And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.- Rainer Maria Rilke link
Peeps in the air
Happy New Year, folks. In celebration of 2016, today will be a fun post which will rely heavily on the humor of TWW readers. To start us off on the right foot, here is a list of 36 interesting things that ceremoniously dropped from the sky on New Year's Eve. It appears that North Carolina holds the state record with 5 of the 36, including the city of Raleigh which drops an acorn. My personal favorites include:
A GIANT PEEP // BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA
Peeps’ parent company, Just Born, calls the eastern Pennsylvania town home, which is why Bethlehem drops a 4.5-foot tall, 85-pound, illuminated Peep to mark the new year. Though Peeps come in shapes to suit every holiday these days, the drop is done with a traditional chick that flashes different colors at midnight.
A WOODEN FLEA // EASTOVER, NORTH CAROLINA
Why the town would create a 3-foot-tall, 30-pound wooden flea is a real head scratcher—unless you know that the town was once known as Flea Hill.
A REAL (DEAD) CARP // PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WISCONSIN
Most carp don’t see 15 seconds of fame, let alone 15 minutes. But every year in Prairie du Chien, Lucky the Carp is the center of attention when he’s lowered onto a throne to celebrate the new year. It’s the culmination of a week of activities, including hanging carp ornaments on a pine tree, the Carp Plunge (Prairie du Chien's version of a Polar Bear Plunge) and busting open a carp piñata. As far as we know, the piñata contains candy, not carp.
A SARDINE // EASTPORT, MAINE
The area has sardine fishing and canning roots, but Eastport also drops a Maple Leaf as a friendly gesture to their Canadian neighbors across the bay.
200 POUNDS OF BOLOGNA // LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA
If you're a cured meat connoisseur, you need to know that Lebanon bologna is kind of a big deal. That's why the city of Lebanon deems it important enough to ring in the new year with.
A TO-GO CUP // SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
This year marks the third annual "Up the Cup" celebration in Savannah. The cup is sponsored by Wet Willie's, an establishment that serves frozen alcoholic drinks in—you guessed it—a to-go cup.
My absolute favorite is:
A GIANT PEEP // BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA
Peeps’ parent company, Just Born, calls the eastern Pennsylvania town home, which is why Bethlehem drops a 4.5-foot tall, 85-pound, illuminated Peep to mark the new year. Though Peeps come in shapes to suit every holiday these days, the drop is done with a traditional chick that flashes different colors at midnight.
Did you know that the Peep tastes best when exposed to air for about 5 days? It becomes chewy!
Now, for Prophecy 2016!
1. Jonathan "Keys" Leeman leaves Capital Hill Baptist Church after experiencing a breakdown.
Leeman felt that the *key* being dropped on New Years Eve in Maryland was a heresy since only CHBC and Mark Dever hold the *keys.* He grabbed the ceremonial key and ran. Before he was arrested, he discovered the key belonged Pat Robertson who owned an orange 1970 AMC Gremlin which was voted one of the 50 ugliest cars ever produced.
27. A KEY // FREDERICK, MARYLAND
In 2012, the city of Frederick began the tradition of dropping a 5-foot by 2.5-foot wooden key from a suspension bridge. Why a key? To honor one of its most famous sons, of course—The Star-Spangled Banner lyricist Francis Scott Key.
Last we heard of him, he was headed for Key West, hoping that Jimmy Buffet would help him produce a hymn seeking "the lost keys of Margaritaville."
2. Tom Cruise will play Mark Driscoll in a new blockbuster thriller, Driscoll: Trapped.
The screenplay was developed from the following interview: In Tearful Interview With Brian Houston, Mark Driscoll and Wife Reveal How God Told Them to Resign From Mars Hill Church. Driscoll recounts this paranormal experience.
"Our plan was to come back as volunteers. On that Monday night, I was in the bedroom, Grace was in the living room. He (God) spoke to me and He spoke to her in a supernatural way that neither of us anticipated or expected," Driscoll began in explaining how God change his course.
"So Grace walked in and said, 'I feel like the Lord just said what we are supposed to do.' And I said 'I feel like the Lord just spoke to me and said we'… it's not what we wanted," Driscoll noted prefacing his comments with a hint of pain.
"It's not what we agreed to and it's not what we planned for, and so I asked her 'What did the Lord say to you?' Because I didn't want to influence her and she said …"
"We're released from Mars Hill," interjected Grace fighting back tears.
"She said 'Well, what did He say to you?' I said 'the Lord revealed to me a trap has been set, there's no way for us to return to leadership.' And I didn't know what that meant or what was going on at the time. He said we're released and we need to resign.
"This is not what we anticipated and a lot of people thought 'maybe he's got another plan.' We didn't, we didn't know what we were doing and Grace fell to the floor and she was just sobbing uncontrollably. I'd never seen my wife like that, she was devastated," explained Driscoll who tried unsuccessfully to hold back his tears.
Cruise agreed to portray Driscoll after Driscoll signed a document vowing never to drive a bus within one mile of Cruise. Rumor has it that Steven Spielberg will produce the special effects for the demon trials. John Piper will make a cameo appearance in which he will hug Driscoll and Driscoll will punch him out.
3. CJ Mahaney elected President of the SBC and Peter Lumpkin collapses on the floor of the convention after the vote.
CJ Mahaney converted, once again, and has come out as Baptist. After the vote, it was discovered that CJ had donated money to pay for sabbaticals, ministries and blogs for many of the movers and shakers of the Reformed Baptist crowd and those that love them. Unfortunately, he is now on food stamps. The question is "Will his friends reciprocate?" John Piper runs on the stage to hug Mahaney while EMTs carry Lumpkin out on a stretcher.
4. John Piper takes up kickboxing.
Recently, Piper came out against Christians arming themselves against break-ins, etc., apparently believing that Christians need to take one for the team. However, in his reading of Scripture, he discovers that one only has to "turn the other cheek." It says nothing about kicking your opponent where it hurts. Unfortunately, Piper had to leave the program when it is discovered that he is surrounded by muscular women and feels their physical attributes pressed upon him.
In the meantime, due to arthritis in his arms and hands, he is taking to flashing emoticons (1 every 5 seconds) to help the audience know when he is being serious which is pretty much all the time. It appears that people are laughing at inappropriate times. 
5. Robert Morris and Chris Hodges of the ARC portray themselves in the new movie, Ghostbusters.
Yelling. "We'll show you how to do it!" Hodges and Morris begin to exorcize all the demons in the actors and stage crew. However, Hodges makes the mistake of trying to also exorcize all the demons in Morris and the crew gets bored and moves to a secret location to continue filming.
And now, it's your turn! I can't wait!
Eerste! Could it be?
After Easter, buy peeps on sale. Store them for summer marshmallow roasting. Too fun.
Well, I’m going to bed.
