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What it means to be a Christian after George W. Bush

Early one Sunday morning in the spring of 2003, in the quiet hours before services would begin at the evangelical church where I worship in Charlottesville, Va., I opened files compiled by my research assistant and read the statements drafted by Christians around the world in opposition to the American invasion of Iraq.

Faithful public policy happens everywhere

It is very much a part of the Reformed faith to be muddling about in the public policy decision-making process. John Calvin himself wrote in the 20th chapter of the Fourth Book of the Institutes of Christian Religion, "Wherefore no man can doubt that civil authority is, in the sight of God, not only sacred and lawful, but the most sacred, and by far the most honorable, of all stations in mortal life." Scripture reminds us of the necessity to speak out on behalf of the poor, the hungry, and the vulnerable.

For all in high positions: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 and the 2008 campaign

I once worked with a congregation whose members were divided from one another over various issues. It was, more than anything, a power struggle. Both sides knew they were right. Neither side would agree to sit down with the other. One Sunday, an elder volunteered to offer the prayer after the sermon as was their custom. She then prayed that God would make the rest of the congregation come to realize her side was right. 

Of course, we all know that elder was wrong. But how often do we pray for others, entreating God to change them so they will agree with us, not necessarily so they will agree with God? I imagine we have all done this on occasion. That is why it is so important to stress Paul's (or the author's) words in 1 Timothy 2:1, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone. Paul goes on to support this by saying that God wants all to be saved and that Christ died as a ransom for all. If we, as Christians, truly believe these statements of God's love and care, the way we pray for others must be transformed from our selfish motives into legitimate love and concern for the other person, whether that person is your granddaughter or Osama Bin Laden.

Faith and power

"I don't believe that change comes from the top down," Barack Obama has said throughout his presidential campaign.  "It comes from the bottom up." 

Voters are debating whether Obama has the experience necessary to be president, but he certainly has experience as a community organizer. In the mid-80s, he was hired by a small group of churches on the south side of Chicago to organize low-income people. He helped them to define their mutual interests, work together to change their communities, and improve their lives.  He came to believe that real change comes "from the bottom up."

Can human rights survive?

Can human rights survive secularization? Nicholas Wolterstorff really wants to know, because he's not sure they can.

Wolterstorff, the Noah Porter Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology at Yale Divinity School recently presented a lecture at the National Church in Washington, D.C., to address this question. Sponsored by the Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington, his comments reflected research presented in his most recent book, Justice -- Rights and Wrongs (Princeton University Press).

Communications in a busy world

Not everyone processes information the same way. Few of us receive it the first time we see/hear it.

Some hear, some read words, some see images, others do best with word of mouth. No one method catches everyone.

Military “March Madness” scores no slam dunk

The National Anthem's lyrics gained fresh meaning five years ago when the United States attacked and invaded Iraq. On TV we saw Baghdad aflame with bombs exploding and tracer bullets lighting the night sky. With apologies to Francis Scott Key for revising his lyrics, "The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was firmly planted in Baghdad." For maybe 100 years, say John McCain.

Why did our nation invade Iraq?

President George W. Bush, soon after occupying the White House, boldly announced he "had a clear vision of where I want to lead America." Sometimes he fumbled syntax and mispronounced words. The late arch-critic Molly Ivins, who rarely came to his rescue, told mocking pundits, "You can usually tell what he meant to say."

20 Minutes with Robert Maggs

No institution exercises greater impact upon the life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s retired church professionals than the Presbyterian Board of Pensions. Outlook editor Jack Haberer sat down to talk about that with BOP President and CEO Robert Maggs.

JH: Rob, when it comes to retirement, the first thing that comes to mind for most of us is, "How am I going to survive?"  That puts a lot of weight and responsibility upon the administrators like yourself for pension programs.  Tell me about that.

RM:  I think that first thing we have to do is to get people thinking about retirement early on. I like to say, "Start thinking about it the first day you have your first job." So our job is really to educate people, especially our plan members, from the time they're in seminary right through their career until they have filed that application to receive a pension. The pension is going to be a good pension. Someone said this is the best pension plan in America. That was a "Jeopardy" question, I think. But the pension alone doesn't do it. So our job is to explain to people all the risks and rewards and joys and concerns that can happen during their life, how it's going affect their financial future and what they should be doing to hedge those risks, if you will. That includes savings through a retirement savings plan. It includes good financial planning. It includes programs that help people take care of their mental health, their physical health, as well as their financial health so that they can have productive careers.

Planning for life after retirement

We all know that it's important to care for our health and finances as part of retirement planning. However, we often neglect more obvious, but no less significant, issues, such as where we will live and what we will do with our time. As one Board of Pensions seminar asks, "If you are what you do, who are you when you don't?"

Entering this new stage of life can be a challenge, especially if you don't start thinking about it until you're already retired. Consider this example from Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners' book Don't Retire, REWIRE!

[Bill] had come to realize that a traditional retirement like his father's was not for him. He wanted to do something productive -- but he didn't know what. He just knew that he didn't want anything as demanding as the 24/7 existence he had been living for the past three years (xi).1

Retirement Resources

The Board of Pensions of

the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

www.pensions.org

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

www.pcusa.org

Presbyterian Association of Homes

and Services for the Aging:

www.pahsa.org

Calvin’s Jubilee

Presbyterians across the church have had July 2009 marked on their calendars for years, in eager anticipation of the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin. Or perhaps not.

Lutherans adore Martin Luther. Methodist hearts are strangely warmed by John Wesley. Anglicans even have a sardonic fondness for Henry VIII. But Presbyterians are uncertain at best about John Calvin and his legacy. Calvin is not a Reformed idol.

Our reluctance to venerate John Calvin would have pleased him. Calvin did not want the reverence of future generations. Among other safeguards against idolization, he specified that he be buried in Geneva's common cemetery in an unmarked grave. Although there is a Rue Calvin in Geneva today, his house no longer stands, and no one knows quite where it was. 

Presbyterian church ecumenical relations since its 1983 reunion

Introduction

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) experienced a reunion in 1983 of what are commonly referred to as the Northern and Southern Presbyterian churches. This article gives a brief account of what has happened in ecumenical relations in the PC(USA) since its reunion in Atlanta, Ga., June 1983.

The common designation of the previous churches as "southern" and "northern" is an inaccuracy. The northern Church, UPCUSA, was a national church with congregations and presbyteries spanning the USA territory. One can surmise that this designation began at the time of the separation of these churches in the 1860's over issues relating to the holding of Negro slaves, a subject of great interest, though this article is not intending to address it.

Christian sign language

In my current days of age, I have come to believe that there is another aspect of learning, and worshipping. 

It is the presence of motion, and the use of the body in praise. I call this Christian sign language. Oh, you say, "This fellow is off on a Pentecostal kick!" Perhaps there is a suspicion brewing that I have sold out to ecclesiastical "rock and roll".