The Top 15 Signs You Are Worshipping GodZILLA, Not God
15> Less smiting, more biting!
14> Every single story in the Old Testament ends with God destroying a city.
13> You insist that every courthouse display a copy of 10 instructions for destroying Tokyo.
12> Your hymnal is copyrighted by Blue Oyster Cult.
11> You're expected to build a cross big enough for crucifying Godzuki.
10> You issue a fatwa for jihad on Mechagodzilla.
9> The whole "Bambi is Satan" thing should have been a big tip-off.
8> His sole commandment: Thou shalt run screaming through the streets.
7> Every time you kneel to pray, your Lord steps on you.
6> Golden calf? No response.
Sacrificial lamb? Not even a twitch.
Passenger train full of screaming Japanese passengers? Bingo!
5> The sermon is lovely, but Reverend Takoshi's words are out of sync with his lips.
4> Instead of a communion wafer, you're supposed to eat Tokyo.
3> Recently chosen Pope Megalon XVI crushes all attempts to alter church doctrine.
2> You just spent $20,000 on eBay for the Virgin Mothra stuffed calzone.
and Topfive.com's Number 1 Sign You Are Actually Worshipping GodZILLA...
1> That thing about keeping the temple's lamps lit for eight days with no oil? Not a problem.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
DisasterCamp
Mystery Location Announced
The Youth/Young Adult Office has revealed the location of its mystery workcamp. The May 29-June 4 workcamp will be held with Disaster Response in Pennsecola, Florida. Once there, young adults will be able to help re-build homes damaged by last fall's hurricanes. Amazingly, five workcampers have already registered in spite of having no idea where they would be sent. For more information about this workcamp, check out www.brethren.org/yya/workcamps.
The Youth/Young Adult Office has revealed the location of its mystery workcamp. The May 29-June 4 workcamp will be held with Disaster Response in Pennsecola, Florida. Once there, young adults will be able to help re-build homes damaged by last fall's hurricanes. Amazingly, five workcampers have already registered in spite of having no idea where they would be sent. For more information about this workcamp, check out www.brethren.org/yya/workcamps.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
PopePhonesHome
Papal Reports
Perhaps having just been delivered by extraterrestrial transport, word has come out of Rome, reporting of confusion and disappointment upon learning that "the Celestial Kingdom of God to which the departed faithful ascend in the afterlife is significantly less luxurious than the Vatican's Papal Palace," in which the pope spent the past 26 years of his earthly life.
Perhaps having just been delivered by extraterrestrial transport, word has come out of Rome, reporting of confusion and disappointment upon learning that "the Celestial Kingdom of God to which the departed faithful ascend in the afterlife is significantly less luxurious than the Vatican's Papal Palace," in which the pope spent the past 26 years of his earthly life.
Monday, April 18, 2005
RYC
New Resources Created in Effort to Save Regional Youth Conference
The recent Regional Youth Conference (RYC) held at Manchester College continued a downward participation spiral, having only 85 youth attend. Of those, most were from Indiana with only 6 youth traveling from the adjacent Illinois/Wisconsin district.
Manchester College (Ind.) is making new resources available as part of its effort to save Regional Youth Conference (RYC). The plan is for Church of the Brethren pastors and church employees, district employees, and employees of Annual Conference agencies, and affiliated agencies and institutions, and their youth. A video addressing questions about the conference, a power point presentation on the history of the conference, information about scholarships, and information about all of the Brethren colleges, are being made available free of charge. Manchester College has also worked with the Midwest districts, agencies, and Ministers' Association to create an advisory panel for the conference and is training advocates to promote the conference in districts.
The Regional Youth Conference is in a "death spiral," a downward cyclical phenomenon caused by decreased attendance and the reduction of the length of the event to two days. In districts that have more than 75 percent participation among eligible youth, the scholarship ratio is such that the conference should be able to survive, RYC reported. In districts where there is less than 75 percent participation, the scholarship ratio is such that, left unchecked, the conference could cease to exist within several years.
Revitalization of RYC will come through increased attendance. Manchester College has reinstated a requirement of 75 percent participation among eligible youth in each of the Midwest districts, for districts to continue in the conference. If a district does not have commitments from its congregations by Aug. 31, 2006, to meet that goal, all youth in the district will be ineligible for the regional conference on Jan. 1, 2007. The college states that the 75 percent requirement was part of the RYC Plan when it began in the 1950s, but "fell by the wayside" in the early 1980s. "The conference must regain an appropriate attendance in order to continue."
