cheranne

actually The Devils Playground is a documentary on National Georgraphic today and it will explain itself. the other stuff is just silly.

If your ever in San Antonio Arneson River Theater, San Antonio, Texas Other reports | Comment on this report . The church: Arneson River Theater, San Antonio, Texas, USA. Denomination: Roman Catholic. The building: The Arneson River Theater is located out of doors on the Riverwalk, the prettiest urban river in America. The stage resembles an old limestone mission, complete with bells. An arched stone bridge connects the stage with the seating across the San Antonio river, where grassy stone benches rise like giant steps. The neighbourhood: The Riverwalk winds through downtown San Antonio like a long garden. It is heavily planted with flowering trees and shrubs and lined with shops, restaurants and hotels. The Arneson River Theater spans the river, next to the Little Rhein Steak House and La Villita, the city's oldest quarter and now a cute shopping/restaurant neighborhood, and also the site of the first mass celebrated in the city, in the 17th century. A few steps farther one finds bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The cast: Rev Jerry Brown, Rector-Elect of Assumption Seminary, assisted by a very large supporting cast. What was the name of the service? The 24th Annual Folklife Mass, sponsored by the Texas Catholic Conference on Community Ethnic Affairs. How full was the building? As predicted by the book of Acts, "together the crowd numbered about 120 persons". The theater area itself was about one quarter full. Did anyone welcome you personally? Yes, the usher who gave me a program said hello. Was your pew comfortable? No pews here – just stone-and-grass risers, which felt like... stone and grass. Let's just say that nature can be a cruel master. A number of people had plastic garbage bags to sit on, which seemed like an excellent idea to protect from dampness. How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere? I arrived just as the service was starting. The people seemed friendly but respectful, and there was a certain amount of bustling about with the costumed participants. What were the exact opening words of the service? "Good morning." What books did the congregation use during the service? None, just the service leaflet. What musical instruments were played? Many and varied. A small orchestra included violins and flutes and so forth; there were also bagpipes and recorded music. Did anything distract you? Oh yes. Occasionally a boatload of tourists would pass between the congregation and the celebrants; at one point the priest invited the passengers to pray with us. Also there was a brief splash of rain, which failed to dampen anyone's spirits. Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what? Casual and eclectic. About as eclectic as it's possible to get, in fact, and deliberately so since that was the whole point of the Mass. The service is an annual event in conjunction with the Texas Folklife Festival, which I'd visited the night before. Service participants included the Holy Redeemer liturgical dancers, the Santo Nino de Cebu choir, the Vietnamese Martyrs Center choir, and representatives from nearly 30 ethnic groups, including Canary Islanders and Alsatians, who all wore native costumes and brought their national flags up to the stage to open the service. The Native Americans brought a crooked stick wrapped in feathers. Languages used included Spanish, Gaelic, Czech, German, French, Tagalog, Flemish, and English. Exactly how long was the sermon? 18 minutes. On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher? The sermon gets a 10 because it was exactly right for the occasion. It drifted a bit, including some reminiscences about the presider's mother, but kept coming back to the central point. In a nutshell, what was the sermon about? "Although we come from many places and are different, in God we are all one." The priest noted that the reading (from Mark) calls us to proclaim the gospel to every creature. "We can't be lazy, and more than talking is needed. We must live what we proclaim," he said. Which part of the service was like being in heaven? Holding hands during the Lord's prayer. I had a Vietnamese man on my left and a woman in a dirndl on my right. This simple gesture emphasized the whole spirit of the service. And which part was like being in... er... the other place? The weather. The American Civil War general Philip Sheridan observed, "If I owned hell and Texas, I'd rent out Texas and live in hell." (A local newspaper responded by praising Sheridan's loyalty to his place of origin.) I've never been to hell (yet) but the climatic similarities are obvious. What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost? Nothing – I smiled at a few people and left. How would you describe the after-service coffee? Coffee? A hot beverage? Are you out of your mind? Anyway, there was no official post-service fellowship. But a large vanilla/mango ice-cream cone from Haagen-Dazs solved the refreshment problem nicely. Mmmmm. How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)? Since the service takes place only once a year, this is not possible. But I'd come back eagerly, especially if they held it someplace cooler, so I guess 10 in principle. Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian? Not just glad to be a Christian, but glad to be an American. Our coins bear the motto E pluribus unum, or "from many into one". For an hour and a half that motto was made real – we were one nation made of many peoples. This service celebrates the American ideal, which is that very different people from all over the world can come together and form a community. What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time? The liturgical dancers censing the altar before the service. I'll also remember the birds twittering during the consecration. One doesn't often hear birds in church.

