The Influence of Affluence

Mercy Children’s Clinic

2010-02-26T11:34:00.000-06:00

The Case for Mercy from Mercy Children's Clinic on Vimeo.

A few years ago I had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors of Mercy Childrens Clinic in Franklin, TN. I am proud of the doctors and Staff there and believe this is a model for healthcare that would change the over all cost and quality of healthcare if followed in other communities. This is truly the church in action.

Watch the video on the link page.

Mercy Children’s Clinic

Manifest Destiny

2009-12-23T19:11:00.002-06:00

In light of our current Congress and Executive branch of the federal government I though it would be good to feature a bit of wisdom from one of our Founders and an author of the Federalist Papers.

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of the government, far from it. We have staked the future upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to sustain ourselves, according to the Ten Commandments of God."

James Madison

God help us!

Your Government At Work!

2009-12-23T07:46:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON (AP) -

Figures on government spending and debt (last six digits are eliminated). The government's fiscal year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

Total public debt subject to limit Dec. 21 12,043,745

Statutory debt limit 12,104,000

Total public debt outstanding Dec. 21 12,099,243

Operating balance Dec. 21 110,901

Interest fiscal year 2009 383,365

Interest fiscal year 2008 451,154

Deficit fiscal year 2009 1,417,121

Deficit fiscal year 2008 454,798

Receipts fiscal year 2009 2,104,613

Receipts fiscal year 2008 2,523,642

Outlays fiscal year 2009 3,521,734

Outlays fiscal year 2008 2,978,440

Gold assets in September 11,041

"...Kitsch is a Disease of Faith."

2009-12-01T15:25:00.003-06:00

"...kitsch is a disease of faith. Kitsch begins in doctrine and ideology and spreads from there to infect the entire world of culture. The Disneyfication of art is simply one aspect of the Disneyfication of faith -and both involve a profanation of our highest values. Kitsch, the case of Disney reminds us, is not an excess of feeling but a deficiency. The world of kitsch is in a certain measure a heartless world, in which emotion is directed away from its proper target towards sugary stereotypes, permitting us to pay passing tribute to love and sorrow without the trouble of feeling them. It is no accident that the arrival of kitsch on the stage of history coincided with the hitherto unimaginable horrors of trench warfare, of the Holocaust and the Gulag - all of them fulfilling the prophecy that kitsch proclaims, which is the transformation of the human being into a doll, which in one moment we cover with kisses, and in the next tear to shreds."

Read the rest at: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article5901271.ece

The Delimna of Man and "Free Market Capitalism"

2009-11-12T07:37:00.004-06:00

One of the commentators I appreciate is Larry Kudlow. Larry is only a man and is often wrong when he begins prognosticating about what to "buy" or "sell", but philosophically he is a generally a "reasonable" voice.

This morning he wrote the following in a column on "free Market Capitalism" I want to comment on:

The Reagan free-market revolution, which included regulation lite, a sound dollar, and low tax rates, launched a three-decade-long boom. And yes, the Gipper’s policies were copied around the world. (What does Barney Frank know that the rest of the world doesn’t?) Even the communists in China have adopted deregulated free-market capitalism.

Well, how has copying the Gipper''s policies in Russia, Poland, and other former communistic states worked out? Frankly, over the past twenty years or so most people living in those countries have stayed poor and a few "Oligarchs" control 95% of business and wealth. Why? The founder's of capitalism knew it and we should recognize it. Unregulated Capitalism without ethics and a moral framework merely amount to a form of economic Darwinism where the strong dominate and enslave the poor. Whether intentionally or un-intentionally this is a result of man's fallen state and human condition.

Early in man's recorded history God gave Moses "the Law" because He knew we needed it. Look it up. It was all about His law restraining man's inability to look past his own desires. The first structure in the church came as deacons were identified and charged with caring for those who were being overlooked...in the glorious early church! Those who had seen Jesus in a resurrected state were feeding their family and friends and allowing others in their community to live off little.

Perhaps we should be informed as followers of Jesus that regulation only increases as sin and self-serving without a biblical ethical framework increases. Can we change the world and this tidle wave of greed and self-serving? I suggest the answer is yes. But not with more political regulation, but by making a decision today to live by a different system of government regulated by The Lawgiver. God help us to live by your power as you prescribe. Short of this...there is little hope for reformation in business or any other area of life!

Guest Re-Post: Halloween Repost

2009-10-27T23:07:00.005-05:00

This post is for my friends who struggle this time of year with whether or not to celebrate Halloween with their kids. It's a good read whatever your opinion. Watch for me and my kids Halloween night. Williams will be a little horse (2nd year in a row), Thomas an X-man, Sarah a ballerina, Caroline Hannah Montana, and me, I'll be holding the flashlight and eating way too much sugar!

OPEN BOOK, Views & Reviews, No. 28
Copyright (c) 1996 Biblical Horizons
August, 1996

It has become routine in October for some Christian schools to send out letters warning parents about the evils of Halloween, and it has become equally routine for me to be asked questions about this matter.

"Halloween" is simply a contraction for All Hallows’ Eve. The word "hallow" means "saint," in that "hallow" is just an alternative form of the word "holy" ("hallowed be Thy name"). All Saints’ Day is November 1. It is the celebration of the victory of the saints in union with Christ. The observance of various celebrations of All Saints arose in the late 300s, and these were united and fixed on November 1 in the late 700s. The origin of All Saints Day and of All Saints Eve in Mediterranean Christianity had nothing to do with Celtic Druidism or the Church’s fight against Druidism (assuming there ever even was any such thing as Druidism, which is actually a myth concocted in the 19th century by neo-pagans.)

In the First Covenant, the war between God’s people and God’s enemies was fought on the human level against Egyptians, Assyrians, etc. With the coming of the New Covenant, however, we are told that our primary battle is against principalities and powers, against fallen angels who bind the hearts and minds of men in ignorance and fear. We are assured that through faith, prayer, and obedience, the saints will be victorious in our battle against these demonic forces. The Spirit assures us: "The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly" (Romans 16:20).

The Festival of All Saints reminds us that though Jesus has finished His work, we have not finished ours. He has struck the decisive blow, but we have the privilege of working in the mopping up operation. Thus, century by century the Christian faith has rolled back the demonic realm of ignorance, fear, and superstition. Though things look bad in the Western world today, this work continues to make progress in Asia and Africa and Latin America.

The Biblical day begins in the preceding evening, and thus in the Church calendar, the eve of a day is the actual beginning of the festive day. Christmas Eve is most familiar to us, but there is also the Vigil of Holy Saturday that precedes Easter Morn. Similarly, All Saints’ Eve precedes All Saints’ Day.

The concept, as dramatized in Christian custom, is quite simple: On October 31, the demonic realm tries one last time to achieve victory, but is banished by the joy of the Kingdom.

What is the means by which the demonic realm is vanquished? In a word: mockery. Satan’s great sin (and our great sin) is pride. Thus, to drive Satan from us we ridicule him. This is why the custom arose of portraying Satan in a ridiculous red suit with horns and a tail. Nobody thinks the devil really looks like this; the Bible teaches that he is the fallen Arch-Cherub. Rather, the idea is to ridicule him because he has lost the battle with Jesus and he no longer has power over us.

(The tradition of mocking Satan and defeating him through joy and laughter plays a large role in Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes, which is a Halloween novel.)

The gargoyles that were placed on the churches of old had the same meaning. They symbolized the Church ridiculing the enemy. They stick out their tongues and make faces at those who would assault the Church. Gargoyles are not demonic; they are believers ridiculing the defeated demonic army.

Thus, the defeat of evil and of demonic powers is associated with Halloween. For this reason, Martin Luther posted his 95 challenges to the wicked practices of the Church to the bulletin board on the door of the Wittenberg chapel on Halloween. He picked his day with care, and ever since Halloween has also been Reformation Day.

Similarly, on All Hallows’ Eve (Hallow-Even – Hallow-E’en – Halloween), the custom arose of mocking the demonic realm by dressing children in costumes. Because the power of Satan has been broken once and for all, our children can mock him by dressing up like ghosts, goblins, and witches. The fact that we can dress our children this way shows our supreme confidence in the utter defeat of Satan by Jesus Christ – we have NO FEAR!

I don’t have the resources to check the historical origins of all Halloween customs, and doubtless they have varied from time to time and from Christian land to Christian land. "Trick or treat" doubtless originated simply enough: something fun for kids to do. Like anything else, this custom can be perverted, and there have been times when "tricking" involved really mean actions by teenagers and was banned from some localities.

We can hardly object, however, to children collecting candy from friends and neighbors. This might not mean much to us today, because we are so prosperous that we have candy whenever we want, but in earlier generations people were not so well o_, and obtaining some candy or other treats was something special. There is no reason to pour cold water on an innocent custom like this.

Similarly, the jack-o’-lantern’s origins are unknown. Hollowing out a gourd or some other vegetable, carving a face, and putting a lamp inside of it is something that no doubt has occurred quite independently to tens of thousands of ordinary people in hundreds of cultures worldwide over the centuries. Since people lit their homes with candles, decorating the candles and the candle-holders was a routine part of life designed to make the home pretty or interesting. Potatoes, turnips, beets, and any number of other items were used.

Wynn Parks writes of an incident he observed: "An English friend had managed to remove the skin of a tangerine in two intact halves. After carving eyes and nose in one hemisphere and a mouth in the other, he poured cooking oil over the pith sticking up in the lower half and lit the readymade wick. With its upper half on, the tangerine skin formed a miniature jack-o’-lantern. But my friend seemed puzzled that I should call it by that name. `What would I call it? Why a "tangerine head," I suppose.’" (Parks, "The Head of the Dead," The World & I, November 1994, p. 270.)

In the New World, people soon learned that pumpkins were admirably suited for this purpose. The jack-o’-lantern is nothing but a decoration; and the leftover pumpkin can be scraped again, roasted, and turned into pies and muffins.

In some cultures, what we call a jack-o’-lantern represented the face of a dead person, whose soul continued to have a presence in the fruit or vegetable used. But this has no particular relevance to Halloween customs. Did your mother tell you, while she carved the pumpkin, that this represented the head of a dead person and with his soul trapped inside? Of course not. Symbols and decorations, like words, mean different things in different cultures, in different languages, and in different periods of history. The only relevant question is what does it mean now, and nowadays it is only a decoration.

And even if some earlier generations did associate the jack-o’-lantern with a soul in a head, so what? They did not take it seriously. It was just part of the joking mockery of heathendom by Christian people.

This is a good place to note that many articles in books, magazines, and encyclopedias are written by secular humanists or even the pop-pagans of the so-called "New Age" movement. (An example is the article by Wynn Parks cited above.) These people actively suppress the Christian associations of historic customs, and try to magnify the pagan associations. They do this to try and make paganism acceptable and to downplay Christianity. Thus, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc., are said to have pagan origins. Not true.

Oddly, some fundamentalists have been influenced by these slanted views of history. These fundamentalists do not accept the humanist and pagan rewriting of Western history, American history, and science, but sometimes they do accept the humanist and pagan rewriting of the origins of Halloween and Christmas, the Christmas tree, etc. We can hope that in time these brethren will reexamine these matters as well. We ought not to let the pagans do our thinking for us.

Nowadays, children often dress up as superheroes, and the original Christian meaning of Halloween has been absorbed into popular culture. Also, with the present fad of "designer paganism" in the so-called New Age movement, some Christians are uneasy with dressing their children as spooks. So be it. But we should not forget that originally Halloween was a Christian custom, and there is no solid reason why Christians cannot enjoy it as such even today.

"He who sits in the heavens laughs; Yahweh ridicules them" says Psalm 2. Let us join in His holy laughter, and mock the enemies of Christ on October 31.

Guest Post: Lord, Save Us From Your Followers

2009-10-22T12:31:00.002-05:00

Mike Furches Furches.org

I am approaching 50 years of age, and I was once a tough guy; at least, some think so. Many, when looking at me now with the goatee and long hair, seem to think I still am. Yet the older I get, and the more I search for an understanding of God, spirituality, and discovering the place I need to be according to my understanding of that search, the more emotional I find myself being when I find either new answers that will take me in a new direction, or in obtaining reassurance that I am on the right path to where I need to be going. One of the beautiful things about this journey is that sometimes (in fact, more often than I really deserve) I get to see movies, read books, or hear music that I believe God has touched to help me in that understanding.

Sometimes when this happens, that formerly big tough guy gets emotional. Such was the case this morning after finishing my viewing of the new, sure-to-be controversial documentary, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers. I was so moved by knowing that I am on the right journey, and have come to some of the right conclusions, that I found myself weeping. It wasn’t so much for me; I would say it was for the hurt I feel for a Church which has forgotten about the mission of Jesus, and especially about those who have been hurt. There were also tears for those who get it and are being Jesus to a hurting world.

This film by Dan Merchant should be required viewing and discussion for any church. The good thing is that some churches will take up this task; the sad thing is, most churches will ignore the challenge. It is a shame; it is why the Church (as perceived by many) has become more like the whore of Hosea than a beautiful bride that loves her husband, Jesus Christ.

Lord, Save Us is a documentary that explores the Church, specifically in America. In the exploration we see not only the perception of the Church from various segments of society, but also how many within the Church view themselves. It is a road trip of sorts where discussion takes place not only on the streets of various cities, but with certain public individuals. From Al Franken to Ann Coulter, and from Bono of U2 to Anthony Campolo, numerous views are presented and challenged. The movie, while quoting and using the Bible at various points, depends largely on common sense.

The central thrust is looking at how the Church and Christianity would be viewed if they did one simple thing, act like Jesus. The effects, the challenges that come about are not only eye opening; they are concepts that are effective. We see the effectiveness of this approach in various places it seems the Church has been at war with, from the media to the gay community and from the public sector to the homeless and poor. We see this by practical applications of trial and error by the makers of the film, and we see it from the reality of the impact of parachurch organizations like World Vision in their work with the poor in Ethiopia.

One of the amazing points in showing the power of being like Jesus comes not through the mouths of the religious, but those who are outside of the institutional Church, or mainstream Christianity. It is here that, if those individual people who make up the Church choose to listen and learn, a great deal of effective work can be done. Now don’t get me wrong; one of the reasons I loved this movie is that it doesn’t ask us to do these things to make projects out of people: we do it because we love them, just as Jesus loved them.

One of the things I think some within Christianity and the Church will become critical of is that the movie doesn’t address the “salvation” concepts required by some within Christian circles. On this point I would simply state, I don’t believe that is the purpose of the film. In the Bible, Jesus tells the story about one who is planting or sowing seeds. Some fall on good ground, some bad ground; there are some that come and help some along to grow and be effective; and some… well, some seeds die. It all starts with sowing seeds, a concept that I believe the Church, and many with Christianity have forgotten about.

I love this movie, though, because it addresses the idea that the building of relationships, the showing of unconditional love, of universal acceptance of the person, compassion for their hurts, is a starting point of showing a person the very love that Jesus showed them. It is in taking on the characteristics of Jesus that we genuinely learn to love others to the point that this love ultimately becomes a natural part of our persona. Jesus loved all people; so should we, including the child dying of AIDS, the hurting in a hurricane-devastated city, the homeless on the street, even those we may disagree with: the Democrat, the Republican, the Homosexual, and the Ultra Conservative. Love is patient, love is kind, love is… well, love is many things, but it is seldom confrontational, angry, hateful, and disrespecting.

Those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus, or Christian, often think we have all of the answers; yet we don’t understand those we are communicating with. In theological terms, getting to know people, showing people you love them where they are at, is a concept we know Jesus illustrated; it is a concept called incarnation. Followers of Jesus understand what it means to love even those they may hate; so what does this say about our ability to love those we simply disagree with on various points? While there is certainly the need for talking about the specifics of what Jesus said, that discussion has to start with respect and understanding.

Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christian represent in name all of us who say we follow Jesus. The consequences of that has been devastating; and in many ways, it is likely those individuals who are so dogmatic in their need to “confront sin” have damaged the possibility of some people rejecting Jesus based solely on the behaviors and actions of those most outspoken in the name of Jesus. When religious leaders call for the assassination of political leaders, or political leaders say we should kill all of the godless in a nation and make that nation a Christian nation, is it any wonder people are confused?

