The Pope's Self-Flagellation

Apparently, Pope John Paul II, whipped himself as an act of penance.  According to a recent article, "In his wardrobe, among his vestments, there hung on a clothes hanger a special belt for trousers which [John Paul] used as a whip," Monsignor Oder says.  He said self flagellation was `an instrument of Christian perfection" emulating the sufferings of Jesus Christ.'"  I'm so thankful that Jesus bore my punishment for me and in my place! 

Oh, and please note, the proper term is "flagellate," not "flatulate."  I've actually heard several folks confuse the terms when telling me that the Pope "self-flatulated."  They were a bit perplexed when I said in reply "don't we all do that?"  Here's the article.  John Paul II's Self Flagellation?"

In an age when doctrine doesn't matter, here's one church that takes the cake.  "Nominally part of the United Church of Christ, the congregation on any given week would include 60 or so Jews, Catholics, Buddhists, spiritualists, agnostics, and atheists - as well as Congregationalists.  The minister, the Rev. Stephen Philbrick, likes to draw on members’ poems, classical literature, tracts from other faiths, as well as scripture.  The philosophy is guided by democracy, not doctrine.  We’re not constrained by any tradition,’ said Philbrick, who was a sheep farmer and poet until the congregation chose him to be minister 15 years ago.  `It’s the church for people who hate church.’"  Perhaps Rev. Philbrick ought to go back "sheep farming."  Oh, the place burned down.  Congregational church burns

I had no idea that the creator of Gumby was also the producer of the famous "Davey and Goliath" serials from the 1960s and 70s.  Come to find out, Art Clokey was an episcopal minister!  He died this past week.  I believed the urban legend that Gumby was the product of some LSD-using hippie.  If you've ever seen the old Gumby animations, you know why I believed the legend.  Here's the scoop.  Gumby's Inventor Dies

Comments

[pb]

Knew you'd like that one, KR.
One congregant opined: "It feels cool to pray even if you don't believe in something."

[M Burke]

Astonishing... how far from the Biblical Gospel of a perfect Savior who justifies the ungodly was JPII's view. So sad that he found it necessary to seek solace in the false hope of self-abuse.

[Lloyd I. Cadle]

Not much has changed since the time of Luther.

Well said M Burke.

[Clay Smith]

I feel awful that the Cummington Rotary Club lost their historic building, but what faith is this "mixed congregation" keeping?

[wayne pelling]

I wonder if Pope John Paul read Luther's TABLE TALK,especially where Luther said he resisted the devil by flatulence and the devil fled.Must have been lost in translation when the pope saw the 'fla' . And regarding the Congregational church ,there is a Catholic church over here that has the same type of spirituality It is called St Mary's in Exile and they were kicked out of St Mary's Catholic church, South Brisbane ,after a long fight. They were practicing anything goes worship until the Vatican received a complaint about a Buddhist statue being in the Church.,then only then did ArchBishop act- at the promptings of his bosses

[Manfred]

Kim said, "Oh, and please note, the proper term is "flagellate," not "flatulate." I've actually heard several folks confuse the terms when telling me that the Pope "self-flatulated." They were a bit perplexed when I said in reply "don't we all do that?"" and I laughed out loud! I had read an account of the dead pope's activities and my elder mentioned it in his sermon Sunday, as he introduced our study of Romans.

Thanks for standing for the Truth and providing a chuckle to one who values accurate communication.