Dr. Joel Lawrence, a Baptist minister, will speak in commemoration on Thursday, April 9, 2015. He is the author of a book on Bonhoeffer.
Rev. Canon Phil Ashey Questions Muslim Service in Anglican Church
Ashey wonders why the bishops are not more active in addressing these kinds of situations, citing other historic examples. Where are Bishops when you need them?.
Church Planting Story in Burkina Faso. AllianceLife
Interesting account of settling into mission work in Africa from Christian Missionary Alliance.
News & Stories » A Season of Harvest.
Religion in Early America. Smithsonian
The National Museum of American History will have a new exhibit and symposium on religious freedom, religious growth, and religious diversity.
Mar Dinkha IV Enters Heavenly Rest. Patriarch of Assyrian Church
The Assyrian churches face significant, ongoing hardship and persecution as Christians in the largely Muslim Near East.
Pope Francis: Mar Dinkha IV “a courageous and wise pastor”.
Rev. Lyle E. Schaller Dies at 91. Church Growth Consultant
Highly influential church growth consultant, Lyle Schaller, taught sociological principles to churches, which made them more attractive and effective in gaining audiences. His approach helped shape modern churches, although it also raised concerns about whether sociology should trump biblical theology’s emphasis on God’s role in conversion and the role of tradition in guiding congregational life. Rev. Lyle E. Schaller Dies at 91; Helped Protestant Churches Survive and Grow – NYTimes.com.
What Did Jesus Look Like? National Geographic
These depictions of Jesus provide a pretty good overview. However, when the article asserts that Jesus was not depicted with a beard until the fourth century, I would question that conclusion. The fresco at Dura Europos (second image) might have included a beard on Jesus’ chin. The state of the image makes it difficult to tell. Other early depictions borrowed from existing Greco-Roman depictions of gods or heroes (think stock art), who typically did not have beards. So the evidence is not quite so helpful for determining how to depict Jesus.
Isaiah 50:6 speaks prophetically about Jesus’ suffering and describes Him as bearded. That prophecy may have helped settle early Christian depictions that became standard in later centuries. It would be interesting to research the history of interpretation for Isaiah 50. That Jesus was of Jewish descent is beyond dispute.
The Evolving Look of Jesus – Killing Jesus Gallery – National Geographic Channel.
Julio Ribeiro. Indian Christians. History of Conversion
Julio Ribeiro is a retired police officer who was a leading figure in India’s governance in decades past. He recently offered complaint about religiously motivated violence in India and the role of mass conversions in sparking such violence. This two part article offers analysis in view of India’s history. It is not an easy read but does help one sort through the roles of Hindu, Muslim, and Christian views in the present conflict as well as the history contributing to such conflict. Key to the author’s argument is the role of the caste system in holding people back and that people chose to convert to other religions in order to escape the dominant caste system.
Part 2: Julio Ribeiro and the choice before Indian Christians.
Early Christian Persecution Compared with Modern. Jonathan Cahn
This article begins with news that Christian author, Jonathan Cahn will speak at the United Nations about Christian persecution by radical Muslims. The end of the article provides some history on persecution. However, I think some of the history is a bit off. Early on, the Muslims valued the Christians in the Roman Empire because they needed their help in making functional government after their conquests. There were pressures to convert but the most intense persecution from Muslims came much later.
‘Harbinger’ author to speak at United Nations.
Violence Strikes Aid Worker. Ukrainian Lutheran Church
Olesia Zhukovska struck by a bullet while offering aid to others. Prayers for healing and peace.
Violence in Ukraine touches fellow Lutherans | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
church history review 