Has America Changed God?

This author should have at least invested in a ten dollar microphone, the sound quality of this video that promotes his book makes him come across as amateurish, when this former editor of CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) Magazine is actually a somewhat accomplished author and speaker.

Has America changed God–that is the question that Matthew Paul Turner explores in his new book, Our Great Big American God: A Short History of Our Ever-growing Deity.

Americans love God. We stamp God on our money, our bumper stickers, and our bodies. With a church on nearly every street, it’s hard to deny our country’s deep connection with the divine.

Yet culture critic Matthew Paul Turner says that God didn’t just change America-America changed God. As a result, do we even recognize the “real” God?

Whip-smart and provocative, Turner explores the United States’ vast influence on God, told through an amazing true history of faith, politics, and evangelical pyrotechnics.

From Puritans to Pentecostals, from progressives to mega-pastors, Turner examines how American history and ideals transformed our perception of God. Fearless and funny, this is the definitive guide to the American experience of the Almighty-a story so bizarre, incredible, and entertaining that it could only be made in the U.S.A.

No matter what your political or religious affiliation, this book will challenge and delight with its razor sharp wit, social commentary, and savvy historical insight. It will make you reconsider the way you think about America as a “Christian nation,” and help you re-imagine a better future for God and country.

Ultimately, Turner dares to ask: Does God control the future of America-or is it the other way around?

Posted in Political, Spiritual | 1 Comment

Bag of Randomness

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  • What a bummer.  It turns out the Belgium version of Side Show Bob and Prince Harry was just too much for the U.S. soccer team.  The ride was fun while it lasted, and who would have thunk soccer would have captured the attention of so many fans.  I’m proud of our team, and will now forever call one of my favorite breakfast items “Freedom Waffles”.
  • AT&T Stadium had a much larger crowd than I expected, and it was cool seeing all the watch parties across the country.  It’s great seeing American’s unified inn something for once.  I wonder if the stadium, with free admission and parking, broke even or made money.  On one hand they had to pay staff for the event like security and utilities probably increased, but on the other hand I’m sure concessions were open as well as the pro shop.
  • I found it odd that the commenters starting to reference the American football movie Any Given Sunday during the broadcast.
  • It was interesting to see the two head coaches of each team actually embrace each other in a hug during play, and I kind of liked how the American coach just wore a polo shirt and sneakers when most other coaches were in a suit.
  • Tim Howard probably deserves his own post, if it wasn’t for him, we would have gotten bludgeoned:
    • Per @ESPNStatsInfo – #BEL scored on its 31st shot of the day to go up 1-0 in extra time. #USA has 32 shots in the entire tournament up to this moment.
    • Two great lines I read on Twitter about Howard: 1.) Tim Howard could have saved my parents’ marriage. 2.) I tried to follow Tim Howard on Twitter but he blocked me.
    • The guy has lots of tats and a PETA supporter
    • Tim Howard when he’s not on the field:
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  • Now that it’s July, I’m no longer an active deacon at my church as I’ve completed my three year commitment.  Usually when I serve in such a position at a church I end up leaving shortly thereafter, but not this time.  I’m left wondering if that’s maturity on my part or just how good the folks are at this church is, or both.
  • One of the most dangerous and ridiculous professional wrestling moves I’ve ever seen.
  • The Jacksonville Jaguars are bragging they now have a larger video board than the Cowboys and Texans.  Hey, if there’s one thing Jerry’s got right, it’s putting that vidja-board over the field for all to see, which is much better than having to crane your neck left or right to an endzone, such in the case for Houston or Jacksonville.  Advantage, Jerry.  Gosh, I loath giving Jerry credit for something.
  • Founding Father Alexander Hamilton founded the New York Post.
  • Buzzfeed – 34 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About “Breaking Bad” – I’m not sure how many people actually looked at the URL, but it gave me a giggle.  Usually with these Buzzfeed lists I know most of the stuff on them, but I was pleasantly surprised with what they dug up.
  • Speaking of ‘Breaking Bad’ – Better Call Saul will take place before, during and after Breaking Bad‏
  • Some folks may consider this real life Elsa and Anna a ‘Hey Now…’.
  • First look: Christian Bale as Moses in Ridley Scott’s ‘Exodus’
  • If you know anything about topography, then you’d appreciate this table.
  • Relentlessly farting dog rescued after being returned to shelter
  • I could never see those images in those Magic Eye posters.
Posted in Personal | 1 Comment

Cracking an Egg Underwater

I guess there should be a disclaimer that you have to be deep enough underwater for some pressure to have an effect.

Posted in Goofy | Comments Off on Cracking an Egg Underwater

Bag of Randomness

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  • Waffle House calls for a boycott of Belgian waffles to support U.S. soccer
  • For the first time in seven years, we went through June without a hundred degree day.
  • I think I’m the only male at our church that doesn’t own an Augusta National polo shirt.
  • It looks like a non-local writer came up with this headline for the Plano Star Courier.  There’s a big difference between U.S. Route 75 and Interstate 75.
  • I have a little free time at the moment and thought I could use it to nourish my mind by reading a book.  Instead, I just started HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’.  After the first episode I’m not sure what to think about it, I felt a bit overwhelmed with character introductions and keeping up with all the locations.  One line did stick with me however, “There is no word for “thank you” in Dothraki.”
  • WifeGeeding has no idea she does this because of her prosthetic eye, but she does that Jessica Rabbit look with her long hair covering her one eye quite often, and I think it’s sexy.
  • The next season of ‘Sherlock’ will be available in about a year-and-a-half, sometime around Christmas 2015.
  • I love women with imagination and a great sense of humor.  This mother created a website and documents her adventures with a cardboard cutout of Bradley Cooper. – MyLifeWithBradleyCooper.com.  However, if a guy did the same thing with a cardboard cutout of Kate Upton, he’d probably be labeled a perv.
  • An abandoned mall in Bangkok has been overtaken by fish
  • Dolly Parton performed at Glastonbury?
  • There’s some talk that this song ‘Shower‘ is the next ‘Call Me Maybe’.
  • Why I Left 60 Minutes – By Charles Lewis
  • The New Technology That Could Cut Public Restroom Wait Times By 50%
Posted in Personal | 2 Comments