The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culturehere. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.
1. Teledu - I'm watching television, tell Eddie. 2. Hedfan - He is learning to fly, the head van [driver] 3. Ty - The new house is shaped like a T 4. Canu - He can come to you to learn how to sing, can 'e? 5. Cerdd - Listen to the music. Take care th[at you do.] 6. Meddal - The flesh of this peach is so soft it could win a med(d)al. 7. Melys - He's partial to things that are sweet, Mel is. 8. Hawdd - They make it look easy. I don't know how th[ey do it.] 9. Mefus - She loves strawberries does Mavis. 10. Bread - Nothing is better than bread bar a [cake.]
1. Crud - From his cradle, he was taught the creed 2. Crys - My shirt has a crease 3. Byd - The world is round like a bead 4. Caws - Cheese is made from the milk of cows 5. Duw - In all things give God his due 6. Ffordd - He came along the road driving a Ford(d) 7. Dim - He knows nothing; he's rather dim 8. Wedyn - The barn dance was afterwards - later the barn dance but first the weddin'
9. Ateb - Question: When do I look for shells on the beach? Answer: When the tide is at ebb
10. Bedd - Teach me to live, that I may dread the grave as little as my bed
Years ago when we used to pass a Holiday Inn I would say to my wife, that would be a nice place to spend a Holiday In(n). She never used to get it. Here are 10 more puns based on the same idea. (I know but it's out of my system now).
1. That's a nice place to have a Holiday In(n) 2. That's a nice place to spend a few Days In(n) 3. That's a nice place to spend a few Knights In(n) 4. That's a nice place to take up Residence In(n) 5. That's a nice place to grab some Comfort In(n) 6. That's a nice place to put up a Premier In(n) 7. That's a nice place to Sleep In(n) 8. That's a nice place to spend all Four Seasons In(n) 9. That's a nice place to Stay In(n) 10. That's a nice place to find some Quality In(n)
It references to 15 states of the United States in the form of puns: Della wear, new jersey, Calla ‘phone ya, how ar’ ya, Mrs sip, mini-soda, Ore gone, I’ll ask ‘er, taxes, Wiscon sin, new brass key, Arkan saw, Tenne see, Flora die and misery.
2. When I see an elephant fly (from Dumbo)
It includes these word tricks I saw a peanut stand, heard a rubber band, And seen a needle wink its eye ... I've seen a front porch swing, heard a diamond ring I've seen a polka dot railroad tie .... I saw a clothes horse rear up and buck And they tell me that a man made a vegetable truck ... I heard a fireside chat, I saw a baseball bat ....
These are the best but also note
3. Johnny B Goode (Chuck Berry)
... Maybe someday your name will be in lights Saying 'Johnny B. Goode tonight' ... 4. Who are you? (Who)
... Who are you? Who, who, who, who? ...
5. Another one on the band name can be found in Merry Christmas (Slade)
... Do you ride on down the hillside On a buggy you have made When you land upon your head You'll know that you've been 'Slade' (sleighed, slayed) ....
6. Diane Young (Vampire Weekend)
... Irish and proud, baby, naturally But you got the luck of a Kennedy So grab the wheel, keep on holding it tight 'Til you're tottering off into that good night If Diane Young won't change your mind, Baby, baby, baby, baby right on time ....
7. Ticket to ride (Beatles)
Pun on Ticket to Ryde (apparently). The name Beatles itself involves word play.
8. If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me? (Bellamy Brothers)
9. The One On The Right Is On The Left (Johnny Cash)
A song about keeping politics out of music
10. Looking out my window through the pain
(Mel Street)
... So 'til she returns, I'll wait for her, looking out my window through the pain ...
1. Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed a man [Hebrew: adam] from the dust of the ground [Hebrew: adamah] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 2. Genesis 2:25/3:1 The man and his wife were both naked, [Hebrew: arumim]and they felt no shame. Now the serpent was the most cunning [Hebrew: arum] of all the animals that the LORD God had made.
3. Genesis 40: 13, 19, 20 In all three verses the phrase lift up your head is found but not always with the same meaning
4. Judges 15:15, 16 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. Then Samson said With a donkey's jawbone I have made donkeys of them With a donkey's jawbone I have killed a thousand men." This could be with the jawbone of a donkey I piled many piles [Hebrew Bilchi hachamor chamor chamorasayim]
5. Jeremiah 1:11, 12 The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," [Hebrew shâqêd] I replied. The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching [Hebrew shâqad] to see that my word is fulfilled."
6. Jeremiah 20:3 The next day, when Pashhur (the name means spread with nobility) released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD's name for you is not Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side.
7. Hosea 1:4, 5 Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Call him Jezreel, [Hebrew God will scatter] because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. In that day I will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jezreel."
8. Amos 8:1, 2 This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: a basket of ripe fruit.
Amo 8:2 "What do you see, Amos?" he asked. "A basket of ripe fruit," I answered. Then the LORD said to me, "The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.
9. Micah 1:10-15
Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all. In Beth Ophrah roll in the dust. Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir. Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you. Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem. You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot. You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath. The town of Akzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel. I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam.
(“Beth-le-aphrah” means “town of dust” so Micah says “in Beth-le-aphrah roll yourselves in the dust.”; In “Pass on your way, inhabitants of Shaphir” the name Shaphri is very close to the Hebrew word for fair or beautiful, a “fair town.”; the inhabitants of Za-anan (“going out”) will not be able to go out.
Beth-ezel (“Standton”) will have its standing place taken away; In Maroth (bitter land) they wait anxiously for better things, but it will not come; for Jerusalem, the city of peace, misfortune and disaster is coming. No peace is coming.; Lachish - “Chariotsburg” - is addressed in reference to the chariots that were stored there.; Moresheth Gath: “betrothed” - the city is promised to another: “Therefore you shall give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath.”; Achzib - “Deceitville” shall be a deceitful thing; Mareshah - (possessor or heir) - will have a new, foreign heir.)
10. Matthew 6:16a
When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure [Greek aphanizō] their faces to show [Greek phainō] others they are fasting.
(Also see Matthew 3.9 and Mark 4.26 where it is claimed that the Aramaic behind the Greek involves punning))
I came across these ancient puns recorde by Len Denham here.
Although it was many years ago I can still remember a couple of their witticisms. The trolleybus conductor who as the "trolley" approached Child's Hill would call out "Child's 'ill, call the doctor!" and the conductor on the 28 bus route who, as the stop for West Hampstead Cemetery loomed, would shout "West Hampstead Cemetery! Any more for the Underground!" And the terrifying noise of the trams as they passed under the railway at Cricklewood. As a four year old I hated them and was so pleased to see them replaced with the splendid new trolleybuses.
Someone who knows me well sent me these. Some old chestnuts here.
CREATIVE PUNS FOR "EDUCATED MINDS"
1. The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian. (I nu it! - GB)
3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of maths disruption.
5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was accused of littering.
8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France could result in Linoleum Blownapart.
9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie. 10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
11. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
12. Two hats were hanging on a rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.' 13. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me. 14. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehabilitation centre said: 'Keep off the Grass.' 15. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was , a nurse said, 'No change yet'.
16. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion. 17. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large. 18. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran. 19. A backward poet writes inverse.
20. In democracy, it's your vote that counts. In feudalism, it's your Count that votes.
21. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
My parents were Perry Como fans and I think of this song from time to time. As a fan of punning I think this is very funny and hard to beat.
Oh, what did della wear boy,
What did della wear?
What did della wear boy,
What did della wear?
She wore a brand new jersey (3)
Thats what she did wear.
One, two, three, four! (English)
Oh, why did calla phone ya,
Why did calla phone?
Why did calla phone ya,
Was she all alone?
She called to say how are ya (3)
Thats why she did call.
Uno, dos, tres, cuatro! (Spanish)
Oh, what did mrs sip, boy,
What did mrs sip?
What did mrs sip, boy,
Through her pretty lips?
She sipped a mini-soda (3)
Thats what she did sip.
Un, deux, trois, quatre! (French)
Oh, where as Ore gone, boy,
Where has Ore gone?
If you want, Ill ask 'er,
I'll ask 'er where she's gone
She went to pay her taxes (3)
That's where she has gone.
Eins, zwei, drei, vier! (German)
Oh, how did wiscon sin, boy,
She stole a new brass key,
Too bad that arkan saw, boy,
And so did tenne see?
It made poor flora die, boy,
It made poor flora die, you see,
She died in misery, boy,
She died in misery.
Oh, what did della wear boy,
What did della wear?
What did della wear boy,
What did della wear?
States mentioned (15 of 50): Delaware, New Jersey, California, Hawaii, Mississippi, Minnesota, Oregon, Alaska, Texas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri.
It appears to be a traditional and there are other verses. Eg (another 8 - Idaho, Maryland, Iowa, Washington, Oklahoma, Connecticut, the Dakotas)
Oh, what did Ida hoe, boy …. She hoed her merry land, boy
Oh, what did Io weigh, boy … She weighed a washing ton, boy
Oh, where has Ore gone, boy … She's gone to okla home, boy
And
How did Connecti cut, boy … He cut with his arkan saw
What else did Delaware, boy …. She wore her northda coat, boy (or southda)
That leaves 28. I can manage another 18:
What does Ohi owe, boy?
He owes the bill you toreWhat does Ohi owe, boy?
That much again and more.
Oh, why did Massa choose it ... Because he are 'is ownerOh, why did Ala bar me ... Cause I was ill in Oy, boy
Just where I rode I landed ... Right in de aniseed, boy
Oh, can Sas find some space, boy? Can Tucky show a care?
Oh, Lou is 'e a nat'ral?
But for his pencil vain, yeah
Oh, why d'ya call Orado?Oh why O Ming, oh why?
It's the main thing when I sit
For this I'll never die!
