Church Blog based on a sofa
My weekly attempt at sharing things I’ve stumbled across online.
The Amazing Mid-faith Crises guys have only gone and interviewed Adrian Plass. Give it a listen.
What have I missed?
Married. Dad.
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Turns out I’ve not been great at writing a weekly post recently. I guess May was one of those months. But I guess that means there’s a bumper amount of stuff to share…
Good Omens! A Good fun watch with plenty of heart. Don’t take it to seriously, and… well… There’s plenty to be said about the last episode, but that would be one giant spoiler. If you have Amazon Prime, check it out!
In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Remember Stephen Baldwin? The Baldwin that isn’t Alex or William. I’ve come across him guesting on The Social Media Church podcast. Where, according to the blurb: “Being in this world, but not of it – this is what well known Hollywood actor Stephen Baldwin is driven towards. Listen to Nils Smith and Nick Runyon as they talk with Stephen about how he presses forward in his 10-year ministry, charity and other Christ-centered initiatives with boldness.” Give it a listen.
What have I missed?
Married. Dad.
Blogger / WordPress / Email List Guy.
Photographer.
Support worker. Short sentences. I write Bio in.
As those regular visitors to the Sofa know, I normally attempt to do some sort of round up of stuff that has happened in the past week at this point. But its hard not to focus on the political news in the UK this weekend.
As those in the UK know, it feels like the present season of Brexit Britain has reached its season finale with the announcement that a new PM is on its way. Will the new PM kick cans, light fires, throw stones within greenhouses? Who knows… Tune in next season I guess.
In the mean time, here’s some meaningful church advertising…
Married. Dad.
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Support worker. Short sentences. I write Bio in.
The Sofa’s weekly round up of stuff and – sometimes nonsense found online this week…
The BBC have had a look at what its like when people try and pray for you… no actually its a lot more complicated and serious then that…
From time to time, without warning or encouragement, I get approached in the street by Christians who tell me they want to pray for me to get my sight back. Since I became blind as a teenager this has been a regular yet annoying by-product of being an independent disabled person who can walk about on the street.
The last time this happened was on the London underground. The train was packed full of people all studiously ignoring each other when a man put his hand on my shoulder and asked if he could pray for my sight to be restored. But more about that later.
BBC
Written by a Non-Christian, but still a very sympathetic message. Read the BBC website for more.
There have been many words written about Rachel Held Evans, The Atlantic have taken a great look at why she was a hero to Christian Misfits around the world.
I could watch this again and again…
The Mid-Faith Crisis guys talk about work, “…and its importance in our lives. How can we be a blessing in the workplace? What can it show us about our own stories? What’s the problem with the phrase ‘work-life balance’? And why does Nick think that it’s OK to record a podcast while eating a fish finger sandwich?“
Check out The Mid Faith Crisis to give it a listen.
Please chuck the links of anything you feel should be shared below! In the mean time, I’m going back to watching that goal…
Married. Dad.
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Photographer.
Support worker. Short sentences. I write Bio in.
Normally around the weekend, Sofa writes up a highlight reel of things he’d found online that week. In the light of the death of blogger / tweeter / speaker Rachel Held Evens, there isn’t much to say.
The Washington Post has a write up of the last few weeks, and the following video…
I’d like to note her last published words on her blog..
Death is a part of life.
My prayer for you this season is that you make time to celebrate that reality, and to grieve that reality, and that you will know you are not alone.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
rachelheldevans.com
Married. Dad.
Blogger / WordPress / Email List Guy.
Photographer.
Support worker. Short sentences. I write Bio in.
Bubble and Squeak:
Bubble and squeak is a traditional British breakfast made from boiled potatoes and cabbage. In modern times it is a dish made with the shallow-fried leftover vegetables from a roast dinner. The main ingredients are potato and cabbage but carrots, peas, Brussels sprouts, or any other leftover vegetables may be added.
Not saying any of this is shallow… but this is my attempt at giving the weekly round up a name… anyway… here’s a collection of random stuff I’ve seen this week…
No spoilers here, but.
Avengers Endgame.
And yes. It is THAT good.
I missed this when it was first reported, but it looks like Harry Potter has found itself in the targets of a preacher with a fire to burn…
Catholic priests in Poland have burned books that they say promote sorcery, including one of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, in a ceremony they photographed and posted on Facebook.
