All Blog Posts Tagged 'Faith' (11)

Dear Friends,



I have recently been re-reading Dr. Ron Sider's seminal book, "Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger," in its most recent updated publication, 1999.



This is a life-changing, and challenging, book to read. I have become convinced that world hunger, both in and outside of the United States is indeed the human cause dearest to the heart of God. Yes, certainly there are others nearly as important, general poverty, world-wide disease, fair trade, human rights.… Continue

I have been enjoying, for a second time, Ken Burns' amazing documentary series, "The Civil War." While watching one of the final episodes today, Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address was read. I was once again moved deeply, and reminded of why this great and unassuming leader is among my fondest heroes.



His very re-election a great triumph against all odds, and the very war itself nearing end in great triumph for the forces of the Union under his command, he addresses the… Continue

This note is from my response to a question Tony Jones, among my favorite authors/bloggers/theologians from within Emergence Christianity, asked on his blog in August 2009. Tony has dedicated a significant portion of his blogging recently to the issue of LGBT and intersex issues and the Church. His question was mainly addressed to persons within the anti-"other" fundamentalist/literalist Christian camp, and, as he expected, he got much of the same old thoughtless, loveless jargon. So, I… Continue

About the Author...



Walter Wink is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. He has also taught at Union Theological Seminary and Hartford Seminary, and has been a visiting professor at Columbia and Drew universities. In 1989-1990 he was a Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, DC.



His published works include a trilogy on the Powers: Naming the Powers (1984), Unmasking the Powers (1986), and… Continue

This superb song was written specifically for me by one of my very best friends, Tony Small, now of Baltimore, MD. Tony and I met while students at Anderson University in Anderson, IN, where Tony was one of the most popular artists on campus, and where he was also director of the beloved Black Gospel singing group, "Fruit of the Spirit," of which, because of Tony, I became the first non-African American member back in 1984 (I have a VHS tape to prove it!). Tony is without doubt among the finest… Continue

One evening there came into his soul the desire to fashion an image of The Pleasure that Abideth for a Moment. And he went forth into the world to look for bronze. For he could only think in bronze.



But all the bronze of the whole world had disappeared, nor anywhere in the whole world was there any bronze to be found, save only the bronze of the image of The Sorrow that Endureth for Ever.



Now this image he had himself, and with his own hands, fashioned, and had set it on… Continue

When Narcissus died the pool of his pleasure changed from a cup of sweet waters into a cup of salt tears, and the Oreads came weeping through the woodland that they might sing to the pool and give it comfort.



And when they saw that the pool had changed from a cup of sweet waters into a cup of salt tears, they loosened the green tresses of their hair and cried to the pool and said, 'We do not wonder that you should mourn in this manner for Narcissus, so beautiful was… Continue

From his childhood he had been as one filled with the perfect knowledge of God, and even while he was yet but a lad many of the saints, as well as certain holy women who dwelt in the free city of his birth, had been stirred to much wonder by the grave wisdom of his answers.



And when his parents had given him the robe and the ring of manhood he kissed them, and left them and went out into the world that he might speak to the world about God. For there were at that time many in the… Continue

I would encourage any Christian who holds to that always distinctive and classic evangelical notion that was deeply planted within us from very young that "Jesus is coming again soon and this world's going to burn, so I don't want to waist my energy focusing on the enviornment, but rather keep an eternal focus," to go back and truly look into what the scripture actually teaches us and not just blindly repeat what we have all heard for so very long, which I'll admit, up until the past decade of… Continue

Those who know me are aware that I am a voracious reader. A book I have recently acquired and am currently enjoying is What Jesus Meant, by author Garry Wills. "Garry Wills has written many acclaimed works on religion. His Papal Sin and Why I Am Catholic were New York Times bestsellers. He studied for the priesthood, took his doctorate in the classics, and taught Greek for many years at the Johns Hopkins University. He is now Professor of History Emeritus at Northwestern University. His works… Continue

Consistent Ethic of Life? It Seems Right to Me!

Rev. Gregory M. McCaw, 08/06/2007



I find it nearly impossible to comprehend how large numbers of confessing Christian people allow themselves to be lured, actually frightened, into very narrow and selfish thinking. When considering how to address humanity's most difficult social problems it seems that many Christians are inconsistent in their application of Jesus' teachings. It seems that the goal of these Christians is more to… Continue