JOHN'S SCHOOL FOR ATTACK TRAINED BUNNIES

After showing St Phransus who his daddy was in a vicious kung fu battle, John went underground fearing retaliation from St. Phransus' elite squad of blogging ninjas.

So what has John been up to since then? Secret sources have infiltrated John's whearabouts and have linked John to a secret training camp where rabbits are being taught the art of war and jujitsu. I know... I know... this is scary stuff folks. I'll keep you posted as I learn more. I did manage to get my hand on this footage from John's training camp:


Texas Rabbits Rule - video powered by Metacafe

FUN BALL CHAMPIONS

So tonight one of my youth was telling me how she and a couple of friends were playing funball a few weeks ago. And all I could think of was The Happy Fun Ball which was introduced on SNL a while back.

When I asked her about the sport and she told me about it, I discovered that the two were not the same.

So this clip is for her:

OH PLEASE!!

A School's yoga program in British Columbia has been blasted by the religious right.

A school program to fight childhood obesity that includes yoga is drawing complaints from some Christian parents in the Quesnel area in B.C.'s Cariboo region. Says one parent, "It's not fair to take prayer out, and yet they're allowing yoga, which is religion, in our schools."

Ok, so since when is "yoga" a religion? Maybe they were mistaking it for Yoda and the force. I could at least laugh at this. Ahh my fundy-friends are so interesting at times.

LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE

Geez, I so wish this were airing in the united states. It looks hilarious. I especially like the quotes from the website (a muslim leader), "We're going to open a mosque in your parish hall- shall you tell Jesus, or shall I?", and (a catholic priest), "Christianity didn't last 2000 years by being charitable."

Apparently this show focuses on the issue of what it means to be a good neighbor.... hmmm I wonder if there is something for the Church to learn from this?

funny stuff.

shalom,
jonathon

LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS OH MYce!

Jen and I have decided to make the most sacred pilgrimage that any cornbred American makes who has young children. All I can say is that I will be staying away from any tigers that I see, especially any that try and put their arms around me.

REAL TO COPY TO REAL TO COPY TO REAL...

I discovered through wired magazine that there is RPG based on the tragic events surrounding the Columbine massacre. It is being met with a lot of opposition, but what struck me is the notion how there is a video game influenced by an event who some would claim was influenced by a video game. Isn't that both disturbing and interesting?

I find it "problematic" (that's for Erin and all her Duke friends) that this kind of mimesis is happening. (Mimesis is when something imitates something else to the point that the copy becomes somewhat of a reality, and so on and so on). I suppose censorship is one answer to this and in a case such as this game I agree that there is not much if any redeeming value to it. I'd have a hard time saying that all fighting games are bad since I'd be quite hypicricital in that my favorite game of all time is a martial arts fighting game- Soul Calibur.

I do however think that if one takes seriously the idea of mimesis then why not present God's grace and good news in the same way? Games like Super Columbine present a representation of the culure of violence where community is destroyed and nihillism wins. Maybe some Christians ought to be creating games as their ministry that seeks to mimick the creating of community in artistic and adventurous ways that would appeal to gamers. I know there are some of us who have sought to create sacred spaces in the world of online social networking.

Obviously these virtual spaces do influence and provide space for real community to take place. It would seem that Christ would want his followers to go wherever there are people hurting or not knowing his grace.

shalom,

jnorm

* please note that i linked to the game super columbine so that readers could see how disturbing it is. by linking to this site, please know that i do not in any way promote or support this game.

SALVATION ARMY BAND

Here's one of my heroes- Phil Keaggy. What an amazing guitar player and he is such an amazingly humble person. You'd never know that he is considered one of the best guitarists in the world by talking to him.

BLOGGING TIPS FOR 07

Here are 15 blogging tips for 2007 you will not want to miss! Thanks to TallSkinnyKiwi for sharing.

SECRET AGENT BISH'

Apparently there's a little 00-Bishin' going on in the Catholic Church. It made me wonder- what if one of our United Methodist bishops were a secret agent. Which bishop would it most likely be? My vote is going with Bishop Dick Wills, my bish in the TN conference. Afterall, he has been shot at and rides a supa cool motorcylcle.

