From Pope Francis: During a daily Mass last week, Pope Francis called ideological Christianity “an illness” that doesn’t serve Jesus Christ. Instead, it “frightens” people and pushes them away from religion. “In ideologies there is not Jesus: in his tenderness, his love, his meekness. And ideologies are rigid, always. Of every sign: rigid. And when a Christian becomes a disciple of the ideology, he has lost the faith: he is no longer a disciple of Jesus, he is a disciple... Read more
Why is anger a capital vice? “Our bad anger thus shows us to be trying—and failing—to be God,”writes Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung in her book, Glittering Vices: The Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies (134). We, with our anger, assume control of our situation and set about impatiently to right any wrong. Lurking under the bluster of anger is the root sin of pride. We like anger. DeYoung quotes Buechner, “Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun.... Read more
There are at least five reasons why we ought to reconsider the traditional (women ought to show submission to men in church gatherings) reading of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, and these are Lucy Peppiatt’s five: The “spectacular array of contradictory commentary” on these verses should at least make us think we have not yet found a reasonable solution. The rhetorical readings of the passage, readings that genuinely resolve the tensions in the passage and with big themes in Paul’s letters, have... Read more
By David Roseberry, at Christ Church Plano. Christ Church (here) just celebrated its 30th anniversary. Since I am the founding pastor and Rector, I have been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting for the past few weeks. I am so very, very thankful for the opportunities I have had there. It has been a tremendous experience and, by God’s grace, I trust it will continue. As I have reflected over these past few weeks, I made up a list... Read more
I have to admit it. There have been a number of posts lately that I’ve found rather depressing. These aren’t bad posts. In fact I’d say that they are quite good by and large, but they they feel a bit like picking at scabs. Austin Fischer’s post last Thursday “Are Scientists Really Split on Evolution?” made an excellent point – and an important one. Whether you think evolution is true or not, don’t rest your argument on urban myths and... Read more
In a previous post I observed that Paul’s letters were not read by individuals but performed by a reader (or lector). The lector didn’t read a letter of Paul cold on the spot but instead would have been given instructions (by Paul and his co-workers). In fact, it would not have been unusual for the lectors to have prepared and performed the letter in advance — or a number of times, perhaps rehearsing the letter’s performance a few times. None... Read more
Monica Davey and Tamar Lewin: CHICAGO — Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who began building a national profile four years ago by sharply cutting collective bargaining rights for most government workers, has turned his sights to a different element of the public sector: state universities. As Mr. Walker takes steps toward announcing his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, he and leaders in Wisconsin’s Republican-held Legislature have called for changes that would give a board largely picked by the governor far more... Read more
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were having lunch with some long-time friends from college. My friends are missionaries in the Sudan, and for the past seven years, they have worked with a mission team in the Sudan, and have served alongside Sudanese people through two different civil wars. Their home is next door to a refugee camp where they and their little kids can hear the bombs detonating from nearby attacks a few times a month. This... Read more
Esther Emery used to direct stage plays in Southern California. But that was a long time ago. Now she is pretty much a runaway, living off the grid in a yurt and tending to three acres in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. She writes about faith and rebellion and trying to live a totally free life at estheremery.com. I read her question to me in an email. I could hear right through the tiny screen that there was urgency behind... Read more
Source: For more than 20 years, hikers have struck out on June’s first Saturday to confirm what America’s most famous naturalist, John Muir, noted more than a century ago: “Wildness is a necessity.” The occasion, National Trails Day, celebrates the nation’s more than 230,000 miles of trails. It’s a network that continues to expand, thanks to a decades-long effort to convert abandoned rail tracks into walkable green spaces. New York City’s High Line – a roughly 1.5-mile elevated trail cutting across a western portion... Read more
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