tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47258788080078340582024-02-07T03:17:05.206-05:00Funk On FaithA newsy look at faith & values in the Carolinas and beyond.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-78323423747422806402015-02-06T07:00:00.000-05:002015-02-06T10:06:58.682-05:00A third way for Christians to engage with Muslims<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some Christians regard Muslims as the enemy, and are quick to link them all
to terrorists.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Other Christians are just as eager to paper over differences
between the faiths and focus on, say, their common connection to Abraham.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Joshua Ralston, a professor at <a href="http://www.upsem.edu/">Union Presbyterian Seminary</a> in Richmond, Va.,
sees a third way for Christians.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIs81o4Nkk0/VNP3tA8ycjI/AAAAAAAAA2M/RY91gE9cwHE/s1600/Ralston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIs81o4Nkk0/VNP3tA8ycjI/AAAAAAAAA2M/RY91gE9cwHE/s1600/Ralston.jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To approach Muslims with honesty about disagreements. With the love Jesus
calls on his followers to have for their neighbors. And with a freedom that
allows adherents of both faiths to bear witness to their beliefs – including
Christians’ claims about Jesus and Muslims’ claims about the Prophet
Muhammad.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“If we’re going to improve our encounters with one another, we have to create
this space for us to both share what is deepest about what we believe,” he says.
“Friendship isn’t always marked by agreement. It’s marked by honesty and
exchange and trust.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ralston, who lived in Egypt and the Palestinian West Bank in 2011-13, will
speak at 4 p.m. Sunday (Feb.8) at Charlotte’s Union Presbyterian Seminary, 5141
Sharon Road. The event is free. Here’s some of what he told me in an
interview.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>On the charge that moderate Muslims don’t condemn terrorism:</strong>
“Islam is a diverse religion – just like Christianity – and there are numerous
Muslims who have issued fatwas (Islamic rulings) against suicide bombings. There
is a massive statement signed by the heads of many major Islamic institutions
against ISIS. There are Muslims who are continually standing up against these
terrorist militant groups. And Muslims are the ones who have been killed more
than anyone else.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>On Christian amnesia:</strong> “I don’t want to justify <em>at
all</em> what happened with the <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/02/03/5491593/jordans-vow-of-revenge-against.html#.VNP42p3F_E0">burning of the pilot from Jordan</a> (by ISIS). But
I keep seeing all these Christians posting, ‘What religion would <em>ever</em>
do this?’ As if we’ve totally forgotten the Salem witch trials. As if we
(Presbyterians) totally forgot that John Calvin – one of the main founders of
the Reformed Presbyterian tradition – allowed for the burning of a heretic in
Geneva. That doesn’t justify it. But Christians – our hands aren’t clean
historically. And they aren’t clean right now: In the Central African Republic,
Christian militias are killing Muslims.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>On Duke University’s plan – later reversed – to let Muslim students
use the chapel: </strong>“There are issues that need to be discussed: Is Duke’s
chapel a Christian space or a university space? But the virulent <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/01/15/5449154/franklin-graham-slams-duke-over.html#.VNP5O53F_E0">anti-Muslim backlash </a>became the main issue. And yet when they decided to do the call to
prayer (outside the chapel), there were Christians from Duke Divinity School and
local pastors there there in support of the Muslims. <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/01/16/5452790/muslims-supporters-stand-together.html#.VNP5ep3F_E0">That story</a> needs to be told
as much as the Franklin Graham (reaction to Duke’s plan).”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Being Christian in the Middle East: </b>“You can’t be a Christian in Saudi Arabia publicly. But I think in our minds
we think all of the Arab world and all of the Muslim world is like that. That’s
not the case. I lived in Ramallah (in the Palestinian West Bank) for almost two
years. I went to church publicly, On Easter, Muslims would come out and
celebrate with Christians. And Christians would celebrate Ramadan with Muslims.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>On Franklin Graham’s claim that Muslims worship a different God: </b>“Christians and
Muslims both speak of the same God, but we speak about God differently and on
some of those points we disagree. Most Christians have this belief in the
Trinity. (Muslims don’t.) But neither do Jews. And I’m sure <a href="http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/rev-franklin-graham-islam-religion-war">Franklin Graham</a>
thinks Jews worship the same God.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>-- Tim Funk</i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-80159411433568180602015-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-30T11:52:32.619-05:00Religious liberty or discrimination? Think on these cases<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We Americans are a divided lot these days. The problem: Too many of us seem
eager to fight first and think later.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Take religion, a subject where you’d expect some thoughtfulness, even
prayerfulness. Instead, the news is filled with war-like language over
everything from same-sex marriage to Islam to persecution of Christians.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So let me ask you to cool your jets for a few minutes and ponder the
following cases – some real, some hypothetical. Here goes:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A<a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/01/28/4511055/with-ceremony-over-nc-legislature.html"> bill </a>was introduced this
week in the North Carolina Senate that would allow magistrates and registers of
deeds who object to marrying gay couples to recuse themselves for religious
reasons. What do you think? How about, say, Catholic magistrates and registers of
deeds who may object to marrying people who have been divorced?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The mayor of Atlanta <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-atlanta-police-chief-fired-gay-discrimination-20150123-story.html">dismissed the city’s fire chief </a>this month after he called homosexuality “vile” in a book he
self-published and distributed to employees. What do you think? What if, say,
the chief had written that Jews were bound for hell if they don’t believe in the
divinity of Jesus?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">What would you think about a
Muslim public school teacher who wore a hijab, or head scarf? How about a public
school teacher who wore a necklace that prominently displayed a Christian
cross?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In a case involving Hobby Lobby,
the U.S. Supreme Court <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/us/hobby-lobby-case-supreme-court-contraception.html">ruled </a>last year that corporations with religious owners
cannot be required to pay for insurance coverage for contraception. What do you
think? What about a company whose owners had religious objections to, say, blood
transfusions or even hospitalization?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Duke University recently sparked
an <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/15/us/duke-call-to-prayer/">uproar</a> when it planned – than canceled plans – to begin a weekly Muslim call
to prayer from the campus’ Christian chapel. What do you think? What would you
think if a mosque or synagogue refused worship space to a Christian student
group?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Saying employees are expected to
abide by Catholic doctrine, Charlotte Catholic High School recently <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/01/13/5445545/posted-wedding-plans-cost-charlotte.html#.VMq4AkfF9S0">severed ties</a> with a popular teacher after he used Facebook to announce plans to marry his
male partner. What do you think? What if the high school had severed ties with a
teacher because he and his wife practiced birth control – also a violation of
church doctrine?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Does the violence of abortion
clinic bombers and the Ku Klux Klan color your view of all Christians? Does the
violence committed by radical jihadis color your view of all Muslims?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think of cartoons
lampooning the Prophet Muhammad? How about cartoons making fun of Jesus?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My point: Us-vs.-them thinking often blinds us to the other side of an issue.
If you want others to respect your identity – religious or otherwise – start by
respecting theirs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>-- Tim Funk </i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-81129626652898299812015-01-22T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-22T07:00:01.709-05:00Looking for (faith) things to do? Here's list of speakers and more.<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Like other news outfits, the Observer does surveys to see what our readers
want more (and less) of when they open the paper or visit our <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/">website</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, survey says … you want more info on things to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On the faith & values beat, I interpret that to mean more about upcoming
speakers and events.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Below are several I think may have wide interest. But first let me ask you to
share with me any lectures, celebrations, seminars and whatever that you think
would have public appeal.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Send them to <a href="mailto:tfunk@charlotteobserver.com">tfunk@charlotteobserver.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">OK, ready with your calendars?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Poet/theologian/artist/author
</span><strong style="font-size: x-large;">Edwina Gateley </strong><span style="font-size: large;">will speak at 9 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 24) </span><span style="font-size: large;">at St. Peter Catholic Church, 507 S. Tryon in uptown. Her topic: “Discipleship –
Giving Birth to God in a Contemporary World.” Free. Register </span><a href="http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0848abab2ba3fd0-edwina" style="font-size: x-large;">here</a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Temple Beth El’s 18th annual
Comparative Religion Series will continue Tuesdays at 7 p.m. through Feb. 24 at
the synagogue, 5101 Providence Road. This year’s focus: “Religion and Science –
Can they coexist?”</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here’s the schedule: Tuesday (Jan. 27),
the Buddhist perspective from <strong>Ryusho Jeffus, Shonin, Myosho-Ji</strong>
of the Wonderful Voice Buddhist Temple; Feb. 3, the Catholic perspective, from
<strong>Brother Guy Consolmagno </strong>of the Vatican Observatory; Feb. 10, the Islamic perspective from
<strong>Syed Rizwan Zamir</strong>,
assistant professor of religion at Davidson College; Feb. 17, the Baptist
perspective from the <strong>Rev. Russ Dean</strong>, co-pastor of Park Road
Baptist Church; and Feb. 24, the medical/religious perspective from <strong>Dr. Derek
Raghavan</strong> of the Levine Cancer Institute and <strong>Rabbi Jonathan
Freirich</strong> of Temple Beth El. Free.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Davidson College professor
</span><strong style="font-size: x-large;">Douglas Ottati </strong><span style="font-size: large;">will speak 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 28)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in the school’s Alvarez College Union (Smith 900 Room). His topic:
“Love Your Enemies – The Teaching of Jesus & Dynamics of Reactionary
Violence.” Free.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In February, several Catholic
churches in Charlotte will host courses as part of the winter semester of GIFT
(Growing in Faith and Theology). Fee: $30 or $20 for Catholic school teachers
and parish catechists. Brochures, course descriptions, dates, places, and
registration forms are </span><a href="http://www.stmatthewcatholic.org/GIFT" style="font-size: x-large;">here</a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The courses include: “Three Sacred Pathways to God (Franciscan, Benedictine
and Ignatian)”; “Mercy, Jesus, Pope Francis and Me”; “World Religions”; “Short
History of the Catholic Church in North Carolina”; “Brew Like a Benedictine”;
and, in Spanish, “Los Sacramentos – Fuentes De Sanación." (This last course is free).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Poverty expert </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Donna Beegle</b><span style="font-size: large;"> will speak at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Wingate University in the Batte Center's McGee Theatre. The school is in Monroe. Beegle lives in Oregon and is the author of "See Poverty. Be the Difference."</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She was born into a migrant family, married at 15, was homeless for 28 years, and is the only member of her family who has not been incarcerated. She went on to get a doctorate and is now president of Communication Across Borders.</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-46463906744615878372015-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-16T10:36:43.934-05:00Want a good movie about real religion? Go see 'Selma'<br />
If you're looking for a movie with real religion -- as well as historical
context, emotional complexity, political savvy and inspiring humanity -- I have a
recommendation.<br />
<br />
Go see “Selma,” the Oscar-nominated film about the civil rights marches that
brought voting rights to African-Americans in the South in the 1960s. <br />
<br />
Like the best films about religion – “Dead Man Walking,” “Shadowlands,” “Of
Gods and Men” – “Selma” centers on imperfect people struggling to walk the talk
of faith.<br />
<br />
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (played superbly by British actor David
Oyelowo) clearly shines as a leader with vision and moral
courage. But gifted director Ava DuVernay also lets us see his behind-the-scene battles with
doubt, indecision and the tension in his marriage to Coretta Scott King (Carmen
Ejogo, also British and also excellent).<br />
<br />
Such burdens give rise to a private dream, voiced by King in the opening
scene, of a life away from the limelight, as the pastor of a small church in a
university town.<br />
But this Baptist preacher, his wife and his lieutenants soldier on, looking
to God in those moments of hopelessness, despair – and awe.<br />
<br />
Feeling drained and discouraged one night, King calls and wakes up gospel
singer Mahalia Jackson, telling her he needs to hear the voice of the Lord.
