The online editorial staff comprises Betsy Shirley, Jenna Barnett, Josiah R. Daniels, Mitchell Atencio, Heather Brady, Kierra Bennning, and Zachary Lee.
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Afternoon News Bytes: Jan. 24, 2012
Obama To Take On Economic Anxiety In Election-Year State Of The Union, Amid GOP Attacks; Black, Latino Students Perform At Levels Of 30 Years Ago; Obama Offends The Catholic Left; Evangelicals And Romney: Should Theology Matter?; What’s Up With The Arab League?; "Self Deportation": It's A Real Thing, And It Isn't Pretty; Who Are Boko Haram and Why Are They Terrorizing Nigerian Christians?; 2011 Annual Letter From Bill Gates; Florida GOP Debate: Immigration Proposals Anger Protesters; An Occupy Prayer Breakfast: There Is Enough For Everyone!; Violence Spikes In Key Afghan Regions.
Voice of the Day: Dom Helder Camara
"To walk alone is possible, but the good walker knows that the trip is life and it requires companions." - Dom Helder Camara
Prayer of the Day:
God, help me to bear the fruit of kindness daily -- with both strangers and friends. Help me to live out your love, exemplified by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Verse of the Day: Comfort of the Lord
"Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted [God's] people, and will have compassion on [God's] suffering ones." - Isaiah 49:13
Atheism 2.0
“You may not agree with religion, but at the end of the day, religions are so subtle, so complicated, so intelligent in many ways that they're not fit to be abandoned to the religious alone; they're for all of us.” — Alain de Botton in his "Atheism 2.0" TED Talk
Watch de Botton's "Atheism 2.0" talk inside the blog ...
Afternoon News Bytes: Jan. 23, 2012
Dear Mr. President: Another Chance To Fight Poverty (OPINION); Elections Morning Digest: Gabby Giffords Will Resign From Congress; This Week Occupy's Latest Target: Citizens United Where Money And Politics Collide; How The World Could—And Maybe Should—Intervene In Syria; Is Our Economy Healing?; Brown, Warren Agree To Anti-Super-PAC Pledge, Other Candidates Could Follow; Florida Primary 2012 Likely To Shift GOP Candidates' Focus To Environment; Candidates' Stance On Immigration Reform Scrutinized Ahead Of Florida Primary.
Verse of the Day: Concerning Retaliation
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you." - Matthew 5:38-42
Voice of the Day: Clarence Jordan
"The good news of the resurrection of Jesus is not that we shall die and go home to be with him, but that he has risen and comes home with us, bringing all his hungry, naked, thirsty, sick prisoner [brothers and sisters] with him." - Clarence Jordan
Prayer of the Day: Adapted from the Blessed Marianne Cope
Lord Jesus, you teach us to love God and neighbor, and identify yourself in a special way with the most needy people; hear our prayer. Grant us courage and wisdom so that the we may practice fraternal charity, according to your word and example. Amen.
Afternoon News Bytes: Jan. 20, 2012
One Nation Under God: Do You Need To Be A Good Christian To Be A Good President?; Faiths On The Trail: GOP Race Shows Historic Religious Diversity; Obama's Keystone Decision Is Something To Celebrate; Ideology Won't End Poverty (OPINION); There They Go Again (OPINION); Working Poor USA; Tony Perkins: Social Conservatives Are ‘Not Judgmental’.
Voice of the Day: Annie Dillard
"If you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days." - Annie Dillard
Prayer of the Day: Sabbath rest
God, prepare my heart and mind to rest this weekend. Help me to understand what it means to keep the Sabbath holy in my life. Amen.
Verse of the Day: Sharing a Common Purpose
"The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building." - 1 Corinthians 3:8-9
Afternoon News Bytes: Jan. 19, 2012
Perry Dropping Out Of GOP Race; How To Argue About Politics (OPINION); Reports Of The Religious Right's Death Are Greatly Exaggerated; The SOPA Blackout Created A Big Problem; Why Religion Should Matter When We Vote; Court Orders Occupiers Out Of St. Paul’s Cathedral; Obama’s Denial Of Keystone Permit Was A Welcome Win Against Big Oil.
Prayer of the Day: Strength in Difficult Times
Gracious God, we pray for those going through a difficult time. May we all remember the words in Proverbs 3, to trust in you with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding, that in all our ways we may look to you to guide our path. Amen.
Verse of the Day: One Commandment
"For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another." - Galatians 5:13-15
Voice of the Day: Dalai Lama
"Peace starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace." - Dalai Lama
Voice of the Day: Brennan Manning
"Christianity doesn't deny the reality of suffering and evil... Our hope... is not based on the idea that we are going to be free of pain and suffering. Rather, it is based on the conviction that we will triumph over suffering." - Brennan Manning
Verse of the Day: Peace for the Nations
"[God] shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;" - Micah 4:3
Prayer of the Day: South Sudan
God of peace, we continue to pray for the country of South Sudan. Help their leaders to pursue holistic peace, and comfort those who have been victimized by recent violence. Amen.