Dance Monkey Dance
Monkeys with high-speed digital fiber-optic technology.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Holy Kiss
Bethany Celebrations
Celebrations are being planned at Bethany Theological Seminary in order to both honor retiring president Gene Roop and to ring in the seminary's new logo and identity. The Bethany board officially unveiled the new logo at its recent meetings. This is the first design change since 1963, when the previous logo was created to mark the seminary’s move to its former Oak Brook (Ill.) location.
Along with remembering the highlights of Roop's career, the celebrations will also include performances by the Christian tribute band, "The Rolling Stones (away from the tomb)," along with the premiere of the independent film "The Relocation Horror Picture Show."
President Roop describes the new logo as evocative. “It has features that are clear and confessional and others less tangible, inviting imagination and wonder. It serves as an invitation to join our community, which features both of those dimensions.”
“Consistent with Bethany’s mission to educate witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross is prominent at the center of the logo, arising from baptismal waters and rehearsed in the practice of foot washing, both important worship practices in the Church of the Brethren,” said a release from the seminary. “The bottom perimeter of the symbol suggests lips and water. The lips represents the holy kiss. At the bottom of the waters is a fish, the symbol early Christians used to express their commitment to Jesus Christ, the son of God. Atop the waters is a form which lends itself to several symbolic possibilities. As a book, it denotes both Bethany’s biblical foundation and striving for academic excellence. As a dove, the lines lift up both the dove of divine presence at baptism and the dove of peace, representing one of the living testimonies of the Church of the Brethren.”
Celebrations are being planned at Bethany Theological Seminary in order to both honor retiring president Gene Roop and to ring in the seminary's new logo and identity. The Bethany board officially unveiled the new logo at its recent meetings. This is the first design change since 1963, when the previous logo was created to mark the seminary’s move to its former Oak Brook (Ill.) location.
Along with remembering the highlights of Roop's career, the celebrations will also include performances by the Christian tribute band, "The Rolling Stones (away from the tomb)," along with the premiere of the independent film "The Relocation Horror Picture Show."
President Roop describes the new logo as evocative. “It has features that are clear and confessional and others less tangible, inviting imagination and wonder. It serves as an invitation to join our community, which features both of those dimensions.”
“Consistent with Bethany’s mission to educate witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross is prominent at the center of the logo, arising from baptismal waters and rehearsed in the practice of foot washing, both important worship practices in the Church of the Brethren,” said a release from the seminary. “The bottom perimeter of the symbol suggests lips and water. The lips represents the holy kiss. At the bottom of the waters is a fish, the symbol early Christians used to express their commitment to Jesus Christ, the son of God. Atop the waters is a form which lends itself to several symbolic possibilities. As a book, it denotes both Bethany’s biblical foundation and striving for academic excellence. As a dove, the lines lift up both the dove of divine presence at baptism and the dove of peace, representing one of the living testimonies of the Church of the Brethren.”
Monday, March 27, 2006
whiny children
Childcare Options
Childcare will have a new look in Des Moines this year as Annual Conference is gearing up to try something new. With the growing chasm between conservative and progressive Brethren, two childcare options will be offered. Families who pre-register for childcare will receive a survey which will determine into which program the children will be placed. Recent studies have shown that young children show tendencies which are predictive as to what politics will attract them as they mature. With this program, it is hoped that both conservative and progressive children will receive the nurturing that they seek.
Childcare will have a new look in Des Moines this year as Annual Conference is gearing up to try something new. With the growing chasm between conservative and progressive Brethren, two childcare options will be offered. Families who pre-register for childcare will receive a survey which will determine into which program the children will be placed. Recent studies have shown that young children show tendencies which are predictive as to what politics will attract them as they mature. With this program, it is hoped that both conservative and progressive children will receive the nurturing that they seek.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Report From The Stewardship of Properties Committee
Elgin Operations to Shut Down
Notice is being sent out to Church of the Brethren members that day to day operations at the Elgin Headquarters will be halting until further notice. Now that the report from the Stewardship of Properties Committee has been published Elgin staff will be busy unpacking now that their expected move has been cancelled. Once everything is back in place, operations will commence.
