Jim Evans has challenging observations. I can identify with the push-back that he has gotten from "good Christians" on his perspective on Jesus, the poor and us Christians.
Check out his column at http://ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=11417. Would appreciate seeing your response, in this blog site or directly.
(Note that one can easily find his earlier posts at ethicsdaily.com.)
Monday, December 8, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Paul Newman's Lesser Known Legacy
Check out http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2574. I continue to be quite impressed with this man, his career and his commitments.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Creation Care Magazine
Check out The Evangelical Environmental Network. They have a great magazine called "Creation Care." I've received 2 or 3 of these and they're very good. This latest edition, which I got today is quite good too.
I'm posting a couple shots of an article from it for you to get a flavor...and to hear from local Christian Ethicist from McAfee, David Gushee...Let me know if you have trouble viewing the full picture.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Sustainability Prayer
See the Sustainability Prayer below (that's my name for it)....
Lord, I already know the best way to alter my life-style to the best advantage for all--live like Jesus. The Christian existence ideally is to imitate what you do. You send the sun and rain on everyone, you want me to get back to the basic facts of life, to love without reservation, to distinguish between life's needs and life itself, and seek first your kingdom knowing you will meet all my other needs.
Still it is easy to trust in the "things" of today and feel like it is up to me to see that humanity survives. Keep me from undue worry and pride. Remind me that life is a gift--not a right, and that my attitude toward the ultimate resources and values in life will determine how the earth's resources will be handled and provided for those who need them. I have already formed many habits of consuming and acting. Guide me in aligning my personal priorities to conform to my awareness of a world hungry. May my life-style become more compatible with our biosphere and supportive of peoples around the world.
Lord, help me choose a simpler life-style that promotes solidarity with the world's poor, helps me appreciate nature more, affords greater opportunity to work together with my neighbors, reduces my use of limited resources, creates greater inner harmony, saves money, allows time for meditation and prayer, incites me to take political and social action.
May all my decisions about my style of life celebrate the joy of life that comes from loving you. Amen.
From Visions of a World Hungry by Thomas G. Pettepiece
It reminds us that our attitude and view of God shapes the way that we anticipate and influence the distribution of resources, not to mention that if life is a gift then we are not only offending the individual when taking it away, we are offending God. It also reminds us that through dependency on God we can learn humility that will shape our ethic toward one another. It also holds in tension our significance along with our insignificance. I found this in "A Guide to Prayer" daily devotional published by Upper Room.
Matt
Lord, I already know the best way to alter my life-style to the best advantage for all--live like Jesus. The Christian existence ideally is to imitate what you do. You send the sun and rain on everyone, you want me to get back to the basic facts of life, to love without reservation, to distinguish between life's needs and life itself, and seek first your kingdom knowing you will meet all my other needs.
Still it is easy to trust in the "things" of today and feel like it is up to me to see that humanity survives. Keep me from undue worry and pride. Remind me that life is a gift--not a right, and that my attitude toward the ultimate resources and values in life will determine how the earth's resources will be handled and provided for those who need them. I have already formed many habits of consuming and acting. Guide me in aligning my personal priorities to conform to my awareness of a world hungry. May my life-style become more compatible with our biosphere and supportive of peoples around the world.
Lord, help me choose a simpler life-style that promotes solidarity with the world's poor, helps me appreciate nature more, affords greater opportunity to work together with my neighbors, reduces my use of limited resources, creates greater inner harmony, saves money, allows time for meditation and prayer, incites me to take political and social action.
May all my decisions about my style of life celebrate the joy of life that comes from loving you. Amen.
From Visions of a World Hungry by Thomas G. Pettepiece
It reminds us that our attitude and view of God shapes the way that we anticipate and influence the distribution of resources, not to mention that if life is a gift then we are not only offending the individual when taking it away, we are offending God. It also reminds us that through dependency on God we can learn humility that will shape our ethic toward one another. It also holds in tension our significance along with our insignificance. I found this in "A Guide to Prayer" daily devotional published by Upper Room.
Matt
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Sermon from Rick and Ellen Burnette Online
Just wanted to let you all know, plus evoke some discussion, on Rick & Ellen's sermon from Sunday. You'll find the sermon online at Wieuca's website as well as on this blog.
