yallerdawg

yallerdawg's Journal

November 8, 2017

25 Largest Churches in America

Millions! And everywhere!

Familiar names, too!

To determine the 25 largest churches in America, 24/7 Wall St. compiled weekly attendance figures for the congregations of megachurches with data from the Hartford Institute for Religion (HIRR) research. A megachurch is defined as having regular weekly attendance of at least 2,000 people. Denominations came from a list of 65 denominations provided by the HIRR. Names of pastors, and church locations also came from the HIRR. HIRR research is updated regularly and attempts to reflect the most current conditions.

While denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention and Independent Christian Churches make several appearances, the nation’s largest churches are disproportionately independent, non-denominational. Reflecting a recent trend, 40% of the more than 1,500 mega churches in North America and a majority of the hundred largest churches are unaffiliated denominations.

25. The Potter’s House, Dallas, TX Pastor: T.D. Jakes

24. McLean Bible Church, McLean, VA

23. Crossroads, Cincinnati, OH

22. Calvary Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM

21. Christ the King Community Church, Burlington, WA

20. Cornerstone Church, San Antonio, TX Pastor: John Hagee

19. Eagle Brook Church, Centerville, MN

18. Woodlands Church, The Woodlands, TX Pastor: Kerry Shook

17. Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL

16. Christ Fellowship, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

15. Second Baptist Church, Houston, TX

14. Dream City Church, Phoenix, AZ

13. Central Christian Church, Henderson, NV

12. Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY

11. Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA Pastor: Rick Warren

10. Church of the Highlands, Birmingham, AL

9. Elevation Church, Matthews, NC

8. NewSpring Church, Anderson, SC

7. Christ’s Church of the Valley, Peoria, AZ

6. Fellowship Church, Grapevine, TX

5. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL

4. Gateway Church, Southlake, TX

3. Life.Church, Edmond, OK

2. North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, GA

And, drum roll please!

1. Lakewood Church, Houston, TX Pastor: Joel Osteen

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/25_largest_churches_in_america.html#incart_m-rpt-2

November 6, 2017

"Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?"

By Rabbi Aron Moss

*****

When you have an explanation, pain doesn't seem so bad anymore. We can tolerate suffering when we know why it is happening.

And so, if we could make sense of innocent people suffering, if we could rationalise tragedy, then we could live with it. We would be able to hear the cry of sweet children in pain and not be horrified. We would tolerate seeing broken hearts and shattered lives, for we would be able to neatly explain them away. Our question would be answered, and we could move on.

But as long as the pain of innocents remains a burning question, we are bothered by its existence. And as long as we can't explain pain, we must alleviate it. If innocent people suffering does not fit into our worldview, we must eradicate it. Rather than justifying their pain, we need to get rid of it.

So keep asking the question, why do bad things happen to good people. But stop looking for answers. Start formulating a response. Take your righteous anger and turn it into a force for doing good. Redirect your frustration with injustice and unfairness and channel it into a drive to fight injustice and unfairness. Let your outrage propel you into action. When you see innocent people suffering, help them. Combat the pain in the world with goodness. Alleviate suffering wherever you can.

We don't want answers, we don't want explanations, and we don't want closure. We want an end to suffering. And we dare not leave it up to G‑d to alleviate suffering. He is waiting for us to do it. That's what we are here for.

November 5, 2017

In Alabama Senate race between Doug Jones and Roy Moore, will black voters show up?

Source: al.com, by John Sharp

Political observers believe that black voter turnout in deep red Alabama is crucial to Democrat Doug Jones' chances of defeating Republican Roy Moore in the general election. Moore is leading almost all polls in recent weeks, with an advantage ranging anywhere from 6 to 8 percent, and even higher.

The number of Republican voters who showed up during the Aug. 22 primary compared to Democrats illustrated the stark difference: Republicans had approximately 418,000 votes cast during the GOP primary, with Moore as the top vote-getter at 162,570. The entire Democratic field generated only 154,581 votes.

Nationally, the black voter turnout rate declined for the first time in 20 years in a presidential election. It fell to 59.6 percent in last November after reaching a record-high of 66.6 percent in 2012 when President Barack Obama was up for re-election. The 7-percentage-point decline from the previous presidential election is the largest on record for blacks.

