tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106412452011-11-18T11:28:07.664-06:00Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.comBlogger1261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-55648969876175699452011-11-18T11:28:00.000-06:002011-11-18T11:28:07.704-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWa31tWPAaY&feature=related

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-55865413047109953462011-11-18T09:16:00.001-06:002011-11-18T09:16:02.148-06:00

http://www.christandpopculture.com/featured/the-vampire-defanged-an-interview-with-susannah-clements/

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-51541947761938670372011-10-28T11:23:00.001-05:002011-10-28T11:28:17.956-05:00

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,Where your thoughts never think to wander,This beginning has been quietly forming,Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire,Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,Noticing how you willed yourself on,Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. It watched you play with the seduction of safetyAnd the gray

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-69998511871368358312011-09-08T20:28:00.000-05:002011-09-08T20:28:49.293-05:00

Have you ever heard of a papal bull?  It is a decree issued by the Pope.  When I heard about a papal bull in my high school world history class in the 1980's an image of a cartoon bull dressed in papal robes flashed into my mind.  That was the birth of The Papal Bull.  His story formed rather quickly in my imagination.  He was the Pope's special agent used to carry out missions of worldwide

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-22139271808115126322011-06-07T17:29:00.001-05:002011-06-07T18:09:56.800-05:00

Either character matters for all of us all of the time, or it doesn't.  Those are the only two options. Keep this in mind as we sample both current events and history.  (I am aware that those two rarely appear in the same room together). Currently, the media is enjoying the term Weinergate as if they were third graders who have learned a new swear word.  Press from all points of the political

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-300877216103891212011-06-06T04:55:00.003-05:002011-06-06T05:02:05.995-05:00

Dear Facebook: What happened to the crazy website who went to college and got everyone net-worked-up?  You were so rowdy and carefree in those early days.  Everyone was able to customize their profile.  You didn't take your forms and files so seriously.  If I wanted to tell the world that I was a snake-handler who studied glass-blowing at Cambridge University you went along with me.  You

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-33459377215442047082011-05-20T17:07:00.002-05:002011-05-22T08:43:03.841-05:00

If you are reading this post after May 21 then you didn't make the cut.  Either that or the world did not end as Harold Camping and the grassroots movement he organized predicted. I hate to say it, but I have been through this before.  I was in college the last time the end of the world was so certain.  I was part of a dorm study group and two of the fellows in that group were arguing with one

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-21196575227087765732011-04-18T16:39:00.000-05:002011-04-18T16:39:40.975-05:00

Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11 You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.  Likewise, you cannot have a resurrection without a death.  These are pretty decent Easter themed meditations, yes?  But it's not Easter yet.  Not yet.  We are too quick to jump to the happy ending and read the last chapter.  We want everything to resolve and be assured that everyone is just fine and they all

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-46840644438007790622010-11-10T08:49:00.002-06:002010-11-10T10:44:02.015-06:00

West-Ark’s 2011 missions budget is $273,153.  We hope to raise $225,000 of that on November 14th with a special missions contribution during worship.  (The remaining $48,000 comes from the regular weekly contribution.)  This amount is a 9.8% increase from last year’s goal ($248,736).  The mission budget goal is not ever-increasing, rather it represents the funds needed to meet the opportunities

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-67358719193756994102010-09-17T13:59:00.000-05:002010-09-17T14:07:05.593-05:00

Yesterday was a blessed day. I visited with an old friend. He and I do the same kind of work but in different settings. Still, we have some of the same vision and the same frustrations.It had been a long time since we got together for a meal, swapping stories, and prayer. I realize just how much I have missed. No matter what circumstances we are in, spirituality is always appropriate. I do

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-12069751933628984402010-09-14T16:50:00.000-05:002010-09-14T16:55:27.439-05:00

What happened to the blog? Maybe Facebook killed it. Who wants to read extended blog posts when it is easier to read nice little quips on the "walls" of friends and foes. Why bother with the electronic equivalent of a magazine when graffiti is more interesting?I have not written anything here in seven months.I have not written anything at the Magic Lantern Show in two years.Did anyone notice?

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-51210514153457455352010-02-14T17:07:00.000-06:002010-02-14T17:18:05.202-06:00

I like to think that I know obscure music. Strange blendings of genres are may favorite. So why is it that I am just now hearing about Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester?I love it that Max and his band have attempted to create the dance hall music of the Weimar Republic days. But they will tackle any music. My favorites are their covers of hits from the 80's, 90's and 2000's. In 2001 and

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-14239077048777267302009-10-29T23:14:00.000-05:002009-10-29T23:31:59.753-05:00

For some reason, Halloween is now the holiday when women dress like prostitutes and men dress up as something scatological or alcohol related. A free country isn't always a righteous country and adults act like morons with or without costumes. I accept this. But something is horribly wrong when costumes designed for teen and tween girls are marketed with the label "Wicked Innocence." What in

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-18148340785553146722009-10-15T15:46:00.000-05:002009-10-15T15:55:11.167-05:00

All day the major news networks and even the Weather Channel have been tracking the story of the child who supposedly floated away in a baloon. I think we will quickly learn that he was never in it. I do hope the child is well.However, it made me think of a comment by Walter Cronkite that describes so well the national media's addiction to celebrity, sensationalism, and useless news. I wonder

