Whatchutalkinboutchris?

Are there people who annoy you to the point of hyper-ventilation? Have you ever sought to get revenge but were afraid of the consequences? Wait no longer! There is a way to get back at those pesky folks. Learn how to digitally propel a diametrically circular missile at your favorite arch-nemesis. Click here.

Break Dancin' Neighbor

Mr. Rogers was a ordained Presbyterian minister. He got into doing television because he thought it was so awful! He wanted to use his talents through the medium of television to make a good impact on people, especially children.

(By the way, I used to go by the alias Professor Pop and I can still do the backspin!)

A Measure of Routine

Bree makes its way into the noonday light. In one corner of the village one can hear the gallop of hooves: Horses of men and ponies of hobbits on the cobblestones. On another street musicians strum lyres and sing fables of a forgotten time. A colorful flag flaps in the strong northern breeze. It's colors, bright red and white bounce in the resplendent sun. A bell tolls. The day shifts into a measure of routine. A smell of lunchtime sausages fades from the afternoon as folks resume their chores. Bree is alive with the breath of stability. She is what she is.

Who Said That?

"Homesickness is a bit like seasickness. You don't know how awful it is unti you get it, and when you do, it hits you right in the top of the stomach and you want to die."

I will post the answer next week. (no cheating, googling, etc.)

About... Corn Dogs

A corn dog is a hot dog-type sandwich coated in cornbread batter and deep fried in hot oil, although some are baked. Almost all corn dogs are served on wooden sticks, although the original corn dog was not. (From Wikipedia)

Learn more about corn dogs by clicking here. Corn Dog

Who Is it?

Who is the the guy in the pictures? guess, Guess, GUESS!

I will post the answer next week.

Who Said That?

"We are not into partcular love or limited atonement. As a matter of fact we consider it heresy."

It was Jerry Falwell on April 13, 2007 at Liberty University.

Who Was It?

The picture was of William Wilberforce.

William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was a British politician, philanthropist, and abolitionist who led the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade. (from Wikipedia)

Whachutalkinboutchris...?

We do NOT have automobiles in Bree, but let's say you did live in a country where there existed such a thing... Have you ever wondered how you might get out of a car that is hanging over a cliff? Here is how you do it. click here

(If you live in Bree you can substitute this scenario with a horse and buggy, but one does have to remember-- this works only for men and not hobbits.)

Bricks and Bacon

Many folks in Bree have been curious about the conglomeration of bricks skewed underfoot just outside the door of the Prancing Pony. Locals of the establishment have tripped over them for months. This week the bricks will finally be put to good use. A new walk is being installed and will hopefully be finished soon. The work is hard, blisters form on hands and knees are raw. If it were not for the encouragement of his kind wife the owner would have already given up! However, when he finishes, there will be a good supper provided. There will be ale and more bacon than you can get at home!

The Literary Study Bible

I am very excited about the ESV Literary Study Bible that will be released on Sept. 7th! It will be unique in that it will approach the Bible as a work of literature. This will be the second Bible to be published in the English Standard Version from a Reformed perspective. It is edited by the father and son team of Leland and Philip Graham Ryken. Leland is an English scholar at Wheaton College. He is the writer of the tremendous little book called the Word of God in English. I found that book helpful in understanding the way scholars translate Bibles and also that some translations are much more superior when it comes to accuracy. His son Philip is senior pastor at the historic Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and has written many good books himself!

Stop Motion on a White Board

This wonderful little work of art is a bit of stop-motion photography drawn on a white board by a Swede. He goes by the name Kristopher Strom.

Time in a Bottle

Dedicated to those who lost their lives at Va. Tech.

Our Sun Still Shines

The streets of Bree are full this morning. A group of small children play with sticks. A local vendor sells spices. The aroma can catch a person off guard. There is a mixture of cummin, and old leather. A hint of garlic and pine needles wobbles across noses. It smells old yet familiar. The leaves on the trees have perked up considerably since the cold snap last week. From a cottage window a maroon and orange piece of clothing waves in the breeze. There is a bit of a nip in the air. It is a chill or thought of something sinister in a land far away. The sun still shines here. It's light warms our day in Bree. There is hope on the horizon.

Children of Hurin Released

The brand new book by J.R.R. Tolkien was released two days ago. I am eager to read it! A few reviews are out and so far they have all been VERY positive. They say it is somewhat easier to read than the Silmarillion. There is a dragon in the story and apparently he is quite nasty. Oh goody! Only downside, I have heard so far--not much mention of our furry footed friends, the Hobbits. (I wonder if there is any mention of Bree???)

If anyone has read it yet, please let me know what you think.

Morning in the Tropics

( Click on painting to see detail.)

Frederick Church was a artist from the Hudson River School of American landscape painters. He lived from 1826-1900.

Does this painting move you to glorify God? If so, in what ways? Do you enjoy it?

Keep in mind, this is a classic work, painted by a master artist. It is not on trial. You, the observer are the one being tested!

Painting by Frederick Church courtesy of National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., USA.

Who Said That?

"We are not into partcular love or limited atonement. As a matter of fact we consider it heresy."

I'll post the answer next week. No cheating..., Googling, etc.

Who Is It?

Who is in the picture? Come on now! Guess, guess, guess!

I'll post the answer next week.

Zach Wins! It Was Francis Schaeffer

Who said that? It was Francis Schaeffer.

"Each generation of the church in each setting has the responsibility of communicating the gospel in understandable terms, considering the language and thought-forms of that setting."

