Humor to start your week

I know I’ve shown many of you this clip before, but it is still funny. The nugget of truth here is that sometimes we need to own up to our problems and change. Even though I’d love to conduct counseling like this it’s just meant to be funny. And is.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE&feature=player_embedded]

Who is Jesus?

The greatness of God is most clearly displayed in his Son. And the glory of the gospel is only made evident in his Son. That’s why Jesus’ question to his disciples is so important: “Who do you say that I am?”

The question is doubly crucial in our day because not every Jesus is the real Jesus. Almost no one is as popular in this country as Jesus. Hardly anyone would dare to say a bad word about him. Just look at what a super-fly friendly dude he is over there. But how many people know the real Jesus?

There’s the Republican Jesus who is against tax increases and activists judges, for family values and owning firearms.
There’s Democrat Jesus who is against Wall Street and Wal-Mart, for reducing our carbon footprint and printing money.
There’s Therapist Jesus who helps us cope with life’s problems, heals our past, tells us how valuable we are and not to be so hard on ourselves.
There’s Starbucks Jesus who drinks fair trade coffee, loves spiritual conversations, drives a hybrid and goes to film festivals.
There’s Open-minded Jesus who loves everyone all the time no matter what, except for people who are not as open-minded as you.
There’s Touchdown Jesus who helps athletes fun faster and jump higher than non-Christians and determines the outcomes of Super Bowls.
There’s Martyr Jesus, a good man who died a cruel death so we can feel sorry for him
There’s Gentle Jesus who was meek and mild, with high cheek bones, flowing hair, and walks around barefoot, wearing a sash and looks very German.
There’s Hippie Jesus who teaches everyone to give peace a chance, imagine a world without religion, and helps us remember all you need is love.
There’s Yuppie Jesus who encourages us to reach our full potential, reach for the stars, and buy a boat.
There’s Spirituality Jesus who hates religion, churches, pastors, priests, and doctrine; and would rather have people out in nature, finding the god within and listening to ambiguously spiritual musical.
There’s Platitude Jesus, good for Christmas specials, greeting cards, and bad sermons; he inspires people to believe in themselves, and lifts us up so we can walk on mountains.
There’s Revolutionary Jesus who teaches us to rebel against the status quo, stick it to the man, and blame things on the “system.”
There’s Guru Jesus, a wise, inspirational teacher who believes in you and helps you find your center.
There’s Boyfriend Jesus who wraps his arms around us as we sing about his intoxicating love in our secret place.
There’s Good Example Jesus who shows you how to help people, change the planet, and become a better you.

And then there’s Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Not just another prophet. Not just another Rabbi. Not just another wonder-worker. He was the one they had been waiting for: the Son of David and Abraham’s chosen seed, the one to deliver us from captivity, the goal of the Mosaic law, Yahweh in the flesh, the one to establish God’s reign and rule, the one to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, freedom to the prisoners and proclaim good news to the poor, the lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world.

This Jesus was the Creator come to earth and the beginning of a new creation. He embodied the covenant, fulfilled the commandments, and reversed the curse. This Jesus is the Christ that God spoke of to the serpent, the Christ prefigured to Noah in the flood, the Christ promised to Abraham, the Christ prophesied through Balaam before the Moabites, the Christ guaranteed to Moses before he died, the Christ promised to David when he was king, the Christ revealed to Isaiah as a suffering servant, the Christ predicted through the prophets and prepared for through John the Baptist.

This Christ is not a reflection of the current mood or the projection of our own desires. He is our Lord and God. He is the Father’s Son, Savior of the world, and substitute for our sins–more loving, more holy, and more wonderfully terrifying than we ever thought possible.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=YNJ5oi1cw2I]

(What proceeded is adapted from the end of the talk on the “Life of Christ” that Kevin DeYoung gave at the Next 2009 Conference)

HT: Kevin DeYoung

Monkeys….need i say more?

There’s something about monkeys that makes them invariably funny.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8avOiTUcD4Y]

HT: Kevin DeYoung

Benny Hinn calls out Joel Osteen

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-ej7n7Nhns]

A few days back I posted this video and received a slew of comments quickly:

“His error is lumping all “seeker-friendly” churches in with Joel Osteen. WFC is seeker-friendly, and also very clearly and openly declares Jesus as the way, and the Gospel as the true Word of God. (Not to mention that there are plenty of videos and recordings of Mr. Hinn making false prophecy and committing heresy, so…)”
“I got a kick out of the strategic organ playing whenever he would get to those high points. It just drew me in… next thing I knew my hands were lifted and waving on their own and I was speaking in some heavenly language that no one else could understand. Just playing of course… a bit of sarcasm.”
“I don’t listen or read anything Benny Hinn says. He disgusts me.”
“You know I went to India and stayed with Prakash Yesudian He is the Billy Graham of India. He told me had more respect for Benny Hinn than for Mother Teresa. He said it was because Benny Hinn gave the gospel and brought people to the saving knowledge of Christ. Mother Teresa, however, told Prakash when he visited her told him that she and her people did not introduce the dying and sick to Christ because their job was to pray for them and help them not bring them to Jesus. That was God’s job. This made me stop and think about how we really see people.”

and my favorite (and personal reminder)….

“Strong comments my friends, before his master Benny will stand or fall, but for the record i do not agree with much of his theology concerning the kingdom. In private discussion i think these kinds of intense fellowships are better facilitated, before others it appears to be a house divided and we know what happens to that house. Lets major on the majors and minor on the minors.”

After viewing the video what do you think? Joel has since apologized for his comments does this change anything? Please comment below (and don’t be shy)……

Is the Bible reliable?

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (where I go to school) will host a debate and lecture series called The Scrolls and the Scriptures Conference on April 1-3 in the Chapel. The question of the conference is, “The Bible as Artifact: Who Wrote It and How Was It Preserved.”

The event will kick-off on April 1 at 7 p.m. with a debate between Dr. Craig A. Evans from Acadia University and Dr. Bart D. Ehrman of the University of North Carolina. Both professors are experts in the field of biblical studies, which include the Dead Sea Scrolls and textual criticism. The focus of the debate will center on the reliability of the biblical accounts of the resurrection.

Dr. Craig A Evans is the Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament and director of the graduate program at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Dr. Evans’ research has led to conferences on subjects including the Dead Sea Scrolls, issues related to the image and perception of Jesus Christ and archaeology of the Bible. He writes extensively on the historical Jesus and the Jewish background of the New Testament era and the author or editor of over 50 books.

Dr. Bart D. Ehrman is a New Testament scholar and textual critic of early Christianity. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Ehrman writes about the early Christians, using the term “proto-orthodox” to describe the Christian traditions that would later be defined as orthodox. He describes first- and second-century Christians as not yet having a unified, orthodox tradition. He has also written or edited twenty-three books, numerous scholarly articles, and dozens of book reviews.

This should be a rather vociferous debate and I am hoping that you will attend with me!

The youngest person to ever turn 70!

In honor of his 70th birthday I would love to hear your best (clean) Chuck Norris jokes. Please remember he is listening watching and preparing his [in]famous roundhouse kick!

Caption Please!!!