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-22830347636475326132009-09-29T07:59:00.000-05:002009-09-29T08:09:11.788-05:00

I just read the first draft of David Chadwell's bulletin article for this week. David has done a great job of chronicling the events of Sept. 27. He sums up what we all experienced so very well in a single phrase: "We felt His life in us." Throughout Sunday and Monday I have had members of the West-Ark congregation comment that they believe something especially good happened among us. Over and

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-54197227680730429742009-08-08T23:49:00.000-05:002009-08-09T00:03:25.790-05:00

I feel like Orson Wells. He had a little fun with a radio prank back on Halloween in 1938 acting as if Martians had landed and everyone took him seriously. He probably had no idea how convincing he could be.I was sick recently and claimed that I had Swine Flu -- it is the disease d'jour of course. Besides, who wants to have something run of the mill like the "common" cold when you can claim to

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-28725118649999883982009-08-02T22:42:00.000-05:002009-08-02T22:46:28.442-05:00

Psalm 22We believe that God’s mission has a church. We believe that this congregation, this church is part of God’s mission. That mission unfolds here in many ways, but if we had to name four ways that it is being worked out on a large scale then I would say, as we’ve said before, it is Campus, Kids, Healing, and Hope.It is this last one that I want to call your attention to: Hope. What does

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-3233719556732151792009-08-02T22:26:00.000-05:002009-08-02T22:41:54.523-05:00

Lessons From A Tool BagThank you for your prayers and encouragement that made it possible for me to join the group that went to Mexico to work on a church building for the congregation in Santa Monica, just outside Monterrey.· These lessons grow out of my mission trip in Mexico – (I packed my yellow tool bag and got busy with the work, not quite knowing exactly what we would be doing, but

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-88286381708728423302009-07-26T16:25:00.000-05:002009-07-26T16:30:15.290-05:00

I love this sort of thing. Pasted below is a letter from the Paradigm Research Group. They requesting that Obama tell the truth about the extraterrestials on earth. What's even more interesting is where I found this letter. It is posted on the website of Bob Welch, former member of Fleetwood Mac and singer of hits such as Ebony Eyes and Sentimental Lady. Open Letter to Barack Obama from:

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-35073883452179686832009-07-10T18:29:00.000-05:002009-07-10T19:12:53.949-05:00

John Brummet reviewed the new Sasha Baron Cohen film "Bruno" in his column this week. Pasted below is a blog I wrote one year ago when the news was first released that the Beer and Brawl crowd in Fort Smith had been Punk'd. In response to my own blog below on point #1: Cohen may be a little more of a household name now but he is still known through his characters. I wonder if the American viewing

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-27020257715857703712009-06-27T19:08:00.000-05:002009-06-27T19:11:17.330-05:00

Make no mistake:if he rose at allIt was as His body;If the cell's dissolution did not reverse, the molecule reknit,The amino acids rekindle,The Church will fall.It was not as the flowers,Each soft spring recurrent;It was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled eyes of theEleven apostles;It was as His flesh; ours.The same hinged thumbs and toesThe same valved heartThat--pierced--died, withered

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-24923041999185259672009-06-06T15:29:00.000-05:002009-06-06T15:44:11.017-05:00

The king of reality television is Survivor. It was one of the first and it remains one of the most popular. One could argue that it created the genre. For nine years American audiences have watched players outwit, outlast, and outplay one another in a game in which people are “voted off the island.” Double-crosses, alliances, tricks and strategies are standard in getting rid of others so that

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-34091617040983939452009-04-30T22:02:00.000-05:002009-04-30T23:24:01.715-05:00

My 15-year-old son has a plan for the coming Zombie Apocalypse. I asked him why everyone is discussing Zombies so much. He named it: "People are bored." Well said. Still, here's my contribution to the problem that could be potentially be more important than swine flu . . .1. Name one FICTIONAL character you'd most like to be with when zombies attack.Popeye. I'd have to try to beat up as

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-71628345648672584352009-04-30T20:55:00.000-05:002009-04-30T21:03:41.346-05:00

"Harry Potter and" combined with various Christian references that when combined actually sound like they could be genuine J. K. Rowling novels:1. Harry Potter and the Apostles' Creed2. Harry Potter and the Archbishop of Canterbury3. Harry Potter and the Deacon's Bench4. Harry Potter and the Rose of Sharon5. Harry Potter and the Shape Note Hymnal6. Harry Potter and the Emergent Church7. Harry

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-60875587368716385192009-04-12T15:27:00.000-05:002009-04-12T15:53:44.826-05:00

I don't claim to be a mystic, but I felt deep in my bones that Capt. Richard Phillips would be rescued today. Perhaps it just seemed perfectly poetic that the rescue of a man who sacrificed his life for others should take place on Easter.The convergence of this breaking news drama with Holy Week and Easter Sunday should not be missed. In the gospel, Christ sacrificed his life for the sake of

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-77275699474611459742009-02-09T10:13:00.000-06:002009-02-09T16:12:49.758-06:00

1. One of the earliest Christian missionaries in Iceland was Thangbrandr. He arrived in Iceland in 997 with the backing of the King of Norway. Thangbrandr wasn't too successful. He got into fights with the pagans. Thangbrandr killed a berzerker and a poet who wrote derogatory poems about him. His enemies used swords, but Thangbrandr killed his foes with a crucifix. A sorcerer cast a spell