Francis A. Schaeffer (30 January 1912 – 15 May 1984), an American Evangelical theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor, is most famous for his writings and his establishment of the L'Abri community in Switzerland. Opposed to theological modernism, Schaeffer promoted an orthodox Protestant faith and a presuppositional approach to Christian apologetics, which he believed would answer the questions of the age. (from Wikipedia)

Cow Wind

The wind blows like a mad Nazgul in the town of Bree this blustery day! Debris rolling across the town square reminds one of a Gondorian New Year. If we had electricity in the town of Bree, we would have lost it hours ago. But we do have a plentiful supply of whale blubber to burn in our lamps no matter what conditions we may face. There is no such thing as a combustible engine yet in Middle-Earth. I suppose we will have to blame the unusual weather on bovine flatulence!

It Was Dr. RC Sproul

Who's in the picture?

Mark was right. It was Dr. RC Sproul!

Happy Anniversary Laura!

One of my top 10 favorite songs of all time! I post it and dedicate it to my wife Laura. Tomorrow is our 6th Anniversary!

A little about the performers:

In 1967 while performing onstage in Virginia, Tammi Terrell collapsed onstage in the arms of Marvin Gaye. She suffered from a brain tumour and died shortly afterwards. She was 22 years old.

Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his own father in April 1, 1984. He would have been 45 years old the following day. He is my favorite "singer" of all time. He was inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough is a beautiful song. I can barely listen to it without crying. It does not bring me sorrow, but it stirs something in me like joy. Yes, there was tragedy in the lives of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, but you can tell they were very much in love. I think it shows and you can hear it in their voices. I do not think two people could sing like that and it be so beautiful, if they were not in love. It has a simple charm that goes beyond explanation.

Happy Anniversary Laura. I love you!

Fashioning a New Sign

A new sign will be crafted for the much beloved Prancing Pony. Turns out our own farmer Wilhelm is quite talented when it comes to sign making. He will fashion it from a fallen tree harvested from Weathertop. He has sharpened his Schaeffer saw and is ready to begin work any day now.

The Weight

This is the The Band singing with the Staple Singers. I love this song and I particularly love this version.

Who Said That...?

"Each generation of the church in each setting has the responsibility of communicating the gospel in understandable terms, considering the language and thought-forms of that setting."

No cheating, (no using Google, etc.) I'll post the answer a week from today.

A Gloomy Day in Bree

Rain has fallen this chilly Bree morning. Gloom and fog seep through the village. Somewhere in the distance a horse neighs as he struggles to pull a cart with mud caked wheels. The smell of sogginess permeates the day. A raven, black as a pupil, alights in the eave of Adele's Vegetable Store. She'll be there until the down poor gives up. She shivers against the breeze and pulls her wings close to her body.

"...A Monk and a Mallet..."

I recently read this little book and found it concise, informative, and mildly humorous.

Writing for the lay person, Dr. Nichols traces important aspects of the Reformation including:

1. Martin Luther's posting of the 95 theses on the door at Wittenberg Castle.

2. Calvin's conversion and the impact of his ministry on the city of Geneva.

3. The relationship between Thomas Cramner and Henry VIII, (he doesn't leave out his wives!), and their influence on the Reformation in England.

4. He covers the Anabaptist movement, and reveals the roots of the Quakers, German Baptists, and Mennonites.

5. And of course he shows the impact of the Puritans. (I thought it was funny he titled the chapter on the Puritans "Men in Black." Dr. Nichol's writing cracked me up in several places throughout the book.)

He has included a lot of interesting pictures. You can see some of those pictures and learn more about this book and the Reformation at Dr. Nichol's website. http://www.monkandamallet.com/

Creator of B.C. Gone but Not Forgotten

Johnny Hart of the comic strip B.C. passed away this week. You can click on the comic to see a bigger picture.


copyright: Johnny Hart Originally Published on Sunday April 08, 2007

Mr. Muir Repairs Old Town Well

A cool, quiet wind blows across the late afternoon silence of mid-town Bree. The last of the winter hickory will burn this week in some homes. There is a smell of tree flowers in the air as Spring trots up the old Southern Road. Almost 700 folks, inhabit the village of Bree. There are travellers, strangers even, but not for long. Mr. Muir, the local black smith is fixing the old town well. It is hard to believe, after all these years, the old contraption can still supply the needs of a town this size! Most will drink ale and warm cider tonight, but there will be water available for cleaning pots and pans after a good hearty dinner.

Who Is It?

You have one week to guess who this is. I will publish the answer next Sunday night.

Norman Rockwell Sketch

I sketched this picture of Norman Rockwell some years ago. If you look real close you can tell it was drawn on the back of a receipt, or something like that. I like to draw on things like napkins and church bulletins, (yes I do read them too!) It is actually a sketch of a self portrait he did of himself. He is one of my favorite artists. He was so famous, his work became a phenomenon of pop culture and art critics did not, and still do not take him seriously. I think time will prove his talent.

Painting With Ketchup and Fries

This little video reminds me of the time I got caught taking food into a movie theatre. Well, don't condemn me....I know it was wrong, but the food is just so expensive, I could not afford it. That, and the fact that I had not had a Bar-b-Que sandwich in a long time!

Ship of Fools by World Party

Here is a test to see if I can upload a You tube video. I really liked this song as a teenager. I worked in a restaurant in downtown Roanoke. I remember this song playing on a big screen TV while I scraped half-eaten pizza into the trash. It brings back memories everytime I hear, "you're gonna' pay tomorrow."

Welcome to Bree

Hi

This is my new blog. I called it Blog at Bree because Bree was the town just outside the Shire. The town was a crossroads between what was normal and what was the beginning of a great adventure.