Obligingly, and movingly in the film, she sings over the phone, “Precious Lord,
Take My Hand.”<br />
<br />
Then later, after a helmeted Alabama state trooper shoots and kills
Jimmie Lee Jackson, a young civil rights worker, we see King,
tears brimming, try to console the martyr’s 82-year-old grandfather at the
morgue. “God was the first to cry,” King tells the grieving old man, “the first
to cry for your boy.”<br />
“Selma” will make you tear up, for sure. With sadness at the evil humans are
capable of, but also with joy at the faith-based solidarity so many display.<br />
<br />
Take the scene where we see the result of King's call for reinforcements for the 54-mile march to Montgomery. Many thousands from around the country drive and fly to Selma, including Jewish rabbis, Catholic nuns, a Greek Orthodox archbishop and the Rev. James Reeb, a Unitarian Universalist minister from Boston who was to be murdered by racist thugs.<br />
<br />
Biblical epics and churchy dramas are fine. But for those clamoring for movies that convey the positive power of religion, I say: Go see “Selma.”<br />
<br />
<div class="subhead" style="background-color: #e0ebf6; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15pt;">
Upcoming events</div>
<br />
Two of the many Charlotte events marking Dr. King’s upcoming holiday testify
to the religious roots of the civil rights movement:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The Rev. Clark Olsen will speak
Sunday (Jan. 18), 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., at Unitarian Universalist
Church of Charlotte, 234 North Sharon Amity Road. Olsen was a young UU minister
in March 1965 when he answered King’s call for clergy to come to Selma and
march. And he was there when his friend, the Rev. Reeb, was beaten to death by a
white mob.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Former NAACP President Benjamin
Jealous will be the keynoter at 8 a.m. Monday (Jan. 19) at the YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s 21st annual MLK
Holiday Prayer Breakfast. More than 1,100 people are expected at the Charlotte
Convention Center’s Crown Ballroom in uptown. Jealous plans to challenge the
audience by asking: What is <em>that one big thing </em>you are going to change
in your community before you die?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div class="endnote_contact" style="background-color: #e0ebf6; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 17pt;">
-- <i>Tim Funk</i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-52244325689789522562015-01-02T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-02T07:00:01.116-05:00Charlotteans worship God in these languages, too<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In how many languages do people in Charlotte worship God these days?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I listed 20 that I knew of in a column last month. I should have said 21
because – as some of you pointed out – I failed to include what’s still the most
prevalent worship language in town: English.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oops! (Since the 1930s, that’s been an English word for acknowledging a
blunder.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My other mistake: I should have said that Haitian congregations here have
services in Creole, not French.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I also invited you to alert me about other worship languages here that I
was<em> not </em>aware of. Thanks to those who told me about:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">22. <strong>Burmese</strong>. And 23. <strong>Hakha Chin</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Refugee congregations from war-torn Myanmar have been worshiping at Park Road
Baptist Church and at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">24.<strong> Portuguese</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Brazilian members have services at Cokesbury United Methodist Church.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">25. <strong>American Sign Language (ASL)</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">At Chapel for the Deaf, housed at Ascension Lutheran Church, worshipers pray
and sing with their hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">26. <strong>French</strong>. 27. <strong>Nepali</strong> (from Nepal). And
28. <strong>Tamil </strong>(from Sri Lanka and India).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jehovah’s Witnesses have meetings available in many languages, including
these.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="subhead" style="background-color: #e0ebf6; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mass en Español</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of language, I also ran across this fascinating factoid in my
reporting:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nearly 30 percent of Catholic parishes now celebrate Mass in a language other than English – a
7 percent increase since 2000, according to “The Changing Face of U.S. Catholic
Parishes” study from the Center for Applied Research at Georgetown
University.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the 19th and early 20th centuries, waves of Irish, Italian, Polish and
other immigrant groups found refuge in a Catholic Church. The descendants of that first generation of immigrants have long since become part
of the broad American mainstream.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But today, new waves of immigrants, particularly from Latin America, are
again enriching the Catholic Church in the U.S.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To be sure, many immigrants from traditionally Catholic countries such as
Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are finding spiritual homes in
non-Catholic churches – Pentecostal, evangelical, mainline Protestant and
Mormon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By 2050, Hispanics are expected to account for 60 percent of Catholics in the
U.S. They already make up about half of the more than 340,000 Catholics in the
46-county Diocese of Charlotte.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="endnote_contact" style="background-color: #e0ebf6; line-height: 17pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">-- Tim Funk</span></i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-49323691801343065622014-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-12T07:00:00.897-05:00Moses in 3-D -- special effects drown out theology, drama<div class="preview atbottom hasTextContent" id="objectpreview">
<div class="WireAreaBottom" id="WireArea">
<div class="medianeutral" id="TextContent">
<div class="body" style="line-height: 13pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="z_idx_alfa">
Over the years, some clergy have confided to me that there are passages of the Bible they find difficult to accept, much less preach about.<br /><br />
To our modern ears, for example, some of what Paul wrote in the letters that became part of the New Testament sound sexist (“Wives, be submissive to your husbands”) or blind to systemic evil (“Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly”).<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="z_idx_alfa">
Then there are the stories in the Hebrew Bible where an angry God decides to punish or destroy, with fanfare, those who sin or stand in the way of God’s will.<br />
<br /></div>
You could argue that some evil people deserved to feel God’s wrath. But, as is the case with wars, a lot of innocent people who got in the way suffered, too. In Genesis, the Almighty decides to flood the world and, in Exodus, God inflicts plagues on Egyptians, including death to their firstborn children.<br />
<br />
And that brings me to Hollywood, where biblical epics are back in style.<br />
<br />
Some of the same passages considered difficult, even troubling, by those in the pulpit are irresistible to filmmakers with millions to spend on expensive actors and eye-popping special effects.<br />
<br />
<div class="z_idx_alfa">
In this year’s “Noah,” starring <b>Russell Crowe</b>, director <b>Darren Aronofsky</b> drowns most of humanity, with hair-raising scenes of people crying in terror as the ground below them is rapidly submerged.<br />
<br /></div>
And in “Exodus: Gods and Kings” – now in a theater near you – I watched with awe through my 3-D glasses as director <b>Ridley Scott</b> and his CGI team waged apocalyptic war on the Egyptians.<br />
<br />
<div class="z_idx_alfa">
Swarms of locusts rain down on Pharaoh and his subjects; frogs galore hop into their homes, even into their beds; monster-size crocodiles turn the Nile red with blood from all their human food; and, in a climax that’s more visually arresting than suspenseful, the waves of the Red Sea come crashing down on the Egyptian soldiers, sending them, their horses and their chariots into the deep.<br />
<br /></div>
Scott, the Brit who gave us the Oscar-winning “Gladiator,” must have felt a little like You-Know-Who as he presided over all this computer-generated doom and destruction. <br />
<br />
The film purports to tell the story of how a faithful God sent Moses to lead the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt. Actor <b>Christian Bale</b>, who was perfect as Batman, is an OK Moses. And there are some intriguing scenes in which Moses, a reluctant hero, is prodded by a hyper-articulate boy who is supposed to be either God or God’s messenger.<br />
<br />
But the drama and most of the theology are, yes, drowned out by the real reason for this 3-D movie: The “oohs” and “ahhs” from the audience every time the director commands “Action!”<br />
<br />
<i>-- Tim Funk</i></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-59783272493632293942014-12-05T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-05T07:00:10.913-05:00In increasingly diverse Charlotte, God goes by many names <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two newsy items I came across recently got me wondering: In how many
languages do people in Charlotte worship God these days?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I counted at least 20 – not a surprise when you consider how diverse our
faith community has become. And I bet some of you could add to my list. (And
hopefully will – see below.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Those two newsy items:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">At 7 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 11), thousands of Spanish-speaking Catholics are expected to converge on Bojangles
Coliseum, 2700 E. Independence Blvd., for the annual celebration of the feast
day of Our Lady of Guadalupe – or “Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.”</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A Polish-language Mass will be
celebrated at 3 p.m. on Dec. 21 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 8015 Ballantyne
Commons Parkway.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To be sure, most local houses of worship still send their prayers up to
“God.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But, all over town, the Supreme Being is increasingly invoked by other names:
“Dios” (in Spanish); “Gott” (German); “Elohim” and “Adonai” (Hebrew); “Allah”
(Arabic); “Deus” (Latin); “Bóg” (Polish); “Theos” (Greek); “Dieu” (French); and
many others.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I consulted a few folks in town who chart Charlotte’s growing diversity –
including historian Tom Hanchett of the Levine Museum of the New South – and
came up with a list of the languages of worship in the Charlotte area: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The Catholic Diocese has parishes
where some or all of the Masses are in <strong>Spanish</strong>,
<strong>Vietnamese</strong>, <strong>Korean</strong> and <strong>Latin</strong>.