Yay, my state made the list. Watermelon drop for the win! (full disclosure: I’ve never gone to the event, and could hardly care less, but it’s still amusing)
I predict …
… a certain mega-star mega-pastor concludes he is addicted to the health and wealth gospel, and all is set to fly out to a recovery program at a secret midwest location. But he drops out on the day of departure because he finds out his baggage is not by Gucci.
Happy New Year everyone.
The list may be a little bit out there. But, I will predict that something almost as absurd (as the items in the list) will happen in evangelicalism in 2016.
Mark Driscoll, after re-inventing himself in Phoenix, will emerge to promote a new thing in reformed ranks … Charismatic Calvinism.
New Calvinist leaders will be appointed to head remaining Southern Baptist entities which to-date have resisted the proliferation of reformed theology … including Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (the last bastion of non-Calvinism).
The Assembly of God denomination will be infiltrated by reformed theology through stealth and deception; key AG churches will fall to Neo-Calvinism following the successful takeover model used in the SBC.
Al Mohler will smile more often, as he enjoys a good year capturing more ground for New Calvinism.
John Piper will say and/or do something totally stupid, lose support by the reformed who’s who, and quietly disappear from the scene.
The watchblogs will also have a good year, as more ministry imposters are exposed.
@ Jbthebaptist:
Da! Pravda!
This is a thread for making predictions? I’ll try my hand at this.
John Piper will make weird tweets.
Somewhere in America, in some authoritarian, gender complementarian church, the preacher or leaders will expect an abused wife to stay with her husband, and tell her the burden for keeping the marriage together at all costs falls to her, and that she should submit more.
Mega-church and tele-evangelist preachers (sometimes those are the same things) will continue to browbeat, guilt trip, and cherry pick Old Testament verses into pressuring church members (or TV views) to send their “ministries” money,
especially so they can go on missions (which will happen to be to really nice, tropical locations, such as Hawaii).
That’s all I’ve got for now.
Max said:
“Mark Driscoll, after re-inventing himself in Phoenix, will emerge to promote a new thing in reformed ranks … Charismatic Calvinism.”
I completely agree. Good call.
Depending on how Driscoll tries to re-brand himself, he may turn a leaf on the ‘woman-bashing He-Man boys only club’ shtick and suddenly be in support of (or pretend to, in public) things like women being equals in marriage and women being teachers and preachers.
(Unless he thinks being a caveman who limits women still appeals to whomever his upcoming marketing demographic is, and so I guess we can expect to see more snide, rude, and sexist comments about women from him.)
@ Daisy:
Just thought of another one.
If or when the next natural disaster happens (flood, earth quake, tornado, hurricane) Pat Robertson and/or John Piper will say it was God’s punishment on America for whatever cause they are against.
charismatic Calvinism is decades old, not a new thing. Even a Reformed Anglican like J. I. Packer has in some ways been open to charismatic/Pentecostal elements. Charismatic elements in nominally monergistic Protestant groups is decades old. The YRR movement and the neo_Cals feature it (Piper, for instance).
Predicting things coming into pass in 2016 that have been around for 40 years is a pretty safe prediction though. 🙂
Max, there are still plenty of Methodist, Catholic, Orthodox and Pentecostal schools out there. Baptists may be worried about their institutions being in decline with some cause, but the idea that SEBTS is the last hold out against Calvinism suggests a somewhat insular perspective. There are legions of people who have (thankfully) absolutely no idea who John Piper is or why he should even matter. Things can look worse than they are. One of the obstacles neo-Calvinists will face trying to infiltrate the Assemblies of God is the existence of Pentecostal scholars with egalitarian commitments like Gordon Fee.
sorry, wrong abbreviation for the aforementioned Baptist seminary. 🙁
1) The Rapture is soon to be*.
2) Obama will be revealed as the anti-christ.
3) Muff Potter will be exposed as a seekrit muzzlim.
*On 6 February 2016 when the planet Mercury reaches greatest
Western elongation, 26 degrees from the sun in the predawn sky.
WenatcheeTheHatchet wrote:
Sorry, I should have qualified this; I should have said “within SBC”. Praise the Lord that most of Christendom has not fallen for the reformed movement. There is no doubt that Calvinization of the SBC is well underway.
WenatcheeTheHatchet wrote:
I’m thinking that Driscoll will put a new twist to it. He must appear unique again to draw a crowd. In a recent video, he certainly looked better in a suit and combed hair.
Daisy wrote:
If he starts hanging out in Pentecostal ranks, he will have to … or those women who have been set free will make mince meat out of him!
@ WenatcheeTheHatchet:
I always thought the older version of Charismatic Calvinist was based on whether a cessationist or not.
WenatcheeTheHatchet wrote:
That might be true for people in general but most seminaries whether Methodist or other, are quite aware of Piper. That is what eventually filters out to churches. He has a draw that simply boggles my mind.
Many Pentecostals buy into submission in marriage while promoting women pastors.
“Unfortunately, Piper had to leave the program when it is discovered that he is surrounded by muscular women and feels their physical attributes pressed upon him.”
Best line of the entire post.
Prediction #1: Mark Driscoll will have hands laid on him and get the anointing to be one of the apostles of the NAR, possibly at the opening Sunday for Trinity church. He’ll then start speaking in tongues, claim he sees the sex demons holding people in bondage, and try casting them out.
And speaking of 200 pounds of bologna…
Prediction #2: Doug Wilson will finally lose his internet war with Natalie Greenfield, but refuse to step down from ministry. The rest of the CREC leadership will come up with a formal rebuke, suggest a (paid) sabbatical, and then “restore” Wilson. The Gospel Coalition will carry on as though nothing happened. Faster than you can say nothingtoseehere, Doug will be back to his blogging ways.
Daisy wrote:
I got the impression he is working his way slowly there with his last video asking for money. I think he will trot Grace out a lot. His anti women-are deceived stance won’t play well in the Joyce Meyer type of world for which he is aiming. The donations won’t pour in.
The following is a quote from a commenter named AdamWilson at the Christian Post:
“… and don’t be surprised next year when Furtick says Jesus wouldn’t want him to reveal how much money the congregation just spent on his new jet.”
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-steven-furtick-says-jesus-wouldnt-want-him-to-reveal-how-much-money-he-makes-149835/#Zk5GeCsMq1h36SYr.99
@ Max:
Well, that’s possible but the plagiarism controversy that surrounded Driscoll suggests that whatever new twist he might try to put on it he’s going to need help. His been a popularizer of other people’s ideas.
Mars Hill had people who spoke in tongues behind the scenes but never up front. Driscoll described himself as a cessationist circa 2002 and earlier. He didn’t become more overtly charismatic in his sympathies until, as he put it, odd things began to happen. Anecdotally these odd things tended to cluster around narratives of superpowers, for want of a more polite way to put it. The more formal power was consolidated into the executive team the more stories seemed to trend toward charismatic but with a seatbelt stuff. If more people who were at Mars Hill are willing to share stories about claims made to discernment it may be easier to compile a lexicon of stories in which leaders claimed divine messages when dealing with the rank and file. Because of my former Pentecostal background I’d gotten some instruction about the necessity to test and verify. Cessationists have tended to misrepresent the degree to which Pentecostals allegedly presume they have new revelation that trumps biblical texts. That’s not how it necessarily worked out in old-school Pentecostal settings. Unfortunately in poelmics on doctrinal issues thorough histories of Pentecostalism have not always been out there. MacArthur’s crew has inadvertently given guys like Driscoll plenty of ammo they didn’t have to provide if they were more careful in the formulation of their critiques.