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-33762034525639652852009-02-08T23:10:00.000-06:002009-02-08T23:18:35.084-06:00

There's a part of me that finds this Facebook meme interesting. It's interesting to read so many random facts about friends and acquaintances. I know that some folks would never bring these topics up in conversation. I like that part of it. I want to hear the stories. You people are good storytellers and you may not even know it.However, I feel like something is missing. Where's the time

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-6621638995448248182008-12-25T12:04:00.000-06:002008-12-25T12:09:04.625-06:00

[Note: This is a copy of the editorial in Northwest Arkansas Times for Dec. 24, 2008]Far too few people today know what it really feels like to be inspired by human ingenuity, to be awed by the sheer chance of existence and to actually see God's hand before one's eyes, all at the same moment. Forty years ago tonight, with the nation at war and old realities falling by the wayside, millions paused

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-39347381547546196112008-10-27T15:16:00.001-05:002008-10-30T10:56:00.697-05:00

Searching the archives of Presidential images in the continuing quest to find the first consistent portraiture of a "smiling" Commander-in-Chief . . .Part 2Woodrow WilsonPresident Wilson is the bitterest looking President of the Twentieth Century. Maybe the bitterest looking president ever. If Charles Dickens had written a story about a grumpy president, he would look like Wilson. Notice the

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-86426354883718503552008-10-27T14:21:00.000-05:002008-12-09T18:36:47.670-06:00

I have a ruler in my desk that features the portraits of all the Presidents of the USA. The Presidents of the late 20th century seem to be much happier than the grim-faced leaders of previous decades. Not really sure why since there seems to be as many worries now as then. This casual observation made me wonder "At what point in history did Presidents start smiling?"I cannot fix a watershed

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-5389802006882877142008-10-15T16:36:00.000-05:002008-10-15T16:46:39.936-05:00

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-13250566790394078102008-08-23T08:32:00.000-05:002008-08-23T08:59:49.772-05:00

Peace is a rare thing in our world. Russia and Georgia have been in the throes of armed conflict. Some wonder if this singals the return of the Soviet Union and the Cold War. Conflict in the Middle East continues. The surge in Iraq may be working, but it remains a nation in need of being rebuilt. The United States has been at war with terror since 9/11. There are other breaches of peace not

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-48995336660399676382008-08-16T21:37:00.000-05:002008-08-16T23:08:22.588-05:00

Have you heard? Dara Torres is 41-years-old! I don't believe it! She's 41 and has a kid and she's winning medals and swimming in the Olympics at the age of 41.But she isn't supposed to do that, becuase she's like 41! That's really, really old. I'm not even that old. I'm only 40. But Dara Torres is 41. She could be the mother of all those other women she's competing against. In fact she's old

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-90218359381594462512008-08-03T22:16:00.000-05:002008-12-09T18:36:48.276-06:00

When did vampires and werewolves become sexy teenagers in love? I haven't read Stephanie Myers books. She's probably a great writer and I won't diminish her popularity, but please permit me to be clueless and just not get it.Dracula and the Wolfman are monsters. They were the primo movie villains. Wolfman was a poor schmoe who ended up with a curse. Dracula on the other hand was King of the

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-2187093912846863132008-07-08T22:55:00.000-05:002008-12-09T18:36:48.291-06:00

Fort Smith is in the news as the location of "Borat's" latest prank. We've been Punk'd. (I know, that's Ashton Kutcher, but it makes a point). If you want details, read the full report at The Smoking Gun. This has made the news worldwide.The last time Fort Smith was in the news on this scale was two summers ago when a rainbow appeared in the sky with lightning. A different kind of rainbow and

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-35949681501178388612008-06-30T23:27:00.000-05:002008-12-09T18:36:48.528-06:00

The Bishop of Durham, N. T. Wright, appeared on "The Colbert Report" tonight. I am a fan of Wright and I appreciate his work. His interview with Stephen Colbert (who I remind myself is the voice of Prof. Impossible on the Venture Brothers) is on the subject of heaven and the resurrection.Here's a popular scholar and high ranking clergyman in the Church of England chatting about the matter of

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-65366604817697787442008-05-05T14:57:00.000-05:002008-12-09T18:36:48.823-06:00

The summer movies are off to a good start. I revived my work over at the Magic Lantern Show with an entry about Iron ManHere's the link http://magiclanternshow.blogspot.com/This summer, as a part of our VBS, Shane Hughes and I will feature a class for adults on Gospel and Culture. It is very similar to the goal of the Magic Lantern Show.Right now we are thinking about four discussions: 1) Rap and

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-31743456600225743092007-10-25T15:23:00.001-05:002008-12-09T18:36:49.150-06:00

After my senior year of high school I was ready to get my first bona fide car. I had driven a Chevy Vega that we bought from my grandparents for a dollar. I had driven my folks cars, the Buick Skylark and the Chrysler LeBaron; but now it was time for me to take the wheel of my own transport. I was going to be driving to college every day and it did not make much sense to continue to be a "renter.