Many thanks to them for their courage, thoughtfulness, and prophetic witness!
Matt
Many thanks to them for their courage, thoughtfulness, and prophetic witness!
Matt
Friday, May 2, 2008
Two hilarious but sad things from the FRC
Article on the FRC trying to get pastors to do "civil disobedience" and tell them not to vote for Democrats.
And....if you're not crying or laughing enough....
Here's an article from them saying "Down to Earth Day." Because any action to protect the environment is "environmental extremism." My favorite quote though is, "The crisis du jour is global warming, but even that is just another excuse to fund "Planet" Parenthood and similar groups. Stewardship of God's creation is the responsibility of every Christian. But we must realize that there's a greater threat to the environment than climate change or scarce resources--and that's the threat of environmental extremism that elevates the planet above people."
Since when do we not LIVE on the planet????
And....if you're not crying or laughing enough....
Here's an article from them saying "Down to Earth Day." Because any action to protect the environment is "environmental extremism." My favorite quote though is, "The crisis du jour is global warming, but even that is just another excuse to fund "Planet" Parenthood and similar groups. Stewardship of God's creation is the responsibility of every Christian. But we must realize that there's a greater threat to the environment than climate change or scarce resources--and that's the threat of environmental extremism that elevates the planet above people."
Since when do we not LIVE on the planet????
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
PeaceActs Forum
FYI...Deedra passed this along to me. I have greater investment in this given that Dr. Durley was on my Turkey pilgrimage a couple weeks ago. Anybody going already or want to go? I'm interested but it's a little pricey.
--Matt
The PeaceActs Forum will welcome our board co-president Dr. Gerald L. Durley and a Muslim fellow world pilgrim traveler, journalist Andjela Kessler author of "The International Friendship Book,” Wendy Green of the Peace Alliance, and Congressman John Lewis. The early afternoon session with a panel of artists will focus on art as a pathway to peace. This amazing all-day event at the Carter Center on May 3 will conclude with discussion groups on human rights, the global needs of children and families, and other issues relevant to the practice of peace. Visit the website of Peace Acts — a nonpartisan citizen action organization dedicated to the promotion of peace. Find out about registration, reduced fees, and you might even consider sponsoring a scholarship for someone.
http://www.peaceacts.org/forum.php
--Matt
The PeaceActs Forum will welcome our board co-president Dr. Gerald L. Durley and a Muslim fellow world pilgrim traveler, journalist Andjela Kessler author of "The International Friendship Book,” Wendy Green of the Peace Alliance, and Congressman John Lewis. The early afternoon session with a panel of artists will focus on art as a pathway to peace. This amazing all-day event at the Carter Center on May 3 will conclude with discussion groups on human rights, the global needs of children and families, and other issues relevant to the practice of peace. Visit the website of Peace Acts — a nonpartisan citizen action organization dedicated to the promotion of peace. Find out about registration, reduced fees, and you might even consider sponsoring a scholarship for someone.
http://www.peaceacts.org/forum.php
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
We Can Solve It
We Can Solve It
Amazing if you haven't seen these ads with Pelosi & Gingrich, and Sharpton and Roberts.
See the other resources on the page too.
Happy Earth Day!
Matt
Amazing if you haven't seen these ads with Pelosi & Gingrich, and Sharpton and Roberts.
See the other resources on the page too.
Happy Earth Day!
Matt
Monday, April 21, 2008
we're kinda famous....
Hey JEPR folks...
Thanks to Ethics Daily we're famous.
See the article.
Though there's one little detail reversed and my lack of decent grammar is apparent, it's a really good article. :)
Matt
Thanks to Ethics Daily we're famous.
See the article.
Though there's one little detail reversed and my lack of decent grammar is apparent, it's a really good article. :)
Matt
JEPR Viewing?
Hey folks, do any of you want to watch The Great Warming as a preview to the "official" showing that we may do later? Any available tomorrow (4-22) at any time? I have an evening meeting but I think I could work it in before the meeting (7pm I think). Or some other time this week?
Matt
Matt
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