A few parishes periodically host Masses in other languages, including
<strong>Polish </strong>and <strong>Tagalog </strong>(from the Philippines).</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Orthodox Christian churches have
services that are partly or totally said in <strong>Greek</strong>,
<strong>Russian</strong>, <strong>Serbian</strong>, <strong>Armenian</strong>
and <strong>Arabic</strong>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The Jewish synagogues include
prayers in <strong>Hebrew</strong>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Muslims attending masjids, or
mosques, are led in prayer in <strong>Arabic</strong>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Various Protestant denominations –
Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist – have immigrant congregations
that worship in <strong>German</strong>, <strong>Khmer</strong> (the language of
Cambodia), <strong>Korean</strong>, <strong>Spanish</strong>,<strong> Russian</strong>,<strong> Chinese</strong>
and<strong> Tagalog</strong>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Buddhist temples are the spiritual
homes to immigrant communities that speak <strong>Chinese</strong>,
<strong>Lao</strong> (from Laos), <strong>Vietnamese</strong> and
<strong>Khmer</strong>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The sacred language at the Hindu
temples is <strong>Sanskrit</strong>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Haitian churches have services in
<strong>French</strong>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Immigrant churches with
congregations from African countries worship in such indigenous language groups
as <strong>Akan </strong>(from Ghana) and <strong>Amharic</strong> (from
Ethiopia).</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">OK, that’s our list. What languages have we left out? Email them (and any
related houses of worship) to: tfunk@charlotteobserver.com</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">-- Tim Funk</span></i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-11256877565877689102014-11-28T11:40:00.002-05:002014-11-28T11:40:20.929-05:00Services for those who suffer during the holidays<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The cues to turn that frown into a smile are nonstop: “<em>Merry</em>
Christmas!” “<em>Happy</em> Hanukkah!” “<em>Ho-Ho-Ho</em>!”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For many, though, the holidays can be a dispiriting time. Maybe they – maybe
you – battle loneliness or depression, have lost a job or a loved one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Faced with all the parties and the gifts and the caroling, those suffering
often “wish the world would stop being so happy and recognize that there are
brothers and sisters who are in pain,” says <strong>the Rev. Gary
Butterworth</strong>, rector at All Saints Episcopal Church in Gastonia.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qhnI7FPg70w/VHikJ9qjJpI/AAAAAAAAAzU/b6ecOoXrtWU/s1600/Gary%2BButterworth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qhnI7FPg70w/VHikJ9qjJpI/AAAAAAAAAzU/b6ecOoXrtWU/s1600/Gary%2BButterworth.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span id="goog_1698020442"></span><span id="goog_1698020443"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So Butterworth’s church is inviting those coping with sorrow, loss, pain and
isolation to attend a “Blue Service” on Dec. 19.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s the third year All Saints has held this gathering, which features an
inclusive liturgy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“It’s the one time of the year that we get people of all faiths and
denominations as well as the un-churched,” he says. “And there are lots of
tears.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Those who attend are given strips of cloth and a Sharpie pen. They’re invited
to write down their pains, struggles, broken relationships, the names of those
they’re remembering. During the service, they are asked to bring those strips to
the Christmas manger “and give them to Jesus,” Butterworth says. The strips
remain in the manger until the feast of the Epiphany in January.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In his past Blue Service sermons – he calls them meditations – Butterworth
has acknowledged the pain of those who have come and then spoken of Scripture as
“God’s love story with humanity, including lots of struggle, pain and joy.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“We honor and affirm where they are,” he says, and then offer them this
message: “There is hope.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The 45-minute service is 7 p.m. at All Saints, 1201 S. New Hope Road,
Gastonia.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <strong>Details </strong><a href="http://www.allsaintsgastonia.org/">here</a>.<strong> </strong>You can also call<strong> </strong>704-864-7201.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="subhead" style="background-color: #e0ebf6; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Remembering children</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Charlotte chapter of the Compassionate Friends will be there next month
for those bearing a special pain: the loss of a child.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Parents, family and friends are invited to a candlelight service at 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 14 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway. It will
held in the small chapel on the Rea Road entrance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Names of the children being
remembered will be read. Those who come are invited to bring a picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Details:</strong> 704-315-6913 or email sam3arm@aol.com.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">-- <i>Tim Funk</i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-72629534964131728762014-11-24T13:22:00.004-05:002014-11-24T13:22:45.417-05:00Looking for uplift? Attend Tuesday's interfaith Thanksgiving service<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you’re distressed, as I am, by all the acrimony at home and abroad, I have
a suggestion that could bring you some peace and uplift.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Show up Tuesday night (Nov. 25) at Mecklenburg Ministries’ 39th annual citywide interfaith Thanksgiving
service.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You’ll find people of various races, cultural backgrounds and faith
traditions praying and singing together – not judging and bad-mouthing each
other. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The event will start at 7 p.m. at The Park Church, 6029 Beatties Ford Road.
Get there early – it’s one of the best-attended events in Charlotte. (Last year,
more than 1,000 people were there.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, come at 6:30 p.m. for the musical prelude.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As always, the night’s accent will be on gratitude. Delivering that message
from the pulpit will be a trio of women clergy: <strong>Rabbi Judy
Schindler</strong> of Temple Beth El, <strong>the Rev. Ophelia
Garmon-Brown</strong>, M.D., of Novant Health, and <strong>the Rev. Christy
Snow</strong> of the Spiritual Living Center of Charlotte. The title of their
talk: “Committed to Love Amidst Paradox.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Among the other speakers: <strong>Bishop Claude Alexander</strong>, who
pastors The Park, and <strong>Imam John Ramadan </strong>of Masjid
Ar-Razzaq.
Ramadan also chairs the board of the sponsoring Mecklenburg Ministries, an
interfaith group with about 100 member congregations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The service will open with a Hindu Thanksgiving ritual prayer and include
readings from the sacred texts of various religions. Sharing a story for the
children will be <strong>the Rev.</strong> <strong>Sofia McGuire</strong> of
Sufi Order International.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There will also be glorious music, led by 200-plus singers and musicians from
the Interfaith Adult and Children’s Choirs and from the Queen City Ringers, the
Gaston Choral Society, The Park Choir, and the Friendship Missionary Baptist
Church Choir.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One last thing: If you’re coming, bring some canned goods to benefit Loaves
& Fishes, which feeds our hungry brothers and sisters during the holidays
and all year round.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">More details: <a href="http://www.meckmin.org/">www.meckmin.org</a>;
704-565-5455.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="subhead" style="background-color: #e0ebf6; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Also for your calendar ...</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some other upcoming holiday events:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 5: <strong>Franklin
Graham</strong> and others from <strong>Samaritan’s Purse </strong>will lead a
celebration of the 2.4 million shoe box gifts prepared in Charlotte for shipment
to kids all over the world. 10:30 a.m. at the Operation Christmas Child
Processing Center, 7100 Forest Point Blvd.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 12-13: The <strong>Choir
School at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church</strong> will present its popular
Christmas concerts. 7:30 p.m. each night in the church sanctuary, 115 W. Seventh
St. uptown.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 16-17: <strong>The
Congregation of Ohr HaTorah </strong>will mark the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah
with two menorah lightings. 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at SouthPark Mall and 5:30 p.m. Dec.