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-22223154143381051832007-09-24T20:29:00.000-05:002008-12-09T18:36:49.368-06:00

A couple of friends have asked me about a statement on my Facebook profile. I had never listed my religious views until recently. I avoided stating my religious views because I find it difficult to condense my religious views into a single word or two. I could fill in the blank with "Christian." That would probably be enough, but Christian is quite a broad category and others might want to ask

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-75039493513018775322007-09-10T08:30:00.000-05:002007-09-10T08:32:34.180-05:00

The following article is taken from the Granbury Church of Christ website. John Knox is a good friend who survived the Doctor of Ministry program with me. His wife Jan is a gifted writer and teacher. Her article inspires us to think about the people who taught us and the people we teach.A Teachable Moment Jan KnoxThe miles seemed to fly beneath the wheels of the small, white car as mother and son

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-66976665347305967582007-07-12T22:39:00.000-05:002008-12-09T18:36:49.629-06:00

I just posted a backlog of articles I wrote about some of this summer's movies. More are on the way. Check out the companion blog - The Magic Lantern Show.See you at the movies.

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-79009949292488830132007-06-26T11:53:00.000-05:002007-06-26T12:14:14.087-05:00

I recently purchased a Bible. I wish I had chosen one that included the Apocrypha. I would love to have it at hand for no other reason than to read the Wisdom of Ben Sirach. There is much in Ben Sirach that could help us live as noble people.In my studies of Ephesians 5 today I was trying to unravel the meaning of the word rebuke (vss. 11-13). I am concerned that "rebuking" is too often

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-54348491514893325882007-04-25T15:52:00.000-05:002007-04-25T16:04:05.444-05:00

This Sunday is Fifth Sunday Family Night at West-Ark. I would really like to see this event become community discussion about our life together as believers. Typically, we give attention to the various needs and activities of the ministries within this church. I am all for that. I do want that to continue. Yet, I am eager to find a way to connect all of this with our faith and theology. My

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-66952815671709974842007-04-19T19:34:00.000-05:002007-04-19T19:48:13.077-05:00

Krista Tippett writes the following on the Speaking of Faith webpage . . .As perpetually horrified as we are of terror and violence, we are riveted by them and we let them define our take on reality. The communications miracles of the 21st century make wondrous connections possible, and yet they also bring us images of horror with an immediacy and vividness that are debilitating. Violent images

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-59336653506163961982007-03-13T11:42:00.000-05:002007-03-13T11:54:42.917-05:00

I found an intriguing blog today. It's all about a man with three kids, a red tractor, and 170 acres. There is no intense drama or gripping plot to Joel Comb's Life on a Farm, in fact it is mundane in the real sense of the word - it's earthy. Joel sets out to tell us where our food comes from. It doesn't come from the back room of the grocery store or the magic happy place where bacon is

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-14568974527786286882007-03-08T09:07:00.000-06:002007-03-08T10:29:19.080-06:00

While following the various NCAA conference championships in preparation for March Madness, I noticed how many of the NCAA conferences are "big." Six conferences make this claim: the Big East, the Big West, the Big South, the Big Ten, the Big Twelve, and the Big Sky. My question is, "What really makes them so big?"I will begin my examination with the Big Sky conference. This conference can

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-50805171741236037862007-03-06T17:42:00.000-06:002008-12-09T18:36:49.688-06:00

Now it's time to play the game sensation that's sweeping the nation! Read the name and ask . . .Is it a Groucho Marx movie role or a bogus Spambot E-mail name?1. Tibias Q. Gently2. Emile J. Keck3. Rufus T. Firefly4. Figueroa O. Emery5. Kriebel H. Stetson6. S. Quentin Quale7. Capt. Zongo Savimbi8. Gentry Q. Seascapes9. Hugo Z. Hackenbush10. Auditor U. Crockpot11. Otis B. Driftwood12. Lionel Q.

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-20674275179989340712007-02-27T10:15:00.000-06:002008-12-09T18:36:49.854-06:00

Let's stick with our sports theme . . .Reasons Nick Saban left the Miami Dolphins to coach Alabama’s Crimson Tide:1. He prefers college coaching to pro coaching.2. Thirty-two million dollars.3. The chance to affect young people’s lives.4. Thirty-two million dollars.5. His heart wasn’t in coaching the Dolphins.6. Thirty-two million dollars.7. He and his family really like Alabama.8. Thirty-two

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-48102825478368273502007-02-24T17:00:00.000-06:002008-12-09T18:36:50.035-06:00

I just caught the end of the OU vs. Texas basketball game on ESPN U. That was a spirited game. I admit I was pulling for OU since I now live on the Oklahoma border and also because the Arkansas-Texas rivalry is ingrained in my Southwest Conference Athletic DNA. Texas earned their win however and I salute them. It was a good game; and now I am watching the final seconds of LSU vs. Florida. I

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-60219608242584428062007-02-21T17:56:00.000-06:002008-12-09T18:36:50.188-06:00

See if you can guess which of these are Italian bicycle companies and which are Chico Marx movie roles?1. Corbaccio2. Ravelli3. Bianchi4. Panello5. Colnago6. Pirelli7. Cinelli8. Binelli9. Fiorello10. Bellesi11. Baravelli12. PinarelloAnswers:Itallian Bicycle Companies: 3, 5, 7, 10, 12Chico Marx Movie Roles: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-82469448025148935292007-02-14T17:22:00.000-06:002007-02-14T17:28:13.393-06:00

