This coming Sunday, of course, is the tenth anniversary of al-Qaeda's attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. Most of the blogosphere (to say nothing of the press, mainstream and otherwise) will fill up a great deal of space dealing with the subject. When approaching the date, I figured I'd join in the …
The Perils of Any "Renewal Movement" Staying in an Established Church
John Richarson, the Ugley Vicar, has his doubts about the course of Anglican Evangelicalism after the "Keele" commitment to stay within in the Church of England: When I was a young trainee clergyman (just six years on from Keele), the phrase going round was that we were ‘in it to win it’. In other words, …
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They Don't Call Them "Main Line" Churches for Nothing
It's got the liberal Episcopal blog The Lead scratching its head: There was news last month that contrary to most people's expectation, the more educated an American is, the more likely that person is to attend church regularly. So why are the mainstream churches in the U.S. losing membership across the board? Apparently it's because …
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Month of Sundays: Worship
But a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father spiritually and truly; for such are the worshipers that the Father desires. God is Spirit; and those who worship him must worship spiritually and truly. (John 4:23-24) In 987 Prince Vladimir of Kiev decided that his people, …
My Thoughts on "The Help"
The recent move The Help has focused a great deal of attention on the whole relationship between wealthy white people (and "wealthy" is a relative term) and their black domestic help. The movie (at least, I haven't read the book) cuts across many stereotypes on every side of the issue. And it's always dangerous in …
Month of Sundays: Witness
So the Jews again called the man who had been blind, and said to him: "Give God the praise; we know that this (Jesus) is a bad man." "I know nothing about his being a bad man," he replied; "one thing I do know, that although I was blind, now I can see." (John 9:24-25) …
After the Palm Beach Season: Sometimes It Pays to Stay on the Island
A few "snowbirds" are finding this out the hard way: Palm Beacher Jessie Araskog said Saturday she and her husband, Rand, decided to evacuate their Southampton home and get a suite at the St. Regis hotel in Manhattan. “We are all boarded up and ready for the storm," Araskog said. Jessie Araskog said her daughter, …
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Covenant Community: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
I've dealt with the issue of Catholic Charismatic covenant communities--and why I avoided them--at length on this blog. Now my friend John Flaherty has started a Facebook group on the subject entitled Covenant Community: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. It's a road that is potentially painful for some, but it's time for some …
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Sharia Law in Libya: Have We Done It Again?
Looks like it: But despite the Lockean tenor of much of the constitution, the inescapable clause lies right in Part 1, Article 1: “Islam is the Religion of the State, and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Sharia).” Under this constitution, in other words, Islam is law. That makes other phrases such as …
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Month of Sundays: Unity
But I appeal to you, Brothers, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree in what you profess, and not to allow divisions to exist among you, but to be united-of one mind and of one opinion. (1 Corinthians 1:10) Like many liberal churches, the Unity congregation found itself far too small for …
Positive Infinity 