The most beautiful libraries in the world: Libraries are generally underrated as places to take some rare time out, sit for a while, read a book and admire the often stunning architecture. But French photographer Franck Bohbot has taken it upon himself to travel the world in search of some of the most beautiful book havens out there and so far has visited Paris and Rome. He plans to travel to Europe and South America, North America and Asia next. His on-going... Read more
By Drew Harwell: Why the decline in golf? A decade ago, when the golf course was a de facto playground for the professional set and a young Californian named Tiger Woods was the world’s best player, golf looked like an unassailable national undertaking, and corporate players were champing at the bit to get in. But the business behind one of America’s most slow-going, expensive and old-fashioned pastimes has rapidly begun to fall apart. TaylorMade-Adidas Golf, the world’s biggest maker of golf clubs and clothes, saw sales nosedive 28 percent last... Read more
Source: Pope Francis has called on Catholic theologians not to simply practice an academic exercise of studying at their desks, but to take their work to the frontiers to “pour oil and wine over the wounds of humankind.” Writing in a letter last week to the theological faculty of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, the pope also adapted a favorite phrase he has used to describe the type of Catholic bishops he wants, calling on theologians to “smell of... Read more
Starting with Jesus: Part 1 All human beings except Jesus the Messiah can only know God ab extra (“from the outside”). Jesus knows God ab intra (“from the inside”). All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him (Matthew 11:27— a bolt out of the Johannine blue in Matthew). From these two ways that God can be known as... Read more
From WaPo, by Ashley Trexler: Bullying starts and ends with an imbalance of power. Too much or too little, the results are often the same: bullying behavior is simply a means to gain more power. Here are eight ways you may be unknowingly encouraging bullying. 1. Gossiping Want to raise a mean girl? Act like one… 2. Being too busy to show you care You love your family. But relationships have their ups and downs, with the direction often being... Read more
From Peter Mead, where you can read his fuller post: The vast majority of churches rely almost exclusively on a solo preacher. The vast majority of preachers prepare in isolation. Who turned preaching into a solo sport? Here are six factors that have influenced this situation. None of them make a good case for going solo! 1. Tradition! 2. Solitary Spirituality 3. Clergy-Laity 4. Single Salary 5. Fallen Nature 6. Insecurity – Read more
I’ve been slowly working through The God of Hope and the End of the World by John Polkinghorne and Surprised by Scripture by N. T. Wright. The books converged this week as I read Polkinghorne’s chapter on The Resurrection of Jesus and Wright’s chapter Can a Scientist Believe in the Resurrection?. It is a little early, I suppose, but quite timely as we approach Easter in just a few weeks. Obviously Polkinghorne’s answer to Wright’s question is yes, as is... Read more
An interview with Erin S. Lane, author of Lessons in Belonging from a Church-Going Commitment Phobe, who works for the Seattle-based nonprofit Center for Courage & Renewal as an assistant program director for Clergy & Congregational Leader Programs. She has a master of theological studies degree from Duke University Divinity School and is coeditor of Talking Taboo, an anthology of writing from young Christian women on the intersection of faith and gender. Erin is an experienced communication strategist for authors... Read more
From Bob Allen at Baptist News Global: A recent Wall Street Journal story profiling twin brothers who followed separate spiritual paths — one to become an Anglican bishop, the other a Catholic priest — represents failure by the Southern Baptist church in which they were raised, according to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler. Mohler, who posts a daily podcast commenting on current events on his personal website, saidMarch 6 he has no firsthand knowledge of First Baptist Church in Elkin, N.C., home church of the... Read more
Jesus Creed
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