“Seek To Understand”
One of my dear friends, a theologian, once remarked, “The heart cannot accept what the mind rejects.” Over the years I have come to appreciate the wisdom of his words. With few exceptions, our hearts are opened and moved not only by what we feel, but by what we understand.
This month’s ezine offers you some resources to get you thinking. Our hope is that as you begin to learn more about the issues that matter, you will discover ways in which your heart is emboldened to take action through understanding.
As we grow in understanding together, I hope we will find new ways to empower one another through the diversity of thought that we share. FaithfulAmerica is proud to welcome persons of all faiths and philosophies and believe that as we are guided by love and wisdom, we will be able to do things together we could never do alone. Already you have proven this by the many actions you take through FaithfulAmerica that have touched people around the world.
Blessings to you as you seek to understand.
Vince Isner
FaithfulAmerica.org
NEW STUDY AIMED AT ENDING EXTREME POVERTY
More than 500,000 women die in childbirth each year. Some 11 million children under 5 die from the lack of adequate health care. Worldwide, by the end of 2004, 39.4 million people were living with HIV. As poverty, disease and hunger threaten to push impoverished countries deeper into poverty, a new National Council of Churches-produced resource aims to motivate Christians to pray, study, and take action to endextreme poverty. Read more HERE.
DARFUR UPDATE
Last month we shared how your participation helped to bring about a landmark agreement leading to the genocide in Darfur. And so you did. However, as those involved seek to implement the details of the U.S. State Dept. brokered agreement, the fighting has one again intensified. Please remain prayerful and vigilant as we seek an end to the violence. To learn more about the current situation, check out SaveDarfur.org's NEWS PAGE
BILL MOYERS RETURNS TO EXPLORE FAITH AND REASON
In a world where religion is poison to some and salvation to others, how do we live together? Is the vision of religious tolerance just a utopian dream? These are among the questions Bill Moyers explores with some of the world's most stimulating authors in an extraordinary seven-part series entitled “Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason”, premiering June 23 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). If you care about the growing conflict between the passion of faith and the clarity of reason and how it is shaping our world and our times, you won’t want to miss this. Study materials are also available. Learn MORE here:
ARMENIA – Building Homes and Bridges of Understanding
The National Council of Churches (of which FaithfulAmerica is part) is facilitating a trip to historic Yerevan, Armenia to tour some of the world's oldest Christian sites, meet with His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, and build houses with Habitat for Humanity International. Dates are September 1 through 10, 2006. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you help change the lives of families who have been living in conditions of extreme poverty AND to have an extraordinary cultural experience. FaithfulAmerica is sponsoring two persons (soon to be announced.) It is not too late to reserve a space. GO HERE for more information.
WAR & PEACE
As news of the war escalates – from the impending death of the 2,500th soldier in Iraq to the death of Iraq’s leading terrorist, how can people of faith make sense of the reality of war and the vision of peace? In his address entitled “The World At War Today” Dr. Antonio Kireopoulos addresses faithful attempts at peacemaking from a Christian perspective. Read the address HERE.
BUILDING A COVENANT FOR A NEW AMERICA
Our friends at Sojourners invite you to join them in Washington DC for three days of workshops, speeches, and networking on June 26-28. Headliners include Senator Barak Obama, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Rev. Tony Campolo. Go here for more information.
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Bishop John Hines Chapter for Peace and Justice
Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Christ Church Cathedral
Houston, TX
Convenors: Patty and Bill Turney
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