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Dupa unii, orbiti de ideologia lor anti-scientista, incalzirea globala este un mit. Acest clip facut de NASA arata un rezumat al cresterii termepaturilor globale pe Terra in ultimii 30 ani.

Pariem ca nici asta nu ii va convinge pe cei convinsi deja? Vorba englezului, ‘don’t bother me with facts; I have already made up my mind’.

Cei interesati pot citi AICI un articol din Le Monde pe aceasta tema (in limba franceza).

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You may sign HERE the following call against the possible implications of ACTA on the freedom of the Internet:

As concerned global citizens, we call on you to stand for a free and open Internet and reject the ratification of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which would destroy it. The Internet is a crucial tool for people around the world to exchange ideas and promote democracy. We urge you to show true global leadership and protect our rights.

You may also sign HERE an apeal against the implications of ACTA on access to decently priced medicine for poor people:

Petition to governments negotiating ACTA:
We urge you to oppose any deal that could cut off millions of people from access to essential medicines. We call on you to ensure that no agreement is reached via the secretive process in Tokyo, and to release current negotiating texts for public scrutiny.

* * *

Pentru cititorii romani

Cititi AICI mai multe despre ACTA.

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This week’s radio programme On Being, by Krista Tippett, is dedicated to the Irish poet John O’Donahue and is titled ‘The Inner Landscape of Beauty‘. I have listened with fascination the interview, from which the poem/blessing above was extracted. I believe it is worth giving an hour for this.

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This week I began teaching a preaching practicum at a local seminary. As a place to start, my students received and turned in the assignment of a short reflection paper on one of my favorite topics, “What is good preaching?” Since I made them reflect on the topic, it’s only fair that I do the work, too. Here are my reflections.

Good preaching is relevant. This does not mean the same thing as “Good preaching keeps up with the latest trends or what everyone seems to find cool.” Contrary to popular belief, a pastor wearing a remote headset does not automatically make people come to church. By “relevant” I mean: speak to the real lives and genuine concerns of your people. Be a real person.

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Associated Baptist Press – Pro-life, pro-choice speakers urge common ground on abortion.

‘ After nearly 40 years of polarization over abortion, two speakers at a Mercer University event said Jan. 24 it is time for people who are pro-choice and pro-life to seek common ground to reduce the current number of 1.2 million abortions a year.’

Abortion is a very hot topic, and rightly so, because it is about life and death. However, the way this issues was politicised by both liberals and conservatives has clearly not led to a reduction of the number of abortions in the US.

The search for common ground between the proponents of the two opposed positions on abortion is a must if this social problem is going to be addressed in an adequate way.

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Articolul tau :: Bunicii sunt partea cea mai vizibila din Dumnezeu :: SmartWoman.

Un text superb. De citit neaparat, mai ales de cei ce sunt bunici.

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A whiteboard video by Jeff Maguire and Brian Hurst. This is our take on what is meant by words like “church” and “gospel”. The concept comes out of the evangelism section of the Lausanne Covenant. Thanks to Brian Hurst for the drawings (check his stuff out at www.thequietsociety.com) and his wry sense of humor. The video will be shown at Mariners Church (www.marinerschurch.org) on October 22 and 23, 2011.

Thanks for this to my former LBC colleague David Tolhurst.

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Greetings! Thank you for taking time to read this important message regarding the International Day of Prayer for the nation of Kosova. We want you to be informed about the prayer needs and opportunities across this nation. We hope you will join us in prayer and fasting and thank you in advance for your prayer support, love and generosity.

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Reflection – Known and called by name on Vimeo on Vimeo

via Reflection – Known and called by name on Vimeo.

My son’s latest message in church.

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An End to All Endings? Reflections on Rowan Williams’ Critical Theology « Per∙Crucem∙ad∙Lucem.

This is superbly nuanced evaluation of the theology of Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Thanks to Scot McKnight for the link.

Here is the conclusion of the article:

…so much depends on how Williams is read. In OCT (pp. xii-xv), he speaks of three styles of theology. Accordingly, readers of Williams must be careful to always hear even his ‘critical’ theology as both ‘celebratory’ and ‘communicative’. Otherwise, we play back in monophonic mode what is necessarily heard stereophonically.

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Thanks to Rodica Longyne for this.