When Jesus says to love your enemy, to pray for those that would do you harm, where do His followers get off saying and doing the exact opposite? When we do, is it any wonder people are confused? When taking these questions, our methods, and our results seriously, is it any wonder that real followers of Jesus would say about many in Christianity, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers?

SNL Poking Fun at Our Culture of Consumption

2009-10-20T21:23:00.000-05:00

John Mackey Quote

2009-10-19T18:03:00.003-05:00

Guest Room

2009-10-16T13:09:00.001-05:00

It doesn't matter how many rooms your house has. What matters is how many guests you have!

Recession Ends but...?

2009-10-04T08:54:00.005-05:00

The end of recession is not the same thing as financial recovery!

About 10 percent of all mortgages in this country are scheduled to adjust in the next few years, with the numbers peaking in mid- to late 2011, according to First American CoreLogic. Those loans are worth about $1 trillion, and nearly 20 percent of the borrowers who have them are seriously behind on their monthly payments. This is not good news for a recovery!

At Least One Adult Was at the UN Last Week

2009-09-28T10:51:00.002-05:00

"Nearly 62 years ago, the United Nations recognized the right of the Jews, an ancient people 3,500 years-old, to a state of their own in their ancestral homeland. I stand here today as the Prime Minister of Israel, the Jewish state, and I speak to you on behalf of my country and my people. The United Nations was founded after the carnage of World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust. It was charged with preventing the recurrence of such horrendous events. Nothing has undermined that central mission more than the systematic assault on the truth. [Wednesday] the President of Iran stood at this very podium, spewing his latest anti-Semitic rants. Just a few days earlier, he again claimed that the Holocaust is a lie. ... To those who refused to come here and to those who left this room in protest, I commend you. You stood up for moral clarity and you brought honor to your countries. But to those who gave this Holocaust-denier a hearing, I say on behalf of my people, the Jewish people, and decent people everywhere: Have you no shame? Have you no decency? A mere six decades after the Holocaust, you give legitimacy to a man who denies that the murder of six million Jews took place and pledges to wipe out the Jewish state. What a disgrace! What a mockery of the charter of the United Nations! Perhaps some of you think that this man and his odious regime threaten only the Jews. You're wrong. Dead wrong. ... I speak here today in the hope that we can learn from history -- that we can prevent danger in time. In the spirit of the timeless words spoken to Joshua over 3,000 years ago, let us be strong and of good courage. Let us confront this peril, secure our future and, God willing, forge an enduring peace for generations to come." --Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu

Communicating Truth

2009-09-25T18:56:00.000-05:00

"If you want someone to hear the truth, tell them. If you want someone to know the truth, tell them a story." Eudora Welty

A Picture of The Father's Love

2009-09-20T23:16:00.002-05:00

Her father’s look is one of stunned surprise, and then he chooses to give her the “embrace of grace” that will cover up all the questions of “Why did you do that?” He loves her and delights in her.

Source IM

Economic Opinion in Brief

2009-09-19T10:54:00.003-05:00

"A reasonable economic prediction must be based upon understanding the social, and corresponding moral viewpoint." The question may be, "Whose veiwpoint"? If this is true where does this leave Wall Street and higher education?

NOAHS MUGS!

2009-09-12T22:43:00.000-05:00

I have had many conversations with men and women wondering when and if they will be able to make a difference with their lives. Should they quit their jobs? Will they have to go from "success to significance" later due to financial commitments?

Now is the time. One example...Noah at www.noahsmugs.com
It's never too late OR too early!

Lord Save Us From Your Followers the Movie

2009-09-09T19:06:00.002-05:00

If you were to meet ten average Americans on the street, nine of them would say they believe in God. So why is the Gospel of Love dividing America? It certainly shouldn't be.

Dan Merchant put on his bumper-sticker-clad jumpsuit and decided to find out why the Gospel of Love is dividing America. After talking with scores of men and women on streets all across the nation, and also interviewing many well-known active participants in today’s “Culture Wars,” Dan realized that the public discussion of faith doesn’t have to be contentious.

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers is a fast-paced, highly engaging documentary that explores the collision of faith and culture in America. See clips here

There is a screening in Franklin September 10 and Charlotte September 14. Let me know what you think about the movie. I think it is going to be instructive.

What's the US Real Financial Position?

2009-09-07T11:12:00.009-05:00

For a couple of years now people have asked me why I am so deeply concerned about the economy (though it has become self-evident in the past year why I was in an economic funk). I have normally answered that with our leaderships out of control spending and lack of restraint even an entrepreneurial revolution in the US would be choked by the massive debt we call the US Federal Deficit. I have been told I am "crying wolf" and our deficit as a percentage of GDP isn't so high historically, but for some context from someone who should know read the following quotes from David Walker, former head of the Government Accountability Office, the nation's auditor-in-chief.

"Our off balance sheet obligations associated with Social Security and Medicare put us in a $56 trillion financial hole—and that's before the recession was officially declared last year. America now owes more than Americans are worth—and the gap is growing!" Walker follows with further context:

"Our $56 trillion in unfunded obligations amount to $483,000 per household. That's 10 times the median household income—so it's as if everyone had a second or third mortgage on a house equal to 10 times their income but no house they can lay claim to." As for this year's likely deficit of $1.8 trillion, Mr. Walker suggests its size be conveyed thusly: "A deficit that large is $3.4 million a minute, $200 million an hour, $5 billion a day," he says. That does indeed put things into perspective. When asked if there was hope on the horizon for reform he said the following:

"We have four deficits: a budget deficit, a savings deficit, a value-of-the-dollar deficit and a leadership deficit," he tells one group. "We are treating the symptoms of those deficits, but not the disease."

Mr. Walker identifies the disease as having a basic cause: "Washington is totally out of touch and out of control," he sighs. "There is political courage there, but there is far more political careerism and people dodging real solutions." He identifies entrenched incumbency as a real obstacle to change. "Members of Congress ensure they have gerrymandered seats where they pick the voters rather than the voters picking them and then they pass out money to special interests who then make sure they have so much money that no one can easily challenge them," he laments. He believes gerrymandering should be curbed and term limits imposed if for no other reason than to inject some new blood into the system. On campaign finance, he supports a narrow constitutional amendment that would bar congressional candidates from accepting contributions from people who can't vote for them: "If people can't vote in a district not their own, should we allow them to spend unlimited money on behalf of someone across the country?"

These remarks and those from others I respect are the reason for my pessimism. I hope and pray for men and women of courage and integrity. I see no reason for optimism short of a reformation in the hearts and minds of our leaders who choose to serve and submit to the love of others over self.

Quotes taken from John Fund article at WSJ.com

The Face of Atheism Today

2009-08-30T16:15:00.014-05:00

I love it when people tell their story in a clear and articulate manner. I'm saddened when the perception is one that leads to the conclusion Ricky Gervais arrives but this is real life for the majority, not the minority. If Ricky were a new acquaintance or your child's friend from school what would you say to him? He could have a place at our families table but it would be frightening with my four young kids. Would we have a grand conversation or be more like his mom shushing him to change the subject? Our kids will share meals with the Ricky's of this world. Are they ready?

Health Care for All

2009-08-19T09:21:00.004-05:00

Before you lose your mind and begin to think I am becoming political in my writing I want to assure you I am not. That being said I am amazed by the amount of energy and TV air-time being spent on the issue of President Obama and the Congress' health care solutions. Obviously this is something citizens feel very strongly about and debate is good. Yet as I listen I am wondering where the thought of loving your neighbor has gone? Not supplying healthcare to everyone 'just because' it is too expensive is not the reason not to do it. However, working together as a country to truly address the broken nature of insurance, government and health delivery is something worth shouting and organizing around. It appears most wealthy and well insured want to keep what they have at their employer and many self-employed or under-employed would like to have coverage or greater access for their families but just cannot afford it. Is there a comprehensive answer to this delimna?

On my last trip to Africa our group came away with the conclusion that most of the good health and community care was being accomplished by the church and faith based community. Men and women who chose to serve others and give freely of their resources were changing lives and communities. Usually this happened on a community by community basis and those who were served were generally grateful. Yet all of this was voluntary and the men and women giving of their lives and living well below their financial aptitude were filled with purpose and joy - though their lives were not easy.

Where is that drive in our health care debate showing a concern of others first? Not by forcing collection of taxation and redistributing wealth, but men and women of good faith giving of themselves and the church organizing around this issue. Not advocating for more or less government but working through the problem. I have served on the board of Mercy Health Services in Franklin, Tennessee (mercytn.org) where a model for child health care is being created and lived out every day. No government money is spent. No taxes necessary. Yet getting the community to voluntarily give their wealth to care for children is difficult. Perhaps because current taxes and compulsary fees leave little to give?

We can care for one another without a government program, but in a fallen world where sin abounds God has given us civil government to check those who would line their pockets at the expense of the poor. Perhaps that is why so many have gotten behind Obama and his system of care? Maybe in a post-Christian culture the needs of the least have gotten lost in the pursuit of 'more' and now laws must be created to stay the covetous hand of man? I have heard it said cutures reap what they sow. Just thinking!

Worship Without Justice is No Worship

2009-07-30T21:07:00.003-05:00

I am encouraged the emergent church is maturing and committing to issues of justice. Their energy and heart for God are another sign of the coming of THE Kingdom! Here's to praying relative Orthodoxy leads to practical Orthopraxy.

Preying on Our Fears for a Buck

2009-07-28T12:24:00.004-05:00

Today I read an article at Marketwatch.com that is offensive to the world view I propose God has granted his followers. I would suggest following this articles instructions would create just the type of world he says is coming...one of scarcity, fear and The End of Civilization because he implores you to act "uncivilized" as a first, not last, act.

I propose there is greater poverty in Paul Farrell's world view than the one that would come for the men and women who follow the Golden Rule which is the antidote to this poverty of life and thought.

Paul B. Farrell

Jul 28, 2009, 12:01 a.m. EST

Surviving the 'End of Civilization' 2050

Six rules for investing in the worse-case scenario

By Paul B. Farrell, MarketWatch

ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- In his 2008 bestseller, "Wealth, War and Wisdom," hedge fund manager Barton Biggs warns that investors must "assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure."

And to prepare for a breakdown of civilization, "your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food ... It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc." Bloomberg Markets suggested that by "etc." he meant guns, as Biggs added "a few rounds over the approaching brigands' heads would probably be a compelling persuader that there are easier farms to pillage."

The end of Wall Street

Chapter Three: This final chapter of the crisis on Wall Street tells the story of the $700-billion bailout, as seen through a reporter's eyes, and looks at what's ahead for the global economy.

That warning's not from a hippie radical. Biggs was a respected Wall Street guru at Morgan Stanley for 30 years. As the chief global strategist Institutional Investor magazine put him on its "All-America Research Team" 10 times. Smart Money said: "Biggs is without question the premier prognosticator on the international scene and a mover of markets from Argentina to Hong Kong."

Biggs is advising America's wealthy elite. But what about Main Street Americans? Investors often ask me where to invest today, even Bogleheads and investors committed to the Lazy Portfolio strategy. They see the Goldman Conspiracy manipulating this rally. That worries many.

What do you believe? What value do you give to "the future." First, answer these three questions: What's your investment strategy if you know you might die on Dec. 21, 2012, or possibly this year after getting a negative diagnosis from an oncologist or maybe not till 2050 when the United Nations says global population will be 50% higher (from 6 billion now to 9 billion), while demand for energy, oil, gas and coal doubles and the global supply of those commodities remains relatively constant.

Disaster films, terminal illnesses, 2050 and 'The End'

Behavioral economists have answers. But your gut's also good at predicting. So here's what you'll likely do:

You'll go see the new disaster film, "2012" about the end of the Mayan calendar. After all, it's by the same director who "destroyed" the earth in "The Day After Tomorrow," "Independence Day" and "Godzilla." No new investment strategies, but a must-see film, a great catharsis and distraction.
If you had a terminal illness, the future is here, now. There's no tomorrow. You're concerned about protecting loved ones and future generations with what you have, and enjoying time with them.
But how to invest for the "End of Civilization" coming around 2050? The next 40 years will be confusing: Accelerating struggles between aging populations and disenchanted youth, soaring commodity prices, global warming, peak oil, food shortages, famine, blackouts, rationing, civil disorder, increasing crime, worldwide jihads, riots, anarchy and other dark scenarios of a tomorrow with "warfare defining human life."

Yes, that's how doomsayers label the worst-case scenario. It also must be what Ultra-Conservative-Guru Biggs worries about in his darker moments.

So back to the question: What will Main Street investors do? Here again, even with the planet's survival threatened, they'll go watch "2012," be entertained, experience a catharsis, feel relieved, and afterwards, have dinner, slip back into denial. And later, they'll vote against anything that offers solutions to future problems, especially if it raises taxes.

Why? Very simple: Our "Brains Aren't Wired to Fear the Future," writes New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. We're wired to respond to crises, while pushing off the real big problems (health care, Social Security, etc.)

That's basic behavioral economics: Over tens of thousands of years, evolution has programmed our brains so that collectively we will behave counter-productive with the future, making an "End of Civilization" scenario inevitable, a foregone conclusion, a self-fulfilling prophecy. Why? Because our brains are handicapped, we are literally incapable of acting soon enough to solve the problem.

Six simple rules

But there must be a very small percentage of you out there with a desire to make your remaining days on Earth as pleasant as possible for you and your loved ones. So here are "Six New Rules till the End of Civilization 2050." If they don't scare you, hopefully they'll amuse you. Or better yet, wake you up, maybe get you into action ... before it's too late ... before your grandkids are fighting over what little is left:

1. Greed is really good

Yes, if you are going to follow the same advice as the rich, you and your family always come first. Grab more than your share, many times what's fair. No remorse, because 2050 is coming sooner than you think. Create a protective wall of money and resources that will make whatever time's left as comfortable as possible.

2. Invest in Goldman Sachs and its Wall Street co-conspirators

Seriously, these guys are the poster boys for the word "greed." The Goldman Gang, Goldman Conspiracy, whatever you call them, these guys just took control of Washington and the Treasury; their rapid recovery is proof that "greed is great." Do what they do. Amass as much capital and goods as possible, ignoring the rest of us, then cruise to the finish line.

3. Frugality, stockpiling, hoarding

"The Millionaire Next Door" says it's very simple: "Frugal Frugal Frugal! ... Millionaires live well below their means ... Being frugal is the cornerstone of wealth-building." That way you can stash away lots more for later when the going gets rough, when others attack to get what you've stockpiled.

4. Return to your roots

Remember Biggs' advice about subsistence farming. Survival instincts and personal ingenuity will be your best investment. Your family could be without electricity, water, gasoline in the final days, so keep "well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson."

5. Global warfare, plus ammo and guns

Five years ago Fortune did report on the "Pentagon's Weather Nightmare." Yes, the military warned of "the mother of all national security issues" as "the planet's carrying capacity shrinks, an ancient pattern reemerges: the eruption of desperate all-out wars over food, water, and energy supplies." So invest in the defense industries America needs as the rest of the world reacts more to our greed.

6. Accept death

Back in 1973, my first year at Morgan Stanley, I read Ernest Becker's brilliant Pulitzer Prize winner, "The Denial of Death." Today his message is even more powerful: Yes we will all die, tomorrow. But to enjoy the days left, you must accept death today ... accept even now as behavioral economists warn us that our brains are our own worst enemy, as well as the planet's, for we are on a self-destruct path of no return.

Parable at the Pearly Gates

Too macabre for you? So you don't miss the satire, here is a final message, in the spirit of Milton Berle's classic movie, "Always Leave Them Laughing." It's from USA Today, told by that great comedian Carol Leifer:

"Mother Teresa died and went to heaven. God greeted her at the Pearly Gates. 'Be thou hungry, Mother Teresa?' asked God. 'I could eat,' Mother Teresa replied. So God opened a can of tuna and reached for a chunk of rye bread, and they began to share it. While eating this humble meal, Mother Teresa looked down into hell and saw the inhabitants devouring huge steaks, lobsters and pastries. Curious but deeply trusting, she remained quiet.

