Rastaman Vibrations

High-Speed Rail a Reality in the Midwest

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:46:00 +0000

Does this suggest a possible future? Kazoo to Porter is a great little run. I'd love to see them work the old Pere Marquette (the line that runs up to Grand Rapids in the map above) into a high-speed line--something like the old days when the PM streamliners were the running this route.

Here's the full story from the Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-amtrak-high-speed-0208-20120208,0,3868789.story):

Amtrak at 110 mph in western Mich., northern Ind.

But rail crossings lack safety mechanisms planned for Illinois route

By Jon Hilkevitch, TRIBUNE REPORTER

February 8, 2012

Amtrak passenger trains sped up to 110 mph for the first time Tuesday in western Michigan and northern Indiana on two routes serving Chicago, officials announced.
But the railroad crossings lack safety mechanisms that will be installed on Illinois' high-speed corridor to prevent vehicle-train collisions.

The faster service, which is the first expansion of regional high-speed trains outside the northeastern U.S., is occurring on about 80 miles of a 97-mile stretch of Amtrak-owned track between Kalamazoo, Mich., and Porter, Ind.

Trains operating on the corridor are the Amtrak Wolverine Service between Pontiac, Mich., and Chicago via Detroit and Ann Arbor, and the Amtrak Blue Water between Port Huron, Mich., and Chicago via East Lansing.

The increase in speed from 95 mph to 110 mph followed the Federal Railroad Administration's approval of a positive train control system. The technology provides safeguards to override human error and prevent train-to-train collisions, speed-related derailments and accidents caused by track-switching errors or malfunctions, according to the agency.

But the positive train control system installed by the Michigan Department of Transportation does not include vehicle-detection technology to alert train crews about a vehicle stopped on the tracks at a crossing or additional protections, including four-quadrant gates, to prevent vehicles from snaking around lowered crossing gates. It does, however, monitor whether the crossing gates, flashing lights and bells are working, officials said.

Crossings on the system being installed in Illinois on the Chicago-to-St. Louis 110 mph corridor will be outfitted with full four-quadrant gates and an obstacle-intrusion detection system to tell locomotive engineers about vehicles on the tracks with enough advance warning so that the train can stop before the crossing, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Amtrak service at up to 110 mph is scheduled to begin in 2014 on part of the route, IDOT said. The current top speed is 79 mph.
Using a less-robust crossing system not only increases the risk to vehicle drivers and their passengers, but also to the riders aboard high-speed trains involved in a collision at a crossing, experts said.
On Feb. 1 at a crossing near Jackson, Mich., on the eastern end of Michigan's 110 mph rail corridor, an Amtrak train derailed when it struck a semitrailer truck that was stuck on the tracks. More than 10 people on board the Chicago-bound train were injured.

Federal railroad officials said the Michigan plan meets all regulations and that it is up to each state to decide on "an acceptable level of grade crossing risk.''

The Federal Railroad Administration "has every confidence in the Michigan Department of Transportation's and Amtrak's ability to determine the appropriate safety mechanisms at their grade crossings,'' said Mike England, a spokesman for the agency.

Michigan rail officials said the safety system they selected on the 110 mph corridor is the most cost-effective while also being safe.

"This was not a decision we made lightly,'' said Tim Hoeffner, director of the Office of Rail at the Michigan Department of Transportation. "What you put at the crossing is only one component of grade-crossing safety. You also must have police enforcement and the education piece to go along with the engineering.

"One of the most important factors is that we are dealing with the railroad in a part of the state where people understand the issues better and have a better grasp that when the flashing lights, bells and gates go on, the train is going to be there quickly and leave quickly,'' said Hoeffner, who rode aboard the 110 mph service on Tuesday.

Sustained operations at 110 mph on the 80-mile section in Michigan and Indiana will cut 10 minutes off the 95 mph schedules and about 20 minutes off the 79 mph speed that Amtrak trains operated at as recently as 2001, officials said.