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Plato, a foundational Greek philosopher, has had far more influence on Christianity up to now than even Jesus often has! (I want to shock you into awareness!) Jesus says matter and spirit, divine and human are not enemies, but in fact are two sides of the same coin. They reveal one another, and are finally one! That is the meaning of his two raised fingers in much of Christian art. Plato positions body and soul as irreconcilable enemies. Our moral theology, most of our sexual teaching, and our lackluster history of Earth care all show that we too have not seen matter and spirit, or body and soul, as friends, and as a result, have been Platonists more than Christians. (Part of the reason for this is Paul’s unfortunate use of the the word “flesh” in opposition to spirit. He would have made his point so much better, so much clearer, if he had used the word “ego” instead.) Embodiment is not the problem, ego is! Matter and spirit have never been separate, says the Christ Mystery. We live in One United Whole; there is no sacred and profane, no natural and supernatural. All is sacred and supernatural inside of the One Christ Mystery, who “reconciles all things in Himself” (Colossians 1:15-20). Adapted fromRichard Rohn, Soul Centering Through Nature: Becoming a True Human Adult Starter Prayer: I am part of the whole.

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Only those who have never been in Palestine or do not care to search for the facts are unaware of the catastrophic situation of water in Palestine. Here are some bare facts:

• Of the water available from West Bank aquifers, Israel uses 73%, West Bank Palestinians use 17%, and illegal Jewish settlers use 10%.
• While 10-14% of Palestine’s GDP is agricultural, 90% of them must rely on rain-fed farming methods. Israel’s agriculture is only 3% of their GDP, but Israel irrigates more than 50% of its land.
• Three million West Bank Palestinians use only 250 million cubic meters per year (83 cubic meters per Palestinian per year) while six million Israelis enjoy the use of 1,954 million cubic meters (333 cubic meters per Israeli per year), which means that each Israeli consumes as much water as four Palestinians. Israeli settlers are allocated 1,450 cubic meters of water per person per year.

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Scot McKnight preda teologie la North Park University in Chicago si a avut o traiectorie spirituala foarte asemanatoare cu a mea. Formatia sa crestina initiala a avut loc intr-o comunitate fundamentalista, dar educatia teologica (in teologie biblica, in cazul lui) l-a condus pe carari mai largi, in care sensibilitatile liturgice si sacramentale, alaturi de cele ecumenice (in sensul spiritual al cuvintului), si-au facut loc tot mai mult. S-a framintat o vreme cu ‘ispita’ calvinista, dar a sfirsit prin a refuza inregimentarea, atit in calvinism, cit si in arminianism. Nu demjult el a publicat pe blogul sau, Jesus Creed, o serie de texte despre felul in care, in opinia lui, Epistola catre Evrei, inteleasa neideologic, face implauzibile afirmatiile calvinismului ideologic (mai vechi sau mai nou).

Aceasta carte a lui McKnight discuta felul in care lumea evanghelica s-a indepartat de intelesul biblic al Evangheliei (ca naratiune persuasiva a modului in care viata si lucrarea lui Isus Cristos au implinit asteptarile lui Israel), inlocuindu-l cu o argumentare logica a planului de mintuire. Autorul considera ca originea acestei inversari se afla in teologia lui Augustin si, in mod hotaritor, in teologia (post)reformatorilor.

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Some time ago I have initiated a research project on the situation of the refugees that were victims of the violent conflict in Iraq, with an emphasis on religious minorities, particularly Christians.

The study was realised by Midde East Concern and is now available for distribution.

Here is a summary of its findings and recommendations:

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Walid Shoebat pretends to be a former Islamic terrorist who converted to Christianity and is now ‘defending the Israeli cause’. Good for him. US is a free country, so they say. Yet, there is only one problem. Walid Shoebat’s story does not stand. Is is just another scam, made up by a professional liar, for the purpose of getting easy money from American Christian Zionists who are stupid enough and blinded by their ideological bias to believe such unsubstantiated claims.

It seems that Shoebat, like Mosab Hassan Yousef, the so-called ‘son of Hamas‘ (another proved fraud; mind that the two are not in good standing with each other – it seems that Yousef is infringing on Shoebat’s ‘business’ territory) are just tools of Israeli Zionist propaganda. The end justifies the means.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper presents in a recent programme Drew Griffin’s investigative report on this scam. Here it is, in two parts:

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Viorel (Dorel) Codreanu, alias ‘Barthimeu’ (ma feresc sa fac o psihanaliza a acestui pseudonim, desi sunt ispitit), explica pe blogul sau cauzele pentru care nu-mi mai este prieten. Felul in care o face imi provoaca intrebarea daca a fost vreodata, dar prefer sa las aceasta intrebare fara raspuns.

