All sports competitions in the Paris region have been suspended in the wake of Friday’s deadly attacks in the French capital.
CHR Comment: A student at a sports event between Roman Catholic schools Notre Dame University and St. Francis University held up a prayer request regarding the recent terror attacks in Paris.
Source: Sports Competitions In Paris Region Suspended In Wake Of Attacks
U.S. presidential candidate Ben Carson recommended praying for rival Donald Trump after the real-estate mogul and television personality, in a 95-minute rant in Iowa, likened him to a child molester, Carson’s business manager said on Friday.
CHR Comment: Carson’s demeanor is helpful and positive in this stormy political season. The question is whether this approach is what voters are looking for.
Source: Carson’s comeback to Trump’s insults: ‘Pray for him’ | Reuters#ZBQpkGF8FbQ6xkuc.97
Kurdish Peshmerga forces pushed into the strategic town of Sinjar in northern Iraq, and a coalition of Arab, Christian, and Kurdish rebel factions recaptured another town from the militants across the border in Syria on Friday.
CHR Comment: Christian troops were among those who participated in the liberation of Hol, Syria. They are part of the Democratic Forces of Syria, which formed in mid-October, 2015.
Source: Kurdish forces retake towns in Iraq, Syria; dealing double blow to ISIS – CSMonitor.com
Apparitions of the Virgin Mary, inspiring wonder and devotion among millions, have been tracked for centuries.
CHR Comment: A fantastic visual exploration of popular Roman Catholic piety. The infographic charts show how the number of sightings has increased in modern times, perhaps due to better recording and reporting. This illustrates how important new revelations are to Roman Catholics. I will add a link to this on the maps page of Church History Review.
“It’s going to be the biggest timber-frame building in the world. And I think people will come to see it just from the perspective of even the architecture and the engineering.”
CHR Comment: The Creation Museum folks are building a second site to be located in Williamstown, KY. Spokesman Ken Ham describes the character of the park. The ark will be the largest timber framed building in the world.
Source: Controversial Noah’s Ark Theme Park Slated To Open July 2016
The Episcopal Church USA’s first African-American leader hopes to call his divided church to “a deeper unity.”
CHR Comment: Curry explains his personal background and his goals for the liberal denomination which has recently lost 20% of its membership over the issue of ordaining homosexuals as priests and bishops. He is a supporter of activist religious politics and a Buffalo Bills fan.
Source: New Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry | October 30, 2015 | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly | PBS
A new biography of Hitler by a prominent German historian is likely to stir controversy with its argument that the Nazi leader’s political acumen has been underestimated and that the belief in his hypnotic grip over Germans is inflated.
CHR Comment: Longerich characterizes Hitler as a gifted political opportunist. The article notes that the rise of National Socialism created tensions in the churches. Some churches were drawn into supporting the Nazis, such as the Deutsche Christen Movement, while others resisted, such as the Confessing Church.
Source: New German Biography Casts Hitler in Different Light – NBC News
Don Carson, John Piper, and Tim Keller discuss the ongoing relevance of the Reformation for ministry today.
CHR Comment: A brief panel discussion by American Evangelicals considering the ongoing importance of Protestantism after 500 years. Most of the comments are about Luther and Calvin, especially Calvin. The panelists helpfully point out that the Reformers restored the role of primary source study and preaching to Christianity in general, guaranteeing their importance from the Reformation forward. They also mention excesses of the Reformers that should be avoided.
Source: Keller, Piper, and Carson on Why the Reformation Matters Today
CHR Comment: Author Jennifer Mertens provides a personal description of changes she is witnessing in Cincinnati as the aging Ursulines enter retirement and are replaced by lay ministers. This transition started in the 1980s.
Source: Women religious offer their charism to future generations | National Catholic Reporter
CHR Comment: A Pulitzer Prize winning author offers a cautionary tale about fear and faith. The witch trials were a classic example of overreaction and mob mentality that led to injustice. The decisions in this case damaged the authority of the churches in colonial America. The author points out that “Mercy goes missing.”
Source: The Witches: What Really Happened In Salem In 1692 — An All Together Conversation With Stacy Schiff
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