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This Week In The Internet – The Good Omens Edition

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!

Quote that’s messed with me this week.

In a gentle way, you can shake the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

Bits and Pieces I’ve read…

What I’ve listened to…

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.

And finally… The Silly Tweet of The Week

What have I missed?

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This last week…

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…

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The Sofa Weekly Round Up – The Moses Brexit

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.

Guardian Website

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.”

bbc

Give the full article a read over on the BBC website.

Performing Our Anger

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…

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Them: Live biblically

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…

Have a look over at Twitter for… quite a few more.

For a slightly different take, check out the What Would Jesus Do Generator.

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Do You Need A Christian Calendar?

Do you still need a calendar for 2019?

How about something a little Christian?

What about something a little fun?

What if I told you there was yet another edition of the “Nuns Having Fun Wall Calendar?” (affiliate link)

According to Amazon:

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!”

Sounds great for someones wall.

Grab it from Amazon!!!!

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The Big 2018 Church Sofa List of Favourite Things

As 2018 draws to a close, I’m going to steal some some inspiration from a recent Facebook post from Barack Obama, and share some bits and pieces I’ve enjoyed seeing / reading / listening to over the last 12 months. They’ve all particularly inspired, or held my attention in some way.

There will also be Church Sofa highlights thrown in there as well.

There may well be affiliate links thrown in to the mix, but if you dont know any of the below I’d encourage you to check it all out.

Some of my favourite books from this year:

My Favourite Christian Meme

How was there not more Easter / Jesus / April Fools memes going around the place?

Church Sofa Guide.

Was it born from frustration? Or is inspiration found from people around me… Either way, I did enjoy 10 Tips to keep a Tidy Christian House.

My Favourite Movies of 2018

  • Avengers – Infinity War.
  • Thor – Ragnarok
  • The Greatest Showman
  • Doctor Strange

Theres possibly a Marvel theme going on here…

My Favourite Songs of 2018

  • I
  • Refuse
  • To
  • Say
  • A Million Dreams

Favourite Sermon of 2018

THIS!!!!

Favourite Church Notice Board

And its possibly a note to go into 2019 on…

What are your highpoints from 2018?

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Santa and Jesus, A Comparison.

May I present, not one. But two comparisons between Jesus, and Santa Claus.

The first is this little video…

The second is this very serious Bible study*. Which looks at a number of comparisons… for example, I never knew that God said “…Ho, Ho…”

On that note, does anyone know the Bible Verse about Jesus wearing crimson red? I remember coming up with a biblically based reason why Santa was red**… but I kinda need that Bible verse to be able to talk about it…

*One or two verses may be a little out of context.

** Plot Twist. Its not very Biblical.