Blogs - Recovering Evangelical

Strategic Election Reform

I rewrote my basic views on strategic election reform(SER) today over at TPM Cafe.

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/a/n/ankotp/2010/02/strategic-election-reform.php

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Added by dlw on February 18, 2010 at 9:00pm — No Comments

I know the subject is controversial. I know that the climate is fearful. But I had to tell somebody how a little film made the most profound impact on me. The film is "Sicko" and was made in 2007 by Michael Moore. And, yes I know that Michael Moore is controversial too. But, so was Paul, Peter, James, Jesus, Moses, Abraham and so on. I saw it the first time about three weeks ago. It is basicly about people in America who have Healthcare insurance. It is not about those who don't(although they ar… Continue

Added by Fred Holland on December 16, 2009 at 5:42pm — No Comments

I've been teaching!

This is a bit out of my tradition, to teach a class at the Church I've been attending. I usually avoid such activities as I have a strong tendancy to try to tie some sense of self worth to the activity. For me it is important to only be defined by how God defines me. Nothing I can do will add to my worth and nothing I can do will diminish my worth. About three months ago an elder asked me if I would concider teaching the adult class. I told him I would and then related my concerns. After much di… Continue

Added by Fred Holland on October 19, 2009 at 9:39pm — No Comments

Move Over Health Care, Pass the Election Reform!

I'm posting a three part editorial series that will cover three goals, rules, and strategies for the renewal of our democracy in the US through strategic state-level election reform. dlw Continue

Added by dlw on October 12, 2009 at 10:18pm — No Comments

Look out... or I'll shoot you in the face with Jesus

Tea Party activists advice to G20 protestors: Stay on message. Tea Party Activist: I have on a black Smith & Weston .22 holster, carrying a wooden cross. Daily Show Interviewer: So the message then is: Look out, or I'll shoot you in the face with Jesus. Tea Party Activist: Basicall… Continue

Added by J. Christopher LaTondresse on October 2, 2009 at 5:30pm — 1 Comment

CBS News: Faith Groups to Help Obama on Health Care

Having let his push for comprehensive health care refom become bogged down by confusion over the details of his plan, President Obama this month is turning to the religious community to rally support for the fundamental idea of expanding health care accessibility. As part of… Continue

Added by J. Christopher LaTondresse on August 10, 2009 at 6:44pm — 1 Comment

Michael Jackson's Redemptive Brokenness

"And they told me a man should be faithful, and walk when not able, and fight till the end. But I’m only human." – Michael Jackson, Will You Be There Watching the global outpouring of affection for Michael Jackson at his passing earlier this week has been nothing… Continue

Added by J. Christopher LaTondresse on June 27, 2009 at 7:30pm — 3 Comments

An Interview with Dad

I was mindlessly going through several boxes of old stuff from my childhood the other day. It was a very mundane chore that was on the "to-do" list. I didn't expect anything special. As I was choosing what to keep and what to throw away, I came across an old assignment from middle school. It was an interview of 8 questions that I had conducted with my dad about his travels across the world with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). My dad died in 2000 after battling a lung disease… Continue

Added by Rob Williams on June 21, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Who would Jesus torture?

"A survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that white evangelical Christians are more likely to support torture than people who rarely or never attend religious services." Read the full CNN.com story here:… Continue

Added by J. Christopher LaTondresse on May 22, 2009 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

Jim Wallis on Homelessness in America

Homelessness is on the rise in America, especially for families and for single women with small children. According to a recent Jim Wallis editorial in the Washington Times: A December 2008 annual survey of 25 major cities by the U.S. Conference of Mayors... reported a… Continue

Added by J. Christopher LaTondresse on May 20, 2009 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

theology of expression

I was listening to Minnesota Public Radio (the Current, 89.3 fm in the Cities) on the way home from work a couple weeks ago and the dj was talking about why some of the most original music comes out of Minnesota. Certainly he has some bias, but it was interesting listening to him analyze a few different reasons offered by some for our (supposed) creativity. Was it the winter? Probably not especially, although the depressing winter months can be a great incubator for creativity, he mused. Althou… Continue

Added by Tony Mills on May 8, 2009 at 10:15pm — No Comments

Last Post for Lent, Apart maybe from Sundays in Cases of Immense Blessing!

