Ship of Fools

I'm not sure how I stumbled onto the website www.ship-of-fools.com but I've been having a great time exploring it. In the about us section, the editor says, "Our aim is to help Christians be self-critical and honest about the failings of Christianity, as we believe honesty can only strengthen faith."

The site has people volunteer as Mystery Worshippers--they go to different worship services, leave a Ship of Fools business card in the offering plate and then fill out and post a pretty extensive survey about the service. The review includes a physical description of the church, the comfortableness (or lack thereof) of the seating, the first words of the service, the content of the sermon and the quality of the speaker, what was most heaven-like and what was most like the opposite place of heaven. The review even includes the coffee after the service (or tea as the site originates in the UK).

The Mystery Worshipper reviews that I read covered all kinds of denominations and sizes and types of services. It was interesting to get a knowledgeable visitors opinion. The business card is left in the offering plate so the congregation can go online and see the review on-line.

Another favorite part of Ship of Fools is the Gadgets for God--the store with some hilarious gifts. Some of my favorites are the post rapture greeting cards that say things like, "You should have listened to Jesus": the Mormon doorknocker--designed to save wear and tear on the missionaries knuckles; the holy trinity Lego set featuring the father, son and a perfect child's rendition of a ghost--holy or otherwise. There is also a bible that has a flame that shoots out of the top so you can impress tepid listeners with the "fiery" words of God. And how much fun could you have with your own inflatable church--its 47 feet tall! A great gift for that seminary bound college student.

Ship of Fools also actually reports on news relevant to the worldwide Christian church and has a lively discussion area. I haven't spent (wasted) near enough time at this site yet. I haven't ordered anything yet either though I love the snarkiness of the "You should have listened to Jesus" cards. They're right at my maturity level.

why don't lutherans have this kind of fun

If you move to Superior WI, you might want to consider joining this church. It looks like it has the potential to be a congregation that knows how to mix a little fun in with their theology.

The rent-a-sign says at Holy Assumption Catholic Church says--

BEER RAFFLE

TICKETS HERE

Now, if it had been vodka they were raffling off, I would have stopped to take the picture AND bought some tickets.

Making me Smile

Occasionally people will say something--and for years after, their choice of words will make me chuckle when I remember it. One of my supervisors, a man I really liked and respected, once said "I'm verbalizing what I'm saying". I can't tell you how many times in the past twenty years that has made me laugh. My good friend Susie once pointed out a "dark light" and I don't recall why she said it but only that we laughed hysterically--so it still makes me chuckle. Little darling #3 has, in all his young seriousness, said enough hilarious things to make me wonder if he was some kind of comedic idiot savant.

Now, some of the things that people say that make no sense, but make me chuckle, also worry me. There was a bit on Jon Stewart's, "The Daily Show"--I only saw the clip on You Tube, because we don't have cable (don't get me started on that) and I don't know the name of the woman who does comedy sketches for his show----but anyway, she was talking to people at the Republican National Convention about Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol, being pregnant, and trying to get them to say the word "choice"--and finally one woman very reluctantly said "...freedom of choice--but that's different than being pro choice." I know I'm going to remember that one for a long time.

Today I was reading a blog about the Catholic Church allowing dissension among "good" Catholics about some issues, specifically, in this article, the death penalty and no dissension regarding the Catholic church's teachings on other topics, such as abortion. In response to the blog, a man named Dudley Sharp, wrote, in the comments section, "Furthermore, you can, rightly, argue that the death penalty is pro life." I just want to shake my head and say, "Dudley, Dudley, Dudley." If he was one of my kids, I'd probably say something wise like, "Hey, now, no more stupid talk" and try to make sure he didn't catch me laughing at him.