By the way, they brew the finest beer, make the best bratwurst, grow the most delicious produce, raise the finest turkeys, and bake the best pies, that this pro has ever savored...and they are a lot of fun!
Most of all, they show us that the Church of the Acts of the Apostles is still very much alive!
Source: Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan - "Radical Discipleship Lived in Our Midst", Catholic New York, 27 April 2017, http://www.cny.org/stories/radical-discipleship-lived-in-our-midst,15453
House Church Leaders
Quoting 2 California house church leaders:
Over the years we witnessed the disastrous results of ignoring wrongdoing or secretly hiding it. We lived in a small urban community with several people, one of whom was a single man who had fallen in love with a married woman in our group. Some of us tried to tackle their affair by talking with them separately about it. Yet no one dared to bring it out in the open ... We convinced ourselves that confrontation would not only add to hteir sense of shame and self-condemnation, but also perpetuate the cycle of failure. In the end we tried to forgive their shortcomings and avoided talking about them any further. Now we see that this so-called compassion only perpetuated the problem ...
Source: Johann Christoph Arnold - Why Forgive?, pp.166-167
Fr. Peter Hocken
The history of conflict and mutual alienation [Catholic-Protestant] has caused a breakdown of trust, so that Catholic initiatives for unity, and particularly papal initiatives, are widely suspected of being cunning devices to restore Roman domination. In this situation the only Catholic initiatives that initially stand a chance of success are steps of humility that demonstrate that the age-old fears no longer have any foundation.
Source: Fr. Peter Hocken - Pentecost and Parousia, Peter Hocken - p. 100
David du Plessis
It was a hard moment - followed by a great healing light - when the Lord made me face up to my judgmental attitude, the one that was blocking any effective ministry by me among those I thought to be wrong in their ways.
"You're not forgiving," He stated flatly. "You're a public prosecutor, judging everybody in sight. But I want you to be a public defender - not a public prosecutor."
Source: David du Plessis - From "A Man Called Mr. Pentecost", as told to Bob Slosser, Ch. 18, p. 163
Nazi Descendants - What To Do?
Not just in Germany, but in Israel too, there has been a silencing culture about the Holocaust for many years. The main principle of the organization, therefore, is talking. The actual discussion of the matter, after years of silencing on both sides, brings people closer and releases tensions and old hatreds. It aims to guarantee that the past does not repeat itself.
As part of the organization, the young Germans meet with Holocaust survivors around the world, tell them about their families’ Nazi past and seek their forgiveness, promising to do everything in their power so that those hate crimes do not repeat themselves.
Source: Itay Ilnai - "Nazis’ descendants sing ‘Hatikva’ to Holocaust survivors", Ynet News, 6 Jan 2017, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4902914,00.html
A Catholic Mom
As we endeavor to move forward in the wake of the election, my personal desire will be to continue to live out the sparks that were lit in my heart during this year of mercy. The call for me to personally carry out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy is not impacted by who holds an elective office.
Source: Lisa Henley - Lisa Henley, founder of CatholicMom.com and co-editor of The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections, As quoted by Kathryn Jean Lopez, Crux, 13 Nov 2016, https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2016/11/13/mercy-can-help-america-heal-bitter-political-season/
Repentance Towards Hispanics in Austin, 2007
Some of your ancestors had land taken away from them in the Southwest, in direct violation of the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo signed with the Mexican government by the US.
Today, it is hard to know Christ’s acceptance from us when you feel targeted by our police, rejected by our politicians, and taken advantage of by contractors who leave you unpaid or underpaid after a hard day’s work.
So as a white person, I apologize on behalf of my people, repent before God for our sins, ask for your forgiveness, and express my heart’s fervent desire that this would change.
Source: Thomas Cogdell - Repentance towards Hispanics during the 2007 Global Day of Prayer service in Austin Texas
Erasing History in America
Just one of many reasons calling slaves, workers, migrants or immigrants angers me. We've erased history enough in America. Slaves were completely stripped of native land, dignity, family names, language, culture and family. We must remember black slaves were the only oppressed group that were completely denied education and the ability to read. This didn't take place for a few years but for generations and centuries. Their blood and stories run through my veins. I'm here today because of someone's resilience, faith and survival. I don't ever want to forget that and neither should you. So I have problem when we don't name the oppression, gloss over it, misinterpret, and erase American history related to slavery. Denial serves no one, there is liberty and freedom in truth. The truth makes us free, lies perpetuate bondage. How many of you have heard of this story? How many learned of the murders of 20,000 blacks in Mississippi in school? I didn't. This isn't about shame and guilt but conviction that leads us toward redeeming justice. May we lament. LORD have Mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have Mercy.
