somehow I find that hard to believe... 35-year-old children in need of a Mustang or something? Whatever. Here's the link to Spiritual H20, if you must.
NOTE: Image/graphic taken from Newsweek, which has a fair and balanced take on the whole and mentions similar ventures.
I guess it's no better than Peter Popoff's miracle water. Or Danny Davis' no evil oil. And Thomas Kerney's prayer handkerchief. These are all ministers of god, by the way. This secular dude gets an award for taking it to the next level. Keep reading...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