Members should also be aware that New Windsor is also non-functional for the time being now that they find that change is not in the offing. Eastern staff are conducting an unpacking of their own.
In related news items, BVSers are poised for an intense dumpster diving effort once it is revealed exactly what assets the General Board will be disposing. And cheating buzzword bingo players everywhere are feeling foolish now that "relocation" never came up.
Notice is being sent out to Church of the Brethren members that day to day operations at the Elgin Headquarters will be halting until further notice. Now that the report from the Stewardship of Properties Committee has been published Elgin staff will be busy unpacking now that their expected move has been cancelled. Once everything is back in place, operations will commence.
Members should also be aware that New Windsor is also non-functional for the time being now that they find that change is not in the offing. Eastern staff are conducting an unpacking of their own.
In related news items, BVSers are poised for an intense dumpster diving effort once it is revealed exactly what assets the General Board will be disposing. And cheating buzzword bingo players everywhere are feeling foolish now that "relocation" never came up.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Bingo 2006 March
Buzzword Bingo
Bored of Board meetings? Take along Buzzword Bingo.
This time, there's an ethical dilemma involved. Do you take the bingo card that you're initially presented? Or do you click Reload until you get a card that includes the word "relocation"?
Bored of Board meetings? Take along Buzzword Bingo.
This time, there's an ethical dilemma involved. Do you take the bingo card that you're initially presented? Or do you click Reload until you get a card that includes the word "relocation"?
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Tempest in a Teacup
Just The Facts
A bit of a tempest in a teacup was brewed when the Dunker Journal posted an allegedly deceptive post about a conference at Manchester. While trusting and unwary surfers may have been misled, the DJ blogger has assured everyone that nothing has been posted but the facts; and perhaps the item was of interest to that blog's readers.
And a wide range of interests it is that the DJ blog caters to. The Lord only knows why DJ surfers are interested in the goings on of the Communist Party of Thailand. But discerning surfers were able to follow the provided links.
Much can be said about what is not said. Then again, another Dunker blogger points out that if it could have been said, then indeed, it was.
You must discern.
A bit of a tempest in a teacup was brewed when the Dunker Journal posted an allegedly deceptive post about a conference at Manchester. While trusting and unwary surfers may have been misled, the DJ blogger has assured everyone that nothing has been posted but the facts; and perhaps the item was of interest to that blog's readers.
And a wide range of interests it is that the DJ blog caters to. The Lord only knows why DJ surfers are interested in the goings on of the Communist Party of Thailand. But discerning surfers were able to follow the provided links.
Much can be said about what is not said. Then again, another Dunker blogger points out that if it could have been said, then indeed, it was.
You must discern.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Dunker INH Beam
Little Man Comes Up Big in Dunking Contest
While Americans across the country were watching the Winter Olympics or American Idol, many Brethren chose not to conform. Instead, they were tuning in to a different contest. Proving himself to be not just a dunker but, indeed, one of the best, Brother Beahm took home the title during the recent NBA All-Star Festivities.
While Americans across the country were watching the Winter Olympics or American Idol, many Brethren chose not to conform. Instead, they were tuning in to a different contest. Proving himself to be not just a dunker but, indeed, one of the best, Brother Beahm took home the title during the recent NBA All-Star Festivities.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Passion Messenger
In This Issue
- Merlyn Kettering: The Brethren Mr. Fixit
- Trade Negotiations: Annual Conference for Sudan Office and a Cartoon Bunny to be Named Later
- WWJD?
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
iCobnook Cookbook
iCob
Introducing the iCob, the mp3 player for plain folk.
Playing Music: Peacefully, Simply, Together
Please check out the Gospel Messenger Store.
Introducing the iCob, the mp3 player for plain folk.