Future steps include expanding 110 mph service from Kalamazoo to central and eastern Michigan, officials said.

jhilkevitch@tribune.com

Twitter @jhilkevitch

"Take On Me" Accordion Style

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:53:00 +0000

Hopefully there's not a banjo version out there...

A Sermon in the Midst of Tragedy

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:17:00 +0000

Paul McCain posted this sermon on his blog. However, since Edward is my brother-in-law, and since this is such a wonderful sermon, I thought I would repost it (without Ed's permission) here. From it you'll see why Rev. Engelbrecht is truly a gift to our Synod.

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From Salina Journal, Monday, January 30th: “ ‘I saw a red car coming at us, and it was over,’ [a witness] said. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Steven Moore, 62, was driving a Dodge Challenger east on I-70, just west of Topeka, when he crossed the median into oncoming traffic [perhaps because of a medical condition], striking the Geske’s Ford Windstar van head-on.”

“The Rev. Jeffrey Geske and his 3-year-old son Jacob [were] hospitalized, and killed [were] Geske’s wife Laura, their daughter Joy, 3, and son Joshua, 8.”

This news story came to me with special prayer requests for our chapel service. I had planned to preach on the Gospel reading from Sunday but thought it would be better to talk a bit about this tragedy. This is the sort of story that shakes us hard, causes us to question the ways of God. We naturally wonder why these things happen and find ourselves picking through the wreckage looking for an answer. [Read Job 1:13–21; emphasis on v. 21.]

How often we hear miracle stories when there is an accident, where death is averted at the last moment. We hear these stories and say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21). But in this case, there is less for us to celebrate and we find ourselves wondering why God allowed this to happen.

Poets say that we were born to die; philosophers agree that death is a natural part of life. But the Bible fights against these thoughts. It tells us that God created us for life, that death is unnatural, an intruder, the enemy of the children of God. When an older person dies, we don’t think too hard about it. It seems normal to us. The tragic events, like this one, cause us to question when death takes the young and the good, even those blessed and hallowed for God’s service. God calls us to grow less comfortable with death. If we mourn less when grandma dies than when a child dies, we should check our thoughts and consider whether we have grown too comfortable with death.

Our reason does a poor job at grasping tragedy. It is too heavy for our weak minds to hold. In such events, faith teaches us to expect a miracle; we naturally look for the miraculous in tragic events and hope to make sense of them. As I looked through the news reports about this accident, I did not find a miracle story. This is one of those times when the miracle comes after the event, perhaps long after. The miracle comes in seeing that God works in, with, and under tragedy, that He somehow accomplishes His good and gracious will not by averting tragedy but by working through it. Job responded in faith when everything was taken away from him, beginning with mourning and ending with praise for the One whose ways are beyond us. [Read 1:20–21.]

Today, we are like Mary and John at the foot of the cross, looking up with tear filled eyes and wondering, “Why?” And to us the Lord says as He did on the day of His crucifixion, “Behold, your son. . . . Behold, your mother” (John 19:26–27). In other words, “I am not coming down from this cross. It makes no sense and only causes you grief now. Take care of one another. Love one another until I turn this cross and this suffering into resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost for you.” Sisters, behold this morning your brothers in Christ. Brothers, this morning behold your sisters in Christ and care for them. This, too, is the way and the work of God who took away our sins by His Son’s cross and sustains us week by week in the Sacrament of His cross where in, with, and under the tragedy of death He brings to us the miracle of life and hope and peace. And so we say in faith, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” our only Savior. Amen.

We pray today for the Geske family as they mourn the loss of Laura, Joy, and Joshua. We ask that you would grant healing to Pastor Geske and to his son, Jacob. May they behold one another with your love and care as Christ taught us from the cross. We pray likewise for Pastor Geske that you would strengthen and sustain him as he cares for his Salina congregation, to which You recently called him. Help pastor and congregation to support one another through this tragedy. Look with mercy also upon Steven Moore, whose health condition led to this accident. Comfort him, O Lord, under the burden of this event and grant him your peace, which only Christ can give. O Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen.

