Like many of you, I have been enjoying the Olympics this year! Wonderful athletic performances from world athletes on a global stage. It is the ugly backstage realities that bother me as I watch the highly sanitized news coverage provided by Bob Costas and company on NBC. The playful banter about the amazing accomplishments of [...]
Archive for the 'Politics' Category
China’s Two Faces…
Published by August 15th, 2008 in Global Christianity, Global Issues, Justice, Politics and Social Issues. 2 CommentsiFeedReaders
Helen Barrett Montgomery - The Bible and Missions
Published by October 2nd, 2007 in Bible, Books, Church, Faith and Politics, History, Leadership, Missiology, Politics and Theology. 1 CommentiFeedReaders
INTRODUCTION
Helen Barrett Montgomery may be on of the most influential Christians you have never heard of. Her groundbreaking text The Bible and Missions was required reading for one of my Fuller classes (review follows) but her life is more an inspiration than any of her individual writtings.
Montgomery (1861-1934) was a social reformer, [...]
The (Future) Church in the American Political Landscape
Published by September 9th, 2007 in Justice, Kingdom, Politics, Social Issues and Western Christianity. 6 CommentsiFeedReaders
This past week I came across a couple of thoughtful and well informed perspectives on the church and political engagement in the United States. First, in an article called New evangelicals: Green, not liberal Jim Jewell offers an astute observation about the political viewpoints of younger evangelicals. I think he gets it…
The new [...]
Immigration Bill Dies
Published by June 10th, 2007 in Faith and Politics, Global Issues, Immigration, Justice, Politics and Poverty. 3 CommentsiFeedReaders
Interesting article in the NYT describing the grass roots activism that killed the albeit imperfect bipartisan immigration bill. It seems that many Americans actually don’t want lawmakers to attempt to fix the broken system. Give them 90 days to leave and then start deporting them is the only option many will consider. [...]
Taxing the Poor for the Right to earn minimum wage
Published by April 15th, 2007 in Faith and Politics, Global Issues, Immigration, Justice, Politics, Poverty, Social Issues and Western Christianity. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Did God so love the world, or just the ones born within the borders of the U.S.A.? It is always intersting to me that people who are the most likely to appeal to the Bible as a guide to national policy on issues of same sex marriage or abortion are often unlikely to consider [...]
Introducing “Smatterings”
Published by March 20th, 2007 in Faith and Politics and Politics. 1 CommentiFeedReaders
Many times I bookmark articles or posts that I desire to blog about only to realize that I am not keeping up. I’ve noticed that many bloggers have a catagory for pointing out posts/articles that are worth more time and consideration than they can be given in the moment. Today I’m [...]
Not for Sale - David Batstone
Published by March 16th, 2007 in Books, Faith and Politics, Global Christianity, Global Issues, Immigration, Justice, Politics, Poverty, Social Issues and Western Christianity. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
I just finished Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade–and How We Can Fight It by David Batstone. Batstone (a graduate of Westmont College here in Santa Barbara) does a tremendous job of storytelling through the issue of modern day slavery. Thoroughly researched and compellingly written, Not for Sale exposes [...]
Is the Gospel of the Kingdom Spiritual or Social?
Published by February 22nd, 2007 in Faith and Politics, Global Christianity, Kingdom, Philosophy, Politics, Social Issues, Spiritual Dynamics, Spiritual Practices and Western Christianity. 14 CommentsiFeedReaders
Reflecting on some previous comments about Christians and politics, I want to ask for your opinions…
1. Does the Gospel of the Kingdom have primarily Spiritual or primarily Social implications? (or Both, or other?)
2. To the extent that it is has social implications, to what extent do those infer politicol obligations?
3. What other [...]
Tired of the Religious Right? Sutton says: Blame Sister Aimee
Published by February 21st, 2007 in Foursquare, Global Christianity, Politics and Western Christianity. 4 CommentsiFeedReaders
In a new book, author Matthew Avery Sutton, (who grew up in Foursquare Church) makes a case that today’s religious right owes its force and vigor to Foursquare founder and evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson who died in 1944. While I certainly look forward to reading this book (I am facinated with all aspects of [...]
Critical Disease and Poverty Assistance Funding Approved
Published by February 20th, 2007 in Global Issues, Justice, Politics, Poverty and Social Issues. 2 CommentsiFeedReaders
This is a follow up on a previous post. Thanks to all of you (U.S. readers) who notified your congressperson. AIDS: Critical Disease and Poverty Assistance Funding Approved
At the urging of World Vision and other nongovernmental organizations and their supporters, the United States Congress approved a $1.3 billion increase in funding [...]
Klan growing, fed by anti-immigrant feelings
Published by February 7th, 2007 in Faith and Politics, Immigration, Justice, Politics and Social Issues. 2 CommentsiFeedReaders
I have been pretty alarmed by the high anti-immigration sentiment that seems to be growing in many parts of the United States. This is one of its more extreme manifestations, although, from a public policy standpoint, the unwillingness of our last Congress to engage any kind of comprehensive immigration reform that includes a guest [...]
