A Church That Is Out On The Streets - Pope Francis

Around the world today, the powerful "feed upon the powerless" and too many people are treated as "consumer goods to be used and then discarded," Pope Francis writes in his first major paper since becoming leader of the Roman Catholic church last May.

The full article is available here 

For Fast Relief, Slow Down - by Ian Lawton at Progressive Christianity

The need for speed breeds impatience and entitlement, but more importantly we lose our perspective. We forget that food has a history, that health takes time, that inner peace is a lifestyle.

We only occasionally catch ourselves racing through life and wonder why, like when we’re behind a slow driver (ie someone driving the speed limit), get impatient and then slap our forehead because we realize it only takes an extra minute to get where we’re going. Most of the time we don’t even realize, because we’re marinated in a culture of speed, thoroughly and compulsively immersed in the rat race, forgetting that even if you win the rat race you’re still a rat.

If there’s a fast way to do something, someone will find it; fast cars, fast food, fast lane, quick fixes, speed reading, speed dialing, speed dating, pizza in 30 minutes or money back, speed yoga. We’re even in a hurry for inner peace. We want it NOW!

The need for speed breeds impatience and entitlement, but more importantly we lose our perspective. We forget that food has a history, that health takes time, that inner peace is a lifestyle.  However we can turn around the symptoms of speed and reclaim the gifts of time.

Be fast when it makes sense to be fast, and be slow when slowness is called for. Seek to live at what musicians call the tempo giusto — the right speed.

Tempo Giusto is free will to a musician. It means “the right pace”. The musician is free to discern the intent of the composer and go with the flow.

The full article is available here

Youth Generate Unique Multi-Faith Community in Switzerland - Ekklesia

At Bossey participants also engaged in sharing different expressions of prayer and spirituality, along with attending scholarly lectures and taking part in plenaries and group discussions.

Young people of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths have recently created a unique community at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland. Together they seek to break religious stereotypes, promote mutual respect and enhance their understanding of religions beyond the conflict paradigm.

Taking part in a summer course titled “Building an Interfaith Community”, these young adults were hosted by the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in Switzerland from 12 to 30 August 2013.

“The course is an opportunity for me to learn about religions other than mine,” said Oriya Gorgi, a 21-year-old participant of Jewish faith, from Ashdod, Israel.

Gorgi went on to say that her experience at Bossey has challenged her perceptions based on media reports that often depict religion merely as a source of communal divisions.

“Our faiths have more commonalities than we think,” she said.

At Bossey participants also engaged in sharing different expressions of prayer and spirituality, along with attending scholarly lectures and taking part in plenaries and group discussions.

The full article is available here

The Appropriate Amount Of Hope - Mari Clark at Werewolf Jesus

When you consider everything, hope is not suitable or proper. It makes no sense, in this world. Therein lies its difficulty and its power: that it is so much less convenient than despair.  Hope, as with all good things, is something I need to choose over Fear.

 “What is the appropriate amount of hope?”   Ew.  What a sad little question.  How calculating! How mature-in-the-worst-way!

Somehow, I grew up and learned to cower in obedience to the great and terrible Disappointment. As if feeling disappointed were the worst thing that could happen to me. Am I the only one who operates this way? Preparing for the worst in every situation, just in case.

If there was an appropriate amount of hope to quantify, it wouldn’t be hope, it would be expectation. It would be reliable and gritty and tangible. It would require no faith or trust.

There is no appropriate amount of hope, because hope is inappropriate.

When you consider everything, hope is not suitable or proper. It makes no sense, in this world. Therein lies its difficulty and its power: that it is so much less convenient than despair.  Hope, as with all good things, is something I need to choose over Fear.

It is a choice that springs forth from a heart that growls fiercely that it will not bow to fear or disappointment or despair. A heart that, scarred and pressed from every side, clings to the belief that after all, in spite of it all, despite it all…God is always good and I am always loved.

The full article is available here