Cool under pressure

Thanks to Craig for this one:

How well do you know your Bible?

Test yourself here...

Art & Bible

I've just discovered this website:
Art & Bible
It is a huge repository of biblical art.

Am I My Keeper's Brother?

Who should be allowed to read the Bible?

As a former student of Philip Davies, I have a huge admiration for him. His persistent challenge to uncritical faith-based readings of the Bible is one which has gone deep inside me and doubtless informs my own teaching.
However...
I remain a person of faith who studies the Bible.
Is this an anachronism? I maintain not.
This discussion over at Cafe Apocalypsis is worth reading.
I particularly like this quote from Francis Watson:

“This rigidly-enforced distinction between the perspectives of insider and outsider is not observed in other academic disciplines in the humanities or in the social sciences. If it strictly enforced this distinction, biblical studies would be an anomaly. . . . In the study of music, there need be no tension between the technical analysis of a musical composition and its performance; music-lovers and practising [sic] musicians (insiders) are not compelled to adopt an exclusively ‘external’ approach to music as an academic discipline.”

Damn right!

Porpoise Driven Life

The 'Porpoise Driven Life' gag occurred to me a few years ago - along with (of course) the seven performing seals of Revelation! However, this video takes the joke to new dimensions... Spotted on Nigel Coles' blog.

Lily Allen - Him

I previously flagged up Lily's number one hit "The Fear". Well, here's another song from her latest album which offers a depth of commentary far beyond most pop acts. I'm starting to think (against my better judgment) that I might quite like Lily.





Would you please take me away from this place
I cannot bear to see the look upon your faces
And if there is some kind of god do you think he's pleased
When he looks down on us I wonder what he sees
Do you think he'd think the things we do are a waste of time
Maybe he'd think we are getting on just fine
Do you think he's skint or financially secure
And come election time I wonder who he'd vote for

Ever since he can remember people have died in his good name
Long before that September
Long before hijacking planes
He's lost the will he can't decide
He doesn't know who's right or wrong
But there's one thing that he's sure of this has been going on too long

Do you think he'd drive in his car without insurance
Now is he interesting or do you think he'd bore us
Do you think his favourite type of human is caucasian
Do you reckon he's ever been done for tax evasion

Do you think he's any good at remembering people's names
Do you think he's ever taken smack or cocaine
I don't imagine he's ever been suicidal
His favourite band is Creedence Clearwater Revival

Ever since he can remember people have died in his good name
Long before that September
Long before hijacking planes
He's lost the will he can't decide
He doesn't know who's right or wrong
But there's one thing that he's sure of this has been going on too long

Ever since he can remember people have died in his good name
Long before that September
Long before hijacking planes
He's lost the will he can't decide
He doesn't know who's right or wrong
But there's one thing that he's sure of this has been going on too long

Motorcycle Airbags

An interesting article from the BBC here.
Motorcyclists make up 1% of road users, but account for 20% of road fatalities.
A scary statistic for a biker like me...
So, would I buy an 'airbag jacket'? Yes, if I was buying a new jacket, but I've got a great Hein Gericke all-weather jacket which I've no plans to replace. And I suspect many other bikers are in the same boat.
So... another (and considerably cheaper) way of reducing the risk is to undergo training wtih the great I-AM!

Darwin, Evolution, Creation???

The Simpsons Apocalypse

In an entire episode of re-worked Bible stories, the final scene is fittingly apocalyptic.
The Apocalypse scene starts 20:40 into the episode, which you can watch here.

Marge: "Oh No! It's the Apocalypse! Bart, are you wearing clean underwear?"
Bart: "Not any more."
Lisa: "It's the rapture, and I never knew true love."
Homer: "And I never used those pizza coupons..."

With thanks to the Bellinghams