And it’s not a big shock for thos who were around the earlier phases of MH to note that MacArthur was at one point a substantial influence oN MD’s approach. There’s a tragicomic sense in which the Team Pyro crew may not fully realize that in criticizing Driscoll they’ve criticizedsomeone who was formatively shaped by the MacArthur team approach to public polemic.
@ Lydia:
yeah, he can’t just make an abrupt switch but for the team he seems to be aiming to join he has to walk back his stance on a variety of things before he’ll integrate into the charismatic/Pentecostal scene. Old school Pentecostalism is possibly still too tied to the Wesleyan tradition for Driscoll to shift into there but he could make a play for third wave/charismatic scenes. But for that he’d need to REALLY dial back the stuff he’s said about women. Thing is, he can probably do it. In the Brian Houston interview Grace mentioned how she heard from God that “we were released” Driscoll’s also talked about in the past how Grace has discernment as far back as a decade ago. There’s also some indication that having her blog more and have more of a public role was being contemplated in the marketing strategy for Real Marriage back in 2011. Her background is in public relations so we’re looking at a potential power couple for media engagement and branding. It may simply be a matter of when and not if Grace Driscoll becomes more prominent. It may be easier to consider as the kids get older and move on to schools.
@ NJ:
Love it!
Muff Potter wrote:
I always knew there was something about the Muffster!!!
WenatcheeTheHatchet wrote:
Did she actually work anywhere in that capacity besides ministry?
Tom Cruise as Mark Driscoll . . . classic!
@ Lydia:
Probably for just a few years in their early years of marriage but she was able to earn enough that it was she and not Mark Driscoll who was functionally the breadwinner in the marriage in the earlier days of Mars Hill. Even people sympathetic to Driscoll have snarked that Mark Driscoll didn’t resign from ministry when he felt it was sinful that he wasn’t the breadwinner, he just kept soldiering on until he could arrange to have a better salary.
So, yeah, the general report within the MH community and from the Driscoll accounts is she was in PR early on and she was at least successful enough at it that she was the money-maker in contrast to Mark Driscoll (a blogger who met the young Driscoll reported meeting him working as a clerk at a couple of book stores). PR pays better than clerking at a bookstore, most likely.
I would sooner nominate H Jon Benjamin to play Driscoll if anyone’s going to do it because … well, not saying you “should” watch the show Archer but sometimes H. Jon Benjamin’s character reminds me of MD.
@ WenatcheeTheHatchet: I saw this n the East Coast, too, with a few Calvinist-influenced groups that stated long before Mars Hill. I think these ideas tend to recur and recur, and sometimes pop up in pretty unusual places.
brad/futuristguy wrote:
No, he drops out because he is has to fly coach along with all the drug and demon infested hoi-polloi!
@ Lydia:
Instead of t shirts, he’ll wear a ‘dad’ sweater like Mr. Rogers
Later this month, a local Baptist Church, SBC, is having a seminar one weekend on the Calvinism….and it isn’t positive.
I am debating whether to attend or not?
K.D. wrote:
Attend! Please attend! Take notes and report back to us!
Lydia wrote:
I have seen a few like that on Christian TV networks.
Joyce Meyers pops to mind. She is a preacher, but she has done sermons coaching women to be sure to submit to their husbands, she says she submits to hers (she means in a one-way sense, not a mutual sense). It makes me want to barf.
NJ wrote:
My New Years resolution: Start working out with my husband’s weights – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis and positive Lupus test be damned! If y’all say JP is taking up kick boxing, I have to be ready to show him up!
NJ wrote:
This has been true of J D Hall.
Hall has been back on twitter over the last several months, nasty as ever, and he’s even singling out the same two or three people to hound.
All that blabbering Hall did over learning his lessons over that young boy committing suicide over a year ago appears to me to be a bunch of hooey.
@ NJ:
Furtick has a new private jet now? All righty then.
nmgirl wrote:
Is this about Driscoll?
In all seriousness, Driscoll said as much a year or more ago. I think I put a link on WW about it.
Driscoll was interviewed on TV or what not, and he was wearing a jacket with elbow patches on it.
He told the interviewer he was changing his image away from ‘cool guy’ to ‘older dad figure’ because he wanted to be a “pastor to pastor,” rather than thought of as ministering to young hipsters.
K.D. wrote:
wow. I cannot imagine that happening here.
@ Daisy:
I’m not sure that Furtick has a private jet … yet. But Creflo Dollar’s church finally bought him one, and Furtick won’t want to be, um, left behind. Nmgirl’s reference to the “demon infested hoi-polloi” might have been because she was aware of what these two other televangelists had to say about why Dollar needed his own personal sky palace:
http://zackhunt.net/2015/12/31/the-real-reason-televangelists-need-their-own-private-planes/
NJ wrote:
Just remember: No matter how much they spent on it… it’s not that great of a jet!
From the OP:
The most prominent member of one cult playing the role of another cult’s leader? Sounds right.
Heh, heh. Brainwashed, but not stupid. 😉
K.D. wrote:
That would actually be a good thing to do at all of SBC’s 45,000+ churches. SBC’s non-Calvinist majority are uninformed, misinformed, or willingly ignorant about the proliferation of Calvinism in the denomination. During their silence, reformed leaders have gained control of most SBC entities and planted numerous New Calvinist churches. SBC Calvinization is in full swing and the folks in the pew ain’t got a clue in most places; I blame that on their pastors who know full well what is going on. They have been advised by SBS’s executive leadership, for the sake of unity, to agree to disagree, go along to get along, and make room under the big tent for diverse theologies. The non-Calvinist majority simply have no bold, competent challengers to engage Al Mohler and his agenda.
Daisy, I think the commenter was making a joke, but you have to admit it’s very plausible.
Josh, that was a funny link. Before reading it I would have guessed it had something to do with being part of the mile high club without having to cram into the bathroom or hire some private business that, well, facilitates just that.
Nancy2, you mean you have both chronic fatigue syndrome AND lupus? If so, may God grant you improving health this new year.
NJ wrote:
I tested positive for Lupus, but I don’t have full blown Lupus – just some of the problems that come with it , not all. Thank you for the well wishes!
nmgirl wrote:
I resemble that remark!
I prophesy that in 2016, my mansion up here in our Father’s house will continue to be roomier than Furtick’s!
Fred Rogers wrote:
And we all know what it cost.
