Book Tour Diary: On Point Callers’ Stories of Banks’ Bad Behavior

The best interview on Wednesday was with “On Point,” an interesting NPR show that goes out to 160 radio stations. Tom Ashbrook is the host; he wondered what morality, values, and especially religion have to do with the current economic…

Read more from the original source:
Book Tour Diary: On Point Callers’ Stories of Banks’ Bad Behavior

 TIAA-Cref Divests from Sudan Oil Interests

While the situation in Sudan remains dire (and could worsen as the country faces volatile elections this spring), Christians can celebrate a recent story of hope: the first major U.S. mutual fund holder has divested holdings in companies who buy oil…

Go here to read the rest:
TIAA-Cref Divests from Sudan Oil Interests

 Book Tour Diary: NYC and the Ron Reagan Show

Tuesday, we traveled to New York City, where authors normally spend more time than in Detroit. Of course, there were more interviews and book conversations on the phone, which will be a staple of my life for the next several…

View post:
Book Tour Diary: NYC and the Ron Reagan Show

 Wash me and I will be whiter than snow

Snow is just beginning to fall – again. Yesterday’s snow covered the ground and now, weather.com is calling for several inches more. I am watching snow fall out my office window.

Read more here:
Wash me and I will be whiter than snow

 Diary of a Book Tour

Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street — A Moral Compass for the New Economy Because I wrote this book to help spark a national conversation on the “values crisis” underneath our economic crisis, and to suggest that…

View original post here:
Diary of a Book Tour

 Good Thoughts on Teaching Sunday School

My second-favorite group blog recently posted a series on what’s wrong with Sunday School, showing once again that we bloggers are, if nothing else, talented complainers. So let’s talk teaching and collect a few simple suggestions for improvement

Read more:
Good Thoughts on Teaching Sunday School

 The Power of Questions

Jim Wallis is right in his new book, Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street—A Moral Compass for the New Economy : the right question during this recession isn’t “When will it end?” but rather “What will we…

See the article here:
The Power of Questions

 ‘Human Wrongs’ and the Next Generation of Christian Activists at Urbana

Last week I had the privilege of attending the Urbana 09 Missions Conference put on every three years by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. It was powerful to be worshiping Christ with 17,000 young adults who were saying “Here am I Lord, send…

See the original post here:
‘Human Wrongs’ and the Next Generation of Christian Activists at Urbana

 Boomer Blues, Part 2: Have You Saved $1 Million Yet?

[continued from part 1] Here is how things used to be: My parents retired in 1975 when they were both 65. Their household income had been modestly sufficient, right around the national average or perhaps a little less.

Continued here:
Boomer Blues, Part 2: Have You Saved $1 Million Yet?

 A New World Christmas

photo courtesy of flickr As I’ve mentioned before, Mormons don’t follow the traditional liturgical calendar, but that won’t stop me from using this January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas and the feast of Epiphany or Three Kings Day, as a happy occasion to put up the one last Christmas post that escaped December.

See the original post:
A New World Christmas

 Try The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

I use online resources for Bible study most of the time. I began preaching twenty years ago when nearly all my resources were in printed books – large, thick volumes. I remember doing word studies – thumbing through those large volumes, referencing and recording, etc.

The rest is here:
Try The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

 Why It Is Sometimes So Hard to Understand the OT

A different idea of history What I say here about the Old Testament will be brief, so brief in fact as to be a caricature. Those who are specialists in biblical studies, are likely to find this woefully inadequate

See the original post here:
Why It Is Sometimes So Hard to Understand the OT

 OT Lesson 2 Study Notes: Abraham 3; Moses 4:1-4

Abraham 3 Verses 1-19: Why did the Lord reveal these things to Abraham? More important: why did he think it important to reveal them to us? Verse 1: Why is it important that Abraham tell us that he received the revelation that follows through the Urim and Thummim?

Read the original here:
OT Lesson 2 Study Notes: Abraham 3; Moses 4:1-4

 Ring Out Wild Bells

Following up on Kaimi’s post concerning “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” I thought we ought to take the opportunity to read over the full text of Lord Tennyson’s “Ring Out Wild Bells,” another frequently sung hymn whose lines concerning injustice, social inequity, political divisiveness, and faith we never sing! Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more, Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind.

The rest is here:
Ring Out Wild Bells

 The latest news on Unemployment, Health Care, International Criminal Court, U.S.-China, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jerusalem, and Select Op-Eds.

Hunger in the U.S. The nation’s economic crisis has catapulted the number of Americans who lack enough food to the highest level since the government has been keeping track, according to a new federal report, which shows that nearly 50 million people — including almost one child in four — struggled last year to get enough to eat. El Salvador.

Go here to see the original:
The latest news on Unemployment, Health Care, International Criminal Court, U.S.-China, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jerusalem, and Select Op-Eds.

 40 Days of Love – Four things to remember when inviting people to join a small group

When you invite people to join a small group remember four things – Be prayerful – pray for them before you ever approach them. Be winsome – do not use pressure anybody – do not be pushy be pleasant, persuasive – and if they say no – that’s fine – at least they received a personal invitation – they may join next year – just plant the move on. Be a witness – when needed, briefly share your own experience in small groups – tell them how it has helped you Rely on God – ask God to love people through you – quietly, silently say in your heart “I am doing this for you Jesus – give me success”

Link:
40 Days of Love – Four things to remember when inviting people to join a small group

 Using Our Spiritual Gifts To Bless Others

WE HAVE A GREAT HOPE We have a great hope that together we can make a difference, that one day we will see: the promises of our faith, the fruits of our labor, and the results of our perseverance. With churches reaching out to communities, sharing the gospel and meeting the needs of the poor and needy, we believe it is possible to have: Neighborhood sanctuaries full, integrated with people from all races praising God together.   Streets that are safe to walk on, without gangs or violence.

Originally posted here:
Using Our Spiritual Gifts To Bless Others