Source: Latasha Morrison - Facebook post on 8 Mar 2017, with link to https://blackmainstreet.net/never-forget-devils-punchbowl-20000-freed-slaves-died-forced-post-slavery-concentration-camp/
The Serbian Orthodox Church
Jesus' attitude is not a popular one in our day, even in religious quarters. And in the rare instances where it is promoted publicly, the response is often skeptical, if not downright cynical. Such was the case in 2005, when the Serbian Orthodox Church surprised observers across Europe by asking forgiveness for its support of Milosevic's regime. "We honestly offer our Albanian co-citizens reconciliation and mutual forgiveness," it said in the opening sentences of a public statement. Critics belittled the apology as a political move, but there were others who embraced the chance for dialogue. They noted that whatever its effect, it was the first such attempt to honestly address the hatreds that had led to one atrocity after another across the region for most of the previous decade.
Source: Johann Christoph Arnold - Why Forgive?, pp.210-211
Their Part in The Rift
Paul's use of lupeo [Greek word for "to grieve"] in 2 Corinthians suggests that he understands the Corinthians' grief as their regret and mental anxiety for their part in the rift between them and Paul.
Source: Rabbi Jonathan Kaplan - "Comfort, O Comfort, Corinth: Grief and Comfort in 2 Corinthians 7:5-13a", Harvard Theological Review, 104:4 (2011), p. 436
The Same Gift He Gave Us
So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?
Source: Peter - As quoted by Luke in Acts 12:17 (NIV)
Jimmy Seibert, Senior Pastor of Antioch (Waco)
Parishes in the Austin Diocese, which includes Central Texas, may resume public celebration of Mass Tuesday, but another group of area churches doesn’t plan to reopen until June.
Included in the group are Highland Baptist Church, Maranatha Church, Harris Creek Baptist Church, Antioch Community Church, Greater Zion Baptist, Crossroads Fellowship, Renew Church, Columbus Ave. Baptist Church, Brazos Meadows Baptist, Christ the King, Greater New Light Baptist, Grace Church, Waco, Grace Church, Hewitt, Ministerios Bethania, Central Christian Church, Park Lake Drive Baptist, Western Heights Baptist, New Life Christian Fellowship, Meadowbrook Baptist, New Faith Christian, Faith Bible Church and St. Stephen’s AME.
The pastors of the churches say they were encouraged to show unity, after watching their followers come together.
"Crisis always brought people together and I think the crisis has brought churches together," said John Durham, the lead pastor of Highland Baptist church.
"I have been so proud of the Waco community, where people have stayed active with their faith in the middle of this crisis," said Jimmy Seibert the Senior Pastor of Antioch.
Source: KWTX Waco - As quoted by Phil Brown on FB, 16 May 2020
Franklin Graham & Jim Wallis? I would hope ...
I dream of several changes that might flow out of this:
I hope this would lead our churches into a similar process of listening deeply to God, the Holy Scriptures, and one another, more intensely than to the political echo chambers that form many of our views.
I would hope public Christian leaders would sit down with those who differ greatly to practice these steps and model them for others. Imagine if Franklin Graham, from Samaritan’s Purse, and Jim Wallis from Sojourners met each other as believers and modeled this effort toward coming to a common mind and communion of heart.
I dream of the day when Christians, instead of aligning with one political party or another, would line up together to advocate for public policies that reflect the whole of the counsels of the Bible and challenge both parties to end the either-or approaches that characterize so much of our politics that set our people against each other.
Source: Robert C Trube - rtrube54, "The Scandal of the Church in America: Part Two", Bob on Books, 14 Feb 2017, https://bobonbooks.com/2017/02/14/the-scandal-of-the-church-in-america-part-two/
Francis to German Evangelicals
Greeting the German delegation in his private library, Francis sought to give new impetus to the effort toward Christian unity. He encouraged evangelicals and Catholics, when considering an ecumenical initiative, to ask themselves: “Can we share it with our brothers and sisters in Christ? Can we do another stretch of the road together?
“We have the same baptism: We must walk together, without growing tired,” Francis said. There is no going back on the road to unity he assured the delegation; Catholics and evangelicals must “continue to witness together to the Gospel and to continue on the road to full unity.”
Source: Gerard O'Connell - "German Evangelical Church issues historic invite to Pope Francis", America : The Jesuit Review, 6 Feb 2017, http://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/02/06/german-evangelical-church-issues-historic-invite-pope-francis
One is a Calvinist, the other an Arminian
It reminds me that we can learn from one another if we don’t condemn a person based on their opinions. For example, I know these two guys who are great friends. One is a Calvinist, the other an Arminian. They’ve been friends for 20+ years. The one thing I’ve noticed is that they really enjoy learning why the other has come to form their belief. They’ll agree to disagree without demonizing the other friend. Civility does that... Love does that. Guys, Stay the Course!!!
