News-Record.com

As religion reporter, I often get mail addressed to past religion reporters. It finds its way in my mailbox if there's the faintest connection to a house of worship. I found some humor in a thick letter with Joel and Victoria Osteen smiling on its cover, cordially inviting Teresa Unknown to become a friend of the ministry -- he pastors the largest congregation in the country. I had to chuckle when it began, "Ms. Unknown, I want you to experience the life-changing power of friendship."

I wonder who oversees their mailing list.

Becoming a Friend means I get messages produced exclusivesly for me and access to a Friends Prayer Line. I saw nothing about an annointed prayer cloth. Are they offered via mail anymore?

July 4, 2006

Here's a Fourth of July reflection from the Rev. Stephen Crotts, who used to be teaching pastor at a local church.

"Just these lines, my friends... a few scattered thoughts about July Fourth

"The most important political office is that of private citizen" Louis Brandeis
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In 1789 when George Washington became president, there was a king in France, a Holy Roman emperor who ruled much of Europe, a czarina in Russia, a shogun ruling Japan, and an emperor of China. Of all these powerful offices, only the presidency still exists.
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James Russell Lowell ....

"You might as well put in Huey, Dewey and Louie."

I think of a letter Sarah Armstrong of Archdale wrote me:
"World War II had a strong impact on me. In college, some friends and I spent hours planning our lives after graduation. The war changed everything. The boys went overseas , some never to return. By war's end, the group had scattered, dreams forgotten.
"My husband's life was changed much more. A war injury left him with a permanent hearing loss. His only brother was killed, making my husband soley responsible for his family's welfare."

What's your story?

I think of a letter Sarah Armstrong of Archdale wrote me:
"World War II had a strong impact on me. In college, some friends and I spent hours planning our lives after graduation. The war changed everything. The boys went overseas, some never to return. By war's end, the group had scattered, dreams forgotten.
"My husband's life was changed much more. A war injury left him with a permanent hearing loss. His only brother was killed, making my husband soley responsible for his family's welfare."

What's your story?

Need a family night? The Piedmont Baptist Association teams with the Greensboro Grasshoppers for a game and concert, featuring award-winning Christian artist Matthew West. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. for the July 16 game, with special promotions (Call (336) 275-7651 or e-mail TOMHOWE@PIEDMONTBAPTIST.ORG for more information on specially-priced ($3 to $7) tickets).

Hmmm...what other possible 'faith night' promotions can you think of for our Hoppers?

"He also just may kill off the dream of a religious left in America for good."

and the Vatican plans to excommunicate the scientists who perform the research and the politicians who pass supportive legislation.

Can you imagine what's next as religion and science continue to collide?

Interesting conversation on Guilford County GOP Chairman Marcus Kindley's blog:
"In America today our churches have degraded their beliefs so much that the ordinary citizen sees no need to attend a worship service, because he sees and hears the same thing on Opra and Dr. Phil everyday.
"We now say that homosexuality is ok. That it is natural. Yes it is as natural as pedophilia."
Comment here or there.

"MTA board member Barry Feinstein said while the ads weren't to his taste, he cares more about the Constitution."

Is this crossing a line?

"Jackson agreed when they divorced to pay his ex-wife $1 million a year for the first three years after their split and $750,000 annually for six more years. Rowe also received a house in Beverly Hills and a 1998 Ford Explorer. She agreed to visit her children only once every 45 days, according to the lawsuit."

We know who she put first.

I talked to local Jewish and Muslim leaders today, getting some reaction to the violence in Lebanon.

I started by talking with Rabbi Fred Guttman of Temple Emanuel – a really nice guy who, before launching into the horrors of renewed conflict in the Mideast, spent a few minutes chatting with me and asked if I’d seen the Bruce Springsteen concert on PBS last night.

After making some statements about the conflict he surprised me by saying, as we wrapped up:

"I hope you're also getting the Palestinian side in all this."

Destiny Christian Church has purchased the old Kmart building (now being used as a furniture store) on Randleman Road. I heard the church's pastor, Lee Stokes, on cable television recently asking for $1,000 donations from the public to also help keep the current building on Farragut Street (off I-40) as a youth facility. (He wasn't available for comment.)

A church in Charlotte in December purchased the 23-acre Charlotte Merchandise Mart for $13 million. Seems there will be plenty of room at the inn there as well.

Hoping to save a piece of hometown history, Willie Nelson has bought the Methodist church where he honed his musical skills as a boy.

If you could suggest a name — tongue planted firmly in cheek —what would it be?

Do you really prosecute these people when you consider the conditions they were working under?

...who said God only knows what the next reality show could possibly be about.

Do we care?

Does this make sense to anybody out there?

They targeted elderly churchgoers who thought they were investing their money in building Baptist churches and retirement homes.

Should doctors and hospitals be required to post a sign that some staff might not prescribe "fill in the blank" because of religious beliefs?

Check out Ed Cone's blog and comment here or there. I had planned to write a column about this.

Do you know how many Grandmas are going to choke on their orange juice?

"The Bible does not discuss plagiarism. But it does say that thou shalt not bear false witness and thou shalt not steal.

"So what to do in the case of a disgraced former preacher who violated both commandments several years ago when he borrowed sermons, often whole-cloth, from other ministers and passed them off as his own?

"For members of the Park Avenue Christian Church, a struggling congregation on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the proper response is to give him a second chance."

Ann Coulter says she's a good Christian. Is this a good Christian prayer?

UPDATED: Yes, he did say it.

Whatever you think, at least he sounds sincere: "I am a public person, and when I say something, either articulated and thought out, or blurted out in a moment of insanity, my words carry weight in the public arena. As a result, I must assume personal responsibility for my words and apologize directly to those who have been hurt and offended by those words."

Previous post:
I hope he didn't say this.

Initial post: Mel Gibson allegedly had another passion last night.

Check out the flip flops.