Supreme Court Rules on Religious Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:25:00 +0000

This was just sent my way moments ago. It is from a blog that may be found here (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2012/01/11/scotus-unanimous-for-religious-freedom/). I offer it to you in full. The first sentence has a link to the entire opinion.

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SCOTUS Unanimous For Religious Freedom – UPDATED

Jan 11th, 2012 by Elizabeth Scalia

The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled unanimously in favor of a church’s right to be itself, and its freedom to assign its ministries:

This is an enormous and timely victory for religious freedom:

In a groundbreaking case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held for the first time that religious employees of a church cannot sue for employment discrimination.

But the court’s unanimous decision in a case from Michigan did not specify the distinction between a secular employee, who can take advantage of the government’s protection from discrimination and retaliation, and a religious employee, who can’t.

It was, nevertheless, the first time the high court has acknowledged the existence of a “ministerial exception” to anti-discrimination laws — a doctrine developed in lower court rulings. This doctrine says the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion shields churches and their operations from the reach of such protective laws when the issue involves employees of these institutions.

At the time the SCOTUS heard the case, it was noted that both Justices Scalia and Kagan had reacted with something like shock at the government’s constitution-shredding argument:

President Obama’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claimed during oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court last week that it can order a church to restore a fired minister to a teaching position.

But that was a claim not even the president’s handpicked appointee, the very liberal Justice Elena Kagan, could accept as she and her colleagues considered Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC. [...] The justices then rejected the argument of Leondra Kruger, Obama’s lawyer for the EEOC, who argued that there’s no ministerial exception in the Constitution, only the same rights that secular organizations possess to choose their own affiliations.

At this, Scalia exploded. “That’s extraordinary! There, black on white in the text of the Constitution, are special protections for religion. And you say it makes no difference?”

Kagan agreed with Scalia’s rejection of the argument that the First Amendment doesn’t protect churches from government ordering who they should hire as pastor or priest.

Given reports following the hearing, it’s not really shocking that the SCOTUS came down unanimously against the government’s case. But it’s reassuring, all the same.

Writing the court’s opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts said, “Allowing anti-discrimination lawsuits against religious organizations could end up forcing churches to take religious leaders they no longer want.”

“Such action interferes with the internal governance of the church, depriving the church of control over the selection of those who will personify its beliefs,” Roberts said. “By imposing an unwanted minister, the state infringes the Free Exercise Clause, which protects a religious group’s right to shape its own faith and mission through its appointments.”

But, Roberts said, since this was the first time the high court has ever considered the “ministerial exception,” it would not set hard and fast rules on who can be considered a religious employee of a religious organization.

“We are reluctant … to adopt a rigid formula for deciding when an employee qualifies as a minister,” he said. “It is enough for us to conclude, in this, our first case involving the ministerial exception, that the exception covers (Cheryl) Perich, given all the circumstances of her employment.”

The Obama administration tested the waters with an extreme gambit. They’ve now established that this court, in its current make-up, will rule in favor of the churches against overt threats to the most fundamental of our religious freedoms. I expect that if Obama is re-elected, we’ll see continued–but measured–attempts to weaken religious freedoms, as it attempts to discern precisely where the lines are, and how they may be crossed. Chief Justice Roberts appears to acknowledge as much, in writing the opinion.

Meanwhile, this is very good–yes, reassuring–news.

The Young Clergy Crisis in the Presbyterian Church

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 02:09:00 +0000

Borrowed from Incarnatus Est (Greg Alms), who found it on the Christian Century website (http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2011-12/perspectives-young-clergy-crisis), this piece addresses a challenge that is facing many of the larger church bodies in the United States, particularly those in the "mainline." This brief piece is definitely worth reading.