WenatcheeTheHatchet wrote:
I predict for 2016 that Grace will pump her hair up to sky high level and dye it pink so she can get a job on TBN, all the while saying, of course, that Mark is her covering. Mark meanwhile will think that the control that Scientology has over its followers is just peachy keen and will therefore challenge David Miscavige for control of the group.
Daisy wrote:
I have always, always found that the most aggressive women are the ones to promote wifely submission as obedience.
I predict that in 2016 Bill Gothard marries all of the unmarried Duggar daughters. Grandma Duggar faints at the private ceremony (although it will be on TLC) but Bill refuses to revive her because he has never kissed a woman and isn’t about to start now.
Max wrote:
Mark Driscoll will speak at an Acts 29 service next Sunday, as Wenatchee The Hatchet wrote about on his blog. Who could have predicted that?
Margaret wrote:
Wenatchee the Hatchet?
ION: England won the toss and batted; 76-1 at the time of writing, with Alastair Cook the man gone for 27. By all accounts, an extraordinary catch by Morris at 3rd slip.
But a cricketing prophecy for 2016? I suspect England will remain steadfastly inconsistent.
Another sporting prophecy:
England will fail to advance through the knock-out stages at the European Fitba’ Championships this summer.
The English tabloids, and fitba’ pundits in general, will mount the usual post-tournament hue and cry on why England didn’t win.
Many reasons will be given, as well as many things that need to be done so that England can win the next one.
None of these will involve any discussion on how England can actually get better at fitba’.
Back to the cricket:
Hales, just after scoring his maiden Test half-century, fell for 60 – caught at second slip by de Villiers, even though the ball was actually carrying to first slip. As the Beeb text commentary observed, de V would not have been popular if he’d dropped it. But he didn’t, and in fact he now has 200 dismissals in the field in Test cricket.
The game is ticking over steadily at the moment. England are on 148-2; about par for the course if you win the toss and bat, so you’d have to say it’s a fairly even contest so far.
ION:
Apparently I have killed this entire thread. I wonder whether my new-found powers work on trolls too… think I’ll tweet Donald Trump to find out.
IHTIH.
England are 167 for 4 the ball after tea. This being a prophecy thread I prophesy that Kagiso Rabada will have a stellar career for South Africa.
@ JohnD:
Well, I’m glad someone is still there – it was beginning to feel like 28 Days Later !
Yet another example of how quick wickets can change a game. You’d have to say South Africa are having the better of day 1 the noo. And they’ve bowled really well overall, particularly in the way they’ve kept England’s run-rate down and thus created scoreboard pressure.
Certainly looks like Rabada has every chance of a five-fer here!
Margaret wrote:
His fan based anxiously awaits his return from exile. The young, restless and reformed are a gullible bunch … they will fall for whatever new thing he serves up.
For new readers:
Due to the controversial topics within the broader evangelical world that this blog covers, the Deebs have decided that we will not add the discussion of politics to our comments. It will just cause far more dissension than we already have. However, we hope all of our readers will pray for our next elections.
One comment not approved because of the political nature of the thoughts.
@ Nick Bulbeck:
🙂
Daisy wrote:
Anybody who needs to “change their image” was, and is, playing games and has no idea of the direction of God’s spirit in his life. Driscoll is a charlatan.
dee wrote:
Who firmly believes in a hierarchical chain of command. He wants to be at the top.
Margaret wrote:
According to his website, Driscoll will be speaking at North Valley Community Church, Phoenix on Sunday, January 3. As Margaret notes, this is an Acts 29 church. Perhaps his sermon will be posted on North Valley’s website following the event.
dee wrote:
Chameleons change their colors to conceal their true image – primarily to protect themselves and ensure their longevity … a game that the church should be wary of when it comes to Driscoll. It didn’t work out well for the potty-mouth preacher when he was emergent … so he became resurgent … beware of the next “ent” he comes up with.
This is a very good idea…. The mixing of evangelicalism and politics is not good for either entity, IMHO.
dee wrote:
dee wrote:
Looks like my trump card was over-trumped.
…
… it’s OK, I’m leaving now.
Jeffrey Chalmers wrote:
I have to concede that this is true. A comment may look funny, and indeed be intended as such, but still be like switching on a light during a gas-leak.
@ Nick Bulbeck:
… er… which would inadvertently cause an explosion, in case anyone was wondering where that was supposed to be going. Turning a switch at mains voltage will always cause a small spark, and if the gas/air mixture has diffused around the switch itself, the spark will ignite it.
That was going well until I stopped to explain it.
OK, I really am leaving now.
Anyway, another prophecy for 2016:
I will finally practice Rachmaninov’s G Minor Prelude up to a passable standard. https://www.youtube.com/watch_a_lassie_playing_Rachmaninov
And Debussy’s Jardins sous la Pluie http://www.youtube.com/watch_a_laddie_playing_Debussy
I predict it will finally be revealed that a vast majority of those who promote complementarian teaching are in fact Ferengis, and Wayne Grudem is actually their Grand Nagus. That would explain the blatant misogyny, greed, and love of hierarchy.
Daisy wrote:
Three words:
QUEEN BEE SYNDROME.
Because a beehive can have only ONE Queen.
patriciamc wrote:
Because that eliminates all the competition for the Queen Bee.
(And I just typoed “Queen Mee” for “Queen Bee”. Paging Doctor Freud…)
patriciamc wrote:
Don’t those who challenge David Miscavage have this habit of Disappearing?
@ dee:
Totally agree. If we believe that all things come from God then our liberal democracy (despite it’s flaws) is truly a blessing as it allows us to express our opinions freely (on places like this blog) without fear of a midnight knock on the door. I would pray for the election but also for those who don’t have this freedom and those who are fighting for it – wherever they may be, whatever creed they follow.
– Driscoll will not be as big as others are making him to be. Expect him to be on some sleazy Christian TV network plotting his return instead of at Bethlehem Baptist or a Passion Conference.
– Speaking of which: Conferences, Conferences everywhere! Get in early for the special discount, and be amazed at which musicians who all sound like U2 or Mumford and Sons will be there. Listen to amazingly powerful speakers with new books. Accept the challenge and follow the hashtag. From Liberal Shaming to Calvinist Smug Alerts, it’s all there.
– Tony Jones is back, baby! Expect one of the stars of the Evangelical Left to endorse his newest book or get Instragrammed sipping brews or eating at an exclusive restaurant.
– The usual suspects will never, ever speak up for Julie. This will not stop Julie from being stronger than a roomfull of RHEs and NBWs.
– The Second Great Embarrassment will continue and will cut every which way. A few big named people generally respected (liberal, conservative, doesn’t matter) will be persona-non-Grata in December. Expect one of the fallen to mention that their brand will continue.
– The NAR/ARC will attempt to push more into mainstream evangelicalism. Bethel and IHOP will host more normal evangelicals, and will get their books and speakers into more otherwise mainstream evangelical outlets. Expect wrist-slapping when their prophecies turn out to be BS and their abuse stories are outed.