"The next day God again invited her to join him for a meal. Again, it was tuna and rye bread. Once again, Mother Teresa could see the denizens of hell enjoying lamb, turkey and delicious desserts. Still she said nothing.

"The following day, mealtime arrived and another can of tuna was opened. She couldn't contain herself any longer. Meekly, she asked, 'God, I am grateful to be in heaven with you. But here in heaven all I get to eat is tuna and a piece of rye bread, and in the Other Place, they eat like emperors and kings! I just don't understand it.' God sighed. 'Let's be honest, Teresa,' he said. 'For just two people, it doesn't pay to cook.'"

So, cheer up, maybe the "End of Civilization" won't be all that bad, even for Wall Street, if you take Barton Biggs advice and stock up on something other than tuna and crackers. END

I propose there is greater poverty in Paul Farrell's world view than the one that would come for the men and women who follow the Golden Rule which is the antidote to this poverty of life and thought.

Beauty Will Save the World: An Essay by Solzhenitsyn

2009-07-05T07:51:00.001-05:00

Beauty Will Save the World

by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Like that bewildered savage who has picked up a strange object… perhaps something thrown up by the sea, perhaps disinterred from the sands or dropped from the heavens…an object intricate in its convolutions, which shines first with a dull glow and then with a bright shaft of light…who keeps turning it over and over in his hands in an effort to find some way of putting it to use, seeking some humble function for it, which is within his limited grasp, never conceiving of a higher purpose…

Chad Kyojun Kleitsch

So we, too, holding art in our hands vaingloriously considering ourselves to be its master, undertake brazenly to give it direction, to renovate it, reform it, to issue manifestoes about it, to sell it for money. We use it to play up to those who possess power. We employ it at times for amusement—even in music-hall songs and night clubs—and also at times, grabbing hold of it however we can, for transient and limited political and social needs. But art is not desecrated by our carryings-on. It does not lose sight of its own origins because of them. And each time and in each mode of use it sheds on us a portion of its secret inner light.

But can we embrace all that light? Who is there so bold as to proclaim that he has defined art? That he has enumerated all its facets? Yet perhaps in ages past someone did comprehend and define it for us, but we grew impatient: we listened in passing and paid no heed and discarded it immediately in our eternal haste to replace even the very best with something else just because it is new! And then later on, when what is old is restated, we forgot that we heard it before.

One artist imagines himself the creator of an independent spiritual world and takes on his shoulders the act of creating that world and its population, assuming total responsibility for it—but he stumbles and breaks down because there is no mortal genius capable of bearing such a load; just like man, who once declared himself the center of all existence but was incapable of creating a balanced spiritual system. And then, when failure occurs, it is all blamed on the external disharmony of the world, on the complexity of the shattered contemporary soul, or the stupidity of the public.

Another artist realizes that there is a supreme force above him and works away gladly as a small apprentice beneath God’s heaven, even though his responsibility for everything he draws or writes and for the souls which perceives it is all the more strict. But still: it was not he who created this world, nor is it he who provides it with direction, and he has no doubts of its foundations. The artist is only given to sense more keenly than others the harmony of the world and all the beauty and savagery of man’s contribution to it—and to communicate this poignantly to people. And even in the midst of failure and down at the lowest depths of existence—in poverty, prison, illness—the sensation of a stable harmony will never leave him.

However, all the irrationality of art, its blinding twists and turns, its unpredictable discoveries, its soul-shaking impact on people are too magical to be contained within the world-outlook of an artist, in his conception or in the work of his unworthy fingers.

Harrison Mitchell

Archaeologists have not yet discovered any stage of human existence without art. Even in the half-light before the dawn of humanity we received this gift from Hands we did not manage to discern. Nor have we managed to ask: Why was this gift given to us and what are we to do with it?

And all those prophets who are predicting that art is disintegrating, that it has used up all its forms, that it is dying, are mistaken. We are the ones who shall die. And art will remain. The question is whether before we perish we shall understand all its aspects and all its ends.

Not all can be given names. Some of them go beyond words. Art opens even the chilled, darkened heart to high spiritual experience. Through the instrumentality of art we are sometimes sent—vaguely, briefly—insights which logical processes of thought cannot attain.

Like the tiny mirror of the fairy tale: you look into it and see—not yourself—but for one fleeting moment the Unattainable to which you cannot leap or fly. And the heart aches…

Dostoyevsky once let drop the enigmatic phrase: “Beauty will save the world.” What does this mean? For a long time it used to seem to me that this was a mere phrase. Just how could such a thing be possible? When had it ever happened in the bloodthirsty course of history that beauty had saved anyone from anything? Beauty had provided embellishment certainly, given uplift—but whom had it ever saved?

However, there is a special quality in the essence of beauty, a special quality in the status of art: the conviction carried by a genuine work of art is absolutely indisputable and tames even the strongly opposed heart. One can construct a political speech, an assertive journalistic polemic, a program for organizing society, a philosophical system, so that in appearance it is smooth, well structured, and yet it is built upon a mistake, a lie; and the hidden element, the distortion, will not immediately become visible. And a speech, or a journalistic essay, or a program in rebuttal, or a different philosophical structure can be counterposed to the first—and it will seem just as well constructed and as smooth, and everything will seem to fit. And therefore one has faith in them—yet one has no faith.

It is vain to affirm that which the heart does not confirm. In contrast, a work of art bears within itself its own confirmation: concepts which are manufactured out of whole cloth or overstrained will not stand up to being tested in images, will somehow fall apart and turn out to be sickly and pallid and convincing to no one. Works steeped in truth and presenting it to us vividly alive will take hold of us, will attract us to themselves with great power- and no one, ever, even in a later age, will presume to negate them. And so perhaps that old trinity of Truth and Good and Beauty is not just the formal outworn formula it used to seem to us during our heady, materialistic youth. If the crests of these three trees join together, as the investigators and explorers used to affirm, and if the too obvious, too straight branches of Truth and Good are crushed or amputated and cannot reach the light—yet perhaps the whimsical, unpredictable, unexpected branches of Beauty will make their way through and soar up to that very place and in this way perform the work of all three.

And in that case it was not a slip of the tongue for Dostoyevsky to say that “Beauty will save the world,” but a prophecy. After all, he was given the gift of seeing much, he was extraordinarily illumined.

And consequently perhaps art, literature, can in actual fact help the world of today.

Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn is the author of major works of fiction such as Cancer Ward and The First Circle, and of several works of history, above all the volumes of the Gulag Archipelago.

Travel Light

2009-07-03T08:56:00.003-05:00

"Nothing makes a journey more difficult than a heavy backpack filled with nice but unnecessary things." R. Alcorn from The Treasure Principle

Wise Caution for 'The Rest of Us' on Life and Love

2009-06-26T09:44:00.003-05:00

The Voice Claims Another Victim

By Cal Thomas

Tribune Media Services

The first thing that should be acknowledged about South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford’s admission to an extramarital affair is that it could happen to any of us. That is not an excuse (and no, it has not happened to me, or to my wife). Every married person has heard the voice; the one that says you deserve something “better.”

Gov. Sanford should have been familiar with the voice because of the Bible studies he attended. The voice began seducing humanity a long time ago. It told our first parents that they needed more than the perfection of Eden. The voice told them that God knew that if they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would be like God. But they already were like God, because they were made in His image.

Stick with me you secularists and non-literalists, because there is a point to be made for you, too.

Psychiatrists explain that married people tire of one another after 10 or 20 years (it used to be seven years, as in that Marilyn Monroe/Tom Ewell film “The Seven Year Itch.” Must be inflation.). Good marriages are the result of hard work. Forsaking all others is more than a wedding promise. It is a daily denial of one’s lower instincts. Temptation is everywhere. The key to overcoming it is to realize you are fighting an adversarial force that wants to destroy you, embarrass you and cause ridicule to be heaped on the God you claim to worship.

One can make excuses about power and loneliness and starting out as a friendship that develops into something else, as Gov. Sanford rambled on about, but one can’t explain adultery. It is what it is and the person who commits it should be calling on God for mercy, not the voters for understanding.

I once asked evangelist Billy Graham if he experienced temptations of the flesh when he was young. He said, “of course.” How did he deal with them? With passion he responded, “I asked God to strike me dead before He ever allowed me to dishonor Him in that way.” That is the kind of seriousness one needs to overcome the temptations of a corrupt culture in which shameful behavior is too often paraded in the streets.

There was a time when a divorce would disqualify someone from public office. Now people admit affairs and expect to stay in office. “It’s just sex,” said defenders of Bill Clinton. One might as well say, “it was just a gun” that killed my spouse. Adultery wounds in ways a bullet cannot. One can potentially heal from a bullet wound, but a shot to the soul and to the trust that must be central to any marriage is nearly impossible to repair. The wounded spouse always wonders, “Will he/she do it again?”

A relationship most promise to venerate “until death us do part” is damaged by adultery, whether it’s a TV evangelist, a politician or a regular Joe who violates the marriage bed. In fact, we rarely even use the word “adultery” anymore because it sounds so, uh, biblical, and those teachings and commands long ago fell out of fashion, though they work for those who embrace them.

Any man who claims never to have had thoughts of straying is a liar. Any man who has sought the help of God and other men in helping him to honor his marriage promises to his wife and children is a hero, especially in today’s morally exhausted culture.

I miss Paul Harvey and his acknowledgement of those who had been married 50, 60, even 70 years. Those people are my role models. I’m sure they heard the voice, too, but they told it to get lost and it did. Pushing against weights builds up the body, pushing against the voice builds up the soul and improves a marriage. You can never take a marriage — or the voice — for granted; it’s always on the prowl looking for new people to destroy.

Money, Greed, and God: An Interview with Jay Richards

2009-06-10T08:31:00.002-05:00

Because Affluence and right thinking about our culture and systems of government are often a topic of this blog I want everyone reading to see the following interview of Jay Richards from www.revkevindeyoung.com. The book is timely and a great opportunity to work through a deeper and more spiritual understanding of 'real economics' in our world and why "greed isn't good" and capitalism isn't bad. Without a biblical ethos and appropriate rule of law markets fall apart. This is a good interview.

Money, Greed, and God: An Interview with Jay Richards

When I’m not reading history or theology I am often reading economics. I find the interplay between Christian commitment and economics fascinating, and filled with misunderstandings. If you’ve ever had questions about capitalism, and in particular whether or not a generous Christian can really support capitalism, I would encourage you to read Jay Richards’ new book Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism is the Solution and Not the Problem. Whether the title makes you say “Amen” or makes you want to roll your eyes into the back of your head, I would recommend this book as the best, most easily accessible, defense of capitalism from a Christian perspective.

Here is an interview with Jay Richards I conducted by email.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? What is your current vocation? Are you married? Do you have children?

I was born and raised in Amarillo, TX. I am married to Ginny (we just celebrated our eighteenth anniversary), and we have two lovely daughters, Gillian (10) and Ellie (6).

I worked full time at Discovery Institute for 7 1/2 years (in Seattle) and at Acton Institute for three years. We attended a CRC Church in Grand Rapids. At the moment, though, we're out in the Seattle area while my wife finishes some course work for a masters degree. I'm getting to write full time as a Visiting Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. We're writing a series of booklets on economic topics for ordinary, non-wonkish, people. I'm also editing a collection of articles designed to bridge the growing divide between social and fiscal conservatives. It's scheduled to be released in late summer.

2. How did you become a Christian? What is your current church like and how are you involved?

I attended a mainline Presbyterian Church in Amarillo, and was a more or less conventional, mainline, Christian. In college, I had a crisis of faith, but was brought back from the brink through the writings of C.S. Lewis.

3. You didn't always see the benefit to a market economy. Tell us a little bit about your story as you moved from strong opposition to capitalism to seeing the Christian virtues on the free market.

In college, I fell for many of the socialist-left ideas popular at the time (and which are regrettably making a comeback). Happily, I happened to read some good economics, including a terrific book on Marxism by Thomas Sowell. I also read Ayn Rand, which destroyed the vision of collectivism. By the time I was a senior in college, the luster of socialism had worn off. But it will still several years before I thought a Christian could defend capitalism. I suppose I had accepted Rand's argument, but rejected the idea that greed was a virtue. I thought capitalism "worked," but was still morally problematic. Once I read George Gilder's Wealth and Poverty, and Michael Novak's The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism, I changed my mind. This was actually when I was at Union Seminary in Virginia, and having to read Gustavo Gutierrez's Theology of Liberation for the third time. I went looking for a counterbalance, and discovered Gilder and Novak.

4. In your book, you unpack eight mistakes Christians make with economics. I don't want to make you rewrite the whole book for this interview, but could you give a one sentence description of each myth?

Here's how I summarize the eight myths in my book:

The nirvana myth (contrasting capitalism with an unrealizable ideal rather than with its live alternatives)
The piety myth (focusing on our good intentions rather than the unintended consequences of our actions)
The zero-sum game myth (believing that trade requires a winner and a loser)
The materialist myth (believing that wealth isn’t created, it’s simply transferred)
The greed myth (believing that the essence of capitalism is greed)
The usury myth (believing that charging interest on money is always exploitative)
The artsy myth (confusing aesthetic judgments with economic arguments)
The freeze frame myth (believing that things always stay the same—for example, assuming that population trends will continue indefinitely or treating a current “natural resource” as if it will always be needed)

I linked the myths to eight corresponding questions:

Can’t we build a just society?
What does God require of us as Christians?
Doesn’t capitalism foster unfair competition?
If I become rich, won’t someone else become poor?
Isn’t capitalism based on greed?
Has Christianity ever really embraced capitalism?
Doesn’t capitalism lead to an ugly consumerist culture?
Do we take more than our fair share? That is, isn’t our modern
lifestyle causing us to use up all the natural resources?

I struggled with this taxonomy for a while, but I do think the vast majority of bad thinking on economics among Christians can be placed in one of these eight categories.

5. Do you recommend that churches offer fair trade coffee?

In general, I don't think fair trade coffee makes sense economically (see pages 39-42), although I also don't think it's as problematic as many coercive strategies, such as wealth redistribution. I've recently learned that there is some diversity among fair trade organizations, especially among Christian ministries. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to speak too harshly of fair trade without nuancing, since it is normally an expression of a charitable impulse, and it appears, at least on the surface, to be a market-oriented way of dealing with third world poverty.

6. On page 35, you write "Spiritually you're better off a little mixed up about economics than indifferent to human suffering. Economically, though, only what you do is important, whatever your reason." This seems to be a very important point for the book. What are you trying to say in these two sentences?

When I wrote: "Spiritually you're better off a little mixed up about economics than indifferent to human suffering. Economically, though, only what you do is important, whatever your reason," I was trying to balance but capture Gilson's "Piety is no substitute for technique." To me, this is one of most important points I've tried to make. Motivation IS important when we're considering our spiritual state before God. It's just that our motivation for a policy has nothing to do with the real world effects of the policy. I think that Christians often weight our (and others') motivations far too heavily on economic matters. It's as if we think feeling bad about poverty is more obligatory than actually doing something that helps the poor. For instance, several times in churches I've pointed out why minimum wage laws don't really help the poor in the long run. I've never had anyone try to debunk the argument, but several times I've received the complaint that my argument shows that I'm not really concerned about the poor. It doesn't of course. But even if it were evidence that I weren't concerned about the poor, the argument's validity (or lack thereof) would remain the same.

7. I'm sure that you will get some feedback from libertarians for your critique of Ayn Rand. Some might be surprised that you would criticize Rand in a book promoting free market capitalism. What, in your opinion, does Rand get wrong?

My criticism of Rand is central to my argument. In my view, she rightly defended free markets, limited government, and the importance of entrepreneurs, but she located those arguments in a deeply flawed atheistic philosophy. Without going into all the problems with Objectivism, I criticize her defense of greed, as well as her identification of greed with capitalism. I also argue that she confuses Adam Smith's arguments about self-interest with selfishness. If Rand is right about capitalism, it seems to me, then it would be very hard for Christians to be capitalists. That said, as I mention in the book, Rand actually was important in helping me to purge my socialist sympathies.

