When reading about such efforts, and many others like them, I am often reminded of Hebrews 6:3 where the anonymous author tells us that we must do these things, but it is well past the time when we should have grown up and moved on (Hebrews 5: 12 - 6: 3). And it is indeed well past the time that we should have moved on by moving back into the patterns - priorities, principles and practices - that God has revealed.
Read moreHow did we get here? Despite declining religious consensus, our ability to connect has increased dramatically, through mass media, the internet and now mobile device technology. Marshall McLuhan's "global village," achieved primarily through television, was first felt most dramatically in the Kennedy assassination, played out over a dreary November weekend in 1963, which featured a live murder when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald. Having passively consumed what FCC Chairman Newton N.
Read moreSitting in his shop this man started off with what he thought were the weaknesses of our faith. I had pulled up the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) on his computer, in Arabic, and told him to read it, which he did not want to do. And then he pointed out how our book is translated, while his book is the same all over the world (in Arabic).
Read moreCox presented the book "Catholic Engagement with World Religions: A Comprehensive Study, in dialogue with its two editors" on Nov. 30 with cardinal Karl Josef Becker, a German theologian of the Vatican's the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The editors include Ilaria Morali of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, who also presented the book, and Cardinal Becker.
Read moreTheir perception is that churches are too concerned with money and power, focused on rules and overly involved in politics.
Interestingly, nearly half of religiously active Americans agree with those criticisms. For the first time, less than half of Americans call themselves Protestants. In 2007, 53% identified themselves as Protestant, but only 48% did so in 2012.
Read morePeople came long distances to receive care. One man came from the San Gabriel Valley for optical needs and another woman traveled 75 miles from San Bernardino and slept overnight at the Salvation Army to wait for the clinic to open in the morning. Patients were very grateful, and could not believe that clinic services were free.
While comprehensive care was offered, dental and optical needs were the most utilized services.
Read moreLuken knew he wanted to live a monastic life since his early teens, but was not Roman Catholic and thus could not be admitted into a Roman Catholic monastery. It was three years ago, he said, that LivingStone Monastery off Harpersville Road welcomed him with open arms.
It took nearly two years of Franciscan study, counseling and monastic ministry before Luken was consecrated, taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Read moreSome of the other contributors are my friends. Dr. Isaiah M. Dau, the former principal of Nairobi Bible College, now the overseer/archbishop of the Sudan Pentecostal Church in the Republic of South Sudan, writes eloquently about the problem of evil and suffering, comparing African and Western views.
Read moreWhy think this?
Read moreHow can this be true for a faith founded on new life? If the gospel can prevail against the gates of hell, why can't it prevail against the massive decline facing our congregations?
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