Why would your bishop make a good secret agent?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Before you were a Christian- what expectations did you have about what being a Christian would be like?

What expectations that others have had for you throughout your life have been the most challenging?

HAPPY EPIPHANY!!

In western Christian tradition, January 6 is celebrated as Epiphany. Epiphany is the climax of the Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas, which are usually counted from December 25th until January 5th. In most traditions, the day before Epiphany is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, the evening of which is called Twelfth Night. This is an occasion for feasting in some cultures, including the baking of a special King's Cake as part of the festivities of Epiphany.

for more on epiphany click here.

WHAT A WEEK IT HAS BEEN!!

We’re driving down highway 501, a road that seems to never end, heading toward the interstate and away from the aches of South Carolina and The Congress on Evangelism 06. It has been a great week... it has been an exhausting week... most of all it has been a hopeful week.

This week has reminded me what blogging is about for me. When I started my blog a little over 2 years ago I began it because I wanted had hopes of sharing theological reflections and liturgical reflections for anyone interested in reflecting along side me. I also enjoyed reading other blogs and wanted to engage other writers ideas as well. What I found was a unique community, a diversity of ideas and personalities, and soon some very good friendships.

2 years later I am still interested in being a theological voice, I am still interested in sharing liturgical reflections as it relates to our worship and life, but today that is second to the community and friendships that I have made through the blogosphere. We have a unique community here (I emphasize unique as gavin has just recieved a text photo from jay voorhees of himself driving home from the conference) where all voices as diverse as they are- are important. I have been challenged by you and shaped by you, and at times my mind has been changed by you and I just want to thank everyone who blogs, especially united methodist bloggers, for contributing to the conversations and relationships. I continue to do this thing called blogging because of you and because I really feel that it is our community and the egalitarian nature of blogging that can model for our Church how Christians might love one another, disagree and struggle alongside one another, and continue to be community that witnesses to a loving God who is transforming the world.

Shalom y’all,

stPhransus

XYZ PDQ GAVIN

Gavin had an encounter with our Bishop in TN, Dick Wills this morning. Here's my understanding of how the conversation went down.


Ok, now here is Gavin's take.

THURSDAY MORN...

I made it to this morning's plenary to hear Bishop Scott Jones speak. This morning he spoke on "Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing" for United Methodists. Today, the "main thing" he was speaking of were the "essentials" that united methodist ought to hold in common.

HERE WERE SOME "UN"ESSENTIALS THAT MIGHT DISTINGUISH METHODISTS FROM OTHER DENOMINATIONS/ FAITH SIBLINGS:
1. A 1 time/ 1 moment born again experience: while other denominations hold this understanding of salvation, methodists do not.
2. That you MUST be a part of a certain denomination and others are NOT Christian.
3. Believing in one certain perspective of a second coming of Christ.
4. Modes of baptism are not essential
5. Political preference (both Hilary Clinton AND George Bush are Methodists)

HERE ARE SOME OF THE ESSENTIALS FOR UNITED METHODISTS
1. The Church is a spirit filled missional community
2. Emphasis on the Trinity
3. Creation:by having a doctrine of creation we value that every human being is created in the image of God and precious in God's sight. We value human dignity.
4. Sin is the human problem and a violation of God's will.
5. Repentence: for methodist this is about turning.
6. Justification: this is the entry into the Chrisian life; a LONG PROCESS, connected to baptism, not one step. Emphasis on "being saved" not a saving moment.
7. New Birth: all Christians must be born again
8. Assurance: the holy spirit gives us the assurance that we ARE indeed children of God.
9. Maturity: growing up in the faith/ Christian perfection
10: Grace

Jay and RevMom just finished an EXCELLENT presentation. Now it's off to lunch!! Woohoo!!!

PUTTING THE WO IN WORSHIP!!

The Call to Worship at Christ UMC's Big House Worship Gathering:

WED NIGHT AT "BIG HOUSE"

An awww moment at Big House Worship from our methoblogger road trip to christ church. (this post is definitely for Dogblogger). Can you guess who's wooly mane is cramping my view of the worship experience?

