February 1, 2012
Here on Pop Culture Christ, I have the ability to see what people are typing into search engines like Google that get them sent to this site. All kinds of weird and wonderful search phrases come up. In the last week I’ve had people searching for Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Ghost Rider, and Paintball. I even had someone looking for “Scripture for job interview”, which has me pretty curious. One search phrase that had me feeling all warm and gooey inside was someone searching for the best font size to use when preaching from an iPad. Just goes to show that the internet is a great place for sharing.
Amongst all the different searches, there’s one kind of search that is constant. It goes along the lines of “Can a Christian do X” or “Should a Christian do Y”. Here are some examples from the last week: “Can a Christian listen to heavy metal music?” or “Should Christians go see Wicked The Musical?” or “Can a Christian play Skyrim?” Now, regardless of what you think the answer to those questions might be, I think there’s a greater issue behind these questions.
And it’s about Christian freedom.
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Misc Bible | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, Can a Christian, Christians, Decisions, Paul, Should a Christian, Wisdom | 
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Posted by Joel A Moroney
January 4, 2012
We Bought A Zoo
Rated PG
Starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson
Directed by Cameron Crowe
You know the biggest crime this movie commits? There are meerkats in this movie for a grand total of 5 seconds. How dare they? If you’re going to put meerkats in a movie, you better put them in at least every second scene. I don’t care about the lions and tigers and bears (oh my)(yes, I couldn’t resist. Nothing to see here). If you’re going to tempt with meerkats, you better deliver.
And that’s my biggest problem with this movie. That’s the worst criticism I could think of for We Bought A Zoo. And that’s because I really enjoyed it.
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2 Comments | Movie Reviews | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, Cameron Crowe, Death, Matt Damon, Meerkats, Movie Review, Patrick Fugit, Scarlett Johansson, We Bought A Zoo | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
January 1, 2012
New Year’s Day is a perfect time for a fresh start. It’s one of the less busy times of the year as everyone recovers from Christmas. Many people are on holidays and have time to reflect and to think about things. To make New Year’s resolutions.
What’s your New Year’s resolution going to be? I know I really should hit the gym more regularly in 2012. Though the temptation to hit the chocolate is a strong one (here’s a hint: if you’re on a diet, stay away from the bottom drawer in my office). Should I resolve to spend more time catching up with old friends, read more books, climb Mount Everest. I don’t think that last one is a realistic goal for this year. Maybe next year.
So what are you going to do in 2012?
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Posted by Joel A Moroney
September 11, 2011
Sermon preached at St Luke’s Liverpool on Sunday 11/09/2011. “Why do some Christians speak in tongues?” from 1 Corinthians 14:1-40.
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Posted by Joel A Moroney
July 31, 2011
Sermon preached at St Luke’s Liverpool on Sunday the 31st of July. “What privileges should a preacher expect?” from 1 Corinthians 9:1-27
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Posted by Joel A Moroney
April 12, 2011
Paul
Rated MA15+
Starring Nick Frost, Simon Pegg and Seth Rogen
Growing up, I loved me some science fiction. In my early years I lived on a staple diet of Doctor Who re-runs and movies full of aliens. I owned a book shelf full of sci-fi novels. Each week I would scour the TV guide so I could program the VCR to catch all those late night science fiction goodness. I’d seen every sci-fi movie at the video shop multiple times. Some of my younger readers might be wondering what a video or VCR is. You make me feel old.
The movie Paul is aimed squarely at guys like me. When you take into account that the movies starts at San Diego Comic-Con, the Mecca for comic book and sci-fi geeks, it’s not half obvious who the target market is. The two leads, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg, play British geeks visiting Comic-Con they both comment that even though they’re miles from home, they feel at home. And From this point I want to be right there with them. When they pick up an extra-terrestrial hitchhiker, road trip hijinks ensue.
I wanted to love this movie. I was prepared to embrace this and own it as a movie that represented me. However there were some significant factors holding me back.
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Leave a Comment » | Movie Reviews | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, Aliens, Movie Review, Nick Frost, Science Fiction, Seth Rogen, Simon Pegg | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
March 29, 2011
A couple of suburbs down the road from my place is a big billboard on a major road. It says “Judgement Day is coming. 21 May 2011.” According to this billboard, the end of the world is coming and it’s only weeks away. There seems to be a lot of people recently who are saying that they have prophesied the end of the world. They point to events such as the floods in Queensland, the earthquake in New Zealand, the tsunami in Japan and say that the end of the world is coming any day now. That these disasters are a sign from God that he’s getting ready for the end game. The people behind this billboard are even prepared to name a date, based on their understanding of the Bible and some creative mathematics.