Playing Music: Peacefully, Simply, Together
Please check out the Gospel Messenger Store.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Noffsinger Speech
Speaking at a recent event, Stanley Noffsinger related the following anecdote, "As I was coming in I felt a little tug at my jacket and I looked and there was a little girl maybe 8 or 10 in her first party dress and she said, 'Because of you I want to be General Secretary someday.' And I just - well, that didn't actually happen. Awwww, but it could have."
Speaking at a recent event, Stanley Noffsinger related the following anecdote, "As I was coming in I felt a little tug at my jacket and I looked and there was a little girl maybe 8 or 10 in her first party dress and she said, 'Because of you I want to be General Secretary someday.' And I just - well, that didn't actually happen. Awwww, but it could have."
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Cobdoku 1
Cobdoku
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains each of the nine Brethren related logos.
Bonus: Identify each of the logos.
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains each of the nine Brethren related logos.
Bonus: Identify each of the logos.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Hebron Delegation
Hebron Delegation Rocks the World
It's December 14, 2005, and the January 2006 co-sponsored On Earth Peace-Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation to Hebron isn't even yet packing their bags. However, Claire Evans, delegations coordinator for CPT, shared in a candid interview that "This group is going to rock the Middle East like it's never been rocked before."
Although she hasn't actually met many of the delegation members, Evans reports that twelve of the delegation's fifteen members are associated with the Church of the Brethren, "and we all know they kick ass -- Domination System ass, that is."
Bob Gross, co-director of On Earth Peace and delegation leader, was unavailable for comment.
Rumor confirmed: Delegation intends to end occupation
Sources close to the January Middle East Peace delegation sponsored by On Earth Peace and Christian Peacemaker Teams confirmed today that the real purpose of the trip is to end the occupation of Palestine and bring peace to the region and security to Israel. Delegation leader Bob Gross remains unavailable for comment, but the group's spiritual leader, known only as Subcomandante Hay-Soos, has advised the group to overcome evil with good and to love their enemies if they find any.
Further details will be forthcoming at a later date, according to un-named but authoritative sources.
It's December 14, 2005, and the January 2006 co-sponsored On Earth Peace-Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation to Hebron isn't even yet packing their bags. However, Claire Evans, delegations coordinator for CPT, shared in a candid interview that "This group is going to rock the Middle East like it's never been rocked before."
Although she hasn't actually met many of the delegation members, Evans reports that twelve of the delegation's fifteen members are associated with the Church of the Brethren, "and we all know they kick ass -- Domination System ass, that is."
Bob Gross, co-director of On Earth Peace and delegation leader, was unavailable for comment.
Rumor confirmed: Delegation intends to end occupation
Sources close to the January Middle East Peace delegation sponsored by On Earth Peace and Christian Peacemaker Teams confirmed today that the real purpose of the trip is to end the occupation of Palestine and bring peace to the region and security to Israel. Delegation leader Bob Gross remains unavailable for comment, but the group's spiritual leader, known only as Subcomandante Hay-Soos, has advised the group to overcome evil with good and to love their enemies if they find any.
Further details will be forthcoming at a later date, according to un-named but authoritative sources.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
How Low Can You Go?
Pope to Change D&D Cosmology
Vatican City (Reuters): The Pope is set to abolish the concept of Limbo, overturning a belief held by Dungeons & Dragons players since Gary Gygax first described the cosmology of the game in the Players Handbook in 1978.
Read more...
Vatican City (Reuters): The Pope is set to abolish the concept of Limbo, overturning a belief held by Dungeons & Dragons players since Gary Gygax first described the cosmology of the game in the Players Handbook in 1978.
Read more...
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Thursday, November 10, 2005
PlugNPray
New Software Titles from Brethren Press
Do you need to change religion to grab the chance for a career outlook? Are you going to work abroad? Getting a new customized god is easy with Plug'n'Pray. A new spirituality and a new respectability can be yours at a mouse click.
