News-Record.com

James Wellman, who chairs the department of comparative religion at the University of Washington, said that while it is not unusual for people to "mix and match" beliefs, it is almost unheard of for a minister to claim two religions.

This morning, heading in to work at the hospital, I sat at a traffic light behind a pickup in which a man sat in the bed. He had his hood pulled up tight around his face, and he was turned backward in the bed, which means he was looking straight at me. He caught my eye and pulled his hood back enough to grin at me -- then did so a couple more times when I laughed.

Thank you, stranger, for starting my day with a smile.

N&R Editor John Robinson has been seeking good news stories to share with readers. Have you shared yours?

Words from the faith blog at the Columbus, Ohio, Dispatch:

In these economic times, a lot of industries are in bad shape. But few seem as troubled, sadly, as our industry -- newspapers.

Here's hoping the prayers work.

Judging from the majority of our blog commenters, I'm guessing we don't have all that many folks out there praying for us. Am I wrong? (I hope!)

My colleague, photographer Jerry Wolford, is contemplating a project documenting how people are coping with the devastating economy and has asked me to beat the bushes for him.

Are you, or someone you know, about to be laid off from work? Are you a small business owner grappling with the stresses of the economic crisis -- and facing the fact you will have to let some of your employees go? The size of the business does not matter.

Maybe your employees are your friends and that is making things even more difficult. These are just a few examples. If you have these stories, please email Jerry at (jwolford@news-record.com), or call him at 373-7337.

Is there some other kosher item, like Kosher Coke, that you saw for the first time this Passover?

I'm off, getting my tires changed today. Is this how we celebrate Good Friday or our other religious holidays in 2009? What will you do today?

Log onto news-record.com on Sunday:

The pink-and-blue-themed double wedding of twins Ruth Thomas and Janice Holder filled the pews at Florida Street Baptist Church.
"It was July 13, 1957, the hottest day of the summer -- and my relatives reminded us of that for a long time," said Holder, who with her sister remains a member of the church. At the time, it was one of the largest churches in Greensboro.
With nearly 1,000 people in the Sunday school and two worship services at the church, the congregation was financially able to complete an education building in 1969 and hold a debt-free title by 1971 .
Now, plastic covers the beds in the nursery most Sunday mornings, and Judith Glasgow, the pastor's wife, gets excited when 10 children from the neighborhood show up. The beauty of the thick, mint-green carpet lining the aisles and the sparkling gold-toned candelabras overhead are muted only by the cushioned yet empty pews. Meant for 600, they seat 30, mostly senior citizens.
That should change this morning, when the younger, diverse Mosaic Church brings a congregation of more than 125 to the Florida Street campus for a joint Easter service. The congregations separately offer contrasting styles of what worship looks like on a Sunday morning in the Christian faith.

"We are about to enter a holy few days for Jews and Christians," writes the New York Times editor. ".... But then again, when you’re a cancer patient, each day is a holy day -- no matter what your beliefs."

The experimenter:

"In 2000, I became a Christian at the age of 23. Two years later, I was working at one of the largest churches in the country. After two more years, I left that job to help start a church plant. Four years later, I stopped attending church because I was burnt out and frustrated with the Body of Christ. I am still a Christian. I still love and follow Jesus. But now I am stepping out of my comfort zone to begin a new chapter of my spiritual life."

What do you predict?

CHANDIGARH, India -- The rapidly shrinking number of young Sikhs who wear turbans and have unshorn hair has alarmed many in this religious minority of 20 million. Although there are no formal surveys, community groups say that only 25 percent of Sikhs younger than 30 follow the practice. Many young Sikhs say the daily tedium of combing and tying up their long hair and a desire to assimilate are pushing them to give up the turban, a sacred symbol of a religion founded in the 15th century.

I can recall sitting on my favorite pew in church -- some many, many years ago -- when I was a young girl, and listening to the beautiful, uplifting, soulful and fervent singing of the choir and congregation as they would belt out their fine selection of songs. One of these songs, a hymn, has held a special place in my heart to this day. The hymn? "What a Friend We Have In Jesus."

As this hymn seemed to be the choir's and congregation's favorite, I would hear a repeated rendition Sunday after Sunday. In a short period of time, I learned every word to this wonderful hymn. I began to meditate on the words and discovered early on in my life that this hymn could be very comforting. Like the words in the hymn, I’ve come to know that we can often forfeit peace in our lives and bear needless pain all because we do not carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer – What a Special Friend I have in Jesus.

