Stefano's Prayers

Preachers have long built sermons around current events that people can relate to.   Jesus did it.  If  He were preaching today He would probably use TV shows to make a point.  I did some of that back in the days when I fancied myself some kind of  lay preacher. I did one about Star Trek and I used good old MacGyver, too.  I can't remember what  the point  was.  Maybe it didn't have one. There is no doubt that ponderings and pontifications about the "Days of Our Lives" soap opera have been sent forth from many a pulpit. I could do a pretty good one about prayer.  Evil Stefano promises God that if He will spare son Chad's life he will quit his dastardly ways. That cries for lots of Bible verses about prayer along with stories about prayers that work, prayers that don't and how we should think about prayer.  I would fix my preacher gaze on some poor fellow in the congregation and ask " Have you prayed Stefanos's prayer?  Did you make promises to God?  Did you keep those sacred vows?"  The poor guy would burst into tears of contrition. If it's a Protestant Church he would bolt for the door in search of the nearest  Catholic Edifice so he could confess to somebody.
I would end with a heart touching  poem about prayer. Oh what a prize winning sermon it would be. There could be a whole series of "Days" sermons. How about "The Sad sinful saga of Salem St. Luke's."  Every episode  is full of dreadful transgressions to be preached about.  Too bad that I am no longer interested in doing that. If any preacher type wants to pass these grand ideas off as your own, be my guest.  No credit needed.  I don't really want anybody to know where it came from. I'm in trouble if God doesn't have a sense of humor.

Where is big bad Father John these days

I can't find a current update on Father Corapi.  Is he back in the priest business, still riding his bike or what.  Looks like Comcast doesn't carry EWTN anymore so I'm out of touch with Catholic Stuff.  How fascinating that the Catholics are as divided between liberals and conservatives as they have always accused Protestant of being. Progressives love the cool new pope while the traditionalists don't quite know what to do.
Update:  Looks like Comcast does carry EWTN. I love those old Mother Angelica shows.

Dan Brown, no. James Patterson, yes

I have not read Dan Brown's books. I do not plan to.  I liked James  Patterson's early one, "Cradle and all." Virgin births, Fatima apparition.  Great story.  Fatima controversy continues today.  Fascinating.

Trouble at Salem St. Lukes

Days of our Lives writers are  still doing it...corruption in the church. Evil Kristen DiMira uses her wiles (translation:  body) and her money to do dreadful things to the Godly people of St. Luke's. Big scandal when it all comes out.  You could say that all hell will break loose.
Does anybody remember that Mother Teresa's detractors (everybody has them) accused her of financing her good works with tainted money from bad people who did bad things? 

Martin Luther, not MLK

Not far from me is the Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church.  I wonder how often the Pastor must explain that is is not named for MLK Jr.  He was not a Lutheran.  Actually, the original Martin Luther wasn't either.  But that's a thing for theologians to talk about.

NEW EVANGELISM??

I just heard that the church I used to go to had a guest speaker, an Environmental Evangelist.  I don't go there anymore.  Please, please don't invite me to your church because it preaches the "true gospel." I don't want to go there either.  And don't tell me about your favorite high powered mega-church preacher.  I would rather stay home and mumble crotchety cranky complaints about the sad state the churches have got themselves into. The only TV preacher I liked was Arthur Caliandro and he's dead.

NO BEER IN HEAVEN?

 My Canary Feathers blog (http://canfeath.blogspot.com) has lots of pictures but this is the first one to show up here.  I "borrowed" it, without permission,. from friend Rev. John Keener in  Montana.  John, is there a special place in hell for internet piracy? Or do we just go to the Federal Pen?
I looked over my shoulder as I posted the picture, fearing that there  might be some Methodist ghost watching me.  I was raised in that church back in the olden days when Methodists were (supposed to be)  teetotalers having nothing to with demon rum.
If I come to your town and visit Tiny's Tavern, might I find you hoisting a foamy one?