Death, taxes, and the decline of the Church in America. What could be more certain? And if you ask why the Church is struggling in America, you'll likely be fed a pretty consistent story: Young people are fleeing the church because it's perceived to be a) too involved in (probably conservative) politics, b) too conservative on social issues, or c) hostile to science. Church clashes with society's new values.
So which church is more likely to be accused of these three things? A pleasant, liberal, inoffensive church from a mainline tradition, or a staunch evangelical church which happily conflicts with the new societal norms? Surely the latter! Then why are people fleeing mainline and liberal churches?
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Islamic extremists armed with guns and throwing grenades stormed the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Friday morning, killing at least three people and taking numerous hostages, authorities said.
Malian troops, backed by special forces from America and France, reacted quickly. As people ran for their lives near the luxury hotel along a dirt road, the soldiers in full combat gear pointed the way to safety. Within hours, local TV images showed heavily armed troops in what appeared to be a lobby area. Malian state TV reported that 80 people in the hotel when the assault began have been freed.