8. You finish the book with "Ten Ways to Alleviate Poverty; or, Creating Wealth in Ten Tough Steps." Why are the rule of law (number one) and a formal property system (number three) so important to the alleviation of poverty?

Rule of law is a prerequisite for a free market even to exist. A free market is not anarchy, as some critics who talk about "unbridled capitalism" seem to imply. For a market to be free, exchanges must be voluntary, which means they must be perceived as a benefit for all participants. This is what makes a free market a positive-sum game by definition. If the strong can steal from their weaker neighbors with impunity, in contrast, they have little motivation for looking for win-win exchanges. Rule of law encourages participants in a market to seek out exchanges that are mutually beneficial, even if the participants have immoral motives. That's a good thing.

In arguing for the importance of private property and titling in raising people out of poverty, I'm following Hernando de Soto's important arguments in The Mystery of Capital. These laws and methods allow land to become assets, to become property, to be compared with and traded with other assets. This opens up all sorts of wealth-creating activities that the first world takes for granted, but which is still lacking in much of the developing world.

9. You go out of your way to argue that the universe is divinely ordered and purposeful. What difference does this make for our approach to economics?

I think that a culture's general beliefs about the nature of reality can have significant economic consequences. For instance, if one believes that the world is orderly and designed for a purpose, one is more likely to look for, and discover, aspects of that order. Moreover, these beliefs can encourage optimism, delayed gratification and a motivation to make the world a better place. Finally, it prevents one from reducing economics to materialism. The most important truths of economics emerge from the reality of the human person. That reality requires a theological/philosophical framework that can accommodate it.

Of course, to offset utopian tendencies, these beliefs are best tempered with a healthy realization of our flaws. In the Christian worldview, original sin fulfills this function.

10. What advice would you give pastors as they preach on money?

I would have two main words of advice for any pastor who wants to preach about money. First, look carefully at the what Scripture and the Christian tradition actually say about money. Second, get acquainted with some basic truths of economics. There are empirical realities in economics, just as there are in chemistry and physics. It's not all hopelessly laden with ideology. And it doesn't require advanced degrees in economics. If a pastor shows that he understands some economics, he's much more likely to be taken seriously when he speaks prophetically about money to his parishioners. I suppose I wrote the book, in part, to help pastors do just that.

Contentment

2009-06-09T09:41:00.003-05:00

When was the last time you rested like this?

On the plane home from Denver yesterday I read a statistic that I thought was very interesting. The statistic said that 80 plus percent of peoples stress was derived from "financial pressures". I resemble the majority of those in the study!

In America in 2009 perhaps a little context is in order? The Creator of this world has a few words for us!

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For I brought nothing into the world, and I can take nothing out of it. But if I have food and clothing, with these I will be content." I Timothy 6:6-8

Where to Find Real Comfort in Life

2009-05-28T08:08:00.004-05:00

When life is pressing in from all sides I am thankful for the following reminder from The Heidelberg Confession written long ago. It is not only a confession it is a prayer.

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Elizabeth Gilbert on The Creative Life

2009-04-30T08:59:00.002-05:00

This TED talk has been going around the interweb for the last few weeks. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Love, Pray, gives her take on the creative process and God-given inspiration. If you have 19 minutes to spare, I HIGHLY recommend this. (This comes from my friend Blaine Hogan's blog: www.blainehogan.com)

JRR Tolkien on the Purpose of Life

2009-04-28T08:05:00.002-05:00

“...the chief purpose of life, for any one of us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all the means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks. To do as we say in the Gloria in Excelsis: ...We praise you, we call you holy, we worship you, we proclaim your glory, we thank you for the greatness of your splendour.” —JRR Tolkien (OH)

Sometimes You Just Need to Unwind

2009-04-22T12:23:00.004-05:00

Thursday through Saturday I'm looking forward to a few days at a Generous Giving conference www.generousgiving.org. It's work oriented but looks like a great place.

Living Free

2009-04-19T06:03:00.003-05:00

As a young man in the 1970's it seemed like everything in my world was focused on bigger and better. Bigger engines in cars and the "big cadillac" were all the rage. The 80's and 90's seem to have been a building on those excesses and desires to accumulate for much of the culture. In the 2000's we found ourselves living high on credit and the vapors of several decades of increase and excess in our standard of living (at least in much of the West).

Now we find ourselves trying to unwind a mountain of debt personally and, as usual, with a government that learns decades later, who is "here to help" (which is a phrase that concerns all rational men and women). We couldn't borrow our way into happiness and contentment and the governments of the world cannot borrow their way out of this crisis.

So how do we live free financially and emotionally, once and for all, in the midst of the unbalanced and fallen world we find ourselves in? I certainly don't have all the answers but I do have a few suggestions to get us started.

1. Get a plan. It has been said over and over again "if you don't know where your going...". If you don't know where to start begin by asking yourself where you would like to be financially, physically, spiritually, familially three years from today and write it down.
2. Answer the three year question in light of what you believe God is calling you to be and do. Try to block out what 'the world' and it's system of thought are pulling you towards. This is a difficult task, but once you can describe who God is calling you to be and what He desires for you to do, courage to act comes more freely. If you find this difficult you are not alone. Yet it is attainable with time in Gods word and a biblically based community of friends.
3. Consider where you will be or what will happen three years from today if you don't go through this exercise? It is true that it is difficult to expect a different outcome in life if you don't change what you are doing.

This is not written to be a "ra-ra" learn to live better self-help post. It's just a reminder to me first and others reading that we need to examine our lives - often - and utilize tools and discipline to live as we are 'called' by God as an antidote to being pulled by the world into a system of thought and way of life that is counter to what we see in scripture. Had many of us done this my guess is our economic and emotional well being would not be so challenged as it is today.

Being transformed has more to do with looking deeply into scripture and living by it's precepts in all areas of life than it does 'keeping all the rules'. I'm first to admit "balance" is unattainable this side of heaven, yet striving for a more whole being takes work and a commitment to living with others who can help us now. I'm so glad I don't have to do this alone!

Finding Life's Balance - Together

2009-04-15T11:15:00.005-05:00

Finding Life's Balance - Together

Over the past 16 months or so prices on securities and commodities have been searching for a balance in price. Oil was more than $145.00 per barrel and stocks were inflated in price due to borrowing and leverage. Finding an equalibrium in price or value is painful and takes time. I believe life goes through many times of searching out a 'balance' and it too takes time and is painful. The beauty comes from walking through this painful time in community with friends we love and who love us. Is there someone, or a group of people you walk through life's difficult times with? Is there someone in your life you can be truly honest with about your fears and anxiety of being 'out of balance'? If not, I would suggest you need someone and as I have heard many times if you need a friend be a friend. I suspect if you reach out you will find others walking 'out of balance' who could use a friend as well.

The Christian life and culture should 'look like something'. What does it look like in your neighborhood? Creating culture that reflects the precepts of love and reconciliation is difficult, but it's worth it...and for most of us working towards these things helps us learn to 'walk in balance'. Just thinking!

Truly My Favorite Blog Post Ever

2009-04-08T10:45:00.006-05:00

This is a bit long for a blog post but truly my favorite post EVER! It is written by Michael Spencer at www.internetmonk.com. If you want to know what I believe about the problems within our community (of which I am a member) read this. Do we lack community and wholeness? Yes. Is this blog post (I say boldly because I didn't write it) a good starting place for admitting this and understanding why? Absolutely! So read on if you dare...

iMonk 101: When I Am Weak: Why we must embrace our brokenness and never be good Christians

April 7th, 2009 by iMonk

" This is perhaps my favorite statement of the Gospel that I’ve every written. The best sermons should preach to yourself. The Luther quote at the end still rocks me. I’ve been working on this to make it “book friendly,” and I wanted to share it with the IM audience again. If you’re a “good Christian,” go do something else. If you are a mess, this is my gift to you. From 2004 I think.

The voice on the other end of the phone told a story that has become so familiar to me, I could have almost finished it from the third sentence. A respected and admired Christian leader, carrying the secret burden of depression, had finally broken under the crushing load of holding it all together. As prayer networks in our area begin to make calls and send e-mails, the same questions are asked again and again. “How could this happen? How could someone who spoke so confidently of God, someone whose life gave such evidence of Jesus’ presence, come to the point of a complete breakdown? How can someone who has the answers for everyone one moment, have no answers for themselves the next?”

Indeed. Why are we, after all that confident talk of “new life,” “new creation,” “the power of God,” “healing,” “wisdom,” “miracles,” “the power of prayer,” …why are we so weak? Why do so many “good Christian people,” turn out to be just like everyone else? Divorced. Depressed. Broken. Messed up. Full of pain and secrets. Addicted, needy and phony. I thought we were different.

It’s remarkable, considering the tone of so many Christian sermons and messages, that any church has honest people show up at all. I can’t imagine that any religion in the history of humanity has made as many clearly false claims and promises as evangelical Christians in their quest to say that Jesus makes us better people right now. With their constant promises of joy, power, contentment, healing, prosperity, purpose, better relationships, successful parenting and freedom from every kind of oppression and affliction, I wonder why more Christians aren’t either being sued by the rest of humanity for lying or hauled off to a psych ward to be examined for serious delusions.

Evangelicals love a testimony of how screwed up I USED to be. They aren’t interested in how screwed up I am NOW. But the fact is, that we are screwed up. Then. Now. All the time in between and, it’s a safe bet to assume, the rest of the time we’re alive. But we will pay $400 to go hear a “Bible teacher” tell us how we are only a few verses, prayers and cds away from being a lot better. And we will set quietly, or applaud loudly, when the story is retold. I’m really better now. I’m a good Christian. I’m not a mess anymore. I’m different from other people.

Please. Call this off. It’s making me sick. I mean that. It’s affecting me. I’m seeing, in my life and the lives of others, a commitment to lying about our condition that is absolutely pathological. Evangelicals called Bill Clinton a big-time liar about sex? Come on. How many nodding “good Christians” have so much garbage sitting in the middle of their lives that the odor makes it impossible to breathe without gagging? How many of us are addicted to food, porn and shopping? How many of us are depressed, angry, unforgiving and just plain mean? How many of us are a walking, talking course on basic hypocrisy, because we just can’t look at ourselves in the mirror and admit what we a collection of brokenness we’ve become WHILE we called ourselves “good Christians” who want to “witness” to others. I’m choking just writing this.

You people with your Bibles. Look something up for me? Isn’t almost everyone in that book screwed up? I mean, don’t the screwed up people- like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Hosea- outnumber the “good Christians” by about ten to one? And isn’t it true that the more we get to look at a Biblical character close up, the more likely it will be that we’ll see a whole nasty collection of things that Christians say they no longer have to deal with because, praise God! I’m fixed? Not just a few temper tantrums or ordinary lies, but stuff like violence. Sex addictions. Abuse. Racism. Depression. It’s all there, yet we still flop our Bibles open on the pulpit and talk about “Ten Ways To Have Joy That Never Goes Away!” Where is the laugh track?

What was that I heard? “Well….we’re getting better. That’s sanctification. I’ve been delivered!” I suppose some of us are getting better. For instance, my temper is better than it used to be. Of course, the reason my temper is better, is that in the process of cleaning up the mess I’ve made of my family with my temper, I’ve discovered about twenty other major character flaws that were growing, unchecked, in my personality. I’ve inventoried the havoc I’ve caused in this short life of mine, and it turns out “temper problem” is way too simple to describe the mess that is me. Sanctification? Yes, I no longer have the arrogant ignorance to believe that I’m always right about everything, and I’m too embarrassed by the general chaos of my life to mount an angry fit every time something doesn’t go my way. Getting better? Quite true. I’m getting better at knowing what a wretched wreck I really amount to, and it’s shut me up and sat me down.

I love this passage of scripture. I don’t know why know one believes it, but I love it.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:7-11)

Let me attempt a slight retelling of the text, more in line with the Christianity of our time.

But we have this treasure in saved, healed, delivered and supernaturally changed vessels, to show that God has given to us, right now, His surpassing power over ever situation. We are no longer afflicted, perplexed, in conflict or defeated. No, we are alive with the power of Jesus, and the resurrection power of Jesus has changed us now…TODAY! In every way!. God wants you to see just what a Jesus-controlled person is all about, so the power of Jesus is on display in the life I am living, and those who don’t have this life, are miserable and dying.

Contextual concerns aside, let’s read Paul’s words as a basic “reality board” to the Christian life.

We’re dying. Life is full of pain and perplexity. We have Christ, and so, in the future, his life will manifest in us in resurrection and glory. In the present, that life manifests in us in this very odd, contradictory experience. We are dying, afflicted, broken, hurting, confused…yet we hold on to Jesus in all these things, and continue to love him and believe in him. The power of God is in us, not in making us above the human, but allowing us to be merely human, yet part of a new creation in Jesus.

What does this mean?

It means your depression isn’t fixed. It means you are still overwieght. It means you still want to look at porn. It means you are still frightened of dying, reluctant to tell the truth and purposely evasive when it comes to responsibility. It means you can lie, cheat, steal, even do terrible things, when you are ‘in the flesh,” which, in one sense, you always are. If you are a Christian, it means you are frequently, perhaps constantly miserable, and it means you are involved in a fight for Christ to have more influence in your life than your broken, screwed up, messed up humanity. In fact, the greatest miracle is that with all the miserable messes in your life, you still want to have Jesus as King, because it’s a lot of trouble, folks. It isn’t a picnic.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Here is even more undeniable, unarguable language. Weaknesses are with me for the whole journey. Paul was particularly thinking of persecutions, but how much more does this passage apply to human frailty, brokenness and hurt? How essential is it for us to be broken, if Christ is going to be our strength? When I am weak I am strong. Not, “When I am cured,” or “When I am successful,” or “When I am a good Christian,” but when I am weak. Weakness- the human experience of weakness- is God’s blueprint for exalting and magnifying his Son. When broken people, miserably failing people, continue to belong to, believe in and worship Jesus, God is happy.

Now, the upper gallery is full of people who are getting upset, certain that this essay is one of those pieces where I am in the mood to tell everyone to go sin themselves up, and forget about sanctification. Sorry to disappoint.

The problem is a simple one of semantics. Or perhaps a better way to say it is imagination. How do we imagine the life of faith? What does living faith look like? Does it look like the “good Christian,” “whole person,” “victorious life” version of the Christian life?

Faith, alive in our weakness, looks like a war. An impossible war, against a far superior adversary: our own sinful, fallen nature. Faith fights this battle. Piper loves this verse from Romans, and I do, too. But I need to explain why, because it can sound like the “victorious” life is not Jesus’ life in the Gospel, but me “winning at life” or some other nonsense.

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put (are putting) to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13)

The complexity resides right here: Faith is discontentment with what I am, and satisfaction with all God is for me in Jesus. The reason that description works so well for me is that it tells us the mark of saving faith is not just resting passively in the promises of the Gospel (though that is exactly what justification does), but this ongoing war with the reality of my condition. Unless I am reading Romans 8 wrongly, my fight is never finished, because my sinful, messed-up human experience isn’t finished until death and resurrection. That fight- acceptance and battle- is the normal life of the believer. I fight. Jesus will finish the work. I will groan, and do battle, climb the mountain of Holiness with wounds and brokenness and holy battle scars, but I will climb it, since Christ is in me. The Gospel assures victory, but to say I stand in a present victory as I “kill” sin is a serious wrong turn.

What does this fight look like? It is a bloody mess, I’m telling you. There is a lot of failure in it. It is not an easy way to the heavenly city. It is a battle where we are brought down again, and again and again. Brought down by what we are, and what we continually discover ourselves to be. And we only are “victorious” in the victory of Jesus, a victory that is ours by faith, not by sight. In fact, that fight is probably described just as accurately by the closing words of Romans 7 as by the “victorious” words of Romans 8.