In honor of the dark side of Valentine's Day, that is break-ups, I submit the following take on the most cosmic break-up of the previous year.Ways that the International Astronomical Union might have broken the news to Pluto that it was no longer a planet.1. It’s not you, you’re a fine planet and we are sure you’ll meet another lucky Union someday.2. Let’s be honest, you are not the planet we

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-4197779067921696602007-01-18T08:31:00.000-06:002007-01-18T08:32:24.554-06:00

What is the Gospel? It is forgiveness when I have been foolish. It is clemency when I have been conceited. It is mercy when I have been murderous. It is God’s protection against my self-preservation. It is God doing the impossible and in doing so he makes much more possible.What is the Gospel? It is the shocking news that God changes what we know. It is hope for childless parents. It is

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-37385977711462234942007-01-17T17:49:00.000-06:002007-01-17T17:59:27.374-06:00

I offer some handy new phrases in the midst of the University of Arkansas football soap opera.Recalling how the media often refers the news about celebrity couples with a single name such as "Brangelina" and "Bennifer," I recommend that "Gustain" might be used to describe the latest regarding our now departed coach and quarterback. We need a similar name for our head coach and athletic director

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-37304471411411524622007-01-10T08:54:00.000-06:002007-01-10T09:28:17.004-06:00

Copied below is an article from the Wall Street Journal that analyzes the nature and attitude of some contemporary atheists. See my comments following . . .Without God, Gall Is PermittedBy SAM SCHULMANWall Street JournalJanuary 5, 2007; Page W11When the very first population of atheists roamed the earth in the Victorian age -- brought to life by Lyell's "Principles of Geology," Darwin's "Origin

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-3025654685472092522007-01-03T12:23:00.000-06:002007-01-03T12:32:22.967-06:00

As long as we are stuck with the ineffective Bowl Championship Series and have no hope of a playoff I say we at least add one more bowl game to the series. This Bowl would go to the teams with big goose eggs on the W side of the column. For instance, this year it would allow Duke (0-12) and Florida International (0-12) to match up.Think of the wonder of it! Everyone loves the underdog, so why not

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1166213424194720282006-12-15T14:01:00.000-06:002006-12-15T14:10:24.206-06:00

This is the time of year when all parents have an ally in establishing their authority. I speak of course of the mysterious and ancient Northman in his scarlet wizard’s cap who descends upon us flying through the skies from his cold and barren keep in the land of eternal night. He arrives swiftly and unseen; no barrier, no bolt or lock can hinder him in his mission to dispense justice. If you are

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1165259849570170712006-12-04T13:08:00.000-06:002006-12-04T13:17:29.596-06:00

Scott Smith from the Southwest Times Record called me last week to get my take on "The Nativity." It's the latest spiritually-themed movie out of Hollywood. I wanted to post his article here but I cannot seem to find it online. If I can get an electronic version of the article and I am allowed to post it I will do so. Otherwise, you'll just have to settle for the printed edition of the SWTR

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1162387369600679762006-11-01T07:21:00.000-06:002006-11-01T07:22:49.613-06:00

I am weary of the assertion that Halloween is sinful. With each year I grow more impatient with the protest the Halloween is "Hell's Holiday" or the "Devil's Night." It is naive and inconsistent to single out Halloween as the troublesome holiday. (I respect the Jehovah's Witness in so far as they reject all holidays. They are at least consistent in their protestation). Nearly every major

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1162244572999110492006-10-30T15:27:00.000-06:002006-10-30T15:42:53.076-06:00

Our neighbors are in need of prayer. West-Ark's neighbor is the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. They are right across the street from our church building. They use our parking lot during the week. We have a ministry dedicated to UAFS students, the Lions for Christ. I like to think that we are good neighbors.Over the weekend, a UAFS student was gunned down at a Halloween party. His name is

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1157984321322718822006-09-11T08:50:00.000-05:002006-09-11T09:18:41.440-05:00

I remember what I was doing on Sept. 10, 2001. Yes, the tenth - not the eleventh. I was reading a little book that was all the rage on the Christian book charts: The Prayer of Jabez.I was alone that night. My wife was working at the fitness center daycare that evening and she had the boys with her. I took dinner at the El Chico in the shopping mall. I had just picked up a copy of the book at

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1156802617356443102006-08-28T16:52:00.000-05:002006-08-28T17:03:39.086-05:00

Dear National Media:Now that we know John Mark Karr did not kill Jon Benet Ramsey, our short attention span has faded. Can we please move on to a new scandalous and tragic story that has no national or world significance?Sincerely,The PublicP.S. Please stop showing those creepy photos of Karr. We are having nightmares.