Rock Me Like a Schwarzentruber (The Return of Amish Speed Metal) Fans of bhangra-tinged Amish speed metal will be wetting themselves at the long-anticipated, longer-feared reunion of Phil Harris & the Teflon Starfish. The new album is called "Bite the Hamster," and it's everything we thought might happen. After Phil's now-legendary onstage breakdown at Fjordfest '95 in Oslo, critics predicted the band would never perform together again, even in cages. But those who've followed the Starfish in their many permutations over the ensuing years will welcome Harris' butter-churning flat-brimmed black-hatted return. It's been a long road back for the one-time Flesh Monkey front man. After years of rehab and intensive neoJungian tetherball therapy following his incarceration, Phil began to resurrect his career early last year with a few well-received cameo appearances as the mysterious barn-raising cow tipper on the FOX reality show *Impotent Gigolos.* With the public's interest piqued, he followed those up with an only moderately impaired appearance at a Yuki & the Electric Panda Factory concert in Liverpool and, more notably, a magnificent (though severely impaired) cover of "Let the Sister Attack" on the recent tribute album to Japanese Indie band Bump of Chicken. Harris' vocals are still as rugged as a Lancaster County pine bench and are often compared to a young Buster Poindexter crossed with an old David Johansen with a bad cold and a limp. If anything, his voice has only gotten crunkier and spongier with the passing of time, not unlike a salt-glazed butter urn left out in the sun. No more the incoherent ramblings of a euthanized squirrel that characterize some of the early Starfish recordings. Combined with the near-psychotic drumming of Welsh legend Nic Sauvage, the muscular syncopation of bassist Gern "the Gern" Matthews, the gelatinous virtuosity of lead guitarist Thorax, all held together by the manic energy of Raj Cohen on the electric sitar, the 'Fish have created a Biblical manhood and layered wall of noise that "Zebra Fetish" could only hint at. Diehard fans might be disappointed by the infusion of Sufi lyrics into what had heretofore been a strictly Kabbalah outfit, but the 13-minute mock-rock operatic "Thus Spake Spinoza" will have even the most hardcore Fishheads bleeding from the eyeballs and reaching for the ginseng. Mazal Tov! In other music news, the Stuttering Weasels have fired their aromatherapist and will begin their world tour of Belgium in October. Oy vey!

The devils playground is on tonight on National Geographic. .10. Wet bonnet contest. 9. Chug maple syrup until you blow chunks. 8. Cram as many dudes as you can find into a buggy. 7. Buttermilk kegger. 6. Burn past the square dance on a seriously rad Clydesdale. 5. Sleep until 6 a.m. 4. Churn butter in the nude. 3. Consort with the witches off of the cover of a discarded "Which Witch?" game. 2. Squeeze cats to make the "wicky-wicky" sound like rap DJs. 1. Burn Thomas Edison in effigy.

Have a great birthday!

so,they are like little moonshinner monks huh! That is cute,all they need is a fancy race like Jack Daniels and they can get on Nascar. I haven't tried it yet. But I will.

Yes,being spiritually wounded is real,its like getting your leg broken and having it fixed but in a way that you can't walk(spiritually speaking)it has to be real broken and healed properly! I don't know about some people but my heart was broken,it took decades to get to a place where I felt free, see my thread Getting real in Army Life under about the way . I am now not into any organized religon but I have made my peace with God and enjoy my life now.

