Hungry and homeless

The news you might have missed – in the US Conference of Mayors annual survey of 27 cities, requests for emergency food assistance are up 24 percent, homelessness is up 9 percent. 

The drones keep killing

Eighteen people in three vehicles. How many more will take their place? 

Let your light shine

No, he’s really not a Muslim.

Out of work, out of hope

With nearly 10% of the unemployed workers out of jobs for two years or more, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is raising the upper limit on how long someone will be listed as jobless to five years.  And a new survey shows they are losing “ground, hope, and faith in their futures.”  The vision that they “shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain … “ seems a long way off.

But at what cost?

An exercise in futility:  “"We fight here because the enemy is here. The enemy fights here because we are here."

A Cardinal's ministry

I was in prison and you visited me. 

Persecuted church

While we enjoyed the blessings of Christmas, Christians in other parts of the world were not as fortunate.  Many churches in Iraq canceled Christmas services due to fear of attacks, although some continued despite the risks.  The story on one Baghdad church begins: “As they gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the congregation here first contemplated death…”  Thirty-eight people were killed in Nigeria, including 6 killed in attacks on two churches.  Pray for the Christians in many parts of the world who are suffering persecution.
Tuesday update: death toll now at 86.