GodTube Gets The Goods

We’ve made mention of the Plano-based Christian video-sharing site before. Had we made more jokes about it, the jokes would have been on us. As PaidContent reports, GodTube recently got $30 million in funding from hedge fund GLG Partners. I confess that I haven’t watched a lot of the videos on GodTube, but I don’t see how they can get much better than “World’s Strongest Redneck Shares the Gospel.”

Ben Stein, Others Party For New Flick Like It’s 1999

Belo8 film critic Gary Cogill was among hundreds partying at the Palomar Hotel Wednesday night after the world premiere here of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, a controversial new documentary about the Establishment jihad to suppress proponents of “intelligent design.” The flick stars Ben Stein, a prolific writer but probably best known as the boring teacher in the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. “I’ve always admired Ben Stein,” Cogill said at the party. “He’s one of the few intellectual conservatives who have a sense of humor–something that’s rare among conservatives and intellectuals.” Jump to find out how Ben Stein reacted to that.

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day

A little morning pick-me-up here.

Dreher Column Lauds Christian-Raised Meat

Columnist Rod Dreher had a thought-provoking essay in yesterday’s Dallas Morning News about the importance of Lent. About how abstaining–in his case, from eating meat–for a certain period each year can be good for the soul, etc. At one point in the piece, though, he vows that after Lent is over and meat is back on his family’s table, “it will be meat raised by Christian small farmers in the Dallas area …” Huh? Who cares if the farmer that grows your food is Christian or Jewish or Muslim or–God forbid–atheist? Does it taste better if the farmer prays the rosary or speaks in tongues? Would Rod feel better if only Christians read his columns? Come on.

Why Do Republicans Pander To Nutcases?

First, it was Mike Huckabee. Now it is John McCain who is hemming and hawing, backing and filling, kind-of-disassociating but not-denouncing-and-rejecting an endorsement by John Hagee, the notorious San Antonio preacher. As noted by Dave Leventhal, I have contributed to McCain, and as noted by Tim, I asked for my money back from Huckabee because he spoke at Hagee’s church. Now I don’t know what to do. I am very disappointed in John McCain.

Putting aside matters of basic decency and honor, I also find McCain’s waffling incredibly stupid as a matter of basic politics. As the Democratic primaries have shown, the largest single swing vote in this election is white men. (Read David Paul Kuhn’s astute analysis here.) Those white men are the very “Reagan Democrats” McCain needs to win the general election — and they are overwhelmingly working-class Catholics in the major states.

Like the ex-military guy he is, John McCain may be caught in the trap of fighting the last war. No surprise there. Hillary Clinton thought she was fighting the last war, too, following the Karl Rove and Mark Penn tactic of picking out and appealing to small segments of voters in order to win 50.1% of the vote. I’ve got news for McCain that he may not have noticed. Barack Obama is not playing the same game. He’s not even playing on the same field. Against Obama, the politics of hate will result in lost yardage on every play.

Benny Hinn Doesn’t Wanna Talk to No Stinkin’ Senate

An AP-scanning FrontBurnervian passes along this news that Benny Hinn will not talk to the Senate investigation committee until next year. The committee is taking a closer look at the salaries, perks, and travel of some of the more prominent preachers/televangelists. I’m sure Hinn, whose World Healing Center Church Inc. is based in Grapevine, just needs some extra time so that he can be as diligent and helpful as possible.

Don’t Stir Up the Baptists

Or do, if you want a brouhaha like the one over at the Park Cites People blog this week.

President or Preacher?

I like Mike Huckabee. I like him so much I sent him a check. But his sermonizing this weekend at two Dallas churches confuses me. Is he running for president of the United States or president of the Southern Baptist Convention? I thought we had settled this in 1960 when JFK spoke to the Protestant ministers in Houston. Heck, I thought we had settled it in 1787. If the sole qualification for president is that one “loves Jesus,” the question is open whether George Washington would have made it.

New Site For Wittenburg Door

The self-described “World’s Pretty Much Only Religious Satire Magazine” has a new Web site in beta. Old. New. Check it out, including John Bloom’s excuse for the site’s late arrival.

