Pat Robertson is "appalled" by Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria: "The President of the United States is in great danger of losing the mandate of Heaven if he permits this to happen." pic.twitter.com/YGeNYpbGrF
I’m not sure how biblical the phrase “Mandate of Heaven” is, but I’m happy to be schooled about it. But either way, it feels like a coded way of saying “If Donald Trump does this, Christians shouldn’t be happy with him”.
Whilst I’m not sure if he ever had “the mandate of heaven”, its good to see Pat Robertson taking what feels like more critical view of Donald Trump.
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…
What I’ve Been Mostly Watching…
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!
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.
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…
This weeks random collection of stuff found on an internet that is slowly eating itself…
Brexit. The Moses Approach.
The week started with Boris Johnson taking this approach on Brexit.
So…
we all need to leave our homes,
go for a 40 year walk,
live through a number plagues,
see a load of death,
eat bread from the ground,
and possibly a number of downsides I’ve forgotten.
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*.
Donald Trump. Hearing what God has to say.
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.
Read more over at The Guardian. Personally I’d like to see her hang out with Louis Theroux for a weekend…
Young Dizz. New Gospel Sound?
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.”
Every now and then, Twitter plays a game. Recently a game has been played which I’ll call “Live biblically”.
I don’t know how “Live Biblically” started, but it seems to be based around people being told to live biblically, then actually thinking about what it means. (In their own personal opinion…)
Here’s some some of my favourites…
Them: Live biblically!
Me: sells my brother into slavery for being a smartass
— Methodist Pastor For Common Sense (@UMC_CommonSense) February 10, 2019
Them: Live biblically.
Me: *rips off my clothes and tells the ruling powers to repent*
They work hard, they pray hard–and they do it with gusto! Twenty-four sweet photos display the delightful, adventurous, and joyfully unexpected sides of convent life, every month. With sweet, witty captions offered up by Maureen Kelly and Jeffrey Stone, coauthors of the New York Times bestselling Growing Up Catholic. A sister leading an Irish jug: “But Sister Bridget, we’re Polish!” Beaming under an umbrella: “The forecast calls for manna from heaven today.” On a motorbike: “I know a shortcut to the highway to heaven.” And nuns with a heavy string of the day’s catch: “Good things come to those who bait!”
