Posts By This Author
Voice of the Day: N.T. Wright on Non-Violence
To a nation bent on violence, anyone who claims to be speaking for God's kingdom and who advocates non-violent means as the way to it is making a very deep and dangerous political statement.
- N.T. Wright
From "The New Testament and the State"
Jeff Carr: Two Different Histories
Yesterday we had a meeting at the Iranian Foreign Ministry headquarters, in some of the most beautiful and historic buildings I have ever visited. I wish I were able to send a picture to show you all the beautiful architecture and attention to detail in the craftsmanship of the building. Our meeting was with the Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe and the United States, a very senior level official [...]
Verse of the Day: Mercy, Judgement and Forgiveness
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
- Luke 6:36-38
Voice of the Day: Faithful and Courageous
Those called by God to proclaim the good news need to be both faithful and courageous. Our prophetic call, however, does not come without a cost. Managing the enmity of foes and friends requires a teachable spirit and contentment with failure. We are not usually in a very teachable mood until life has whipped us into an attitutde to learn and a willingness to change; then God can get our undivided attention.
- Charles G. Adams
excerpt from "The Priestly Faithful and [...]
Jeff Carr: How Do You Know Someone Until You Talk?
We have been keeping quite a schedule here in Iran, meeting with various religious leaders, government officials, and visiting historic and cultural sites. We have had two dialogue sessions with Muslim clerics in the last two days, both of which were very interesting. The first dialogue was at the Center for Islamic Culture and Information [...]
Verse of the Day: Justice
You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.
- Exodus 23:2-3
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Voice of the Day: John Dear on Nonviolence
Nonviolence confronts systematic injustice with active love, but refuses to retaliate with further violence under any circumstances. In order to halt the vicious cycles of violence, it requires a willing acceptance of suffering and death rath than inflicting suffering or death on anyone else.
- John Dear
excerpt from "Living Peace: A Spirituality of Contemplation and Action."
Tony Jones: Honest Questions for Mitt Romney
OK, I'll be honest. I'm ambivalent about Mormonism, and, be it Mitt Romney or any other Mormon, I'm ambivalent about the idea of voting for a Mormon. And I'll bet that a lot of Christians, if they're honest too, agree with me.
My ambivalence stems, I suppose, from my ignorance. I'm [...]
Verse of the Day: Fasting
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
- Isaiah 58:6-7
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Voice of the Day: Elder Joseph the Hesychast
The helping of others, the giving of alms, and all external goods don't calm the arrogance of the heart. Humility of the mind, the pain of repentence and the breaking of the will, however, humble the proud spirit.
-Elder Joseph the Hesychast
Ryan Beiler: With a Little Help from Our Friends
Apparently there was something about Jim's tone in his last post that struck a nerve within the progressive faith blogosphere. From Pastor Dan:
...there's a whole constellation of faithful people in the netroots who have been working these issues out while Jim Wallis has been
Video: Jim Wallis on Tucker Carlson
Also, watch the panel discussion with Pat Buchanan and Peter Fenn that follows Jim's interview - he and his ideas are mentioned several times:
Voice of the Day Howard Thurman
Whatever may be the tensions
and the stresses of a particular day,
there is always lurking close at hand
the trailing beauty
of forgotten joy
or unremembered peace.
- Howard Thurman
from Meditations of the Heart.
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Verse of the Day: Anger and Judgement
You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not murder"; and "whoever murders shall be liable to judgment." But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, "You fool," you will be liable to the hell of fire.
- Matthew 5:21-22
Voice of the Day: Martin Luther King Jr.
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Jeff Carr: What Would You Ask Iran's President?
As I mentioned on Wednesday, I will be participating in a delegation of 13 religious leaders who will be leaving tomorrow, Feb. 17, for a trip to Iran. Our delegation, which is [...]
Verse of the Day: 'Remember the Poor'
For [God] who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles, and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.
- Galatians [...]
Voice of the Day: Wendell Berry
...[W]hatever we do counts. If we do not serve what coheres and endures, we serve what disintegrates and destroys.
- Wendell Berry
excerpt from Wendell Berry's essay "Two Economies."
Verse of the Day: Justice and Righteousness
Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn one who is righteous and mighty, who says to a king, "You scoundrel!" and to princes, "You wicked men!"; who shows no partiality to nobles, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of [God's] hands?
- Job 34:17-19
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Verse of the Day: Seek and Rejoice in the Lord
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!
- Psalms 70:4-5
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