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Miles's God is rather like the God portrayed by evangelical "open theists"—though more bumbling than even they have suggested. Miles inverts the message of the Bible: It is not that God in Jesus Christ solves the human problem. It is God who has the problem, and uses people—including Jesus—to solve his own predicament.

No word on the Burnhams
The New Tribes Mission Web site was updated yesterday to note that the Burnhams spent Christmas in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.

Shortly before the holiday, the situation seemed to be heating up with the U.S. military pressing for action from the Philippine government and rumors of a plan to pay a ransom being paid. However, NTM reported yesterday that there has been no word on any attempts to free the couple.

• Poor give more generously than the rich | Survey finds least well-off donate 4.5% of income to good causes, but not all charities are helping the most needy (The Guardian)
• Who Brought Bernadine Healy Down? | At a moment when the Red Cross was supposed to be absorbed with ministering to a nation in crisis, it was confronting an internal crisis of its own making. (The New York Times Magazine)
• Gifts for Afghan children | Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes arrive in Afghanistan (BBC)
• Backlash expected for charity | Protest over Salvation Army's withdrawal of partner benefits likely won't end as kettles disappear (The Detroit News)

• Churchgoers live longer, study finds | Even after accounting for health-risk factors such as smoking, churchgoers had lower mortality rates (The Sacramento Bee)
• Forgiveness: Good for your health and holidays? | Adults in their 40s and older enjoy better mental and physical health through forgiving others.(The Ann Arbor News)

• Pastor will serve 7-year prison term for thefts | David E. Cartee was also suspected in arson, but there wasn't enough evidence to bring charges (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• Six years for exorcism death | New Zealand court convicts Korean pastor (News.com.au)
• Priest's killer gets 114 years | "Two thousand years ago a man named Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver," Judge Kenneth Wadas tells convict. "You betrayed Father Paul Smith for 30 pieces of rock cocaine." (Chicago Tribune)

• Pope endorses Mexico's first Indian saint | Juan Diego, a 16th century shepherd who believers say saw an apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe, will be canonized next year. (The Los Angeles Times)
• Also: Vatican takes step toward canonizing Mexico Indian | The Vatican took a step toward declaring sainthood for indigenous Mexican Juan Diego, whose vision of the Virgin Mary in 1531 opened the way to conversion of indigenous peoples (Reuters)
• Also: Priest linked to Franco will be made a saint | The Vatican's medical committee has recognized claims that through intercession with Blessed Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, a Spanish surgeon was healed of an incurable disease in 1992. (The Telegraph, London)

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December (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45