Sivin Kit’s Garden

Ministering Angels

The core meaning of ministry is what we need to get highlighted these days.

Instead of offering blueprints for bigger congregations, the Lilly program focuses on spiritual growth. Most religious sociologists track the fortunes of Protestant clergy on the basis of salary, status and professional mobility. All of this information can be useful, but it skews the core meaning of ministry, which according to the New Testament is first and foremost about service. Nor do macro-analyses capture the passion for ministry often found in out-of-the-way places and in devoted pastors like Isaac

Ah … grace!

"Grace" is a beautiful and empowering word.  But it’s also once which is often misunderstood and even abused. Grace is a window to the liberating presence of God.

Jesus was not playing semantic games with us when he declared, ‘He who has seen me, has seen the Father’ (John 14:9). There is no God behind Jesus Christ. In Jesus, we see the full brunt of God’s attitude to us, and it is one of unbridled grace.

Islamic Democracy

Gems coming from Kuwait.

What do Joseph Ratzinger, Walter Kasper, and Hans Küng have in common?

I love stories.

10 Reasons Men Should Not Be In Ministry

I think I may have posted this before. Todd has the original links … I thought I should end today’s links with some humor.

7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of creation.

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5. Some men are handsome, and this will distract women worshipers.

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2. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was betrayed by a man. His lack of faith and ensuing punishment remind us of the subordinated position that all men should take.