And now many years later, and after recent hours of preparation -- get acquainted and study sessions -- I am packing my bags for a special journey. For the period, April 19th through May 1st, I will be a member of the Greensboro Jewish Federation, National Conference for Community and Justice and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro's 5th Interfaith Study Mission to Israel. Twenty-nine leaders from across the Greensboro community will set out to "explore our religious traditions in the land we each call holy."

Arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport, at 3:55 pm ... As I continued to sit in Seat 40B of Continental International Flight CO90, I kept reminding myself, to 'calm down' (from the excitement and anticipation of beginning my journey.) I began this little exercise - breathe deeply through my nostrils, inhale/hold, then exhale slowly and relax (about three repetitions).

I wondered how the others in my group were feeling. Surely, they were just as excited about 'the journey' as I was. I could see it written all over their faces. The long, but quiet, restful and pleasant, flight to Israel was a very good way for us to begin our group bonding process.

"World Vision Experience: AIDS -- Step into Africa" brings the horrors of AIDS home through a free, interactive exhibit at First Baptist Church in Asheboro, beginning May 3.
The exhibit takes its visitors on a journey into AIDS-affected communities in Africa, as seen through the eyes of four children.
Sponsored by the church, along with the NC Zoo and Randolph Hospital, the exhibit focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, where about 25 million people are infected with HIV, or two-thirds of the world's total.
"Step into Africa" is slated to visit 40 cities during its national tour in 2009. The Asheboro tour is open to the public, and runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 3-10, First Baptist Church Asheboro, 133 North Church Street. For information, contact Jeni Martin at 629-9191.

Communing with Mother Earth.

We had a very full and wonderful schedule today. The hotel wakeup call was promptly at 6:30 a.m. Even though I was tempted to catch a few additional winks, I was determined I would not be the last one to board the bus because one of the bus rules is – the last one to board the bus will be subject to a performance, as requested. I’m definitely not a performer; therefore, I eagerly and hurriedly dressed and encouraged, my husband, Charles to do so as well.

I've read about a number of these in the Charlotte area and beyond over the years. Do you think the feds are using a higher standard for religious leaders -- or what?

CHARLOTTE -- The indictment says Bishop Anthony L. Jinwright and his wife's expenses were too great for the income listed on their joint tax returns from 2001-2006 -- which included income from other businesses.
They say he evaded several hundred thousand dollars in taxes while spending lavishly on travel and luxury cars -- including a $175,000 Bentley GT he leased from 2005 to 2008.

Area Presbyterians voted this week in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment that could allow gays to serve as ministers and elders. (Read story at news-record.com.)

The Miss California controversy won't go away and is still very much in the news -- after an openly-gay judge at the beauty pageant last weekend asked if every state should legalize same-sex marriage, and she said no. Conservative Christians say they finally have a public figure to embrace.
Would you prefer to know where people stand?
What's really interesting is the aspect that she could sue -- I mean, that judge did say she had been the front runner and that he gave her a zero based on her answer.

"Along the way, we also went into old bunkers that had served as protection for the Israeli military..."

"...knowing that this is the site where Jesus called his disciples together, taught his disciples to fish and calmed the razing sea..."

Can he?

"But Thomas Berry also has disciples who are working locally to translate his abstract synthesis of modern science and religion into new ways of living in a post-Industrial Age.

"What's going on in this part of the 21st century is a cultural change. Big time," said Nelson Stover, a Greensboro resident and Berry follower. "My picture of Thomas is that (he) got through the wall of cultural change and got on to the other side."

"But in an age when the public, including many churchgoers, seem fascinated with the moral lapses and rebounds of famous people, celebrity sinner Ted Haggard, 52, finds himself in demand."

Click here to almost be there. Read the story, here.

Interfaith group from Greensboro talk about their trip and what made them come to Israel.

Westminster Presbyterian's Mark Brainerd blogs here about his experience here.
"This morning offered something completely different as we abandoned our tour bus for a boat and an early morning cruise on the Sea of Galilee."

Check out Nina Ingram's blog postings here on The Front Pew.

"...this ceremony of blessings and symbols ends the day of rest and separates the light of day from the darkness of nightfall, the higher beauty of Shabbat from the common pursuits of the week..."

"It is said that this is where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would have a son (Jesus)."

A gradual shift in religion. Did you start out something else and then ended up Full Gospel, Catholic or Lutheran?