Manchester College has begun training advocates to work in each district to promote the conference with congregations and church youth. The advocates will use the new video to help rebuild participation in the conference. A first group of seven advocates was trained on March 7-8. As of March 17, 12 of the Midwestern districts had named advocates. More advocate trainings will be held in late spring.
An April 18 follow-up meeting between Manchester College and the Council of District Executives will be held in Richmond, Ind. It was requested by the district executives and will include members of Manchester’s board and staff, executives of the Annual Conference agencies, representatives of Annual Conference, and members of COBCOA. This summer RYC will be a major topic of discussion at Annual Conference in Peoria, Ill.
To order the video in DVD or VHS format, or to receive any other resource mentioned above, call 800-555-1505 ext. 374 or e-mail cobyouth@brethren.org.
The recent Regional Youth Conference (RYC) held at Manchester College continued a downward participation spiral, having only 85 youth attend. Of those, most were from Indiana with only 6 youth traveling from the adjacent Illinois/Wisconsin district.
Manchester College (Ind.) is making new resources available as part of its effort to save Regional Youth Conference (RYC). The plan is for Church of the Brethren pastors and church employees, district employees, and employees of Annual Conference agencies, and affiliated agencies and institutions, and their youth. A video addressing questions about the conference, a power point presentation on the history of the conference, information about scholarships, and information about all of the Brethren colleges, are being made available free of charge. Manchester College has also worked with the Midwest districts, agencies, and Ministers' Association to create an advisory panel for the conference and is training advocates to promote the conference in districts.
The Regional Youth Conference is in a "death spiral," a downward cyclical phenomenon caused by decreased attendance and the reduction of the length of the event to two days. In districts that have more than 75 percent participation among eligible youth, the scholarship ratio is such that the conference should be able to survive, RYC reported. In districts where there is less than 75 percent participation, the scholarship ratio is such that, left unchecked, the conference could cease to exist within several years.
Revitalization of RYC will come through increased attendance. Manchester College has reinstated a requirement of 75 percent participation among eligible youth in each of the Midwest districts, for districts to continue in the conference. If a district does not have commitments from its congregations by Aug. 31, 2006, to meet that goal, all youth in the district will be ineligible for the regional conference on Jan. 1, 2007. The college states that the 75 percent requirement was part of the RYC Plan when it began in the 1950s, but "fell by the wayside" in the early 1980s. "The conference must regain an appropriate attendance in order to continue."
Manchester College has begun training advocates to work in each district to promote the conference with congregations and church youth. The advocates will use the new video to help rebuild participation in the conference. A first group of seven advocates was trained on March 7-8. As of March 17, 12 of the Midwestern districts had named advocates. More advocate trainings will be held in late spring.
An April 18 follow-up meeting between Manchester College and the Council of District Executives will be held in Richmond, Ind. It was requested by the district executives and will include members of Manchester’s board and staff, executives of the Annual Conference agencies, representatives of Annual Conference, and members of COBCOA. This summer RYC will be a major topic of discussion at Annual Conference in Peoria, Ill.
To order the video in DVD or VHS format, or to receive any other resource mentioned above, call 800-555-1505 ext. 374 or e-mail cobyouth@brethren.org.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
WomaensCaucus
Christian Womaen's Wrestling
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12
The Global Womaen's Causus Project is starting a new project in hopes of empowering women in the Church. Christian Womaen's Wrestling will help women to become aware of global poverty, oppression & injustice suffered by women around the world; to recognize how over-consumption & misuse of resources directly contribute to their suffering; to examine & change our way of living & learn about our sisters’ lives; to support self-help, community projects that are led by, empower & benefit women in the U.S. & developing areas; to impose on ourselves a tax on luxury items & use the money for grants given to help support projects that enrich, fulfill, liberate, educate & develop leadership of women globally.
Available resources can be ordered from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, click here for the form.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12
The Global Womaen's Causus Project is starting a new project in hopes of empowering women in the Church. Christian Womaen's Wrestling will help women to become aware of global poverty, oppression & injustice suffered by women around the world; to recognize how over-consumption & misuse of resources directly contribute to their suffering; to examine & change our way of living & learn about our sisters’ lives; to support self-help, community projects that are led by, empower & benefit women in the U.S. & developing areas; to impose on ourselves a tax on luxury items & use the money for grants given to help support projects that enrich, fulfill, liberate, educate & develop leadership of women globally.
