to get other projects up and running, but here is a little bit of consolation, anyway, a funny joke about an atheist: The Atheist in the Woods. Not all of the jokes under the "religious" section are very pious, but this is another funny one that's okay: Infallible behind the wheel .
Hopefully I'll be back to posting more regularly in the near future.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Most Jewish Israelis do not want more churches in Jerusalem
I am a huge fan of Israel. I believe in the lasting Israeli nation and in our responsibility to protect it from the evils that surround it, but one thing that Israel must improve upon is to stop being so similar to the evil nations that surround it and to embrace religious freedom.
In an article from Haaretz, Most Jewish Israelis do not want more churches in Jerusalem, we see the opinions that Jews living in Israel have towards Christianity, and for many of us it is probably a bit shocking. A constant theme in Israel is disgust for Christian missionaries and copies of the New Testament have been burned by officials in the last two years.
To quote from the article, "The survey, carried out by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies and the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, 74 percent of respondents do not see Christians as "missionaries," and 76 percent are not bothered by encountering a Christian wearing a cross."
The first thing you should realize is that the word "missionaries" is essentially a bad word in Israel. It's not quite as ugly as "terrorist," but it's not far behind. It has a very negative connotation. And so 26 percent of respondents to this survey considered Christians as "missionaries," but even more troubling is that 24% are bothered by merely encountering someone wearing a cross.
We must open our eyes to what Israel is when we think of Israeli and Middle Eastern relations. To be certain, my heart lies with Israel and against the Religion of Murder that surrounds her, but Israel must, too, come to God and become a more open and gentle nation.
In an article from Haaretz, Most Jewish Israelis do not want more churches in Jerusalem, we see the opinions that Jews living in Israel have towards Christianity, and for many of us it is probably a bit shocking. A constant theme in Israel is disgust for Christian missionaries and copies of the New Testament have been burned by officials in the last two years.
To quote from the article, "The survey, carried out by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies and the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, 74 percent of respondents do not see Christians as "missionaries," and 76 percent are not bothered by encountering a Christian wearing a cross."
The first thing you should realize is that the word "missionaries" is essentially a bad word in Israel. It's not quite as ugly as "terrorist," but it's not far behind. It has a very negative connotation. And so 26 percent of respondents to this survey considered Christians as "missionaries," but even more troubling is that 24% are bothered by merely encountering someone wearing a cross.
We must open our eyes to what Israel is when we think of Israeli and Middle Eastern relations. To be certain, my heart lies with Israel and against the Religion of Murder that surrounds her, but Israel must, too, come to God and become a more open and gentle nation.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Church Jokes and Funny Emails
So I have a new site up and running called Funny Email, and I have a section called Church Jokes, although I'm not sure all these jokes would be appropriate to be told church (none contain any profanity, but one in particular is a little racy).
Check out the one called "Church Bloopers." It's one of those collections of funny things either announced in church or in the church bulletin.
By the way, the site is still in process of being built, so don't mind the mess...
Check out the one called "Church Bloopers." It's one of those collections of funny things either announced in church or in the church bulletin.
By the way, the site is still in process of being built, so don't mind the mess...
Stimulus Package Not Helping Charities
Want to study the impact of cow farts on penquins? You've probably got $100 million coming your way thanks to the pork bill signed this week by Barack Obama. Are you a charity that wants to house and clothe the homeless? You were probably left out.
According to this article from The Washington Post, "faith-based charities, which provide an enormous array of private social services to the nation's sick, elderly and poor, are facing unprecedented cutbacks from one of their biggest funders: the government."
Well, when you are throwing around a trillion dollars to the favorites in your good ole boy network of liberal causes, I suppose something has to be cut back.
Read the article here: Government Cutbacks Leave Faith-Based Services Hurting
According to this article from The Washington Post, "faith-based charities, which provide an enormous array of private social services to the nation's sick, elderly and poor, are facing unprecedented cutbacks from one of their biggest funders: the government."
Well, when you are throwing around a trillion dollars to the favorites in your good ole boy network of liberal causes, I suppose something has to be cut back.
Read the article here: Government Cutbacks Leave Faith-Based Services Hurting
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Lawsuit Over UC Berkeley's 'Evolution' Website Appealed to Supreme Court
Head...spinning...feeling...dizzy...
So if you've ever read here before, you may know that I'm a huge fan of both Christianity and science. At UC Berkeley, where you wouldn't normally expect to find folks of reason, but rather folks chained to trees, they created a rather nice website on evolution and religion. Per this article from The Christian Post, the site explained:
Sadly, this was too radical for fundamentalist fruitcake Jeanne Caldwell, who has sued on the basis of the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
Thanks, Jeanne. You are continuing the perhaps irreparable harm to Christianity that has been the hallmark of fundamentalism.
So if you've ever read here before, you may know that I'm a huge fan of both Christianity and science. At UC Berkeley, where you wouldn't normally expect to find folks of reason, but rather folks chained to trees, they created a rather nice website on evolution and religion. Per this article from The Christian Post, the site explained:
"Religion and science (evolution) are very different things. In science (as
in science class), only natural causes are used to explain natural phenomena,
while religion deals with beliefs that are beyond the natural world."
"The misconception that one always has to choose between science and
religion is incorrect. Of course, some religious beliefs explicitly contradict
science (e.g., the belief that the world and all life on it was created in six
literal days); however, most religious groups have no conflict with the theory
of evolution or other scientific findings. In fact, many religious people,
including theologians, feel that a deeper understanding of nature actually
enriches their faith. Moreover, in the scientific community there are thousands
of scientists who are devoutly religious and also accept evolution," the page
states.The page also contains a link to the National Center of Science Education Web page that features statements from religious organizations - including General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA, Roman Catholic Church and United Methodist Church - in support of evolution.