Dear Mister Satan, How are you? I am fine. I am at Bible Camp. They told us we have to write a letter today during Meditation Break to somebody we admire. I don't really have anything to ask you. I just want to see the look on Counselor Joe's face when he sees who I'm writing to. I thought of a joke for you! "Is it hot enough for you?" Ha ha! Your friend, Billy Dear Satan, How are you? I am fine. There's a really mean girl in my class named Michelle. She's always picking on me at recess and calling me ugly and stupid. Do you think you could get some of your demons to tie her to the monkey bars? And cover her with glue? And hit her in the face with sticks until her skin comes off? And set her on fire? And cut off her arms? I could send you a picture if you want. I have a new puppy named Wiggles. Love, Sally All Hail Satan, Ruler of the Underworld! I'm fourteen years old and I'm lead bass guitarist in a heavy metal band called Kings of Satan. I have worshipped you since I saw Fantasia when I was little. My room is practically a shrine to you, almost. I have all kinds of black t-shirts and posters with skulls and blood and stuff. I used to have a dead mouse from out by the gravel pit, but my mom threw it out. Our band is really great and we sound a lot like Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden when we play their songs. If you made me and my friends really popular and rich and famous, we could tour hotels all over the place. We would throw away those little Bibles you find in hotel rooms and put Kings of Satan CDs there instead. We played at a big school talent show last month, and we kicked hiney! Except the doofus announcer read our name as "Kings of Stan." My soul is yours for eternity. Would you please send me an autographed picture, and a girlfriend? Rock on! Crash Dear Satan: How are you? I am fine. I am twelve years old and I have a really serious problem. I have prayed and prayed and prayed about it, and I even went to see Benny Hinn with my problem, but either God isn't listening or God doesn't understand how important this is to me. So I am writing to you instead. Here is my problem. I lost an eye in a freak military ordnance accident when I was really little, and I have to wear an eye patch in school and on the playground. My vision is all messed up, and I always get picked last for baseball, touch football, and dodge ball. And my mom dresses me up as a pirate every Halloween, even when I try to tell her that I could be, like, a Borg or Ray Charles or something. If you could make my eye grow back, you can have all of my marbles, my slingshot, my X-Box, and the Victoria's Secret catalog I found in my brother's room. If you can't make my eye grow back, could you give me something cool instead, like maybe an extra arm or super strength or x-ray vision or a bubble gum recipe? Your pal, Bazooka Joe To Hoom It May Consern: Please excuze Albert from eturnal damm nation. He is not filling well. Albert's Mom

What would Jesus drive! I say a Ford Fiesta,I knew a Jesus that had one. "For centuries, theologians have squabbled over the type of transportation the Lord would use: Public transit or private car? Stick shift or automatic? A sport-utility vehicle roomy enough for all 12 apostles or an economy model? "One of Ostler's readers theorized that Jesus would tool around in an old Plymouth because "the Bible says God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden in a Fury.'' But our research department found several other scenarios. In Psalm 83, for example, the Almighty clearly owns a Pontiac and a Geo. The passage urges the Lord to "pursue your enemies with your Tempest and terrify them with your Storm." (We're not sure how a Geo Storm could be considered terrifying, unless it had those scary shooting flames painted on the sides.) Another scripture indicates that Yahweh favored Dodge pickup trucks. Moses' followers are warned not to go up a mountain until "the Ram's horn sounds a long blast." Some scholars insist that Jesus drove a Honda, but didn't like to talk about it. As proof, they cite a verse in St. John's gospel where Christ tells a crowd, "For I did not speak of my own Accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say.'" However, there is debate over whether the vehicle had bumper stickers such as "Save the Humans," "My other car is a flaming chariot" or "Honk if you love me." Meanwhile, Moses drove a British Triumph sports car, as evidenced by a Bible passage declaring that "the roar of Moses' Triumph is heard in the hills." Joshua drove a Triumph too, with a hole in its muffler: "Joshua's Triumph was heard throughout the land." And, following the Master's lead, the Apostles carpooled in a Honda: "The Apostles were in one Accord."

By Kyron Millard Issue #197, January/February 2005 Everybody knows that when Jesus isn't taking public transportation, he drives a nondescript beige four-door Honda Civic Hybrid while tooling around the inner city helping the poor. What many people don't know, however, is that God the Father can often be spotted cruising the dirt roads of the Colorado high country in his slightly rusty but still trusty pearl white 1976 Ford F-150 that He converted to biodiesel several years ago. With seating for three, a gun rack in the window that He uses to hold His fishing rods and a cooler behind the seat, the slightly anonymous truck still manages to make a statement. Having dropped the whole "prophet as a mouthpiece" idea some time ago, God has since employed the "tailgate covered with bumper stickers" method of public communication. A sampling of some more of God's favorite bumper stickers: Grape Juice? Oh, Evolve! Allah Allah, in come free! Put Christ back in Xmas? How 'bout dropping all the co-opted pagan imagery and start celebrating His real Birthday — Aug. 6! Warning: in case of rapture, I'll be just as surprised as you. Who died and made you God? Nietzche is dead. I practice catch and release. What happens in Vegas ... still gets back to Me. God: a dyslexic's best friend.

Speck,I am sorry that you had to go thru alll that,I hope the best for you and other people that had to go thru all that!

There once was a rock of ages where all puppets played on the stages Hyponotized the crowds singing out loud Live your life now..go out and go Wow and live your life in the cages

how about a Low Rider with curb finders and a bobble head dog in the back! just kidding,I never bought my kids a car,they had to get there own,and we only buy Chevy Trucks.