Nick Bulbeck wrote:
Leicester City vs Bournemouth 0-0
I have become somewhat a AFC Bournemouth fan….we have high school American football stadiums larger than Bournemouth ‘s….
dee wrote:
Have George Lucas do the prequel, that will kill the franchise.
1. Mark Driscoll introduces his version of a “bus ministry” to Phoenix, leaving tread-prints on numerous backs.
2. John Piper declares that it is manly to flap your arms, causing an outbreak of fluttering among the YRR crowd.
3. Complimentarian leaders take 1 Tim 2:15 to be literal and declare millions of women and girls unsaved.
4. Al Mohler announces that there is a superior form of church government: the family, as in the Mafia family. Henceforth, he wants to be addressed as the Don of SBTS.
Daisy wrote:
And the sun will rise tomorrow
@ David:
Good comment. But how many of us in the great unwashed out here in the perimeter will go about our lives and not give a rat’s rip about the ixtian glitterati on either side of the aisle (left or right)? I for one, and here I can only speak for myself. Life is just too damned short to fret over what these luminaries say and do, so I’ll just savor every moment I have left in this world, the love in the eyes of my little dogs, the humming birds at the feeder, it’s precious, it’s a gift, and I’ll never pass this way again…
Bill M wrote:
We had a local weatherman for years who always qualified his forecasts by saying this at the end of his broadcast…
K.D. wrote:
That makes two of us – truth to tell, AFCB have won a great many fans in the last couple of years. Leicester too, come to that, for reasons I’ve regularly posted about here.
I must concede a bragging right to Dr Fundystan following the Hammers’ win over the Reds today. Another downside was a shock defeat for Scumbagchester United’s opponents.
Returning to the cricket for a moment, England closed on 317-5; probably shading the first day. Any total short of 400 tomorrow would have to be called a collapse – i.e., would entail South Africa having the better of tomorrow. Several England batsmen contributed, without anyone making a score – Stokes top-scoring with an unbeaten 74, and I don’t think it’s coincidence that he scored those runs rapidly. The others played rather defensively (and/or South Africa bowled tidily) before getting out.
K.D. wrote:
Reminds me of a brilliant weather forecast a few years back. We were expecting a bit of a snowstorm, and the weatherman predicted that we’d get ‘up to 6 inches or more’. Think about the range that covers – pretty much anything between a trace and infinity… Talk about hedging your bets!
I have a friend whosent husband is enrolling in one of the neo Cal SBC seminaries. I don’t know what to say. The expression on my face probably said it all. Peter Lumpkins would have a stroke if C j mahaney was elected as SBC president. Peter Lumpkins does have a sense of humor at the mere prospect, I am sure. But all the hypotheticals are possible. On the Max predictions: Neo Cal theology is infiltrating traditionally Arminian denominations like the Wesleyan and the Nazarenes. As far as other denominations, don’t forget that the Evangelical Free Church is also having a Neo Cal resurgance. And some acts 9 churches are networked with churches in the GARBC, ie First Baptist NYC. So it isn’t just the SBC.
patriciamc wrote:
I wonder if that’s because they want other women to be as miserable as they are, or to convince themselves it’s really biblical?
dee wrote:
I agree. Driscoll, like a lot of other famous preacher names and Christian personalities, treat the faith more like a business. They market and brand themselves and Jesus, to make a buck and/or gain more fame.
People like this (Driscoll et al) are turning other people off to the faith and giving some Christians (who are struggling holding on to the faith) a reason to stay.
Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:
Despite Meyer’s claims of submitting to her husband, my impression (and yes, this is just my impression, not something I know for a fact), is that she’s the boss in that marriage.
She has a very strong, outspoken personality. The few times I’ve seen her spouse, he seems more laid back and soft spoken. He doesn’t seem the type to try to boss her around and call the shots.
My other impression (I’ve watched many of her TV shows) is that her spouse does not care, because she is the breadwinner, and she can afford to buy them the big houses they live in.
There were exposes in newspapers several years back about all the big houses she lives in, and fancy furniture she buys.
I think she’s mentioned a time or two that her husband likes to go play golf. He seems to be a man of leisure.
I think she’s supporting him in a lifestyle to which he has become accustomed, so what is this guy really going to care if his wife orders him around a bit, or works as a preacher?
David wrote:
I have watched a lot of TBN (Christian network) over the last ten years.
In all that time, I don’t recall Driscoll ever being on, which I find interesting.
I just checked for Driscoll’s name on iTBN, and he is on there, but usually as a guest for someone else, like the “Life Today,” show, not so much the main TBN shows, like “Praise the Lord.”
He was on at least one ‘Life Today’ episode, promoting his book, “A Call To Resurgence.”
I really don’t think Driscoll ever accepted Christ as his savior, I think he’s a tare, not a wheat, or a goat, not a sheep.
I just hate seeing guys who I feel are false converts or wolves in sheeps clothing being paraded around by churches or Christian TV, permitted to hawk their books, and being presented as a trustworthy source for learning about Jesus Christ or the Bible.
I could probably learn more about Jesus and the faith from talking to an average, every day little old granny lady at the local Baptist church, or some of the Christian commentators here and similar blogs, than I ever could from someone like Mark Driscoll.
Bill M wrote:
Oh no, don’t give him any ideas. He may hire the equivalent of J J Abrams to do a reboot. 🙂
Re: weird tweets by John Piper on the horizon
Bill M wrote:
Yes. Death and taxes are also inevitable. 🙂
EricL wrote:
All of your predictions are great, but this one is hilarious.
Margaret wrote:
Mark Driscoll will speak at an Acts 29 service next Sunday, as Wenatchee The Hatchet wrote about on his blog. Who could have predicted that?
FWIW I spoke with someone who dialogued with an executive from Acts 29. When asked about Driscoll speaking at North Valley Church, they said they were well aware of what Driscoll is up to and that engagement specifically. It sounded like they believed this was a rogue action by an Acts 29 church and they were fairly clear that Acts 29 was neither endorsing nor supporting the decision to put a non-reconciled Mark Driscoll back in the pulpit at this time. Acts 29 is a network not a denomination. They share resources and help plant new churches but don’t dictate who Acts 29 churches may invite as a guest speakers.
.
The more concerning engagement to me is Mark Driscoll being brought in by the U.S.Army Chaplain Corp “doing a private event…working with chaplains and their spouses who oversee tens of thousands of soldiers and so this is an event that I’m very honored to go volunteer and serve at and to spend some days in depth teaching, praying with and investing in these ministry couples who help those and serve those who oversee our freedom and so it’s a great honor to do so”
.
There are hundreds of thousands of clergy to choose from but the U.S. Army Chaplain Corp want Mark Driscoll to teach and invest in their ministry couples? Because they think this will help military families? Have none of them read his book Real Marriage? Have they not listened to that horrible sermon in Scotland about the Song of Solomon? Do they have NO access to preachers who haven’t lied, bullied, plagiarized, manipulated, shunned, diverted funds, profited obscenely off the gospel, screamed and cursed from the pulpit, made vulgar statements about America and the role of women as carbon based garages? Who made this decision and why? This is making the Marine Corps decision to hire Ergun Caner seem tame.
