Good News Magazine

Pray to end violence against Christians

steve — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:59:51 +0000

Nigerian extremist group demanding Christians leave region
By Thomas Kemper

Please join me in praying for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria. In recent weeks, Christians have been targeted and killed by Boko Haram, a religious extremist group in northern Nigeria demanding that Christians leave the region. Societal, religious and economic imbalance is creating a volatile climate, despite calls for peaceful resolutions.

To read the rest of Thomas Kemper’s article, click HERE

Jesus and the goodness of everything human

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:58:29 +0000

A few years ago, Wired magazine reported on what it called “a star-studded panel of scientists” at the World Science Festival in New York City. The scientists had gathered to discuss what it means, from a scientific perspective, to be human.

Marvin Minsky, artificial intelligence pioneer, said the one thing we can do that other species can’t is remember; we have cultures, ways of transmitting information. Cognitive scientist Daniel Dennett said we are the first species that can reason with one another. Physicist Jim Gates said we are blessed with the ability to know our mother; that is, we are conscious of more than ourselves, and that just as a child sees a mother, the species sees mother universe. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio said that the critical factor was language. And on it went. Some were excited that science might be the key to unlock what it means to be human, while others doubted science’s ability to do that.

To read the rest of Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen’s article in Christianity Today, click HERE

Yesterday’s challenges still confronting UMC

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:54:46 +0000

I started the new year by reading a sermon from what appeared to be a fire-breathing Methodist preacher. Some folks think the church needs to be challenged. And challenged sharply. This preacher was one of them. To understand where this guy was coming from, you have to realize that he wants Methodism to reclaim the Wesleyan mission that lies at its roots. And that means practicing the Christian faith in a profoundly counter-cultural way.

To read the rest of Andrew C. Thompson’s article in the UM Reporter, click HERE

Can General Conference return us to ‘the quarry’?

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:52:21 +0000

In 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev had the nerve to submit to historic reality; the Soviet Union created and defended by his generation was falling apart. In one of his last speeches, he used some language about international relations that we might well apply to the church today: “We are witnessing a revolution [that] greatly increases the role of creative and positive policies. But equally, it raises the price of mistakes—the price we must pay for adherence to outdated dogmas, routine and old thinking. . . . I’m convinced that we stand on the threshold. . . .”
You might find it strange, almost offensive, to open this column with a quote from an old Communist, but the issue is not the source. The issue is whether those words are apropos for United Methodism as we move into the final weeks before an historic General Conference.

To read the rest of this Donald Haynes column in the United Methodist Reporter, click HERE

Bishop John Innis shares upbeat view on Liberia

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:50:02 +0000

Q: The common wisdom in the United States is that the church is growing rapidly in Africa. What would you say about the growth of Christianity and United Methodism within Africa generally? Is it for real, and what accounts for it?
A: It’s for real. People believe very strongly that it is Jesus who has given them life. They believe that when you accept Christ, you become a new person. All old habits are thrown away.

So people are just excited, including children, men and women. They go to church, they learn about God, they learn about Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. Evangelism is not only done by the pastor, but by everyone who is part of the congregation. They go and tell the story of the love of Christ.

To read the rest of this United Methodist Reporter interview with Bishop Innis, click HERE

Minnesotans add $2 million to malaria fight

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:43:01 +0000

Minnesota United Methodists have raised $2,328,833 in pledges and gifts for Imagine No Malaria, the United Methodist Church’s campaign to eliminate malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa by 2015.

To read the rest of Victoria Rebeck’s story, click HERE

UMC reforms face test at General Conference

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:41:00 +0000

The United Methodist Church’s General Conference is still nearly three months away, but issues likely to dominate—such as consolidating general agencies and ending guaranteed appointment for clergy—got a dress rehearsal hearing in a briefing for delegates and others held here Jan. 21-23. The pushback was plentiful.

To read the rest of Sam Hodge’s article in the UM Reporter, click HERE

‘Signs of the times’: Pages from my ’95 notebook

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:37:56 +0000

Looking at my memo of 1995 to the Charlotte District, I recall the outcry of negative reaction. Upon leaving I was given a pair of dimes and told that what they would remember about me was my always calling for “new paradigms.” Interestingly, a lot of these concerns and proposals are reflected in the 2012 General Conference “Call to Action” proposal. The rest. . . . Well, God is not yet through with this Methodism; let us pray for the General Conference delegates!

To read the rest of Donald Hayne’s article in the UM Reporter, click HERE

‘The Way’ follows characters on spiritual pilgrimage

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:34:53 +0000

The contemporary claim, “I’m spiritual, not religious,” takes visual form via an ancient and visceral mode of spirituality in this small film coming to DVD and Blu-ray on Feb. 21. Written and directed by Emilio Estevez, featuring his father Martin Sheen, The Way is literally grounded in the Camino del Santiago, the thousand-year-old pilgrimage route flowing from France through Spain to the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela.

To read the rest of the article from Gary Keene in the UM Reporter, click HERE

“Sacred worth” isn’t enough for ordination

steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:29:51 +0000

The debate among United Methodists regarding the compatibility of homosexuality with the Christian life is increasing in potency as General Conference 2012 draws ever closer. One recent voice in the debate is that of S. Vance Goodman, a fourth-year student at Perkins School of Theology. Ms. Goodman, a former candidate for ordained ministry, recently wrote a letter to the United Methodist Church, which was published Oct. 21 in the United Methodist Reporter under the title, “A tired seminarian writes to the UMC.”

To read the rest of the article from Matt O’Reilly, click HERE