"When you have a candidate like Roy Moore who is an existential threat to progress in Alabama and to the health and well-being of voters in the Black Belt and to folks in Decatur (and elsewhere), we believe voters will exercise their self-preservation instincts," said Jones' campaign manager Wade Perry. "He's bad for Alabama."

Read it all at: http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/11/in_alabama_senate_race_between.html#incart_river_home

November 3, 2017

How to fix the Kevin Spacey "House of Cards" problem.

Anyone who watched the original British "trilogy" knows exactly how to do it.

Should I reveal more?

"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment."

November 3, 2017

It's time to take Roy Moore seriously again (Alabamafication of America Series)

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/11/where_have_you_gone_roy_moore.html#incart_river_home

As I predicted almost two months ago when Moore was trying to weasel out of a debate with Strange, Moore now has no intention of sharing a stage with Jones.

But going completely radio silent, leaving all the campaigning to surrogates, social media managers and Breitbart News?

That is a poor substitute for democracy.

If you can't trust your candidate to speaking without saying something embarrassing before the election, how can voters trust him to mind his public musings after the election?

October 26, 2017

Syfy Channel is hittin' it!

Just ended "Channel Zero: No-End House"...

...will be followed by "Channel House: Butchers Block" in 2018, with some familiar faces.

Meanwhile, we can get "Happy!" in a psychotic sort of way.

October 26, 2017

Many Voters Dislike Trump's Cuts to Health Insurer Subsidies

But voters more likely to view Democrats, Obama as responsible for the Affordable Care Act

Source: Morning Consult, by Jon Reid

Morning Consult/Politico Poll

*****

Though the Trump administration’s action could impact millions of people who get coverage through Obamacare, most voters agree that former President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress – not Trump or congressional Republicans – are most responsible for the state of the ACA.

*****

That sentiment transcended party lines, with 61 percent of Democrats and independents agreeing with 78 percent of Republicans that Obama is most responsible for the current state of the 2010 law.

*****

Even as some members of Congress push to stabilize the ACA, voters appeared confused about what exactly Congress has done on Obamacare. Nearly a fourth (24 percent) said Obamacare has already been repealed in part, and another 15 percent of survey respondents said the law has been repealed in full or repealed and replaced. (Forty-five percent correctly noted that Obamacare has not been scrapped or replaced.)

*****
https://morningconsult.com/2017/10/25/many-voters-dislike-trumps-cuts-health-insurer-subsidies/?wpisrc=nl_health202&wpmm=1

October 23, 2017

Former "Manson" guitarist Scott Putesky/Daisy Berkowitz deceased at 49...

after a prolonged battle with colon cancer.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8006978/daisy-berkowitz-former-marilyn-manson-guitarist-dies-49

"Sweet dreams are made of this."

Back in the day (standing on the right).

Marilyn Manson posted at https://www.instagram.com/p/Bak7juxh3ax/ :

marilynmanson Scott Putesky and I made great music together. We had our differences over the years, but I will always remember the good times more.

Everyone should listen to “Man That You Fear” in his honor. That was our favorite.

October 23, 2017

Bowe Bergdahl's Sentencing Delayed Over Trump's Comments

Source: NBC News, by Morgan Radford and Corky Siemaszko

The long-awaited sentencing of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was delayed Monday after a legal battle erupted over the word "but" in President Donald Trump's most recent remarks about the case.

Bergdahl's defense team argued that their client could not get a fair shake from the court because Trump, during a Rose Garden appearance on Oct. 16, at first said he couldn't talk about the case and then added: "But I think people have heard my comments in the past."

Bergdahl’s lawyers argued Trump’s remarks while running for office made a fair trial impossible because as commander in chief, everybody involved in the trial answers to him.

Nance said Trump’s comments were “disturbing and disappointing” but did not constitute unlawful command influence because they were uttered before he was elected.

Sounds like what the so-called Commander-in-Chief has to say NOW makes a difference.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bowe-bergdahl-s-sentencing-delayed-over-trump-s-comments-n813251

October 23, 2017

10-23-80.

My sobriety date.

37 years ago I entered a self-funded residential work/rehab program in San Antonio, TX, created and run by people just like me.

All I know is, "Keep coming back. It works!"

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