21.12.05

I laughed so hard I cried.


Chuck Norris
Originally uploaded by grb3000.
Thanks to KDNY for directing us to this one.

If I needed another reason to be protestant...


Santa Pope
Originally uploaded by grb3000.
We here at the Funky Presbyterian have made no efforts to conceal our affiliation with the protestant reformation and it's outworkings. We are regrettably still protesting aspects of Roman Catholicism and are eagerly awaiting it's reform according to scripture.

That is all just a way of saying that we are "Presbyterian" and if we're gonna be presbyterians, then dang it, we're gonna be good ones! We should be quick to add that we are not Catholic haters. No, quite the contrary. We love Christ's Church in every stream of history and tradition where it is embodied. That means we love the Roman Catholic Church and it's rich (though often misguided) history- especially the really early years. We are glad that our own confession of faith (The Westminster Standards) no longer refer to the Pope as an anti-Christ. We were heartened to find Pope Benedict a staunchly conservative Roman Theologian who understands and preserves the distinctions between Geneva, Rome, and Wheaton. Afterall, if you;re going to be a Catholic, then be a good one, right?

But, if I needed an additional reason to continue in my protest of Papery and all it's accoutrements, I've found it in this photograph. This is the pope. Wearing a Santa hat. And looking... well... looking... evil.

What on earth could possibly more frightening than an evil looking pope in a Santa hat? Every time I see it I scream like a little girl. AHHHHHHHHHH! I just looked at it. GO ahead. Look at it. Scroll up there and peek. AHHHHHHHHH! See what I mean? Looks like fire is about to shoot out his eyes. Man, is that creepy.

All I'm saying is that if something that looks like that comes down my chimney, I'll probably beat it with a stocking and run down the street in my pajamas. I'm gonna have nightmares tonight.

AHHHHHHHHHHH! sorry.

Not as happy as they seem?

Beautiful Photographs

Here is a link to photography I found particularly moving. I know nothing about them or the photographer. I don't know what else to say about them.

20.12.05

2005 Year of the Sufjan


sufjan poster
Originally uploaded by grb3000.
As regular readers will know, the Funky Presbyterian has made no attempt this year to conceal his enthusiasm for Mr. Stevens and his latest, greatest album: Illinoise. Now as the year draws to a close, we can surf the "internets" as G-dub would say, and find our favorite oddly monickered songsmith topping the lists of many critics lists. We should not be surprised.

Here's his place in the standings:

Metacritic: #1
Pitchfork: #1
Pop Matters: #2
Glide: # 4
NPR's All Songs Considered: #1
Rate Your Music: #1

This is not mention the untold number of independant music bloggers who rank him at the top and many more officaly publications where his work is in the top 10 for 2005. Buy it. Buy it now. Stop reading. Get up and go to the store and buy the album. Or... as I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU PEOPLE you can sign up for Emusic and choose this album as one of your 50 free downloads you get just for signing up (If you do, let me know before you do and I can get hooked up with 50 free tracks for referring you).

Click the link for a free track from the album. It's a song about a friend with cancer. Have the puffs plus handy.

Good job, Sufjan.

17.12.05

That we might become rich.


hark.
Originally uploaded by grb3000.
when we penetrate to the mysterious and marvelous primary purpose of the Christmas miracle, I think we must conclude that both Evangelists intend that we should understand before everything else that, by means of the virginal conception, "the pre-existant Word became flesh". Mary's virginal conception, in other words, was the means whereby God became man, the means whereby he who "was rich, for our sakes became poor, that through poverty, we might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9) - Robert L. Reymond

That we might become rich.


hark.
Originally uploaded by grb3000.
when we penetrate to the mysterious and marvelous primary purpose of the Christmas miracle, I think we must conclude that both Evangelists intend that we should understand before everything else that, by means of the virginal conception, "the pre-existant Word became flesh". Mary's virginal conception, in other words, was the means whereby God became man, the means whereby he who "was rich, for our sakes became poor, that through poverty, we might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9) - Robert L. Reymond

free sufjan christmas album

Check out Joe's blog here where he links to a free Sufjan tvens Christmas album. Merry Christmas.

13.12.05

Scientologist.


Beck
Originally uploaded by grb3000.
Why didn't I see this coming?

12.12.05

On Mondays


static
Originally uploaded by grb3000.
it sounds like this in my brain:
zshzshzshzshzshzshzshzshzsh...