Available resources can be ordered from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, click here for the form.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
PeacefullyStylishlyTogether
Dress Reform Committee Reconvenes
Continuing the Work of Jesus; Peacefully, Stylishly, Together
The Dress Reform Committee which last met in 1924 has been reconvened by Ken Neher, Director of Funding and Donor Development.
Analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis suggests that good-looking people tend to make more money and get promoted more often than those with average looks. The analysis is published in the April edition of The Regional Economist, the Fed's quarterly magazine. The researchers cited one study that found a "plainness penalty" of 9 percent in wages — meaning a plain person tended to earn 9 percent less than those with average looks — and a "beauty premium" of 5 percent.
Neher stated, “We, as a denomination, face a financial penalty because of our heritage of dressing so plainly. Encouraging our young people to dress more sharply lays the foundation for a strong financial future for our Church.”
Continuing the Work of Jesus; Peacefully, Stylishly, Together
The Dress Reform Committee which last met in 1924 has been reconvened by Ken Neher, Director of Funding and Donor Development.
Analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis suggests that good-looking people tend to make more money and get promoted more often than those with average looks. The analysis is published in the April edition of The Regional Economist, the Fed's quarterly magazine. The researchers cited one study that found a "plainness penalty" of 9 percent in wages — meaning a plain person tended to earn 9 percent less than those with average looks — and a "beauty premium" of 5 percent.
Neher stated, “We, as a denomination, face a financial penalty because of our heritage of dressing so plainly. Encouraging our young people to dress more sharply lays the foundation for a strong financial future for our Church.”
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
DayOfContrasts
Day of Balance
One of these sites promotes "freedom of religion". Their religion, that is.
One of these sites promotes "freedom of religion". Their religion, that is.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Workcamps2005
Wherever 8% work together in His name...
Last year, the 15% vacancy mark for summer workcamps was reached in February. This year, the 15% mark is still holding strong with 9 workcamps accounting for 89 of the 581 positions still up for grabs. Where last year the northeastern destinations was the least popular, this year’s unpopularity is fairly widespread. However, Wisconsin and Oregon are definitely this year’s leaders in unpopularity.
Here are the 9 least popular sites, listed with their percentage of available openings:
92% Inspiration Center, WS
90% Camp Myrtlewood, OR
75% Disaster Response
60% Walk Across America
53% Brazil
50% Phoenix, AZ
24% Indianapolis, IN
20% Innisfree Village, VA
8% Mendenhall, MS
Last year, the 15% vacancy mark for summer workcamps was reached in February. This year, the 15% mark is still holding strong with 9 workcamps accounting for 89 of the 581 positions still up for grabs. Where last year the northeastern destinations was the least popular, this year’s unpopularity is fairly widespread. However, Wisconsin and Oregon are definitely this year’s leaders in unpopularity.
Here are the 9 least popular sites, listed with their percentage of available openings:
92% Inspiration Center, WS
90% Camp Myrtlewood, OR
75% Disaster Response
60% Walk Across America
53% Brazil
50% Phoenix, AZ
24% Indianapolis, IN
20% Innisfree Village, VA
8% Mendenhall, MS
Saturday, April 09, 2005
COBCU
Credit Union Announces New Rate Structure
The Church of the Brethren Credit Union has announced new savings rates (APR and APY).
Prior to the change, members were required to have at least $5,000 in savings to get the second tier savings rate and $20,000 for the third tier rate. The savings level for these rates has been dropped to $50 and $200 respectively. The saving level for the fourth tier savings rate remains at $50,000.
cobcu rates
The Church of the Brethren Credit Union has announced new savings rates (APR and APY).
Prior to the change, members were required to have at least $5,000 in savings to get the second tier savings rate and $20,000 for the third tier rate. The savings level for these rates has been dropped to $50 and $200 respectively. The saving level for the fourth tier savings rate remains at $50,000.
cobcu rates
Thursday, April 07, 2005
BeThePope
Job Opening
The Papal throne once again lies vacant... Do you have what it takes to do the job? The position is open... Your destiny awaits!
The Papal throne once again lies vacant... Do you have what it takes to do the job? The position is open... Your destiny awaits!
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