Bad Sports in Any Religion

It only took a week and some national attention for the Dallas Covenant School to apologize for running up a 100-0 score against Dallas Academy. It's never too late to apologize, we're just wondering what the adult coaches were thinking during the game. The faces of dejected teen girls didn't tip them off that maybe the game was a little unfair. Our advice is the coaches from Covenant ought to take a lesson from the Grapevine Faith football coach.

Pop Culture Pope

Katie Couric has one so does President Obama and now Pope Benedict joins the world of homemade video with his own YouTube channel. Let the wackiness commence.

Listen to This

At some point we'll have to talk about all the prayers and praying that happened around the inauguration this week. For now, here's a little something from Coach Craig's Lifechurch.tv blog, Swerve. Listen to the posted voicemail then spin through the 60+ comments. The range is interesting. Some of the comments are edgy, perhaps even mean. The thing that bothered us the most was how quickly people resorted to name calling-silly, petty, grumpy, judgmental,lonely, and old, A few people said, the caller needs Jesus. Yes because apparently knowing Jesus makes you a whole lot less petty, grumpy, silly, and judgmental. Right?

Providence Trumps Politics

Here's an interesting take on Obama's election from Sandy Banks at the LA Times. While the column's okay (did the Times fire all the copy editors?), the photo editor was on point. For that reason alone, we shamelessly borrowed this stunning Francine Orr image. Now that's a photograph!

Multiplied Impact

While Rick 4.O Warren prays for the new president, our man in Chicago, Captain Bill Hybels is doing some inaugurating of his own. The Willow Creek leader rolled out a new strategic vision for his over 20K congregants this weekend. Not surprising, a more radical agenda of evangelism is at the top of the plan. Hybels has been consistently asserting the need for "Creekers" to reengage their evangelical responsibilities over the past few months. Looks like he's gone as far as quantifying the goal: filling 9000 open seats at the various Creek sites. We'll be watching Captain Bill and team. No matter what they do, it's always really interesting.

What's a "New" Evangelical?

We're not sure what it means to be a "new evangelical." It's one of those terms that seems to have more significance to the media than it does spiritually or theologically. This story by Joe Garofoli in the SF Chronicle doesn't do much to clarify the issue. A note to Rob Boston of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State about describing Rick Warren as "Jerry Falwell in a Hawaiian shirt." Rick gave up wearing Hawaiian shirts a year ago. Time to update your stereotype, buddy.

Thank You Mr President

If for some reason (we can't conceive of one) you missed President Obama's speech go watch it. Now. Hope and virtue, indeed.

It's a Beautiful Day!

"We have a stake in one another … what binds us together is greater than what drives us apart, and ... if enough people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not solve every problem, but we can get something meaningful done for the people with whom we share this Earth."

It's an historic day. We urge everyone participate, to engage in a civic relationship, to believe in the power of community. It's Inauguration Day, don't let it get away!

Mr. Stanley Goes to Washington

BC6 Sermon Project's Andy "Zippy" Stanley is delivering a prayer for government leaders today at the National Prayer Service. The service theme is "tolerance, unity and understanding." We love Andy and cheer his selection. That means two of our six pastors are involved in the inaugural festivities. And no one is protesting one of them. Not bad.

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, here are a few of quotes that speak to us. May this historic week be marked by love, altruism and care. Peace and grace to you

Warm Fuzzy to Start the Week

We heard this story from Rick Reilly's Sports Illustrated column as part of a great sermon on Sunday. It made us cry, twice. Read it for some much needed heart warming.

The Other Man on Mars Hill

We're way behind on posting this New York Times Magazine piece. Our underlying ambivalence about he-man macho minister Mark Driscoll is to blame for the delay. While we cringed more than once reading it, it's well-written and worth passing on. In addition to our serious theological objections to Driscoll's extreme (some argue misunderstood) fire and brimstone Calvinism. We were reminded how much we miss the good old fashioned boundaries that kept discussions about anal sex safely outside of the church sanctuary. Call us mossy but some things just don't belong on the holy jumbotron.

Schools, Bibles, Dogs and Churches

The Obama's have had plenty of decisions to make these past few weeks. They picked Sidwell for the girls and the Lincoln Bible for the swearing in. Rumor is it's down to either a Labradoodle or a Portugese Water something for the puppy but no news on the church. Today the family went to 19th Street Baptist but religious adviser (is this a new position in the White House?? We'll have to explore)Josh DuBois said the family "will choose a church home at a time that is best for their family." Finding a church is harder than finding a new school and a puppy? We're not sure what that says about the American church but we're pretty sure it says something.