Aids Funding Response
Published by February 2nd, 2007 in Faith and Politics, Global Issues, Justice, Politics and Social Issues. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
I recently signed this World Vision Petition asking United States Goverment officials to reinstate funding previously earmarked for fighting AIDS. I recieved responses back from the offices of Congresswoman Lois Capps, and, the following email from Senator Dianne Feinstein. It’s always nice to discover that your elected representatives are actually listening!
February 1, 2007
Dear [...]
Amazing Grace at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Published by February 1st, 2007 in Faith and Politics, Global Issues, History, Justice, Movies, Politics and Social Issues. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
This film premiered downtown last night and I wish I could have been there. The director, Micheal Apted, is being interviewed tonight at Victoria Hall. (Sadly, I don’t have tickets for this event…) Really looking forward to seeing this movie!
Santa Barbara Edhat - Amazing Grace
The film tells the story of [...]
Barack Obama’s Pastor
Published by January 31st, 2007 in Faith and Politics, Politics, Social Issues and Spiritual Dynamics. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Interesting ariticle about Barack Obama’s faith history and the pastor that inspired him to write “the Audacity of Hope.”
Pastor inspires `audacity to hope’ | Chicago Tribune
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An Alternative to the E-Word? -Red Letter Christians
Published by January 26th, 2007 in Global Issues, Politics, Social Issues and Western Christianity. 3 CommentsiFeedReaders
SojoNet: Faith, Politics, and Culture Great article by Tony Campolo (with links to other articles) about a group of Evangelicals that are having a hard time with the “E-word” and are now self identifying as “Red Letter Christians.”
Because being evangelical is usually synonymous with being Republican in the popular mind, and calling [...]
Carter, Clinton Seek To Bring Together Moderate Baptists
Published by January 22nd, 2007 in Global Issues, Politics, Poverty, Social Issues and Western Christianity. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Carter, Clinton Seek To Bring Together Moderate Baptists - washingtonpost.com
Shaw said broadcast evangelists such as the Rev. Jerry Falwell and the Rev. Pat Robertson, along with the Southern Baptist Convention, have “downsized the moral message” of the Bible “so that the dominant question has to do with sexuality.”Black Baptist churches, he said, are saying that [...]
AIDS: $1 Billion up in Smoke?
Published by January 17th, 2007 in Global Issues and Politics. 1 CommentiFeedReaders
It appears that our new congress is not inclined to keep promises made in 2006 for funding to fight AIDS. You can make your voice heard on this issue! AIDS: $1 Billion up in Smoke?
Irony… Augusto Pinochet dies on Human Rights Day.
Published by December 11th, 2006 in Global Issues, History, Politics and Social Issues. 3 CommentsiFeedReaders
It appears that history may sometimes offers its own verdict. Notorious Chilean Dictator Augusto Pinochet passed away yesterday, December 10, Human Rights Day. It is estimated that Pinochet’s regime,
Who really cares? Conservatives give much more than liberals, people of faith much more than athiests…
Published by December 8th, 2006 in Foursquare, Global Issues, Leadership, Politics, Pop Culture, Social Issues, Spiritual Dynamics, Spiritual Practices and Western Christianity. 5 CommentsiFeedReaders
Saw a fascinating news special on T.V. the other about giving in America. Who really Cares? Apparently its, conservatives more than liberals, Souix Falls more than San Fransisco, people of faith more than atheists.
Under Rug Swept, for now… akward unanswered questions following the release of Abdul Rahman, a convert to Christianity in Afghanistan
Published by March 30th, 2006 in Global Christianity, Global Issues and Politics. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
It is official, Abdul Rahman, a man held by Afgahn authorities on charges of violating Sharia law by converting to Christianity has been released and has now arrived in Italy. CNN.com - Afghan convert arrives in Italy for asylum - Mar 29, 2006 It appears that President Karzai has dodged a bullet but is [...]
Religious Totalitarinism
Published by March 1st, 2006 in Global Issues, Kingdom, Politics and Western Christianity. 4 CommentsiFeedReaders
BBC NEWS | Europe | Writers issue cartoon row warning
“After having overcome fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism, the world now faces a new global threat: Islamism,” the manifesto says.
“We, writers, journalists, intellectuals, call for resistance to religious totalitarianism and for the promotion of freedom, equal opportunity and secular values for all.”
The clashes over the cartoons “revealed [...]
Cartoon Killings and John Piper on Mockery
Published by February 17th, 2006 in Global Issues, Politics and Social Issues. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Many have died in protests related to the publication of cartoons depicting Muhammed. Additionally, some extremist are now offering rewards for those who would avenge the mockery of the prophet. Cleric Announces $1M Bounty for Cartoonist - Yahoo! News
Prayer leader Mohammed Yousaf Qureshi announced the bounty for killing a cartoonist to about 1,000 people [...]
A blog about present and future church, contemporary culture, intercultural dynamics, and the implications of Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom in today's context. 
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