Tribes. Us. Them.
In the ancient Middle East, about a dozen days after the first Christmas (as tradition numbers the days), the gospel broke down an historic tribal barrier as Persians worshiped the Son of Israel’s God.
More Stories from this Author
The end of a congregation — and beyond
Often, Presbyterians want to hear “good news” stories – stories of churches that grow and flourish, or of struggling churches transformed.
Torture: Tribalism in extremis
We are confronted with the now inescapable evidence that our country has been involved in torture in the prosecution of the so-called War on Terror.
Even “them”
Them. It so easily becomes a four-letter word. Them. Republicans to Democrats. Democrats to Republicans. Conservatives to liberals. Liberals to conservatives. Them. Muslims. Jews. Christians. Palestinians. Israelis. Afghans. Pakistanis. Iraqis. Americans. Them. When “them” is a rivalry, well, that’s one thing. You know the kind of “them” I am talking about.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
by Laura Hillenbrand
Random House. 2010. 473 pages.
reviewed by Roy W. Howard
My father was a Japanese POW for 42 months, having been captured when he was 19 years old in the Philippine Islands while serving with the Army Air Corps.
Turning Controversy into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality
Turning Controversy into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality
by William P. Campbell
Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2010. 240 pp.
reviewed by Andrew Nagal
Perhaps the greatest contribution of Bill Campbell’s new book is not what he says, but how he says it.
Competition
The word for competition in the Greek New Testament is the word athleo, from which we have the English words athlete and athletic.
Responding to the letter and white paper: GA leaders invite all Presbyterians to talk
LOUISVILLE - Top leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) released a letter Feb. 4 calling for a denomination-wide conversation. That marks the PC(USA)’s response to a letter and “white paper” released Feb. 2 by 45 pastors, most serving large congregations, that has provoked conversation around the church and which raises the possibility of some sort of denominational schism.
Souper Bowl of Caring gears up for 22nd year
Collecting donations, serving soup, stocking pantry shelves all part of annual youth effort...
BREAKING NEWS: Pastors call for denomination to be “radically transformed”
A group of 45 mostly large church pastors have published a letter to the whole Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) declaring the denomination to..
Pastors call for denomination to be “radically transformed”
A group of 45 mostly large church pastors have published a letter to the whole Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) declaring the denomination to be “deathly ill” and declaring that the church needs to be “radically transformed.” At an early January gathering in Scottsdale, Ariz., the leaders articulated issues that they had been discussing informally over the past year. They spelled out their assessments in a white paper titled, “Time for Something New,” which was published on Feb. 2 along with the letter to the denomination.
“A Prayer before Communion” Blog post by Tom Eggebeen
O LORD our God, this Table is as big as your heart …
click here to read full blog.
From the darkness of the mine to the light of day: An interview with Chilean Presbyterian leader Manuel Gajardo
Editor’s note: On Aug. 5, a mine near Copiapó, Chile, collapsed, trapping 33 miners 2,300 feet underground.
Film in review: “The Rite”
This film is “based on true events,” but, of course, many are skeptical of exorcism stories, even many sincere Christians.
Film in review: “The Mechanic”
Re-makes are always a bit risky, but maybe if you wait long enough and the first one was obscure enough, few people will remember it, anyway.
Film in review: “Biutiful”
Go on, men, admit it! There’s a part of you that would prefer to be free from practically all entanglements.
For kids’ sake
My grandkids have headed down our snow-covered driveway just in time for me to pull together this Christmastide editorial you will read in late January about summertime with children.
Obama, facing worrisome polls, asserts “Christian” label
WASHINGTON (rNS) — When President Barack Obama lit the National Christmas Tree behind the White House in 2009, he spoke of a “child born far from home” and said “while this story may be a Christian one, its lesson is universal.”
Carol Weir remembered for service in Lebanon
SAN ANSELMO — Carol Weir, former missionary in Lebanon died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Dec. 14, in Oakland after several months of declining health. She was 86 years old.
Lack of religious freedom a “threat to security and peace”
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Benedict XVI has called the limits on religious freedom a “threat to security and peace,” and said Christians are persecuted more than any other faith group.
Harter presented Jewish brothership award
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs has given its Chaver Tzedek Award to William H. Harter, a Presbyterian minister from Pennsylvania.
Mo-Ranch proceeds with Islamic youth event
HUNT, TEXAS — A decision by the Mo-Ranch Conference Center in Texas to allow an Islamic group to hold a retreat last month for Muslim teenagers drew a storm of criticism from some local Christians.
Hate group watchdog Adds Council to its list
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Southern Poverty Law Center is adding the Family Research Council and four other conservative religious organizations to its list of hate groups because of “falsehoods” in their anti-gay statements.
2011 VBS Curriculum
Augsburg Fortress (augsburgfortress.org)
ReNew and the Parable of the Sower (age specific material)
Printed on recycled paper and soy-based ink, this green VBS program brings together the Bible and environmental stewardship. Besides being a flexible program that encourages hope, opportunity, and service, ReNew is based on one story: Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9). Children explore the parable in-depth, rather than trying to learn multiple non-consecutive stories over a short period.
A presbytery revival?
One of the reasons we are Presbyterians is the theological conviction that Christians best discern God’s will as we gather together.