Subject: Crystal Cathedral

• Happy Motoring

  USA Today, the newspaper designed for people who'd rather be watching television, brings us news of a new survey ranking the two hundred largest American cities in terms of driving safety. Compiled by Allstate Insurance, the survey measures the average rate at which drivers in a city are involved in accidents. The safest city, according to Allstate, is Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This makes sense, since in my experience, South Dakota is one of the least likely places on the planet for anything ex

  May 24, 2006

• OC Pastors Jihadi Appeasers?

  That's what the Michelle Malkins and Jonathan Constantines of the world will undoubtedly screech once this open letter of apology to Muslims by Christian pastors percolates through the blogosphere. The letter--which appeared Nov. 18 as a full-page ad in the New York Times--is an ecumenical overture to Muslim scholars after 138 of them signed a letter in October urging peace between each others' religions. Among the Christian signers with Orange County ties: Rick "Purpose-Driven Life" Warren and

  November 26, 2007

• "The Glory of Christmas": A Review by Outsiders

  We here in Orange County are so jaded by the Crystal Cathedral's Glory of Christmas spectacular that we frequently forget how stupendous the production is. Leave it to the holy geniuses over at the Wittenburg Door to remind us of our jewel. Under the title, "And They Laid Him in a Manger, Somewhere Out By John Wayne Airport," writer Becky Garrison said The Glory of Christmas can "best be described as a combination Joel Osteen/Andrew Lloyd Weber/Branson, Missouri spectacle of the first two chapte

  December 20, 2007

• To Do Tonight 3/18

  Chris Williams Sextet, 8 p.m. See award-winning jazz vocalist Chris Williams perform at the prestigious Steamers Jazz Cafe. Steamers 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA, 92832 (714) 871-8800 Comedy Juice, 8 p.m. One of the most famous comedy shows in the country is now in Brea! Comedy Juice features the best comedians in the country, including comics you know from TV. Brea Improv 120 S. Brea Blvd., Brea, CA, 92821 (714) 482-0700 The Kenny Kane Show, 8 p.m. Kenny Kane & Friends: James P. C

  March 18, 2008

• Hour of Power Now 2,000 Episodes Old

  Sorry I'm late on this, but The Hour of Power—that uniquely Orange County slice of televised Christianity hosted from Garden Grove's Crystal Cathedral by Robert H. Schuller and his son, Robert A.—celebrated its 2,000th consecutive broadcast on June 1. Watch it here. Thinking about how this Papist only flips through The Hour's Sunday morning broadcast reminded us of some of the scummier people Schuller has allowed in his church: * Who can forget indicted former Orange County Sheriff Mike

  June 9, 2008

• Warren Ain't no Schuller

  The eyes of America fall upon Saddleback Church tomorrow, where recent Time cover boy Rick Warren plays Tim Russert while he interviews presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama. There is a lot of grousing amongst people for the outlandish admission fees Warren is charging, monies he claims will go to one of his many charitable (read: evangelizing) efforts. Which reminds us: why can't Warren be more like the Crystal Cathedral's Robert Schuller in this regard? Schuller, of course, revol

  August 15, 2008

• Rick Warren Superstar

  Just about everything that can be said has been said about pastor Rick Warren's performance this past weekend with underlings John McCain and Barack Obama. Except this: by getting all moving cameras in the Free World fixed on his Saddleback Church, Warren officially propelled himself past two other evangelicals with a long history of publicity mongering around these parts. You knew the granddaddy of 'em all, Robert H. Schuller, who has since handed the Crystal Cathedral's reins to his lifelong

  August 19, 2008

• Crystal Fur Ball

  January 14, 1999

• From Nazis to Schuller to Arabs

  January 22, 2004

• Eight Days

  March 25, 2004

• Has Orange County Christianity Jumped the Shark?

