The United States Army may be sued as early as next week over a controversial well-being assessment that includes questions designed to measure spiritual fitness. The assessment in question is a part of the Army's Comprehensive Solider Fitness (CSF) program, which was announced in October 2009 with an estimated cost of $125 million. According to the Army: The purpose of the CSF program is to enhance the performance and readiness of the force by giving Read More …
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Doritos for Eucharist Super Bowl Ad Has Been Sidelined (#0237)
Doritos and Pepsi MAX received more than 5,600 submissions for this year's edition of their Crash the Super Bowl contest, which started in 2007. The field has now been narrowed to a group of finalists and interested parties are now invited to vote for their favorite. Interestingly, one popular option, Feed the Flock, isn't included on the list and has been removed from the contest because it created considerable controversy. Submitted by Media Wave Productions this ad is Read More …
The Story of So What Faith (#0228)
Sowhatfaith.com launched in June 2009 as a means of sharing my thoughts with those beyond my parish. From the beginning, the blog has focused on contemporary issues and reviews of recently published books by providing a blend of information and questions. Written some time ago, the following words about the purpose of this website remain on the contact/about page: Individually and as faith communities, true growth is often the result of struggling with the so what questions of Read More …
A Full Scale Replica of Noah’s Ark Coming Soon in Kentucky (#0209)
Over the last several days I have read more about Noah's Ark than ever before thanks to all the publicity given the venture following a press conference announcing a group's plans to build a full scale replica of Noah's Ark in Kentucky. Rather than take a build an ark and tourists will come approach, the ark will serve as a main attraction in a theme park slated to open in the spring of 2014. The rest of the theme park will be constructed at an estimated cost of $125 million by a Read More …
What Kind of Parents are a Part of Your Youth Ministry? (#0207)
Recently, Andy Blanks wrote an insightful article for churchleaders.com about the four types of parents present in most youth ministries. He names and explains the four categories of parents in reference to their views on discipleship: Christ-followers Making Christ-followers. These parents understand that the biblical model of discipleship calls for the chief disciplers to be mom and dad. Students are taught the basics of a vibrant faith-life; but not just in words only. Read More …
Review of Christ the Key (#0197)
Kathryn Tanner. Christ the Key. Cambridge University Press: 2010. ISBN: 9780521732772. Meet the Author Kathryn Tanner joined the faculty of Yale Divinity School as Professor of Systematic Theology earlier this year. Previously she taught at the University of Chicago Divinity School for fifteen years and at Yale University's Department of Religious Studies for ten years. Tanner's research relates the history of Christian thought to contemporary issues of Read More …
Uniquely UCC (#0172)
The United Church of Christ's Still Speaking Campaign is the most well known marketing campaign undertaken by a mainline denomination in recent years. The campaign started in 2004 with television ads, which can be viewed here. In April 2010, the campaign moved online with an ad designed to spread via social media called The Language of God, which I wrote about on my blog. Today Uniquely UCC launched in conjunction with Still Speaking's National Read More …
Souper Bowl of Caring (#0167)
From a simple prayer by a seminary intern in 1990 (Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat) to a movement involving over 250,000 youth in 2010, the Souper Bowl of Caring has been a youth-led movement to help hungry and hurting people around the world. According to the organization's website: This prayer . . . gave birth to an idea. Why not use Super Bowl weekend, a time when people Read More …