Daisy wrote:
Expect to see more of this in the future. He has been on Life Today with James Robison. Robison is an Apostolic Elder at Gateway, which was the first church to give him a post-resignation speaking gig. The Lead Apostolic Elder of GW and the man who planted GWC is Jimmy Evans. Jimmy is a director for Driscoll’s new church in Phoenix.
.
Driscoll will be speaking at Jimmy’s mega in Amarillo next week. Driscoll has also been on Daystar on the shows The Green Room and Joni and Marcus. He was promoting book sales. As Driscoll re-emerges as a Pentecostal under Jimmy’s watchful eye, he is also showing up more in Charisma News Magazine. I imagine as soon as he has a new product to promote – such as a book – you will see him back on Daystar. Daystar is owned by Joni and Marcus Lamb who are heavyweight members of GW. Both their daughters attend GW’s Church of Foursquare school called The King’s University.
.
Daystar and GW do a lot of business together. In addition to paying for all the broadcasting of The Blessed Life TV show, GW sponsors very expensive events like the recent Planet Shakers concert. Daystar then used that concert broadcast repeatedly as a huge fundraising event. GW channels tithe dollars to Daystar. Then Daystar gives air time to promote certain GW pastors’ books and CD/DVD sales where these special pastors get to keep all the revenue personally. Kind of like what Mark Driscoll already did with Real Marriage.
.
Some are speculating that Mark and Grace could be getting a guest star appearance on Jimmy’s Daystar TV show Marriage Today. That wouldn’t be surprising. The big money is in TV.
.
I think Wenatchee the Hatchet is right that Driscoll won’t go Old School Pentecostal with the more traditional AOG-type model. But GW and Trinity Fellowship’s spiritainment Four Square style with their magnificent productions and lavish personal lifestyles will suit the Driscolls to a tee.
EricL wrote:
Why not? The Pied Piper has cast a spell over the YRR already. “Fluttering” is reminiscent of the “Holy Laughter” outbreak in Charismatic churches several years ago … anyone remember that one? (With the condition of the world and the church, I could never figure out why God would want us to laugh … Holy Weeping I could understand).
Max wrote:
While I never joined in the widespread experience of unstoppable laughter, nor have I ever fallen over and barked like a fish in a prayer meeting, I can understand why God would want us to laugh. The same Jesus both rejoiced and wept – it’s not either/or.
LT wrote:
Not only is Driscoll non-reconciled to Acts 29, he has launched an unrepentant comeback (unless I missed his expression of godly sorrow for his multitude of past sins as a minister). A glance at the North Valley website indicates that the lead pastor and worship pastor still carry Driscoll’s signature spiky hairdo – they must not know that he shed that for a more clean-cut look. I don’t normally look at the outward appearance, but Driscoll’s mark on Christendom is so obvious.
Nick Bulbeck wrote:
Agreed, but he wept over the condition of Israel.
Nick Bulbeck wrote:
There is a common fish in the Western Atlantic called a Sea Robin (on your side of the Pond called gurnard), that when you land it in your boat barks at you. It’s the weirdest thing, and somewhat disconcerting. I’m not sure it would be much better if they laughed, though.
These were good. Unless the matter is resolved before the Convention, the most interesting thing that will happen at the Conventiion will be the challenge of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville to send messengers since it is not a missionary Baptist church.
roebuck wrote:
Actually that would be the dogfish, found in the north-eastern Atlantic.
The catfish, by contrast, creeps out of the water at night to leave unpleasant piles of Stuff on people’s flowerbeds.
#catsareevil
Nick Bulbeck wrote:
It’s really too bad that kittens grow up to be cats, but there it is. I expect there are some cat-lovers here, so I’ll leave it at that 😉
@ Anonymous:
What do you mean a missionary baptist church? I am not sure it matters as I believe SGL joined the SBC to justify the SBTS perks after they became public. . Like the pastors college credit deal. Not exactly high academic standards from the “brilliant scholar”, Mohler.
@ LT:
Don’t be fooled. Acts 29 plants have Driscoll DNA all over them. But Driscoll became a public embarrassment and they ere concerned about the money flowing.. Never forget the succeeding Acts 29 prez, Chandler, served on the board during all the scandals and had no problem with him.
@ Anonymous:
Btw: will you be making the challenge? :o)
Daisy wrote:
That’s a good point, they’re trying to convince themselves.
roebuck wrote:
To heck with politics, them’s real fighting words! LOL!
Lydia wrote:
SBC church planters in my area cut their teeth on Driscoll Drivel and still idolize the guy. Whether or not they officially aligned with Acts 29 after hanging out the SBC shingle, they have the same macho-man genetics … more Acts 29, than SBC, in belief and practice.
Patriciamc wrote:
But I luv teh katz, and they love me! Seriously ;-P many of my friends have cats, and we get along famously. It’s just that when they think the garden is a litter box, or they kill migratory birds out of boredom, well, that makes me a bit crazy.
@ Lydia:
@ Anonymous:
This whole thing should be an embarrassment to those who claim that SBTS has solid academic standards. Frankly, it reminds me of a smokey political cloakroom deal. These are the followers of Jesus who eschewed the political Pharisees and hung out with disenfranchised? I think Jesus would have spent far more time pursuing the victims of child sex abuse and turning over the money tables in certain institutions.
roebuck wrote:
My dogs luuvvv cats! The only cats I love are the Kentucky Wildcats.
Max wrote:
…
in addition, from today’s NYT:
“Oligarchy, rule by the few, also tends to become rule by the monstrously self-centered. Narcisstocracy? Jerkigarchy? Anyway, it’s an ugly spectacle, and it’s probably going to get even uglier over the course of the year ahead.”
Privilege, Pathology and Power by Paul Krugman JAN. 1, 2016 NYT
http://nyti.ms/1O2uAzw
@ JYJames:
And George Soros. He has hurt the poor in many countries. He is a big donor to the other side.
Riley wrote:
Bayly asked, “Where is the Apostle Paul when you need him?”
Given this prediction, I ask, “Where is the Apostle Peter when you need him, sword in hand?” He could cut the ears off of those Ferengis!
@ dee:
Ok we’ll leave out the O word but Christians being slaughtered by muslims in the middle east is not political and the silencing of Christians about muslims is not political
@ LT:
So far, and correct me if I’m wrong, but as far as I can see, W the Hatchet and Throckmorton are long on expose rhetoric with regard to religious hucksters on the grift, but not once have I seen them advocate a drastic overhaul of the tax codes so that they have to pay their fair share just like everybody else.
TBN, Daystar, it’s all the same racket. They operate with impunity because our lawmakers don’t have the cojones to stand up to them.
