New Testament scholar Ben Witherington III declares: “In my view, the most dangerous thing Luther ever did was not nail the 95 Theses to a door. It was translating the Bible into ordinary German and encouraging its widespread dissemination.” (He was referring to the “danger” of bringing about change, which the Reformation brought about.) While …
First They Killed My Father is the title of an evocative movie, based on a nonfiction book of the same title. It tells the real-life story of a girl (the book’s author when she was five years old) who went through harrowing experiences during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. The director of …
I’ve been thinking about the ideas that we profess about faith and discipleship, about virtue and morality, about what’s truly important. How do these ideas actually translate to reality in our life experiences and our conduct? I do not quite remember where I heard or read this, but it has been said that there are …
Last week I visited an electronic service center. I engaged the technician in light conversation. Our interaction briefly moved to the matter of religious belief and practice. I discovered that he identified with a church. More specifically, the Maronite Catholic Church. But he was also quick to confess that he did not really attend mass, …
I recently received an email that announced the launching of a new internet resource for persons in ministry. It is a website that gives access to “HD video content library created to equip all ministry leaders,” featuring a popular Christian leadership expert, psychologist, teacher, and author. This resource will surely be a great benefit to …
The concept of “mindfulness” has recently been popping up in my horizon of consciousness—in my readings, in social and mass media, even in personal conversations. My encounters with the concept seem to be connected with the field of psychology, in particular. In the Psychology Today website “mindfulness” is described as “a state of active, open …
Apple announced the upcoming release of the upgrades of the operating systems (OS) of their devices. Many users of Apple gadgets look forward to these upgrades. But, this time around, with the announcement of the new iOS 11 (for the iPhone and iPad) also comes a warning about certain apps that will no longer function …
Over the past week there has been a series of natural calamities that have hit the region. Hurricane Harvey hit Texas as a category 4 hurricane (after devastating the Caribbean) and caused a lot of flooding and destruction along its path. It is said that the “all-time continental U.S. tropical rain records were broken.” Then, …
Last week, I came across the name of Harriet Tubman for the first time. Sadly, she was in the news because the former administration’s plan to print her picture in a new $20 bill design (to replace the picture of Andrew Jackson) was dropped by the current administration. I do not wish to enter into …
Last week I was asked to officiate at the dedication of a new care home facility. As I prepared for this task, I began to ponder on my own experiences of God’s gracious care in my life. I thought about what scripture has to say about it. And scripture is full of testimonies and declarations …
