AMEN !!!!

"If you belonged to a political party or a social club that was tied to as much bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, violence and sheer ignorance, as religion is - you'd resign in protest. To do otherwise is to an enabler, a mafia-wife." - Bill Maher

This morning I finally watched Bill Maher's Religulous.

One word: AMAZING.

Two other observations he made stood out for me - one when he thanked a group of truckers for being "Christ-like not Christian" and when he said to the same group - "I preach a gospel of I DON'T KNOW."

This film is a must-see for everyone who stands in a pulpit or purports to be in any form of ministry ... it's about using the brain that our Creator has given us, and opening ourselves up to the fullness of the Holy, or as Gandhi said - TRUTH in our world, rather than a narrow view that has marked EVERY religion of humankind.

Bill Maher speaks a truth that we ignore at our peril ... Any faith that precludes mystery and doubt and simply not knowing is dangerous and close minded, be it liberal, conservative or any where in between ...

I LOVED the aside bits where "officials" came and expressed clear displeasure with what Maher was up to - my only question was - "what are THEY afraid of??" If what we believe is rational, intelligent and true, why would we fear some one raising legitimate questions ... Personally, I'm coming to see MORE faith in people like Bill Hicks, Bill Maher, Kevin Smith and others, most of whom are interestingly comedic in their orientation, who have courageously and boldly poked fun at religious close-mindedness by asking the TOUGH questions and casting light on things we won't talk about in most Churches ...

Bring on the questions, and let's revel in the doubt ... to do otherwise is a disservice to humanity and to the Holy/Truth ...

41 Years Ago Today ...

.

Forty One Years ago today ,

a life ended,

a dream persisted,

and

the world slowly moved forward.

.

Today

the dream remains,

the life is remembered,

and

the world continues to move slowly forward.

.

I like Bill Hicks' take on it:

"... the fact we live in a world where John Lennon was murdered,

yet Milli Vanilli walks the f---ing planet. You know? Bad choice.

Just from me to you, it wasn't a good one. But isn't that weird,

we always kill the guys who try and help us.

Isn't that strange that we let the little demons run amock, always?
John Lennon: murdered.

John Kennedy: murdered.

Martin Luther King: murdered.

Gandhi: murdered.

Jesus: murdered.

Reagan ... wounded.

You know. Bad F---ING choice!!"

- Bill Hicks November 1990-

Wise words from a HILARIOUS Prophet ...

I've been listening to A LOT of Bill Hicks lately and reading a collection of his writings, interviews and routines ... I even bought a dvd of his stand up routines ... The man is FRICKIN' Brilliant.

His views on politics remain scathingly accurate ... his commentary on economics and security are frightfully prophetic in the post 9/11 world ... and his take on RELIGION is smack on.

I find Bill Hicks to be a breath of prophetic fresh air in a world that too often is stifled and repressed ... the unfortunate thing is that for MOST people the wisdom that lies in his humour will be lost by the false prudishness that comes with self-righteousness ...

If, as a Church, we want to reach out to the world we need to listen to the modern prophets ... people like Robin Williams, Kevin Smith, Bill Hicks and others who through their humour hold up a mirror and show us what we're really like ... AND, if we dared to preach the Good News as we find it in our Prophet-Comics, the world would not only listen, we'd be preaching it with credibility ...

There is little to argue with in the following quotation from the incomparable Bill Hicks:

This is the reason Christians are so meddlesome. And annoying. And ... well, unchristian.
They don't believe in God, but they do believe int he devil.
They don't believe in Heaven, but they do believe in Hell.
They don't believe in Salvation, but they do believe in Sin.
They don't believe in Forgiveness, but they do believe in Condemnation.

It never occurs to Christians they might need God's word a little more than other people. Or, that they may be among the last on Earth to GET IT!!!

They're like an annoying child from grade school who, after learning basic math, goes up to a physicist and tried to convince him how much he's missing from his life from not realizing two plus two equals four.

So, that's what I think if the Wicked Christians. And if you don't believe me, just listen to the words of Jesus himself in Luke, chapter 5, verse 32:

'I come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'

God, I pray Christians get the message soon ...

AND so do I - thanks Bill !!

Bill Hicks on David Letterman - a long overdue apology!!

David Letterman has always been a class act.

On January 30th, he set right something that never should have happened ... On October 1st 1993, David deleted from his late night talk show Bill Hick's last of 12 appearences on Letterman's stage.

At the time, the routine was dubbed "too controvertial". In retrospect it was BRILLIANT, and typical of Bill's astounding Stand Up.

I've posted the three clips I found on Youtube tonight ... the first is of David acknowledging his mistake, and noting that because of Bill's premature death at the age of 32 a few short months after the erstwhile appearance, an apology could not be delivered to Bill directly.

The second clip that follows the first is David's candid conversation with Mary, Bill's mom. Mary doesn't really pull any punches, and with grace Letterman takes the hits and honours a man who should have been honoured on October 1st 1993 with one last appearance.

And the final clip is the previously un-seen routine that Letterman so foolishly dropped from his programme. Even Letterman notes at the end that it withstands the test of time ... Bill Hicks was THAT GOOD !!!

These three clips prove Letterman to be a class act ... Mary Hicks to be a gracious and wonderful woman ... and Bill Hicks to be a witty, astute, and prophetic voice that used comedy to teach ALL of us about REAL LIFE. (his bit on celebrating the Death and Resurrection of Jesus by telling our children that a Giant Bunny Rabbit left chocolate eggs in the night is hilarious ... the observation that "I've read the Bible. Can't find the word bunny or chocolate anywhere in the book ..." is icing on the cake.

Take time to enjoy on of Comedy's brightest lights ... you won't be disappointed !!!

Thanks Mr Letterman - you did good !!!!

Bill Hicks on Letterman - Part Two - Bill's Mom!!

Bill Hicks on Letterman - Part Three - the infamous routine !!

Dreaming of a Double Double and a Maple Dip??

Yesterday over a I can fly, just not up, CandyGirFlies mused about a dream her hubby had one night involving donuts and Tim Horton's ... She wondered if it might be a middle aged Canadian Male thing ... (Gawd I hope NOT!!! I've worked too hard to shed 40 pounds, only to pack them on from Tim's !!!!) ... But as I read her words I thought of a bit by Canadian Comedian Ron James about a visit to Tim Horton's ...

.

So - click here to read The posting over at I can fly, just not up, then come back and listen to Ron's rant about Tim's and consider if CandyFliesGirl's hubby is having a dream about donuts, or the Bovine Betty in the foxy hair net behind the counter getting him all warm in the secret bits ??!!

I'll opt for donuts ... though I may one day start dreaming about them, I'll STILL consume them sparingly !!