BC wrote:
If the “O word” is in reference to my above quote from the NYT’s entry by Paul Krugman today, my intention was cross-pollinating Krugman’s original post in relation to what we discuss on TWW – namely the hierarchy of a church that is ruled by a few. The results Krugman notes seem to apply in either arena: narcissism, power greed, control, covering, inappropriate submission, twisted shepherding, sheeples in lieu of disciples, etc.
roebuck wrote:
Oh I understand; killing birds would be a problem. My sweet girl (who wouldn’t know how to kill) who went to Heaven recently, didn’t always manage to make it to the piddle pads that I put down for her. *sigh*
Nancy2 wrote:
Good call, however, Simon Sinek notes that for some, being a “sheeple” has its own reward – that is, not having to take responsibility. Full disclosure, I would be susceptible to that temptation – giving up power that is really my responsibility. Just because one does not lead, should not make one fair game for those who feel they are the “masterminds” among us.
Elevation Church will actually elevate when the smoke machines malfunction. Unable to return to earth, they will form a colony on Mars.
JYJames wrote:
This is where it is best to set aside politics and that is hard to do when cross-pollinating from Krugman. Too often I see examples in the evangelical world where leaders and celebrities are quick to throw stones at their opponents and loath to identify the same reprehensible behavior in themselves and their allies. In this tendency, Krugman serves as a typical example. By inviting a noted partisan it also invites tit for tat response.
Muff Potter wrote:
I don’t know that either Wenatchee or Warren has written about tax code overhaul. But, for what it’s worth, I do recall reading important details on each of those blogs directly related to orienting to the larger issues and such as allegations as inurement, failure to spent donor funds on the projects for which the church designated them at the time of collection, failure of governance issues and conflicts of interest by board members, etc. These all relate directly to problems with fulfilling IRS regulations. However, as best I can recall on timeline issues, the IRS hasn’t done a compliance investigation of a church since 2009.
The best development I found explaining the overall picture of problems with tax codes and religious non-profits comes from my friend Becky Garrison, who is an investigative reporter. This article is really helpful on Mars Hill and many of the intricate issues that came up there. And the last page is very helpful for some of the last 10 years of history on Congress, investigations of religious non-profits, and the issues ahead.
http://twitdoc.com/view.asp?id=166394&sid=3KE2&ext=PDF&lcl=Money-Over-Mission-at-Mars-Hill-Church.pdf&usr=Becky_Garrison&doc=249310966&key=key-J3mAvnqVOEgyRTGZQ17h
She invested a *huge* amount of time putting this article together. Full disclosure, there’s a quote from me in it, as I was deep into researching and writing about Mars Hill in 2014, and spent at least 300 hours and wrote about 70,000 words. I found the IRS issues to be very complicated. I’ll follow up with posting a link to my attempt to overview the situation.
Okay, so I located the post that has the most info overviewing IRS regulations for non-profits:
https://futuristguy.wordpress.com/mars-hill-case-study/03-legal-issues-background/
See especially section 03-2 on “IRS Requirements for Non-Profit Compliance.” I included a lot of links to IRS sources in it, and the first link in section 03-2 is to the IRS Compliance Guide. I found that to be the most helpful and non-technical document that covers requirements of non-profits for financial accountability, transparency, and governance.
The other especially interesting part of that page is the overview of the complaint process, and this quote from the IRS: “In addition to oversight by the IRS, tax-exempt organizations are subject to oversight by State charity regulators and State tax agencies. You may also want to send a copy of the referral you send to us to your state charity regulator and/or state tax agency.”
This is why all the documentation done by Wenatchee the Hatchet in particular was so crucial. Various non-profits related to Mars Hill were registered in Washington state, so it was important that he (and others) did so much investigative work there on the boards, agents, properties, and for-profit entities related to the Mars Hill non-profits. Their work helped pave the way for those who wanted to send complaints to the Washington state attorney general regarding questionable practices at Mars Hill Church.
Piper enjoys kickboxing so much that he decides to take up mixed martial arts. Eventually, he challenges Ronda Rousey to a match, but publicly warns her that, if she does not submit to him during the fight, she will not only be unfeminine, but will, most likely, go to hell. Incredibly, Rousey buys into this. However, as the match begins, a confused Piper, taking note of the enormous and enthusiastic audience, launches into a sermon. Realizing that she can’t pretend to lose to an old man who’s merely fluttering his arms, she knocks him out with one punch as he is singing the praises of complementarianism. The next day, after scrubbing most of its internet presence, the CBMW maintains that Piper was never a member, and, further, that they don’t even know what complementarianism is.
Final thoughts on all that IRS stuff: Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church gave spiritual abuse survivor communities a “master class” in how things can go wrong on every level (mission, communication, governance, finances, doctrine, etc.) with alleged misdirection of participants and misuse of non-profit resources for the personal benefit of board members, staff, and others.
Maybe we really needed something so seemingly complicated and corrupt, in order to understand what it actually takes to *intervene* in an extremely toxic situation that looks to be at the point of no return.
What we learned there will, I believe, help us watch for indicators that other non-profits are at risk or already in trouble, but not to the threshold that Mars Hill was, and engage in *interception* before it’s too late.
And all of that together can help us figure out how things should be, and to work for *prevention* so interception and intervention aren’t needed as frequently.
It’s probably rare to have an organization that works on all three levels, but as a wider community, we can — and, as I suggested in my blog post on projections and predictions for 2016 through 2020, my sense of trends points to that being the direction we’re headed. That gives me hope …
@ Linn:
🙂
@ dee:
Afrikaans (Spoken only in South Africa and Namibia) for first! Couldn’t resist!
JYJames wrote:
If adults would lead themselves, a lot of the problems, in both church and gov, would not work.
@ Muff Potter:
As it stands, the exemptions for church make it too attractive for the charlatans. But I blame the pewsitters like myself for being so easily deceived and not demanding oversight of the few. Why give money with no vote on how it is spent? Blind Trust? We do the same with gov. Is it because we are lazy? We dont want responseability? Has it all just become too complex and it is now easier than ever to hide things?
@ Jbthebaptist:
I loved it! I looked up what the word meant.
Linn wrote:
This has a Stargate Atlantis sort of feel.
BC wrote:
I absolutely agree with you on this. In fact, I think we should discuss this. I was surprised when Prince Charles, not known for his high moral character, addressed his concern about this very issue.
I am willing to write a post but…you seem to have a passion for it. Would you be interested in writing a post on the issue? I would be happy to help you.
@ Muff Potter:
I agree with you. I have decided that, since church leaders continue to support ministries and leaders that profit the leaders, then we should consider taxing these ministries. I now anticipate dead chickens being flung at my front door.
Bill M wrote:
That is where I was coming from….
Pastors out there … With this new year and the recent advent of face recognition systems we here at CHEESY want to come to your assistance.
Are you overworked having to monitor the flock?
Are you tired of having to deal with dumb sheep?
Do you want a break and need that new private corporate jet to impress your friends at conferences?