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1154451964493424112006-08-01T11:33:00.000-05:002006-08-01T12:08:19.443-05:00

They named it after me! Aw, they shouldn't have. Really, they shouldn't have.There's something creepy about seeing your name given to a destructive force of nature. Of course there have been Tropical Storms and Hurricanes named Chris at least since 1982. According to reports they were all underachievers. Most of the one-line summaries on these cyclones note that they were not significant. The

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1154012430343893412006-07-27T08:53:00.000-05:002006-07-27T23:46:36.193-05:00

Debate coaches and experts on rhetoric should be paying close attention to the adroit argumentation of Saddam Hussein during his trial. This clever fellow didn't get to be the dictator of Iraq because of a low I.Q. Follow carefully his piercing logic and witty rejoinders and you will recognize his skill at debate. Here are some helpful tips from Saddam:1. Make Your Opponents Look Like Idiots:

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1150555356072142852006-06-17T09:37:00.000-05:002006-06-17T09:49:34.223-05:00

Below is an exerpt from my other blog, The Magic Lantern Show. The film Over The Hedge is a well-made fil that serves as a parable about community. Read on . . .Sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest of places. Just a few weeks ago I made the decision to join meet my family at the movies. It was a decision, not a whim, because I was in the thick of a seriously overactive schedule and I

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1149610046367449842006-06-06T11:01:00.000-05:002006-06-06T11:07:26.380-05:00

If you have been looking for the big news of 6.6.06, this may just be it . . .Lioness in Zoo Kills Man Who Invoked God06 June 2006KIEV: A man shouting that God would keep him safe was mauled to death by a lioness in a Kiev zoo after he crept into the animal's enclosure, a zoo official said today."The man shouted 'God will save me, if he exists', lowered himself by a rope into the enclosure, took

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1149282934622251012006-06-02T16:00:00.000-05:002006-06-02T16:17:56.666-05:00

The Internet. The zenith of humankind's technological achievement at the end of the 20th century. And how, pray tell, has this wondrous marvel of ingenuity benefitted us? As I peer into yon e-mail inbox I see that I can assist the wife of a former Nigerian dictator with a simple bank transaction and as a result earn enough money to end world hunger. I haven't responded to her, but she writes me

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1148742205485129462006-05-27T09:50:00.000-05:002006-05-27T10:03:25.506-05:00

Some have suggested that I am too hard on Dan Brown and The DaVinci Code. I sort of thought I might be a bit biased myself. Yet, I did not like the book when I read it in 2004. Now that I am reading again I like it even less. So I went searching for a positive review of the book so I could try and understand why some appreciated it. The most positive review of the book I have found comes from

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1148308090061836312006-05-22T09:12:00.000-05:002006-05-22T09:28:10.083-05:00

My mother used to say that something mechanical would break whenever my father left town. The clutch on the truck would go bad; the water lines would burst, etc. My father is a fix-it guy and the big fixes would be needed when he was away.I hope my family hasn't inherited this curse. Just a day before I was to leave for the Sermon Seminar in Michigan, our air conditioner went out. I knew it was

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1148058965446951582006-05-19T11:47:00.000-05:002006-05-19T12:20:32.546-05:00

English doesn't allow double negatives, right? A double negative is actually a positive, yes? So if I "don't never" use double negatives I actually do because I do not never use them.Remembering this rather logical lesson from grammar has helped me classify the genre of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. Currently, no one can agree if DaCode is fiction or non-fiction. Brown claims it is fiction - as

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1147905511349886602006-05-17T17:29:00.000-05:002006-05-17T17:38:31.366-05:00

The Memorial Day observances begin early this month. Our nation has designated this week as a time to remember the men and women of our police forces. Today was Police Officer Memorial Day in Fort Smith.I was honored to be a part of a small but meaningful service at the Fort Smith Police Department today. There have been nine men who died in the line of duty during the history of the FSPD. For

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1147706509346967522006-05-15T10:03:00.000-05:002006-05-15T10:21:49.366-05:00

Two years ago I graduated from Abilene Christian University with my doctorate in ministry. I purchased the required academic regalia for the ceremony. These are by no means the most practical articles of clothing I have ever owned. The hood, for example, is emblazoned with the colors of your school and your field of study. It wraps around your neck and hangs down your back. I cannot fathom how

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1147405721036452102006-05-11T22:23:00.000-05:002006-05-11T22:48:41.050-05:00

When I read The Da Vinci Code about two years ago I did so at the behest of many friends who insisted on it. Being a completist, I read Dan Brown's first book, Angels and Demons, beforehand. I found it to be an interesting thriller, so I anticipated reading The DaVinci Code.I was disappointed. I found the characters flat and uninteresting. Brown used them as the vehicle for unpacking the big

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1147276813949828102006-05-10T10:42:00.000-05:002006-05-10T11:00:13.970-05:00

I declare a return to writing. I have been out of the habit too long. I needed the time off to rethink my philosophy of writing. I have never wanted to be a blogger who adds entries about the the great barbecue I had for lunch today. I wanted to write about weightier matters. I am also too critical of my writing and I edit myself into despair. Yet, this blog is a habit; it is a discipline.