23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:23-25)

I fall down. I get up….and believe. Over and over again. That’s as good as it gets in this world. This life of faith, is a battle full of weakness and brokenness. The only soldiers in this battle are wounded ones. There are moments of total candor- I am a “wretched man” living in a “body” of death. Denying this, spinning this, ignoring this or distorting this reality is nothing but trouble in the true Christian experience. The sin we are killing in Romans 8 is, in a sense, ourselves. Not some demon or serpent external to us. Our battle is with ourselves, and embracing this fact is the compass and foundation of the Gospel’s power in our lives.

What lands us in churches where we are turned into the cheering section for personal victory over everything is denying that faith is an ongoing battle that does not end until Jesus ends it. Those who stand up and claim victory may be inviting us to celebrate a true place in their experience at the time, but it isn’t the whole person, the whole story, or all that accurate. They are still a mess. Count on it. This battle- and the victories in it- are fought by very un-victorious Christians.

I will be accused of a serious lack of good news, I’m sure, so listen. At the moment I am winning, Jesus is with me. At the moment I am losing, Jesus is with me and guarantees that I will get up and fight on. At the moment I am confused, wounded and despairing, Jesus is with me. I never, ever lose the brokenness. I fight, and sometimes I prevail, but more and more of my screwed up, messed up life erupts. Each battle has the potential to be the last, but because I belong to one whose resurrection guarantees that I will arrive safely home in a new body and a new creation, I miraculously, amazingly, find myself continuing to believe, continuing to move forward, till Jesus picks us up and takes us home.

Now, let’s come to something very important here. This constant emphasis on the “victorious life” or “good Christian life” is absolutely the anti-Christ when it comes to the Gospel. If I am _________________ (fill in the blank with victorious life terminology) then I am oriented to be grateful for what Jesus did THEN, but I’m needing him less and less in the NOW. I want to make sure he meets me at the gate on the way into heaven, but right now, I’m signing autographs. I’m a good Christian. This imagining of the Christian journey will kill us.

We need our brokenness. We need to admit it and know it is the real, true stuff of our earthly journey in a fallen world. It’s the cross on which Jesus meets us. It is the incarnation he takes up for us. It’s what his hands touch when he holds us. Do you remember this story? It’s often been told, but oh how true it is as a GOSPEL story (not a law story.) It is a Gospel story about Jesus and how I experience him in this “twisted” life.

In his book Mortal Lessons (Touchstone Books, 1987) physician Richard Selzer describes a scene in a hospital room after he had performed surgery on a young woman’s face:

I stand by the bed where the young woman lies . . . her face, postoperative . . . her mouth twisted in palsy . . . clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, one of the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be that way from now on. I had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh, I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek, I had cut this little nerve. Her young husband is in the room. He stands on the opposite side of the bed, and together they seem to be in a world all their own in the evening lamplight . . . isolated from me . . .private.

Who are they? I ask myself . . . he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously. The young woman speaks. “Will my mouth always be like this?” she asks. “Yes,” I say, “it will. It is because the nerve was cut.” She nods and is silent. But the young man smiles. “I like it,” he says, “it’s kind of cute.” All at once I know who he is. I understand, and I lower my gaze. One is not bold in an encounter with the divine. Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth, and I am so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate to hers. . . to show her that their kiss still works

This is who Jesus has always been. And if you think you are getting to be a great kisser or are looking desirable, I feel sorry for you. He wraps himself around our hurts, our brokenness and our ugly, ever-present sin. Those of you who want to draw big, dark lines between my humanity and my sin, go right ahead, but I’m not joining you. It’s all ME. And I need Jesus so much to love me like I really am: brokenness, memories, wounds, sins, addictions, lies, death, fear….all of it. Take all it, Lord Jesus. If I don’t present this broken, messed up person to Jesus, my faith is dishonest, and my understanding of it will become a way of continuing the ruse and pretense of being “good.”

Now I want to talk about why this is important. We must begin to accept who we are, and bring a halt to the sad and repeated phenomenon of lives that are crumbling into pieces because the only Christian experience they know about is one that is a lie. We are infected with something that isn’t the Gospel, but a version of a religious life; an entirely untruthful version that drives genuine believers into the pit of despair and depression because, contrary to the truth, God is “against” them, rather than for them.

The verse says, “When I am weak, then I am strong- in Jesus.” It does not say “When I am strong, then I am strong, and you’ll know because Jesus will get all the credit.” Let me use two examples, and I hope neither will be offensive to those who might read and feel they recognize the persons described.

Many years ago, I knew a man who was a vibrant and very public Christian witness. He was involved in the “lay renewal” movement in the SBC, which involved a lot of giving testimonies of “what God was doing in your life.” (A phrase I could do without.) He was well-known for being a better speaker than most preachers, and he was an impressive and persuasive lay speaker. His enthusiasm for Christ was convincing.

He was also known to be a serial adulterer. Over and over, he strayed from his marriage vows, and scandalized his church and its witness in the community. When confronted, his response was predictable. He would visit the Church of Total Victory Now, and return claiming to have been delivered of the “demons of lust” that had caused him to sin. Life would go on. As far as I know, the cycle continued, unabated, for all the time I knew about him.

I understand that the church today needs- desperately- to hear experiential testimonies of the power of the Gospel. I understand that it is not good news to say we are broken and are going to stay that way. I know there will be little enthusiasm for saying sanctification consists, in large measure, in seeing our sin, and acknowledging what it is and how deep and extensive it has marred us. I doubt that the triumphalists will agree with me that the fight of faith is not a victory party, but a bloody war on a battlefield that resembles Omaha Beach more than a Beach party.

I write this piece particularly concerned for leaders, parents, pastors and teachers. I am moved and distressed that so many of them, most of all, are unable to admit their humanity, and their brokenness. In silence, they carry the secret, then stand in the place of public leadership and present a Gospel that is true, but a Christian experience that is far from true.

Then, from time to time, they fall. Into adultery, like the pastor of one of our state’s largest churches. A wonderful man, who kept a mistress for years rather than admit a problem millions of us share: faulty, imperfect marriages. Where is he now, I wonder? And where are so many others I’ve known and heard of who fell under the same weight? Their lives are lost to the cause of the Kingdom because they are just like the rest of us?

By the way, I’m not rejecting Biblical standards for leadership. I am suggesting we need a Biblical view of humanity when we read those passages. Otherwise we are going to turn statements like “rules his household well” into a disqualification to every human being on the planet.

I hear of those who are depressed. Where do they turn for help? How do they admit their hurt? It seems so “unChristian” to admit depression, yet it is a reality for millions and millions of human beings. Porn addiction. Food addiction. Rage addiction. Obsessive needs for control. Chronic lying and dishonesty. How many pastors and Christian leaders live with these human frailties and flaws, and never seek help because they can’t admit what we all know is true about all of us? They speak of salvation, love and Jesus, but inside they feel like the damned.

Multiply this by the hundreds of millions of broken Christians. They are merely human, but their church says they must be more than human to be good Christians. They cannot speak of or even acknowledge their troubled lives. Their marriages are wounded. Their children are hurting. They are filled with fear and the sins of the flesh. They are depressed and addicted, yet they can only approach the church with the lie that all is well, and if it becomes apparent that all is not well, they avoid the church.

I do not blame the church for this situation. It is always human nature to avoid the mirror and prefer the self-portrait. I blame all of us who know better. We know this is not the message of the Gospels, the Bible or of Jesus. But we- every one of us- is afraid to live otherwise. What if someone knew we were not a good Christian? Ah…what if…what if….

I close with a something I have said many times before. The Prodigal son, there on his knees, his father’s touch upon him, was not a “good” or “victorious” Christian. He was broken. A failure. He wasn’t even good at being honest. He wanted religion more than grace. His father baptized him in mercy, and resurrected him in grace. His brokenness was wrapped up in the robe and the embrace of God.

Why do we want to be better than that boy? Why do we make the older brother the goal of Christian experience? Why do we want to add our own addition to the parable, where the prodigal straightens out and becomes a successful youth speaker, writing books and doing youth revivals?

Lutheran writer Herman Sasse, in a meditation on Luther’s last words, “We are beggars. This is true,” puts it perfectly:

Luther asserted the very opposite: “Christ dwells only with sinners.” For the sinner and for the sinner alone is His table set. There we receive His true body and His true blood “for the forgiveness of sins” and this holds true even if forgiveness has already been received in Absolution. That here Scripture is completely on the side of Luther needs no further demonstration. Every page of the New Testament is indeed testimony of the Christ whose proper office it is “to save sinners”, “to seek and to save the lost”. And the entire saving work of Jesus, from the days when He was in Galilee and, to the amazement and alarm of the Pharisees, ate with tax collectors and sinners; to the moment when he, in contradiction with the principles of every rational morality, promised paradise to the thief on the cross, yes, His entire life on earth, from the cradle to the Cross, is one, unique grand demonstration of a wonder beyond all reason: The miracle of divine forgiveness, of the justification of the sinner. “Christ dwells only in sinners.” " Amen brother!

The Birth of Freedom

2009-04-07T10:52:00.003-05:00

One of the most thoughtful organizations I know of is the Acton Institute. This clip is an introduction to the upcoming film, "The Birth of Freedom". They are very good at describing how God used His people to form much of our culture. In this case "human dignity" and freedom of the slave and culture. Thank goodness someone is getting this message out in light of the rest of media. Best quote, "Can you imagine if they had asked the abolitionists or Dr. King to leave religion out of their movement or public speech?" Amen!

The Value of Learning How to Help by Doing - Guest Post

2009-04-03T12:14:00.000-05:00

Guest Post: Building value in the developing world

Photo courtesy of Joyce Ravid

by Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of Acumen Fund and author of The Blue Sweater

As a 25-year old banker, I decided to leave my career and change the world. This sounds like a move that a 25-year-old banker might make today–to escape the chaos.

But this was 1986. I thought I might start my new life in Africa. I discovered soon enough, though, that most Africans didn’t want saving, thank you very much. Certainly not by me–a young, unmarried American woman whose French was pathetic and whose understanding of the continent was limited to reading a few books.

I could have given up my dream. But I had a calling, so to speak. One sun-drenched day, I was jogging up and down the hilly streets of Kigali, Rwanda. Out of nowhere, a young boy, wearing a blue sweater, walked toward me. He was about 10 years old, skinny, with a shaved head and huge eyes, and not more than four feet tall. The sweater hung so low that it hid his shorts, covering toothpick legs and knobby knees.

My Uncle Ed had given me a blue sweater when I was in middle school. A soft blue wool sweater, with stripes on the sleeves and an African motif on the front–two zebras walking in front of a snow-capped mountain. This day in Rwanda, I ran over to the boy, who was obviously terrified. I grabbed his shoulders and turned down his collar. Sure enough, it was my name, Jacqueline Novogratz, on the tag.

My sweater had traveled thousands of miles for more than a decade.

Over the past two-plus decades, I’ve committed my life to understanding global connectedness and issues of poverty. In 2001, after working for more than seven years for the Rockefeller Foundation, I founded Acumen Fund, a nonprofit venture capital fund that invests in the poor. We don’t believe in traditional aid. We hold the recipients of our loans and equity stakes accountable to clear goals.

We’ve funded A To Z, a company in Tanzania that today produces more than 20 million anti-malarial bed nets annually and employs over 7,000 people, mostly women. We’ve invested in Mumbai’s first emergency ambulance service that serves rich and poor alike (and whose yellow ambulances were ubiquitous in the news coverage of last November’s attacks in that city). We’ve supported the development and distribution of drip irrigation systems that allow hundreds of thousands of poor farmers in India and Pakistan to double or even triple their crop yields and income. We’ve invested more than $40 million in enterprises that have brought safe water, affordable health care, housing, and alternative energy to low-income people in South Asia and East Africa.

In writing my new book The Blue Sweater, I’ve thought a lot about what my adventures, experiences and the people I’ve met have taught me. I learned that it’s all too easy to veer toward the charitable–to have low or no expectations of low-income people. This does nothing but confirm prejudices on all sides. “Philanthropists should focus on supporting others to do what they already do well,” one of my mentors, the late John Gardner, told me back when I was in business school at Stanford. “Individuals don’t want to be taken care of. They need to be given a chance to fulfill their own potential.” (Gardner, who served in the Johnson Administration, founded Common Cause and headed the Carnegie Foundation before I knew him.)

I’ve also learned this: “I am part of all that I have met.” This is from Tennyson’s Ulysses. It’s one of my favorite lines in literature. I try to live it every day.

Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder and CEO of Acumen Fund, a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. Her new memoir, The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World, tells the inspiring story of a woman who left a career in international banking to spend her life on a quest to understand global poverty and find powerful new ways of tackling it. Acumen Fund’s corporate supporters include Goldman Sachs (GS), Google (GOOG), Cisco (CSCO), Nike (NKE), Coca-Cola (KO), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Citigroup (C), Dow Chemical (DOW), Credit Suisse (CS), as well as the Skoll Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.

BLUE LIKE JAZZ THE MOVIE

2009-03-29T21:44:00.004-05:00

I'm working on an exciting new project with a couple of clients Steve Taylor and Dan Raines.

A recent review said the following: Gabe Lyons, author of UnChristian

Blue Like Jazz portrays a vivid tension between Christianity and the world that is. I thought it was fantastic. It was hard to swallow some the direct obligations towards Christianity – they are so true though. The times of hope and resolve allowed me to emotionally connect to the character of Don.

I laughed out loud and swallowed hard at times when reading through the script. The story touched on every single issue that outsiders have with Christianity (Judgmental, Hypocritical, Antihomosexual, Sheltered, Too Political, and Proselytizing based on the research of unChristian). It’s an emotional ride that brought me to an ending that gave me much hope and confidence in (1) Being Christian (2) The story I am developing with God on a personal level and (3) Jesus.

The Evangelical viewer is going to come face to face with some tough criticisms. However, the honest Christian is going to come away feeling refreshed. The cultural elite are going to laugh at the cynicism and debate that takes place during the Reed College scenes and they will appreciate the genuine tension that Don has with God. Your Juno fans are going to love the the witty dialogue, emotional connection to each character and who they represent. They will also love the scenes dealing with rabbits, the Pope, condoms, college parties, and the journey Don is on. The dialogue comes off as very genuine, even when reading it. Conservative Christians are going to have the hardest time with it – but it is a necessary affliction they need to feel. The postmodern crowd of Christianity is going to rave about it. Since the story is about a guy who is in college your college students will love it on so many different levels, especially, the character development of Don. I think majority of criticisms will come from your extreme conservative and your extreme liberal – However, majority of the world rides the fence.

I can’t wait to see the motion picture.”

Help Me Please

2009-03-27T09:05:00.002-05:00

These pictures are from my friend Josh MacLeod's trip to Darfur Sudan LAST WEEK, March 2009. Watch this video to see the beautiful faces of those effected by the genocide in Darfur. If you watch this video, be prepared to take action, ... I am committing to help put in a well in a southern Darfur camp if you want to help ask me how. If 380 friends on my Facebook list commit $40.00 and thousands will have clean water in the name of Christ. Will you join me? Checks made to:

Persecution Project Foundation
c/o 125 Greystone Drive
Franklin, TN 37069

I'll make it happen and post results on this blog! Blessings

Morning Quote

2009-03-26T06:53:00.005-05:00

"The significant problems we face in life
cannot be solved at the same level of thinking
we were at when we created them."
Albert Einstein

Necessary Roadblocks

2009-03-25T19:52:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered why so many times things just don't go the way you wish? I have. More than a thousand times I would guess! Yet for the man or woman loved by God could the hindrance be a "Providential hindrance"?

From my reading of scripture God of the Universe is sovereign and mindful of our needs. That said, it is hard to explain so many things. But for the man I met who was stopped in traffic and made late for his meetings on the 42nd floor of the Trade Centers of New York on September 11 that 'hindrance', which he saw before the towers were hit as a 'roadblock' ended for his good.

Perhaps we need more of the mind of God to understand our days and what appear to be "roadblocks"? I know that today I have seen at least four unplanned, and one very difficult, experiences in my own life...yet I am confident they were not without reason. Just thinking.