Sadly, this was too radical for fundamentalist fruitcake Jeanne Caldwell, who has sued on the basis of the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
Thanks, Jeanne. You are continuing the perhaps irreparable harm to Christianity that has been the hallmark of fundamentalism.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Baha'is welcome support from Iranian intellectuals worldwide
Baha'is welcome support from Iranian intellectuals worldwide
The Baha’i International Community has issued a statement of gratitude to the Iranian intellectuals, scholars, writers, journalists, activists and artists throughout the world who signed a recent open letter apologizing for their silence during Iran’s long-running mistreatment of the Baha’is.
Baha’i is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories.
I'm not a huge fan of Baha'i, though it is an interesting religion which claims that most of the world's greatest religious figures, including Jesus, Krishna, Buddha and Muhammad were all anointed messengers from God. But what I am a huge fan of is religious freedom and tolerance in the Middle East, western Asia and across Africa. From Libya and Israel to Iran and practically everywhere in that large region, religious tolerance is virtually non-existent, which is the main reason that this part of the world is so constantly in turmoil.
The Baha’i International Community has issued a statement of gratitude to the Iranian intellectuals, scholars, writers, journalists, activists and artists throughout the world who signed a recent open letter apologizing for their silence during Iran’s long-running mistreatment of the Baha’is.
Baha’i is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories.
I'm not a huge fan of Baha'i, though it is an interesting religion which claims that most of the world's greatest religious figures, including Jesus, Krishna, Buddha and Muhammad were all anointed messengers from God. But what I am a huge fan of is religious freedom and tolerance in the Middle East, western Asia and across Africa. From Libya and Israel to Iran and practically everywhere in that large region, religious tolerance is virtually non-existent, which is the main reason that this part of the world is so constantly in turmoil.
Jesus Hates Me, This I Know; For the Bible Tells Me So
One of the strangest and most destructive parts of fundamentalism is the "Jesus Hates You" movement being experienced in various churches around America. This may be, and in my mind is, the worst heresy against Christianity ever committed.
How did this philosophy find a foothold in a book about God's love for his sinners? To be certain, the Bible is filled with passages that display God's displeasure with his people, the Israelites, when they continue to go far astray of his laws. But each of these statements were directed to a specific situation and using them today as a foundational tenet of Christianity is pure insanity. How can Jesus tell us to love our enemies and then hate us? If God so loved us that He sent his only begotten Son to die for our sins, then how can he hate us?
The entire concept of God hating his creations is just so opposite the truth as presented in the Bible that it is difficult to wrap one's brain around. How can people believe and even preach this? They certainly have no relationship with God.
How did this philosophy find a foothold in a book about God's love for his sinners? To be certain, the Bible is filled with passages that display God's displeasure with his people, the Israelites, when they continue to go far astray of his laws. But each of these statements were directed to a specific situation and using them today as a foundational tenet of Christianity is pure insanity. How can Jesus tell us to love our enemies and then hate us? If God so loved us that He sent his only begotten Son to die for our sins, then how can he hate us?
The entire concept of God hating his creations is just so opposite the truth as presented in the Bible that it is difficult to wrap one's brain around. How can people believe and even preach this? They certainly have no relationship with God.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Church in America Marked by Decline
No, this is not another rant against the fundamentalists, although I could easily turn it into one. This is a rant, on the other hand, about what counts for missions in today's churches.
The impetus for this story comes from The Christian Chronicle, a monthly paper put out by the Church of Christ. It reports on a comprehensive study that shows statistically significant declines in church going, particularly since 2003. This, I believe, should be the principal goal of missions now in churches around the world. After all, singing songs at nursing homes is great, but the Great Commission is to spread the word. We are not spreading the word.
Every week churches all across America do the traditional forms of outreaches. We play Upward Basketball, which is good. We send cards to troops in Iraq, which is good. We run Angel Food Ministries, visit hospitals and senior centers--all good. What we don't do, by and large, is have outreaches to people who need it most, those who have left the church or never started in the church to begin with.
First on my list is parents. Children who don't grow up in a loving church are almost always lost. Very few ever find their way to God later in life. Every effort should be made to get out into the community and get to the parents, who need to be made to understand that they are creating spiritually bankrupt children who will struggle later in life.
And what about your average young worker? We make care packages for the fire department, but what about care packages for the cashiers at the grocery store? What about a little happy note and an invitation to church?
It is time to step out of the box and reach for the people who need saving.
The impetus for this story comes from The Christian Chronicle, a monthly paper put out by the Church of Christ. It reports on a comprehensive study that shows statistically significant declines in church going, particularly since 2003. This, I believe, should be the principal goal of missions now in churches around the world. After all, singing songs at nursing homes is great, but the Great Commission is to spread the word. We are not spreading the word.
Every week churches all across America do the traditional forms of outreaches. We play Upward Basketball, which is good. We send cards to troops in Iraq, which is good. We run Angel Food Ministries, visit hospitals and senior centers--all good. What we don't do, by and large, is have outreaches to people who need it most, those who have left the church or never started in the church to begin with.
First on my list is parents. Children who don't grow up in a loving church are almost always lost. Very few ever find their way to God later in life. Every effort should be made to get out into the community and get to the parents, who need to be made to understand that they are creating spiritually bankrupt children who will struggle later in life.
And what about your average young worker? We make care packages for the fire department, but what about care packages for the cashiers at the grocery store? What about a little happy note and an invitation to church?
It is time to step out of the box and reach for the people who need saving.
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