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1142529874266365832006-03-16T11:04:00.000-06:002006-03-16T11:24:34.290-06:00

For those of you seeking the link for the Power Point files, it is coming soon. Some urgent business has kept me occupied for the last two weeks. This is the first chance I have had to manage my blogs.Of course, my first business on-line was to create a Yahoo NCAA Basketball Tournament Pick website. I am pleased to see my friends and family add their picks to "Benjamin's NCAA World." You might

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1140884050252828922006-02-25T10:13:00.000-06:002006-02-25T10:14:10.310-06:00

I finally made it to ACU to teach my Lectureship class. I missed out on most of the events at Lectureship. Thankfully, I was able to spend some time with friends.It was great to spend time with Chess and meet his fiance, Megan (did I get your name right?).Lectureship is about the only time I get to see the Melikians. They are making me proud with the campus ministry at OU, Sooners for Christ.I

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1139063106595212972006-02-04T08:13:00.000-06:002006-02-04T08:29:22.280-06:00

Tomorrow begins a new "season" at West-Ark. From tomorrow until the end of April our congregation will be focusing on 2 Corinthians 4. I do not remember another time when I focused so intensely on a single text. I usually preach from an entire gospel, epistle, or book. Although I am sure there will be moments when I will bring other texts into the sermon or study, 2 Corinthians 4 will be the

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1138886342146840582006-02-02T07:11:00.000-06:002006-02-02T07:19:02.163-06:00

I am neither young or old. I guess that is what middle-aged is all about, but I don't like to think of myself as middle-aged because it sounds very mediocre. Middle-aged reminds me of middle ages, or medieval. Thus, I prefer to think of myself as medieval.Being medieval - that is, neither young or old - I believe I can speak with some authority on why the old and young need each other. Here is

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1138229922888773832006-01-25T16:43:00.000-06:002006-01-25T16:58:42.900-06:00

This newsflash came in today from Space.com . . ."Astronomers announced today the discovery of what is possibly the smallest planet known outside our solar system orbiting a normal star.The planet is estimated to be about 5.5 times as massive as Earth and thought to be rocky. It orbits a red dwarf star about 28,000 light-years away."Here's what I remember from science in high school:1. If the

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1136562484726378252006-01-06T09:08:00.000-06:002006-01-06T09:55:54.070-06:00

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany on the Christian calendar. NBC celebrates Epiphany with the premiere of "The Book of Daniel." If you haven't heard about this show yet I assure you that you will. The American Family Association and Focus on the Family are engaged in a boycott and protest of the show. KARK in Little Rock is one of two stations nationally that refuses to air the show.Why all the

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1134174332506593672005-12-09T17:55:00.000-06:002005-12-10T12:14:28.733-06:00

People who pay for pornography are stupid. Not because pornography is a moral lapse of judgment. Not because pornography and the pornography industry objectifies women and treats them as means to male satisfaction. Not because pornography encourages lust, fuels infidelity, and equates love and sex with eroticism. No, they are stupid to pay for porn because porn is now free thanks to Victoria's

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1133817079138063392005-12-05T15:08:00.000-06:002005-12-05T15:11:19.150-06:00

I was just joking about the class action lawsuit in the last entry. I guess someone finally took me seriously!It was bound to happen. Read the full story here.

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1133310489793114192005-11-29T18:04:00.000-06:002005-11-29T18:34:38.170-06:00

There is tragic and disturbing news today. Reports are coming in from frustrated and distraught people that the new XBOX 360 is plagued with glitches. I warn you to read no further if you are easily disturbed by unsettling news. Yet, if you are brave enough to understand the gravity and magnitude of this crisis then I invite you to read on and consider what we can all do to eliminate this

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1132604625247022562005-11-21T14:06:00.000-06:002005-11-21T14:23:45.266-06:00

On the surface, being a prophet seems like a privilege. It seems a special gift to hear God’s voice. But consider poor Hosea. The Lord's first words to Hosea were brutal: “Go marry a prostitute, and some of her children will be born to you from other men.” Why isn't the Lord a little more sociable? There's no “welcome to the life of a prophet" speech. There's no small talk to break the ice

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1131804524779659452005-11-12T07:53:00.000-06:002005-11-12T09:26:41.113-06:00

Bonhoeffer is famous for arguing against cheap grace. He says that cheap grace is the sort of grace that is sold in marketplace with the cheapjacks wares. It is grace that demands nothing at all of those who receive it or give it.As a part of the Life on the Vine sermon series I have been studying kindness and I think it is time that we argue against cheap kindness and call one another to the

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1131551866810728042005-11-09T09:53:00.000-06:002005-11-09T09:57:46.810-06:00

Chad's reply to the last post reminds me of one of the better attempts to do something about those incessant scam letters.I recommend the Brad Christensen Exhibit at the Quatloos! website. Perhaps more of us should respond with wit and humor to these desperate con artists the way Brad does. Then again, the scammers have nothing but time on their hands and the rest of us are living our lives.For

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1131400732747333272005-11-07T15:56:00.000-06:002005-11-07T18:05:09.796-06:00

Returning to the Written Without Ink office is a bit scary. The room smells sort of musty and there are cobwebs in the corner. I need to open a window and let some fresh air in.The door was a bit sticky when I tried to open it. I thought it was just the weather warping the wood but it seems that there's a pile of junk mail comments blocking the way. Looks like a few folks dropped some comments

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1126070862345185112005-09-07T00:19:00.000-05:002005-09-07T00:29:54.173-05:00

I am very tired, but I do not think I can go to sleep without some writing. I have spent most of Labor Day weekend doing what I can to support the relocation of evacuees to and from Fort Chaffee. I have been writing some every day. It is my means of decompression. I will be posting my log entries once I sort through them.The stories from Hurricane Katrina continue even though the latest news

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1125156557104600482005-08-27T09:55:00.000-05:002005-08-27T10:37:51.986-05:00