Should we listen to these so-called prophecies? Are they reliable? Can we really know the date when Jesus returns?
I have my doubts. Let’s just say I plan on getting a photo of myself in front of this billboard on May 22nd.
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5 Comments | Christian | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, End of the World, Jesus, John, Judgement Day, Prophecy | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
December 12, 2010
1 Corinthians 7 is one of those really meaty and controversial passages because it deals with marriage, divorce and being single. This sermon looked at what 1 Corinthians 7 had to say on singleness.
Preached at St Luke’s Liverpool on December 12, 2010
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Posted by Joel A Moroney
October 31, 2010
“Foundations of Leadership” – a sermon on 1 Corinthians 3 given at St Luke’s Liverpool.
Preached 31st October 2010.
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Posted by Joel A Moroney
October 27, 2010
The Social Network
Rated M
Written by Aaron Sorkin, Directed by David Fincher
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Hey! Let’s make a movie about a website!
Not the most promising concept. So when I first heard news about a movie being made about Facebook, I can’t say I was overly enthused. But five words changed my mind and had me eagerly expecting this movie: “Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher.” The guy who wrote The West Wing teaming up with the guy who made Fight Club? That’s a sure-fire way to get my attention.
And thank God that it was more than just attention grabbing. The film The Social Network could be in the running for best film of 2010. Yes, it is that good.
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5 Comments | Movie Reviews | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, Aaron Sorkin, Andrew Garfield, David Fincher, Facebook, James, Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Movie Review, The Social Network | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
May 18, 2010
Growing up, my family was mum, dad, me and my three younger brothers. Everyone’s family is different. There are a massive number of combinations. One parent. Two parents. Step parents. You might live with your grandparents. You might be adopted or live with foster parents. What makes the modern family? My experience is going to be different from your experience. But almost every family has one thing in common: they’re a goldmine for humour.
And that’s why Modern Family is a very funny show.
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Leave a Comment » | TV Reviews | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, Channel Ten, Comedy, Ed O'Neil, Family, Modern Family, Newtown, TV shows | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
October 23, 2009
1 Corinthians 12 lists prophecy as one of the gifts of the Spirit. What is prophecy? Is it predicting the future or something greater? Is it a gift that is still available today or was it limited to a certain time period? If you’re not careful, you’re understanding of prophecy can lead you in some dodgy directions.
It can also leave you looking stupid.
Pic courtesy of Fail Blog
6 Comments | Fun | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, Fail Blog, Prophecy | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
May 19, 2009
To get your product out there these days, you need a hook. Especially in the ultra-hip, overly-cool, way x-treme world of energy drinks. But is it really a wise move to contact ancient Voodoun spirits to sell your product?
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13 Comments | Misc. Culture | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, Ephesians 6, Samedi, Samedi Energy Drink, Voodoo | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
May 13, 2009
Would you sell your soul to the Devil for superpowers? Think of all the good you could do as a superhero. All the lives you could save. Wouldn’t all that be worth the sacrifice of your soul? Isn’t that the kind of thing Jesus would do? That’s what Daniel Cassidy aka Blue Devil did. But was it worth it? And is it even possible?
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2 Comments | Comic Reviews | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, Blue Devil, DC Comics, Satan, Selling Your Soul | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
October 28, 2008
21
21
Rated M
Starring Kevin Spacey and Lawrence Fishburne
If only I had the money, I could do so much. I could buy that car. Pay off my College debts. Support my brothers and sisters on the mission field. Buy all those books on my Amazon wish list. But where am I going to get that kind of cash? Maybe I should hit the casino and start counting cards at Blackjack. After all, it’s not illegal…
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2 Comments | Movie Reviews | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, 21, Blackjack, Gambling, Kevin Spacey, Lawrence Fishburne, Movie Review, Wisdom Issues | Permalink
Posted by Joel A Moroney
Here on Pop Culture Christ, I have the ability to see what people are typing into search engines like Google that get them sent to this site. All kinds of weird and wonderful search phrases come up. In the last week I’ve had people searching for Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Ghost Rider, and Paintball. I even had someone looking for “Scripture for job interview”, which has me pretty curious. One search phrase that had me feeling all warm and gooey inside was someone searching for the best font size to use when preaching from an iPad. Just goes to show that the internet is a great place for sharing.
