Spiritual but Not Religious

A current phrase I hear often is “I am spiritual but not religious.”  This is usually uttered in response to any mention of Jesus. I believe that these people are consciously or unconsciously trying to avoid having anything to do with organized religion.  I think that what they are actually trying to avoid are the demands that a real involvement with Jesus would place upon them. They would rather have a vague and shallow numinous feeling about the universe and the self-congratulatory feeling that since they feel “something” they are good people and that they are justified in living their lives in any way they wish. This is a rejection of God and the glorification of the Self.

A Beautiful A Cappella Version of Amazing Grace

A beautiful a cappella version of Amazing Grace. The a cappella style of music utilizes human voices presented without the use of musical instruments. The word a cappella is of Italian origin and translates as "according to chapel, " meaning sung like a chant without musical instruments.


/www.godtube.com/watch/?v=JFME1JNU

What They Think of Us: The Success of United States Soccer Goalie Tim Howard Spawns Jesus Jokes

Tim Tebow found out what happens when a celebrity is open about their faith.

United States Soccer goalie Tim Howard gave the world a brilliant performance versus Belgium in the World Cup round of 16, making a record sixteen saves on some point-blank close-in shots. He has openly declared his allegiance to Jesus and has dedicated his play to Jesus’ glory. Soon afterwards, people began calling him “Bald Jesus” for his numerous saves.  Then the jokes started appearing.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/29syvs/whats_the_difference_between_tim_howard_and_jesus/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2677575/Tim-Howard-virals-The-best-internet-pictures-praising-USA-goalkeepers-great-display-against-Belgium.html

http://theodysseyonline.com/charleston/tim%20howard-%20more%20saves%20than%20jesus%20christ/60993

Film Comment: The Wicker Tree

The Wicker Tree (2011), the sequel to the truly creepy cult classic film, The Wicker Man (1973), compares very unfavorably with its predecessor.  The first film stars the veteran film actors Christopher Lee (Count Dracula in numerous Hammer Studios films) and Edward Woodward (best known for The Equalizer television series and for Codename: Kyril). If the first film is a pair of silk pajamas, the second film is an old tattered flannel shirt which is missing a few buttons.

The Wicker Tree has no Christian message so why include a review of the film in this blog? The answer is because it has two characters who are explicitly portrayed as Christians.

Beth Boothby and her fiancée Steve are excited and horribly naïve evangelical missionaries from rural Texas (USA). They plan to spend two years evangelizing the pagan people of Scotland.

Beth and Steve find the people of the village of Tressock to be friendly, polite, and generous hosts, but no one is interested in any way in the religious tracts which the two attempt to distribute. The most enthusiastic response from the villagers comes during an assembly in their obviously unused church when Steve and Beth teach them the hymn, “There is Power in the Blood.” The Lord of the village tells the missionaries, “It’s going to be fun … trying to convert us heathens.”

It is almost immediately obvious to the viewer, but not to Beth and Steve, that something is not right in the quaint old village. Beth feels honored to be selected as the new May Day Queen. Steve thinks it is a fine game to  play the part of the Laddie. If you have seen the truly chilling first film you will not be surprised at what the missionaries ultimately find.

Objectionable elements in the film include nudity, vulgarity, sex, gore, and profanity., but there are two other points in the film which I found to be more objectionable.

The portrayal of evangelical Christians is little more than a crude caricature. Beth, while sincere, is unbelievably naïve and is totally unprepared to evangelize. Steve succumbs to the very first temptation set before him.

Beth and Steve are supposed to be from Texas (USA) but they are totally unable to hide the fact that they are British actors. Steve (Hebry Garrett) has a very difficult time staying Texan.

The Texans in the film all attend church wearing their cowboy hats and their missionary organization is “Cowboys for Christ.” In modern secular usage, “cowboy” often is a perjorative and derisive term denoting someone who is violent, stupid, and reckless.

This film, which I believe was intended as a Black Comedy, is insulting to evangelical Christians whom it portrays as naïve, simple, and gullible. It views them as people whose faith is as thin as onion paper and is based, in reality, on nothing.

Actually, the film is also insulting to neopagans, who would be repulsed at the idea of human sacrifice.

The other insulting thing in the film is a cynical utilitarian statement by the lord of the village. “I believe the old religion of the Celts fits our needs at this time. Isn’t that all you can ask of a religion?”

Totally ignore the 2006 Nicholas Cage remake of The Wicker Man.

Amazing Grace Performed in a Falsetto Voice

超級星光大道 (第二屆  One Million Star is a Taiwanese television singing competition similar to American Idol. Here is a video of one of the contestants, Lin Yu Chun (林育羣), singing “Amazing Grace.”  Though he has an adult speaking voice, he is a counter-tenor.  He was born in 1986 in Taiwan and uses an alternate stage name of “Jimmy Lin.”

Two sites which discuss the counter-tenor singing style are presented below. The inclusion of these sites does not imply endorsement of all their statements. Counter-tenors are often natural baritones or basses who have the ability to sing in a falsetto voice which sounds natural though there are men whose natural voice is in the countertenor range. The countertenor part is believed to have been developed during the Renaissance in reaction to the prohibition on women taking part in church choirs, taking the place once occupied by the castrati.

http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/performers/countertenors.html

http://www.voiceteacher.com/counter_Tenor.html

Three Versions of Amazing Grace on the Steel Drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB3Uyptlfj0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J3X0whM_-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWWpyfMsee4

Ueno Yoshie Performing Amazing Grace on the Flute

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFOjMWw5Vok

http://kobe-bunka.jp/flute/7th/en/profiles.html

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/yoshie-ueno/id536076065

The flutist, Yoshie Ueno, should not be confused with the international judoka, Yoshie Ueno.

http://www.judoinside.com/judoka/view/14043/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Jz_kNJHkw

A Beautiful Cathedral in Ukraine

Horlivka Cathedral, Ukraine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horlivka#mediaviewer/File:Horlivka_Cathedral,_November_2013.tif

Over 200,000 Page Views

This blog has now received over 200,000 individual page views.

Do you think that you have no skills which can be used by God for His glory?

Do you think that you have no skills which can be used by God for His glory? He has given each of us skills and abilities.

http://www.alabamas13.com/story/25751305/cutters-for-christ-helping-bessemer-bounce-back-from-tornado

Mike Royer, the news anchorman who appears in this video, is an outspoken and committed Christian. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutters-4-Christ-Inc/245762302169254

The similarly named Cutters 4 Christ, Inc., is a for profit professional lawn and landscaping service in Marietta, Georgia (USA). Their Facebook page shows that they do excellent work.