Stephen Beach of St. Budeaux Parish Church in Plymouth just learned why trial lawyers never ask a question without knowing the answer. Beach was holding an online sermon during the COVID-19 outbreak and asked “Lord God, what are you saying to us?” He promptly caught fire. Fortunately, as shown in the video below, it was just his clothing and the good vicar is fine. He needs a new sweater and his parishioners need a stiff drink. First Prince Charles gets the coronavirus and now good reverends are catching fire.
The vicar from southwest England was giving the following sermon:
“It’s a great thing to pause in the presence of God and to ask the question: Lord God, what are you saying to us? And then, of course, to wait for an answer. I’ve just been pausing between these…”
That is when his sweater caught on fire from one of the candles and Beach exclaims in quintessential British style “Oh dear, I just caught on fire. Oh my word.”
We can each search for the message from the depressing (“we’re royally screwed”) to the scientific (“English vicars are simply more combustible than other ministers.”). Personally, I prefer the most hopeful message that God simply hates cardigans.
This is what happens when the Expert From Out-of-Town helps figure things out
Reminds me of an event witnessed by a sane,sober, Evangelical couple that I know. The Episcopal Church they had been members of was announcing a doctrinal shift in that they felt that The Lord was leading them to ordain homosexuals as priests. As the communion elements were being prepared, the table collapsed spilling the elements and scattering the vessels across the floor.
“God gave Noah the rainbow sign.
No more water but the fire next time.”
— David B Benson
https://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-put-out-the-fire-4.png
Well, he did ask.
If the good vicar spent more time reading the Word of God he would know what God is saying, since He wrote it down. Like the collapse of the tower on the Jews, Jesus asked if you think they were greater sinners than you? He said they’re not. But if we don’t repent we will also likewise perish.
Whenever any disaster or bad thing comes our way remember a greater judgement is coming. Repent of our sins and believe the Son of God came to save us from our sins.
It’s written down. I would think theology students would know that. Hmmm…
Blaise Pascal thought like the Vicar. However the internet did not exist during his life time (with apologies to Al Gore), so Pascal was spared commentary from the Illuminati e.g. Paul C. Shulte
People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.
― Blaise Pascal, De l’art de persuader
Pascal, as a French Catholic, had a tremendous influence on mathematics, physics, theology, philosophy, economics, especially in actuarial science till this very day. His work Pensées (“Thoughts”) is a masterpiece. Apparently Jonathan Turley has more insight than Pascal on matters pertaining to the cosmos.
Bishop Robert Barron has wise counsel during this COVID period. Taking a cue from him, we started listening as a family via audio book, to St Augustine’s Confessions. Mespo no doubt could provide us with his expert analysis given his love for the Bishop of Hippo
Sophia!
Blaise Pascal said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” This Pascalian “mot” has come to my mind a good deal in recent days as our entire country goes into shutdown mode due to the coronavirus. Perhaps we could all think of this time of semi-quarantine as an invitation to some monastic introspection, some serious confrontation with the questions that matter—some purposeful sitting alone in a room.
Estovir – the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) had her hair set on fire during the filming of the Wizard of Oz and Michael Jackson had his hair set on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial. Ah, show biz. 😉
Bishop Barron is great. Thank you for sharing!
I’m Cardigan The 8th I am…
Cardigan The 8th I am, I am!
I got married to the Parish next door.
It’s been pardoned 7 times or more.
Humans need to pray all day….
Dog is telling jokes his way.
I think it’s a true “yes and” situation versus an either/or…
We are royally screwed. English vicars are clearly more combustible than other ministers. And god does hate cardigans…
it’s all true. Each statement a genuine hologram.
Who will you serve?
In three short months, just like He did with the plagues of Egypt, God has taken away everything we worship.
God said, “you want to worship athletes, I will shut down the stadiums.
You want to worship musicians, I will shut down Civic Centers.
You want to worship actors, I will shut down theaters.
You want to worship money, I will shut down the economy and collapse the stock market.
You don’t want to go to church and worship Me, I will make it where you can’t go to church”
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Maybe we don’t need a vaccine, Maybe we need to take this time of isolation from the distractions of the world and have a personal revival where we focus on the ONLY thing in the world that really matters…. Jesus.
Johnny W. Johnson
That’s show biz. 😉