Rapid Reading Review
One Jesus for liberals, another for conservatives
Guardian – New research shows how believers tailor Christian teachings to fit their own political viewpoint. Love thy neighbour, so long as he is not an illegal immigrant. Blessed are the poor, so long as they are deserving. And, though it may be harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than to pass through the eye of a needle, multimillionaires should have no problem passing through the door of the Oval Office. Religion and politics have always made uneasy bedfellows; yet how can Christians from all shades of the political spectrum reconcile their diverse views with the teachings of a single man? A study led by Lee Ross of Stanford University in California has found that the Jesus of liberal Christians is very different from the one envisaged by conservatives.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/mar/04/jesus-liberals-conservatives?newsfeed=true
Churches aid recovery in storm-hit town
CNN – Henryville, Indiana – Church members held hands as they prayed among the pews at Henryville Community Church on Sunday morning.
“One week ago, we prayed, ‘God use us in some way,’ ” pastor Rich Cheek said as he led the congregation in prayer.
“This morning, so many of you have lost everything,” Cheek said, his voice cracking with emotion. “We asked God to use us, and he did.”
Outside, a forklift off-loaded pallets of dry goods and bottles of water from a tractor-trailer. The church recreation center and basement have become a clearinghouse for supplies brought in from nearby Louisville, Kentucky, and trucked in by tractor-trailers from Convoys of Hope, a relief agency from Springfield, Missouri. Henryville Community Church had almost no damage from Friday’s violent storms. It sits just north of the path of the deadly storm.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/04/churches-aid-recovery-in-storm-hit-town/
Church of NASCAR ministers to drivers in a ‘life-or-death sport
CNN –The scene at the pre-race drivers’ meeting at Daytona International Speedway last Sunday morning, before the Daytona 500 was delayed a day because of rain, was a typical pre-race circus. Reporters everywhere. Blinding flashbulbs and microphones jammed into drivers’ faces. VIP guests like Mitt Romney and Sports Illustrated “it” model Kate Upton. But after the meeting, which happens two hours before each race, the media leaves and the doors are shut. The roar gives way to silence. Church is about to begin.
http://wtvr.com/2012/03/04/church-of-nascar-ministers-to-drivers-in-a-life-or-death-sport/
St. Luke in the Fields insprires
The Huffington Post – Every week, HuffPost Religion shines a spotlight on religious people doing good work in their communities…. This week’s Faith Inspires highlights the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, an inclusive Episcopal church in Greenwich Village in New York City. St. Luke in the Fields is committed to making a difference in its neighborhood, in greater NYC and in the world. On the block, the church provides a safe space for LGBTQA young people, tutors underachieving youth and creates community for people living with AIDS. In the City, St. Luke in the Fields collaborates with food pantries and homeless shelters. And out in the world, the church has social justice efforts in Myanmar and South Africa. Their motivation? “We believe that, as members of the Body of Christ, we have been called to ministries of worship, education, hospitality and witness. We strive to welcome all who come through our doors.”
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/congregations/st_luke_in_the_fields_insprire.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+episcopalcafe+%28Episcopal+Cafe%29