Content about Power & Public Policy

One of the most treasured books in my library is a 100-page tome titled the Lessons of History, written in 1968 by Will and Ariel Durant. I have read and reread it and referenced it in many sermons, columns and essays. It is a profound book that should be read by anyone who wishes to understand the great lessons of history by the century rather than by the year. History really makes more sense that way.

After his previous article “The Wrong Inequality” was criticized for its snobbery and elitism, it now appears that David Brooks has had his poor little feelings hurt according to his latest column, "The Inequality Map".

Ever notice how, when one has been faithful in personal devotion, joyful in corporate worship, and practiced acts of love and justice, that something often comes along to kick you in the teeth?

That something this week was the report from the U.S. Census Bureau announcing that 1 in 6 Americans is now living below the poverty line. Released Sept. 13, the report shows that the overall poverty rate rose to 15.1 percent of all Americans, or 46.2 million people. The official poverty level is an annual income of $22,314 for a family of four.

UPDATE AUG. 31: Fiji cracks down further on church

SUVA, Fiji (United Methodist News Service) — Fiji’s government has banned all Methodist Church meetings except for Sunday worship in an unprecedented crackdown on religious freedom. This includes house groups, women’s prayer fellowship, choir practice, midweek Communion and youth fellowship, as well as the church’s governance meetings. Fijian Methodists, more than a third of the country’s population, are part of the Methodist Church in Britain.

More than 100 activists, including people of faith, have been arrested since Aug. 20 at an ongoing sit-in outside the White House seeking to stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline from crossing the United States. Some 2,100 people, including actress and environmental activist Darryl Hannah, have signed up to participate in the daily demonstrations through Sept. 3.

Reprinted with permission from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

After Gov. Rick Perry's Reliant revival -- an all-day prayer meeting (with no-dinner-on-the-ground) -- last weekend, God is sure to be a major part of next year's presidential election whether he wants to be or not.

Even without Perry getting into the race, which he's expected to do within days, several Republican contenders have been making God and Christian values an issue.

As the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, it is time to take a stand for the unborn, for families and the aged. If the committee does any thing at all about tax reform, it is expected that it will stop the Mortgage Interest Deduction, which mostly benefits upper income taxpayers, and reduce their tax rates - while at the same time increasing revenue.

Mark Kaplan of Dallas, Texas, started a Facebook joke about Texas Gov. Rick Perry's "Day of Prayer and Fasting" on Aug. 6, and it turned into a worldwide phenomenon.

The religious right is at it again, once more under the direction of a conservative figure who has been a major behind-the-scenes strategist in previous campaigns, televangelist James Robison, according to articles on two respected religion sites, EthicsDaily and Religion Dispatches.

Getting ready to observe Independence Day? Wonder what our forefathers and foremothers would think about the state of America today, with millions living as working poor because of economic disparities and the Christian faith hijacked by a "Faith & Freedom" rally that endorses partisan politics? Read on, faithful progressive Christians.

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Good morning, campers. It's 84 degrees at 9 AM in Dallas, feeling like 88 and promising a heat index around 102 degrees F later today. We have extreme fire danger warnings, high wind warnings, and high pollen warnings. Over the weekend a "rave"-style music festival in 104-degree heat resulted in the death of one person and dozens hospitalized, affected by the extreme conditions.