Know anyone in the Calgary area?  Please let them know about this event next weekend.
This is a solo piano concert of hymns arranged in various styles.  The hymns range from ancient (Be Thou My Vision) to modern (In Christ Alone) and I include spoken notes on the words and music or relate my personal connection to the song.

Sounds like a Carol Burnett kind of thing   

Many years ago, Wally, The Rhinocerous Party of Canada pledged, if elected, to set up a national lottery which would eliminate the federal deficit once and for all.
Tickets to the draw would be $10,000, and the grand prize would be $1 billion, with an "early bird" prize of Petro Canada!
Folks who constantly demand "magic bullet" solutions to deep cultural shifts, such as secularization, syncretism, and religious/therepeutic overlap remind me of the Rhinocerous Party, except that the Rhinocerous Party realized that their magic bullet suggestions were not altogether practical, and did not become deeply morally offended when their "solutions" were not adopted.

Does touching hair followed by touching ear before saying anything funny count?

In wealth generation thoughts, there are three main views on the role of government; 1. government ought to stay out (no interference--business people ought to do with no restrictions), 2. government ought to be like life-guards (keep off until someone is in trouble--only then it should jump in to rescue), 3. government should be involved in every facet of business.

Grumpy seems to advocate #2 category insisting that Mom & Pop shops ought to be left alone to eke out a living because Mom & Pop shops still doing well. WW is usually in #1 but looking at today's PCC insists that #2 is necessary because it is in trouble big time. Warren and Hybel are in #1; Conservative/Renewal folks insist #3 for all except themselves because they do believe in the Holy Spirit to flourish them in #1; Liberal/Social Justice/National office folks are in #3 and insist all ought to be in #3.

In transitional period, #1 folks always seem to show life and new direction. Look at the tech sector. Nortel lives like a king one day then dies. Google rise up over night. Apple finally gets its day with iphone, but could easily disappear tomorrow. So Grumpy is suspicious while WW wants some entrepreneurial spirited individuals.

I on one hand think Grumpy is right in that Mom & Pop shops ought to be left alone and on another hand WW is right in that junior ought to be let loose in the world to be like Warren and Hybel to experiment to find what works and what does not. Yet, I am more like Grumpy when it comes to insisting on how much leash we ought to allow so that a little bit of success does not go to junior's head; for junior confuses his success with the vindication by God.
 

Well, I use the expression "knock on wood" but I don't believe it has any power.  So I'm not sure where that puts me.   

Time to be honest! What pagan practices and superstitions do you practice?

Do you knock on wood, throw salt. step on sharp objects, avoid cracked pavement.........?

I will admit to doing these things only because of personal relationships and it is easier to do it than to get into a long "debate" on the subject.

By the way, WW, it is God's grace as made known through Jesus Christ that holds the key to salvation.
No individual preacher holds that for anyone; God does not grant any of us that kind of power.
Not really into megalomania, WW. Never have been.

Easy there, WW, I wan't particularly talking to you, (it is not all about you! )
I was commenting on the difference in committment between people who were discouraged from worshipping God for 50 years, and people who apparently long to be the centre of worship themselves.
Now go get some frozen carbon dioxide mega-cannisters, and spray the bedbugs on theatre seats as a form of outreach to lost souls longing to be found - comfortably.

Well you're really living up to your name today Grumpy

You've deliberately twisted my post beyond recognition and that's a fact. I am not wrong to imply that our denomination is declining, and I believe the official numbers are overstated by including many people who no longer attend but haven't officially cancelled their membership, and if you suggest that every congregation culls membership lists every year. It's not about preserving the denomination, it's about the denomination facilitating the lost to worship God. God, if you haven't read, doesn't need the PCC if we are reluctant to build the kingdom.

And neither did I imply that we keep up with Warren or Hybels: they are merely examples of people who, with limited resources, built ministries by going out into their communities and shared the Gospel. The fact that they now lead mega ministries, and because of their efforts thousand of people have been exposed to the love of Christ.

Your cynicism shows through in your last paragraph is astounding. I've certainly never advocated Prosperity preaching, and I reject it. But what you don't seem to grasp is that the people you attack so vehemently are a segment of today's unchurched that desperately need to be reached. You may not like them, but you have the key to their salvation. Some people are economically deprived and need care, but others may be rolling in money but are spiritually dead.

I'm attributing your tirade to just having a bad day. Hope you feel better tomorrow.

Cheers