QotD

Kenny Chesney told Life magazine that breaking up with Renee Zellweger was "like opening the door to your house and having someone come in and take your big-screen TV off the wall during the big game, and there's nothing you can do about it."

From here.

Batman Begins (on DVD)

The Batman movie franchise has been redeemed! Gone is the campy Clooneyness of the late 90's. What were they thinking!?!

After watching BB only once in the theater in June, it was a delight to watch it again on DVD. As with most movies I take in, I liked this one better the second time. Good solid story and tremendous character development (finally!). There is definitely a striving on the part of the crew to make this a more real and believable Batman. It is much appreciated, especially with the Bat-mobile. What guy wouldn't like to take the Tumbler for a spin?

I illumine Batman Begins 4.5 out of 5 bat-signals.

Also, there's a good interview with director Christopher Nolan with some info about the sequel here.

The Legend of Zorro

We saw the movie last night. Overall, it was good. It was a nice continuation of the story, set 10 years after The Mask of Zorro. It's well acted by the original cast and there's some good character development with plenty of action. And the boy who played Alejandro and Elena's son did very well. I'd say it's on par with the original (which I really liked). The critics are being really tough on the film. That's probably because it is rated 'PG' and it's family-friendly, (except perhaps a little too violent for the younger kids). Granted it's not a "stand-in-line 10 times" movie, but it's a lot better than most of the other junk that's coming out of Tinseltown. The music is by James Horner (Titanic, Apollo 13), who also scored the original.

3.5 out of 5 swords for "The Legend of Zorro."

The Purpose-Driven Latte

Yes, I have not posted in forever. But this fits too perfectly with the blog's title, and I thought I'd better throw it up here.

STARBUCKS coffee cups will soon be emblazoned with a religious quotation from Rick Warren, the best-selling author and pastor, which includes the line, "You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense."

Read more:How Breweth Java With Jesus - New York Times

P.S. anyone else getting just a little queasy about this shallow-substance hyper-marketing Christianity?

QotD

The patrons over at the BHT were discussing a Memorial Day and other patriotic themed services with their over the top and rampant Americana. That's where I came across this savory quote:

"Which is more idolatrous in God's eyes - veneration of Mary in Catholic churches, or veneration of America in evangelical churches?"

Impressive, most impressive

UPDATE: 10/24, 3:00 pm, EDT
Man. if this thing were to make a left, we'd be in trouble.
Glad it's headed east.
Hope everyone down south of us is o.k.
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(Click pic to enlarge)

QotD from the "Calvinist Gadfly"

Calvinist Gadfly: "If Arminians pray for God to change their unbelieving relatives' heart, then why don't they actually believe it apart from their prayers?"

Two Foundations

(Came across these at MsquaredT, click on pic(s) to enlarge)

Traditional

Missional

Willlllmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

When I saw the weather this morning, I just couldn't help but think of Fred Flintstone.

Bargain Soul-winning: One Saved for $48.00

UPDATE #2 (10/19, 600 PM EDT):
Seems like our buddies at BSM have taken down the links, but the program still exists.
This is sad, folks. Very sad.
How do I know? Read here http://www.calvinistgadfly.com/?p=68.
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UPDATE (10/18, 330 PM EDT):
The Soul-A-Month page is down. It's no longer accessible at BSM. I hope that it was taken down for the right reasons, i.e. I hope that Dr. Smith cancelled the program. Awaiting confirmation.
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This truly saddens and angers me. I wish this was a joke, but it's not. This man was once the president of the SBC.

Bailey Smith Ministries - Soul-A-Month

I came across this from the Founders blog where there is ongoing commentary blogging and tons of comments.

I agree with one comment poster who said that even this picture (which is from the "Soul-A-Month" page) is indicative of the problem with this type of evangelism.

The man in the water doesn't need to be rescued!! He can't reach up. He can't see. He's DEAD! He needs LIFE!!

Attention: Next of Kin

Here's today's FoxTrot. (Click pic to enlarge)



I've been getting so many of these emails lately. I got one this morning from some bank in London that wanted me to hold some money from a family that died in a plane crash 5 years ago. Sheesh. I guess there are some folks out there who fall for this stuff or they wouldn't keep doing it.

Please, no more doing church for 'them'

Ryan Bolger (who is an Emergent guy) seeks to answer the following question over at TheBolgBlog. I think he brings up some great points about being relevant, especially for those who are in or aspiring to ministry in a local church.

...what could possibly be wrong with starting a relevant church service directed to spiritual seekers?

Continue reading here.

Looking Forward...

For those who may not know, I've been in a time of preparing for the Structural I PE Exam on October 28th. This has not left me with much time to think (much less write). That's why I've only been posting "must reads." I'm looking forward to getting back to doing some reading and perhaps some writing of my own here at Yarbucks.

Smelling Calvinism On My Breath: How The SBC Looks From Under The Table

iMonk writes a must read for anyone who is, grew up or has strong ties to the Southern Baptists...

Every so often, I daydream about what I would say if I had to defend myself as having been a member of or sympathetic with that nefarious group known as "The Southern Baptist Founder's Movement." The Founder's Movement is a group of self-conscious, non-apologetic Calvinists who want nothing more than to return the SBC to its roots in Reformation theology and to see the fruits of Reformation in the denomination. Of all the Calvinists in the world, they are my favorites, and while I have dropped the label "Calvinist" from my own theological resume out of deference to those who wouldn't let my dog share a bowl with their dog, I still dearly love those Founders and what they are all about, mostly because I still hope for better days for the SBC.

Continue reading here.

Super Seeker-Sensitive Pastor

Oh man, I don't know whether to laugh or to cry at this. OK, I'll laugh. While reading the comments on Tom Ascol's latest blog about the Power Team, someone linked to this about a SB pastor in Charlotte, NC who did some homemade video in a Superman suit flying above the city, showed it on the screens and then came out on stage in the suit!!