Religious Gurus from all over the world compiled these kits for you. Religious and cultural habits are fully illustrated: audio and video files will teach you everything about prayers, mortification and purification rituals, as well as ready to use supplications, special formulas and sacred functions.
A variety of Plug'n'Pray kits will soon be available through Brethren Press.
Do you need to change religion to grab the chance for a career outlook? Are you going to work abroad? Getting a new customized god is easy with Plug'n'Pray. A new spirituality and a new respectability can be yours at a mouse click.
Religious Gurus from all over the world compiled these kits for you. Religious and cultural habits are fully illustrated: audio and video files will teach you everything about prayers, mortification and purification rituals, as well as ready to use supplications, special formulas and sacred functions.
A variety of Plug'n'Pray kits will soon be available through Brethren Press.
Friday, October 28, 2005
UNSmurfs
Brethren Mission Delegation
A Church of the Brethren delegation, organized by the Church of the Brethren General Board's Brethren Witness office, heads to the Smurf Village next week. The delegation is taking with them a pile of Davey and Goliath videos and a spirit of understanding between Christian and Smurf cartoons.
The tentative schedule includes briefings by the Smurf Council of Churches and other leaders, visits in and around Smurf Village, and dialog with clergy and church members in the cities. They will also be delivering the 2,800-plus greeting cards created by Brethren congregations, groups, and individuals. More than 50 congregations sent cards.
The trip had been in the works long before the attack on the Smurf Village but has taken on added significance since then. The Church of the Brethren has also been active in providing emergency disaster assistance and hunger relief to the Smurf Village.
Also, during the recent General Board meetings, a new mission initiative has been created.
"We have affirmed a major new mission in the Smurf Village," said General Board chair Glenn Mitchell at board meetings Oct. 15-17 in Elgin, Ill. The new mission was approved in concept during a meeting focused on "Smurfed Together, Finely Woven: That Your Hearts May Be Encouraged," a theme taken from Colossians 2:1-3. Lively and intense worship experiences marked the meeting, with closing worship led in Smurf and English by board member Jaime Diaz, a pastor from Puerto Rico.
Smurf Mission Initiative:
The General Board accepted a proposal for a new Church of the Brethren mission initiative to the Smurf Village and approved it "as a concept for implementation and development." "There is new opportunity to walk with the Smurfs in a healing and reconciling way, and to smurf together to rebuild their land," said the proposal for the new mission.
A Church of the Brethren delegation, organized by the Church of the Brethren General Board's Brethren Witness office, heads to the Smurf Village next week. The delegation is taking with them a pile of Davey and Goliath videos and a spirit of understanding between Christian and Smurf cartoons.
The tentative schedule includes briefings by the Smurf Council of Churches and other leaders, visits in and around Smurf Village, and dialog with clergy and church members in the cities. They will also be delivering the 2,800-plus greeting cards created by Brethren congregations, groups, and individuals. More than 50 congregations sent cards.
The trip had been in the works long before the attack on the Smurf Village but has taken on added significance since then. The Church of the Brethren has also been active in providing emergency disaster assistance and hunger relief to the Smurf Village.Also, during the recent General Board meetings, a new mission initiative has been created.
"We have affirmed a major new mission in the Smurf Village," said General Board chair Glenn Mitchell at board meetings Oct. 15-17 in Elgin, Ill. The new mission was approved in concept during a meeting focused on "Smurfed Together, Finely Woven: That Your Hearts May Be Encouraged," a theme taken from Colossians 2:1-3. Lively and intense worship experiences marked the meeting, with closing worship led in Smurf and English by board member Jaime Diaz, a pastor from Puerto Rico.
Smurf Mission Initiative:
The General Board accepted a proposal for a new Church of the Brethren mission initiative to the Smurf Village and approved it "as a concept for implementation and development." "There is new opportunity to walk with the Smurfs in a healing and reconciling way, and to smurf together to rebuild their land," said the proposal for the new mission.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
HomeChurching
Home Churching Your Kids
A new trend in the religious upbringing of children is steadily becoming more prevalent within the Church of the Brethren. "Home-churching," the individual, family-based worship of Jesus Christ, is steadily gaining in popularity, as more parents seek an alternative to what they consider the overly humanist content of organized worship.