PR Machine

Yesterday we heard from Dan Gilgoff at US News and World Reports that Rick 4.O Warren wasn't giving any interviews before the inauguration. We were thrilled. It seemed like a wise move from a leader who recognized the media frenzy had spun out of control. Gilgoff went further saying the decision, "is basically a vow to stay off the news for the next week to let Obama have his moment. Warren knows that anything he says about the invocation could be fodder for headlines, so he's keeping his head down. Pretty classy." Yes, indeed, staying out of the news would have been pretty classy. Too bad the PR machine couldn't abide. Warren's media moratorium seems only to apply to the interactive kind since he issued a statement praising Obama for including Gene Robinson in the inaugural festivities. Warren says "I applaud his desire to be the president of every citizen." A stark contrast to the statements made by Robinson when Warren was chosen. While we are happy to see a positive statement from Warren, we're a little cynical here at BC. Somehow it doesn't feel like a warm fuzzy so much as a calculated cold prickly that was hashed out by PR people looking to regain the moral/civil high ground after the whole Beliefnet debacle. Maybe that's unfair but all of these holy men have been playing games through, with and by the media. We just can't help but question these things. We are equally critical of Robinson for his ridiculous NYT interview about Warren's selection. BC has its own ideas for how to tone down the tension. Remember when you were in second grade and the class got out of control? The teacher would flip the lights off and say "heads on desks!" We think ALL the celebrities of God should take a cue from our second grade teacher, Ms Traventi. HEADS ON DESKS, NO MORE TALKING.

Yes Jesus Loves Me

Jesus confirmed our Facebook friend request! It seems like he was catching up since we were part of a group of 34. He only has 101 friends which was a tad shocking since Rob Bell has more than 18K "fans" and our friend, the cinematic theologian, Craig Detweiler has almost 2000 friends. We think it's because Jesus is new to FB. For the record, we were very relieved when that friend confirmation came through. It's okay to be snubbed on FB by the popular kids from high school but the son of God, that's a whole different deal.

FB Jesus

FB is Facebook for the uninitiated. It's where you go to make peace with all the people you went to high school with 20 years ago. We love it. So you can imagine our overwhelming joy when we learned that Jesus of Nazareth has a FB page. We didn't believe it either but it turns out to be true. Sadly despite our 30 year relationship, Jesus did not seek us out. We're waiting to see if he will confirm our friend request. If he doesn't, we're going to have to rethink a lot of things.

Rick Explains and We Still Don't Get It

You know when you read something someone said and then you read the explanation of why they said what they said and the two just don't add up? That's the feeling we got when we read Rick Warren's latest comments on his "private" outreach to the Episcopal breakaway in the OC. From Rick's statement, "So, as standard procedure, anytime an evangelical congregation loses its place to meet, we offer them space, out of gratitude, to the churches that helped us before we got our own building. It’s just one of many quiet ways we support the Body of Christ behind the scenes. Without any press, we’ve helped 5 other denominations plant new churches in the Saddleback Valley. We never view other congregations as competition, but as team members in the Great Commission. Helping other congregations is consistent with my calling, and 30 year track record, of serving, encouraging, and championing other pastors." Great, except these guys didn't lose their space. They aren't a new church plant. They are part of a denomination that is trying to find its way thorough some important, sensitive and incredibly complicated questions. This parish chose to break relationship. They chose to leave instead of to live in the tension that we must sometimes endure to grow. They quit giving up faith that reconciliation is possible. And they did that with lots of people cheering them on including any number of voices in the evangelical world. When did we all forget that God and God's love is bigger than even our most divisive issues and when did it become okay to celebrate and encourage breaking relationship? Rick ends by suggesting that since it was a private email exchange, others to whom it was not addressed (code for bloggers who need to get a life?) read an intent into it that was not there. Intended or not, Warren's comments about the Episcopal Church and his actions to support a breakaway congregation both serve to undermine the already fractured relationship. We wonder what purpose does that serve. For a pastor and a leader who speaks so eloquently about love and civility, can't he find a more a loving and pastoral role to play?

