Thursday, April 06, 2006

Gospel of Judas Video Preview

Here is link for National Geographic Video Preview
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/gospelofjudas/preview.html

Gospel of Judas

On April 9th National Geographic is broadcasting a show on the Gospel of Judas.
They are hyping it as a challenge to Traditional Christianity.

Here are some links so you can keep up and be prepared if any of your students ask you about it.

Wikipedia entry on Gospel of Judas

Interview with Rev. Thomas Williams of Regina Apostolorum University in Rome

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Contact Magazine Survey

The Association is doing a survey to improve Contact magazine.

Please check out the Link to the survey here. You may wish to suggest that the magazine include more information relating to Licensed Teachers and their roles in ministry.

Thanks

John

Monday, March 27, 2006

Quote of the Week

If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you --Jesus, The Gospel According to Thomas

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Licensed Teacher Ministry Team Report

The Ministry Team report submitted to the Association Board of Directors as a result of our January meeting is available for review on the Association website.

The Licensed teacher page is located here, and the report is located here.

I hope you find it of interest.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Unity Principles and Intelligent Design

What do Unity Principles have to do with "Intelligent Design"?


* The theology of intelligent design
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/02/2dee_edit.html

Forget about the science for a minute. An interesting editorial by James H. Dee in the Austin American-Statesman newspaper in Texas makes the argument that intelligent design faces two serious theological challenges:

"… more serious objections can be raised against ID. There are two black holes at its core — the issues of purpose and causality, which do not generally turn up in discussions on either side of the controversy."

The second challenge, that of causality, is perhaps most important:

"The other black hole might be even worse, for it challenges the assumption, simply taken for granted in most ID theory, that the hypothetical designer is able to go from a mental concept to actual effects in the material world — i.e., that divine intervention is possible.

"…This is a serious problem not just for ID but for all forms of theism. The principal scientific challenge to religion comes not from the high-order concept of evolution, but from causality, which pervades the deepest nuts-and-bolts level of atomic reality.

"Pro-theists have argued, following Aristotle, that the only escape from an infinite recess of causes going backward in time is a First Cause (aka God). But anti-theists have countered that there is nothing logically impossible about such an infinity and that if everything must have a cause, then God also must have one. And it seems desperate to invoke the idea of a 'Quantum God,' explaining the obscure by the even-more-obscure.

"So, by an engaging paradox, the medieval theological principle called Occam's Razor — which is commonly translated to mean that the simplest answer is usually the correct answer — may be turned against the philosophy from which it arose. For if physical causality is both universal and sufficient, then God himself becomes superfluous and literally impotent — and ID theory loses its designer."

From a pragmatic perspective, at least, putting this question to supporters of intelligent design might pose something of a dilemma for ID opponents. The reason is that asking such questions might reinforce the suspicion of some ID supporters that the challenge to ID is, at root, metaphysical.

For much more on intelligent design, see the "Web exclusives" box at STNews.org.

This article was excerpted from The Daily Dose, (2/3/06) an email newsletter of the Templeton Foundation and its publication Science & Theology News.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Two New Licensed Teachers

Congratulations and blessings to Alice Barnette and Bessie Duncan who received their license on January 12, 2006.

Alice serves at Unity Roanoke Valley, Roanoke Va. and Bessie is the Spiritual Leader of Unity Church of Christ, Teaneck, New Jersey.

Monday, January 30, 2006

How big is your brain?

Meditation is found to increase brain size
People who meditate grow bigger brains than those who don't. Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that experienced meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input. [...] Check out physorg.com

Your Licensed Unity Teacher Ministry Team

Cheryl Sunday, Dorothy Genske, John Zenkewich, Luzette Rivera-Diez, Sandra Angotti, Linda Lowery, Judy Lucas, Rick Schumaker, Linda Martella-Whitsett
Not Present: Dona Gilsdorf, Sheila Gautreaux-Lee

Monday, January 23, 2006

LUT Ministry Team

The LUT Ministry Team meets this week.

I will keep you advised of any developments.

John

Movie Night Suggestion

Getting together to watch a movie can be a great fellowship activity.

This weekend we watched the movie Millions and everyone enjoyed it.

Given the focus on prosperity in our churches this movie could start a discussion regarding "what would you do if a million dollars fell in your lap?".

Millions:Acclaimed director Danny Boyle posits a tantalizing question in this engaging film: What happens when two boys stumble upon a cache of cash? Damian (Alex Etel) and his brother, Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), find a satchel filled with British pounds, but with the country just days away from switching to the Euro, they must quickly find a way to spend and share the wealth. Trouble is, Damian wants to give to the poor, while Anthony aims to live it up.

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Eddie O'Dea LUT New Spiritual Leader

Congratulations to Eddie O'Dea who is now the new spiritual leader of Unity Center of Flushing. Eddie follows the fruitful service of Marion Gambardello LUT.

Our Prayers & Blessings are with you.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Subscribe to the Blog with Feedblitz

Hi;

You can receive an email letting you know when something is posted on the blog by putting your email address in the box and clicking subscribe me. You will receive an email to confirm your subscription.

Once you are subscribed you will receive an email whenever the blog has a new post.

Enter your Email


Powered by FeedBlitz

Licensed Unity Teacher Ministry Team Survey

The Licensed Teacher Ministry team has distributed a survey to collect information on your role as a Unity Teacher as well as your vision for your future role in the Unity Movement.

If you did not receive it from the Association I have been advised that they may not have your email address. Please send an email to susan@unity.org and advise her of your email address so they can put you on their list.

You can read the Team's letter here, and the survey here.

The results of the survey will be reviewed at the Team meeting January 23-26 2006.

Thank you for your participation in the survey. I am looking forward to the January meeting. If I can I hope to post from the meeting so you can have up to the minute news.

Blessings

John

Monday, January 02, 2006

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
May 2006 be the year you step out in faith and fully express the love of Spirit in your life.
Blessings
John Zenkewich LUT

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Christmas & the Winter Solstice

One of the theories as to why December 25th is the day chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus is due to the Winter Solstice.

As of the Winter Solstice (December 21) the days become longer so there is more daylight every day and people have the hope and anticipation of spring.

Additionally celebrating the birth of Jesus at this time created a rival celebration to the pagan festival of the time.

May the light and love of Christ grow brighter in you.

Friday, December 16, 2005

What if every day were Christmas?

Looking for a new Christmas song? This song is from a collaboration of podcasters.

Enjoy! If you purchase the song for $.99 the funds go to Unicef.

Podsafe for Peace - If Every Day Were Christmas

You can listen to the song at Podsafe Music

I am looking into doing a podcast and found this site of music you can use without copyright problems. If you are doing a podcast lets get together.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

The Secrets of Narnia






If you are considering using the Narnia story in your lessons the podcasts by Fr. Roderick give some interesting background and metaphorical interpretations you can use.

Fr. Roderick is from the Netherlands and his English is excellent.
Click here for his website.

Have fun!!!

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Beyond Bullet Points

Do you use Power Point to create handouts and slides for your lessons or classes?

Beyond Bullett Points by Cliff Atkinson gives an interesting look at death by powerpoint and how to improve your presentations.

I used some of the ideas in a presentation at work and it was very well received.

There are articles on learning and resources to improve your presentations on the website.

Let me know what you think.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

AUC LUT Sharing Page

The Association has set up a page on their website where Teachers can share information and resources. There are presently resources for classes such as Lessons in Truth and Prosperity. Check it out! at http://www.unity.org/LUTPmain.html