It is true that the solitary life must also be a life of prayer and meditation, if it is to be authentically Christian . . . But what prayer! What meditation! . . . Utter poverty. Often an incapacity to pray, to see, to hope . . . a bitter, arid struggle to press forward through a blinding sandstorm.
Our material comforts give us so much to be grateful for. Kings and queens, in days gone by, never knew the luxuries we take for granted. Most of us live and eat so well, our biggest threat is overdoing it. And yet our little empires, our cars, gadgets and homes, are built on something that threatens to bring it all to ruin – the production and use of energy.
Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori shared her hopes for the upcoming Lambeth Conference: “that we go with a sacrificial attitude open to one another, expecting divine encounters,” that “we are willing to embrace the pain of difference as a sign of hope” and that “we avoid pre- judgments.”
Charles Jenkins, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, has been searching for a different way of trying to reconcile the people of New Orleans who’s racial and economic divisions have been increasing since the Hurricane.
Bishop Meshack Mabuza, of the Diocese of Swaziland, has come out strongly in opposition to the new government in his country. Mabuza is critical in particular of the new constitution put in place by King Mswati III, the last absolute ruler in Africa.
The House of Bishops begins its spring meeting today with a number of items on the agenda. A primary focus of the meeting will be faith-based reconciliation training as part of the preparations for this summer’s Lambeth Conference. The reconciliation workshops will be led by Canon Brian Cox, a nationally known figure in reconciliation work, and one of the two priests appointed as interim pastoral presence in the Diocese San Joaquin.
In a wide ranging talk give late last month, Canon Kenneth Kearon, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion discussed the present state of the Communion and gave his thoughts on the controversies confronting it.
The day of their victory dawned, with joyful countenances they marched from the prison to the arena as though on their way to heaven. If there was any trembling it was from joy, not fear. Perpetua followed with quick step as a true spouse of Christ, the darling of God; her brightly flashing eyes quelling the gaze of the crowd.
College sports are fun, exciting, adrenaline-producing spectacles. They also create ample opportunities for breaking Commandment Number One: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. The gods of college sports, be they the God of Football, the God of Hockey, or omigod, the God of Basketball, seem to demand ever-grander displays of devotion from their faithful followers.
Maggie Dawn sat down with the Archbishops of York and Canterbury and asked them about the proper role of the blog and blogger in society. Their responses show they are aware of the phenomenon and have been thinking about the question.