FRENCH-FRY FRIDAY: Meet my righteously antique Twitter friends Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell
French-Fry Fridays are a chance to lighten the mood and enjoy ourselves a bit after a week of serious, sometimes deep discussions.
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Barton Stone
Alexander Campbell
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Through an Oprah-ishly modern social networking Web site called Twitter, I have had the privilege to connect with two righteously antique dudes: Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell.
Despite reports of their demise, these key figures in the Restoration Movement (sometimes called the Stone-Campbell Movement) remain alive and well on the World Wide Web. As does their sense of humor, even in the 140-character sound bites allowed by Twitter.
To illustrate, consider the following Twitter exchange between me, Barton and Alexander after I asked my followers (people who keep up with my tweets) to vote for my friend Randy Roper in a contest to win a free trip to New York. (Randy won the trip, by the way!)
Me (my Twitter handle is @cofcnews): Vote to send friend/minister Randy Roper on a free trip to NY. Click on “Gonna Wear My Thunderwear” at http://bit.ly/n7QU2 and pass it on!
Alexander Campbell: @CofCnews Wait. We’re voting for this guy?!?! Why wasn’t there a vote to send me to Pepperdine this week??
Me: @Alxndrcampbell Me and you both! We are the only Restorationists not on the beach — I mean, listening to Bible lectures — this week.
Alexander Campbell: @CofCnews Lectures…. indeed… why else would we be there…
Barton Stone: @CofCnews I’m not there either, and not to make comparisons, but I’m way more of a restorationist than you are.
Me: @BartonStone Can we ever obtain unity with those kind of statements on your part?
Barton Stone: @cofcnews You DID leave me out, mentioning restorationists not at Pepperdine. This is the STONE-Campbell movement, for goodness sakes!
Me: @bartonstone I do hope you’ll accept my sincere apology. No offense intended.
Barton Stone: @cofcnews Apology accepted. In fact, I have mailed you half of a heart shaped locket. I’ll keep the other half and put your picture in it.
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Then there was the Twitter exchange that ensued yesterday after I posted an item from The Tennessean newspaper about a couple who waited to kiss until their wedding:
Me: Couples save first kiss for wedding day (Harpeth Hills Church of Christ): http://bit.ly/ANFb3
John Dobbs (@johndobbs): @CofCnews I think that’s weird.
Alexander Campbell: @cofcnews @johndobbs I also think that’s weird.
Me: @johndobbs @Alxndrcampbell It’s the whole slippery slope thing. You are familiar with that, aren’t you? Ask @bartonstone
Barton Stone: Not sure what kissing could lead to, @CofCnews @Alxndrcampbell @johndobbs, but DANCING is indeed a slippery slope!
Me: @BartonStone You’d be surprised at the number of Restoration teens who actually go to the prom these days.
Barton Stone: @CofCnews The numbers of sexually active teens is also considerably high these days. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
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Yes, I too went to my senior prom. Didn’t lead to anything. Promise.
Bobby, I love these Restoration dudes. They are hilarious!
Yeah, they are funny dudes, James! My next investigative project will be to uncover their true identities.
I feel like I can finally get all my Restoration questions answered!
My exchange yesterday with @BartonStone:
TamieRoss@BartonStone … Should women wear jeans to Sunday night services?
BartonStone@TamieRoss … It would be inappropriate in any public setting for women (or men for that matter!) to show up without pants on!
And the question I just asked @Alxndrcampbell:
TamieRoss@Alxndrcampbell Is there a place for vanity in the church today? And, if so, should it extend to the care and maintenance of one’s eyebrows?