SongSpots

SONIFIC gives this intro
on their website:
SongSpots™ are free music players / widgets that stream the song of your choice from almost any web page that you can edit yourself, such as blogs, social network profiles, photo sharing sites, or homepages. Just select one of our songs, click 'use', copy the player code, and drop it into any suitable input field on your site.
I added a SongSpot to my sidebar - check it out and if you like it add one to your blog.

Redneck Church

You Know You're in a Redneck Church if:
  • The finance committee refuses to provide funds for the purchase of a chandelier because none of the members knows how to play one.
  • People ask, when they learn that Jesus fed the 5000, whether the two fish were bass or catfish, and what bait was used to catch 'em.
  • The pastor says, "I'd like to ask Bubba to help take up the offering," and five guys and two women stand up.
  • Opening day of deer season is recognized as an official church holiday.
  • A member of the church requests to be buried in his 4-wheel-drive truck because "It ain't never been in a hole it couldn't get out of" (Love it!)
  • The choir is known as the "OK Chorale".
  • In a congregation of 500 members, there are only seven last names in the church directory.
  • People think "rapture" is what you get when you lift something too heavy.
  • The baptismal pool is a #2 galvanized "Wheeling" washtub.
  • The choir robes were donated by (and embroidered with the logo from) Billy Bob's Barbecue.
  • The collection plates are really hubcaps from a 56 Chevy.
  • Instead of a bell; you are called to service by a duck call.
  • The minister and his wife drive matching pickup trucks.
  • The communion wine is Boone's Farm "Tickled Pink".
  • "Thou shall not covet" applies to huntin' dogs, too.
  • The final words of the benediction are, "Y'all come back now, Ya heah".
God Bless and don't fergit ta say yer prayers!!! Ya all come back now!

Courtesy of the JibJab Joke Box.

Chariots of Fire | ★★★★★★★★★★



Today I would like to examine the legacy of another runner. Like Derek Redmond, Eric Liddell was an Olympic runner. I recently watched the HD version of his Olympic story (my all time favorite movie "Chariots of Fire") and wanted to share that experience with you. Some scenes from the movie are purely glorious film making. A scene from it traces Eric Liddell's resolve (to not run on Sunday) before the British Olympic Committee, to his reading of Isaiah 40 (in church that Sunday) and finishes with his Gold medal win at the 1924 Olympics ... it is so inspiring.

Here are few of great quotes from the movie:
"Then where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within." -- Eric Liddell

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." -- Eric Liddell

"The "lad", as you call him, is a true man of principles and a true athlete. His speed is a mere extension of his life, its force. We sought to sever his running from himself." -- Duke of Sutherland (speaking of Eric)
In Eric we see a young man preparing to run a greater race ... the race to fulfill his life as a missionary in China. I find it amazing that a man so young understood so much. Real life and power comes from within ... and we feel His pleasure when we run a life from within. On a scale of 10 I give this movie ★★★★★★★★★★


Catch my other mini-reviews by selecting the Movies link in the menu bar above.

Church Websites

Dave Walker at Cartoon Church has some advice
about Church Websites. Read more here.
Here is the one that I designed.

Dreamgirls | ★★★★★★★★★



I saw this movie last night and thought it was one of the best movies I have seen in a while. It is a rags to riches story with a thoughtful storyline, strong acting, great music/songs, knock-yours-socks-off singing, pretty clean language (one or two out of character f-bombs) and no violence or nudity. The Dreams (singing group) reminded me a lot of the Supremes and Beyonce's character a lot like Diana Ross.

Eddie Murphy was surprisingly great as an R&B singer trying make the transition to R&R. But I have to say that onetime (2004) American Idol hopeful Jennifer Hudson stole the show with off-the-charts vocals and amazing acting - sure to get her a nod at Oscar time.

I recommend taking your sweetie to this one on date night.

On a scale of 10 I give this movie ★★★★★★★★★

Support Your Local Sheriff | ★★★★★★★★



My wife and I watched the HD version of this one last night. I think that I saw it at the theater when it first came and had forgotten how funny it was. A great family movie. James Gardner plays Jason McCullough a man who is "passing through on my way to Australia" when he takes a job in a gold rush town. After a startling display of marksmanship he immediately arrests the youngest son of the evil landowner (Danby). A battle of hired guns begins as McCullough continues to tame the town and defeat the gunslingers with a combination of skill and wit.