CHEESY is here for you with our new Gospel Covenant Collections™. No, it is not a CD of golden oldies, it is a way to fatten your CD so you can get those much needed things, for ministry of course. Have you had problems in the past getting tithes from the sheep? Who hasn’t? Dumb sheep. We here at CHEESY can change that.
With our new service, send us the information on your flock, addresses, phone numbers, bank accounts, video clips, and we’ll determine what should be given and send it to our Gospel Covenant Collections™.
Call 1 800 CHEESY
Call today and we’ll throw in a set of 52 sermons for the year.
Call soon so you too can get and enjoy those things you went into ministry for.
Daisy wrote:
Can a leopard change his spots?
@ Lydia:
Yes to all the interrogatives you’ve pointed to.
Daisy wrote:
This makes me so sad and that is why this blog continues.
Kentucky Baptist Convention off to a scary start for the New Year:
http://www.kybaptist.org/shepherding/
Daisy wrote:
She Who Must Be Obeyed (in Secret), carrying her Patriarch Hubby’s sweet fruit around in her purse.
Bill M wrote:
“MEESA AM JAR-JAR DRISCOLL!”
@ Lydia:
Here, in rural Southern Kentucky, we had a guest speaker (our pastor has officially retired. He is a missionary, with a wife and 6 children, who returned a couple of months ago. Today, he quoted Mark Dever. I had such a severe migraine that I won’t even try to remember the quote. I do remember this guy saying that he had went to hear Dever speak at church in Bowling Green.
The guy says he will be preaching on the “controversial verses in 1 Timothy chapter 2 tonight. I don’t think I can take it. At the rate our church is going, I will probably soon be an official “DONE”!
I don’t know what my husband believes on submission and ESS. I found out at church today that he is going on a Kentucky Changers trip to do work at Camp Joy. Yeah, I learned this, not from him but from people at church!
I need to change my name to fed up and angry.
@ Nancy2:
Sorry, not 6 children, but 7.
@ dee:
I completely agree. The nonprofit status was begun because of the assumption that the institution is helping society at large. The status was not intended for the mega pastor to shelter monies as his salary grows.
@ dee:
You know, if you guys were to do this, I think it would only be fair to include all of the other religious groups – not just Yazidis and similar, but Muslims from the region – who have been killed, driven out, etc.
Fwiw, the NYT published a very good magazine article on the plight of xtians under Daesh last summer. It should come up easily on page 1 of Google hits for “middle eastern christians.”
@ numo:
Here it is –
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/magazine/is-this-the-end-of-christianity-in-the-middle-east.html?_r=0
Also fwiw, Lebanon has many different xtian communities, most of them with very ancient roots.
ION:
Good session at the local climbing wall tonight; flashed a couple of tricky ones. The first was a sustained 6b+ with rough but rounded holds and a lot of balancey rockovers – nothing like needing to dyno for a sloper at the top of a route! The second was a layaway- and undercling-dense crankfest that was graded at 6c (!!) but that I’d have to give 6b.
IHTIH.
@ Nancy2:
Kentucky changers? New one on me. I heard from 2 people from my former church today on this whole sermon focus on the BFM and SBC by laws. Bizarre.
@ numo:
Is there a group that is good for women in equal rights?
Lydia wrote:
Well there it is, they don’t even try to disguise it. Are they going to refer to the speakers as the Fab Five?
If you stick around Lydia you’ll have to find someone to be your “covering”. Maybe Dee and Deb can offer this along with their fake diplomas.
@ Bill M:
That is what I was thinking! It has become the new normal. heady stuff for a 30 year old with no real experience!
The Dreaded Seeker-Friendly Church
https://juicyecumenism.com/2015/12/29/the-church-search-continues-the-non-denominational-church/
Snippet:
This shiny, “mega” non-denominational church had, dare I say, a more self-centered plan. Their Christmas offering was earmarked to cover the cost of an elaborate Christmas lights display on the church’s exterior and to expand the parking lot. I kid you not.
And for those worshipers who were too cool to sit in the sanctuary during service, this church offered a seeker-sensitive café service as an “alternative to tradition.” Apparently, actually participating in the service is too tradition
… Then came (and went) the 20-minute sermon on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. To introduce his sermon, the pastor played a totally un-relatable clip from the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie.
Lydia wrote:
Well said.
Early Morning Comment 1 of 2
There’s more than one distinct kind of leadership. The kind we’re used to seeing in church is the kind whereby someone persuades others to look up to them and follow them personally. Another, though, is the kind whereby someone simply does something nobody else is doing. This then makes it easier for the next person to do it: not necessarily following the first person directly, but emboldened by the knowledge that they won’t stand out too much because someone else has set the precedent.
This is how paths form in the snow at this time of year on popular Scottish mountains. It takes one brave soul to wade through knee-deep powder and leave a line of footprints that the next person can follow and consolidate; each time this happens, the snow gets trodden down a little more until a clear way is made through the snow that anyone can follow easily.
The “charismatic leader” types often teach that God has commanded people to follow them, and argue that the alternative is anarchy where everyone is a law unto themselves and the purpose of God is thwarted. This, of course, is (formally) a false antithesis or (informally) bull droppings.
Early Morning Comment 2 of 2
Cricket:
I’ll explain later. Suffice to say that yet another intriguing day is in prospect in Cape Town, with any result still possible. South Africa are 500 runs behind but both batsmen are set and both are capable of big hundreds on a wicket like this. What a fine sport…
Nick Bulbeck wrote:
Excellent insight. Powerful image.
@ dee:
Glad you took the time. My prophesy for the year is that the Neo Cals will try and take over the Baptist Union of South Africa. Actually I think they have already started. Not a happy thought. 🙁
@ Nick Bulbeck:
Nick please stop with the cricket thing its almost more painful for me than what the Calvinistas are doing to South Africa. And yes cricket is a fine sport!!!!
Here are mine
1. The Deebs do an Acts 29 church plant in the D.C. area!
2. The Deebs start a new publishing company called “Pugsway” and the first book they publish is a re-issue of CJ Mahaney’s Humility
3. Dee and Jonathan Leeman host a Neo-Cal conference that is spearheaded by J.D. Grear. The theme! “SUBMIT WOMAN!”
4. After a successful Neo-Cal conference Dee’s son Will marries into the Mahaney clan. The Parsons become royalty in SG Louisville and Carolyn and Dee launch a new blog called “Pugtalk!” Dee will write about how much her family is being persecuted and suffering for the Gospel.
5. I become a member of CHBC! 😛
Eagle wrote:
Here’s a good rejoinder:
“I’d sooner snort a gram of powdered plutonium.”
@ Eagle:
Dude, this is New Year’s predictions, not April Fools Day 😉
Eagle wrote:
I had to re-read this 3 times…( I had some dental work done and took a pill she prescribed for me for pain…)
@ roebuck:
LOL!!! Can you tell I am operating on 4 hours of sleep after flying into DC early this morning? I need caffeine to keep me going at work
Linn wrote:
Called? …