Hit by the largest quake in 200 years.
The Haiti Earthquake: Pictures of Devastation – Photo Essays – TIME.
Malaysian Churches Damaged Amid Uproar Over Court Ruling – NYTimes.com
“An uproar among Muslims in Malaysia over the use of the word Allah by Christians spread over the weekend with the firebombing and vandalizing of several churches, increasing tensions at a time of political turbulence.”
Malaysian, Indonesian and other languages that have been heavily influenced by Arabic use the word Allah to refer to God.
While this has been a controversy in some churches in South East Asia and has been misunderstood by western Christians, it is a common and accepted usage of the word among people who speak those languages. Its usage in Arabic by believers predates Islam as well.
This latest violence by “extremist” Muslims is heart breaking and reveals the depth of the differences between following Mohammad and following Jesus.
Malaysian Churches Damaged Amid Uproar Over Court Ruling – NYTimes.com.
Edgy church breaks old rules, insists on new ones | Lark News
“At The Circle, a young, innovative church which meets in a renovated bus depot, there is no pulpit, platform or pastor, as such. The congregation rejects the labels “Christian” and “congregation,” preferring “followers of Jesus” and “friendship community.”
There are no ushers, but rather “helpers.”
There is no worship team, but rather “God artists.”
And woe to anyone who affixes traditional church labels to any of it.
“God’s doing a new thing here,” says Mitch Townsend, the leader of the church. He shuns the “pastor” label and insists people call him, “Hey, man,” or simply “Dude.” If someone slips and calls him “pastor,” he bristles and gently rebukes them.
“We got rid of all those old labels,” he says. “There’s no going back.”
At the church office, which they never call a church office but rather “the Hub,” secretaries, or “community action facilitators” as they are called here, tap-tap on computers (which they still call computers) and take calls.
When a visitor slips up and refers to The Circle’s “sanctuary,” Dude Townsend cuts him short.
“Listen, it’s not a sanctuary, it’s a meeting place, a gathering place,” he says, flushing red.
“Sorry, pastor,” the visitor says.
“Not pastor,” says Townsend. “Dude, or friend. Or just hey, Mitch.”
“Sorry, Dude Mitch,” the visitor says uncomfortably, and slinks away. Mitch quickly goes to him and hugs him.
“We’re all about love and freedom here,” he says. “I know it’s hard to get used to.””
He Was No Fool – Justin Taylor
“58 years ago today (Jan. 8, 1952) Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian were martyred in Ecuador, killed by the Wuaorani Indians (then known as the Auca Indians). Many of the Wuaorani later came to know the Lord
Jim Elliot’s best-known quote is, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.””
Sumatran Tiger cubs sniff WWF camera trap
WWF camera trap yields first-time film of tigress and cubs in Sumatra, Indonesia.
The discovery comes as WWF prepares to launch a Tiger campaign on 14 Feb. 2010, the start of the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar. This Year of the Tiger could be the last opportunity to save this iconic species.
Tiger cubs sniff WWF camera trap from WWF on Vimeo. (via Wired.com)