The Catholic Church at the Biennale

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Alissa Wilkinson

The Venice Biennale is one of the biggest events in the art world, where the exhibitions are arranged around “pavilions” sponsored by people, countries, and galleries. This year, an unlikely candidate is joining them: the Roman Catholic Church, hosting a pavilion with the theme “Creation, De-Creation, and Re-Creation.” The New York Times reported on it: Rather than requiring the artists to create liturgical art, Cardinal Ravasi said he had asked them to explore the theme of “Creation, De-Creation and Re-Creation”... Read more

Redemption in Angola Prison

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Alissa Wilkinson

Over at Comment Magazine, John Rottman has an interesting piece on the astounding transformation at Angola Prison in New Orleans—home to hardened criminals and gang members. Here’s part of it: The kingdom of God has also brought a sense of vocation in the value of work. Prisoners earn money by making crafts and selling them at the annual rodeo, which draws about 10,000 people a year to the prison. Inmates work in the wood shops or making jewelry and sell... Read more

Boomers, Millennials, and Wisdom

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Alissa Wilkinson

There’s a great piece on mentorship in The High Calling this week–an interview with Christine Scheller. Here’s an especially useful insight: What advice would you offer to the young and confident group . . . who do know more than their seniors in certain ways? I would advise them to treat their coworkers with respect, because it won’t be long before they are the senior colleagues with ambitious young professionals nipping at their heels. Instead of pushing past senior coworkers, why not... Read more

The New Easter Greeting? “He is Risen! Find Us On Facebook”

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Mark D. Roberts

In the gold ‘ol days, we used to say, “He is risen. He is risen, indeed!” Now . . . Read more

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! Let’s Go to Hooters!

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Mark D. Roberts

“Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! Let’s go to Hooters!” At least that’s what Hooters hope’s you’ll be saying to your mom tomorrow. No joke. Hooters is offering a Mother’s Day special. Every mom who brings a child to Hooters tomorrow and orders at drink will get a free entrée, up to a ten dollar value. When I first read the article in USA Today that announced this Hooters Mother’s Day promotion, I wondered if USA Today had been hacked by someone... Read more

“I am the sum of my apps. Maybe I am an app.” – Jeffrey Katzenberg

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Mark D. Roberts

In a recent interview with USA Today, Jeffery Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks, talked about some of his favorite “fun apps,” including “Talking Tom!” Then, in a reflective moment, he mentioned the apps he uses in less playful times: “So many of them are productivity apps — Notes, Dropbox, Twitter. I am the sum of my apps. Maybe I am an app.” Now there’s something to think about. Read more

Remembering Dallas Willard, Part 2

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Mark D. Roberts

Yesterday, I shared a personal remembrance of Dallas Willard, the beloved and influential Christian thinker and writer. Today, I want to share one more story of Dallas. The event I’m about to describe happened at Serra Retreat Center in Malibu, California. I was a participant in a retreat of Presbyterian pastors from Southern California (Los Ranchos Presbytery). Dallas was the speaker for the two-day retreat. He was focusing on the topic of spirituality for church leaders. In one of his... Read more

Remembering Dallas Willard, Part 1

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Mark D. Roberts

I just heard the news that Dallas Willard died of cancer. What a loss for us and a gain for Heaven! Dallas’ impact on the church – and on my life – has been profound. As much as anybody in the last few decades, he has helped us think deeply about discipleship, spirituality, and what it means to live fully in and for God. In the days to come, there will be many tributes to Dallas, as well as reviews... Read more

Letting Gravity Do Its Work

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Alissa Wilkinson

Mike Metzger has a terrific reflection over at The High Calling on God’s plan for the world—and how that works itself out: Shalom in today’s world means seeking the prosperity of people in everyday businesses and schools and neighborhoods and sports leagues – you know, regular workaday institutions, not just “religious” ones. We build beautiful companies and organizations where people can flourish – experience shalom– in workaday life. This is also how we solve one of our biggest problems. Our definition of... Read more

Dashing Babies Against the Rocks – An Intriguing Interpretation

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm By Mark D. Roberts

One of the most unsettling passages in all of the Bible is found in Psalm 137. Here, the psalm writer laments the exile of the Jewish people in Babylon. The psalm ends with these chilling verses: Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us. Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks (vv. 8-9). How are we to understand this passage from... Read more