Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. BCP Read more

Will Hobson and Steven Rich: The University of Illinois paid fired football coach Ron Zook $1.3 million while he spent a year trying a new career in banking and working on his water-skiing in Florida. The University of California paid Jeff Tedford $1.8 million while he took a year off and vacationed in New Zealand. The University of Maryland paid Ralph Friedgen $2 million while he tried out retirement, played a lot of golf and cruised the South Carolina coastline... Read more

Selfies: Are They New? James Hall is an art historian, lecturer, and broadcaster.  He is also a visiting research fellow at the University of Southampton. His beautiful book, The Self-Portrait: a Cultural History, comes with over 100 color pictures. David Moore conducted this interview.  Dave blogs at www.twocities.org. Moore: Selfies are quite the craze these days.  Is this kind of activity new, or are we simply availing ourselves of new technology? Hall: It’s too early to say how new it’s... Read more

Tribune: The Chicago Cubs capped a stunning eight days by agreeing to terms on a multi-year contract with prized free agent outfielder Jason Heyward, a source said Friday. The signing of Heyward, 26, a three-time Gold Glove outfielder who is a lifetime .311 hitter at Wrigley Field, caps a furious push by the Cubs in their quest to win the World Seriesand achieve sustained success. During an eight-day span, the Cubs signed free agent pitcher John Lackey and super utility player Ben Zobrist, acquired pitcher Adam Warren... Read more

Source: By A Coalition of Wheaton College Student Leaders On Friday, December 4, Liberty University’s Chancellor Falwell made public statements about protecting the campus against possible terrorist threats. In his remarks, he called for students to arm themselves so that they could “end those Muslims before they walked in and killed them,” exhorting the students to “teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.” While these sorts of remarks epitomize the ever-growing fear and hostility directed toward Muslims,... Read more

Any kind of Christian ministry in North America requires both preparation and experience, so an increasing number of ministers are deeply involved in the experience dimension and finding it nearly impossible to attend seminary full-time. A seminary curriculum focuses on the scope of the minister’s calling, from biblical and theological to practical and homiletical studies, but not all ministers need as intense preparation for each facet of ministry. Some focus on teaching while others focus on the more personal and... Read more

By John Frye One writer describes Mark 6:45-52 an one of the most enigmatic episodes in Mark’s Gospel. The main wonder is Jesus walking on water. What’s so puzzling about this pericope? Several questions come to mind. First, why the compelling urgency of Jesus forcing his disciples to get into the boat (6:45)? The verb ηναγκασενis unexplained. Second, why did Jesus intend to pass by his exhausted, struggling disciples (6:48)?  Third, why fault the terrified disciples for not understanding “the... Read more

One of the common objections to evolutionary creation relates to the lack of evidence for macro-evolution as opposed to micro-evolution. Most people have no problem with evolution of a sort producing variation within species. Many will even accept the evolutionary formation of new closely related species (e.g. domestic dogs, wild dogs, wolves, foxes, jackals, and coyotes from a dog-like predecessor). But whales from even-toed ungulates (i.e. the group that includes pigs, camels, and hippos)?  This strains credulity. The evidence for... Read more