50 thoughts on “looking for a new church?”

  1. I’ll bet there were some snickers on the committee that got this name approved.

    Notice they have no logo on their sign!

  4. dude, the day we all stop laughing at this is the day we should be covered with dirt!

    now my mind starts wondering what the other ministries of the church are called, but i digress…

  5. I noticed they have a school called “Big Wood School.” I wonder what they learn about there.

  13. If Ken Silva slams you, you’ve arrived.

    I have to wonder if anyone took a good look at the potential name for their church, and had any second thoughts… :-P

  14. I find more cool blogs this way – looking at what those guys hate and then adding it to my google reader. Schwing.

  16. I see the Church of the Big Wood has links to Bible reading, studies and devotionals that point people to our Saviour. I’m not really sure that there’s anything in this website that does that…how come? Actually, a quick cruise through your categories and I couldn’t find a single mention of Jesus’ name? :(

  17. Marko, I’m sure this is something you know, but i was always taught by professors that anonymous criticism is to always be ignored. People who don’t have the common courtesy to be ‘face to face’ don’t have anything worth listening to.

    If they were really “someone who cares” then they should be willing to open dialogue with you.

    Great picture btw!

  18. DJ – and I’m sure that’s your real name – the nature of these comments is anonymous. I mean, I could leave my name, address, phone number, and risk having some crazy person track me down. Marko can debate anyone he wishes. I’m just kind of disappointed that his (and many others apparently) sense of humor runs toward the juvenile “Beavis and Butthead” snickering over a double entendre. Grow up, guys!

  19. Uh, you mean like you, “Dj”?
    :-)
    This is a no-brainer:

    “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person– such a man is an idolater– has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.” (St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter five, verses three through seven.)

    I could use encouragement in this area as well (putting off crude joking, etc.).. Looks like I’m not gonna find it here!

  21. comments made anonymously in response to funny, real-life observations that make some uncomfortable is what makes the internet such a fun place for meaningful dialog.

    I didn’t just say “poop” in a crowded starbucks as I wrote this comment… but I thought it.

  22. It seems to me that asking a question…even like ‘how come?’ could be considered an invitation to dialogue. Anyway, I’m thinking that the Holy Spirit did a little convicting (eh Dj?) and that is what He does. Praise God. You can call me Vanis…yes for real.

  23. All of this really begs the question…If there is this “double entendre” in todays venacular. And it’s obvious to Christians (even those that don’t like it) Why would a church choose to use that as their name? Once when I was new to ministry I wanted to start a disciple program for students. The name was Students Training Disciples. I never used that name because having students coming to S.T.D. was not inviting at all!

  25. ha ha ha…that’s way to funny! Thanks for the laugh! (I must not be spiritual enough to be convicted). LOL!

  27. Above all else, guard your heart,
    for it is the wellspring of life.
    Put away perversity from your mouth;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
    (Proverbs 4:23-24)

    Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

  30. This is interesting. I think it is funny. Way funny. But some people have a point. I wander what the deeper issue is here…..

    hmm…………

    how’s that for opening dialogue???

  31. It bothers me that the folks who find the sign funny totally ignore the scriptural references on purity. They want to be amused, not convicted; to go for the easy laugh rather than the tough chore of studying God’s word and obeying it. Their defense is simply “the sign is funny” but cannot back that claim up using God’s word, only the worldly standards of our culture.

    If you were going the wrong way down a one-way street, wouldn’t you want someone to tell you to turn around? Well, that’s what God’s word is all about. We’re born on a one-way street to hell, and God’s word is that warning, telling us how to turn around and head in the opposite direction, toward eternal life in Him and with Him. But too many people read God’s word and don’t change direction. They like the road they’re on, they are familiar and comfortable with it. They enjoy the scenery. Turning around would cause people to notice they’ve changed, and that would be uncomfortable. So they continue on, ignoring the warnings, to their doom.

  32. Ok, I can’t keep silent on this any longer. I’m having an extremely hard time believing that this ‘sign’ and laughing about the duel meaning is “impure”. I’m sorry, but we’re talking about anatomy when it comes down to it.

    When people keep screaming Ephesians 5:3-7 I start to understand why our current church generation is lost and embarrassed when it comes to talking about sexual issues. Let’s be honest, if the church talked about sex like we’re supposed to, no one would consider this “impure”.

    Get out your Bible, Greek NT, whatever Bible study tools you use and find out the answer to the question: Is this really what Paul was talking about when he wrote this verse?

    I think Paul was talking about things a bit more serious than references to “Big wood”. So lets quit twisting the scriptures around to make it fit our every whim.

  33. I didn’t see what was so funny about the sign. It also took me a long time to figure out what was so offensive by the sign. Tell you what the first thing I though of when I saw it was Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books: Little House on the Praiirie, Little House in the Big Woods, On the Banks of Plum Creek, etc.

    I have no idea where Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood is located, but I wondered if people would think it was so funny or be so offended by a sign announcing Presbyterian Church of the Prairie or Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek? Then I finally thought of what it might be that people were reacting to. And all I have to say to that is whether you were offended or found it funny, at least you have in common that your minds are in exactly the same place to have thought of the same thing.

    If you found it funny, what’s really funny about it? If you found it offensive, what is your mind doing there to begin with?