I had a very good conversation during a plane flight back to MN this past thursday with a conservative catholic business executive named Joe who works for Bank of America. I think he was Joe Price, their Chief Financial Officer, he was flying to MN his 2nd home for some r&r and to detox from the stress of his job, go figure... He really liked my idea: Project Democratic Renewal(PDR) for using PR… Continue

Added by dlw on February 25, 2009 at 2:04am — No Comments

Sex, Creation, and Family...part two

Theologically, the loving womb created by the father and mother is prefigured in the triune life of the Christian God, which is ultimately its origin and condition. The idea that human love and relations are analogous to the mutual affections of Spirit, Jesus, and the one he called Father is now common in theology. That the finite world of creatures is an expression of this primal triune love is also common, but we must consider it further. Jurgen Moltmann maintains that Father, Son, and Spirit… Continue

Added by Tony Mills on February 21, 2009 at 11:28am — 3 Comments

Sex, Creation, and Family...part one

One impetus to this blog, and to a great deal of thinking for me in general, is that I am growing more emotional whenever I see children. Maybe not all children, but sweet, beautiful kids who in some way impress me with their intelligence or endear me with their speech or accent or smile. This fatherly impulse in me has existed for a rather long time, and I think helps to explain the tenderness and foolish selflessness with which I have pursued women who were more in need of fathers than boyfrie… Continue

Added by Tony Mills on February 19, 2009 at 8:25am — 1 Comment

Tribalism in America?

I currently live in Beni, DR Congo, working with Congo Initiative – Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (www.congoinitiative.org). Located in a region that has experienced the most horrific tragedies and suffering of mankind, challenges for the Christian community appear far deeper then the current debates back home. However, I recently returned from a Reconciliation Gathering in Bujumbura, Burundi entitled, “Identity, Community and the Gospel of Reconciliation, Christian Resources in the fa… Continue

Added by Justin Hubbard on February 19, 2009 at 2:09am — 1 Comment

Thinking about the Poor

I have to qualify that I'm not an economist. My educational background is in sociology and criminal justice. I wish I knew more about economic theory and I wish I could make more compelling posts and thoughts about the subject. I work in the criminal justice field. I work both in the court room and in local jails. My job is to present to judges on behalf of defendants to secure a bond for the defendant. I also do risk assessments, mental health assessments, and drug assessments on defendants ch… Continue

Added by MichaelTh on February 17, 2009 at 7:30pm — 3 Comments

Thank God for Charles Darwin

Evangelical Christians are often perceived as if they are anti-science. There is likely a lot truth to that perception. I would guess many evangelical Christians reject many aspects of science. It goes without saying that Darwin's theory of evolution still rankles a lot of Christians/social conservatives. The social conservatives have waged their political war on science for many years. Some people want creationism taught in our public schools. It almost seems insane to suggest that "creation s… Continue

Added by MichaelTh on February 14, 2009 at 6:00pm — 11 Comments

Changeling plus Changing Our Views of Movies and/or Sermons!

My (*spoilers included*) Response to yet another Manifestation of Clint's (recovered) Call(ing)! Loved it, in part because the pacing and ending were quite different from what one typically e… Continue

Added by dlw on February 5, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Christianity: Following the Pharisees or Jesus?

Christianity is meant to reflect the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, yet organized Christianity seems to emulate the ideology of those Jesus preached against. Jesus did not view religion or spirituality as a political weapon to target vulnerable minority groups or to use such minority groups as scapegoats for backlash politics as the Religious Right does today. From an anecdotal point of view it seems like many pastors preach more from other passages of the Bible (such as the Old Testame… Continue

Added by JoshuaChayne on February 4, 2009 at 8:32pm — 2 Comments

Dear God, May This Burden Not Be Passed to the Least of These!

Andy Sullivan highlights how capital inflows to the under-developed world are projected to fall at an astonishing rate in the coming year. This makes the US's economic problems look like a rebound in comparison. dlw Continue

Added by dlw on February 3, 2009 at 3:28pm — No Comments

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