Gardner, in his typical deadpan style, plays the sheriff perfectly and Jack Elam (a perennial movie cowboy) plays off him as his faithful deputy. A lot of other great character actors (Joan Hackett, Walter Brennan, Harry Morgan, Bruce Dern) make this a must-see movie. You can probably record it off the TV - watch for it! On a scale of 10 I give this movie ★★★★★★★★

A Prediction from Our Crazy Uncle

All families seem to have that strange relative who regularly embarrasses the family by doing or saying something strange. For us Pat is a regular reminder of that phenomenon. We love him anyway because he is a part of our family :)
Pat Robertson Predicts 'Mass Killing'
By Associated Press

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- In what has become an annual tradition of prognostications, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson said Tuesday God has told him that a terrorist attack on the United States would result in "mass killing" late in 2007."I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be nuclear," he said during his news-and-talk television show "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcasting Network. "The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that."

Robertson said God told him during a recent prayer retreat that major cities and possibly millions of people will be affected by the attack, which should take place sometime after September.Robertson said God also told him that the U.S. only feigns friendship with Israel and that U.S. policies are pushing Israel toward "national suicide." Read more here.
I did find it interesting that God didn't see fit to reveal any specifics to Pat. Kind of reminds me of the type of predictions that psychic Jeane Dixon used to make. The lack of precision in Pat's prediction is in contrast to biblical prophetic revelation. I wonder why so many people take him serious?

Three Stoic Eulogizers

This morning I watched the memorial service for President Ford. I was very impressed with former President Bush's eulogy. He led off the four eulogies with a very heartwarming and personal recounting of President Ford's life. The remaining three speakers came off in a way that made you wonder if they had ever met President Ford. They seemed to be totally unaware of their circumstances and showed little or no emotion at the loss of a great man.

It made me reflect and wonder if people are just plain uncomfortable with their emotions or if stoicism is still alive and well in our generation. What do you think? Are you afraid to show emotion in public? Are you concerned with being labeled "emotional"? Do you come across as a stoic?

Stones

In one of the best posts that I have ever read Milly says:
I found myself sitting on the edge of the bed knowing that it wasn’t about love so no one should say it. I remember him saying that he had a bad dream that he lost me. I almost laughed, lost me you never had me. Instead I snuggled up closer and waited for our relationship to end. It had to. How could I keep bedding down with this evil.

I had to stop I had to shut it all out and try to stop. So I walked around a Christian event hoping for a way to stop picking up those darn stones, they are heavy and at times they seemed almost to cover me making it impossible for me to breathe. I tried to drink them away, the deceiver likes that idea, I found myself tied to them dragging me into a bottle of vodka.
Read more here.

Desperate Old Housewives

I know that none of you watch Desperate Housewives but you might remember a few of these old housewives and their friends. Can you name all of the old sitcoms represented in the clip?

Starbucks Sells Doughnuts?

According to this article Starbucks sells doughnuts.
Ever seen a doughnut in a Starbucks?
Ever drink one of those Red Bull wannabe drinks at Starbucks?

Fool's Mate

I have been playing chess since sixth grade - you think I'd be better at it. One of my favorite openings involves something I used to think was called Fool's Mate. I checked today and found that it's correct name is Scholar's Mate. From Chess Corner:

Fool's Mate and Scholar's Mate are often tried on newcomers to the game.

Fool's Mate occurs when a player opens up his King to a fatal attack as shown in the following game:

1.f3 e5 2.g4 Qh4#

It is rarely a good idea to move the pawns on f2, g2 and h2 so early in the game as the King normally castles on this side and if the pawns have been moved, they can no longer offer him adequate protection.

The following game illustrates Scholar's Mate. This is a checkmate whereby the Bishop and Queen attack the weak f7 pawn. This pawn is weak because, in the starting position, it is only protected by the King.

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Qh5 Nf6 4.Qxf7#

Scholar's Mate is the most common trap a beginner falls into.

7 for 07

I guess it is that time of year again. With 2007 here I thought that I might suggest seven resolutions. In the year 2007 I resolve:
  1. To love God … to know His will … to meditate on Him and His word … to yield to and not quench the Holy Spirit … to be pleasing to Him.
  2. To love people … to genuinely care … to listen more and speak less … to love my wife … to love my kids and grandkids … to love Christ’s body … to love those who hurt.
  3. To be me … to live from my guts and not brain … to have the courage to live from my heart … to not let our culture or other people define who I am.
  4. To be generous … to be a compassionate giver … to be a good steward of everything that God has blessed me with … to be content.
  5. To stretch … to leave my comfort zone … to do things that make me feel uneasy … to be around people who are not like me.
  6. To take care of myself … to exercise and eat healthier … to rest … to have boundaries … to live life and not manage it.
  7. To trust the Lord in me ... to believe in the ideas that God has put in me ... to be courageous and to go places I have never gone before.

In a sense these are prayer requests as I am incapable of bringing them to pass. I’d be interested in knowing what, if anything, you have resolved for this New Year. In either case have a blessed and joyous 2007.

McLawyer and McBailbondsman Needed

Kudos to Doug for the winning Caption!