Dallas Catholics Finally Have A Bishop

So writes Tom Pauken in this report for Park Cities People. With a huge influx of new parishioners from the South and the North, it is good news that Bishop Kevin Farrell looks like the man to tackle the problems the Church faces after some 20 years of ineptitude, scandal, and gross mismanagement.

Why Larry Kilgore Can Eat Ham

Yesterday I noted the “Christian” candidacy of Larry Kilgore (I put it into quotation marks because I don’t particularly like how certain groups have abrogated the term to themselves. Someone else has used the term “Christianite,” which does seem more appropriate). A very nice lady from the Kilgore campaign corrected me about the dietary laws:

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The Barnett Shale Play: Praise God

I’m just catching up on some magazine reading and found this. Fast Company’s front-of-the-book includes a half dozen or so one-page profiles linked together called “Fast Talk.” The October issue features “Creative Energy,” including “six forward thinkers [who] explain their innovative efforts to derive energy from the United States’ untapped natural resources.” The local interest: Bishop Kenneth Spears at Fort Worth’s First Saint John Baptist Church, who thinks the Barnett Shale play is “manna from heaven.”

Sharia Law for Texas

Larry Kilgore is a candidate for U.S. Senate in the Republican primary. Kilgore’s platform is, um, unusual. He wants Texas to secede and become a Christian nation. A Christian nation, apparently, would be based on Old Testament laws. You’ve got a complaint about people driving without insurance? Kilgore finds the solution in the Bible:

Excepting those executed, judges will sentence those who cannot pay restitution, to indentured servitude for up to seven years with the victim receiving all service or earnings.

Kilgore received over 50,000 votes when he ran in 2006. I note, however, that his platform, while otherwise comprehensive, conspicuously omits the Biblical dietary laws. Backing off, Larry? Fraidy cat?

Attn Judges: Turbans Are Not Hats

So says the ACLU of Texas. Seems the Honorable Albert Cercone told Amardeep Singh to take off his “hat” before the trial for Singh’s traffic violation got started back in 2006. Singh refused. The judge threatened to throw Singh in jail. Singh capitulated. The ACLU filed a lawsuit today.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Culinary Year

If you can’t make it to Hatch New Mexico for the annual Labor Day weekend salute to the chile pepper, fear not, there are plenty of local celebrations. Last weekend I toured the fetes at Whole Foods (HP) and Central Market (Lovers). Both stores had huge rotating roasters outside and oodles of chile-flecked samples inside. Whole Foods in Highland Park was lower key that Central Market but WF passed out more free wine and the grilled chile-stuffed burgers on the patio were devine. Central Market was a foodie temple teeming with chile worshippers. Their chocolate gelato scented with green chiles is my newest obsession: delicious dark chocolate with a gentle kick of smoky pepper on the finish. The celebration continues next weekend at Central Market but I’ll have to check with WF (website confusing). If you want the ultimate taste of New Mexico, you can down the Hatch at their yearly all-things-Hatch dinner party on Thursday. Con tequila.  Do it.

Dallas Folks Set Open Restaurant In L.A.

Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner are set to open Westside Tavern (June 2008) at the Westside Pavilion in trendy West L.A.  The address is already home of The Landmark, the flagship theater in the Wagner/Cuban Companies’ theater chain. Guess who they called in to consult on the restaurant side? You got it, the Pied Piper of Henderson, Tristan “T-Bone” Simon, CEO of Dallas’ Consilient Restaurants. You can bet Nick “Baddy” Badovinus is cooking up some nasty “upscale dinner and a movie” cuisine (my description, not theirs).  So I’m taking wagers:  how long before we see photos of BritBrit face down in a bowl of mac-n-cheese. Awe. Some.  Oh, and thanks Tristan. Let’s grab some chow and a flick soon. Ciao. Kiss kiss. Poof!

Southlake Reverend Heads to Denver

The New Life Church has been looking for a new leader ever since Ted Haggard stepped down after, you know, that whole “allegations of male escort sex and using methamphetamines” mess. The church’s board found one in Rev. Brady Boyd, from Southlake’s Gateway Church. Boyd must still pass muster with at least two-thirds of the 14,000-member congregation.