You would be better off going to bartending school and listening to all those Hey bartender stories!

He will be missed.

No I never write anything..I didn't think we could post names. I just find things to make people laugh it's like my hobbie! That is from a magazine on relgious satire called the wittenburg door.

General: I'm a pretty normal guy. I'm into sodomy, torture, fire, and damnation. I'm also a good listener. Music: I try to keep an open ear for everything – I'm a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll. I think my favorite record in recent years was Third Day's worship album; I closed my eyes, and pretended they were worshiping me – it was truly spectacular. I was really into that Bo Bice fellow from American Idol, but his debut record was crap. What was he thinking? God can have him. Movies: The Passion of the Christ. I'm kidding! I'm a real sucker for anything with Tom Cruise; I can't wait to tell him in person! I'm going to get him to star in my biopic. I also like Kirk Cameron – he really knows how to destroy an evangelical Christian movie. Television: Touched By an Angel reruns. What can I say? Once an angel, always an angel. I've also been enjoying the American version of The Office. That Steve Carrell is a hoot, and he really knows how to hit hard on the absurdity of office life. I used to like Arrested Development until it was canceled – someone is going to burn in hell for that, BTW. Books: The Da Vinci Code; I'm just glad that Dan Brown doesn't have any goods on me. The Five People You Meet In Heaven was a pretty cool idea, but it wasn't much of a page-turner. The New Yorker (mainly for the cartoons). Heroes: Arrogant Christians. They make my job so much easier. Oh, how I love 'em! Groups: GSA; Native Pride; Polish Hotties; I Love the 70's; People from New Hampshire; Singles & Looking; Hardcore Christians – Living Hardcore; I Heart My iPod. Status: Single and on fire. Here for: Networking, Serious Relationships, Friends. Orientation: Angels don't have orientations (even dark angels). Hometown: East of Eden. Body type: Soul-like. Religion: I pretty much worship myself. Smoke/Drink: I like to smoke people, but I try to stay away from cigarettes – it's a nasty addiction. Oh, and I'm a social drinker. Children: I'm more into mentoring. Occupation: King of darkness; dark angel of the night.

For me Way Productions was like a IV I carted around to make me more(Ephesian 6 likr)in The Way the music motivated me to do THE HAVING DONE ALL stand thing! At the time that was the purpose it served for me and for The Way International not to mention "bringing in the sheep and the moola!!!" But..I had NEVER heard Christian music before I got into The Way and after that lets put all newspapers. tv,reading materiel etc..for three weeks I was hooked! I probably would have left alot sooner if not for Way Productions and writing my own music with my best friend(my guitar)on the field.

Thats interesting waysider,I use to play sax and obe and I probably held my breath as an child when I was mad(my mom would say count all the vw bugs I would see if we were in the car in the city)hahahah..hmmmm maybe that is why I choose to play a woodwind instrument! When my kids were little we would go to a non denominational church(with pentecost roots) the praise and worship was fantastic and I could tolerate it(sometimes it was hard to tolerate any organized religon after being in The Way) anyhoo..my little boy was about 6yrs old and usually they were in their own childrens church but a few times we went into overtime (being a spirit filled church they do that and don't mind) A few were the regular"falling out in the spirit people" one was a very large large woman and he saw he still laying on the ground and the church was emptying out and his eyes got SO BIG and he said: mama is that lady gonna be okay? I said yes son she is just getting quiet with God. But he was really concerned! The rest of the congregation was so use to her falling out they just went on about their buisness.

ofcourse I was in Oklahoma City in 78,great bunch of people (susan b branch leader,dean/wanda r limb leader,took the pfal class with john r .only new the 28 wows there and I am not at liberty to say any more about where some are at.

I forgot to add this.I hope it works!

also,when I couldn't read my bible anymore I would listen to Twila Paris(this was back in the 80's but..it would comfort my spirit(you know when your in the transition of getting The Way Internationals wrong teaching out of your head, pour good (solid)stuff in your HEART. It was after many years of leaving,that I wanted to make my peace with God(and ofcourse God knew that!) But...music is powerful. I don't think The Way would have done as well as it did without Way Productions,music is Healing,yes even CR(Precious Lord)and ROA groups.

Okay...this is just something I gotta share. when ever I see TWI I think of an airline company! I know it is short of what it is but..seems like when I actually spell out THE WAY INTERNATIONAL i am also acknowledging to myself what it was "cult life" I could say WTFTWI!

Oh man sudo! That kinda scared me a little(I use to really like that song)