17 at Trade and Tryon uptown.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">--Tim Funk</span></i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-35583389625457140902014-11-15T08:00:00.000-05:002014-11-15T08:00:00.717-05:00Days before death, Sunday school teacher got to see her book published <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For more than 50 years, <strong>Edith Collins</strong> taught young children
at Myers Park Baptist Church. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And during those decades of Sunday school and Through-the-Week school,
Collins filed away stories about these 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds whose first and maybe best memories of the
Charlotte church were of gentle “Miss E.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RftnRsR8feQ/VGaHxbu3dlI/AAAAAAAAAyU/fLQbvSAYPSc/s1600/edith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RftnRsR8feQ/VGaHxbu3dlI/AAAAAAAAAyU/fLQbvSAYPSc/s1600/edith.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Collins’ dream was to fill a book with these stories.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">About Allison, the precocious little girl who responded to a recording of
“Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by spreading her arms and “flying” around the room
to the rhythm of the music.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">About Adam, who riveted the class during Circle Time one Sunday morning with
his report on a trip to the doctor and how the M.D. had said that his brain was
boiling. (Translation: He probably had a high fever).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And about how, during the reading of “Jack be nimble ...,” one little boy
taught the other children compassion by taking the hand of Judy, who had
cerebral palsy, and helping her jump over the imaginary candlestick.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This dream-of-a-book was finally published this year, in April, as Collins,
87, struggled with illness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9-91g4raQoI/VGaH-KdAbqI/AAAAAAAAAyc/jcaQv70LiiI/s1600/coverAcorns_edith_collins_book-233x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9-91g4raQoI/VGaH-KdAbqI/AAAAAAAAAyc/jcaQv70LiiI/s1600/coverAcorns_edith_collins_book-233x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because of her declining health, her family and friends at Myers Park Baptist
got the publisher, Lorimer Press in Davidson, to rush the first copy off the
press.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When “Sprouting Acorns” by Edith Collins was presented to the author, “she
just beamed and held the book,” says Myers Park Baptist member <strong>Ed
Williams</strong>. “You could see the joy in her face.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Four days later, Collins died.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But at 7 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 20) at Park Road Books, members of Collins’ church will
gather to read from her book.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Among the scheduled readers: <strong>Bill Walker</strong>, retired WSOC-TV
anchor; the <strong>Rev. Robin Coira</strong>, executive minister and the first
woman ordained by Myers Park Baptist; poet-historian <strong>Mary
Kratt</strong>; poet <strong>Kathie Collins</strong>; writer <strong>Lisa
Rubenson</strong>; lawyer <strong>Ray Owens</strong>, the son of former Myers
Park Baptist pastor Gene Owens; and Williams, former editorial page editor at
the Observer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">They’ve now published enough copies of “Sprouting Acorns” to sell, for
$12.99, at Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road, and at Myers Park Baptist, 1900
Queens Road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Teacher Collins dreamed up that title because she considered her work to be
turning tiny acorns into great oaks – or “sprouting children,” as she explains
in the introduction.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“She just loved children,” Coira says. “And she had a magical quality that
drew the children to her.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The book’s stories, written with grace and wisdom and featuring the kids’
charming drawings of cats and birds and space rockets, offer a master class in how to deal with children, featuring
an ever-curious and always-encouraging Edith Collins. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="endnote_contact" style="background-color: #e0ebf6; line-height: 17pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">-- Tim Funk</span></i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-73512383888601772692014-10-18T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-18T07:00:01.201-04:00Anonymous donor honors Pope Francis with Habitat house in Huntersville<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today (Oct. 18) </span><span style="font-size: large;">at 10:30 a.m., Our Towns </span><span style="font-size: large;">Habitat for Humanity will raise the walls on The Pope
Francis House at 11908 Titan Ave. in Huntersville.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">An anonymous donor wanted to honor the pope with a house built for a family
in need.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Volunteer and additional monetary support is being provided by two
Catholic parishes – St. Therese in Mooresville and St. Mark in Huntersville – as
well as the Davidson College Habitat chapter and Catholic Campus Ministries.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The donor, according to Habitat for Humanity, wanted to salute the pope for
his commitment to social justice, support Habitat and provide a “celebratory
opportunity” for Catholic and non-Catholic volunteers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You can volunteer <a href="http://www.ourtownshabitat.org/">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>-- Tim Funk </i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-25771208511473113182014-10-17T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-17T07:00:00.459-04:00Muslim and Jewish women to gather to share stories and traditions<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Need a break from all the dispiriting headlines about Ebola, ISIS and nasty
election-year TV ads?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Check out this news item: Muslim Women of the Carolinas is inviting local
Jewish and Muslim women to gather later this month for “Tea for Two.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“There’s not very many opportunities for Muslims and Jews to meet,” said
<strong>Rose Hamid</strong>, president of the Muslim Women’s group. “I wanted to
create some space to just build connections, ask questions of each other and
ease fears.”</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The plan is for the women to share stories and traditions about their
separate religious holidays – this month, the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and
the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha fell on the same day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There will be desserts and, as the event's name promises, tea --several types of tea, in fact. “Because Muslims come from all over the world, teas are a big
part of their cultures,” Hamid said.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The event is 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Islamic Community of
Bosniaks (they’re from Bosnia), 6200 Wilora Lake Road in east Charlotte.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Space is limited and organizers want a good mix. So, if y</span><span style="font-size: large;">ou’re a Jewish or
Muslim woman and want to go, RSVP </span><a href="http://mwoc.org/tea" style="font-size: x-large;">here</a><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>-- Tim Funk</i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-69371130089690763732014-10-16T15:49:00.000-04:002014-10-16T17:14:24.709-04:00Pope Francis sends greetings to Charlotte <span style="font-size: large;">Every week, it seems, another group holds its national convention in
Charlotte.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But how many of them get a video greeting from <strong>Pope
Francis</strong>?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mzxhS2JbcA0" width="640"></iframe>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Just one that we know of: This month’s meeting of Catholic Charities USA –
professionals and volunteers from dioceses around the country who work to reduce
poverty.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />“My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,” the pope, speaking in Spanish,
began his video message. “I send you my warmest greetings of peace and abundant
joy as you gather together in Charlotte, North Carolina.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Or “Carolina del Norte” – North Carolina in Spanish.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The pope spoke for more than 12 minutes and stressed, as he has repeatedly in
his papacy, the need to care for the poor.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“They will precede us into the Kingdom of Heaven, they will open the gates
for us,” he said. “We are called to be a church, a people of and for the
poor.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He signed off with a blessing and this humble plea: “I also ask you to pray for me because I need it.”</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Catholic Charities USA met in Charlotte Oct. 4-7.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">(Video courtesy of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>-- Tim Funk</i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-35046027396996198802014-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-15T10:55:22.382-04:00Q&A: Theologian coming to Charlotte to talk about treasures of darkness<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Barbara Brown Taylor</b> <b>--</b> theologian, Episcopal priest, college professor <b>--</b> lives on a organic vegetable farm in the Georgia foothills of the Appalachians.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s a perfect place to experience the natural seesaw between the light and
the dark– and to ponder the metaphorical and theological aspects of both. Taylor, 63, writes about these things in her latest book, “Learning to Walk in the Dark,”
which was the subject of a Time magazine cover story this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nv7_g83Kecs/VD2M932vyxI/AAAAAAAAAwM/5pAKc9gQFbc/s1600/barbarabrowntaylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nv7_g83Kecs/VD2M932vyxI/AAAAAAAAAwM/5pAKc9gQFbc/s1600/barbarabrowntaylor.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Taylor, named one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English-speaking
world by Baylor University, will speak this weekend at Charlotte’s Myers Park
Baptist Church. The Observer talked with her Tuesday. Here’s the full transcript.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q. In your writings, you have pointed out that the word
“darkness” has become shorthand for every bad thing out there. But you also
point out that many of the most important stories in the Bible occurred in the
dark. Give me one or two. And what does that say about God’s supposed preference
for the light?</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A. The one I’m working on right this minute is Jacob
wrestling an angel by the River Jabbok. Not in the middle of the night, but all night long. And it changes his life. God
gives him a wound and a blessing and a new name.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know anything about God’s preference . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q. I'm referring to God saying in Genesis, “Let there be
light.” And Christians like to talk about Jesus as the Light.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A. Yeah, that’s cause we like light. We want God to be the
way we like. But Exodus 19 has God saying to Moses, “I will come to you in a
dark cloud.” So God doesn’t seem beholden to our fondness for light. I think
anyone who professes faith in one God professes faith in a God of the dark and
the light, of the night and the day, who put the sun and the moon in the sky. So
a lot of what I’m up to in my writing and in my talks in Charlotte this weekend
is doing my best to retrieve the wholeness of the vision of God and how God
works.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q. Clearly, many churches and religious books today are
selling certainty and a sunny spirituality. But there is this rich contemplative
tradition in Christianity that says the darkness is where the soul will find
God. Is that how you see darkness as well?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A. Yes, but let’s keep both in there. Because what I find
is that (because) I travel with a book called “Learning to Walk in the Dark,”
people think I’m setting up a new opposition. I’m keeping the same old battle
between dark and light; I’m just switching sides. And I don’t want to be in a
battle at all. I want to talk about the cloud of unknowing and the drive to know
God. I want to talk about the dark night of the soul. And I want to talk about
the bright light in the morning and embrace all of those as parts of our whole
life. I’ll talk about learning to walk in the dark as learning to walk the way
of unknowing, a sacred way of unknowing, but there’s a sacred way of knowing as
well. I’m trying hard not to play into a new opposition, but to do my best to
hang on to the full package.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q. How does living on a farm shape your spirituality and
your befriending of the darkness?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A. I think there’s a lot less protection here from the
elements. From darkness. From hawks that swoop down out of the sky and take your
favorite chicken. And a horse that falls in a hole and breaks its leg. It’s not
more exposing than living in a battlefield or a refugee camp, but there are
certainly ways that living on a farm leaves me open to a lot more grief and joy
than living a more protected city life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q. We live in polarized times where everybody wants to
cloak their side in the light and cast those on the other side as purveyors of
darkness. Is this the way to truth or just to more rancor?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A. We all like to be right, don’t we? If we want to be
right, we’ll go to the biggest symbols and totems for rightness we can find –
light and sun and God and nation. It’s real hard to be a human being who wants
to be right without all those things. So, sure, I think we recruit them for our
side and then, if anything, what we’re living through now is the consequences of
that. We’re mired in opposition.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Q. You live on a farm and teach at small Piedmont College.
