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Charitable giving rose in 2011, but uncertain in 2012
The recession continued to affect how much Americans gave to charity last year, and the triple whammy of Superstorm Sandy, a national election and the looming fiscal cliff may cut how much we donat...
Sunday, December 9, 2012: Luke 3:1-6
In the Broadway show Book of Mormon, Elder Cunningham faces a problem. In an effort to gird his loins, he rocks out the hit "Man Up."
Building a platform part two
Lately I've been getting a lot of questions about how to get published, how to build a platform, how to become a speaker. So, I'm dedicating this week to some of the questions that people ask me. Yesterday, I looked at why a platform is important. Today, I want to talk about the the big ideas. All of this, of course, is just how I do it. There are many others who will give you different advice.
Future farmer-priests of America
My wife works as a vegetable farmer; she's also pursuing ordination in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago....
Tuesday digest
New today from the Century: Tom Long on prayer, Amy Frykholm's year-end picks in fiction, more.
Demographic turmoil
The nation's changing racial and ethnic profile will bring political change. But we can also expect it to elicit fear and resistance.
Gay bishop 'retiring' to build bridges in D.C.
When V. Gene Robinson became the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church in 2003, it triggered shock waves and fears of schism across the worldwide Anglican Communion....
Emergency and rescue
My grandfather was at his 60th class reunion. During a round of golf with three classmates, one of his friends teed off. After hitting the ball, with his club still in the air, the man said, “Gentlemen, you’ll have to excuse me.” Then he fell to the ground, dead.
My grandfather recounted this, adding, “And it was a nice shot.”
Advent’s scripture passages are about genuine rescue. But I wonder whether we’re sometimes embarrassed to preach about genuine rescue because we are embarrassed to admit we’re having a genuine emergency.
Monday digest
New today from the Century: The editors on demographic change and backlash, recommended new books in theology and current events, more.
Building a platform
So you have this book bursting within you. You really, really want to get published. You start lingering at the bookstore tables at major conferences in order to talk to people in publishing about how to do it and they say, “It’s all about the platform.”
History & current events
Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith: Religion in America War and Diplomacy, by Andrew Preston....
New to the neighborhood: Worship and community in East Austin
Vox Veniae began as a church plant growing out of the Austin Chinese Church's ministry to Asian students. But its members felt isolated.
In which Bob Dylan takes second billing
While my home church sang praises to King Jesus and also ran a food pantry, the Feast of the Reign of Christ boldly proclaims that the hungry won't be hungry forever. While others in the '60s juxtaposed sweet harmonies with earnestly social lyrics, Dylan conjured a complex vision of social upheaval—a vision both threatening and profoundly hopeful.
Wednesday digest
New today from the Century: East Austin's church Vox Veniae, Amy Frykholm reviews Elaine Scarry, more.
Thinking in an Emergency, by Elaine Scarry
In this strange, insightful and layered little book, Elaine Scarry argues that Clinton Rossiter was right: the nuclear age means a state of "chronic emergency."
An Evening with Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo
Vignola and Raniolo’s dual acoustic guitars blend like espresso and gelato....
Immortal dreams
In some circles, the hope for immortality is criticized as unbiblical and sub-Christian. In others it is affirmed as empirical fact.
Kenyan church leaders say laws would weaken marriage
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Kenyan church leaders are lining up in opposition to proposed new marriage bills, which they say will weaken marriage by allowing cohabitating couples to register as married....