Having Sex For God

Ken AshfordGodstuff, Sex/Morality/Family Values3 Comments

The New York Times is writing about this, so it's — you know — serious.

The story is about the Rev. Ed Young – author, a television host and the pastor of the evangelical Fellowship Church.

On the November 16 service, he urged the married couples in his congregation to have sex once a day.  As Young sees it, "congregational copulation" brings people closer to God, closer to their spouse, reduces the likelihood of adultery, and sets a loving example for children.

Now, right away, this would ruin sex for me.  But I'm not in that demographic, I guess.

He also preached this sermon in front of a bed.

Sometimes he reclined on the paisley coverlet while flipping through a Bible, emphasizing his point that it is time for the church to put God back in the bed.

Definitely ookey.

Well, more than a week later, it appears that the congregation — including the pastor himself — is struggling.

It is not always easy to devote time for your spouse, Pastor Young admitted. Just three days into the sex challenge he said he was so tired after getting up before dawn to talk about the importance of having more sex in marriage that he crashed on the bed around 8 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Mrs. Young tried to shake him awake, telling her husband, "Come on, it's the sex challenge." But Mr. Young murmured, "Let's just double up tomorrow," and went back to sleep.

Me, personally — I think the pastor has a screw loose:

This is not a gimmick or a publicity stunt, Mr. Young says. Just look at the sensuousness of the Song of Solomon, or Genesis: “two shall become one flesh,” or Corinthians: “do not deprive each other of sexual relations.” 

“For some reason the church has not talked about it, but we need to,” he said, speaking by telephone Friday night on his way to South Africa for a mission trip. There is no shame in marital sex, he added, “God thought it up, it was his idea.”

God thought up water, too.  But you don't see me drinking it to the point of drowning.

Look, I'm not a prude.  I'm not saying sex should be dirty.

I'm just saying it's better if it is.

Say What?

Ken AshfordRaceLeave a Comment

Sentence contained within the Chicago Tribune's article on the increases in hate incidents since Obama's election:

Even some white supremacist leaders who describe themselves as moderates say they are alarmed.

Yes, the moderate supremacist leaders.  Not to be confused with the conservative or liberal white supremacist leaders.

Macy’s Float Gets Rickrolled

Ken AshfordPopular Culture2 Comments

I think it was pre-planned though….

By the way, enjoy vintage photos of the Macy's Parade from days gone by here.

338--98323232-fp45=ot-232-=6;-=878=XROQDF-23234754758-8ot1lsi

And, apropos of nothing (except Thanksgiving), one of my favorite scenes from The West Wing:

and this is good, too….

Black Friday: Hazardous To Your Health

Ken AshfordWar On Christmas1 Comment

No kidding:

A worker died after being trampled and a woman miscarried when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Wal-Mart Friday morning, witnesses said.

The unidentified worker, employed as an overnight stock clerk, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the store opened at 5 a.m.

Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.

"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," saidJimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too…I literally had to fight people off my back."

Lost Space Shuttle Bag Is Visible From Earth

Ken AshfordScience & TechnologyLeave a Comment

Did you read a couple of days ago how that space shuttle astronaut was working outside the space station, and she lost a bag of tools?

Supposedly, if you know where to look, you can see the bag of tools orbiting the earth.  (I'm a little skeptical of this, but I read it in the newspaper, so it must be true.)  Not only that, some Canadian dude reportedly caught footage of it streaking across the night sky.

Turkey Lurkey Time

Ken AshfordTheatre, Youtube1 Comment

The original, from the 1968 Tony Award Show (with Donna McKechnie):

The same, as dissected by Seth Rudetsky:

Same song, but with different choreography, except for the wicked neck shit at the end, as performed by the University of Michigan musical theater majors:

The same, with the original choreography again, as done by the cast of "Camp":

This is also from "Camp", but it has nothing to do with turkeys:

BlahBlahfish

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

Blahblahfish takes some English, translates it to another language, and then back to English, so you can see what gets lost in translation.

Earlier today, I wrote a post entitled "Vatican Forgives Lennon".

Here's the same post, after a Blahblahfish translation from English to French to English:

The Vatican forgives Lennon

Nice, if not little one late. 

But in a paramount manner, I don't think what he said in import what which requires to forgive. 