Yet this year Time magazine turned its national spotlight on you and your work.
Does that feel like being bathed in the light or blinded by the light?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A. Yeah, blinded by the light is a good metaphor. I live
here on purpose, I teach at Piedmont on purpose. And as grateful as I am for
Time’s (exposure), I like living a human-size life. So I’m happy for the
attention and really happy that people have a short attention span.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Want to go?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Barbara Brown Taylor will speak this weekend (Oct. 17-19) at Myers Park Baptist Church,
1900 Queens Road. There's limited space for her $60 Saturday (Oct. 18) workshop on “Lunar Spirituality” (call church phone number below). She’ll also be speaking:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">-- Friday (Oct. 17) at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. Topic: “The Wedding of Heaven and Earth.” Will
include a Q&A. Free.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">-- Sunday (Oct. 19) at 9:30 a.m. (free) in Heaton Hall and at the 11 a.m. service in the sanctuary.
Sermon topic: “The Treasures of Darkness.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Details: mpbconline.org; 704-334-7232, ext. 15.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">-- <i>Tim Funk</i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-20336260441357971702014-10-04T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-04T15:16:31.215-04:00The Park's Bishop Alexander to preach from third campus <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Starting Sunday (Oct. 5), The Park Church will move its Sunday morning worship headquarters to what used to be the Charlotte Merchandise Mart off Independence Boulevard.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The megachurch pastored by <b>Bishop Claude Alexander </b>bought
the 23-acre site in 2006 for $11 million.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Up to now, Alexander has done his Sunday morning preaching in The Park’s
church on Beatties Ford Road or at its satellite campus in Pineville. For 10 years -- August 2004 to August 2014 -- he’s even appeared live at both, being driven back and forth to the
two locations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But from now on, the bishop will be presiding during the 8:45 a.m. and 10:45
a.m. services at the Independence campus. Both will be simulcast to the other
two sites.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Got that?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, to see Bishop Alexander preaching live (and he’s one of the best in the
pulpit), show up at The Park Expo and Convention Center (the former Merchandise
Mart) at 800 Briar Creek Road (its official address).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But you can also catch him on screen during the same times (8:45 a.m. and
10:45 a.m. Sundays) at 6029 Beatties Ford Road in northwest Charlotte and 13733
Lancaster Highway in Pineville.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Multisite simulcasting has become routine for many megachurches, including
Elevation, Forest Hill and Mecklenburg Community churches in the Charlotte
area.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">-- Tim Funk</span></i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-39070843560141422772014-10-03T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-03T07:00:02.266-04:00Local Race for Cure sponsor apologizes to Charlotte's Jewish community <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Don’t look for a big Jewish turnout at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday (Oct. 4).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The reason: The annual race to raise funds for breast cancer research is
being held this year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and one of the most
sacred days on the Jewish calendar.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That’s upset some, who have pointed out that the race’s namesake, Susan G.
Komen, was herself Jewish.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Komen Charlotte has reached out to the city’s Jewish temples with an apology,
saying the conflict was unintentional.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“We have an annual tradition of having the (race) on the first Saturday in
October,” reads its message, which appeared this week in the Temple Beth El
bulletin. “By the time we realized that due to the changing nature of the Jewish
calendar, both Yom Kippur and our race fell on the same day, it was too late to
attempt to move the race. We are incredibly sorry that so many of our friends
and supporters could not be with us.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One Charlottean who will miss the race: <strong>Moira Quinn</strong>, a
breast cancer survivor who’s past president of Temple Beth El and a member of
the Komen Charlotte Survivor Outreach Committee.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“It was too late to change (the race) without incurring expenses that I
personally, as a Jewish survivor, found to be unacceptable,” she said. “I want
every penny to be spent on research and survivor support, not costs to move a
race.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>-- Tim Funk</i></span><br />
<br />
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-21004150273908464222014-09-25T07:00:00.000-04:002014-09-25T07:31:48.019-04:00Rev. Steve Eason: Time to leave, teach other clergy what he's learned in Charlotte<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Scandal. Burnout. Illness. Division.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Those are the reasons you hear most these days when a senior pastor exits a
big church before reaching retirement age.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But the <b>Rev. Steve Eason </b>says his decision to leave Myers
Park Presbyterian Church next April is a “good news story.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SrEsxqW2Gs/VCNQ4_kbRZI/AAAAAAAAAu4/TEQqCSuQ45k/s1600/steveeason3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SrEsxqW2Gs/VCNQ4_kbRZI/AAAAAAAAAu4/TEQqCSuQ45k/s1600/steveeason3.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“No hidden agenda,” Eason, 60, told me after emailing his decision to the church’s 4,700
members this week. “Nothing is wrong here at the church. It’s not a story of
burnout. This change is coming out of a position of strength and gratitude.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After 12 years of leading one of Charlotte’s most prominent – and most
generous – churches, Eason said he’s being called to take what he’s learned and
share it with other clergy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As director of consulting services with Atlanta-based Macedonian Ministries,
he’ll teach, coach and organize workshops for ministers of various
denominations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s a group that desperately needs more support in an age when men and women
of the cloth are called on to be there 24/7 for others.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“We’re in a situation where clergy are dropping out of this profession at an
alarming rate,” Eason said. “Or not going into it at all.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So Eason will try to pass along to his next flock – a group ranging from
Catholic priests to Pentecostal preachers – what he’s learned about preaching,
empowering lay people and more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He’ll take his leave from a Charlotte house of worship that’s now the biggest
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) church in North Carolina and the fourth largest in
the country. </span><br />
<span class="CCI-NOTE" style="background-color: #ffee79; color: #c1272d; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s one that’s blessed with enviable demographics: The largest age group at
Myers Park Presbyterian, Eason said, is those between 30 and 40. That means
young families with kids – a good predictor of growth into the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And it has deep pockets: members include developer<b> Johnny
Harris</b>, former Bank of America CFO (and now top Carlyle Group
executive) <b>Jim</b> <b>Hance</b>, and <b>the
Belks</b>, the department store family.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But it’s also a church that gives in a big way: Under Eason’s leadership, it
completed a $30 million capital campaign, then spent $11 million on everything
from affordable housing in Grier Heights, a low-income neighborhood in
Charlotte, to clean water projects in Malawi and the Congo. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“It’s a great witness for a church to make in this culture,” Eason said. “We
didn’t raise that to spend it all on ourselves. I’m proud how mission-minded
this church is.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Eason
also likes how Myers Park Presbyterian has weathered the intra-denominational
battle over ordaining gays and lesbians – a change that prompted some big
conservative churches to leave the PC (USA).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“We
have conservatives, moderates and liberals, and they all end up together at the
Communion table,” he said of his Charlotte church. “We disagree on things, but
we don’t fragment and fight. … My job has been to not polarize the
congregation.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Eason will be around for seven more months, long enough, he said, to pastor his Charlotte flock through one more Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But the grieving has begun. Eason said he’s already
gotten “a flood of affirming emails.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The good feelings are mutual. “You have taught me so much,” Eason told
members, “that I now can share with others.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ll leave the last words to evangelist-author <b>Leighton
Ford</b>, who’s been attending Myers Park Presbyterian with his wife,
<b>Jean</b> (<b>Billy Graham’s </b>sister) for 20-plus
years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“He’s going to be terribly missed,” Ford said. “He’s loved. And the gift he’s
given us – the clear, compelling preaching of Christ – has drawn in so many
people.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">-- Tim Funk</span></i><br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-90130790646046058302014-09-18T13:00:00.000-04:002014-09-19T12:12:19.756-04:00Q&A: Jason Alexander talks 'Seinfeld,' Judaism, Charlotte, and more<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He’s a Tony-winning song-and-dance man, but Jason Alexander’s main claim to fame is that he played George Costanza, Jerry Seinfeld’s balding buddy – and a poster boy for underachievers – on “Seinfeld” (1989-98). The classic TV sitcom about “nothing” also starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine and Michael Richards as the manic Kramer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Alexander, born 55 years ago Tuesday (Sept. 23) as Jay Scott Greenspan, will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 21) at uptown’s Knight Theater. Although the show is a fundraiser for Temple Beth El and Temple Israel, two Charlotte synagogues, and the Levine Jewish Community Center, it’s open to the public.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Alexander talked this week to the Observer about a range of subjects: his one-man show, his Jewish upbringing, his last time in Charlotte, poker, magic, TV, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, of course, “Seinfeld.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Here's the full transcript.</span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 29px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. You're bringing your one-man show to town this weekend to help Charlotte's Jewish community. Is this something you do around the country or is this a first-time thing?</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 29px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A. You mean doing my show or helping Jews? (<i>Chuckles</i>).</span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 29px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Well, let's take them one at a time.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 29px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A. I tend to do both, to tell you the truth. The show is a stand-up comedy/variety show that I've been doing for about a year and a half all over the place. And a lot of the time it is for things just like this -- either corporate events or organizations doing big fundraisers at a theater.</span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 29px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. It's being advertised as "An Evening with Jason Alexander . . . And His Hair." </b></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 29px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A. Indeed.</span></div>