St. Patrick Celebration

2009-03-17T09:08:00.001-05:00

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

The Real St. Patrick

Ted Olsen | posted 8/08/2008 12:33PM

1 of 1

'Tis the season for parades, green beer, shamrocks, and articles talking about why St. Patrick's day isn't all about parades, green beer, and shamrocks.

First, a few misconceptions about Patrick:

Patrick isn't really a Saint with a capital S, having never been officially canonized by Rome. And Patrick couldn't have driven the snakes out of Ireland because there were never any snakes there to begin with. He wasn't even the first evangelist to Ireland (Palladius had been sent in 431,about five years before Patrick went). Patrick isn't even Irish. He's from what's now Dumbarton, Scotland (just northwest of Glasgow).

Patrick was 16 years old in about the year 405, when he was captured in a raid and became a slave in what was still radically pagan Ireland. Far from home, he clung to the religion he had ignored as a teenager. Even though his grandfather had been a priest, and his father a town councilor, Patrick "knew not the true God." But forced to tend his master's sheep in Ireland, he spent his six years of bondage mainly in prayer. He escaped at the suggestion of a dream and returned home.

Patrick was in his mid-40s when he returned to Ireland.Palladius had not been very successful in his mission, and the returning former slave replaced him. Intimately familiar with the Irish clan system (his former master, Milchu, had been a chieftain), Patrick's strategy was to convert chiefs first, who would then convert their clans through their influence. Reportedly, Milchu was one of his earliest converts.

Though he was not solely responsible for converting the island, Patrick was quite successful. He made missionary journeys all over Ireland, and it soon became known as one of Europe's Christian centers. This, of course, was very important to fifth-century Christians, for whom Ireland was one of the "ends of the earth."

Find out more about Patrick in CH issue 60: Celtic Christianity.

Patrick's Confesio, his only authentic literary remains, is great reading and available online at www.ccel.org/ccel/patrick/confession.i.html.

Why You Should NOT Get Your Financial Information From CNBC or Any Other Celebrity

2009-03-11T19:37:00.001-05:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Economic Crisis

Culture as it Is

2009-03-10T08:15:00.004-05:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about how influenced we are by what we see in media. Many of us work hard to be 'in the world but not of it', yet, try as we may, we cannot escape the influence of those around us and what we witness in print and film media. There are calculated reasons companies are willing to spend millions of dollars to have product placements on television and in movies.

Are any of us immune from the influence of media? My answer is no. In light of this how should the follower of Jesus 'think' about the influence media has on us and our culture? In contemplating 'culture' it is apparent my vision and understanding has been underdeveloped and naive. People speak of "changing culture" or "culture wars" but which culture? In our world there are many 'cultures'.

May I suggest that Plan A would be to begin 'changing culture' by understanding the one in which you live your day? This 'culture' would be what is your 'cultural sphere'. Various cultural spheres overlap but by far family is culture at its smallest and most powerful.

What is your 'family culture'? Is it one that if magnified into the larger culture would make the world a better place? I'm challenged by this because we ARE creating culture! Our families will go out into the world and make their own culture - today. This is not an insignificant thought. Sunday last we took OUR culture with us to church and this morning our children took OUR culture with them to school. Is the world a better and more loving, kind and generous place because of how we act before and in the world - today? These are good and thoughtful questions - and very challenging!

Culture-Making by Andy Crouch

2009-03-04T10:38:00.002-06:00

Get the book...Read the blog. Nuff said!

What Will be Said of Us After We Have Gone?

2009-02-28T08:11:00.003-06:00

In reading Blaise Pascal's Wager I wondered if his life measured up to what he wrote. Many men and women have written well and lived poorly before their family and friends. I thought perhaps the best way to find out would be to see what those who knew him best would say about him after he was gone. to follow is the Epitaph Blaise Pascal's children wrote for his grave. May god grant us this type of legacy and generational grace.

Blaise Pascal (1623–1662).
Epitaph of M. Pascal, Pere

HERE lies, etc.
Illustrious for his great knowledge which was recognized by the scholars of all Europe; more illustrious still for the great probity which he exercised in the offices and employments with which he was honored; but much more illustrious for his exemplary piety. He tasted good and bad fortune, that he might be known in every thing for what he was. He was seen temperate in prosperity and patient in adversity. He sought the aid of God in misfortune, and rendered him thanks in happiness. His heart was devoted to his God, his king, his family, and his friends. He had respect for the great and love for the small; it pleased God to crown all the graces of nature that he had bestowed on him with a divine grace which made his great love for God the foundation, the stay, and the consummation of all his other virtues.
Thou, who seest in this epitome the only thing that remains to us of so beautiful a life, admire the fragility of all present things, weep the loss that we have suffered; render thanks to God for having left for a time to earth the enjoyment of such a treasure; and pray his goodness to crown with his eternal glory him whom he crowned here below with more graces and virtues than the limits of an epitaph permit us to relate.
His grief-stricken children have placed this epitaph on this spot, which they have composed from the fulness of their hearts, in order to render homage to the truth and not to appear ingrates in the sight of God.

Notes About Ash Wednesday

2009-02-26T05:46:00.004-06:00

Ash Wednesday Historical Background (A thought on Ash Wednesday from Dave Bunker)

"The imposition of ashes on the foreheads of Christians is an ancient Christian practice, going back at least to the 10th century. Biblically, ashes are a symbols of purification and penitence (see Numbers 19:9, 17; Hebrews 9:13; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13 ).

In the early church, people who had been separated from the church because of serious sins might seek to be re-admitted to the fellowship by observing a formal period of penitence during Lent. These people were generally sprinkled with ashes or given rough garments sprinkled with ashes as a sign of their sorrow for their sins.

Beginning in the tenth century, the observance of Ash Wednesday became a general rite for the church. The ashes, which were a symbol of purification in the Old Testament, remind us that we are mortal. In many churches the ashes are made by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Ashes are placed on the forehead, usually in the sign of a cross, in a ritual known as the Imposition of Ashes. As the ashes are placed on the forehead, words such as these are spoken:

"Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," recalling God's words to Adam in Genesis 3:19.

The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations and mixing them with olive oil as a fixative. In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence. " from Dave Bunker

Matt Chandler Clip - Very Insightful

2009-02-22T00:03:00.001-06:00

You are not alone in dread of opening financial statements

2009-02-14T11:11:00.001-06:00

Published Thursday February 12 in The Williamson Herald www.williamsonherald.com

By Tom Grimm, columnist
tom@wwmonline.com

Do you have a stack of unopened financial statements sitting on a counter somewhere? And even though you know you should take a look at them, you haven’t.

Amazingly, for most of us this feels strangely familiar. As you know, you are not alone in your concerns about your finances. This is, in many ways an unprecedented time we are living in. We do not have a magic ball that is going to tell us the future, but there are still some sound principles that do work, despite a dwindling market economy. However, in this downward market, it is now more important than ever to not ignore your financial situation. It doesn't matter how much money you have tucked away in your personal financial portfolio, if you have a stack of financial statements, then you need to know and understand what is in them. Every effective financial plan must have a strategy, and no where in the laws of economics can you find a spelled out strategy for burying your head in the sand. So, here are a few first steps to offering you a helping hand to get your head out of the sand, and making your way to being financially empowered and knowledgeable about what you need to be doing to protect your retirement and life’s savings.

Before you can make sense of your statements, you need a plan. And every plan needs a checklist. Here are a few questions to ask yourself and your current financial advisor as you begin to sort through your financial situation.

Financial Checklist:
1. Do you meet face to face with your financial advisor? If not pick up the phone today and call them and request a face-to-face meeting with them. Bring a list of questions to the meeting. The industry standard is to meet at least once a year and/or on a quarterly basis if necessary.
2. Communicate your concerns with your advisor and make sure you are comfortable with the advice you are being given.
3. Open your statements every month, review them and examine them.
4. Consider your age and your tolerance of risk.
5. Make sure your advisor is not a salesman but a strategist keeping your best interest in mind.
6. Read the newspapers and keep current with financial news.
7. Get a second opinion and make a change if you are not happy with the service you are being given? Though it may not seem like a good time to change advisors ask yourself when would be a better time? Even though finding a new advisor can take time and be difficult don’t wait if you aren’t being serviced professionally.
8. Ask your financial advisor if your portfolio is suitable and well diversified, and then ask them to explain to you how they came to the decision of your current plan.

As an advisor myself I must say that hiding when times are bad is never a good strategy and the more contact I have with clients the more confidence we both feel that they are properly invested and aware of what is going on. Communicating with your financial advisor is key. Even in this current market, not all investments are doomed. There are still a few safer-havens out there and it is the job of your financial advisor to be looking for them and finding them for you.

What every advisor should be offering for their clients is a well-diversified strategy. Remember, communicate, ask questions about your portfolio, and stay in contact with whoever is managing your money.

So, open those financial statements, call your advisor, and commit to re-evaluate your current positions and strategy. We’re all in this together and the old saying is true that “every adversity carries a seed of equal or greater opportunity.” Good luck and remember your life is much more than what you can see on a financial statement.

Tom Grimm is a financial advisor and investment consultant in Franklin. Contact him at 467-6368 or tom@wwmonline.com.

Posted on: 2/12/2009

Advisor Check - You Better

2009-01-29T09:36:00.002-06:00

Well it has happened again, and this time in my neighborhood...literally! Another so called financial planner has stolen from those who trusted him - his clients. This particular advisor told clients he managed over 600,000,000.00 in clients money, was a "Life Planner" and an agent for musicians, actors and writers. He was self proclaimed TN Businessman of the Year and a "leader" and "Trusted Advisor".

But wait! He didn't have a securities license, wasn't registered with the SEC, and was selling investments backed and "guaranteed" by the federal governments TARP program - a lie that will send him to prison I hope.

So how do you know who to trust? That's my next blog post...stay tuned!

Political Influence of Affluence (Wrongheaded)

2009-01-21T06:26:00.002-06:00

Executive and Congressional leadership now rests firmly in the hands of Democrats. To understand just how we came to this economic crisis, on the banking side, watch the following video.

Is This Who We've Become?

2009-01-20T08:18:00.003-06:00

The Beauty and Potential of Life

2009-01-19T12:21:00.003-06:00

Change That Lasts

2009-01-19T06:57:00.002-06:00

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along not by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." --Helen Keller

I found this quote on my pastor and friend George Grant's blog here..

Who Are you?

2009-01-17T10:45:00.005-06:00

"A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money." W C Fields

Something to think about. Yesterday I spoke with a builder friend who has been devastated by the downturn in the economy. In the midst of the pain and loss of great wealth we agreed that 'It's not will we get through this economic downturn...the question is HOW will we get through it.'

The Weight of Wealth II

2009-01-08T03:42:00.015-06:00

Wealth is a term often used in reference to those who have a lot of money or property. Though people with a lot of money and property are wealthy, poverty, or wealth for that matter, is relative. All throughout scripture and ancient writings there is warning concerning the pursuit of wealth, yet most of us spend our days and nights working toward greater riches. Perhaps this duplicity, if not understood in wisdom, is one reason for the amount of confusion and anxiety we feel. Frankly, for those who have felt The Weight of Wealth, or the WOW factor as a friend called it, no real explanation is needed. This is not a new conundrum or source of anxiety. Thousand of years ago, a very wise king Solomon, who had all the wealth he could ever spend, proclaimed the following (I can only imagine in great frustration) and came to this conclusion:

“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”
–Ecclesiastes 5:10

Recently, I was discussing with a client and friend this WOW factor at great length, and he described the questions he had concerning his children and grandchildren. How much should I leave them? When should I leave it for them? Would they be better or worse stewards if they received an inheritance early rather than late? Even greater was the Weight he felt in light of the significant wealth he had been entrusted and the needs of our world and God's Kingdom. The BIG question for him, and us I would add, is 'how much do we keep in light of our mandate to care for the poor, comfort the widow and orphan...and the list goes on. All of these are good questions that need to be thought through and discussed if we are going to fully live out our rich calling as followers of Jesus - the one who provides us with the power to get wealth in the first place. Scripture is replete with examples of good and bad stewardship, and our culture today is no less representative, yet where do men and women and families go to discuss the spiritual 'calling' of what to do with our stuff? I would say we need community and wise counsel that considers your spiritual and emotional needs as well as financial. Community and the search for wisdom can have a positive effect on the soul's longing for significance.

For an illuminating picture of the pursuit of wealth I suggest taking a few minute and reading Leo Tolstoy's short story, How Much Land Does a Man Need. It will change your life perspective. Cheers!

World View Matters

2008-12-31T16:48:00.005-06:00

The following is an interesting article written by an avowed atheist about the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to change culture for the good. It can change homes and individuals too!

"As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem - the crushing passivity of the people's mindset

Matthew Parris

George Herbert: Submission

2008-12-24T07:07:00.005-06:00

Once again our friend Fred Smith has pointed us toward the timelessness of what it means to be a True Steward of Life from The Temple (1633), by George Herbert: (It does take a few reads to get even for the poets among us!)

¶ Submission.

BUt that thou art my wisdome, Lord,
   And both mine eyes are thine,
My minde would be extreamly stirr’d
   For missing my designe.

Were it not better to bestow
   Some place and power on me?
Then should thy praises with me grow,
   And share in my degree.

But when I thus dispute and grieve,
   I do resume my sight,
And pilfring what I once did give,
   Disseize¹ thee of thy right.

How know I, if thou shouldst me raise,
   That I should then raise thee?
Perhaps great places and thy praise
   Do not so well agree.

Wherefore unto my gift I stand;
   I will no more advise:
Onely do thou lend me a hand,
   Since thou hast both mine eyes.

Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-21T10:09:00.002-06:00

Recovering the Stewardship of Christmas

Greed is Not Good

2008-12-19T07:45:00.007-06:00

As Stewards of all that God has entrusted us it is important that we base our life and decisions on the Rock solid foundations given to us by God Himself. This sounds like an obvious statement but given our 'state' of mind, body and culture greed can creep in to even the most well intentioned of us.

In the 1980s movie Wall Street the villain, Gordon Ghekko's famous line is, "Greed, for the lack of a better word, is good". But greed is not good. Yet all of us are impacted by our own fallen nature and the culture in which we live and the prevailing mindset of our culture would say that "greed is good". Is there an antidote to a life of being blown by the winds of culture and the pursuit of fools gold? Yes. The antidote is found in the life of devotion to truth and love found in community. Something rarely found today. It may sound simplistic but Christ calls us to imitate His love and the Paul admonishes us to imitate him in I Corinthians 11:1, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ". A good question to start the day with is, "Whose thinking am I imitating?"

When thinking about 'how we live' and the decisions we must make I am convinced it's not so much "what would Jesus do" that should direct us, but 'what would Jesus think' and how can I imitate His thinking? That's what Sheldon wanted when he wrote those famous words. He wanted the church to "think Christianly", and his book was a reminder of how the church was to think about the sojourner and the poor.

How do we 'think' about money, education, family, the latest scandal on Wall Street and our 'calling' in light of the economic crisis we find our world? There are many unemployed and frightened people around us who need love and truth and today's global crisis may be an opportunity like few others to point friends and family to 'the' Truthgiver who brings comfort and right thinking in plenty and little.

Grace and peace.

Fixing a Problem With a Problem

2008-12-18T10:00:00.006-06:00

This morning I heard our President say how "sorry" he was that during these difficult times he has had to walk away from free market theory and turn to more government oriented solutions to the free market. Well, as anyone who has studied history or had a flat tire knows you cannot fix a problem with a flawed solution - you only put off further problems. Duct tape will only hold for so long! History shows even kings can't create an heir by looking for a better wife. The 'problem' is theirs.

In considering how 'we' live and our daily personal, family and cultural problems I wonder how 'unorthodox' our fixes or solutions are? Since you can't make something whole that is broken what are we basing the solutions to our family, personal and even financial difficulties upon?

From raising kids to the economics of a household we need a standard. Any solution just won't do (at least not for our house)!