Home-churchers create their own services, emphasizing close readings of Old Testament books led by a parent, and sermons that often exceed two hours. Proponents of home-churching argue that, when handed down by family members, biblical teachings take on a more direct, personal meaning. Additionally, they say home-churching reinforces familial bonds.
A new trend in the religious upbringing of children is steadily becoming more prevalent within the Church of the Brethren. "Home-churching," the individual, family-based worship of Jesus Christ, is steadily gaining in popularity, as more parents seek an alternative to what they consider the overly humanist content of organized worship.
Home-churchers create their own services, emphasizing close readings of Old Testament books led by a parent, and sermons that often exceed two hours. Proponents of home-churching argue that, when handed down by family members, biblical teachings take on a more direct, personal meaning. Additionally, they say home-churching reinforces familial bonds.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Monday, October 10, 2005
Prayer to the God of all ages
OH, LORD…
...Whoever and wherever you may or may not be, God of all ages, races, creeds, colors, astrological coordinates and gender specifications; one God, or perhaps three, or maybe a whole lot more; God of many names, You know who You are, we pray that You, or at least a two-thirds majority of You, look down upon us with favor, forgive us the sins we have committed against You and your creation, or if it turns out we created You, forgive us for that.
Grant that we may grow in grace. Walk in wisdom and abide in love, hewing ever close to the examples set forth in the scriptures of world culture, which may or may not have been inspired by You or Someone like You.
Deliver us from ourselves, that we may know complete satisfaction or return the unused portion, and increase our faith in the hereafter and whatever's here after that, fulfilling the promise of redemption given to Your Chosen People and other people chosen as alternatives, that on the Day of Non-Judgementalism we may enter the gates of eternity and find at last, the true mates for all of our socks.
Amen and women, too.
...Whoever and wherever you may or may not be, God of all ages, races, creeds, colors, astrological coordinates and gender specifications; one God, or perhaps three, or maybe a whole lot more; God of many names, You know who You are, we pray that You, or at least a two-thirds majority of You, look down upon us with favor, forgive us the sins we have committed against You and your creation, or if it turns out we created You, forgive us for that.
Grant that we may grow in grace. Walk in wisdom and abide in love, hewing ever close to the examples set forth in the scriptures of world culture, which may or may not have been inspired by You or Someone like You.
Deliver us from ourselves, that we may know complete satisfaction or return the unused portion, and increase our faith in the hereafter and whatever's here after that, fulfilling the promise of redemption given to Your Chosen People and other people chosen as alternatives, that on the Day of Non-Judgementalism we may enter the gates of eternity and find at last, the true mates for all of our socks.
Amen and women, too.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
COBSF
Planet of the Love Feast"The planet around them was alien; the star-charts claimed it was Earth-type G, but semi-desert. The crash landing had been unfortunate. But the planet had seemed beautiful and inviting from space, even though they had landed in a desert, bordered by distant mountains. It would be an easy matter to get to more pleasant surroundings and begin a life on this virgin world.So begins "Planet of the Love Feast," the first novel of the new line of science fiction titles to be published by Brethren Press.
Darkness had fallen a few hours earlier and Jon Crayford built a campfire from the wood sections of the small space car that had brought them there.
He looked at his lone companion. He couldn't have made a better choice. She would surely be an inviting companion in the coming weeks, months and probably years. Righteous and pious looking; she was in the prime of life. At the time, though, there had been only one thought in mind: a holy sacrament. The escape from the Penal-Ship, which was taking him to Penalton Planet, had been impulsive, sparked by the unexpected trouble among the Ship's officers. He'd grabbed the first basin, towels, bread and wine near him.
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