<div style="color: #232323; font-family: Helvetica; min-height: 29px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. It won't be that toupee that Elaine ripped off George's head in "Seinfeld," will it?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. No, Elaine threw that out the window, I'm afraid. There was no recovering it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Can you give us a hint on how the hair will factor in the show?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. You'll have to come. I mean, I can't give away the goods in the store. If you look at the poster for the show, you'll see what the hair looks like. It's rather, I've been told, dashing. It's completely bogus. Dashing and bogus, all in the same breath.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. You grew up in a Jewish household in New Jersey. I guess you had a bar mitzvah?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Yeah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Did you family take you to temple often? Were you Reform? Conservative? Orthodox?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. We had an interesting relationship with Judaism. My parents were older than most of my peers' (parents). So they came up in the generation where households were pretty observant. Certainly culturally. The Sabbath was a factor in their lives. It was normal for them to go to <i>Schul </i>(synagogue).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">By the time I came along, a lot of it was no longer practical for them. But they kind of went through the motions for their parents, more or less. There was a very strong cultural feeling in my family growing up -- you know, a lot of pride being Jewish, a lot of pride in the history and culture of the Jewish people. There was not a strong <i>religious</i> feeling. We kept a kosher house until after my bar mitzvah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I <i>hated </i>Hebrew school, as most Jewish boys do. It did <i>not</i> speak to me. The metaphor I always use for the experience is: "They taught me to <i>read</i> Hebrew, but not to understand it." So, at the perfect time, I could have actually learned this language and have it become a part of my life. Instead, that opportunity was wasted for appearances, to be able to prepare me for my bar mitzvah. It was a conservative synagogue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">My bar mitzvah was, I think, more demanding than the average of what I see nowadays. And once it was over, I basically went to my folks and went, "I'm out. I'm done." I pointed out to them that, as far as I knew, the Torah did not say you could not eat the flesh of the pig and shellfish except in a Chinese restaurant, which is how we were practicing the (Jewish dietary) law.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So, at that time, my parents basically let go even of the kosher house. We weren't really observing the Sabbath. I did not go to temple every weekend. And I sort of moved away from the religious aspect of Judaism as a teenager. I put my sons through Hebrew school and they were both bar mitzvahed -- again, more for my parents. And I said to my boys as I did it, "The chain breaks with you. If you have a feeling for this and you'd like to continue the tradition, that's great. If you don't, do not do it for me."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">My spirituality is certainly informed by Judaism. Of all the religions I'm aware of, I think Judaism is probably the finest. I just don't believe in organized religion. So that aspect of being a Jew doesn't particularly speak to me. Ironic, since I am coming to North Carolina in support of two very well established synagogues. I support religious Jewish communities. I think it's great. I think the people who benefit from it, I think that's great. And I think the good works that synagogues and Jewish religious communities are able to do, I think are <i>fantastic</i>. But the idea of being a congregant does not speak to me. That's kind of the nutshell of me and Judaism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. I did notice that you gave your sons Biblical names. Gabriel and Noah, right?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. That's only because my real name is Greenspan. So when Gabe was born, we were looking for anything that sounded good with Greenspan. And Gabe sounded pretty good. And then Gabe actually named his brother. I think his thinking was that, if the baby cries, I could put all my stuffed animals in his crib and sing the Arky Arky Noah song and maybe he won't cry. And we went, "Ah, that's as good a reason as any," (<i>chuckles</i>) so we named our younger son Noah because of that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. You were in the movie, "Shallow Hal," which was filmed in Charlotte, so</b><b> you have been here before. Any memories? It's a much cooler town now than it back then (in 2001).</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Oh really? It was a pretty cool town then. I actually loved being in Charlotte. We had our weekends free and I will not remember the name of the sort of gorgeous giant lake that's not far from town. But I used to go out there with a lot of members of the crew and some of the cast. Every weekend, we'd rent jet skis and WaveRunners and we'd go out on the lake and it was <i>gorgeous</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I got to go to some Hornet games. And Poison was playing in town when I was there (<i>laughs</i>) and I actually hung out with those guys. The whole Charlotte experience while making that film was really terrific.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Well, you know we hosted the Democratic National Convention here in 2012 and Newman -- Wayne Knight -- came. And Jerry Seinfeld was just here with his stand-up act.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. He's very good, that Jerry Seinfeld. He might work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. My readers will kill me if I don't get a few "Seinfeld" questions in.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. You stopped filming "Seinfeld" back in 1998. Now, 16 years later, the reruns are still all over the TV. Any theories about why it's still going strong? It's part of American cultural history rather than just a TV show.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. I know. You know, if we really understood why it is so enduring, we could probably do it again. I think all of us are relatively surprised at the size of the success of the show. Certainly when we were doing it, we couldn't believe it because we started on <i>nobody's</i> radar. I mean, we were barely on the air when we began. And we just kept doing what we wanted to do. And then it caught on in an unimaginable way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And it continues to create new audiences. My older son just graduated from college, my younger one has just begun college, and it's a huge phenomenon at colleges. It's a huge show around the world in places I would never have imagined it being seen or being successful. We don't know why.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I guess, at the end of the day, all we cared about when we made the show was: "Is it funny?" We didn't really focus on character integrity or learning or growing or hugging or any of that stuff. Is it funny? And oftentimes, what was funny in one generation doesn't translate to the next. But for whatever reasons I can't understand, "Seinfeld" continues to be experienced as a very funny show from generation to generation. I assume eventually that will not be true. But, for right now, it continues to be a phenomenon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Do you watch it and, if you do, are you able to laugh at the characters? Or do you just remember the making of it?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. I never sit down to watch it. There are times when I'm flipping channels and I come on an episode and I'll sit and watch it out. What's amazing is that I don't remember even making most of them. People come up to me all the time and go, "Remember when you did such and such?" And I look at them with my jaw agape, and go, "Did I do that?" Whenever I watch it, I am reminded of the one defining truth of those years, which was: We were having a blast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. It looked like it.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. We really enjoyed working together. We <i>loved</i> doing the show. And I think that is clear in every frame of every episode, that these four idiots are having a good time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. How did you see George? As a lovable loser? Or a not-so-lovable loser? What's your take on him?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. (<i>Chuckles</i>). You know, very quickly in the series, I understood -- not initially, but very quickly -- that George was an alter ego for (the show's co-creator/co-writer) Larry David. And I am incredibly fond of Larry David, with all his quirks and eccentricities. I'm completely charmed by the guy. And Larry used George to kind of explore -- most of the things that happened to George on the show happened to Larry in real life. And it was his way of doing what he wanted to do at the time or saying what he wanted to say at the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Including the masturbation contest, right?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Yeah, Larry was really in that. That was a real thing. So, because of my affection for Larry, I don't see George as despicable as many could legitimately see him being. Was he a loser? Yes, if you think, well, he couldn't sustain a relationship, he rarely could sustain a job. He had many character quirks that would be considered undesirable (<i>chuckles</i>) or unappealing or unethical. But he was aware of it and somehow he was able to persevere through all of it. So, in that way, I kind of admire the little guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">You know, he's caught having sex with a cleaning woman in his office. And when he's called out on the carpet for it, he actually comes up with an excuse like "Is that wrong? Should I not have done that?" (<i>Laughs</i>). I mean, that's a brilliant way to attempt to escape the responsibility of that indiscretion. So I adore the character and, apparently, the vast majority of the audience seems to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. I saw you on Charlie Rose's show talking about "Seinfeld" and you seemed incredibly different than George. How do you figure out how to play someone who's not like you? Was it on the page?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. First of all, yes, so much of George <i>is</i> on the page. The page gives you: what is he doing? What is he saying? What is his response? The stuff that I brought to the character was a keen ability to observe and distill. Most of my work as an actor has been character work and I have always been a student of human behavior. I love watching people. I have notebooks full of observations about different people -- how they move, how they talk, how they communicate or try not to communicate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you go back and look at the early episodes, my role model was Woody Allen. And I was really doing a fairly flagrant Woody Allen imitation for the first half dozen to 10 episodes. Once I understood it was Larry, I really began to observe Larry as best I could and then bring elements of some really funny guys that I have seen over the years that you've seen, too. There's a little bit of Jackie Gleason in George, there's a little bit of Phil Silvers in George. There's a little bit of Fred Flintstone in George.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">My sense of humor is a compilation of lots and lots and lots and lots of funny people that I've been exposed to. When my career started bending towards comedy -- because it was not what I set out to do -- I actually studied great comic actors and comedians to try to learn why they were so funny. And there are <i>things </i>that they all have in common. So, you kind of come up with a palette of colors that you can use to kind of paint a new character. So George is a real conglomeration of my observations and intuitions about Larry, colored by a whole bunch of other people I thought would flesh him out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. It seems like everybody has a favorite "Seinfeld" episode? Do you?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Not a favorite. They all had something going on, either in front of the camera or behind the camera, that made them special.