Viral pants

Altlanta Community Activist General Larry Platt got some fun screen time on American Idol -- in what may be this year's huge viral hit. I hope he rakes in some green as his song goes global.

While his song got my and perhaps millions of others attention, It may be Jimmy Fallon as Neil Young's version of the song that we'll remember. I wonder if SNL will get into the act too?

The comedy stylings of John McCain and Barack Obama

Events like this not only make me smile, they give me hope for the future. Senators McCain and Obama spoke last night at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.

ht to Chuck

Political Humor

Jon Stewart on Hypocrisy:

Playing the comedy central card

Tim Hawkins Comedy -- Bible Study?

A Bible study about a comedy routine? How does that work? I put one together for interlinc's YLO 71. Tim has many funny bits on his comedy dvd "Full Range of Motion." The Bible study focuses on the routine, "I Can Only Eat Margarine."

Here it is!

Artist: Tim Hawkins
URL: timhawkins.net
Album: Full Range of Motion DVD
Label: Independent
Comedy Bit: “I Can Only Eat Margarine.” (video embedded at the end of this post)
Writer: Kirk Moore
Ministry: Union Congregational Church
Location: Somonauk, Illinois
Email: kirk@revkirk.com

Theme: Idol Worship

Materials needed: mp3 player, American Flag, Bible

Objective: By the end of this study, students will have talked about idols and recognized that the things we consider more important than God become our idols.

Warm- up: Praise song 'finish the lyric:' Compile about 15 praise songs that the members of your group will be familiar with. Play a segment of each song and invite students to finish the lyric. If possible, include the following songs:
Holiness
Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
Awesome God
Better is One Day
I Can Only Imagine

Transition:

Say: Many of these songs have become so familiar to us that just hearing the melody of it helps us to be inspired and to experience a sense of closeness to God. In the video we’re about to watch, comedian Tim Hawkins wonders what it would be like if corporations took the melodies for these songs and turned them into commercial jingles. Play “I Can Only Eat Margarine” comedy routine from Tim Hawkins.
During the song, while students are laughing – have them write down the names to the songs parodied in the routine. Additionally, invite them to draw a picture or write a few words to describe their emotions as they listen to the routine.

Transition:

Say: What would happen if corporations took the melodies of our favorite praise songs? How do you think the world would react? How would you react? (Spend time in group discussion)

Say: I’m going to show you three items. When you see each item, write down some words describing how you feel about the object. Additionally, rate the objects in order of importance for your life.
Show the mp3 player, the American Flag and the Bible. Let students write down their reactions and then invite discussion.After a few minutes of discussion, say, “Now I’d like you to choose which item you’d destroy if you had to.” (Let students discuss.) After a few minutes, begin the Bible study.

Bible Study: Invite a student to read Exodus 20:3-6.

Ask: What do you think makes something into an idol? If an object, no matter what it is, becomes more important to us than God, do you think that object becomes an idol? (Continue discussion.)

Wrap up:

Say: Books, electronics, fabric, songs - any object, no matter what it represents or how important it is to us, is never more important than God is. Objects are temporary and replaceable, but God’s love endures forever.

Listen to the words of the Psalmist: (Psalm 136:1 NIV) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Closing prayer: God of everlasting and unconditional love, thank you for your blessings. Help us to remember how temporary “things” are and how your love for us never ends. Amen.

The Mom Song

I didn't write this. Anita Renfroe did. I've been laughing about it for the last couple of days!



I did, however, write a song that has advice from my mother. (It's called "Don't Brush Your Teeth While You're Driving." You can hear a short clip here and also order it from iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody etc.

The Wittenburg Door

I've been a frequent reader (and sometimes subscriber) of this magazine for more than 17 years (I missed the early days, however.) I love the satire and the scathing, yet comical indictments of the stupid things we have done and continue to do while calling ourselves followers of Jesus. Over the years my reaction to the articles have included laughter, tears, anger, disbelief, confusion and awe.

But the issue I just received today (September/October 2007 -- Issue #213) is the best one I've ever read.
Some of my favorite articles (I read the whole issue in one sitting -- I never do that!)

• Wittenburg Door Interview: Rob Bell
• Wittenburg Door Interview: N.T. Wright
• The Submergent Church
• Celebrity Church Member Rental Service
• Emergent Church Blogspot
• Won't You Be My Neighbor? (the highlight of highlights in this issue!)
• The Last Word: All is now Ready

The Wittenburg Door website is now updated to the new issue-- and they still have an "under construction" label on their page

If you've never bought an issue of The Door -- or if you've not gotten this one yet -- I think you'll be happy that you got it (I don't know what stores it is at -- They've offended so many you might just have to get a subscription pronto!)

Check out the Wittenburg Blog too!

TV out the window

I came across this old video from my college days. One of my roommates and I were inspired by SCTV and Letterman. I had purchased a new TV (notice how hi-tech it is!) and we had fun disposing of the old one:

Movies in 5 seconds

Want to relive all your memories of some of your favorite movies? Cassie (through Andrew) showed me a place where there are a whole lot of "movies in 5 seconds. (some are longer than 5 seconds -- but they are very brief!) I think these short films will pull up all those memories up in very short order. If you haven't seen the movies that are being summarized (sort of) the mini-films may not be as funny, but the 5 second movies metacafe site is definitely worth a visit! Here's my favorite of the bunch (it's posted by a different metacafe user, but it is definitely from the Guy with th Glasses!) -- All the Rocky Movies in 5 Seconds:

All The Rocky Films In 5 Seconds - The funniest home videos are here

Easter Morning Observation

While I was driving to church . . .

One of the most hilarious news quotes I've seen in a long time

Anheuser-Busch has discontinued it's`Bud Pong' drinking game -- saying,

• "it has come to our attention that despite our explicit guidelines, there may have been instances where this promotion was not carried out in the manner it was intended."

Do you mean that a beer company who invented a game involving ping-pong balls, cups of liquid and drinking is surprised that people didn't fill the cups with water?

I nominate Anheuser-Busch for the "Hey, the president does it too!" award