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Perspectives on the young clergy crisis

Dec 10, 2011 by Carol Howard Merritt

Since I’ve been chairing a national Presbyterian Church (USA) committee on the Nature of the Church for the 21^st century, I’ve been gaining a different perspective on many of the larger trends of our denomination. One thing that has been difficult to realize (and equally difficult to communicate to the larger church) is the young clergy crisis.

Why would I call it a crisis? We’ve known for a long time about the startling decline of young clergy. The drop-out rates don't help (I can't find hard and fast stats on this... but some claim that about 70% of young clergy drop out within the first five years of ministry, usually because of lack of support or financial reasons). The average age of a pastor in the PCUSA is 53. And I’ve realized that the age of our leadership might be much higher.

Over half of our congregations cannot afford a full-time pastor and many associate pastor positions were cut during the recent economic downturn. These are churches where seminary graduates would normally be heading, so what are the congregations doing instead? Many of them are hiring retired ministers or retired laypeople to serve these churches while our younger pastors remain unemployed.

Do I have something against people over 65? Of course not. I also have sympathy for people who have seen their retirement savings dwindle over the last four years. I know that many people have great energy well past the age of 65. So why would this situation be a problem?

Like all denominations, the age of our worshipers is increasing. The median age of a Presbyterian in the pew is 61. Half of our membership is over the age of 65, and four out of five worshipers are over the age of 45. Jackson Carroll points out that the age of a congregation will often reflect the age of its pastoral leadership.

So, if we’re trying to imagine a compelling vision for the church in the years to come, we'll need to reach the next generation. But that's hard to do when

•Half of our congregations may be served by pastors and laypeople who are 65 or older

•The other half of our congregations are being served by people who are about 53

•Younger pastors can’t find calls and are forced to take up other employment

•Many younger pastors who do get called to pastorates drop out within the first 5 years of ministry.

What's in a Name?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:07:00 +0000

This totally cracks me up!!!!

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Mom no longer wants son named after Urban Meyer

By Reid Cherner, USA TODAY

CAPTION

By Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

Spurrier Urban Wiley seemed like a perfect name for a son.Until the man he was named for took a job at Ohio State.

University of Florida graduate Jen Wiley named her son for two of the most successful coaches in school history -- Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer.

"My husband and I got married in 1996, when Spurrier won the championships," Wiley told reporter Chris Hopper of Bay News 9. "And then we conceived in 2006 when Urban Meyer won the championship."

Wiley said "I felt sick" when Meyer took the job in Columbus and now she wants to change her 4-year-old son's middle name but only if her husband agrees.

The name up for grabs? Tim as in Tebow.

From USA Today, December 8, 2011, p. 3C. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/12/mom-no-longer-wants-son-named-after-urban-meyer/1

Truth Really Is Stranger Than Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:59:00 +0000

Bob Jones University, which has consistently questioned whether the Roman Catholic Church is even Christian, apparently has a huge collection of religious art from the late medieval and early modern Roman Catholic Church. Strange! But whoever said human beings are consistent?

Here's the story from ENI.

U.S. Fundamentalist University Maintains Stunning Catholic Art Collection

Greenville, South Carolina (ENInews)--Walking across the tidy campus of Bob Jones University (BJU) in Greenville, South Carolina, there's no obvious sign this bastion of Christian fundamentalism is also home to one of the nation's largest collections of Renaissance and Baroque religious art from the heart of Catholic Europe. It's all the more surprising since the school's old-time Protestant leaders have for years taught that Catholicism is a "cult" and even the "Mother of Harlots," Religion News Service reports. But the school has amassed the collection out of a sincere belief in the teaching mission of great religious art, according to school leaders and art curators. [812 words, ENI-11-0637]

Be Careful with Your Word Choice...

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:48:00 +0000

Self-immolations may flare up? WOW!

"Tibetan protests spread to Nepal

Kathmandu (ENInews)--After growing protests in Tibet and India against China's rule of the formerly Buddhist kingdom of Tibet, demonstrations have now flared up in Nepal with police arresting nearly 100 people near the Samdupling Tibetan refugee camp in Kathmandu valley. Nepalese police said they acted on a tip that some people would attempt self-immolation in protest on 2 November, the second day of a three-day 'Global Action' campaign by Tibetans in Nepal. [300 words, ENI-11-0597]"

Here's a short video on the protest.

Near Miss at Harper's Ferry

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:53:00 +0000

Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, is a GREAT train watching spot. You can see a video that I shot there a couple of years ago here (the good one got deleted somehow, but that's the way it goes).

But this video, which is making the rounds on trainwatching websites, is rather disturbing. It reminds us that when you're out train watching, you need to be aware of your circumstances!

Masaki Wins--AGAIN!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:57:00 +0000

Dr. Naomichi Masaki (right), along with Dr. Timothy Quill (center), and Dr. Albert Collver (left), have argued for years that the appropriate response to "The Lord be with You," should be "And with Your Spirit."

Well, now the Pope agrees with them, so I guess it's settled. See the following:

"Perhaps the most basic change will be when the priest says: 'The Lord be with you.' The congregation will no longer say 'And also with you.' The new response is 'And with your spirit.'"

Masaki wins--again!

The full post may be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ritual-whiplash-ahead-catholics-mass-liturgy-changing/2011/10/25/gIQAzcNRNM_story.html?wpisrc=nl_cuzheads

ACNA/LCMS Dialogue at CTS

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:58:00 +0000

This coming Thursday and Friday, October 27-28, Concordia Theological Seminary will be hosting the dialogue between the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and our own Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. This will be the third in a series of four planned meetings between the two church bodies and will address the theme Contemporary Issues Facing the Church in North America.

The ACNA’s website describes the church body as “the reuniting of orthodox Anglicans who have been squeezed out of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada by successive changes to historic Christian teaching and Anglican practice.”

Representatives of the LCMS to the dialogue are Dr. Matthew Harrison, president of the LCMS; Dr. Albert Collver III, director of Church Relations – assistant to the president; Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, executive director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR); Dr. Lawrence Rast, CTCR chairman and president at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne; Rev. Larry Vogel, CTCR staff member; and Dr. Frederic Baue, pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Fairview Heights, Ill. Dr. John Stephenson has represented Lutheran Church—Canada.

Official representatives of the ACNA have included Archbishop Robert Duncan, primate of the ACNA; Bishop Wes Nolden of the Missionary Diocese of the Central States; and Dr. Jonathan Riches, associate professor of liturgics theology and assistant academic dean at Reformed Episcopal Seminary; and Bishop Ray Sutton of the Diocese of Mid-America. They will be joined at this dialogue by Dr. Grant LeMarquand, professor of biblical studies and mission, Trinity School for Ministry, Pittsburgh, Penn.

The first session of the dialogue was held at Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis (November 10-11, 2010), and addressed the theme “The Background and Identity of Our Churches.” The second was on the campus of the Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Blue Bell, Penn. (May 12-13, 2011), and considered “Authority in the Church.”Background on the dialogue may be found at the following links:

http://reporter.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=18047

http://www.canadianlutheran.ca/breakaway-anglicans-talk-with-conservative-lutherans/

http://anglicanchurch.net/

Recently, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod offered the following rationale for such dialogues. I hope you find it of value.