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I think if you ask the four of us, was there one that kind of turned our fortunes around, it would be the masturbation contest. We were really just hanging on by a thread the first two seasons. That episode came around in season 3 in a very challenging spot. NBC finally put us on after "Cheers," which was the No. 1 comedy in television at the time. And if you didn't hold the "Cheers" audience, you were very quickly going to be taken off the air. We knew it was a sink-or-swim situation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I think that was our third or fourth episode airing in that slot and it just destroyed the "Cheers" audience. We started at the same number that "Cheers" had. And by the time that episode was over, we had built on that audience. Because people were calling their friends and going, "You've got to turn this on. They're doing a show on masturbation." And our fortunes were rock solid from that point on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So I think we point to that one as a really pivotal show, and it was a great one and we loved doing it. But I don't know if it was our favorite. I don't think we have one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. You told Charlie Rose that the four of you on "Seinfeld" will always be like the Four Musketeers -- when somebody thinks of one, they'll think of the others. Are you all still in touch? Do you get together ever?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. First, I have to give credit where credit's do. That was Jerry's line. Before we would tape any episode, we'd be behind the set and would do this silly thing called the Circle of Power, which was really nothing. We'd kind of huddle up and wish each other luck. And on the last episode, Jerry made that comment. He said, "You know, for the rest of our lives, if anybody thinks of one of us, they will think of all four of us. And I could not have wished for three people that I'd rather have that be true of." It was an extraordinary statement, especially from Jerry cause Jerry is not known for his sentimentality (<i>Laughs</i>). So it was a huge thing for him to say and it really struck us all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You know, the interesting thing about the four of us is: we were <i>great</i> work friends. We loved coming to work, we loved seeing each other, we loved playing with each other, and we enjoyed each other thoroughly. We <i>never</i>, in the nine years that we worked together, really had a habit of being social friends. At the end of the work day, Jerry would go back to the writers' room, Michael would go back to Mars or wherever, and Julia and I had families. Our children are almost the exact same age and we wanted to get home and be moms and dads. And we had other jobs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So we never really shot a show on a Friday night and said, "Hey, let's have dinner tomorrow." So when the show ended, we had no history of being social friends. And we all kind of went very different ways. Jerry and Michael went to New York for a long time. I had a show, Julia had a show. We were doing different things. So we don't see each other all that much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">But I've had several lunches and dinners with Julia. We email each other when things are happening. I've asked Jerry a dozen times to help me out on something, do a benefit for something, join me in a project. Every time it's a yes. He's done the same thing with me, the same thing with Michael. When we see each other, it's always like no time has passed. The bond has not diminished at all. There's no sense of "Oh, Julia, you've won a thousand Emmys." (<i>Laughs</i>). It's us, the four of us. And that's a lovely feeling. But, no, you would not look at our day-to-day communication and think, "These guys are really close friends,"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. TV is hot now. Big actors are doing things for HBO and other cable channels. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a hit with "Veep." Would you be interested in going back to TV in a big starring thing on HBO?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Yeah! Listen, if I had one in mind or they had one for me, in a heartbeat, especially in the HBO model. What I'm not terribly interested in doing is going back on the big network TV. People are doing good work out there. But for the most part, the world of comedy has moved to cable and, particularly, to the Internet. And the really, really extraordinary dramas (are on cable.) Again, people are doing some wonderful things on the broadcast networks, but they're over-challenged. You have to pump 22 of them a year. In an hour slot, you have 40 minutes to tell your stories. There's barriers on language, there's barriers in behavior. And it has to play to as broad an audience as possible. So it's not easy to do profoundly good work on the broadcast networks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have a comedy in development that we're pitching now for some cable outlets. And I'm open and available as an actor. I've actually tried to move a lot of my career to the directing side. But, yes, I would happily do another series if it was the right thing. The thing about series is that when you go to sign your name on the contract, you're making a multi-year commitment. And if you don't think it's something that you're going to want to do in year 2 or 3, it's a scary thing. If you don't think the quality is going to be there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">You know, I don't anticipate another "Seinfeld." There will not be another "Seinfeld" for me. So what you want to do is something that is challenging, something that connects with people, something that is quality. If you're going to bring the "Seinfeld" audience to something you're doing, you're kind of saying, "I think this is worth your while." I'd like to feel like it actually is. And, unfortunately, those are few and far between. And one of the reasons is that the world thinks of me iconically as George. They don't know that there are lots of other arrows in that quiver. I show them occasionally and they go, "Oh wow!" But nobody has said yet, "Hey, let's build a series on Jason that isn't George."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. But you're a musical threat, too, right?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Yeah. And, in fact, a lot of what I'm doing right now is working on projects that would take me back to the theater in New York, which is really, truly, before "Seinfeld" happened, <i>that's</i> where I thought my whole career was going to be, very happily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So, yes, I'm doing things like I'm doing in Charlotte. I am performing and working more than I care to. Life has not slowed down. It's just not often in front of cameras right now because most of what they give me in front of cameras is not that interesting to me. So I tend to say no because I have the luxury of being able to say no.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Wikipedia says you're quite a poker player and you started out as a magician. Are those to talents linked in some way?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. I wish they were. I'd be a far more successful poker player if I was a better magician. No, the magic is a hobby and a passion. The poker is, I just love the game. People give me a lot more credit at being better than I am. I'm a student of the game and it's a never-ending school. Very few people are maestros at the game of poker. I'm a good member of the orchestra, but I'm certainly not picking up a stick and leading the group. But I love the game. It's a great challenge and a great social game and I've met terrific people from playing it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Back to Judaism. Are you still active in OneVoice Initiative (which seeks out moderate Israeli and Palestinian voices to promote peace and a two-state solution)?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. As much as I can be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Given what happened in Gaza, are you still optimistic about the peace process?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Well, yes on any given day. And no on any given day. I'm optimistic because there is no other outcome that is viable. Neither of these peoples -- the Israelis or the Palestinians -- are going away. Neither is giving up their cause. Neither is going to lay down and die. And the Israelis, thank God, are not willing, nor should they ever be, to obliterate the Palestinians. So it's not going to come to an Armageddon situation, all or nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">So, given that, there's only one other outcome and that is they've got to find a way to live side-by-side with each other in some sort of harmony and peace. I am optimistic that (Palestinian Authority President) Mahmoud Abbas is the real guy. He is wise, and I think he gets it and I think he sees the value of having a permanent peace with Israel and having a real Palestinian state. I think he is wise enough to know that, initially, he may need to make a lot of sacrifices and then build on the successes as peace becomes a reality.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I am not convinced that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu is the best player in the game right now because every time he has an opportunity to further the relationship with Abbas he puts up a new settlement. And that makes Abbas' job with his own people much more difficult. So I do think that if the two right leaders are in office at the right time that there can be a very positive result. Is that the case today? No.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Last question: Anything you're excited about that your fans can look for? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Yeah, I think. I have a movie floating around the festival circuit called "Lucky Stiff." It's a musical. Could be fun. We loved doing the movie. It's a quirky kind of thing. I've done a lot of television guesting. There's a new show on Comedy Central called "Big Time in Hollywood, Florida" that you'll see me in. And, again, there's a lot of stuff on the burner that I'm not sure where it's going to go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. Well, it looks like you'll have a birthday a few days after your appearance in Charlotte. So happy birthday…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. Thank you, sir.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Q. And we'll look forward to seeing you see in Charlotte on Sunday night. It was an honor to talk with you.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A. My pleasure. Bye bye now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>-- Tim Funk</i></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-47005853951372517352014-09-09T15:16:00.003-04:002014-09-09T15:16:50.196-04:00Pope Francis focus of talk at St. Gabriel<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte will present “<b>Pope Francis</b>: Taking
the World by Storm,” a free 90-minute program at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 10).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Monsignor Henry Kriegel</b>, pastor of two inner-city Catholic churches in Erie,
Pa., will examine how the popular pontiff has stressed tolerance, mercy
and hope. He’ll also suggest what’s ahead for Francis’ papacy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">St. Gabriel is at 3016 Providence Road. For more information: 704-364-5431.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> -- Tim Funk </span></i><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-3971336455611630632014-08-22T13:00:00.000-04:002014-08-22T13:00:03.375-04:00Cruz, Huckabee to headline 'Star Spangled Sunday' at CLT's First Baptist <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Two possible contenders for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination –
<strong>Senator Ted Cruz </strong>and former <strong>Gov. Mike Huckabee
</strong>– are scheduled to be in Charlotte on Sept. 14 to headline “Star
Spangled Sunday,” a live national webcast from First Baptist Church of
Charlotte.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The </span><strong style="font-size: x-large;">Rev. Mark Harris</strong><span style="font-size: large;">, who pastors First Baptist, said the
event celebrating the 200th anniversary of the National Anthem, a.k.a. “The Star
Spangled Banner,” is also set to include some other speakers popular with
conservative Christians.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Namely <strong>Steve Green</strong>, president of Hobby Lobby, the national
chain of craft stores, and the <strong>Benham brothers – David and
Jason</strong> – of Concord.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hobby Lobby’s lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act led to a narrow U.S.
