Guest Post

New today from the Century: the purpose of university churches, the purpose of the game Monopoly, more.

The passage (Mark 12:41–44) about the poor widow who put “everything she had” in the temple treasury was among the lectionary readings a few weeks ago, and it’s a frequent text for stewardship sermons. The example of the widow’s generosity seems clear enough, and it’s part of the church’s standard repertoire about sacrificial giving.  But Fergus Kerr suggests that the story is about not generosity but exploitation. 

New today from the Century: the widow's mite, Reading Job, John Buchanan on the Magnificat, more.

Those of us in violence-plagued neighborhoods look forward to winter's reprieve. Our teenagers understand Advent waiting all too well.

New today from the Century: The editors on abortion, Ashley-Anne Masters on urban violence and Advent, more.

New today from the Century: Reflecting back on election-day communion, a Catholic scholar on Peter Singer, more.

New today from the Century: Biblical discomfort food, what makes ministry worthwhile, more.

New today from the Century: Beth Felker Jones on New Girl, Steven Porter on dishwashing and the will to power, more.

I got hired at a restaurant recently. I’ve worked food service in the past, but those were all front-of-house positions. This time, they’ve got me washing dishes. Now, I knew ahead of time that dishwashing would be among my duties, and the task is relatively simple: get the dishes, clean the dishes, return the dishes to their rightful places. Regardless, the managers had a trainer show me the ropes and then watch as I duplicated the steps, proving I could get my first solo shift.

New today from the Century: The power of introverts, from vegetarianism to fasting, more.

It’s an odd year for my family. My parents, 88 and 89, have lived rich and full lives, and my husband, children and I have shared holidays large and small with them. But this year they are confined to rooms in a nursing home.

New today from the Century: Prison ministry, the holidays with aging elders, more.

New today from the Century: Jerome Baggett reviews Robert Wuthnow, Debra Dean Murphy on Life of Pi, more.

I did something totally irrational the other day, something that goes against my principles. I bought two Powerball tickets. I knew the chances of winning were one in 175,223,510. The odds of becoming a movie star are better. But someone is going to have to win this thing eventually, I reasoned, and it might as well be me.

New today from the Century: Casting the Christmas pageant, year-end picks in fiction for children and youth, more.

I didn’t vote for Amendent 64, which legalized marijuana for recreational use in my home state of Colorado. I had mixed feelings about it. When marijuana was legalized for medical use in 2000, the effect on my small mountain community wasn’t something to celebrate. The majority of people who got licenses for medical marijuana were young men under the age of 34. At least legalization for recreational use will put a stop to that farce.

New today from the Century: Interview with pastor Dennis Sanders, Amy Frykholm on marijuana legalization, more.

New today from the Century: John Buchanan on Advent waiting, year-end lists of science fiction and popular music picks, more.

New today from the Century: Tom Long on prayer, Amy Frykholm's year-end picks in fiction, more.

New today from the Century: The editors on demographic change and backlash, recommended new books in theology and current events, more.