T&S Introduces Dane Laverty as its Newest Blogger

Almost two months to the day that we invited him to guest, Dane Laverty has continued to blog with us at a prodigious pace.  We are now happy to report that he is a guest no longer, but will be joining T&S as a full-time blogger. Dane is a resident of Salem, Oregon and Sacramento, California.

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T&S Introduces Dane Laverty as its Newest Blogger

 Glenn Beck Promises Week-long Focus on Jim Wallis and His ‘Social Justice Nonsense’

Last night, Glenn Beck put a picture of Jim Wallis on his blackboard:

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Glenn Beck Promises Week-long Focus on Jim Wallis and His ‘Social Justice Nonsense’

 Pray Immigration Reform Into Passage

On Sunday, a major march for immigration reform will take place in Washington, D.C. Tens of thousands of people will gather to call on the White House to lead, and put forward an immigration reform bill whose time has come. We will…

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Pray Immigration Reform Into Passage

 ‘My Prayers Were Heard’

An immigrant woman’s testimony, as told to Juan Daniel Espitia, a pastor in Solana Beach, California. I come from a large city in the northwest of Mexico; there were six of us children. When one of my brothers became involved with…

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‘My Prayers Were Heard’

 Walking Prophetically: Marching as a Form of Worship

This Sunday like tens of thousands of Americans I’ll be in Washington D.C. in the March for America rally on behalf of undocumented immigrants.  On Friday, we had a pre-rally in the Bronx with Congressman Luis Gutierrez and several faith-based and…

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Walking Prophetically: Marching as a Form of Worship

 Wisdom from Cesar Chavez: ‘The Oppressed Almost Always Overestimate the Oppressor’

Today’s Lenten prayer comes from Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) — Mexican American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist.  He did much to raise awareness of the need for justice for those at the margins.  After reading this prayer this morning…

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Wisdom from Cesar Chavez: ‘The Oppressed Almost Always Overestimate the Oppressor’

 Cardinal George on religious freedom at BYU

His Eminence Francis Cardinal George A loyal reader requested that I blog about His Eminence Francis Cardinal George’s speech at Brigham Young University last month, available to download  here .  Ever the faithful servant of my reading public, all three of you, I respond with alacrity! BYU often invites prominent figures to address the university community on topics of mutual interest, and Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, graciously contributed to the  long-running series with his February 23 remarks entitled “Catholics and Latter-day Saints: Partners in the defense of religious freedom.” Cardinal George framed his remarks within the cooperative efforts undertaken by Catholics and Latter-day Saints: from the friendly relations  at home between LDS church leadership and the Catholic diocese of Salt Lake City, to the communities’ mutual interest in the moral health of American society in matters of life, family, and pornography, to the many and far-flung charitable efforts  jointly carried out by Catholic Charities and LDS Philanthropies. He devoted the bulk of his remarks to yet another mutual interest of Catholics and Latter-day Saints, namely the defense of religious freedom, and in particular the prerogative of religious voices to raise moral issues in matters of public policy

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Cardinal George on religious freedom at BYU

 Missionary work, common ground, ethics, and deception

A fascinating New York Times article and follow up blog post discuss negative reactions to a build-on-common-ground Christian missionary initiative among Muslims.

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Missionary work, common ground, ethics, and deception

 Mirth in Marriage

The other night as we were getting ready for bed, my wife said, “You know Dane, I really miss laughing. I don’t mean like little *he he he* laughs, I mean deep, cleansing laughter.” And she’s right.

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Mirth in Marriage

 OT Lesson 12 Study Notes: Genesis 40-45

Genesis 40 Verse 1: How long do you think “after these things” might represent, a long time or a short time? Why do you think we hear nothing further about Potiphar’s wife and what became of her?

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OT Lesson 12 Study Notes: Genesis 40-45

 Soul Work

“Don’t let the bastards grind you down” — Bono Norbert at BCC recently shared this reminiscence about his wilder days at BYU. What struck me most was the conversation in the comments between Norbert and his friends and acquaintances from those days

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Soul Work

 A Thing to Grasp

“Whatever choice you make, make it the right choice.” — Dee Winterton Havelock Ellis said, “It is only the great men who are truly obscene. If they had not dared to be obscene, they could never have dared to be great.” I think the word “obscene” here denotes not mere prurience or crudeness, but more generally the will to defy social expectations.

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A Thing to Grasp

 The Test

When asked why life is hard, the Sunday school teachers of my youth replied, “Life is a test. It’s supposed to be hard.” The scriptures support the life-as-test perspective — a “probationary state” where we “prove” ourselves.

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The Test

 40 Days of Getting Real – Norway Ave Members are Writing a Book for our 2010 Fall Journey

This fall Norway Ave Church members are going to write a book for our 2010 Journey. Last year we used Saddleback resources (40 Days of Love) and bought boxes of Tom Holliday’s book (The Relationship Principles of Jesus)

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40 Days of Getting Real – Norway Ave Members are Writing a Book for our 2010 Fall Journey

 Lynn Anderson Smells Like Sheep (a note I posted for Lynn on caringbridge)

I continue to pray for you. When I read Carolyn’s post today – well, how can I describe what I feel?

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Lynn Anderson Smells Like Sheep (a note I posted for Lynn on caringbridge)

 If you look at the future it changes and that changes everything else

I just heard a good line from a man – I can’t remember his name but what he said captured my attention. He said, “Here’s the thing about the future. If you look at the future it changes and that changes everything else.” I like it

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If you look at the future it changes and that changes everything else

 Glenn Beck, Come Drink Some Kool Aid with Me

I used to be just like Glenn Beck, only without the multi-million dollar TV show: I used to get attention by angrily, and humorously, attacking politicians. I’m ashamed of how I acted back then. And now, of all people, it’s Glenn Beck who’s attacking me on TV for it…

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Glenn Beck, Come Drink Some Kool Aid with Me

 Haiti: Living and Loving Through Tragedy

I was at the supermarket at my home in Florida with my two young daughters when my sister-in-law called to ask if I’d heard that there had been an earthquake in Haiti.

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Haiti: Living and Loving Through Tragedy

 Who’s Succeeding at Making Churches More Multiracial?

A recent Time magazine article traced the racial transformations of Willow Creek Community Church , one of the five largest congregations in the United States. Remarkably, in a span of just ten years, Willow Creek has gone from being 98% white to what…

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Who’s Succeeding at Making Churches More Multiracial?

 Going to Church on Wall Street to Talk About Ethical Economics

During Trinity Institute’s 2009 conference “Radical Abundance: A Theology of Sustainability,” presenter David C. Korten stated the obvious irony that he was promoting his forthcoming book while standing at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street.

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Going to Church on Wall Street to Talk About Ethical Economics