Supreme Court ruling this year saying corporations with religious owners cannot
be required to pay for insurance coverage of contraceptives. And the twin Benham
brothers made national headlines when HGTV canceled their house-flipping show
before it aired because of David Benham’s past comments on gay marriage and
abortion.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Harris said churches all over the country will simulcast the event, which he
said will enlighten Americans about “how God used ordinary Christians in the War
of 1812 to do extraordinary things.” Witnessing the bombarding of Fort McHenry
during that war -- on the night of Sept. 13-14, 1814 -- lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key penned the lyrics of
what became the National Anthem.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sponsored by the Family Research Council, “Star Spangled Sunday” will start
at 7 p.m. at the church, 301 S. Davidson St.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Asked whether the inclusion of Cruz of Texas and Huckabee of Fox News made
the upcoming event look and sound a lot like a GOP rally, Harris said no
way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">“The Family Research Council has spent a great deal of time reaching across
party lines,” said Harris, who ran unsuccessfully this year for the Republican
Senate nomination in North Carolina. “It’s less interested in party labels than
it is in standing up for the principles we hold dear.”</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">-- Tim Funk</span></i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-76135050727747784022014-08-22T06:00:00.000-04:002014-08-22T06:00:03.079-04:00Catholic Mass in Polish set for Sunday<br />
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<span style="line-height: 13pt; text-align: justify;">The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte’s third annual Polish language Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Sunday (August 24) at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road.</span><br />
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The <b>Rev. Matt Nycz </b>of Buffalo, N.Y., will preside at the Mass, to be said in honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa, a revered icon of the Virgin Mary.<br />
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Confessions in Polish and English will be heard at 1 p.m. After Mass, churchgoers can venerate a relic of <b>Pope John Paul II</b>, a newly canonized saint (from Poland) in the Catholic Church. It is a drop of blood on a piece of the cassock he wore the day he was shot in 1981.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 13pt;">There will also be a reception with Polish food.</span><br />
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For more information, call <b>Mary Witulski</b> at 704-290-6012.<br />
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<i>-- <span class="tagline_name" multiline="0" style="line-height: 14pt;">Tim Funk</span></i></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-15030330568607807802014-08-19T16:29:00.004-04:002014-08-19T16:29:55.609-04:00Interfaith group to host talk on mental health, suicide<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the wake of entertainer <b>Robin Williams’ </b>suicide, Mecklenburg Ministries
will sponsor a discussion Thursday (August 21) on how faith communities and their leaders can better understand and prevent
mental health crises and suicide.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kathryn Falbo-Woodson</b> will facilitate the discussion at 11:45 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church,
1000 E. Morehead St. She is the former director of advocacy and outreach at the
Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The event is part of Mecklenburg Ministries’ “Food for Thought” luncheon
series. Lunch for $7 will be available. Register <a href="http://www.meckmin.org/">here</a>.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">-- Tim Funk</span></i><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-38804761012471394682014-08-15T06:00:00.000-04:002014-08-16T11:23:27.556-04:00Coming to town: Anne Lamott, Jason Alexander and more<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a lineup...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That’s all I can say about the big names and brains coming to town, thanks to Chalotte’s religious community.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m talking <strong>Anne Lamott </strong>and <strong>Joan Chittister</strong> and <strong>Joni Eareckson Tada </strong>and <strong>Barbara Brown Taylor</strong> and <strong>Jason Alexander</strong>, aka George Costanza, Jerry’s balding buddy on TV’s “Seinfeld.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Got your calendars? The details:</span><br />
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<li><strong style="font-size: x-large;">Jason Alexander</strong><span style="font-size: large;">, a Tony Award winner and multiple Emmy nominee, will headline a one-man show Sept. 21 at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Belk Theater. Although it’s a fundraiser – for Levine Jewish Community Center, Temple Israel and Temple Beth El – the event is open to the public.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“An Evening with Jason Alexander … and his Hair,” featuring comedy, music and audience participation, is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are $50-$180 at 704-372-1000 and <u><a href="http://www.carolinatix.org/events/index/45">here</a>.</u></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Author-blogger </span><strong style="font-size: x-large;">Anne Lamott</strong><span style="font-size: large;"> will return to Christ Episcopal Church at 7 p.m. Nov. 20. Her 15 books (including “Bird by Bird,” “Traveling Mercies” and “Help. Thanks. Wow: The Three Essential Prayers”) are about life, God and writing.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She packed the church’s All Saints Hall last November. So register early <a href="http://www.christchurchcharlotte.org/www/docs/0.3567">here</a> for this evening of conversation and book signings. Tickets are $25, which will include a copy of her new book, “Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace.” If the church runs out of seats, it will sell Standing Room Only tickets for $20. Details: 704-714-6945.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Christ Episcopal will also host Catholic author-activist </span><strong style="font-size: x-large;">Joan Chittister</strong><span style="font-size: large;"> at 10 a.m. Oct. 12. A Benedictine sister and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, Chittister has also authored books on contemporary spirituality and the need for change in the Catholic Church. Among them: “Following the Path – The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose and Joy.”</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She’ll talk with the <strong>Rev. Chip Edens</strong>, the church’s rector, in All Saints Hall about “Faith Purpose and the Second Half of Life.” Free. More details <a href="http://www.christchurchcharlotte.org/www/docs/0.3595">here</a>.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Best-selling Christian author and disabilities advocate </span><strong style="font-size: x-large;">Joni Eareckson Tada </strong><span style="font-size: large;">will speak and sign copies of her books at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Billy Graham Library. Her newest is “Beside Bethesda: 31 Days Toward Deeper Healing,” which will be available for purchase at the library. Guests can bring their own copies, too, though there’s a limit of two signed items.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A 1967 diving accident left Tada, then 17, a quadriplegic. She later learned to paint with the brush between her teeth. More details about her library event here. <a href="http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/pgview.aspx?pid=18&eid=147">here</a>.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Myers Park Baptist Church will host the </span><strong style="font-size: x-large;">Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor </strong><span style="font-size: large;">for three days in October. A professor of religion in Georgia, her latest book – “Learning to Walk in the Dark” – was the subject of a Time magazine cover story in April.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She’ll be the church’s speaker for its continuing “Jesus in the 21st Century” lecture series. At 7 p.m., Oct. 17, Taylor will speak on “The Wedding of Heaven and Earth.” Free. On Oct. 18, she’ll conduct a workshop on “Lunar Spirituality for the 21st Century” (Admission $60). And on Oct. 19, she’ll give the sermon (“The Treasures of Darkness”) at the 11 a.m. service. Details and registration form for workshop <a href="http://mpbconline.org/event/barbara-brown-taylor/">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>-- Tim Funk</i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-40783567090646549492014-08-09T13:00:00.000-04:002014-08-09T13:00:02.467-04:00Grahams reflecting on heaven and hell<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Heaven and hell are in the news again, thanks pretty much to one North
Carolina family:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Billy Graham</strong> will offer a message about
heaven in a new film set to air in November, when the Charlotte-born evangelist
turns 96. The never-before-seen footage was filmed at his Montreat home last
year. His thoughts about the hereafter will be part of a DVD called “My Hope
2014 with Billy Graham.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Graham's daughter, <strong>Anne Graham Lotz</strong>, a Raleigh-based evangelist, has just
released an updated version of her 2001 book, “Heaven: My Father’s House.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>And <strong>Franklin Graham</strong>, head of the
Charlotte-based Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, begins his article in the
current edition of BGEA's Decision magazine this way: “Heaven is not for cowards!”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>That brings us to hell: The cover of the July/August
edition of Decision features a picture of what looks like a sea of lava and this
headline: “COWARDS Destined For The Lake of Fire.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Speaking of hell, there’s no word about Billy Graham's next book, which – as we reported in March
– will be about hell. “He’s not able to work on it,” Franklin Graham told me
then. “But he gave us the outlines of what he wanted.”</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Last November, on his 95<span class="misspelled" id="misspelledth" name="spellmarker313" style="border-bottom: red 2px dotted;">th</span> birthday,
Billy Graham talked about the cross of Jesus in a DVD called “My Hope 2013 with
Billy Graham.” It was aired on FOX News, at Graham's celebrity-studded birthday party at the
Grove Park Inn in Asheville, and in homes and churches around the country.<br />
<br />
In the free-of-charge sequel, which will also be used as an evangelizing
tool, the elder Graham will talk about heaven.<br />
<br />
“Because he will turn 96 on November 7, his thoughts are constantly on
Heaven,” Franklin Graham wrote recently. “And we have captured these in a video.
... It’s a powerful evangelistic film that weaves this new message from my
father around several real-life stories of how the Gospel changes hearts.”<br />
<br />
There’s a full-page ad for “My Hope 2014 with Billy Graham” in that current
edition of “Decision.”<br />
<br />
Several pages later, there’s an article by Anne Graham Lotz that cites biblical
quotes about heaven.<br />
<br />
“I’ve been thinking a lot about Heaven lately,” she writes.
“My father seems to be in transition from his home here to our Father’s house. …
My mother has already gone on ahead.”<br />
<br />
And the edition’s cover article is Franklin Graham's, about the fate he says is waiting for
cowards.<br />
<br />
His magazine piece is based on a controversial speech he gave in May at
a Washington gathering of the Family Research Council.<br />
<br />
In his remarks, he referred to a passage in the New Testament’s Book of
Revelation that lists
eight groups of people that will end up “in the lake that burns with fire and
brimstone.”<br />
<br />
<br />
Leading the list: cowards – a group, Graham suggested, that includes
Christians who don’t speak out against abortion and homosexuality.<br />
<br />
-- <i>Tim Funk</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725878808007834058.post-30715653006710345412014-08-07T18:12:00.003-04:002014-08-07T18:12:32.399-04:00Methodist Women leader to speak at Pfeiffer University<b><br /></b>
<b>Harriett Olson</b>, CEO of the 800,000-member United Methodist Women, will give two
commencement addresses Saturday (August 9) at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer in Stanly
County.<br />
<br />
She will speak at ceremonies scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.<br />
<br />
The school will also hold “An Evening with Harriett Olson” on Friday (August 8), 6:30
p.m. at Stokes Student Center.<br />
<br />
United Methodist Women gives $15 million annually
for work with women and children. The group also participates in the United Methodist Church's global ministries and holds Mission U weeks around the country to explore spiritual and social justice issues.<br />
<br />
Details on the Pfeiffer events: 704-463-3073.<br />
<br />
-- <i>Tim Funk</i><br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0