"Teacher, what is the great commandment in the Law?" His answer was: "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.' This is the great first commandment. (Matthew 22:36-38) Jean du Vergier de Hauranne, Abbé de Saint-Cyran was a French monk who made …
Why I Think Jim Wallis Pulled the Plug on the Believe Out Loud Campaign
The "religious left" is abuzz--and of course aTwitter--re Jim Wallis and Sojourners' decision not to support the recent Believe Out Loud (an LGBT group) ad campaign this past Mother's Day. This has produced the predictable horror in places such as The Lead and some glee on the right. Back when I reviewed Wallis' book The …
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The Lightbearers with Esther Tims, and The Lightbearers: Going Dutch
Polder meets polyester suits as this Dutch group takes on many American Gospel favourites, along with some more "contemporary" fare. And they do pretty well at it, too. One of the few "continental" groups that UK label Dove/Musical Gospel Outreach featured in their line-up. The Lightbearers with Esther Tims (Dove 14, 1974) The group's own …
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Just Talking With a Palm Beacher is All It Takes
My old home church has gotten into short-term missions. Although there's no doubt it broadens their horizons, the old Palm Beach attitude goes with you everywhere. Consider this statement from Rick Miessau, one of the leaders of their mission to Haïti: “Just sitting there and talking, we raise their social status,” he said. “Kids are …
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When Title IX is Unnecessary: A Mother's Day Tribute
Originally posted in 2006, reposted with some modifications. I ran the LifeBuilders Golf Tournament until we putted our last hole out in 2010. I still play golf as often as I can. Some people think that everything good and beautiful in this life comes from a government programme. Others just get the job done, and …
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Month of Sundays: Light
The ground of his condemnation is this, that though the Light has come into the world, men preferred the darkness to the Light, because their actions were wicked. For he who lives an evil life hates the light, and will not come to it, for fear that his actions should be exposed; But he who …
Maybe It's Time for the Scots to Go
In the midst of all the other excitement going on these days (especially the demise of Osama bin Laden, which cheers 9/11 victims but doesn't get us any closer to the end of the war on Islamic careerism) we have some voting in the UK to consider. Topping the list is the change in the …
If This is Diversity, I'd Hate to See What Homogeneity Looks Like
Gary L'Hommedieu puts things in stark figures, based on the Episcopal Church's own figures: The real story in the recent release of statistical data by TEC is in the demographic profile of the Church that heralds itself as the living symbol of a diverse society. On the same page amidst self-congratulatory rhapsodies about antiracism, advocacy …
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Bill Atwood: 3:25 A.M.
Bill Atwood 3:25 A.M. (Dovetail DOVE 35) 1976 It's hard to conceive of a mellower production than this, with Bill Atwood's smooth vocals and the excellent backing instrumentation from John Pantry's production (Cloud's backup vocals add the mix.) This is a favourite of mine, and it's too bad that the follow up from the UK …
Month of Sundays: Foundations
In fulfilment of the charge which God had entrusted to me, I laid the foundation like a skilful master-builder; but another man is now building upon it. Let every one take care how he builds; For no man can lay any other foundation than the one already laid-Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:10-11) In 2004-5, the …
Positive Infinity 