  34. DJ – Ephensians 5:3-7 isn’t just about impurity. It’s also about “obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place.” I think the joking about the name of this church falls within those boundaries.

  35. ha ha ha…I’m still laughing a day later! It saddens me to hear so much negativity around a church sign. Can I ask what humors those who may not see this sign as funny? What are some other forms of humor that we should turn to if sexuality is off limits?

  36. Thousands of people starving around the world, murder, slavery, disease, poverty, and war are commonplace in every country…

    And yet – people get upset because people find this kind of funny?

    I’m sorry – I think we have bigger things to worry about than a thought of a double entendre.

    No wonder there are millions who refuse to believe in God.

    I like it Marko – thanks for finding it and posting it, and bringing a much needed laugh to my life! :)

  38. Well, considering the “popularity” of this post, I think you need to show your circumcision video from your sermon a couple of weeks ago in your next post. That would kill. Especially this church. Plus, I only heard the audio of the video, and I want to see it.

  39. Marko – no one hates you. Disagree, yes. Disapprove, yes. Hate, no. Two people in disagreement does not equal hatred. If that were true, marriages wouldn’t last a week!

    The people who disapprove know what you, and others, are laughing at. We know what is funny about the sign, just don’t find that sort of thing amusing. We are not stupid, just disappointed that you have not put childish ways behind. In 1 Corinthians 13:10, Paul says “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”

    As I’ve read the many posts regarding this sign, I am deeply and truly saddened by the reaction of some Christians who see a call to Biblical principles as hatred. During his ministry, Jesus gave many warnings of what was to come–and people didn’t want to listen because what he spoke of made them uncomfortable, required them to change. No one wants to change. We want to believe we’re OK the way we are. Then, when someone challenges us, it makes us uncomfortable and defensive when maybe, just maybe, we need to take a step back and heed their words.

  40. Granola I understand how you feel…HOWEVER it’s not a major issue. Your points about Christ are well taken…HOWEVER you are not Christ, nor the Holy Spirit. People find it funny. You find it offensive. I don’t find your call to “biblical standards” hatred I just wonder how much of “speck” your pointing out.

  41. The argument is NOT whether or not the sign is funny! It\’s whether it\’s appropriate, whether it\’s something Christians, who are to separate themselves from the world, should be PUBLICLY promoting as humor.

    What I find offensive is not so much the sign but being accused of setting myself up as Christ or the Holy Spirit. No, I am neither of those, but I can be used by them. As a Christian, I study Christ\’s life and teaching and strive to be like Him. Would He find that sign funny? I think not, again citing Ephesians 5:3-7 where coarse joking is out of place in the life of a Christian. Those verses are not there just to use up ink. We are to STUDY scripture and APPLY it to our lives, whether we like it or not.

    Maybe in light of all the evil in the world, this isn\’t that big of a deal. What grieves me the most is that no one, in defending their approval of this sign, has cited scripture…and everyone who has expressed disapproval has scripture to back it up.

  44. Jesus was human. I’m sure he laughed. There’s a reference of God laughing in Psalms. Jesus was also God – I’m sure he laughed.

    Jesus’ Parables were often extreme examples to paint an image. Have you tried to thread a camel through a needle lately?

    One of my favorite Comedians is a devout Christian – Mark Lowry. I saw him do a routine about how he once made himself laugh and offended himself at the same time – he wondered how things would be different if Jesus was named Buford instead.

    If we cannot laugh at ourselves – we have a big problem. We are then bordering on self-righteous and “holier than thou.”

    I appreciate you keeping us in check. I truly do. As to your comment about defending with scriptures – yeah, maybe I’m not as read up on the Bible as I should be. But I don’t worship the Bible. I worship God. The Bible is one way to know God. It tells us of God, and our faith, and of Jesus. It gives us direction when we need it. (This is difficult at times when it seems to contradict itself and causes us to study further. However, It is not God.

    I’m messy – I admit it. I hope and pray that God will forgive my moments where I stray. And if I’ve strayed by laughing at this picture – may God forgive me for that as well.

    I hope these comments do not cause Marko to stop posting things like this, or many of the other things he’s posted (I remember laughing at the youtube video from Rollercoaster tycoon thinking “so wrong, so funny.”)

  45. Blue Ball Church of the Brethen and Intercourse United Methodist are amusing too that I came across in my travellings while doing an internship in Lancaster, PA.

  46. I was not aware of this site or this post until I read a post by Linda at SliceOfLaodecia. Although I don’t believe here intent was to promote this site like she did, I wonder how many other people have been exposed to this as a result of her writing at that site…

  47. Hey all – yes, real church, real sign. I’ve worshipped at this church, I know the pastor. They’re really great people, and it just so happens that the church sits on the Big Wood River, which runs through Ketchum/Sun Valley.

    But yah – seriously. Maybe it’s time to change the church name….

  48. I’ll comment on this as well. Yes I was the youth pastor there and they didn’t see anything wrong with the name. “Andy, we are located on the Big Wood River. Not everybody’s mind is in the gutter.” Why didn’t we just put Viagra stickers on the side of the church bus.

  50. Trust me I know. The first time I went to YS…Mike Y came running up to me (It was his last conference) and said, “We have to get you on stage. This is to good to be true.” It never happened, but I am so thankful I am not the only person in America who thought the name of this church was hilarious.

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