2011-09-17 - CTCR - Theological Dialogue With Other Christian Church Bodies

Former UMC Seminary Takes New Direction in Theological Education

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:33:00 +0000

Watch Calif. University Introduces First U.S. Multi-Faith School of Theology on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Saint Paul in London Affected by "Occupy" Forces

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:45:00 +0000

St. Paul's Cathedral closes, asks protesters to leave

London (ENInews)--Due to health, safety and fire concerns connected with an anti-corporate protest camp at its doors, St. Paul's Cathedral, London's 16th-century landmark, announced it is closing until further notice and asked the protesters to leave. "The decision to close ... is unprecedented in modern times," said the Rev. Graeme Knowles, the cathedral dean, in a statement on St. Paul's website (www.stpauls.co.uk). With hundreds of people and about 200 tents pitched around the huge building, "health, safety and fire officers have pointed out that access ... is seriously limited. With so many stoves and fires and lots of different types of fuel around, there is a clear fire hazard. Then there is the public health aspect which speaks for itself. The dangers relate not just to cathedral staff and visitors but are a potential hazard to those encamped themselves," Knowles said. [381 words, ENI-11-0572]

Brazilian Lutherans Prepare for Reformation Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:24:00 +0000

http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/news-update-items/article/brazilian-lutherans-prepare-for-reformation-anniversary-10131.html

Brazilian Lutherans prepare for Reformation anniversary

By: Marcelo Schneider
ENInews

In 1517, German monk Martin Luther published his "95 Theses" – criticisms of Catholic Church practices that inspired the growth of Protestantism. Photo: Shutterstock

Porto Alegre, Brazil – Leaders of two Brazilian Lutheran churches on Oct.18 said that local events in 2017 commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation would include creation of a space called "Luther Square" in Porto Alegre.

This city is the location of the national headquarters of theEvangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil(IECLB) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB). The IECLB is a member of the Lutheran World Federation(LWF) and the IELB is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (USA).
At a launch event here, the churches also presented a commemorative stamp and shared their plans for common publications leading up to the anniversary. In 1517, German monk Martin Luther published his "95 Theses" in Wittenberg, Germany – criticisms of Catholic Church practices that inspired the growth of Protestantism, including establishment of the Lutheran Church.

IELB president, the Rev. Egon Kopereck, noted that the commemoration is a unique opportunity to emphasize the centrality of the word of God as the greatest legacy of Luther's movement.

The president of IECLB, the Rev. Nestor Friedrich, stressed that anniversary should be relevant to the life of churches today. "[It] allows an analysis of theological heritage and of our own history. We have the possibility to reaffirm, to rediscover and to contextualize Lutheran theology and its contribution, especially in Brazil," said Friedrich.

The event was attended by the mayor of Porto Alegre, Jose Fortunati, Roman Catholic Archbishop Dom Dadeus Grings and the moderator of the Central Committee of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches, the Rev. Walter Altmann, among other authorities.

(Marcelo Schneider is communications liaison for Latin America with the World Council of Churches)

Bad News for Lutherans and other Christians in Kazakhstan

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:19:00 +0000

Kazakhstan religion law would re-impose controls over churches

Warsaw, Poland (ENInews)--A Roman Catholic church leader in Kazakhstan has warned legislators they will be violating international commitments if they press ahead with legislation that would reimpose Soviet-style controls over churches and religious communities. "There's an international agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Holy See, spelling out our rights to freedom of religion and worship," said Bishop Theophilus Howaniec, former secretary-general of the Roman Catholic Bishops Conference. The draft "Law on Religious Activity and Religious Associations," approved on 29 September by Kazakhstan's senate upper house, would ban unregistered religious activities, restrict religious literature and require government permission for "missionary activity." [485 words, ENI-11-0553]

Saint Joanna in Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:54:00 +0000

Visiting Saint Vitus Cathedral in Prague on Sunday, we stumbled across a window that included Saint Joanna. Our daughter is Joanna, and this, of course, made us think of her and miss her. She is a saint, after all!