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY...

While riding in the backseat of Jay's minvan tonight (last night now since it's 1:24am) I had a novel idea- a kid's show based on the child rearing practices of Susanna Wesley- it would be called Susanna Wesley's Playhouse. I think it would be a big hit among United Methodist children and parents.

I think learning to read would be a big emphasis with Mama Sue.

Susanna Wesley's Playhouse- where FUN and RIGOROUS go together!! Coming to Lifetime and Fox.

CONGRESS ON EVANGELISM- recapping the day

Wow, what a day today. It seems like so much was packed into such a short amount of time. It was really great to hook up with friends, hear some good lectures and goof off a bit. AND- I don't care what anyone says- Myrtle Beach is a beautiful place (at least it is when I'm looking out my hotel window!!).

So here's a recap of the day and some of the things that I really enjoyed:

MORNING...

After I rolled out of bed and showered I spent some time just looking out my window and remembered what it is that I love about the coast.

Once I got over to the conference Gavo, Jay and I were introduced at the beginning of the large plenary session in relation to "The Internet is Our Parish" and as fellow bloggers (that was pretty cool). Afterwhich, Bishop Scott Jones was introduced and he went on to give the first morning's Denman Lecture.

Jay and RevMom presented their workshop (I would tell you what it was but Gavo and I can't remember- oh well) and while in there what other motley bloggers might I have seen? Beth Quick was sitting in, as was John The Methodist, RevAbi, and Dogblogger.

During workshop time I sat in on Joe Peabody Jr.'s intro to postmodernism and the church which was pretty good stuff, and then listened in a little to Susan Cox Johnson's workshop on the emerging church and Wesley. Susan is one of my BIG HEROS!! MIDDAY...

After lunch Gavo and I presented our workshop- Binary Relationships: Building Community on the Web. It went great!! It was well attended and many great questions were asked. Check out video clips at Rev. Mommy's blog.

ON TO THE EVENING EVENTS...

I went back to my room and said Vespers Prayer...

Then we went to where the real worship was at- THE BIG HOUSE @ Christ UMC. This church meets in the old Crook and Chase Theatre. If I say that it was quite the production- that would be an understatement. This kid friendly congregation's worship is basically The Wiggles meets Bear and the Big Blue House meets Sesame Street Live!! I'll just say that this was definitely NOT HIGH CHURCH CULTURE, and a few times I was a little "yikes" on some of the content, but it was fun, and they did a great job of telling the biblical story in a way that children could understand and engage with (and indeed it worked).

We topped our outing with Captain Jack's Seafood Restaraunt. Yummy stuff. What's with the white bow ties? Oh yeah, RevMom brought them as a spoof on this youth pastor guy who digs wearing nerdy bow ties... go figure.

I got back and was joined by fellow bloggers for a little splish splash fun in the hotel's Lazy River. Props to COE organizers- The Breakers was a great choice of lodging. Anywhere that has a Lazy River and two hot tub jacuzzis gets my stamp o'approval.

Now Gavo and I are wrapping things up for the night and ready for another great day tomorrow.

shalom y'all,

stPhransus

WE MADE IT...

.... into Myrtle Beach area about 5pm, enjoyed dinner with Jay Voorhees, John Locust and Honey, and Gavo, spent the last few hours preparing for the workshop Gavo and I are presenting tomorrow, and now I'm heading to bed. More to come tomorrow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!! I am pretty excited because tomorrow bright and early Gavo and I head out for sort of sunny Myrtle Beach South Carolina. The Congress on Evangelism will be taking place and we're attending (that can only mean trouble!!).

Actually we are also part of a side project going on there- "The World is My Parish" gathering of bloggers. We'll be hooking up with some other bloggers- John, aka Locusts and Honey, Jay Voorhees, and Theresa aka Rev. Mommy to name a few. Gavo and I are leading a workshop while there called "Binary Relationships" which will be on postmodern culture and how new online communities such as myspace, facebook, etc... can enhance ministries with young people.

We will all be blogging the event so if you aren't there, we wish you were, and stay posted on the happening through all of our blogs.

Shalom y'all,

stPhransus