Christian Group Wants to Punish Paperboys

They say they want to distribute Bibles with Sunday editions of the Star-Telegram and other papers across the country to “spread a Christian message,” but c’mon. That’s gonna make for some heavy lifting.

Details Sketchy, Downtown Ablaze

We don’t know much but we know that there were several explosions and a large fire downtown. The Morning News’ website is down this morning, perhaps because of all the people like me trying to figure out what went wrong.

Is It Ratings Week Again Already?

WFAA seems to be dragging old news for something to promote, and last night there was nothing better than a year-old priest-pederast story. The news peg is a lawsuit filed by three plaintiffs, but that happened two months ago. Moreover, one FrontBurnervian notes that Bert Shipp’s story seemed heavily tilted in the plaintiff’s direction:

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RE: PAPIST

Just noticed on the definition that I used when I looked up the term papist before posting that it says “chiefly derogatory.” Oops. Chalk up another one for the confessional.

STACEY’S ALLITERATION

OK, Wick’s a papist, I’m a papist, and how could you be offended by Stacey, anyway? But it’s interesting that others in Dallas are, especially given the ad on the op-ed page of yesterday’s New York Times.

PLEA FROM THE PAPISTS

A faithful FBvian sends word of a way for local artists to win $1,000 and a spot for their work in The Catholic Foundation Plaza. Jump for the deets.

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LET’S TAKE A LITTLE NATURE BREAK

My backyard is a McDonald’s play station for baby birdies. Grackle, cardinal, downy woodpecker, starling, and blue jay parents are teaching their young how to maneuver around the various feeders and birdbaths. It’s quite a show. Sid, with one of his two young girls, Nanette, was such a huge hit yesterday with my small group of FrontBurnervian Birders, that I’ve posted another picture of the loving father. Debuting today, Junior, the new downy trying to hold on to the suet feeder. Tra la, enjoy.

PEOPLE, THE NHL IS STILL ALIVE

Go Sens! Oh, no.

T.D. JAKES IN THE WASHINGTON POST

A substantive, stylish FrontBurnervian passes along today’s Wash Post story on the Fort Worth preacher. Strange story, in that it’s basically a series of quotes. Bishop Jakes has a new book out, Reposition Yourself: Living Life Without Limits. So I imagine we’ll be seeing more of him in the coming days. Which is a good thing.

LATINOS CHANGING WORSHIP PATTERNS

Jeff Weiss and Dianne Solis, two of my favorite reporters at the circulation-declining DMN, work through a fascinating new Pew study on the impact of the growing Latino presence in the U.S. (and Dallas) on religion and worship services. Although Latinos have been tracked for some time heading to various Protestant denominations (an 18 percent conversion rate mostly from Catholicism), the study says that 68 percent of Hispanics still identify themselves as members of Wick’s and Tim’s faith. The study also reports how family- and community-oriented Latinos are shaping the direction of local churches, including the Dec. 12 celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas. Bienvenidos, Bishop Farrell.

CELEBRITY SIGHTING: BISHOP GRAHMANN

Celebrity? Well, okay. Anyway. Minutes ago, at Al Biernat’s, the bishop was seen having dinner. I guess it was dinner. Seems a bit early for dinner. On the other hand, seems a bit late for a departure. In any case, thanks for your service.

THE NEW BISHOP

Rod Dreher, who is not easily impressed, has heard good things about Bishop Farrell, which he relates here. (Rod also had a great piece about Ayaan Hirsi Ali in yesterday’s Points section, but that’s off topic, so I won’t bring it up.)

