Free Republic

When you don't know what to pray for, or you feel too overwhelmed to ask...Years ago, a Christian radio station had a suggestion about how to pray when you don’t know what to pray for. They said ‘just say the name of the Lord, Jesus, over and over again. He knows what you need.’Frankly I didn’t like the idea at first; I kind of rebelled when our pastor once said something similar (e.g., power in His name, monks would whisper His name while sweeping the floor or performing other mundane tasks). I didn’t like it because it sounded rote, or...

As is well known, big-hearted Pope Francis doesn’t take sides in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. As far as he is concerned, both sides are equally guilty of unleashing violence against the other; both deserve to be chastised and their respective acts of violence equally deplored. But of course there is no moral equivalence between Palestinian terror groups, that plot to stab, shoot, and blow up with rockets innocent civilians, and the IDF, that seeks to defend the people of Israel by punishing and preventing such attacks. (snip) Note the order of things. The Pope first expressed his sorrow about the “dozens...

The largest United Methodist Church in South Carolina announced plans to leave the mainline denomination over an ongoing debate on homosexuality in the church. According to the Post and Courier, Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church of Lexington, which has a congregation exceeding 5,000 members, started a discernment process earlier this week about leaving the UMC. "We are thankful a plan, path and price has been provided for traditional churches to consider separation from the denomination," the Rev. Jeff Kersey, the senior pastor of Mt. Horeb, told The Post and Courier. The church is affiliated with the UMC South Carolina Conference,...

Colin Coward, left, welcomes Bishop Gene Robinson in November 2005 (BBC News) A report claiming at least 51 priests are in same-sex civil partnerships will confront the Church of England at two major upcoming meetings. The figures, which include four lesbian priests, come from a homosexual-rights group comprised of church members called Changing Attitude, the Times of London reported. "Civil partnerships have helped to increase the stability of same-sex relationships and reduced the social exclusion to which lesbian and gay people are often subjected," said the group's director, Colin Coward. But next month, proponents of homosexuals in the clergy...