The Oregon Faith Report - Faith News from Oregon

Dennis Smirl, Faith Movie Reviewer,

Stars: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen.  Two secret agents fall in love and decide to scam the corporations they are working for so that they can run off to a tropical beach and live happily ever after. In the end they land up getting scammed by those they are working for. It is very hard to follow because they keep going back to a scene that happened ‘x’ number of months earlier to show a lovers quarrel that Clive and Julia have had. It is no wonder they themselves get scammed because it takes them half of the movie to figure out they’re in love, and in the second half continue to accuse each other of lack of trust or something.
Critics rating: 65%
My rating: 50% Roberts carried the movie.
Caution: Many bedroom scenes between the two stars.

By Tom Fuller, author of
Oregon at Work: 1859-2009 and Images of America: Salem

Many people came to Oregon with the belief that “God’s Country” would give them the freedom to live out their faith without encumbrance. Little did they know the hardships they’d face, carving out a new state from the wilderness, or how it would shape their faith and their work ethic.  Ever wonder what it was like to search for a job in 1853? What did people do for work in 1900, 1950? Did you know that when Oregon was first admitted to the Union in 1859, half of the state’s working population was involved in farming? Today, agricultural work comprises a mere two percent of the workforce. So what happened?

EMO delivers letter signed by more than 100 diverse religious leaders Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

(EMO) today called on the Oregon State Legislature to enact SB 966 – legislation that establishes a family leave insurance program to provide paid benefits while workers take time off to care for a new child or a seriously ill family member. SB 966 will give employees up to six weeks of benefits ($300 per week for full-time employees) to help pay expenses while they take leave to care for a new child or ill family member.

Luis Palau Ministries,
Beaverton,

(Inverness, Scotland) Internationally-known speaker Luis Palau has formally accepted an invitation from more than 50 congregations and ministries to host a region-wide festival celebration this June. Taking place in cities and villages throughout the Highlands—from Inverness to Thurso—Highland Festival with Luis Palau includes a series of free, family-friendly events for all ages. Palau and his team—including speakers, Christian athletes, and musicians—will join with churches and parishes from all denominations as they share a positive message of faith and hope in today’s world.

How do you keep kids connected with God in a wired and instantaneous generation?  That is one major question on tap Tuesday, April 21, at the Portland Catholic Archdiocese workshop, “Adolescent Catechesis: Knowing Jesus, Growing as Disciples” (at St. Edward Church in Keizer).

About one-half of teens, age 12-17 own cell phones (Pew Internet Research).  And a national study by OTX and eCRUSH found that 51% of teens identity and sense of community is so wrapped up in their cell phones that they “absolutely could not live without” their cell phones (cellular-news.com, 19 Nov 2007).  When asked how cell phones made them ‘feel,’ teens opted for connectivity with friends and family (71%)—well above being fashionable (30%).

By Naomi Inman
Faith Writer

A standing room only crowd filled the Oregon State University Withycombe Auditorium in March for a stirring academic debate on the topic “Does God Exist?” The attendance spilled well beyond the auditorium’s 300 seat capacity, with people standing in the back and sitting on the stairs for the third debate this year hosted by the Socratic Club.

Mr. Michael Gurney and Dr. Martin Erwig engaged in a lively and civil empirical debate about the circumstances of the material universe, arguing whether or not they pointed to a supreme Creator.

Weekend National News Focus:

LOS ANGELES, Mar. 26 /Christian Newswire/ — Evangelize.com, a new website which features Christian videos, taps into Hollywood talent as actors from hit television shows such as “The Office,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Reno 911″ star in videos on the site. Officially launched on January 10, 2009, Evangelize.com first showcased its “Gossip” video, which stars Kate Flannery (“The Office”), Victoria Jackson (“Saturday Night Live”), and Beth Grant (“Jericho,” “No Country for Old Men”).

‘Bella’ Star & Producer Return from Successful Aid Mission to Sudan in Spite of Heighted Concerns After Arrest Warrant Issued for al-Bashir

LOS ANGELES, Mar. 31 /Christian Newswire/ — Just 10 days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague issued its first-ever arrest warrant for a sitting head of state, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, three international aid organizations entered the country to continue their collective mission of hope.

By Dan Merchant, NW Filmaker
Lord Save Us from Your Followers

I wanted to let you know about a few new books/movies to keep your eyes peel for.

Angry Conversations with God by Susan Isaacs is a sharply written, funny confessional of a book by a talented creative woman trying to come to terms with her relationship with God…by taking Him to couples counseling. Cleverness aside, the book stands on terrific writing, valid questions and Susan’s willingness to bare her soul.

By Beaver Believer,

The nation’s top 20 economies are meeting this week and to no one’s surprise there is little answers from any of the world’s smartest and strongest minds on how to deal with the global meltdown.   Consider what unique times we live in.  This is the first time in 60 years (WWII) that the world has experienced a global recession.    Bad timing.  Traditionally rising exports have lifted many nations out of a recession, but that won’t work now for obvious reasons.   In America, a rising housing market has in the past helped us pull our country out of a recession – bad timing for that hope as well.

By Archdiocese of Portland,

The Archdiocese of Portland and the Catholic Church in the United States will mark Child Abuse Prevention Month during the month of April. The Church particularly emphasizes what is being done in parishes and schools to maintain a safe environment for all students and young people.  The Archdiocese developed a comprehensive Child abuse prevention policy in 2002. The Office for Child Protection/Victim Assistance began in 2002 with part-time staffing. In the fall of 2006, Cathy Shannon, the office director, was assigned to this position on a full-time basis. The commitment to a full time position allowed Ms. Shannon to expand and strengthen the two-fold purpose of the office: