Playing with baby Jesus
“Would you like to come upstairs and play in my room?” asked my 3-year old niece, for whom I was babysitting.
“Sure,” I said, and up we went. Within minutes we were on the floor together, playing with toys.
The Presbyterian Outlook
Creating and curating trustworthy resources for the church, the Presbyterian Outlook connects disciples of Jesus Christ through compelling and committed conversation for the proclamation of the Gospel.
More Stories from this Author
“The Brightest Star in the Sky”
Of all the stars who have ever hung upon the eastern sky,
There is one remembered above all the rest … no others even try.
Tom Gillespie dies at 83
Thomas W. Gillespie, retired president of Princeton Theological Seminary and for decades a key figure in Presbyterian theological education, died Nov. 5 of complications from surgery at the University Medical Center in Princeton. He was 83.
God exits stage left
In October, the public watched the debacle of poor police reaction to the “Occupy Oakland” protests.
A church can change
Gus, we read your book and would like to try what it says in our church in Atlantic..” The personnel committee had read “Service is the Point” and wanted to try it out.
Old churches — new union churches
In thinking about our declining Presbyterian Church membership, one possible way to stem the tide is to establish new union churches with other denominations.
Moving ahead, step by (affordable) step
Okay, busy times, lean budget, constituents being made nervous by general economy and ugly politics. What can you do?
In Dying We Are Born — The Challenge and the Hope for Congregations
by Peter Bush
The Alban Institute. 138 pages
reviewed by MARY HARRIS TODD
“No, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” Peter cried when Jesus declared that the way to life led through death.
The Beauty of the Word — The Challenge and Wonder of Preaching
by James C. Howell
Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Ky. 178 pages
reviewed by ROY HOWARD
I have read plenty of books on the art of preaching. I would sacrifice most of them for this one by James Howell.
U.S. churches will continue to press for Cuba-U.S. normalization
HAVANA (Presbyterian News Service) The National Council of Churches in the U.S.A. (NCC) will continue to press for normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba, an end to the 53-year-old U.S. embargo of Cuba and release of the “Cuban Five” held in U.S. prisons, NCC General Secretary Michael Kinnamon told a packed press conference here Dec. 2.
An open letter
The Presbyterian Fellowship recently released “Draft Theology Proposals” prepared by a “Theology Task Force” in which I participated together with two friends and colleagues. My participation in the task force has led a number of people to infer that I am affiliated with the Fellowship and that I support the formation of a “New Reformed Body.”
Partnership in a ‘newborn nation’
Louisville, Ky. (Presbyterian News Service) Nearly a year after southern Sudanese citizens voted to split from northern Sudan and form a new country, the Sudan Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) met here to worship, share stories and discuss mission in the two countries.
More than consultation — collaboration
DALLAS (Special to PNS) “It’s a messy ministry,” said one host church leader of his experience working with refugees and immigrant churches. “But God is glorified in our willingness to work out our problems together,” said Abraham Samuel (Arabic Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Monrovia, CA, San Gabriel Presbytery).
Shamba Warlick gets 12-year prison term
Samuel Shamba Warlick, who was accused of sexually abusing the children of Presbyterian missionaries in Africa in the 1980s, has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in federal prison for distributing child pornography.
Court upholds Berlin school’s ban on Muslim prayer
Berlin (ENI) A decision by the German Federal Administrative Court allowing a Berlin school to ban Muslim students from praying on their lunch break is being viewed as a ruling on public religious expression and has been closely watched by members of different faiths.
In India, tribunal says state failed to protect Christians
Bhubaneswar, India (ENI) An independent tribunal
investigating anti-Christian violence in India's eastern Orissa state in
2008 has indicted the state government for failure to protect Christians and
has made several recommendations.
In Japan, singles swear love at “Tomb of Christ”
Tokyo, 2 December (ENInews)--An institute at a Catholic-run university and college and a local revitalization group organized a tour Dec. 4 that asked singles to "swear your love in front of the Tomb of Christ" in the northern village of Shingo.
Religious leaders seek deeper commitment on AIDS
Toronto (ENInews) Leaders from five world religions gathered in Toronto just ahead of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 to encourage their peers to deepen their engagement and action on HIV-AIDS "by addressing the difficult issues raised by the pandemic, in dialogue with people living with HIV."
Russia asks church to help fight AIDS
Moscow (ENInews) As the number of people suffering from HIV/AIDS continues to grow in Russia, government agencies are turning to the Russian Orthodox Church for help in stemming the epidemic, ministering to its victims, and fighting their stigmatization by society.
Fellowship releases 2 guiding documents discussing creation of new Reformed body
The Fellowship of Presbyterians has released two new draft documents – one on theology including the presentation of proposed essential tenets for a new Reformed body and another on polity.
Film in review: “Immortals”
Actually, “Immortals” is kind of a misnomer for this sandals-and-swords epic, loosely based on Greek mythology.
Film in review: “J. Edgar”
“J. Edgar” is the kind of movie I was afraid it would be, which is why I had avoided seeing it in the first place.
Film in review: “My Week With Marilyn”
Luminous. That’s the best word to describe her.
Film in review: “The Descendants”
Normally, I automatically recoil when I hear cuss words come from the mouths of children in films, especially when only used for shock value, or a cheap laugh at the incongruity (of course, the more it’s used, the less incongruous it is).
Film in review: “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”
One of the reasons for the high popularity of Stephanie Meyer’s storytelling is that she manages to establish and maintain many tensions at once. And that’s a big reason the movies based on the books work so well too.