"For us let it be enough to know ourselves to be in the place where God wants us, and carry on our work, even though it be no more than the work of an ant, infinitesimally small, and with unforeseeable results."
-- Abbé Monchanin

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Neither Nor


Too often the positions and actions of the "Christian Right" have proven to be neither Christian nor right.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Rich Germans demand higher taxes


Rich Americans would never do this:

Rich Germans demand higher taxes

Rich Americans and Republicans would do this:

We woke up this morning to learn that the new center-right coalition of Ms Merkel’s CDU and Mr Westerwelle’s FDP have decided to cut taxes.

Thanks to Loomnie for bringing this to my attention.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Quote for the Day


"During the thirties a woman came to Sevagram asking Gandhi to get her little boy to stop eating sugar; it was doing him harm. Gandhi gave a cryptic reply: 'Please come back next week.'

The woman left puzzled but returned a week later, dutifully following the Mahatma's instructions. 'Please don't eat sugar,' Gandhi told the young fellow when he saw him. 'It is not good for you.' Then he joked with the boy for a while, gave him a hug, and sent him on his way. But the mother, unable to contain her curiosity, lingered behind to ask, 'Bapu, why didn't you say this last week when we came? Why did you make us come back again?'

Gandhi smiled, 'Last week,' he said to her, 'I too was eating sugar.'"

Told in Gandhi the Man by Eknath Easwaran

Monday, October 19, 2009

Transparency Is Essential for Christian-Based Organizations in Islamic Countries


Someone has gotten the right idea!

Transparency Is Essential for Christian-Based Organizations in Islamic Countries

Bible Too Liberal? Conservative Bible Project Will Fix It


Will the abuse of the Bible never end? Canaan Banana (former ceremonial president of Zimbabwe and Methodist pastor) wrote a book suggesting that the Bible should be re-written. Are conservative Americans taking up the challenge (though moving in a different direction than Banana suggested)?

Bible Too Liberal? Conservative Bible Project Will Fix It


Friday, October 09, 2009

Quote for the Day

"The unity of the church -- no, the church itself -- is called in question when groups of Christians segregate themselves on the basis of such dubious distinctives as race, ethnicity, sex, or social status."
-- David J. Bosch Transforming Mission

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Quote for the Day

"Through their conduct, believers attract outsiders or put them off . . .. Their lifestyle is either attractive or offensive. Where it is attractive, people are drawn to the church, even if the church does not actively 'go out' to evangelize them."
-- David J. Bosch Transforming Mission


Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Quote for the Day


A story from Steve Hayes at Notes from underground:

A very rich man who lived in Alexandria prayed to God every day that the lives of the indigent be made easier. On hearing about this, Abba Makarios sent him a message: 'I would like to own all your estate.'

The man was puzzled, and sent one of his servants to ask what [Abba Makarios] would do with all that wealth.

Abba Makarios said: 'Tell your master that I would immediately answer his prayer.'

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Quote for the Day


"God in Christ has accepted us unconditionally; we have to do likewise with regard to one another."
-- David J. Bosch Transforming Mission

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Quote for the Day


Got this great quote from Spookyrach at Skewed View:

"When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?"
-- Eleanor Roosevelt


Friday, October 02, 2009

Learning to Love


This came from a missionary friend's newsletter:

'If you want to learn to love better, you
should start with a friend who you hate.'
Nikka - age six (we need a few million
more Nikka's on this planet)