Tensegrities

From Robert Reich’s blog:

Compared to median income in 2000 — which, like 2007, was the final year of a cycle of economic growth — it’s now clear that this is the first time Americans have become poorer, in real terms, at the end of an expansion than they were at the start. It seems almost certain that incomes will continue to decline in 2008.

It being close to the start of a new school year, it’s probably worth pondering what various churches have to offer by way of reflection. The Vatican recently translated a document entitled “Educating together in Catholic schools” into English, and the ELCA adopted a social statement on education in 2007.

Did you know you could subscribe through RSS to FeAutor? (just click on the RSS feed button in the bottom right corner) Every so often something goes up on the site that I want to pass along to other people, and recently the NEOhio Synod posted a brief set of instructions on how to create an Advent reflection booklet. Once you get through opening days in early September, it’s a good time to start thinking about how to lead towards Advent, and this little booklet is a fine start.

Listen to it yourself! (and the text is here)

Overnight I’ve received a couple of inquiries from friends reading this blog, wondering to what I had objected so vehemently in Donald Miller’s benediction at the DNC last night. I suppose I owe them — and myself? — a more thoughtful reflection in the clear light of morning.

You can find both Miller’s text, and a video of his presentation, at his website. I’ll also add it here:

Let me start by pointing out that people make meaning with media in a variety of ways, and that this is my own interpretation, and may not be shared by anyone else. That being said, I would note that one of the most striking contradictions of the whole piece, at least for me, was the way in which he addressed the camera straight on. I gather that was because he was reading from a teleprompter, but if you’re going to call what your words are a prayer, and then you’re going to offer them in front of a national audience, I think it would make sense to consider what your body language conveys. He could just as easily — and authentically — have brought along a piece of paper to put on the podium in front of him, and bowed his head to read it.

Continue reading More on the Miller benediction »