Desi cele scrise acolo nu prea merita un raspuns, am decis s-o fac totusi, macar in virtutea trecutului (cu toate indoielile mele cele noi legate de el). In plus ar fi fost probabil jignitor sa n-o fac si n-am vrut asta.

Redau deci mai jos raspunsul pe care l-am lasat pe blogul lui ‘Barthimeu’ la aceasta postare care ma privea.

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If you ask anyone from that 74 percent of Americans who say they have made a commitment to Jesus Christ what the Christian gospel is, you will probably be told that Jesus died to pay for our sins, and that if we will only believe he did this, we will go to heaven when we die. And he continues: In this way what is only one theory of the “atonement” is made out to be the whole of the essential message of Jesus [the gospel]. What does it mean in this setup to “believe”? But for some time now the belief required to be saved has increasingly been regarded as a totally private act, “just between you and the Lord.” Only the “scanner” would know. (p. 75)
…
From the enhancement of a gospel culture with a profound emphasis on salvation we have now arrived at the ability for a person to be able to say he or she has had the right experience. And that experience far too often is nothing more than “I’m a sinner; Jesus, take my place.” A gospel culture will have none of it, nor will a proper sense of salvation. I leave the last words here for Willard: What must be emphasized in all of this is the difference between trusting Christ, the real person Jesus, with all that that naturally involves, versus trusting some arrangement for sin-remission set up through him — trusting only his role as guilt remover. (p. 75)

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O documentar incredibil, in cinci episoade.

Pentru afişarea subtitrării în limba română, după ce porniţi videoclipul, selectaţi „cc” din bara de unelte a videoului şi apoi „Romanian”.

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Premiile Thymos pentru bloguri evanghelice (2011) « Romania Evanghelica.

Dionis Bodiu si Teofil Stanciu sunt beneficiarii premiilor Thymos pentru bloguri evanghelice pentru 2012.

Cred ca este vorba de o alegere absolut inspirata.

Sinmcere felicitari amindorura.

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Why Last Saturday’s Political Conclave of Evangelical Leaders Was Dangerous | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

Recently an important number of American Evangelical leaders met privately in a ‘king making’ exercise, endorsing the Republican Rick Santorum for US presidency.

David Neff, from Christianity Today believes this is very dangerous, and I fully agree, because this affects the ability of the church to play its prophetic role.

I quote from Neff:

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2. Ispita luminilor rampei

Pe Isus îl găsim în scripturi raportându-se în mod diferit la trei grupuri de oameni:

a. mulțimile – cărora le predică, și între care face minuni;

b. ucenicii – grupul larg al celor care au decis să-l urmeze, și cărora le explică sensul și motivația slujirii sale; și

c. apostolii – cei 12 intimi ai lui, chemați să fie cu el și apoi trimiși să facă ceea ce l-au văzut pe el făcând.

Așa cum o dovedește lucrarea lui Isus, între aceste trei tipuri de lucrări n-ar trebui să existe contradicție. În realitate, cei mai mulți slujitori creștini se simt atrași, ca fluturii spre lumină, de strălucirea (adesea îndoielnică) a amvonului, mai degrabă decât de lucrarea de ucenicie, care presupune implicarea lipsită de glorie în formarea unui grup mic de oameni.

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Procrastination = the act of… putting off or delaying or defering an action to a later time (see HERE).

We have to admit that we all procrastinate, at least sometimes. I surely do, especially with things I hate, but I still have to do (like expense reports in my job).

A funny, but destructive Romanian proverb says: ‘Don’t leave for today what you can do tomorrow. Leave it for the day after tomorrow, maybe itwill not be necessary anymore.’ Even if such an approach may work sometimes, it is, in the final analysis, desctructive for the soul.

The blog of the site Advanced Life Skills presents, in a very useful article, 7 strategies that might help us overcome procrastination. Here they are, in summary:

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Cititi AICI.

