Lesser Known Motions at the Southern Baptist Convention

Lesser Known Motions at the Southern Baptist Convention

At this week's Southern Baptist Convention, messengers from across the country heard various motions on the floor from banning Mark Driscoll's books, to boycotting Pepsi. Here are a few that you might have missed.

 1. Motion to Boycott Mr. Pib. 

 It was asked that Mr. Pib be boycotted because after reassignment surgery, He will soon be known as Mrs. Pib.  

2. A study of the GRC: Grilled Chicken Resurgence

If we accept it, do the liberals win? A one year study of how this may be a threat to those in the convention who favor grilled chicken. (Note: this may lead to boycotting KFC next year).

3. Petition to ask Al Mohler to stop twittering.

Because we're sure that twittering is as addictive as alcohol! 

4. A Day of mourning on John Calvin's 500th Birthday.

The man is a menace.

5. Banning all Veggie Tales videos from Lifeway Bookstores.

Talking vegetables are possesed I tell you!!!!! 

6. Move to NOT have the 2010 Convention in Florida.

Aren't we still boycotting Disney?

7. Make the KJV the official translation of the SBC.

If it was good enough for the Apostle Paul, it's good enough for us. 

(Hope you had a laugh. Seriously, if you really thought I'm exaggerating, take a look at this!) (Via TolbertReport)

Movie Review: Away We Go

With two comedic actors leading the way across America, the laughs never stop in "Away We Go". Burt (John Krasinsky of "The Office) and Verona (Maya Rudolph from SNL) are a couple about to have a child and unsure about what kind of parents they are going to be. Finding out they have no one near them to be a family, they embark across the country to find a place to call home. The movie is filled some great discussions about what it means to grow up and what exactly it is that makes a family, a family. The comedic cameos keep the movie's pace going. From Jim Gaffigan, to Alyson Janey, to Maggie Gyllenhall (who is hillarious!) the oddball characters show us exactly how screwed up the county is. These aren't hippies in Ojai California, or Manhattan socialites, but people in Arizona, middle America and Canada who are really out of whack relationally and emotionally. What makes it work though is the fact that no matter what background (dessert, forest, beach, or city) as soon as Burt and Verona think they've found the place for them, reality kicks and they see again that no matter where you are,  life comes with difficulties. And that's why this movie is such a delight. It's a reminder that it's not about where you are, but who you're with. Go see it, but remember it is Rated R for a reason. Thankfully, this wasn't Knocked Up (and was far better in my estimation).

Movie Reviews: Stak Trek

I can't think of the last really good sci-fi movie I got to see. After a long wait, I can finally say Star Trek is that film. A trekkie for years, I had hoped that the film would live up to the hype. With uber-geek J.J. Abrams (creator of Lost, Alias and yes Felicity) Trek has returned. Using time travel to show us younger versions of the characters we are familiar with, we see a new take on the Trek mythos. Kirk, Spock and the rest are fresh faced officers on their first real mission. From the beginning we know what this story is going to be about: time travel (Trek has some great time travel stories). And it's used effectively as it bridges the Trek world we all know (memory alpha for you geeks out there) and takes us to a new world (memory beta?) where our characters will have new challenges. With visually stunning space battles, creative costumes and the occasional green woman., the film is always grabbing your attention. A fast ship, a space battle, a hard decision. I never felt bored. But the story really is about two people. James Kirk (Chris Pine), born in the trenches of outer space, who lives a wild eyed life that has no guidance. Spock (Zachary Quinto), is a half-Human half-Vulcan training for a future that almost seems to have been determined for him. They quickly meet and clash as they set out to fight a mysterious Romulan Captain named Nero. We find out quickly that this man is from the future. Kudos to Eric Bana for playing the character well, but at times, he just didn't seem all that sinister. I thought he had the feel of a Saturday morning bad guy, than say Khan Noonien Singh (as in The Wrath of Kahn). We also get to see a great supporting cast in people like Captain Christopher Pike (played very well by Bruce Greenwood)  Karl Urban (Bones) John Cho (Sulu), and Simon Pegg (Scotty). The movie had no problems calling back to the original Trek (yes there is a red shirt and some familiar catch phrases) but it's always giving us the adventures of the Starship Enterprise. I highly enjoyed this film, and I'm sure you will too. 5 Stars!

Misconception #2: Church, what is it good for?

#2 I go to fill-in-the-blank church. Isn't it enough? 

Great! Are you going there to know, love and worship the risen Christ as explained in the Bible? Or see that happen in your life? Is he presented as the only Savior who died on the cross for your sins? If not, you're wasting your time.

Misconception #1: Johnny Be Good!