May I suggest a good start would be to read Psalm 1 several times a week and choose a Proverb a day through the holidays and going forward as a way of moving towards making un-orthodox thinking more orthodox. Maybe even resolving to read the Bible in 2009 all the way through? I don't have the solutions any more than the "authority" on CNBC this morning, but I know that the Giver of life wrote THE book that will help us think more orthodox and begin to see things from His subjective point of view. In that way perhaps we will begin to see how all things actually do work together for our collective good? Just a thought!

Grace and Peace

Don't Sell Them Short

2008-12-15T16:38:00.002-06:00

Last night my son Williams who just turned four brought into our bedroom a picture of crazy and indecipherable lines. He was so proud of what looked to us like a mess. He burst out with joy and a ton of energy, "These are the footprints of God!"

Those "footprints" are hanging on our bedroom mirror!!! Don't sell the little ones short.

Blessings

What a Tangled Web We Weave...

2008-12-15T05:26:00.009-06:00

This morning the world will wake up to an astounding story of thievery and deceit. One of Wall Street's well known fathers has confessed to creating a 'Ponzi scheme' that has stolen some $50,000,000,000.00 (that's billion) from pension funds, businesses, savvy hedge fund managers and individuals from Titans of industry to grandmothers who trusted 'the system'. Story here.

Perhaps this will help Joe and Josephine Investor realize the financial industry is set up, not to make clients money, but to sustain and enrich itself and those who created it. As a business owner I understand that making a profit is what business is created to do. This allows for salaries and retirement systems to be funded. Yet it appears, as has always been true, some among us have taken 'gain' at others expense to a whole new level.

Wall Street, the banking system, and insurance industry today reminds me of shark infested waters and from my point of view the 'innocent' rarely survive with their money without building a cage around their wealth and understanding the need for an advocate or trustworthy guide for the dangerous waters. I believe we are seeing a shift in this industry and that the financial services industry, or any industry for that matter, can only survive long term if it's participants follow the Golden Rule that has been given to us all. A reckoning is taking place and many crooked players who have stolen from others may be exposed for what they are and the 'financial system' has become...precarious at best. This doesn't leave us without hope. It should remind us not to put our confidence in wealth or prices but to trust in our unshakable King.

Stewards of Innocence

2008-12-15T05:05:00.002-06:00

Having small and maturing young children in my home I am beginning to see the 'pull' the systems of our world (economic (UGG's), cultural and social) can have on children. As exciting as it is to begin to see kids step into young adulthood I am still a bit reticent to send untrained soldiers into the 'live fire' of the world. For this reason I see why so many families are literally frightened by all that would corrupt the hearts and minds of their little ones. Yet I am confident that our Father in Heaven has plans for our/His children which do not lead to destruction.

Touching on this subject wells up considerable fear and theological discussion so I will leave the issues of Gods sovereignty to Him and encourage each of us to throw ourselves at the feet of the One who entered this dark and destructive world to make things that were wrong right. I also encourage all parents to throw themselves at the feet of Christ and beg for His mercy. We also live in a corrupt world. May our example of walking in brokenness inspire our little ones to walk with courage and faith through a world where men will dissapoint and systems will fail. Yet our Father in heaven is unchanging and always faithful to sustain us body and soul.

A Framework of Calling And Character

2008-12-13T07:41:00.004-06:00

We have arrived at a teaching moment. Bring on the teachers.

Eight trillion dollars in equity wealth has disappeared from our collective wallet. In an effort to offset the deflating effect of that loss, we are going to use the government’s credit-worthiness or printing presses to put more money in circulation. This cascading infusion will not be free of cost, and the extraordinary decline in the value of equities and home values—along with the accelerating reduction in wage income, stock dividends, and the like—will be painful.

And these developments will not be culturally neutral.

The financial institutions, as the perceived enablers of wealth creation, are always disproportionately influential, as are those who dream up new products and services to capture our spending power. So what happens when the wealth-enablers suddenly exit stage right while many in the wealth chain check to see whether their law firms have bankruptcy specialists? Is this a back-to-basics moment? Might even those who inhabit the precincts of corporate and government power experience a moment of humility? If so, to what effect?

My father was forced to leave college after his sophomore year to help support his family. The Depression had crippled the family hardware store and everyone in the family had to work to avoid its failure. The Depression proved to be a searing experience for my father (indeed, for a generation), informing the rest of his life. He conserved, avoided debt, and always bought locally to support his neighbors. He also spiritually and intellectually paired many of the post-Depression cultural traits with his faith. He recognized the wisdom of his spiritual fathers.

Too many act as if the source of morality is best placed in a container and kept far away from the suites of power.

As an active practitioner in business and its oversight, it is clear to me that most businesspeople do not pair the disciplines of faith with the practices of business. Too many act as if the source of morality is best placed in a container and kept far away from the suites of power.

Daniel Bell, in his book The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism, observed: “When the Protestant ethic was sundered from bourgeois society, only the hedonism remained, and the capitalist system lost its transcendental ethic. Work was no longer a calling, but a mere means of seeking pleasure as a way of life.”

Our society of late has worked to remove limits on what can be bought and experienced. Virtually anything can be had—right now—courtesy of a loan. For decades the prevailing business ethic has been dismissive of limits. If there are potential buyers, produce it. Foundational principles have been contorted: to many “liberty” has come to mean “libertine” while the “pursuit of happiness” is reduced to the pursuit of pleasure. Should we then be surprised when the entire financial ecosystem is corrupted by what has turned out to be a disastrous profit chase?

Sociologists, who are eager not just to track cultural decline but to identify the cultural shapers, have generally concluded that cultural formation is a top-down affair. At the top is collaboration between those who conceive and those who act. Further down the pyramid of responsibility we find a collaboration between marketers and advertisers. Presumably those like my Dad, who as a retailer was well down the pyramid, and certainly those who purchase products and services, are expected to be mere pawns. It did not turn out that way in his case; he and much of his generation borrowed reluctantly and avoided a return to the excesses of the 1920s.

when money is easy, and especially when it is decoupled from real work or plausible amortization schedules, society suffers extraordinary indignities at all levels

I have not spent my life parsing data to figure out cultural cause and effect. But it seems clear that when money is easy, and especially when it is decoupled from real work or plausible amortization schedules, society suffers extraordinary indignities at all levels of the pyramid. A smaller-scale illustration occurred about midway through my term as Chairman of the FCC. I began to hear from indignant parents whose sons were calling telephone sex lines drawing on their parents’ credit with the phone companies. “Protect us,” they asked. In response I asked the Commission to disallow the disconnection of a phone line because the subscriber had not paid that part of the bill associated with a sex service, and it complied. The letters ceased and most teenagers chose not to buy heavy breathing with their own resources.

Of course, a loss of buying power does not automatically translate into a more benign culture. However, when the profligate and their enablers are the occasion for losses that attack pensions, college funds, retirement savings, and most of the other investment vehicles used by prudent people for important social responsibilities, the unquestioned pain awakens us to an especially fertile teaching moment. It has been decades since the Great Depression, and it seems that the lessons we once learned have largely been forgotten, often—especially—by highly educated people.

Dallas Willard commented on the dynamics of a market economy in “The Business of Business,” a 2006 Provocations essay. He observed that:

at this particular time in our history, moral calling and moral character have no weight and are thus unable to serve as established points of reference for individual practice and public policy. They are not treated as aspects of reality which must be appealed to in judgment and with which any decent person must come to terms. There is no legitimating support, therefore, for the idealism of young people who go into the professions, nor for the justifiable demands of the public to be served.

It is a convincing framework of calling and character that must be restored if professional life is to be directed in a manner which—surely everyone deep-down knows—is suited to its function as provider and protector of the public good and thus of individuals throughout our neighborhoods and beyond. The greatest challenge facing an officially post-Christian world is to provide that framework. To this point it is not doing very well with the task.”

Too often today’s decision framework is guided by a version of the excuse all parents hear from their children. “Everybody else is doing it,” says the child. But at the beginning of a new market scheme, everybody else is not doing it. There is indeed a pyramid, but many who are near its top nonetheless act more like mimics than leaders. True cultural transformation will require both moral clarity and energy up and down the pyramid.

In this new century, we now have a boundless supply of stories to illustrate and reanimate the wisdom of Solomon, whose thought offers a rich tableau of enduring truths. But we need institutions capable of trans-generational influence; institutions whose motivation is not novelty but truth, and yet which understand that truth-telling needs to find its voice in modern idioms and forms. Proverbs need to be told and re-told, and contemporary narratives can add immensely to their persuasion. The Trinity Forum and its peers need to do an even better job in underscoring the need for—and beginning the construction of—a “framework of calling and character.” Waiting for others to do the job would be as imprudent as is the conduct we lament.

Written by Al Sykes at The Trinity Forum

Family Wealth

2008-12-06T07:30:00.003-06:00

Over the next few weeks, or months, I will be writing on the various types of family wealth I have observed. It is my hope that by reading here we will begin to redefine or 'reform' the current way we view wealth.

In the past, in an agrarian economy, which represents the majority of human existence, 'wealth' was measured not by a portfolio of securities but more by the size and abilities of ones family. Land, and its fruitfulness, has also historically been a good guide for measuring ones wealth. So, how did we get to the point in culture in which wealth is measured by our ability to hoard for ourselves and not by our ability to produce and our relate to one another?

Early Church Wisdom Concerning the Heart

2008-12-04T16:49:00.006-06:00

Because the beginning of Wisdom comes from knowing God and understanding His creation I thought the following might be an encouragement as we look to understand ourself.

The heart itself is only a small vessel,

yet dragons are there, and lions,

there are poisonous beasts,

and all the treasures of evil,

there are rough and uneven roads,

there are precipices;

but there too is God and the angels,

life is there, and the Kingdom,

there too is light, and there the apostles

and heavenly cities,

and treasures of grace.

All things lie within that little space.

Makarios the Great

Wesley's Wisdom on Affluence

2008-11-06T17:44:00.004-06:00

"Money is an excellent gift of God, answering the noblest ends. In the hands of his children, it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, raiment for the naked: It gives to the traveller and the stranger where to lay his head. By it we may supply the place of an husband to the widow, and of a father to the fatherless. We may be a defence for the oppressed, a means of health to the sick, of ease to them that are in pain; it may be as eyes to the blind, as feet to the lame; yea, a lifter up from the gates of death! It is therefore of the highest concern that all who fear God know how to employ this valuable talent; that they be instructed how it may answer these glorious ends, and in the highest degree."

I couldn't agree more. And because most of us are such poor stewards in this area it is refreshing to know that a repentent heart and mind brings greater grace.

The Institutionalization of Greed from a Biblical and Global Perspective

2008-11-05T23:18:00.006-06:00

Professor Prabhu Guptara is a Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum and a past Trustee. He is Executive Director, Organisational Development with Wolfsberg, the Platform for Executive and Business Development of Switzerland's UBS Group. These remarks are made in a personal capacity.

I want to conclude by saying that what we have is a culture of greed that was politically sponsored and politically promoted, a culture justified by reference to Adam Smith’s notion of the Invisible Hand, that if everybody operates in their self-interest then somehow, magically, everything is looked after. And it did seem to be that way in the eighteenth century. However, just because it was that way—perhaps—in the eighteenth century, doesn’t mean it’s going to be that way today. The level of morality in the market may not be the same today as it was in the eighteenth century. The level of complexity may not be the same today as it was yesterday. And the level of volatility may not be the same today as it was yesterday. So it’s a bit naive to expect the economy to look after itself today, even if the economy did so all that time ago. To read the full text

Entrepreneurs of Life

2008-10-30T10:41:00.006-05:00

What does it mean to be an Entrepreneur of Life? An entrepreneur is one who undertakes, or starts, a project, that holds some level of risk. Whether we like it or not, because of the nature of our world, we are all entrepreneurs in one way or another.

Yet as in any endeavor there is a risk return trade off. Scripture says we are to sow seed and work the field and pray for a righteous harvest. In what way today are you acting as a responsible (response + able) Entrepreneur of Life? Is there a plan? Are you winging it? If you are winging it perhaps today would be a good time to begin working towards that which God has uniquely prepared only you to do?

I hope today is your best day!

The Value of Walking With the Wise

2008-10-20T09:08:00.009-05:00

"Knowing is not enough: we must apply...such is the essence of wisdom". Johann Goethe

The last few months have shown clearly that some of the smartest and highest paid men and women in the world can make horrible decisions. If these folks can't figure things out what chance does the average person have? More than you might think! Wisdom is what's missing in our world today and fortunately Wisdom is more accessible than you may think if you know where to look.

The best educational establishments today teach, to the best of their abilities, everything you need to know about science, politics, finance and economics. But as I watch the world grapple for ideas and something foundational to 'fix' crisis after crisis, I am more convinced than ever that knowledge without understanding is foolishness. It appears the brightest minds and most powerful politicians thoughts are clouded by greed and ego. This is the real crisis of leadership in out time.

In listening to politicians and economists I have realized they are partially right about what is wrong but still terribly wrong about what is right. Describing a problem will never fix it but there is no deficit in opinion makers pronouncing how we got 'here'.

Good solutions require:

Knowledge - (Great and relevant questions)
Understanding - (Skillful thinking)
Wisdom - (Truth and skillful action)

Disciplined thinking guided by wisdom lead to a "harvest of righteousness!"

Short of this combination any recipe for parenting, career, investing, giving or rescuing a globlal economy will be a temporary fix at best. The answer to a rich and full life does not rest at Fox news or in fixing the economy and electing the right candidate. Walking with the wise, begining with The book of wisdom is the beginning of what we are looking for.

May God help us and give us wisdom.

The Key to Wealth Without Worry

2008-10-16T14:33:00.003-05:00

"Tell those who are rich in this age not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidence in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." I Timothy 6:17

Day by Day

2008-10-16T12:56:00.004-05:00

When we begin to account for the confusion and fear we experience when the economy is fragile and depressed it can be used as an indicator, or measuring stick, of the condition of our heart and mind. In every adversity there is a thread of opportunity to test what we believe.

How is your heart today? Mine has been distracted at a minimum and occupied with thoughts I am not too proud of concerning my future. But when I think "Christianly", through a biblical world view I realize again that my 'future' is secure and though I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for the Lord God Almighty is with me. I should be as a tree planted by the water whose leaf shall not whither that brings forth good fruit. That's our shared future.

Let us remember with great fondness His promise and walk in His strength.

We Can't Even Count All Our Debt!

2008-10-09T13:19:00.003-05:00

At a time when the majority of Americans are wisely beginning to look at our recent excesses for what they are Times Square in NYC and the following BBC article show us the end result of a country consumed by unbridled materialism and greed. May we become men and women, and parents, who clearly know who we are and where our purpose and meaning is derived...so that as those who follow Christ and represent Him in this world we learn to live within the boundaries wisdom would offer.

US debt clock runs out of digits

Until last month, the clock had enough digits to measure US debt levels

The US government's debts have ballooned so badly the National Debt Clock in New York has run out of digits to record the spiralling figure.

The digital counter marks the national debt level, but when that passed the $10 trillion point last month, the sign could not display the full amount.

Not Your Father's Market Crash

2008-10-08T14:36:00.000-05:00

This Is Not Your Father’s Market Crash.

Posted by David Gaffen

Rob Curran reports:

Almost every generation, it seems, has its October stock-market crash.

The cumulative losses of stocks since the plunge on Sept. 29 are comparable with those suffered in the October stock-market crashes of 1987 and 1929. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down about 9% this week, after a loss of 7.3% the week before.

By comparison, in the worst week of the 1929 stock market crash, the week ended Oct. 19 that year, the Dow took a loss of 8.2%; the blue-chip index lost 13% on the week that started with Black Monday, Oct. 19, 1987. So far in October, the Dow is off 14%, compared with a loss of 20% in October 1929 and a loss of 23% in October 1987.

And neither the week nor the month are over yet. The market has hardly been on firm ground Wednesday, though stocks are higher. Still, the middling reaction to a barrage of worldwide interest-rate cuts suggests that the selling may not be over. It may feel more like a tumble down the stairs than a jump from an airplane, but the end effect is the same.

