V. Gene Robinson’s Prayers Should Be Consistent

Now that he's on tap for Barack Obama's inaguration festivities, Robinson complains about the prayers that went before him: Bishop Robinson said he had been reading inaugural prayers through history and was "horrified" at how "specifically and aggressively Christian they were." "I am very clear," he said, "that this will not be a Christian prayer, …

Jesus’ Method in Forming Disciples

From Abu Daoud: 1) He taught them with authority--We have the same Word, the same Spirit and the same authority. 2) He lived with them--he had daily contact. Discipling Muslims demand our daily time and togetherness. 3) He discipled in small groups or 3, 6, or 12. We make a mistake if we look for …

Apple Tax? Absurd!

Microsoft is getting desperate these days: With Apple's last Macworld keynote speech just hours away, Microsoft is again talking up the idea of an "Apple tax" that people pay when they opt for a Mac over a Windows PC. What Gates' Gang doesn't want to think about is something that any car dealer--and most Macintosh …

Today, they leave California. Tomorrow, they leave…

I've gotten a good deal of bad blowback from Californians about this site, but evidently things in the Golden State aren't "peaches and cream" for everyone: The number of people leaving California for another state outstripped the number moving in from another state during the year ending on July 1, 2008. California lost a net …

A Thought on Episcopal and Anglican Churches Leaving

Something just hit me about this topic. During my first visit to the UK, I went to Westminster Cathedral (the central cathedral for the Roman Catholic Church in the UK.)  I think it was there I read the lists of the main archbishops who presided over the "holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" in England, at …

The Dalai Lama’s Worst Nightmare

Beijing is one thing, but this kind of thing is another altogether. People forget that the rule of the Dalai Lama in Tibet (and I'm not just talking about the present holder of the title, but in general) has both secular and theocratic aspects.  If the Tibetans abandon Buddhism, they abandon the Dalai Lama.  That's …

Losing the Church Property, or Why the Romanians Don’t Tithe

The fallout (and for the true Anglicans, the agony) of the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold trusts based on the Dennis Canon--and thus facilitate the retention of parish property by the Diocese of Los Angeles and TEC--has generated a lot of comment, some of which has linked back to this site (thanks!) One of …

Isaiah 40:31

This week's podcast has a decidedly "homemade" sound to the production, but the song is both beautiful and different from the usual version.  It's Isaiah 40:31, written by Dr. James Stocks and rehearsed by the band of The Answer is Jesus Christ Coffeehouse in 1975.  Take a listen of this very popular verse of Scripture …

Confidence in–and Fanaticism About–Public Education

Phil Hoover took exception to my characterisation that the Obamas' decision to put their girls in Sidwell Friends School was a vote of "no confidence" in public education: It is not a “no confidence” vote for the public school. What it is: a realistic and safe choice for these two beautiful little girls who need …

The Two-Edged Sword of Central Property Ownership of Churches

Tomorrow the California Supreme Court will render its decision on a series of cases regarding the secession of several parishes from TEC.  Needless to say, it's a nail-biter for everyone. Anglican Cumudgeon has been covering this saga in detail (he doesn't do it any other way) but what interested me was a comment from the …

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