NEWS STORY
RNS-Carman-Obit: Carman, Christian music icon and Gospel Music Hall of Famer, dies at 65
(RNS) — Carman Dominic Licciardello, a Christian music legend known simply by his first name, has died at 65. Known for his showmanship and over-the-top music videos, he had a late career revival after a 2013 cancer diagnosis. He died in Las Vegas due to complications from surgery, according to his manager. By Bob Smietana. 860 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Limbaugh-Obit: Rush Limbaugh, who shaped conservative Christian politics on the radio, has died
(RNS) — Rush Limbaugh, the bombastic and popular radio host who shaped conservative politics for decades, has died. Limbaugh, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020, was 70. The radio show host — along with other media voices — appealed to Christian conservatives and often had more influence on the politics of evangelicals than their pastors. By Bob Smietana. 732 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Buddhist-AI: In the Salvage Crew, a Buddhist AI poet seeks aliens and enlightenment
(RNS) – Sri Lankan Author and data scientist Yudhanjaya Wijeratne imagined a future where humans and machine could work together. The result: The Salvage Crew, a best-selling audiobook about a Buddhist AI who writes poetry and has adventures among the stars.
By Bob Smietana. 1,400 words. (categories: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Dallas-Shelter: Dallas faith groups help shelter homeless Texans during deep freeze
(RNS) – A rare winter storm in Texas left millions without power and brought freezing temperatures to places like Dallas. A Christian nonprofit is helping run an emergency shelter at the city’s convention center – a task made more difficult by COVID. By Bob Smietana. 500 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-SelfCare-Lent: Chanequa Walker-Barnes resurrects self care as a Lenten practice
(RNS) — If there’s one thing the pandemic has made clear to theologian, psychologist and professor Chanequa Walker-Barnes, it’s this: Giving something up doesn’t necessarily draw one closer to God or to others. So as Lent begins again on Wednesday (Feb. 17), she is taking something on instead. She is spending 40 days deepening her self care practice and inviting others to join her on Instagram and on her blog for the Resurrecting Self-Care Challenge. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 750 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Ashes-Pope: On Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis says Lent is an ‘an exodus from slavery to freedom’
(RNS) – Pope Francis celebrated Ash Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica, reminding faithful that the Lenten period leading to Easter celebrations is a journey and “an exodus from slavery to freedom.” By Claire Giangravè. 580 words. (category: i)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Lupfer-Oped: The countercultural drama of Ash Wednesday
(RNS) — Ash Wednesday offers an opportunity for the devout, the skeptical and the merely curious to embrace the reality of sin-nature in the context of the broader drama of salvation. The holy day stands in the calendar as something that is at once timeless, countercultural and always needed. By Jacob Lupfer. 901 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Biden signals willingness to dialogue with bishops and other faith leaders
(RNS) — In restoring the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on Sunday (Feb. 14), President Joe Biden sent a Valentine’s message to Catholic bishops and other faith leaders, signaling his openness to a dialogue with them on important public policy issues. By Thomas Reese. 990 words. (category: k)