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

From a St. Edwards parishioner in old East Dallas:
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SACRIFICING EULESS

Last week while we were out, an interesting lawsuit was filed in Euless protesting that city’s interference with a santeria ceremony that involved animal sacrifice, which is a part of the religion’s core practice. Jeff Weiss at the DMN religion blog picked up on the story and attempted to put the issue in context. The question is whether the city’s ban on animal slaughter is generic enough to block the religious sacrifice. My guess is that religious use must be exempted. This follows, among other laws and cases, the 1993 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the right to perform religious sacrifice in an appeal involving the Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye in Hialeah, a heavily Catholic and Cuban suburb of Miami, whose presiding priest I interviewed in American Voudou: Journey into a Hidden World.
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OLIVE OIL MAKES A LEGAL MESS

Two women, Evelyne Shatkin and Linda Shifflett, were fired from UTArlington and are suing the school for religious discrimination. According to the story in the Star-Telegram:

The suit claims that a male worker was having problems with another employee and shared the information with Shifflett. Shifflett, Shatkin and the man stayed after work on March 3 to pray for the woman, who was on vacation. The three met at the woman’s cubicle about 5:30 p.m., believing no one else was there.

Shatkin prayed for the situation, and according to her religious tradition, dabbed olive oil on the door frame of the cubicle. The oil left no mark and did not damage the cubicle, according to the suit.

The school says any such religious expression without a co-worker’s knowledge or consent is harassment.

To paraphrase one of my favorite Simpsons episodes: they should have prayed for not getting fired.

ROD DREHER ASKS TOUGH QUESTIONS…

…and “representatives” of the local Muslim community don’t like it. Read Rod’s recounting of a meeting of the Muslims and the DMN editorial board. Then today’s update.

The, er, dialogue is a good example of the problem with Islam’s confrontation with modernity. If one holds a received text as sacred, backing down from it or explaining away a difficult line is hard to do. On the other hand, having it jammed up your nose is hard to take. Muslims will have to thread their way through this, much as most of Christianity has learned to do by moving away from a literalist reading of the Bible.

WAS IT PART OF GOD’S PLAN

Last week I linked to my Park Cities People column questioning the pop-theology of the moment. Naturally, I received many comments, which I will try to reproduce below. If I left yours out, sorry about that. Many were too long to post, and others got lost in the tidal wave.
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BENNY HINN NEEDS YOUR HELP

The Lord provided a miracle to televangelist Benny Hinn: a Gulfstream G4SP plane to help deliver the Gospel to the world. Except, the Lord got kinda stingy when it came time to pay for the thing, dubbed Dove One. So Hinn has written a letter asking for donations.

I ask you to prayerfully read the brochure I have enclosed. I am praying that the Lord will speak to you to be one of 6,000 partners who will give $1,000 now or in the next ninety days to cover the remainder of the $6 million down payment for this powerful ministry tool for evangelism.

Good luck with that, Benny.

WAS IT PART OF “GOD’S PLAN”?

When my daughter told me what a minister had said at the funeral of her dear friend, I had to say something about it. This is the response, from this week’s Park Cities People.

RE: KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR

I’ve been meaning to comment on Rick Perry’s, uh, theology. It may not be nice or polite, but the “only-Christians-go-to-heaven” thesis has ancient roots. Origen, 3rd century: “Extra ecclesiam non salvus est.” (Outside the Church, there is no salvation.) Pope John Paul II explained that line thusly:
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MEGAFEST CANCELLED FOR 2007

Bishop T.D. Jakes recently announced MegaFest will take a year-long sabbatical and will not take place in Atlanta in 2007. Update your travel plans accordingly.

EPISCOPALS HANG LOOSE

The big “showdown at Southfork” for the Dallas diocese of the Episcopal Church ended up deciding to stick with the national church at least for another year. That’s the good news. The perhaps less good is that there’s still a chance a schism will fracture the diocese somewhere down the road. But for now, the diocese and its congregations are hoping that something can be done to keep those who don’t like the national Church’s policy on gays, women, and literalism within the fold. Here’s the weekend report from Jeff Weiss at the DMN.

PREACHING OUT

The Associated Press has this story that some State Fair-goers may already know: Street preachers are out in full force. Darrel Rundus, founder and president of The Great News Network, calls it an “invasion” to spread Christianity’s message. According to the story, nearly 500 preachers have swarmed the gates at the State Fair, as well as Deep Ellum and Sundance Square.