Tithing Through the Church

There is a church in the suburbs of Chicago whose mission is to give 100% of the money it collects away. No, that's not a typo, we didn't add an extra zero on the familiar 10% oft associated with money and Christians. The Waterfront Community Church is trying out a new economic model. They have eight sponsors who cover the shoe-string admin expenses like rent and a pastor's salary. All the money they collect on Sunday goes right out the door. We were really intrigued by some of the methods they're trying like this one, "At a recent Sunday service, the Rev. Semradek did a "reverse offering," passing out bags each with $5, $10, $20 or $50 bills. Congregants were instructed to choose how the money could be used in their community. The Rev. Semradek reminded congregants that there would come a day when they would stand in judgment before God." Okay, the scary, judging God image doesn't inspire, so much as it threatens, generosity but it's still interesting to see a church interpret its mission this way.

Exploiting or Exploited?

We are referring to the latest Ted Haggard/Alexandra Pelosi media tour. HBO paid Pelosi to make a documentary about the former pastor and now the Haggards are out promoting it. The whole meth using gay prostitute scandal was detailed enough for us the first time around. We don't need another hour and a half of "The Trials of Ted Haggard." Just the image of Haggard and his wife (with two of their grown kids watching) taking questions about their marriage makes us a little queasy. The two year media gag imposed as part of Haggard's settlement with his former church isn't long enough.

Oh Rick

In September we wrote this post about Rick Warren offering space to break away Episcopal churches. At the time, we couldn't find a reliable source to confirm that Warren actually made the offer. Looks like it is true. Warren, the man who while making an argument against rudeness in society said that bloggers need to "get a life" and who defines restoring civility to civilization as one of his life goals has an interesting way of practicing his preaching. Painting large groups of people (all bloggers, the entirety of the Episcopal Church) with a big, negative brush is neither polite nor is it particularly civil. BC wants to be very clear here. We're not anti-Rick. We don't always agree with him and we think his sermons are really long but he's a brother. We're all for the civility Rick proclaims, we just think it's got to come with a little more humility, respect and love. We stand by our initial post, we think staying in relationship even an uncomfortable relationship is the unambiguous commandment that Jesus gave. The more other denominations meddle, the greater the wedge and the less likely the communion will heal in our lifetimes.

The Other Man on Mars Hill

We're way behind on posting this New York Times Magazine piece. Our underlying ambivalence about he-man macho minister Mark Driscoll is to blame for the delay. While we cringed more than once reading it, it's well-written and worth passing on. In addition to our serious theological objections to Driscoll's extreme (some argue misunderstood) fire and brimstone Calvinism. We were reminded how much we miss the good old fashioned boundaries that kept discussions about anal sex safely outside of the church sanctuary. Call us mossy but some things just don't belong on the holy jumbotron.

From the Pulpit

The communications savvy folks at All Saints Pasadena post clips from some sermons on YouTube. We're not sure how long the whole sermon was or even what the sermon was about (it was baptism Sunday most other places, Mark 1) but here's a little taste of the Reverend Ed Bacon addressing the Oprah interview.

Breaking News...Today on Oprah

OPRAH UPDATE..

Ed Bacon unleashed a wave of healing across the country (and beyond). At least that is how he characterized the reactions to his comment on Oprah last week. We're all for healing. We're also really interested in another "H" word, humility...

No joke. This is really a post about what's happening today on the Oprah Winfrey show. Last week was all about "Your Best Life" and it included something called Spirituality 101. A brief confession, we didn't post on this because we just couldn't bear to watch or read any of it. There was something cringe inducing about the presentation of spirituality as a means of achieving one's best life. We did hear that the Reverend Ed Bacon from All Saints Pasadena said that being "gay is a gift from God." We even got to witness Oprah as she repeated this very awkwardly heading into a commercial break. It seems as if lots of people are interested in hearing Ed elaborate so back to Oprah he goes. We may or may not be tuning in, there is almost nothing more cringe inducing than watching a pastor turn into a celebrity on Oprah's couch. Here's the clip that started it all.

Another Inaugural Invocation

Bishop Gene Robinson is going to get his chance at inaugural prayers. The openly gay Episcopalian will kickoff the three day festivities by offering the opening invocation on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday. Robinson was a very vocal critic of the Rick Warren selection. Mincing no words in New York Times, “I’m all for Rick Warren being at the table,” Bishop Robinson said, “but we’re not talking about a discussion, we’re talking about putting someone up front and center at what will be the most watched inauguration in history, and asking his blessing on the nation. And the God that he’s praying to is not the God that I know.”

