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Tuesday digest
New today from the Century: Phil Jenkins on Latin American secularism, David Heim on same-sex marriage and the courts, more.
Apparently Chris Tomlin doesn't love the spotlight
In the evangelical subculture of my youth, there were three categories of pop music. There was secular music, the avoidance of which was, as with alcohol, a nonessential of the faith. (My parents’ approach was more tight regulation than outright ban.) There was Christian music, the Nashville-industry pop records that we heard on Christian radio during our school carpool and then saved our allowances up to buy. And then there was worship music, which we sang at church.
Why the cross? God’s at-one-ment with humanity
Some questions won't go away. The creed says Jesus was crucified "for us," but what do those two little words mean?
Guns on campus
Would you want your son or daughter to go to a college where it is legal to possess a loaded gun in a dorm room? If not, you may want to think twice about sending your child to school in Texas.
A bill under consideration in the state Senate, S. B. 182, would require all public colleges and universities to allow holders of a concealed handgun license to carry loaded weapons on campus.
From betrayal to anointing
This week’s sensual anointing text is one of those biblical texts that has a personal story permanently attached to it. Late one night, sitting in the ER, I wiped blood away from a dying member’s hands and experienced death’s sting along with his family. I knew the power of being present in Christ’s name when there are no words to speak.
Monday digest
New today from the Century: cover story on atonement, concealed carry on college campuses, more.
Clutter buster: A church clears a path
A church is not a building. But I believe a church building is often an outward and visible sign of a congregation's spiritual condition.
Bishop Minerva Carcaño on immigration front line
When United Methodist Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño talks about tussling with political bigwigs on the topic of immigration reform, she is poised yet forceful....
Clinton asks justices to overturn law he signed
It’s not every day that an ex-president asks the Supreme Court to strike down a law he signed....
Catholic bishops opposed lesbian rights in bill that protects women
A Newly authorized Violence Against Women Act, signed by President Obama on March 7, was opposed by five key Catholic bishops for fear it would subvert traditional views of marriage and gender and ...
"Madonna? Not on the list."
So, Sen. Paul filibustered and received brief assurances that at least there are some limits to the Obama adminstration's policy of targeted assassination. Alex Kane—in a Short Imagined Monologue, one of my favorite features at McSweeney's humor site—spells out some others. I for one would be reassured if the White House actually said this.
A good biblical woman knows how to shop!
Feeling the need for inspiration as a good Christian woman, I logged onto Today’s Christian Woman....
Friday digest
New today from the Century: Barbara Melosh on a church that cleared a path, Kendra Weddle Irons on good biblical women and shopping, more.
Staying power: Reflections on a long pastorate
I have pastored the same church for 18 years. That's not exactly a towering pinnacle, but it does provide some interesting views.
Why not a eucharistic anti-gun event?
A number of activist organizations are declaring March 15-17 "National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend."
It's not clear if this is meant to replace The Brady Center's "God Not Guns Sabbath," which has been observed on the last weekend of September for a number of years. But the organizers seem eager to keep the event broadly ecumenical and interfaith.
And still it moves
Last week was the anniversary of the trial of Galileo, and time for a predictable plethora of commentary all over the place along the good-scientist/bad-prelates line. I have myself written about this in the past, here and here, and don't really want to do it again, but the pseudoargument sat jarringly with other happenings in my world. Particularly, I have been thinking about illusions. About lying, falsehood, deception, prevarications, elaboration of the truth, strategic silences and all the other devices behind which we hide from the light.
Thursday digest
New today from the Century: Martin Copenhaver on his long pastorate, Kathryn Reklis on Beautiful Creatures, more.
Washington does something right
President Obama earlier this afternoon:
Indian Country has some of the highest rates of domestic abuse in America. And one of the reasons is that when Native American women are abused on tribal lands by an attacker who is not Native American, the attacker is immune from prosecution by tribal courts. Well, as soon as I sign this bill that ends.
Supernatural romance
The act of sacrifice central to Beautiful Creatures works only because the characters' story is not entirely their own.