When Lennon indicated that Beatles were larger than Jesus, Lennon wasn't, as the Vatican claimed this weekend, "boasting". It stated just a "fact" — perhaps justifiable then — but certainly a justifiable fact, with spirit, Beatles were more popular and "more" meant with the teenagers in American than Jesus. 

In my opinion, Lennon's assertion of it was true then. Why forgive someone which spoke a truth? 

P.S. Le white album is 40 years. "Revolution 9" hasn't developed on me, but the rest is always solid.

And English to Dutch to English:

Vatikaan forgive Len nun

Nice, if does not leave little. 

But what is still more important, I don't thinks he no matter what said that requires forgiving. 

Then Len nun said that Beatles were larger than Jesus, Len nun wasn't, as Vatikaan this weekend, "boasting". He explained only "fact" — perhaps questionable at the same time — but certain a portable fact was, to intelligence, Beatles populairder and "meant more" to teenagers in American then Jesus. 

In my opinion, Lennon's statement was true at the same time. Why does someone forgive who spoke a truth? 

P.S. The white album is 40 years old. "Revolution 9" hasn't which is grown on me, but the rest is still firm.

But the most f'ed up?  English to Icelandic to English:

Vatican Remit Lennon

Fine, maybe not a small late.

While further important, I don't think he some who need placable. 

When Lennon the Slá werewolf sizable while Man of Galilee Lennon alluvial with was avail, as though the Vatican demand this weekend, "conceit". He var righteous disturbance a "matter of fact" perhaps indefinite article into English tenable single river the while while certes a supportable matter of fact, to wit the Slá werewolf further popular and "meantime further" to teenager into American while Man of Galilee. 

INTO my view Lennon's thesis var true river the while. Why remit who var talk a truth?

P.S. White Album is 40 year warmed-over. "Revolution" hasn't river myself, while the rest hvíla á is yet sturdy.

Interesting how "The Beatles" somehow transforms into a slavic werewolf.

Amuse yourselves.

Where The Jobs Be At?

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit2 Comments

D15011 It's quite simple. 

All you have to do is think of every place in America where vaudevillians were born, and chances are it has made the CNN list for the 25 best cities to find a job.

Sioux Falls, Bismarck, Lincoln (Nebraska), Des Moines, Sioux City — they're all on the list.

Pocatello, Idaho, where Judy Garland was "born in a trunk"?  Yup, on the list.

It also helps if the city has an Indian name and some reference to water (waterfalls, rapids, etc.).

Depressing Economy Fact Of The Day

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & DeficitLeave a Comment

Almost half of the homes sold in the United States last month were foreclosure sales.

UPDATE:  Speaking of the economy, figures like 700 billion (which is the number given to the Bush bailout, as well as the additional bailout under Obama) cause one to turn white.

But, believe it or not, that was apparently just peanuts:

The U.S. government is prepared to provide more than $7.76 trillion on behalf of American taxpayers after guaranteeing $306 billion of Citigroup Inc. debt yesterday. The pledges, amounting to half the value of everything produced in the nation last year, are intended to rescue the financial system after the credit markets seized up 15 months ago.

The unprecedented pledge of funds includes $3.18 trillion already tapped by financial institutions in the biggest response to an economic emergency since the New Deal of the 1930s, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The commitment dwarfs the plan approved by lawmakers, the Treasury Department’s $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program.

7.76 trillion?

I really don't know much about economics.

All I know is that a lot of money is being given out — bailed out, as they say — and I'm told it is necessary.

All I know is that $7.76 trillion is the equivalent of about $25,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States.

All I know is that none of it is coming to me.

Rent: The Stage Musical

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

A DVD of the final live Broadway performance will be out February 9, 2009.

And there's yet another Rent tour.  But this one might be worth attending, even if you're getting a little sick of Rent: it stars original cast members Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal.  With heavy make-up and canes.  That starts in January 2009.  (Coming to Charlotte, January 27- February 1).

X-treme Sports

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

I've always wondered what makes a sport "extreme".

Here's a guy doing "Extreme Kite Snowboarding"

As far as I can tell, this "extreme sport" involves having a kite lift you up into the air, and then slamming you into the side of the mountain.  The snowboard attached to your feet, apparently, is what makes it "snowboarding", although as far as I can see, there really isn't much of that.