Robinson didn't mention Warren directly today, in an email he said "I am writing to tell you that President-Elect Obama and the Inaugural Committee have invited me to give the invocation at the opening event of the Inaugural Week activities, “We are One,” to be held at the Lincoln Memorial, Sunday, January 18, at 2:00 pm. It will be an enormous honor to offer prayers for the country and the new president, standing on the holy ground where the “I have a dream speech” was delivered by Dr. King, surrounded by the inspiring and reconciling words of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. It is also an indication of the new president’s commitment to being the President of ALL the people. I am humbled and overjoyed at this invitation, and it will be my great honor to be there representing the Episcopal Church, the people of New Hampshire, and all of us in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community."

No word on whether Robinson and Warren are praying to the same God yet.

Joe the Plumber/War Correspondent

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Burger at 1600

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Joe the Plumber is a going to Gaza. Why? We have no idea. We think it's a cheap publicity stunt by the people at Pajamas tv. We learned about it from the hard hitting stylings of Jon Stewart. As always Stewart got right to the heart of the Joe the Plmber interview. When asked about protection in the war zone, Joe replied "Being a Christian I'm pretty well protected by God." Hmmm...

Drive thru Spirituality

Need a quick pick me up? A little God in soundbite sized morsels? Cramming your devotion to the Almighty between the windows at the drive thru? Sadly, there is someone happy to sell the quick fix in the form of titles like the "5 minute Theologian: Maximum Truth in Minimum Time" or "The One-Minute Bible, Day by Day." Warning to the perpetually overwrought and underwater, this peace that passes all understanding thing doesn't really work in one and five minute increments.

Heck No We Won't Go

This story from today's NYT about vigilant Catholics refusing to leave their parish made us smile. There's nothing like a good old fashioned protest/massive sleepover. Our favorite moment, "It changed the locks at St. Frances in October 2004 but unwittingly left a fire door open, an error the parishioners call a miracle." One man's mistake, another man's manna.

No Win Victory

The seemingly endless, messy, break away of a small number of churches from the larger Episcopal Church took a big hit today. While the people are free to leave, they can't take any stuff with them. In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court says the assets stay. Like most divorces, this thing is just ugly.

The Creche Crime Wave of 2008

The weeks leading up to Christmas were replete with news stories about Baby Jesus' stolen from nativity displays from New York to Kentucky. We purposefully shunned the story, sensing that everyone had already had their fill of stolen Jesus jokes. We thought all the humor had been wrung from the issue until we came across this piece from the UK Guardian, here's a nice wrap up on the creche crime wave of 2008.

Another Jesus Food Sighting

The Lord and Savior has been spotted in a piece of pita bread. The shameless owner of said pita is selling the holy toast at TradeMe if you're interested. We think it looks more like Hugh Laurie than Jesus.

Hotels.god

Looking for a spiritual retreat? A little religious getaway? Myrtle Beach, a hot spot for boozing college kids on Spring Break, is putting up a new hotel. The proposed 20-story edifice is Christian themed. That's right, you can book yourself a stay in King Solomon's Temple but don't expect to sip champagne in your oversized hot tub, there's a strict ban on smoking and drinking, no word on fornicating.

Frivolous Flyers

The approval of a helipad at a megachurch in the Seattle area seemed very wrong to us. At first we decided to suspend judgment, thinking perhaps the church is engaged in Harrison Ford like rescue missions around Mount Rainer. Sadly, instead it was explained this way, "The church will use the helistop only on major religious holidays and for special guest speakers, said Hulsmann, owner of Abbey Road Group Land Development Services. Another case would be a special event, such as Wendy Treat’s birthday, so she could be at both campuses for services, Hulsmann said." Yes, that's the American church putting those tithes to God's work.

Pastor Facebook

We know 2009 is going to be good. We're merely hours into it and we just got word that our own Jubilant Joel Osteen has a new Facebook page. We're fan #94, it's too bad he's a FB celeb and only takes fans. It'd be much cooler if we were FB friend 94. The arrival of Joel on the social networking scene made us wonder about the other BC Sermon Project Pastors. No profiles for Coach Craig, Captain Bill or Zippy Stanley. Rick 4.O Warren has a showy 2371 fans (we made it 2372). But the king of the FB pastors is none other than Brother Bell, the Moses of Michigan with a stunning 18,164 total devotees.

Happy New Year!

We pray that in 2009 we will know more grace, embody more kindness and experience more love. Happy New Year.