So, I log in to see who left a comment to my last post "St. Elvis." What a surprise! It is my old friend lewissmith6536. Ah the great time I had with old lewissmith6536. (I call him 6536 for short.)I remember the time that 6536 and I would call up the local store to ask them if they had Prince Albert in a can. 6536 could barely get through the punchline - "You had better let him out before he

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1124272410824453202005-08-17T04:31:00.000-05:002005-08-17T04:53:30.830-05:00

Yesterday was the anniversary of Elvis' death. I was almost ten when he died and I remember it. I remember it because my mother was a fan. When Elvis died in 1977 my mother was barely past thirty. Elvis was only 42. These numbers seem quite small to me now as I am stuck somewhere between them.My mother was a fan, but I don't recall her weeping or sobbing refusing to be consoled over the news that

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1124139686282636082005-08-15T15:44:00.000-05:002005-08-15T16:01:26.296-05:00

I am not convinced that there are no super-heroes. I have seen them. Just the other day I was mowing the lawn when suddenly from out of nowhere I saw a dash of color blaze across my front yard."Look, out on the yard! It's a squirrel! It's a cat! No, it's . . . ." Lightning Man? The Black Bolt? I really didn't recognize which super-hero it was. I have quite a few in my neighborhood. He was wearing

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1123339510476552322005-08-06T09:03:00.000-05:002005-08-06T22:39:30.496-05:00

I had the surprise of seeing old friends last night. We met in the middle of I-540 about 300 feet above the ground. No, this wasn't an out of body experience nor was I under the influence of illegal substances. The story goes something like this . . .Karen and I were on our way to Brentwood to collect our children at my parents' home. Typically we take Interstate 540 to get there and this evening

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1122557887308062962005-07-28T08:23:00.000-05:002005-07-28T09:46:24.763-05:00

My first task of the day was to visit the set of the KFSM Morning Show. Saturday is Community Outreach Day and we are publicizing the event.I enjoy visiting television studios because they deconstruct the reality of television. That is necessary treatment for one such as myself born under the sign of the test pattern. As the Talking Heads sing, "I was born in a house with the television always on

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1121525124073872682005-07-16T09:17:00.000-05:002005-07-20T17:19:44.030-05:00

Now that I have let the irony and sarcasm of my previous post sit on the site for a while, I thought I would follow up with a less satirical voice. I did intend to make a point with my previous post, so here is the meaning of the parable. . .First, I want to be clear that I am not slamming Sen. Clinton or any of the other senators that are calling for an investigation. I think it is important for

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1121523412415975572005-07-16T08:58:00.000-05:002005-07-16T09:16:52.423-05:00

This news just out from Reuters: "U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton pressed on July 13, 2005 for a government investigation into how simulated sex cropped up in a modified version of the blockbuster criminal adventure video game 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.'"What is the world coming to when our children cannot play their criminal adventure video games without pornographic content? I remember when

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1121291227554099052005-07-13T16:35:00.000-05:002005-07-13T16:47:07.560-05:00

Eighteen years ago I made a momentous trip to Scotland. The before, during, and after phases of this trip have shaped my identity and my faith. The details of these phases would take more room than I have in this single post. These are, as I have said before, stories for another time.In Scotland they have an expression similar to the Arko-Texan phrase "Ya'll come back now." They say "Haste ye

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1121128112354476832005-07-11T19:08:00.000-05:002005-07-11T19:42:51.686-05:00

The movie theatres need to consider a better method for determining what previews are shown with which films. I took my six-year-old son to see the Fantastic Four today and just before the film begins we are blasted with a trailer for The Transporter 2. Sure, I know that Fantastic Four is rated PG-13, but there's something different about the comic-book style fighting of an orange rocky giant

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1119713938740778602005-07-01T10:21:00.000-05:002005-07-03T15:55:45.026-05:00

During my research for the sermon on Mark 3, I discovered this image from the Getty Museum. It comes from the page of a 13th century manuscript. The scene is obviously inspired by Revelation as it depicts unclean spirits issuing from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.What is Christ doing in the illustration? It has been a few years since I studied art history. I had

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1120105710544555022005-06-29T22:25:00.000-05:002005-06-30T11:29:11.786-05:00

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 11:19On Monday the Supreme Court made its wonderfully circumstantial and ambiguous ruling on the display of the Ten Commandments. What I am able to decipher from the arcane documents with their unusually wide margins is that the court ruled the

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1119671699083146832005-06-28T17:35:00.000-05:002005-06-29T17:24:38.786-05:00

Who says that children don't pay attention in worship? On the Sunday before last we were worshipping with Karen's parents at their home congregation. Our youngest son was a bit more fidgetty than usual. He is sort of traditional and prefers a church house with pews rather than new-fangled chairs. I felt bad for the worship leader and the preacher because all their hard work was lost on my

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10641245.post-1119674147137287702005-06-24T22:56:00.000-05:002005-06-24T23:35:47.143-05:00

It was 691 years ago from today that nearly 5,000 Scots from all walks of life and all social classes were camped out on a hill near a river in central Scotland. Advancing on their position was the English military numbering over 20,000. Included in their force were longbow archers and armored cavalry knights. Most of the Scots were fortunate to have a garden tool for a weapon. What should have

Chris Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01440961427939589181noreply@blogger.com0