Selloffs of this nature feed on themselves. The record 777-point drop last Monday “destabilized the market,” said Lorenzo Di Mattia, manager of hedge fund Sibilla Global Fund. The Chicago Board Options Exchange volatility index, known as the market’s fear gauge because it measures the premiums paid to protect against market swings, is trading at its highest level in its current form, around 58. That gauge dates back to 1990.

Both institutional and retail traders reached a “pain threshold,” said Peter McCorry, senior equity trader at Keefe Bruyette and Woods, where they were unwilling to continue holding stocks so deep in the red.

One hedge fund manager in Chicago said people he knows who trade on their own accounts are throwing in the towel. “A lot of friends of mine say ‘I can’t take it, I’m selling my stocks,’” said Jeffrey Pavlik, head of hedge-fund firm Pavlik Capital Management.

Losses are also likely feeding on themselves because of “stop losses,” or levels where traders automatically sell to limit their down side. Chatter is mounting that clients are demanding cash back from hedge funds, forcing them into the market. Whenever a trader is forced to sell, they do so at a lower price.

Amid uncertainty in their own industry, brokers increased margin requirements, or the amount of capital funds needed to underpin their positions, one hedge fund manager said. For these reasons, many funds may be selling holdings in a hurry.

What is a LifeSteward?

2008-10-01T11:19:00.003-05:00

A LifeSteward is a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.

From a biblical point of view that is what each of us who follow Christ are to be. I am working on a new project I am calling LifeStewardship Advisors. Though for some that title LifeStewardship may have pro-life connotations I see no problem with that. LifeStewardship Advisors should be men and women with wisdom and a mature and well developed biblical world view that can help others navigate the transitions of life in a meaningful and fulfilling way. LifeStewardship advisors help clients see more clearly who/or who's they are; who they want to be; and what they want to do with their life from a holistic biblical world view.

The 'End' of Greed 2008

2008-09-24T11:55:00.010-05:00

Once again we are experiencing the impact of the playing out of a cycle in the economy created by the greed that permeates a fallen culture driven by an out-of-control desire for greater wealth and accumulation. The economic crisis of 2008 has many causes but the primary cause is sin. Sin is such an antiquated and difficult word to use in the 'naked public square' without being ridiculed, but it IS the root cause of the woe's of our world including the recent credit crisis.

With a few noted exceptions our entire culture participated in creating the credit crisis. In this decade we have experienced unbelievable spending and consumption while US households actually had a negative savings rate. From Congress and entitlements and stimulus checks (paid for by issuing debt), to the White House and the "off-budget" funding of a war, to credit agencies looking the other way at bundled mortgage backed securities, to neighbors and the under-employed being encouraged to mislead lenders in order to qualify for more debt than they could afford - a good case can be made that The Influence of Affluence in this case is negative - and now the price must be paid. Will we simply borrow more and extend the deadline for debt or will we begin to look with wisdom at this situation?

Although we may not be able to effect change on a macro-economic basis and our White House and Congress may continue to try and fix this problem by more borrowing - the church (that's us individually and corporately) should look upon this crisis with wisdom and speak truth in our words AND how we live. If we refuse to participate in a culture drunk on the desire for more and live as wise stewards we will have a testimony that means something and peace that comes from obedience and a world view that refuses to follow the culture. Reform of culture begins with one person making a decision to follow God and his principles regardless of the culture. Though "The 'End' of Greed" will not come until Christ return economic crisis and times like these give us opportunity to show the Truth to our families, culture and the world.

As James Madison said:

"If men were Angels, we would not need government."

and as my friend Kendall Hewitt said this morning,

"Freedom requires internal government coupled with endless checks and balances. "

Working Capital

2008-09-03T10:36:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk in peace and the confidence that God loves you and cares for you in every area of your life? I long for the day I can walk with God and know and understand His sovereignty over life and our welfare. In the mean time I am convinced my utmost would be an attempt, though a poor one at best, at obedience to those things He has clearly shown me through His word as well as through life and others.

Consecrated Wealth

2008-08-02T13:03:00.010-05:00

In the story of Jesus and the wealthy young ruler it says, "Jesus seeing that he (the wealthy young man) had become sad, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"(Luke 18)

What is the kingdom of God? In the New Testament alone this phrase is used over 100 times. For the the purposes of this post 'the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal sovereign God over all creatures and things (Psalms 103:19; Daniel 4:3). The kingdom of God is also the designation for the sphere of salvation entered into at the new birth (John 3:5-7), and is synonymous with the "kingdom of heaven".'

The kingdom as "sphere" or a way of seeing things (world-view) is the one so many of us struggle with. When we are contemplating spending, giving or keeping what we possess we are confronted with our own world-view. Is what we have really ours and does it lead us toward God? I read a great quote last week that said, "Our checkbooks should be read as theological statements of our beliefs."

Perhaps we need to begin, or renew, to consecrate all that we have and will have to God as His possessions and we merely His stewards, or Trustees, for a time? I believe this would eliminate a tremendous amount of anxiety in our lives. This is surely a world-view that leads us toward Him who stores up treasure for His children. Where is our treasure? For sure when we analyze this we get a good view of our heart!

"As for the Rich..."

2008-07-23T13:58:00.006-05:00

Are you rich? You might be surprised by the real answer to this question.

There is a fun and instructive tool on the web that let's you know where you stand in relation to the rest of the world at http://www.globalrichlist.com/

In light of your findings I offer I Timothy 6:17-19 which says the following:

"As for the rich in this present world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

Wisdom From the Life of Henri Nouwen

2008-07-18T13:48:00.009-05:00

My friend BJ Georgian in Dallas sent me the following devotion written by Dr. Gary Klingsporn. If we would follow Henri Nouwen's lead the quality of our lives would be much richer. Enjoy!

Henri Nouwen was a successful university professor, writer, and lecturer. At the height of his career, he left the prestigious world of Harvard to live and work among the mentally handicapped and seriously disabled people at the L'Arche community in Toronto. From the competitive world of the best and brightest, he moved to powerless people of few words, considered marginal to society.

The move changed Nouwen's life.

"These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self," he later wrote, "the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things—and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments."

Living among the poor and powerless, Nouwen rediscovered his true identity.

In our culture, my personal identity typically is measured by what I produce, my position in the workplace, the wealth I accumulate, my social status. But all the externals beg the question: Who am I? What gives my life ultimate value and meaning?

Christian faith offers a counter-cultural answer to these questions by saying our worth and identity come not from ourselves or what we do, but from God.

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized. "As he came up out of the water, a voice from heaven said, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased' " (Mark 1:11, NRSV).

Before Jesus had said or done anything in his ministry, the heavenly voice said, "You are my Beloved."

Other voices tell us our identity is found in what we do or achieve, but the same voice that spoke to Jesus at his baptism says to each of us: "You are my beloved."

Throughout the Bible, God's voice speaks in many ways, inviting people to live in relationship with The Holy. Isaiah gives us this word from the Lord: "I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . . You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you"

(Isaiah 43:3–4). The apostle Paul says that by faith "we are children of God, and if children, then . . . joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:16–17).

Underlying pain and loneliness, compulsive behavior, the need to perform, is the fear that our lives will have no meaning. But identity ultimately is not found in jobs or success, in what we do or accomplish. Our true identity lies in the fact that God says to each of us, "I love you; you are my beloved child."

This gift God offers us, the gift of "belovedness," can change us forever. To hear the voice of the Holy and to live as beloved children of God infuses new meaning into our lives, relationships, and the work we do each day.

Questions for discussion:

Do you ever find that you define yourself solely by what you have done or achieved?

Why do you suppose it is difficult in our culture to have a healthy sense that our true identity comes from God?

Another Inconvenient Truth

2008-07-13T13:56:00.013-05:00

One of the many important truth's to communicate to children, whether 4 or 40, is the principle that, "a degree of adversity is necessary for all human development". Counselors and psychologists offices are full today because 'adversity' is something our culture tells us to avoid. I have heard more than once, "I don't want my children to have to 'work as hard as I have'. But we know that in order to grow physically stronger we lift heavy weights which put a strain on our current muscles in order for them to grow stronger. We cannot grow intellectually without applying our minds to strenuous work. But when we begin to consider hardship or the difficulties of life how often do we have a world view that points us towards an opportunity instead of simply avoidance. Pain, C. S. Lewis often stated, "can be Gods mega-phone". Pain is a reality in a fallen world, and can be instructive when seen as opportunity. We have a model in Jesus of capturing the moment to share this truth at his final supper with His disciples.

Jesus broke the bread at the last supper and said, "This is my body which is broken for you (and for you I will known pain)". His plan for change in the lives of his disciples, and the world, started with a decision to enter into a form of suffering, or discipline for our sakes. And the fruit of His pain has changed us and changed history.

If there are places in our life, or the life of our family, that need to be developed, let us embrace the pain of change and adversity that may follow the decision to make positive change. Christ's pain was not to make us happy but to make us holy and similarly lasting change that ultimatley yields good fruit will not be painless. What ways can we learn, and teach others to learn, to grow in grace and Christian discipline? Is our vision for life one that is shaped by the cross of Christ, or do we weep over our personal losses more than we weep for 'the lost'? Ouch! When I answer that question I know there is 'a degree of adversity' in my future.

New Living Stones

2008-07-10T12:38:00.041-05:00

Down the corridors of time symbols have always been important. For countless years a "family crest" has been an identifying mark for everyone from Royalty to the pub owner and his family down the street. In light of my own growing family, and some of the families I serve in my practice, I have often wondered how we could more clearly identify who we are as followers of Christ in an affluent culture. It is, for me, a constant battle to capture the hearts and minds of my children with the reality of the gospel, so I believe we need to take advantage of creative opportunities that will capture our children's hearts and minds - and may change ours in the process.

So, our family along with several other families are creating a 'mark,' or 'identity' that will act as a reminder of the blessings and responsibilities of affluence. (This is not a new church or non-profit....I promise...this is simply an exercise, or opportunity to disciple our children and create family unity.)

Because the culture we live in, and our children are growing up in, has such a heavy influence on even the strongest of Christian families, we need ways to help encourage one another as brothers and sisters in Christ - and as fathers and mothers who wish to help our children to identify with Christ. To that end I suggest families and small groups, perhaps even churches, create, along with the support of a few friends, a group we will call something like New Living Stones (I know the name isn't new or creative, and frankly the name itself isn't that important). However, for my family, Living Stones are a title given to Christ and His followers in I Peter 2:4,5 which states:

As you come to Him (Jesus Christ), a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

In this lifetime exercise, we encourage one another to "be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in His love, as Christ loved us, and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." As "imitators" of Christ we will be offering, hopefully in one more way, as a family, "a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Since most people reading this blog are already givers to their church perhaps New Living Stones can be done through the church or by simply choosing a few ministries you know that are faithfully serving the Lord by ministering to widows, orphans and the poor to help support them financially. Our families giving will be strategic, utilizing collective wisdom from others in our New Living Stones group, and our churches mission's committee, to identify where we know work is being done well and in the name of Christ. I recently heard a great quote, "Social work done in Christ's name becomes Sacred work." I believe this is true.

As an 'identifying mark' and as a witness to our world my family will wear a bracelet(Sort of like Livestrong or the others that have come along) made by hand in the areas we choose to support (Or made in that part of the world). In this we are creating economic development and creating a symbol of solidarity (which kids love!) as well as following a principle of scripture. Deuteronomy 6:8 says of God's law and the principles of communicating a generational and covenantal system of belief, "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."

And, as a group of followers of Jesus, we do this we may even encourage our brothers and sisters, as well as a world that there is great joy and power in following Jesus. As His children we seek "to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

The final principle I believe would be a good idea to articulate throughout this process would be that your family, or giving group, wish to see manifest a spirit of generosity, and hopefully this will strengthen, or begin a course of following Jesus in the area of giving of your life and not simply your money.

Giving is a private act but can be used in community to demonstrate acts of love and obedience to our children. So perhaps if we ask others to participate we would be wise to articulate the following principle from 2 Corinthians 9:6,7:

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

It's not necessary to "join me". I hope you can use this idea as inspiration or as a catalyst to think of ways your family can more clearly identify your calling and mission. I see this as one more opportunity to show the love of Christ within our families, churches, community and the world in a creative and fun way I think our kids might like.

For more information email me: tom@wwmonline.com or just come back to the blog often.

"A Christian should not follow the crowd, but rather show them the way!" I like that.

A New Declaration of Independence

2008-07-04T14:18:00.015-05:00

The United States Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 announcing that the thirteen American Colonies were no longer a part of the British Empire. It was at great cost that the Representatives attached their signatures.

In our day as you scan the channels on TV it appears that our country places our greatest value on comfort and financial independence. This is not true of 'everyone' yet many in our culture intentionally order their lives in a way that their lifestyle and financial condition is paramount above all else, therefore risking family and community in order to achieve financial independence. This is in contrast to our Founding Fathers who risked all to throw off a Ruler, or King, they considered a Tyrant.

In the Declaration the founders state:

"In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

How true! Yet many of us--and at times it appears our entire culture--have willingly submitted to the tyrant of materialism without a fight. Wherever you turn our culture leads us to sell all for the rewards of "wealth, prosperity and independence." Yet, like so many before us, we find we have sold out to a tyrant for something that does not truly exist: peace and happiness apart from a life in Christ.

Paul, in the New Testament, said he willingly made himself a slave for the sake of others unto Christ and in that found his calling and purpose. I guess we are all slaves to something. As we spend our days in our community and our family what are we telling them about who we have chosen to follow? Are we chasing the illusory goal of worldly wealth and prosperity even as we profess our commitment to Christ and His church? Or are we on a journey to Independence from the things and concerns that would keep us from following the One who denied Himself the riches of heaven in order to make us rich?

Perhaps we need a new Declaration of Independence for those who follow Jesus and labor under the burden of affluence? A restatement, or Declaration, that states that we will no longer follow "A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant..." and that we make it our Declaration to follow The Prince who sets men free to Life, Liberty and True Peace and Happiness. God is calling us to follow Him and He has Declared great blessing to those who follow. May it be said of us that we, in our generation, like our Fathers before us "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence... [will] mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." This commitment means we are throwing off all that would hinder us from following Christ so that together we finish the race of life hearing from our Heavenly Master: "Well done good and faithful servant."

Lead With Your Strengths

2008-06-30T13:59:00.006-05:00

Several years ago at a Strategic Coach event I heard Dan Sullivan encourage our group to "lead with our strengths." In thinking about this over time I have seen men and women, professional golfers, and loving and caring parents work diligently on their weaknesses while encouraging their children to do the same.

God has made us all unique with different gifts and callings on our lives, and I want to encourage you to work on the things you are good at doing and spend much less time on things you are weak in. As we, and our children, develop the callings and skills God has uniquely given us we build confidence and awareness that, though we are unique, He can use us all in His service and no two of us have to look alike.

Spend some time studying your children (old and young!) and encourage them in the things they are already strong and gifted. When a report card comes home with four A's and a C on which do we focus. What do they love that can be built upon as a skill or talent? How can you encourage your family to move towards what they are interested and good at?

Investing a few minutes and a couple of conversations can pay big dividends as young adults grow into adulthood.

The Weight of Wealth

2008-06-23T16:33:00.005-05:00

For those who have felt The Weight of Wealth, or the WOW factor as a friend called it, no real explanation is needed. Recently, I was discussing with a client and friend this WOW factor at great length, and he described the questions he had concerning his children and grandchildren. How much should I leave them? When should I leave it for them? Would they be better or worse stewards if they received an inheritance early rather than late? Even greater was the Weight he felt in light of the significant wealth he had been entrusted and the needs of our world and God's Kingdom. All of these are good questions that need to be discussed. Scripture is replete with examples of good and bad stewardship, and our culture today is no less representative.

I rarely run into anyone who wants to be a 'poor steward,' but I often run into those who are laboring with the big questions alone due to the barriers of wealth or the inability of their spiritual leaders to relate or consult. This blog will be a biblically based resource for those of us who desire wisdom in the area of the money and possessions. There are also several other invaluable resources out there I will highlight as we progress. Feel free to add your two cents or resources you find that should be shared.

Blessings,

Tom Grimm