  The country is abuzz with President-elect Barack Obama's choice of Saddleback Church's Rick "Purpose-Driven Life" Warren to offer the invocation at next month's presidential inauguration. Let others debate the merits of the choice--I personally think Warren's beginning to wade into the political waters he long swore to forsake--but what interests me is that Warren is assuming this spotlight treatment at a time when his home base is increasingly losing its influence over American Christianity.I d

  December 18, 2008

• This Week in the OC Weekly

  In "Out of Tune" Gustavo Arellano interviews Bob Gunn, the man who helped Mariners Chruch become an evangelical giant. Then the church fired him for being gay, and they've been in and out of court since. News has Matt Coker explaining why Pastor Wiley Drake thinks he still has a unseating Barack Obama--sorry, Barack Hussein Obama in "The Preacher vs. the President-Elect."And R. Scott Moxley takes a look at the new math on how many Mike Carona campaign contributors got badges in "Moxley Confident

  December 19, 2008

• Orange County Register Readers Meet Their Nuttier Competition

  *UPDATEDIt appears Orange County Register readers watch the Channel 4 news. Or, at least, some of the comments left on KNBC's online version of a breaking story about a man committing suicide this morning on the altar of Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove read as if they could have been lifted from ocregister.com. From FEMA's in charge: "You better be scared. Anyone not purchasing a firearm for personal protection is kidding themselves to the dire situation that America WILL be faced with. We hav

  February 18, 2009

• It's a Quick Read 8

  Orange County Register: The man who shot himself to death inside Crystal Cathedral two weeks ago thought he was a prophet of God and heard the voices of demons inside his head. Wait, there's more than one of us? The Reg also has video of the dude. . . . A Costa Mesa Police officer and another from neighboring Huntington Beach were cleared by the district attorney in the shooting of a man armed with a screwdriver. This only would have been news in Orange County had our DA not

  March 6, 2009

• It's a Quick Read 17

  Orange County Register: South Coast Plaza shoppers are oblivious to President Obama's visit two miles away. If they can still afford South Coast Plaza, they are oblivious to his message, too. . . . Another Kobe Bryant court appearance, another dismissal. This time he was getting out of jury duty. Whew! No need to buy the wife a diamond. . . . Aliso Niguel High School security supervisor and part-time basketball coach Thomas Cole pleaded guilty to having sex with a teen girl and is expected

  March 19, 2009

• To Do This Weekend 4/10-4/12

  Timber!, Daily until Sun., May 3Featuring Chad Eaton's storybook paintings of lumberjacks and Abe Lincoln look-a-likes strike a curious chord with the young and cultured.Hibbleton Art Gallery, 112 W. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton, CAEgg Hunt, Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m.The event will include an arts and crafts faire, community performances on stage, a children's area with face painting, art workshops and games, a monster egg hunt where kids search for hidden eggs containing monster toys and stickers,

  April 10, 2009

• The Glory of Easter

  Crystal Cathedral

  April 9, 2009

• The Glory of Christmas

  December 25, 2008

• Crystal Cathedral's 'Glory of Christmas' Delivers Baby Jesus, Flying Angels and Camel Poop

  December 18, 2008

• In Excess Deo

  December 6, 2007

• Church du Soleil

  The Rev. Schuller's daughter puts on a show. Very cool puppets rule

  August 4, 2005

• When Memorial Becomes Spectacle

  August 8, 2002

• Paradise by the Plasma Light

  Kutlug Atamans American dreams dont always play so well on the screen

  March 22, 2007

• Diary of a Mad Year

  Jan. 1-Dec. 13

  December 28, 2006

• 10 Years Best

  October 19, 2006

• How OC Are You When It Comes to "S.E.X."?

  February 9, 2006

• Diary of a Mad County

  January 5, 2006

• Commie Girl

  December 22, 2005

• Garden Grove

  October 20, 2005

• Hitchcocki, Hell and Trout Fishing

  Ten theatrical reasons you aint going nowhere till spring

  October 6, 2005

• 'If They Get Beaten, Then They Asked for It'

  August 25, 2005

• Church du Soleil

  The Rev. Schuller's daughter puts on a show. Very cool puppets rule

  August 4, 2005

• Oh, Dread

  June 30, 2005

• Stereotype OC Positive

  March 31, 2005

• Puck Off!

  January 20, 2005

• Hour of Scour

  January 6, 2005

• When Irate Eyes Are Smiling

  December 30, 2004

• Diary of a Mad County

  May 15, 2003

• OC Weekly Marks the Passing of . . .

  January 2, 2003

• Das Boot!

  May 23, 2002

• Tweekers Ball

  April 25, 2002

• To Protect and Swerve

  April 11, 2002

• Letters

  March 7, 2002

• Hour of White Power

  February 21, 2002

• Garden Grove

  September 27, 2001

• New Music

  August 16, 2001

• Sex, Drugs and Narcissism

  March 29, 2001

• Gypsies, Tramps and Bigots

  March 30, 2000

• Computer Girls Christmas Guide

  December 16, 1999

• The Year in Eats

  January 7, 1999