Major Demographic Shift is under Way in Christianity, Say Scholars

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:07:00 +0000

From Ecumenical News International

Manado, Indonesia (ENI)--Scholars claim the biggest change in the history of Christianity is underway amid the religion's move to Africa, Latin America and Asia. "The story of Christianity as a worldwide faith is being written before our eyes," declared Dr. Dana Robert of Boston University School of Theology, as she addressed a group of world church leaders at the Global Christian Forum (GCF) in Manado, Indonesia. [344 words, ENI-11-0539]

Steve Jobs in Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:24:00 +0000

Walking through Prague this evening, Amy and I came upon this memorial to Steve Jobs at the nearest thing to an Apple store in the city. Interesting...

The High Cost of Building Maintenance

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Metal thieves are damaging British churches

Canterbury, England (ENInews)--As commodity prices soar, thieves are targeting British churches and other institutions, taking copper lightning rods, lead rain pipes, bronze statues, iron gates, even church bells and entire roofs. "Boom conditions in China, India and Brazil have created an incredible demand for lead and copper," Katri Link, senior press officer at Ecclesiastical Insurance, a private company that insures about 90 percent of churches in England and Wales) told ENInews. "Church roofs are often the target, threatening some churches with bankruptcy," she said. [520 words, ENI-11-0523]

Lutheran pastor appointed dean of Anglican cathedral in Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:41:00 +0000

Ecumenical News International reports the following:

In a historic move, the Anglican diocese of Rupert's Land appointed a Lutheran pastor, the Rev. Paul Johnson, as dean of the diocese and incumbent for St. John's Cathedral in Winnipeg, reports the Anglican Journal. This is the first time a Canadian Lutheran pastor has been appointed dean in an Anglican cathedral in Canada. A dean is the priest in charge of a cathedral ("mother church") and occupies a senior position in a diocese. [263 words, ENI-11-0519]

Oops

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:49:00 +0000

34 Years...

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:34:00 +0000

More Bad News from Zimbabwe

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:21:00 +0000

From Ecumenical News International...

In Zimbabwe, renegade bishop's backers evict Anglican priest

Harare, Zimbabwe (ENInews)--Supporters of renegade Zimbabwean Anglican bishop Nolbert Kunonga have forced a priest and his family out of their home following a court ruling giving Kunonga control over church assets, a church spokesman said on 16 August. Kunonga recently was given control over church assets in a High Court ruling. [447 words, ENI-11-0430]

Then from the BBC...

Solomon Mujuru, who has died in a fire on his farm, was one of Zimbabwe's most powerful, wealthiest and feared politicians.

As a former army chief he was nicknamed Zimbabwe's "king-maker" - and managed to combine power with relative anonymity.

There are very few photos of him around.

"He had all the mystique of a liberation war hero that has served him to present-day politics," Patrick Smith, editor of the London-based Africa Confidential magazine, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

"He didn't want to be president but he was incredibly influential in determining the jockeying for power within the hierarchy of the ruling party."

Knox Chitiyo, an analyst with the London-based think-tank Royal United Services Institute who knew Gen Mujuru personally, said he was someone "who couldn't be pushed around".

"He was very, very respected particularly among the military in Zimbabwe and among the liberation war veterans. His liberation war credentials were pretty impeccable," he told the BBC.

Gen Mujuru wife, Joice Mujuru, is one of Zimbabwe's vice-presidents - the first woman to hold such a high-ranking post in Zimbabwe.

Under his nom de guerre, Rex Nhongo, Mr Mujuru was the director of Robert Mugabe's guerrilla forces, together with the late Josiah Tongogora, during the 1970s war of independence, which ended white minority rule.

He is also said to have played a key role in Mr Mugabe's rise to the top of the Zanu party.

'Fragmentation of Zanu-PF'

He was also elected MP for the north-eastern Chikomba constituency, before leaving public life in 1995 to concentrate on his business interests.

According to Mr Smith, his influence, despite not holding a political post, testifies to the strength of the military tradition in Zanu-PF politics.

Some believe his death will be a blow to the party.

John Makumbe, political analyst at the University of Zimbabwe, says Mr Mugabe "used to rely on him on what to do and what not to do".

