Unsolicited opinions and advice from outside observers is not always welcome, particularly if it seems to call for change. On the other hand, some outside observers are harder to ignore than others. This particular opinion is being noticed, because Archbishop Rowan Williams has invited him to speak at the Lambeth Conference.

From the Catholic Herald in England:

The Vatican has said that the time has come for the Anglican Church to choose between Protestantism and the ancient churches of Rome and Orthodoxy.

Speaking on the day that the Archbishop of Canterbury met Benedict XVI in Rome, Cardinal Walter Kasper, the president of the Pontifical Council of Christian Unity, said it was time for Anglicanism to "clarify its identity".

He told the Catholic Herald: "Ultimately, it is a question of the identity of the Anglican Church. Where does it belong?

"Does it belong more to the churches of the first millennium -Catholic and Orthodox - or does it belong more to the Protestant churches of the 16th century? At the moment it is somewhere in between, but it must clarify its identity now and that will not be possible without certain difficult decisions."

Anglicanism takes pride in accommodating nearly everyone along the theological and spiritual continuum. It's seen as a strength. The Cardinal (and other observers, some even inside Anglicanism) think this lack of boundaries is a problem.

Anglicanism being what it is today, having grown so broad, agreement on a response to the Cardinal doesn't seem likely.

Ruth Gledhill has also commented on the story.

Jim Caviezel, the actor known for playing Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ,” had been outspoken about his Catholic Christian beliefs. Wondering if he was as committed to his values as his words indicated, a friend said to him, “(Not) unless you adopt a child – and not any child but a disabled child. – will I believe in you.”

Caviezel’s response - “Okay, so when I do, will you become pro-life?”

What happened next?

Melanie and I are reading chapters from Henry Blackaby's book, Experiencing Prayer with Jesus.

One excerpt:

It's important to note the very first word of [the Lord's] prayer is "Our" - stressing our corporate interdependence with other believers. When the disciples first heard this prayer, little did they know how significant their lives were either to Jesus or to one another. But this all-important "Our" was designed to set their hearts not only toward God, but toward others whom God has placed around them. The same is true for us.

Likewise, the repetition of that word "our" later in this prayer - in "our daily bread" and "our sins" - shows again that every disciple's concern in prayer must go beyond his own personal and individual interests. Each of us must remember, "I'm to pray for 'our daily bread,' not just my own needs; and I'm to look for forgiveness for 'our sins,' not just my own...

Even when you're praying alone, remember that God views your life as part of the larger family of God...

The weak condition of God's people in the churches today can be attributed to our neglect of intercession for them. This need for serious intercession from God's people is crucial in every generation, but especially ours, for there are now well over six billion living souls in our world, with their eternal destiny at stake.

Woodberry, aware that throughout the world Muslims have been turning to Christ, was curious about the reasons why—especially in countries where the cost of converting is so high.

To find the answer, he created a detailed questionnaire. Over a 16-year period, some 750 Muslims from 30 countries filled it out—and the results are eye-opening. The number one reason Muslim converts listed for their decision to follow Christ was the lifestyle of the Christians among them.

An interesting study.

Our beloved Bishop has served us for 19 years. He is taking the anniversary of his vows here as an occasion to address a letter to all of us. Read the whole thing at the diocesan web page.

I promised, on April 15, 1989, to “guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church” to the very best of my ability, and to “proclaim Christ’s resurrection, interpret his Gospel, and testify to his sovereignty as Lord of lords and King of kings.”  In a day in which many in leadership in The Episcopal Church and other churches are saying that Jesus is “a way,” or, perhaps, “my way,” I am committed to Jesus’ own proclamation that he is “the way, the truth and the life,” and “no one comes to the Father except through me.”

What if God not only sent answers to our prayers, but also commented on them? Not sure I could handle that. Maybe that's why He mostly stays quiet about it?

OUCH!!  

Tell Bueller to wake up.

if you happen to be one of those evolutionary fundamentalists who were "randomly selected" to evolve with a built-in blindfold and earplugs, and you're comfy with your very limited worldview, be afraid of this film - be very afraid. However, if you're willing to have your eyes opened and are interested in looking at all the evidence, then suck it up, wipe away that Darwinian Kool-Aid mustache and hang out with Ben Stein for a night. What do you have to lose?

For everyone else, "Expelled" is a must-see. If you're already a person of faith, prepare to have your faith strengthened. And even if you're not, you can't possibly walk away without at least admitting that the debate over who we are and how we got here is far from over.

The whole review is here.