I'm starting a new series here on the blog. I have seen that people basically are religiously illiterate when it comes to the Christian faith. So in the spirit of Dan Phillip's Next/Dodge series (worth looking at!), I'm going to try and give short answers to questions or concerns people have about the faith. Be warned, I hope if you're in the faith, it will make you think about your own positions as well. Here we go: 


1. Christianity is just about being good right? 


Got this one while reading an interview Relevant magazine did with the Kings of Leon. Talking about their strict religious upbringing, one of them said that they may not go to church anymore, but he at least tries to be grateful and good. Good habits to have, but as we read the Bible, they don't equal a relationship with God. Just because I'm a good person doesn't mean I can marry whomever I want. They have to want to know me too! Being a Christian involves a new kind of lifestyle, but being good doesn't make you a Christian! It's something God does in you. That's why it's called being born again. We will never be good enough for God. He has to give us new life.Don't believe me? Compare yourself to his basic law: The 10 Commandments. Ever lie about someone? Steal anything? Always loved God and had him first in your life? Hmmmm, silence is golden. We will always fail. He offers us forgiveness in Jesus today.. And it can't be earned, and he won't be impressed by your good deeds. For as Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God". Even if you're good and grateful, you're not even close to knowing God unless you know his Son.

The Return of Let My People Read!!!!

As many of you may or may not have noticed: I'm Back!!! Where has your friend Fusion! been all these weeks? Well it all begins with a girl. Ok it begins with a short film, but it includes a girl! Back in February I had the opportunity to work for a Christian Film Festival called Project 168. Its aim is to help Christian filmmakers have a place to practice their craft. I was able to wrote a short film that a mutual acquaintance directed. The script I wrote is called "More Than Abel". It centers on a Pastor on his way out of a church for being biblically faithful. The antagonist bears a striking resemblance to this guy.

Come March, I was asked to participate in the musical Assassins.It's a rather funny musical comedy by Stephen Sondheim. It takes an interesting look at the various would be assassins of American Presidents. Creepy, I know, but my Pastor's son asked me to be in it and I thought I'd jump at the opportunity. Why? Well, if you have to ask that, you don't know me. I got to play part of the ensemble cast, and I got shot as President Garfield (Picture forthcoming I promise).

And then there is a girl. Yes, Fusion! has found someone rather lovely to spend his time with. And that explains the rest of my absence. I hope you can understand. Having said that, here are a few of the books I have been reading and plan on reviewing.
Christless Christianity
Tactics
Vintage Jesus
Revelation and Reason
The Future of Justification
Boy Meets Girl
Culture Shift
and various others

I will have reviews coming up soon. I also plan to put up a few movie reviews as well. Till then, here's a cool video clip:

Between Two Worlds: Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Between Two Worlds: Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard
Really, what will they think of next?

Movie Review- Slumdog Millionaire

One question away from becoming the first winner of the Hindi version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Jamal Malik is about to become a celebrity. But as we are taken to the police station, they have a question for him: how did this tea server make it this far? With a name like “Slumdog Millionaire” you’d think it was a rap album. Turns out, it’s not just a movie, but one of the best I’ve seen this year or last year , keeping in mind that '09 just started. Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Trainspotting) has done it again. This time, Boyle takes us from the slums of India to the hot seat at the Hindi version of “Who Wants to be A Millionaire?”
The story centers on Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), a young Muslim boy from the slums of India. In a series of flashbacks, while he’s being grilled by the cops, we hear his tale. Every question takes him back to his past as we learn the answers. From being homeless, to living on a train and running into shady characters, this story makes you feel his pain. Jamal’s love interest in his childhood friend spans the entire story, as he finds her, loses her, and finally takes one last chance to be with her. It’s almost heroic. But it’s also a tale of two brothers struggling to survive the harsh Indian streets, finding cleaver (and funny) ways to make a buck (The Taj Mahal scene is brilliant!), and try to be a family through it all. Boyle makes the slums and the high rises of modern Mumbai come alive, while making the harsh environment real.
What I also found interesting was the beginning. The audience gets asked a question: how did he get this far? The answers run from “he cheated” to “he’s a genious” to “it is written”. It is a line that gets said only once by the unsympathetic game show host (who was well played by Anil Kapoor) but it makes you wonder: are some things just supposed to happen? Jamal seems to think so. I don’t believe in luck or fate, but as a Christian I believe in Providence. Writing on this Adam Parker of Bring the Books writes:

The film is upfront about what it has to show from the very beginning. From the earliest parts of the movie, you know that Jamal Malik gets all the questions up to the last one right. You know that he survives all of the events in the flashbacks that bring him to this point in his life; you just want to see how it all happens. The interesting thing is, that's sort of what predestination is like. Detractors of predestination argue that our actions have no meaning if they are already decided beforehand; Jamal, however, seems to believe otherwise. Though God knows everything that will happen (He has determined it already, after all), we still must do what He has planned, and sometimes it's as interesting to see things unfold as it is to know the ending ahead of time.

Go see this movie and try to follow along. It’s a long but fascinating ride.