Verse of the Day: 'In the Lord I take refuge'

In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
"Flee like a bird to the mountains;
for look, the wicked bend the bow,
they have fitted their arrow to the string,
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the …

Where Wars Come From (by Valerie Elverton Dixon)

Peace is a respectful, harmonious, and cooperative relationship between groups and nations.  Peace is the serenity that comes from clarity, the assurance that the truth will reveal itself, even if only in part. Biblical wisdom teaches us that "there is nothing …

Letting Reconciliation's Challenge Change Us (by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove)

Jason and Vonetta Storbakken have extended a gracious and hopeful invitation to public dialogue about reconciliation's challenge for New Monasticism. I'd like to say in public what I've already said to them privately: Thank you. I'm grateful not only that they …

Delegate Diversity (by Jim Wallis)

Most of the speeches at the Democratic National Convention were politically predictable; the same was true on the first night of the Republican National Convention. Sarah Palin's speech tonight will be worth watching, considering all the attention her nomination …

Daily News Digest (by Duane Shank)

The latest news on Hurricane Gustav, Republican convention, Sarah Palin, St. Paul protest, Poverty, Immigration, Iraq, Russia, Pakistan, Canada, Japan, Cuba, and Zimbabwe.

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Verse of the Day: 'Do not forget the oppressed'

Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.
Why do the wicked renounce God,
and say in their hearts, "You will not call us to account"?
But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,
that you may take it into your hands;
the …

Voice of the Day: Isabelo Magalit

If we want to go deeper, however, desiring that as God's people we will grow together toward maturity, we must care enough to confront.

- Isabelo Magalit
Filipina theologian

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Baby Steps as We Crawl Toward Reconciliation (by Shane Claiborne)

Vonetta and Jason, first I want you to know that I am deeply grateful for the conversation you've invited and stirred with our private conversations and now your blog post. I take all critique very seriously, and pray and reflect on it. Probably the most …

More Baby Steps as We Crawl Toward Reconciliation (by Shane Claiborne)

In addition to the steps mentioned in my previous post, I also wanted to share some things that go beyond our local community to the broader New Monastic movement and my role in it. As I said before, I don't want to give any impression that we've figured this …

Randy Newman's Harps and Angels and the Fall of the American Empire (by Gareth Higgins)

Randy Newman might be surprised to see himself mentioned on a progressive spirituality blog. In his five decades of making music that is alternately brilliantly satirical and elegant (and sometimes both), he hasn't often smiled on religion or religious people. In …

Searching for Common Ground on Abortion at the Republican Convention (by Jim Wallis)

I'm here at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul, as I was at the Democratic Convention in Denver. We pushed for strong language on poverty and abortion reduction in Denver, and we are pushing for the same things here.

The Republican …

Obama, Perkins, Palin, and a Plea for Christian Civility (by Jim Wallis)

Whew. Take a breath, Christians! I just read all the comments to my post Friday on Barack Obama's historic acceptance speech of a major party's nomination to the highest office in the country -- the first African American to have achieved that American milestone. …

New Life from an Old Hymn (by Phyllis Tickle)

Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra, Florida, is the kind of church every pastor, rector, or preacher dreams of. It’s got children running about everywhere. It’s building yet another parking lot for reasons that are immediately obvious on any given weekend. …

An Historic Speech (by Jim Wallis)

Yesterday morning, I started what would become an historic day with my favorite historian. As a young man, Vincent Harding was part of the inner circle of the southern freedom movement with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and later became one of the civil rights …

Voice of the Day: Ramon Bautista

The Christian can realize union with God not only through interior prayer, but also in action.

- Ramon Bautista
Catholic priest in the Philippines

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Daily News Digest (by Duane Shank)

The latest news on McCain picks Palin, Democratic Convention, Republican Convention, Hurricane Gustav, India, Mexico-abortion, Russia-Georgia, Iran, Bolivia, Iraq, Canada, Opinion.

Verse of the Day: 'God is my shield'

O let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous,
you who test the minds and hearts,
O righteous God.
God is my shield,
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
and a God who has indignation every day.

- Psalm 7:9-11

+ …

Minor Party Pros and Cons (by Marcia Ford)

If you're among the growing number of voters who are disenchanted with both major parties, you may be considering a move to a third party. You're not alone. Some minor parties have seen significant growth in recent years. Oregon's Independent Party likely holds …

A Cleveland Original (by Tom Allio)

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a Cleveland original. Stephanie never cared about “style points.”  She only cared about passing public policy that served the common good.  No one matched her passion, energy, or voice for the poor and vulnerable. Everyone …

Charlie Wilson's Warning (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

Coinciding with the visit of a dear friend who's spent the past few years working in Afghanistan for both development NGOs and (non-U.S.) government agencies, the DVD of Charlie Wilson's War recently arrived from Netflix. My friend recommends it. Also, I [heart] …