Gospel.com Blog

Last month, the Andy Unedited blog offered some useful tips for mastering your fear of public speaking—worth reading before you’re next called to speak in front of an audience or congregation. There’s a new post up about another aspect of the same topic: using humor effectively in a speech. Take his advice, and don’t ruin any more of your sermons with poorly-delivered jokes!

Need a break from the hectic pace of the holidays? Gospel Communications and the mad genius behind Reverend Fun have put together a hilarious animated Christmas cartoon. Take a quick break from whatever you’re doing and watch this short bit of holiday fun!

(The cartoon is also available on Youtube, where you can get the code to add it to your own website or blog if you like.)

Looking for something to laugh at this holiday season? Or maybe you’re looking for something fun to include in your church bulletin this Christmas? The Reverend Fun cartoon archives contain over 50 Christmas-themed cartoons that’ll make you smile.

You can view all the Christmas cartoons at the above link, and you can also download black-and-white versions for use in a bulletin or other publication–for low-circulation publications (like a church bulletin), reprinting RF cartoons is free (read the details of RF’s reprint permissions). Stop by and check out some of these RF holiday classics!

Looking for something light-hearted this Christmas season? Mikey’s Funnies is a daily clean humor email list. Beginning on Monday, December 4, the Funnies will feature their popular, annual series of Christmas-themed humor. The series also periodically features a more serious, reflective thought on the season. These are great to use in newsletters, messages/sermons, or just to enjoy!

While browsing through the Discipleship Journal archives at the Lifetime Guarantee website, I came across a classic article by Preston Gillham in which he conducts a mock “interview with the Devil.” Echoing the verbose devil of C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, Lucifer candidly discusses with the interviewer the tactics by which good Christians can be pulled into sin. Here’s a sample from the interview:

Q: If it wouldn’t be a breach of security, could you discuss in more detail what you mean when you say, “employ the simplest attack possible”?

A: Oh, certainly, and there’s no breach of security…. Even the most advanced management and marketing theories strive for simplicity in their product development. We are no different. While we do have stratagems calling for direct frontal assaults, such as XXX rated movie theaters to tempt the sensual needs, most of our negotiation, that is temptation, is directed at the simple, mundane areas of life. Granted, it is great to make a big sale by enticing a strong Christian into a porn house while he’s away from home on business. But, we have far more success with a simpler approach: compromised values while watching HBO; self-justification for a “small” impropriety; a novel with indiscretions that stick in the mind, etc. Ultimately, these pay off far more lucratively than a large, complex assault. This methodology has been implemented into every conceivable area of life.

All tongue-in-cheek, of course–but Gillham makes some interesting points about the deceptive power of “little sins,” which can often ensnare well-intention Christians who would never fall for the “big” sins and temptations.

The Drew Marshall Show is “Canada’s most listened to spiritual talkback program”–a radio show that talks to all manner of people about their spiritual values and beliefs. Earlier this month, Christian comedienne (and Gospelcom Alliance member) Kerri Pomarolli was invited to the show for an interview about her faith and career. The interview audio is available online; scroll down the “past shows” page to find it.

Christian comedian (and Alliance member) Kerri Pomarolli will be appearing live on the Jay Leno show this Friday, March 3. Mark your calendars!

Tired of the dating scene? Wondering if and when God is going to introduce you to that “special someone”? Christian comedienne Kerri Pomarolli knows exactly what you’re going through, and talks about her own experience with “waiting on God” in her new book If I’m Waiting on God Then What Am I Doing on the Christian Chatroom: Confessions of a Do-It-Yourself Single. Kerri uses her wit and sense of humor to talk about the very real and difficult situation that many Christian singles face.

Kerri’s book officially hits bookstores this week. In the meantime, you can read sample chapters (and find out more about Kerri’s comedy ministry) at her website.

Along with a complete redesign, several much-requested new features have been added to Gospelcom’s daily cartoon! It’s the same everyday irreverent humor you know and love, but with some new goodies that readers have asked for: rating cartoons is easier and quicker; you can now receive an end-of-the-week email digest of the week’s cartoons; and finding and downloading the cartoons you want is much easier.

So stop by and let the Reverend know what you think!

Columnist James Watkins has been making humorous annual predictions (with a serious message) since 2002, and he’s back this year with some startling and daring guesses about what the New Year holds. Will there be armed conflict in 2006? Will a famous Hollywood couple divorce? These are the questions that only James can answer.