Daily Archives: June 5, 2011

Rafael Nadal wins his Sixth French Open

Ultimately, Nadal wore down Federer 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-1. It was not a great match, running 3 hours, 48 minutes, but it was solid and satisfying.

And then he thanked life itself for giving him the opportunity to make this sterling piece of history.

“A big personal satisfaction, especially when you started [the tournament] without playing your best,” Nadal said. “Finally, I was able to play my best when I needed my best….”

Read it all.

Posted in * Culture-Watch, * International News & Commentary, Europe, France, Sports

(LA Times) Doyle McManus: Shifting sands of religion and politics

American politics are more tolerant of different religious traditions than half a century ago, but that tolerance still has limits.

The door has opened for Catholics and even Jews to run for president, but Mormons still face a high hurdle ”” not to mention Muslims. And atheists? Don’t even ask.

So, yes, there’s a de facto religious test for office. It’s not administered by the government; it’s a matter of voters’ comfort level.

Read it all.

Posted in * Culture-Watch, * Economics, Politics, * International News & Commentary, America/U.S.A., Politics in General, Religion & Culture

(LA Times) After 30 years, the AIDS war still rages

Significant strides have been made in prevention, however, especially in the last two years. Campaigns aimed at curbing risky sexual behavior, promoting HIV testing for those at risk and discouraging IV drug users from sharing needles all have made progress ”” albeit fitfully.

According to a United Nations report issued Thursday, the global rate of new HIV infections fell by 25% from 2001 through 2009. In India and South Africa, the countries with the largest number of people living with HIV, new infections fell by 50% and 35% respectively.

Medications will soon play a major role in prevention. Many studies over the years have shown that giving anti-AIDS drugs to pregnant HIV-positive women is extremely effective in preventing transmission to their infants. In the United States, the incidence of infection in newborns is approaching zero.

Read it all.

Posted in * Culture-Watch, Health & Medicine, History

Artist's work adds peaceful beauty of nature to the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, John's Isalnd

The Church of Our Savior, an Episcopal parish on rural Johns Island, was established a little more than 30 years ago to serve the growing populations on the nearby barrier islands of Kiawah and Seabrook.

Its austere interior contains unintentionally Celtic elements, especially the cross inside a circle, which has pagan-Druid origins. When the Rev. Michael Clarkson arrived at Our Savior three years ago from England, where he had been forming Anglican congregations and working for the Church of England for two decades, the Celtic characteristics of his new parish immediately were evident.

And soon he understood why a Celtic theme, which emphasizes the connections between faith and nature, was appropriate for his new parish home.

Read it all from the Faith and Values section of the local paper.

Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, * Christian Life / Church Life, * Culture-Watch, * Economics, Politics, Art, Energy, Natural Resources, Episcopal Church (TEC), Parish Ministry, Religion & Culture, TEC Parishes

Nigerian Anglican Bishop of Oke-Ogun encourages Missionaries

The Diocesan Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oke-Ogun Diocese, the Rt. Reverend (Dr) Solomon Olaniyi Amusan has assured missionaries, especially those serving in Oke-Ogun Diocese, that a great reward awaits them, provided they served the Lord willingly and cheerfully.

While addressing the second session of the First Synod of the diocese recently at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Oke-Abe, Igbeti, on the theme Missionary Reward, the bishop defined a missionary as a person commissioned to take the gospel to another culture and reward as payment for good or evil.

He, however, noted that a reward is thought of as the return for good while punishment is thought of as the return for evil.

Amusan also reiterated the fact that ”˜the missionary’s reward is glorious, it is forever and ever, it is abundant, it is according to God’s standards and the gifts are both temporal and eternal.’

Read it all.

Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, * Christian Life / Church Life, Anglican Provinces, Church of Nigeria, Missions

Scott Barker Elected Next Episcopal Bishop of Nebraska

Go here for some information about him released by the diocese as part of the process.

Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, Episcopal Church (TEC), TEC Bishops, TEC Diocesan Conventions/Diocesan Councils

(Las Vegas Review-Journal) Houses of worship struggle in tight times

About six weeks ago, the Rev. Vic Caruso said goodbye to some members of his church.

“They’re a really strong couple who are really big in the convention business,” said Caruso, senior associate pastor of Trinity Life Center. “They’re moving back to Texas. They had to short sell their home.”

Last weekend, Caruso again found himself saying goodbye, this time to a couple who have been members of the church for more than 20 years. They were moving back to Nebraska, Caruso said, “because there was work there.”

Read it all.

Posted in * Christian Life / Church Life, * Culture-Watch, * Economics, Politics, Economy, Parish Ministry, Religion & Culture, The Credit Freeze Crisis of Fall 2008/The Recession of 2007--

A Prayer to Begin the Day

O God, whose blessed Son, our great High Priest, has entered once for all into the holy place, and ever liveth to intercede on our behalf: Grant that we, sanctified by the offering of his body, may draw near with full assurance of faith by the way which he has dedicated for us, and evermore serve thee, the living God; through the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Posted in * Christian Life / Church Life, Ascension, Church Year / Liturgical Seasons, Easter, Spirituality/Prayer

From the Morning Scripture Readings

And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you will have saved your life.

–Ezekiel 3:16-19

Posted in Theology, Theology: Scripture

Canucks win in OT!!!

Wow. Check it out and there is a picture of the winning overtime goal.

Posted in Uncategorized