"The nation has lost a pillar and there is likely to be more fragmentation in Zanu-PF," he told the AFP new agency.

The Mujurus are from the same Zezuru branch of Zimbabwe's majority Shona group as Mr Mugabe.

“Start Quote

The demise of Mujuru would appear to give some advantage to the Mnangagwa faction”

Patrick SmithEditor Africa Confidential

But despite his long and close ties to Mr Mugabe, there were reports two years ago that he may have fallen from grace after apparently meeting top US and UK diplomats in Harare.

Mr Mugabe has always portrayed himself as still fighting the colonial struggle - against the West.

But Gen Mujuru's death now brings into question who will succeed the 87-year-old president within the party.

Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa is seen as a possible Zanu-PF successor - and there has always been fierce rivalry between him and the Mujurus.

"The demise of Mujuru would appear to give some advantage to the Mnangagwa faction," Mr Smith said.

"Until now she [Joice Mujuru] has been a beneficiary of her husband's influence in the party, army and security services. Now she'll have to put herself forward much more strongly," he said.

The Mujurus met during the war of independence and married in 1977.

She adopted the name Teurai Ropa (Spill Blood), during the struggle and claims to have shot down a Rhodesian helicopter with the machine-gun of a dying comrade and was later promoted to commander.

The Mujurus are accused of taking over at least one of the farms seized from their white owners in recent years.

Guy Watson-Smith owned 3,500-acre Alamein farm, about 80km (50 miles) south of the capital, Harare, where Gen Mujuru died in the early hours of Tuesday 16 August.

Mr Watson-Smith said the infrastructure alone was worth some $2.5m (£1.5m).

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:44:00 +0000

It's that day in the church year, when we recognize Saint Lawrence. A friend sent me the following very bad joke.

What did Jesus say to Saint Lawrence, who was grilled to death, when he got to heaven?

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

In response to such bad taste, I did a (very) little snooping, and found a nifty website connected with the cookbook, A Continual Feast. Here's it's stuff on Saint Lawrence. Enjoy!

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A Continual Feast describes the martyrdom of St. Lawrence, a Roman deacon during the third century Christian persecution.Ordered by the Roman prefect to surrender the treasures of the church, he assembled the poor and took them to the prefect, saying, “Here is the church’s treasure.” According to legend he was put to death by being roasted on a grill. He is said to have remarked to his torturers: “One side is done now; you can turn me over.” Traditionally, in some places nothing hot is served at all, in compassion for his martyrdom; it is a day for cold soups and salads. (ACF p. 262.) We decided that serving barbecued chicken is a great way to signify his triumph over the fire...after all, St. Lawrence is now one of the patron saints of cooks!

Basic Barbecue Sauce

1 cup ketchup

¼ cup yellow mustard (for tang)

1/8 cup brown sugar

1/8 cup A1 Steak Sauce

* You can modify the amount of any ingredient to fit your taste preference. If you like it bolder, add some more A1. If you like it sweeter, add more sugar. We have even substituted 2 Tablespoons of honey for the brown sugar.

* This sauce tastes great on pork, chicken, and beef. Marinate the raw meat prior to grilling and then baste with the sauce throughout the cooking process. These instant marinaters are great.

The Changing Face of German Catholicism

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Lawrence Rast) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:40:00 +0000

I read somewhere that something like .5% of the German populace attend church on any given Sunday.  The following statistics, from Ecumenical News International (www.eni.ch) would suggest the accuracy of such a claim.

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More Catholic departures than baptisms for first time in Germany
Berlin (ENI). For the first time since membership records have been kept, more Germans departed the Roman Catholic Church than were baptized into it in 2010, according to new data from Germany's Catholic Conference of Bishops. The new statistics, which were released with little analysis or comment, showed 170,339 baptisms for the year, and 181,193 departures from the church. However, 3,576 new members, and more than 7,400 returning Catholics, joined the church last year. [114 words, ENI-11-0405]