Come on now, Jon. Only blood relatives sit next to each other in church, anyway. You always have to leave at least one bottom’s width gap. It’s just what you do. You need somewhere to store the hymn book/newsletter/handbag…
…and when all you have left is single gaps, it’s a great way to alienate the late arriving couple who, after 15 years of exile, have finally plucked up the courage to enter the church building.
me and my uncle, years ago, were attending a little baptist church. every week people complained they couldn’t hear properly… some elderly people were very vocal even during the service… but still they refused to move nearer the front, the obvious solution in a half full church. so, one week, me and the uncle roped off the back pews so they were inaccessable and everybody had to move up.
needless to say, we got into trouble… daft i tell you… daft!
haha! no. it’s just a very bad drawing of the stoned guy with his arm around jesus. although how anyone was supposed to get that from my lousy effort i do not know!
in the old days I WAS the stoned guy. every sunday i wrestled with the moral dillema, which is worse? going to church stoned or not going to church cos you’re stoned? never occured to me back then that the problem was easily solved with option c; DON”T GET STONED!
I used to sneak in a little late, sit in the back and slip out a little early so i never had to actually speak to anyone or look anyone in the eye… all I can say is Thank God for his patience, mercy and grace!
I think Rowan Williams agrees with you. His Christmas message is about God not being ashamed to associate with us:
“So at Christmas, God shows that he is not ashamed to be with us. He has heard our cries of weakness and self-doubt and unhappy longing, he has seen our wanderings and anxieties, and he is not ashamed to be alongside us in this world, walking with us in our pilgrimage. And because he is content to walk with us, we are challenged about whose company we might be ashamed to share. So easily we decide that we would be ashamed to share the company of the sinful, the doubting or the outcast. But God, it seems, is not ashamed to be seen with such people.”
tom c. the other option would have been to keep getting stoned and stop going to church… obviously that would defeat the purpose of the story, but i thought it my duty to point out the options.
[...] or unloved. God did something amazing, he came to earth to let us know how much he cares. Jesus came to the marginalised and stood with us. He came to the outcasts and stood with us. The Archbishop of Canterbury puts [...]
This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I keep coming back to look at it, still keep laughing. There is something about “Preach it, brother” that is so funny. I can hear the tone. The question “hey man, where did you come from?” is both funny and beautiful. Very poignant.
Ohhhhh! I need stoned guys in the congregation to say, “Preach it, brother!” during my sermons.
Comment by Steve — December 15, 2007 @ 1:53 am
hahaha!
Comment by jonbirch — December 15, 2007 @ 2:59 am
Come on now, Jon. Only blood relatives sit next to each other in church, anyway. You always have to leave at least one bottom’s width gap. It’s just what you do. You need somewhere to store the hymn book/newsletter/handbag…
Comment by Carole — December 15, 2007 @ 9:34 am
…and when all you have left is single gaps, it’s a great way to alienate the late arriving couple who, after 15 years of exile, have finally plucked up the courage to enter the church building.
Comment by Carole — December 15, 2007 @ 9:37 am
I’m very impressed that people in this church sit in the front row… I thought those seats were just there for decoration?!?!
Comment by Amy — December 15, 2007 @ 9:40 am
me and my uncle, years ago, were attending a little baptist church. every week people complained they couldn’t hear properly… some elderly people were very vocal even during the service… but still they refused to move nearer the front, the obvious solution in a half full church. so, one week, me and the uncle roped off the back pews so they were inaccessable and everybody had to move up.
needless to say, we got into trouble… daft i tell you… daft!
Comment by jonbirch — December 15, 2007 @ 10:49 am
I wish someone would give me some encouragement or ask questions when I’m preaching!!
Oh yes indeedy do! Roping off pews is a hanging offense where I come from “uuur not frum round heere are you suuun?”
This has really made me smile. Thanks!
Comment by Robb — December 15, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
hey robb… maybe you need to get your congregation stoned pre service.
just a thought.
Comment by jonbirch — December 15, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
I wish I could stone one or two of them… or is that not what you meant?
Are we about to vrge into Bill Hicks territory? “why is there never a possitive drugs story in the news…”
Comment by Robb — December 15, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
He who is without sin?
Might be a bit of a problem finding someone who meets the criteria in your congregation to start the ball rolling, Robb, but I may be wrong!
