Fantastic.
Via Kottke.org
Why do atheists read Christian blogs
For a while last week I thought about unsubscribing from the atheist blogs I read. They fill me with frustration. Especially the snarkiness that oft goes on in the comment thread. I even have a post drafted saying that I had made that a resolution for the year. But then I changed my mind. Bizarrely because I read this article on the Huffington Post about why atheists read articles by the religious…
“In my opinion, Atheists want to be well-informed. They want to know what others are saying, and then what they’re saying next. They wish to keep up with all that they’re contesting, not to change their minds. Others who I’ve spoken with speculate that some self-professed atheists may actually be agnostics who are seeking answers to address internal doubts.”
I think there’s a little in that. But I also think they like to gather together and hunt in packs because that’s what minorities do. And if atheists were in the ascendency I’m sure there’d be a bunch of Christian voices clamouring to shout them down.
Plus, the internet is an atheist playground. And they are the resident bullies. So it makes sense they go where the easy targets are and hang out in gangs elsewhere.
The Lifecycle of a T-Shirt
This is both funny, and true.
“I have a T-shirt problem: after years of buying them, my house is now full. Whilst recently trying to tidy up the situation I realised that I was subconsciously categorising them. As with everything on the internet, it ain’t a ‘thing’ until it’s visualised in an infographic. “
From Sleeping in My Head – where you’ll get a bigger version.
If Scientists were Rockstars
These minimalist rock star posters promoting scientific endeavour are cool (from etsy).
So too, these posters promoting scientific achievement as a rock gig. There’s a whole Flickr set of them.
When Harry met Kenny: Harry Potter characters South Park style
A comprehensive visual guide to the characters of Harry Potter in the style of South Park.
Via the Jailbreak.
How to serve a community during a flood
I was talking to my friend Mike O’Connor on Facebook today. Mike is the minister of the Presbyterian Church in Rockhampton. And I love the way he thinks about how to serve and engage the Rocky community. He’s got a good eye for a media story and keeps Christianity on the agenda in a positive way.
I’ve been watching on Facebook as the Rockhampton flood situation unravelled. Mike has been on the front foot the whole time. And the stuff they’re doing up there, with help from his network of friends around the country, is pretty phenomenal.
Here’s a little video they put together:
Here’s what they’ve got on the agenda as a church so far as Rocky continues to deal with current flooding, and future clean up. From Mike:
What they’re doing
1. We have become the child care facility for anyone wanting to have their kids minded during the clean up
1.a We are going to do evening BBQ to feed people when they pick up their kids
2. We were GIVEN 5 chest freezers (new) yesterday to freeze meals to give to people and when we’re done we can give the freezers away.
3. We are still organising a team of people who can just labour – door knocking an area to assist people in the clean up.
already in place and set to roll when the waters go down.
4. Obviously helping people from church flooded in.
How you can help
This sounds like a CMS ad – but you can help by praying, giving, or going.
- Pray for the Rockhampton Church as they seek to serve their city.
- There was a team from Brisbane lined up to come to Rockhampton to help – their status is now “unsure.” If you’ve got some spare time in the next weeks or months, and would consider travelling to tropical North Queensland to help out – let me know, and I’ll pass your details on to Mike. They’re particularly interested in hearing from tradesmen of all varieties. Especially electricians – who need to certify each house. But they’ll take anybody.
- Give money…
You can give money to the Presbyterian Church’s Flood appeal by Direct Debit:
Presbyterian Church of Queensland
Westpac Bank
BSB 034 010
Account No 131237
Calvin and Hobbes: Fight Club
This had to happen sooner or later. Two popular “texts” dealing with imaginary friends.
Brought together. So good.
You can’t walk straight…
It’s true. But don’t worry. Apparently neither can I. Nor, in fact, can anybody else.
According to this video anyway. And it’s so well made that I have to believe it.
The Building I work in…
So, I have a summer job. And for today and tomorrow that summer job involves sitting at home. Not being flooded. This is why. This is the building I am working in.
Maybe Friday won’t be my first day back after all.
Best termination notice ever
I want to get a job at Dominos just so I can replicate this… (slight language warning).
Oldies choir sings hip-hop with organ backing
Eminem eat your heart out.
There’s a few songs here. Watch to the end.
The conductor is just a little bit too enthusiastic.
Driving in cars with ploys
This video made me laugh for some reason.
The world’s most under-enthusiastic film clip participants
If you were going to make a film clip about God using kids for ministry – a notion I have no problem with1 you could at least pick a bunch of kids who looked happy to be there.
1I think God uses kids. I think kids participating in ministries is fine, and evangelising people is fine, and generally the concept of kids being Christian children (as opposed to the ideas popularised by Richard Dawkins). I think these things are fine only if the kid is acting under the kid’s own (and God’s own) steam. Just want to put that disclaimer out there… in case you think I have a problem with the sentiment of that song – and not just the apathy expressed on the faces of those children.
Colby is less apathetic though. I suspect this might be the original version of that song.
Dead birds and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
People get in real trouble if they try to link world events to specific acts by members of specific governments. We saw that with Danny Naliah yesterday. Exhibit B is YouTube Prophetess (or televangelist) Cindy Jacobs – who suggests a bunch of birds are dying because of a decision to repeal the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy regarding homosexuals in the US Army.
If we could track God’s direct intervention in judgment like these guys suggest:
a) I’d be a very rich man.
b) He’d be using a better logical connection than “the Governor’s name is B.B and this is happening in a place called B.B.”
c) He’d be doing much nastier things to much nastier places. Queensland is Australia’s Bible belt. We’re the birthplace of Ken Ham. Why isn’t Kings Cross flooding?
H/T Scotteriology.