Will Truthiness Prevail?

Mid-Year Music Report

Best Albums So Far:
-Thom Yorke - The Eraser
-Matthew Perryman Jones - Throwing Punches in the Dark
-Andy Osenga - The Morning
-Jars of Clay - Good Monsters
-David Mead - Tangerine
-Margot & The Nuclear So & So's - The Dust of Retreat
-Colour Revolt - self-titled
-Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere

Yet to Come:
Hem
Damien Rice
Andrew Bird
Switchfoot
Arcade Fire
The Shins
Ryan Adams
M. Ward
Bob Dylan
Grizzly Bear
Joseph Arthur
Ray LaMontagne
Steven Delopoulos

Still Need to Buy/Listen:
-Sleeping At Last - Keep No Score
-Andrew Peterson - Appendix A
-Guster - Ganging Up On The Sun
-Sandra McCracken - Gravity|Love
-TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
-Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country
-Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
-Kate York - Sadlylove

...It's going to be a good year

Foxe's Book of AMERICAN Martyrs*

One of Christianity's most beloved books is now updated for today's American martyrs!

Here are just a few of the suffering saints of the 21st century you'll read about:

On May 3, 2003, Donald White was suddenly fired by his agnostic boss for reading Christian blogs all day on his work computer.

Mary Ann Clayton, while driving to work on Sept. 21, 2002, was subjected to honking and cursing by an enraged commuter who saw Mary Ann's "Jesus Loves You" bumper sticker after she cut him off in traffic.

On Dec. 16, 2001, anti-Christian vandals stole the Santa Claus figurine from Lee Raymond's outdoor nativity scene and ruined his family's Christmas.

Read this modern version of a Reformation classic and see why Christianity Today calls it "a thin book perfect for rolling up and using to smack whiny Christian brats up side the head!"

ANOTHER PIECE OF WORK FROM:

***Buy now and save two dollars off the price of our companion book, "Foxe's Book of Church Growth Successes" for those positive Christians who think martyrdom is just so unnecessary. Both for $33!***

http://www.sacredsandwich.com

More Fun with Hypocrisy

TRUTH IN HUMOR?

blog posting by Shaun Groves:

Evangelicals decided in about 1976 that Jesus' earthly ministry was essentially political and that he had intended to take over the Roman government precinct by precinct, using "get out the vote" drives and putting voter guides in synagogues each November. He was thwarted by a run-in with Roman authorities that turned out badly, but 2,000 years later evangelicals wish to fulfill Christ's goal of gaining control of the modern secular superpower...

Jimmy Carter was the first "born again" president, but disappointed evangelicals by confessing his sins to a "skin" magazine (rather than to Rosalyn or to his accountability group) and quaffing Billy Beer. So the evangelical community threw it's support behind an army of divorced Republicans (you know, Republicans, the "sanctity of marriage" party) - Ronald Reagan, Dick Armey, Phil Gramm, John Engler, John McCain, Bob Dole, Pete Wilson, John Kasich, Susan Molinari, and Newt Gingrich - who at least understood that the Bible allows for divorce if your staff assistant is cuter (see Matthew 5:31). As a group, these politicians came to represent America's Moral Majority...

...Here is how evangelicals interpret Bible passages to arrive at their [political] positions:

"Remember the poor" (Galatians 2:10) really means "Remember how lazy the poor are and thank God you're not on welfare like them."

"My kingdom is not of this world." (Jesus in John 18:36) really means "But for now, make sure you keep control of the White House and Congress."

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Jesus in Matthew 22:21) really means "Only pay taxes on money you can't hide from the IRS."

"Thou shalt not kill" (God in Exodus 20:13) really means "Kill only those who deserve it - like death row inmates, abortion doctors, sworn enemies of the United States, and the French, when possible."

"The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it" (Genesis 2:!5) really means "Don't worry about the environment because when Jesus comes back he'll destroy the earth anyway."

From A Guide To Evangelicals and Their Habitat.

True or not? Well if you're laughing it probably is to some extent.