Comment by Carole — December 15, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
Sorry, went for a humerous play on words.
Comment by Robb — December 16, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
Yeah, Robb, I was in tune with your humour, honest – but my response comes across all sanctimonious. Soz, mate – that wasn’t my intention.
Comment by Carole — December 16, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
Some people when stoned have visions of Jesus.
Sas x
Comment by Sarah — December 16, 2007 @ 11:18 pm
Carole, I like what you say (4).
Let’s try and make it not like that.
Sas x
Comment by Sarah — December 16, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
hi sas… when stoned, or when stoned? i’m confused now.
Comment by jonbirch — December 17, 2007 @ 12:59 am
’tis OK Carole. I figured it was that way.
But on a serious note, when the revolution comes I’m te only one qualified to throw stones
LOL!
Comment by Robb — December 17, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Jon – both!
Sas x
Comment by Sarah — December 17, 2007 @ 10:37 am
sas… thanks for clarifying!
robb… it’s good to know we have such a man of purity in our midst.
Comment by jonbirch — December 17, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Maybe it is just me or my dirty imagination, but do I see Jesus smoking a joint there?
Comment by Jani — December 17, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
haha! no. it’s just a very bad drawing of the stoned guy with his arm around jesus. although how anyone was supposed to get that from my lousy effort i do not know!
Comment by jonbirch — December 17, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
Thanks for clarifying that – I thought Jesus was wearing his hair tied back in a bun…
Comment by Carole — December 17, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
ooh… sooo cruel!
Comment by jonbirch — December 17, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
in the old days I WAS the stoned guy. every sunday i wrestled with the moral dillema, which is worse? going to church stoned or not going to church cos you’re stoned? never occured to me back then that the problem was easily solved with option c; DON”T GET STONED!
I used to sneak in a little late, sit in the back and slip out a little early so i never had to actually speak to anyone or look anyone in the eye… all I can say is Thank God for his patience, mercy and grace!
Comment by Tom C — December 17, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
I think Rowan Williams agrees with you. His Christmas message is about God not being ashamed to associate with us:
“So at Christmas, God shows that he is not ashamed to be with us. He has heard our cries of weakness and self-doubt and unhappy longing, he has seen our wanderings and anxieties, and he is not ashamed to be alongside us in this world, walking with us in our pilgrimage. And because he is content to walk with us, we are challenged about whose company we might be ashamed to share. So easily we decide that we would be ashamed to share the company of the sinful, the doubting or the outcast. But God, it seems, is not ashamed to be seen with such people.”
Read it all at http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2007/12/14/ACNS4353
Comment by David Keen — December 17, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
i love that man. i really do.
Comment by jonbirch — December 17, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
tom c. the other option would have been to keep getting stoned and stop going to church… obviously that would defeat the purpose of the story, but i thought it my duty to point out the options.
Comment by jonbirch — December 17, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
good to hear RW’s message – I so quickly disappear into a bog of self-disgust, it’s good to remind your self that God knows.
the thing is Sas, I could never guarantee it would be Jesus I’d see, especially as the world is scary enough clean.
Comment by subo — December 18, 2007 @ 8:00 am
[...] or unloved. God did something amazing, he came to earth to let us know how much he cares. Jesus came to the marginalised and stood with us. He came to the outcasts and stood with us. The Archbishop of Canterbury puts [...]
Pingback by Muffinmn0302’s Weblog — December 18, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
the grooms family are always late to everything – but you’d think for their son’s wedding!
Comment by su — December 19, 2007 @ 8:38 am
haha!
Comment by jonbirch — December 19, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Jon – I love Rowan too. He’s a top bloke.
Su – I know it don’t always happen; glad all’s OK now.
Su – Oihve!
Tom, bless you.
Blessings All,
Sas x
Comment by sarah — December 19, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
big ‘up’ for rowan!
Comment by jonbirch — December 19, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
Yeah!
Comment by Sarah — December 20, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I keep coming back to look at it, still keep laughing. There is something about “Preach it, brother” that is so funny. I can hear the tone. The question “hey man, where did you come from?” is both funny and beautiful. Very poignant.
Comment by Chris — March 19, 2008 @ 12:58 am
thanks chris.
Comment by jonbirch — March 19, 2008 @ 9:48 am