A dozen Mormon missionaries are again taking off their trademark white shirts for a calendar that seeks to strip away stereotypes about their church.

The 2009 version of the Men on Mission calendar was released Thursday - two months after its creator was excommunicated by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for producing this year’s calendar.

“I know they did what they thought was right,” Chad Hardy said.

The calendar was intended to shake up the straight-laced, cookie-cutter Mormon stereotype that doesn’t fit many in the church.

“People like me are bound to stereotypes that don’t fit,” Hardy said. “I think we can all have the same faith and still have different outlooks.”

Hardy was excommunicated July 13 by a panel of church leaders for conduct unbecoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the pictures the 12 men pose shirtless in black suit slacks. (Source and the rest of the story)

Okay, first we had the nude women church calendar, and now this?

I found the site where you can buy it (or become a facebook friend).  Here it is: http://www.mormonsexposed.com/

Also, here is the back cover.

Joseph Smith would be so proud confused.

A Christian alternative to the highly popular video game “Guitar Hero” will be hitting stores this month and promises to have guitarists of all levels “rockin’ with the best while praising the Lord!”

Like “Guitar Hero,” “Guitar Praise” requires players to hit the correct notes on their guitar controller as each song plays. Notably absent, however, will be scantily clad cartoon female guitarists and songs like “Cheat on the Church, “Cowboys from Hell,” or “The Number of the Beast.”

Instead, players will be jamming to tunes from Christian artists including Flyleaf, Skillet, Stellar Kart, tobyMac, Newsboys, Petra, 12 Stones, Spoken, Whitecross, Thousand Foot Krutch, Paul Baloche, David Crowder, Red, and many others.

You can read more about it here.

Image via Wikipedia

ROME - An Italian priest and theologian said Sunday he is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns to give them more visibility within the Catholic Church and to fight the stereotype that they are all old and dour.

The “Miss Sister 2008” contest will start in September on a blog run by the Rev. Antonio Rungi and will give nuns from around the world a chance to showcase their work and their image.

“Nuns are a bit excluded, they are a bit marginalized in ecclesiastical life,” Rungi told The Associated Press after Italian media carried reports of the idea. “This will be an occasion to make their contribution more visible.” (Source and the rest of the story)

If I find the site, I will link to it.

Jesus on the ceiling tile of a hospital. Seriously.

You can read about it, here: http://jesustile.com/

And while you are at it, don’t forget my personal favorite. The Virgin Mary on a grilled cheese sandwich.

Members of the East Central Narcotics Task Force
arrested a West Hartford man was arrested after a short chase in South
Windsor Thursday evening.



According to police, Almighty Supremebeing Allah, 35, of 119 Elmhurst
St. West Hartford refused to stop for a marked cruiser and was detained
about a mile down the road after the initial stop.



He was charged with Reckless Driving, Disobeying an Officers Signal,
Interfering with an Officer, Criminal Attempt/Sale of Cocaine Criminal
Attempt/Possession of Cocaine. (Source)

Police work at its best…no favoritism for any one or any diety.

Dateline EAST WINDSOR…

The apparent likeness of Jesus Christ, which mysteriously materialized on a bedroom door here 10 years ago, lately has been declared “a miracle” by a Pentecostal bishop.

The religious imagery appears intrinsic to the grain of a common pine wood door of the bedroom in the typical suburban home of Jerry and Wendy Divock, the parents of three grown children.

“I honestly believe it is supernatural. Absolutely,” said Dr. Philip Bonaparte, a local internist, serving as bishop to four area Church of God denomination churches.

So this couple has been looking at Jesus on their door for 10 years.  Why come forward now?

Divock said he decided to go public with his family’s miracle yesterday because he felt it was finally time to share with the public “something this significant.”

It is, after all, the Lenten season, the period of penance leading up to the Christian celebration of Easter, which this year falls on March 23.  (Source)

I have another idea why now….cash.  Yes the couple with the mystery door is cashing in on their door.  You can purchase a photo of the door for only $13.50.  It is a glossy 8 x 10…no cheap rips offs.  (Shipping included)

 7″Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  (Matthew 7, NIV)

Dateline Gary, Ind…

An anger management instructor was charged with domestic battery after his wife accused him of grabbing and beating her during an argument, police said.

The Rev. Robert Nichols, 49, has taught anger management classes for defendants in Gary City Court for several years, but his contract was voided while the misdemeanor charge against him is pending, said City Court Judge Deidre Monroe.

“It’s our policy that anyone working in the court system can’t have criminal charges,” Monroe said Monday.

Nichols was arrested early Thursday after the couple’s young daughter called police to report the fight, police said.

Monroe said Nichols’ case will be handled in Crown Point because of his association with the City Court. Monroe appointed a special judge to arraign Nichols in court Friday.

The Associated Press could not reach Nichols for comment as there is no phone listing for him in Gary.  (Source)

This is in the same category as the pastor who stole wedding gifts from the wedding they officiated or the pastor who stole the church building.  Fortunately, it does not reach the level of pastoral extortion.

Once again, we will let the courts sort it out.

test

Source: http://bitsandpieces1.blogspot.com/2006/12/may-your-chrismas-be-merry.html