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Archbishop Rowan Williams & Pope Benedict XVI

On January 1, the New York Times reported that the Roman Catholic Church had established a “Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter” which will function as an ecclesiastical home for members of the Episcopal Church who wish to transfer their allegiance without giving up the liturgies of the Book of Common Prayer and a married (though all-male) priesthood. Its bishop will be based in Houston, traditionally a hotbed of Anglican unrest in the wake of “the current unpleasantness” over the ordination of gay clergy and bishops and a growing hospitality towards gay marriage. A similar offer to British Anglicans–“the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham”–announced last year drew a rather small number of converts, as well as an unamused response from Church of England officials. These arrangements are similar to those negotiated in previous centuries with various Eastern-rite churches, known collectively as the Unia, many members of which returned to Eastern Orthodoxy after their married clergy met with a hostile reception upon arrival in the United States.

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1. Sacrament al Bisericii

Concepţia sacramentală despre Cina Domnului are la bază viziunea potrivit căreia opera de mântuire a lui Dumnezeu vizează omul împreună cu întregul univers, al căror destin final este unirea cu Hristos. În această perspectivă, mântuirea este un proces continuu de transformare a omului şi a lumii căzute prin opera Duhului Sfânt care dă puterea regeneratoare de viaţă şi uneşte toate lucrurile cu Hristos. Aşadar, lucrarea lui Dumnezeu se realizează nu numai în planul nevăzut, ci şi în cel vizibil, implicând realitatea creată în totalitatea ei. De asemenea, viziunea sacramentală asupra Euharistiei este legată de vocaţia preoţească a omului în creaţie. Omul a fost chemat de Dumnezeu să fie un mijlocitor, unul care are menirea de a conduce creaţia spre Dumnezeu, de a o face părtaşă vieţii divine. Potenţialul natural al creaţiei este astfel înţeles ca o poartă deschisă spre Dumnezeu, o fereastră pentru lumina dumnezeiască, un cadru în care omul să îl cunoască pe Dumnezeu, să se exprime pe sine şi să se apropie de el. În fine, concepţia sacramentală asupra Cinei este legată de evenimentul întrupării. În Hristos se împlineşte tot planul şi toată taina lui Dumnezeu, care este experienţa unirii în iubire a creatului cu necreatul, a omului cu Dumnezeu. Împlinirea destinului omului în Hristos este actualizată mereu în istorie în viaţa Bisericii, care este Trupul lui Hristos, în experienţa vie şi reală a tainei unirii tuturor cu Dumnezeu. Dinamica Bisericii în lume implică procesului mântuirii, al participării reale a omului la Hristos, adică la ceea ce el a realizat ca om – mântuirea şi împlinirea omului. Calea acestei participări este una sacramentală, adică este calea prin care omul căzut intră în taina Bisericii, în taina unirii tuturor lucrurilor cu Dumnezeu. Sacramentele reprezintă posibilităţile prin care persoana umană actualizează local şi istoric evenimentele mântuitoare ale lui Hristos şi îl fac astfel să fie parte integrantă a Bisericii. Această participare este una holistă, implică omul în totalitatea sa şi lumea în totalitatea ei. De aceea, lucrarea lui Dumnezeu în Biserică presupune implicarea elementelor materiale care fac posibilă experienţa mântuirii. Aceste elemente materiale au primit numele de simboluri (de la συμβολον) sau daruri, ofrande, care sunt oferite lui Dumnezeu pentru a se folosi de ele în lucrarea sa cu omul.

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Revolutia la care visez eu – Opinii – HotNews.ro.

Un text absolut superb.

Felicitari, Vlad Mixich, unul dintre ziaristii mei preferati.

Iata un citat din final:

Revolutia mea e aici, printre noi, dar nimeni nu-i spune ca are puterea sa schimbe lumea. Asa cum Raed Arafat a schimbat SMURD-ul. Asa cum Marcel Iures a infiintat un teatru independent. Asa cum Cristina Neagu a ajuns cea mai buna handbalista din lume. Asa cum o echipa mica de cercetatori a salvat Institutul Cantacuzino de la pieire. Asa cum toate aceste povesti adevarate imping tara mea, mai cu vai, mai cu chiu, inainte.

Stiu ca sunt idealist, dar stiu ca la o astfel de revolutie visati si voi. Si, daca printr-o minune, ea ar deveni realitate, cu siguranta ca nu ar vedea-o nimeni la televizor. Pentru ca prea multi dintre noi am fi ocupati sa o implinim si pentru ca revolutia la care visez eu nu are spectatori. Are doar actori.