Source: Buzz Leonard - Posted on FB, 7 Feb 2020
I was Senseless & Ignorant
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Source: Bible - Psalm 73 : 21–26
Eastern Orthodox Council
The spiritual seat of the world's Orthodox Christians on Friday issued a call for unity ahead of the first ever meeting of the faith's 14 independent churches that is expected to discuss the churches' common future and efforts to heal the nearly 1,000-year rift with the Roman Catholics.
The meeting later this month in Crete will be convened by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians.
All the Orthodox churches, old and new that emerged over the centuries, have never met like this before — not since the "great schism" of 1054, when the Orthodox and Roman Catholics split after disputes over the Vatican's power.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is also based in Istanbul, said the "Holy and Great Council is a unique and historical occasion." Preparations for the meeting have been underway since 1961, when the planning first began.
Bartholomew's spokesman, the Rev. John Chryssavgis, told The Associated Press that the June 19-26 [2016] gathering's "sole purpose is the affirmation of unity."
"Unity is a slow and painful process. We don't have to be united on every point to convene the council; but we do have to convene the council if we aspire to unity," Chryssavgis said.
The call followed reports that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which is due to come to Crete, had threatened to pull out, reportedly asking for some mostly procedural changes to the agenda. It did not say what changes it was requesting or if it would carry out the threat.
Chryssavgis said that "after centuries of isolation, occupation, and persecution," it won't be easy for the churches to come together.
"It is very natural, then, for some Churches to feel unsure or uncomfortable about coming together after such a long time, much like members of a family might be skeptical and even mistrustful after a long period of separation," he said.
Unlike the Roman Catholics, the Orthodox churches are independent and have their own leadership. For example, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow is head of the world's largest Orthodox Church, but is considered equal to other patriarchs.
Bartholomew is called the "first among equals," but leads a smaller flock than Kirill.
Since the "great schism" there have been about a dozen smaller Orthodox councils over the centuries to discuss theological or doctrinal issues, but there has never been a meeting on the scale of the Holy and Great Council.
The Crete council will discuss the mission and role of the Orthodox Church and its global flock, issues relating to the function of the churches and its relations with other Christian faiths. Unity of the Orthodox churches is considered a key prerequisite to any reconciliation with the Vatican.
"Our focus should be on the objective of unity," Chryssavgis said.
Source: Associated Press - AP Wire News Story
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/orthodox-christians-spiritual-seat-issues-calls-unity-39581777
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14 - For more than a hundred years, Pentecostal and other charismatic movements have become very widespread across the globe. These powerful movements have put forward new emphases that have made many of the old confessional controversies seem obsolete. The Pentecostal movement is present in many other churches in the form of the charismatic movement, creating new commonalities and communities across confessional boundaries. Thus, this movement opens up new ecumenical challenges that will play a significant role in the observance of the Reformation in 2017.
Source: Lutheran - Roman Catholic Commission on Unity - Conflict to Communion: Report of the Lutheran - Roman Catholic Commission on Unity, p. 14
Catholics & Evangelicals
In recent years a growing number of Evangelicals have been quietly accompanying baptized Roman Catholics into a deeper relationship with Christ. In doing so, some of these Evangelicals have abandoned the methods employed by their colleagues and chosen not to attempt to separate their converts from Catholic church structures. It is not that they have attempted to conceal their Protestant identity or doctrinal commitments or have sought official, organizational ties with the Catholic church: rather, they have simply presented themselves as persons whose goal is not to lead people out of the Catholic church, but to assist persons to become, in effect, better Catholics, to come to know Christ personally and follow him obediently.
Source: David E. Bjork, Ph.D. - Appendix 1 of "Evangelicals Cooperatively Evangelising & Discipling with Catholics in Faithfulness to Evangelical Distinctives", by Paul Miller
"My grandparents were Nazis"
The unusual meeting between Reiner and Chaika was held recently in the Israeli city of Netanya, as part of the activity of German organization March of Life. About 100 Belarus-born Holocaust survivors, wearing caps and glasses and wrapped in their coats, faced some 10 young Germans, tall and good-looking, the descendants of Nazi soldiers and officers. The former spoke about their horrible experiences in the Holocaust, and the latter told them about their families’ grim history.
Surprisingly, there was no anger in this intergenerational meeting, just a lot of sadness and a bit of comfort, for both sides.
...
The 25-year-old Samuel Haas took the microphone and said, “My grandparents were Nazis. One of them handed out printed propaganda information, and the other three traveled across Europe as part of their job in the Wehrmacht army. They murdered, robbed and looted. And as a descendant of these people, I would like to stand on Israeli soil and say out loud that we must not let such a thing happen again. I want to expose my family’s story and support Israel and the war on anti-Semitism.”
Haas’ comments reflect the solidarity at the heart of this event and the agreement that such meetings will help guarantee that horrible events like the Holocaust will never repeat themselves.
Source: Itay Ilnai - "Nazis’ descendants sing ‘Hatikva’ to Holocaust survivors", Ynet News, 6 Jan 2017, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4902914,00.html