Three priests in the northern city of Koszalin were pictured carrying the books in a large basket from inside a church to a stone area outside. The books were set alight as prayers were said and a small group of people watched on. A mask, various trinkets and a Hello Kitty umbrella were also visible in the pictures of the makeshift bonfire.
The Catholic evangelical foundation SMS From Heaven posted the photographs to its Facebook page, which has 22,000 followers, accompanied by fiery emojis and Old Testament quotes decrying sorcery and idolatry.
Guardian
I cant help but feel a little uneasy about the idea of burning books.
Love this found by Christian Nightmares…
You may have heard about a 16 year old girl, Greta Thunberg, getting some hate about what she has to say…
Here’s what she has to say. *
*Please watch it
Married. Dad.
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Support worker. Short sentences. I write Bio in.
Sofa is generally known for sharing either silly things about Church, or silly things the Church has said or done.
On a good day, Sofa can be accused of being funny. (Occasionally on purpose) .
Somedays it doesn’t feel right to share flippant things.
At the time of typing, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is on fire, in the midst of it, hopeful footage has been shared on Social Media, and it just feels right to share it here.
Most recent news I’ve heard by the way, is that “the structure of the building is saved”. Perhaps. Sometimes. There is space for hope within world news.
Married. Dad.
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Support worker. Short sentences. I write Bio in.
This weeks random collection of stuff found on an internet that is slowly eating itself…
The week started with Boris Johnson taking this approach on Brexit.
So…
Thankfully Boris has realised since then that a Moses style Brexit, could be argued, isn’t a great deal. But that could be more to do with other political game playing*.
Have you heard of Paula White, Trumps spiritual advisor? The Guardian have managed to have an interview with her, during which she seems to suggest she has turned, into an unofficial advisor to Donald Trump.
White frequently testifies to the president’s sincere and deep faith and said her role counseling Trump was “an assignment from God”. She delivered the invocation at the president’s inauguration and has since been a fixture at high-profile events, such as the “state-like dinner” Trump held for 100 evangelicals last summer. While there, she also joined a small, influential group discussion before the meal. She helps plan White House events for the faith community, and provides input on policy decisions.
Guardian Website
Read more over at The Guardian. Personally I’d like to see her hang out with Louis Theroux for a weekend…
Fancy a bit of hope for London? It could be this…
“All my life has been a trail of violence. Violence, violence, violence – and I’ve only changed in the last year,” says Kevin Yfeko, a Londoner and former gang leader. “I stopped because I saw a church that could help me. My church, Spac Nation, is offering gang members the thing that the government and the authorities can’t offer them – a way out.”
bbc
Give the full article a read over on the BBC website.
And finally… Some wisdom from Glen Scrivener…
*Please remember. I am a Sofa. Not an expert on Europe.**
**Or anything else really… now I come to think about it…
Married. Dad.
Blogger / WordPress / Email List Guy.
Photographer.
Support worker. Short sentences. I write Bio in.
My Regular feature about random little things I’ve spotted online this week.
No Donald Trump has not had a sex change and started calling himself Esther! Well… I don’t think he has… Anyway, The Christian Broadcast Network has interviewed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during which… well…
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that it is “possible” that President Trump is meant to save the Jewish people.
He made the comments during an interview in Jerusalem with the Christian Broadcasting Network.
“As a Christian I certainly believe that’s possible,” Pompeo responded when asked whether Trump is a new Esther, who in the Bible convinced the king of Persia not to slaughter the Jewish people. ADVERTISEMENT
The CBN interview falls on Purim, a Jewish holiday that marks Esther’s story.
The CBN hosts in questioning Pompeo referred to Iran as the modern-day threat to the Jewish people. Trump last year withdrew the U.S. from the Iranian nuclear treaty and reimposed sanctions on the country.
thehill.com
Check out the rest at thehill.com. There’s also a video of the interview… but that acted strange for me…
Update… and a video of it on Twitter…
Alright. Typing Vicar Complains About Own Church isn’t the most earth shattering thing to ever type. This dude complained to the council… (Thanks to Jon W for finding this)
Some people give up stuff for Lent. Stuff like Facebook, swearing, and beer…
Other people take up things for Lent, things like acts of kindness, Bible Readings, and beer…
Wait a minute…
I may start canvassing opinion on if I should drink only beer for Lent next year…
What do you reckon?
Married. Dad.
Blogger / WordPress / Email List Guy.
Photographer.
Support worker. Short sentences. I write Bio in.