FIRST BAPTIST SUED BY PREGNANT TEACHER

Michael Grabell reported a very interesting story in today’s DMN (and thanks to the FB’er who pointed it out). It’s a collision of rights, one promulgated by the state (protection of pregnant women) and one protected by the First Amendment (freedom to practice–and teach–one’s religion). My bet: the First Amendment wins hands down.

RE: ROD GETS THE RACK

A welcomely sage FBvian continues the commentary (the kind that elevates rather than lowers this sort of important discussion) on the great Episcopalian divide and reaction to our story on same in the October issue of D:

Two thoughts:

1. Would a bit more civility kill people? It’s never very effective–and it’s probably silly–to apologize for what somebody else does. But I’ll go ahead and do it: I’m sorry that some people who are on the same side of the theological divide as me are commenting on your story rudely.

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RE: ROD ON THE RACK

I’d describe Mr. Diogenes more as “ideologically informed,” to, as he says, “put it gently.” His opinions are are course for him to state as fair response. But it would interesting, at least to the Commonweal folks, to know why he feels he has to conceal his identity.

RE: ROD ON THE RACK

An astute FBvian recognizes the name, “Diogenes,” on the posting from the website Catholic World News, and notes that not only have I been outed as an alien from Planet Zork, but I’ve moved on up in the world of mysterious theological postings:

Rod, You’re in new territory. Trinity Communications is not your persecutor (and I would trust the source of CWN content to Phil Lawler who seems to have free reign over there - no conspiracies or cover-ups), but the (in)famous Diogenes. Who is Diogenes? We’d all like to know.

Here’s what Commonweal has to say on the stealth blogger. And, yes, his nom de web is ironic.

RE: ROD GETS THE RACK

First, I am not from Planet Zork. If you spread around this sort of thing I will be answering to Homeland Security in no time.

Second, just for clarification, the insightful critique Paul has posted is actually an email post on a website, not an edited article. The website, Catholic World News, is a product of Virginia-based Trinity Communications. I’m always happy to be roasted; I just like to be clear about the source of the flames.

RE: EPISCOPALIAN WARS

Discussions about religion have a way of going on for eternity, but since the October issue of D delves into the foray with “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” we’ll keep the dialogue going, if for no other reason than to encourage you to buy a copy on the newsstand. But there are other reasons–like this keen observation from a church-knowing FBvian:
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RE: EPISCOPALIAN WARS

Another church-knowing FBvian has a slightly different take on the place of Christ Church in Plano in Episcopalian evolution. This is getting good:
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RE: EPISCOPALIAN WARS

Lots of very thoughtful and insightful responses so far to “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” in the October issue. I mean, where else but here can you find intelligent, well-written analysis of the overlap between Episcopalians and Baptists in the context of a visit to Christ Church in Plano? Eat your heart out, Bible Girl. Now read this from a church history-minded FBvian:
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ROD GETS THE RACK

Our story on Episopalian conflicts in the Dallas diocese, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” in this month’s D, has landed on “Virtue Online: The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism.” Thanks for the link, guys (and nearly 2,000 hits so far). Safe to say I’m now in this ultra-conservative group’s special circle of hell along with gays, women priests, and liberals. Strong, scary stuff, but I do like this review:

Lord have mercy upon us. What an article. What a bunch of hogwash. The blood of the martyrs cries out!

TUTU ASHAMED OF ANGLICANS

Anglican Archbishop and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu of South Africa says he is “ashamed” of the cave-in by the Anglican Communion over gay bishops and priests and other ultra-conservative stances, pushed by the fast-growing African churches. The conservative, literalist position is also promulgated by conservative clergy in the United States and accounts for the recent disassociation from the Episcopal Church–the American wing of the Anglicans–by Christ Church in Plano. In the Fort Worth diocese, even the recent election of a female as presiding bishop of the national Church is considered unacceptable.

The crisis resonates throughout the deeply split Dallas diocese of the Episcopal Church, as reported in the October issue of D, reaching subscribers now and available on newsstands presently.