Some Things Never Change

From the archives of Techno Tuesday (HT: Question Technology)

Funny... but True?

The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus:

(HT: Steve Bishop)

Emergent-See

If you haven't seen the Pyromaniacs' new line of motivational posters for emerging Christians, take a look

Look Out, MySpace!

With tongue in cheek, Doug Groothuis announces a new social networking site - MyWorld.com

The Blessing of Pets

In a recent comment on this blog, my good friend Jerry in Iowa mentioned that a church in his area holds an annual service to which congregants bring their pets to receive blessings. I'm still awaiting verification but my sources tell me that the dog pictured to the right participated in one of those services and is now actively involved at Hymns & Hounds, a church where dog lovers and their best friends can worship together.


 Meanwhile, elsewhere in America's heartland, an Illinois woman believes that the image of the Virgin Mary has appeared on one of her pet turtle's shells. Again, this awaits further verification but rumor has it that plans are underway for the turtle to travel to Iowa (on the dashboard, of course) to preside over the next pet blessing service.

"Lose a Golf Ball, Share the Gospel"

I know the print is small but that's John 3:16 on the golf ball to the right (photo by Mark Schiefelbein), one of the many items featured in this LA Times article about last week's International Christian Retail Show. (HT: Justin Taylor who was in attendance for the books).

Seeing that picture made me think that now is a fine time to show off some of my own evangelistic paraphernalia. A dear friend who knows of my fondness of such treasures, gave me the momento below. (It reads "I once was lost but now am found" on the other side.) He's commented that he checks the blog from time to time, to see if I've featured it. So, Karl, here it is!

Since I'm not a golfer and the ball never gets any green time, I suppose I could be charged with hiding my light under a bushel (or in this case, in my dresser drawer). But summer isn't over yet. Maybe I'll get the sandals that will allow me to leave footprints in the sand that read "Follow Jesus."

A "Breathtaking" Wedding Chapel

The Inflatable Church (HT: Greg Linscott)

Fleeting Thought

My copy of Women's Ministry in the Local Church arrived in the mail yesterday. While seeing it sitting on our kitchen table this morning, it dawned on me how easily the cover picture, in combination with the book's title, could be misunderstood.

Inspiration

Inspired by yesterday's suggestion that "Penguins' Progress" might be a new Christian classic, a friend with an equally quirky sense of humor sent me this photo with the caption "Webbed Foot Prints in the Sand."

Conservatives Flock to "March of the Penguins"

According to the NY Times, a number of political and Christian conservatives consider the film illustrative of intelligent design, the superiority of monogamy, and even the Christian life. One pastor is quoted as saying "Some of the circumstances they experienced seemed to parallel those of Christians. The penguin is falling behind, is like some Christians falling behind. The path changes every year, yet they find their way, is like the Holy Spirit." 


Might this be the making of a new Christian classic -- Penguins' Progress?

Standing on the Promises of God - Literally

A company in Ohio is marketing shoe inserts with Bible texts printed on them called "In-Souls". You can even purchase a companion journal to record your experience standing on God's word. Can a collection of the writings of John Bunion be far behind?

To get an idea about some of the folks who might have inspired the makers of this line, check out the site's ministry links. [HT: Between Two Worlds]

UPDATE: I just 'stumbled' across this article about "In-Souls" and the woman behind them. According to the article, the inserts are being sold in 25 stores nationwide including two Borders Books & Music stores and, most appropriately, Walk of Faith Christian Bookstore.

Thus Bloggeth the Lord!

In case you've been wondering WWGB? (What Would God Blog?), wonder no longer. This morning's mail included a catalog from a local Christian bookstore store announcing the release of God's Blogs: Insights from His Site. The description reads:

"Blogging" is sweeping the Internet...but what would it be like if God had a blog? This humorous, yet thought-provoking, fictional, yet insightful book contains a series of online journaling entries from God! Illuminates biblical truth in a whole new way!

Back cover blurbs come from none other than Jeff Foxworthy ("Divinely inspired. This is an awesome book!"), Dolly Parton ("This book went through me like liquid fire. It is so inspiring, uplifting, and refreshing."), Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, and John Maxwell.


Divinely inspired, huh? Does this mean we're going to have to revise the canon?
It was just a matter of time.

This Little Light of Mine

After tossing and turning due to the unbearable heat a few mornings ago, I finally went downstairs to turn on the air conditioner. Wanting to give time for the cool air to circulate upstairs I plopped down on the couch and turned on the television. Flipping through the myriad of early morning infomercials, I came upon The New Jim Bakker Show, broadcasting from the entertainment capital of the midwest, Branson, MO.
 
The scene was disturbingly familiar - Jim seated next to his new wife, looking into the camera and asking viewers to send a "donation." You know, those "suggested donations" in exchange for which the donor receives a "gift" from the ministry. The gift Jim was promoting was a battery-free flashlight that gives an hour of light after being powered by 60 seconds of cranking with a detachable crank. But this isn't just any flashlight. It's a "Revelation Generation LifeLight" with the reminder that "Jesus is the light of the world" printed in gold on its side. (It occurred to me today that this isn't really a gospel searchlight since one only receives illumination by works but that's another story.)

It wasn't long before my twisted sense of humor went to work thinking of other common objects that could be Christianized with the addition of a Bible verse. Here are two potential items:

• Plant food with "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten" printed on the package
• Permanent markers reading "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Feel free to leave your ideas for Pious Products in a comment.

Of course, one doesn't have to suffer from bouts of insomnia to find similar objects. Christian bookstores (do they still call them bookstores?) are filled with them. Consumerism is in large part the force behind the marketing of prooftexted merchandise but I think Mike Wittmer is right when he traces this phenomenon to a deficient doctrine of creation and its goodness. In Heaven Is a Place on Earth he writes:

....we don't need to stamp Christianity on something before we can enjoy it. In fact, our feeble attempts at baptizing creation tend to cheapen both it and the gospel. Printing "cross-training" or "cross-eyed" on a T-shirt trivializes both the cross (do we really want to compare Jesus' suffering to a type of exercise or astigmatism?) and ordinary T-shirts (which are perhaps not as good as those with religious slogans). The same holds true for spill-proof cups emblazoned with John 4:14 -- "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst"; key chains that parody milk advertisements with the probing question "Got Jesus?"; dinner plates that claim to be "Home Grown and Heaven Bound"; and stuffed ducks wearing rain gear on account of recurring "Showers of Blessing" (honestly, I could not make this stuff up). Rather than improve creation, such silliness only distracts from the goodness that is already there while mocking the gospel it seeks to advertise (p. 67).

Well, it's early yet and I've not fully woken up so I'm going to get some coffee. Now, where'd I put my Miracle Mug?

Baby Got Book

My friend PT sent me this video, a Christian parody of Sir Mix-A-Lot's rap hit "Baby Got Back." I think it's hilarious if only a spoof but sad if an attempt to get young people into the Bible.

The New Choc'late Cross

In an attempt to reach Christian consumers who might balk at celebrating Easter with chocolate bunnies, Russell Stover Candies Inc. is marketing a chocolate cross. Unfortunately for them, however, members of the targeted audience object to the idea. Today's Chicago Tribune reports Rev. John Vakulskas, a Catholic priest in Alton, Iowa as describing the cross as being "in poor taste."


Anyway, happy Resurrection Day, all! He is risen indeed!