***support Shaun Groves by helping him make his next album here

Emperors Undressed

Cartoon by Lee Judge in the Kansas City Star, July 13, 2006

Bono Fatigue

Ok, this is the funniest fake blog I've ever seen. Even down to the little sub-cultural Christian inside jokes, it's bloody brilliant. Here's a screen shot:


This site is for U2 fans suffering from Bono Fatigue as a result of an over-consumption of U2 music, Bono interviews, Africa-related relief ideas etc. (BF can manifest in many ways. If you don't have it, you'll know it when you get it.) Since people at this site are recovering from BF, and are hoping to work through it and re-introduce U2 back to their lives, please do not post band photos, art or quotes unless absolutely necessary to your comment. Give others a chance to walk through this at their own pace. Thanks! Heal and enjoy.

Author	Post
Allen_Williams29	4:06 AM 1/03/2006 Reply | Edit
Newark, NJ 9 posts [100%]	First, thanks to Andrew for creating this safe haven! My Bono Fatigue started shortly after "Atomic Bomb" was released. I listened to the enhanced CD for 302 hours straight, even while sleeping. It was a total binge and I knew better. I also read that book of interviews with Bono, "Conversations," about six times. During that same time I got "hooked" on the Africa cause really bad. I made myself feel sick about AIDS and poverty, to the point where I couldn't think about anything else. I OD'ed pretty bad and got the biggest case of BF. I couldn't even hear Bono's voice without feeling totally self-righteous and prophetic. I thought I was way hipper than all my non-U2 loving Christian friends. I even quit going to church and listened to U2 music on Sunday mornings as my "church." I finally realized I had a problem, so I went cold turkey for 5 months, then weaned back onto their stuff. I have earned my family and friends back, and now I moderate my U2 intake. BF can be beat, people!
Audrey464always	1:36 AM 1/11/2006 Reply | Edit
Jacksonville, Fla. 549 posts [100%]	I guess I'm in the middle of some bad BF. I dreamed last night that Bono, Bono's wife, Bob Geldof and the Edge were hiding around every corner and jumping out to frighten me and play "I'm gonna getcha" while pinching and tickling me. It was awful to have my favorite band in a nightmare! When I ran away from them I felt guilty, like I wasn't doing the "right thing." The weird thing is, I don't even know who Bob Geldof is. It must have come into my head subliminally. Is he the Live Aid guy? Or Band-Aid? Even typing the word "Aid" is bringing on symptoms. Agh!
TheFLY3244	5:42 AM 1/13/2006 Reply | Edit
Seattle 91 posts [100%]	I relapsed last night and listened to the first three songs of Achtung. By the time The Fly rolled around I was back to thinking Bono was Elijah. It's amazing how long it takes to get over distorted thoughts. I can't wait 'til my detox is done and I get back to regular listening. I miss U2, but I can't have them right now!
OlderNWiserihope	5:45 AM 1/22/2006 Reply | Edit
Calgary, Alberta 494 posts [100%]	Peace, bro. You'll recover. Have you tried Delirious in the meantime?
DanTheMan132	10:22 AM 1/24/2006 Reply | Edit
Nowhere 33 posts [100%]	Can Christian magazines let up on the Bono hagiographies already? Okay, so you figured out that he's a Christian, you think he's a prophet. Big deal. Can we get off the rock star kick? Or am I suddenly uncool? I hope this site is about free expression.

The Purpose Driven Word of God

Exerpts from a cool new Bible translation:

AC 2:42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' new bestsellers and to small group meetings, to the eating of Krispy Kreme donuts in the church foyer and to contemplative spirituality.

AC 2:43 And everyone kept feeling the bass from the praise and worship rock band; and many video clips and light shows were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together at three different services, and had casual attire in common; 45 and they began selling their stocks and bonds, and were giving the proceeds to the building campaign, as the church might have need. 46 And day by day continuing with one vision in the new million-dollar sanctuary, and sending church mailers from house to house, they were having celebration dinners together with gladness and self-esteem in the heart, 47 praising God, and finding favor with all the people‘s felt needs. And the Lord (along with Peter, the original inventor of perpetual revival) was adding to their number day by day those who were finding purpose.

http://www.sacredsandwich.com