Debt-Free People of God

The Jungle Book

2012-01-14T05:35:00.000-08:00

One year ago a remarkable thing happened. In the cold turn of October, a railroad turned the corner from somewhere to elsewhere on the sky gray cover of Contingency Plans, my debut poetry collection. You can buy it in stores. You can find it on the internet.

That day also underscored a tension for me. A writer and bookseller, I’m fiercely independent, liberally minded, and altogether outspoken about the influence of one particular sales giant. To have my book generate income for them gave me the most curious pause. Never have I experienced elation and disgust in such unison.

I make liberal use of the word hate in discussions about Amazon, and it has to do with their being themajor competitor to me and mine, but it goes deeper. The announcement came last fall that Amazon will compete as an actual publishing house—creating what CEO Jeff Bezos considers an “end-to-end service.”

For me, the homogeneity is disconcerting enough. One house—with remarkable sway—procuring, editing, printing, promoting, and selling books, all from within. No outside agents, editors, publicists, or booksellers guiding the process; a flow chart linking writer to reader with a great big AMZN.

I understand Amazon’s prerogative to expand, but quality seems to suffer under their heavy hand. I’ve cited examples on my blog. But consumers keep going back. Probably because Amazon prices are so low. It feels like a scam when I tell a customer I’ll charge them an easy ten dollars more than Amazon—but whose scam? Customers will opt to order a book online if I don’t physically have it on my shelf—even when I can have what they’re looking for the next day!—because Amazon makes books appear on their doorsteps. What’s there to do?

A Glove to Fit the Hand

When I’m not selling books, I go to the old home game. I like to watch the Mariners with my friend Bobby; he knows things. With him it’s Baseball 101. Seattle was playing the New York Yankees earlier this season, and I needed some clarity.

“Why does everyone hate the Yankees?” I asked. “Is it because they win all the time?”

“That’s part of it.” Bobby then taught me a valuable lesson about how money plays a role in what many consider a sacred game: People that hate the Yankees hate the Yankees because the Yankees don’t appear to care about anything but winning.

Maybe that’s true; maybe it’s not. But from the standpoint of many, the hallowed game of baseball—sportsmanship itself—has been sacrificed in Yankee Stadium to a big hungry god of their own design. Technically they play by the rules—technically.

Bobby elaborated and I discovered a glove to fit the hand. My beef with Amazon has to do with a modicum of decency as yet lacking on their part. To me, Amazon operates with no respect for its competitors and only vague awareness that its customers exist. Blatant greed has them seeking to cut out all entities mediating them and their profits. Those entities are people and services that raise the quality of products delivered. That attitude affects jobs and livelihoods in many ways more than just beating out the competition for a sale.

I’m suspicious about endeavors to omit positions, especially in a market suffering unemployment, debt, and economic disparity.

But it’s foolish for me to blame Amazon alone. It is symptomatic of a greater national, buffet-style consumerism. Some of that is necessity, resultant of circumstances being protested this very minute through the Occupy Movement, but enough of that is also selfish consumer entitlement that probably started with business models like Henry Ford and Harry Gordon Selfridge pervading the American mind.

Amazon, like all businesses, responds to a market. We have done most of its work for it.

Adding-to-Cart

Beauty from messes is one thing left I believe in. I edit for T. S. Poetry Press, the very publisher behind my book. Our books are print-on-demand through a subsidiary of Amazon because its prices makes what we provide possible. Our primary focus is poetry. A niche press is hard to imagine working right out of the gates in traditional publishing.

I edit even while my hatred of Amazon boils because I believe in the T. S. Poetry project. Beauty from messes—it’s what God does; it’s what grace is. It’s how I describe my poetry in the book that resides within the jungle of tension, titled to imply the full flux surrounding it, Contingency Plans.

For me, there’s no question when I find projects and people whose beauty shines in the jungle, but when we’re tempted to add-to-cart, we must ask, Are we tempted because something’s beautiful, or because it is cheap?

Image by Moominsean. Used with permission. Sourced via Flickr. Post by David K. Wheeler, author ofContigency Plans.

Christian Investment Newsletter Among 2011's Top Five

2012-01-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

SALAMANCA, N.Y., Dec. 30, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Dec 26 Peter Brimelow of MarketWatch published his annual Top 10 list of Investment Newsletters. Placing in the top five out of the 196 Investment Newsletters currently tracked by Hulbert Financial Digest whose data he cites was The Christian Value Investor that he first profiled in his column Nov 21. His headline for that column was: "Christian letter among 2011 top performers. Commentary: But it's based on established investing theory."

Following the New York dateline of his company -- one member of the family of financial firms that include the Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, Barrons and Hulbert Financial Digest -- the sub-headline reads: "Praise the Lord! A new letter is among this year's top-performers. It's explicitly Christian." The full text of that article can easily be found by entering The Christian Value Investor within quotation marks into Google or other search engines.

It was indeed exciting to the founders of Faithful Servant LLC, the company that publishes The Christian Value Investor to have as well known and respected a financial analyst as Brimelow -- whose biography is likewise easily searched -- not only credit a newcomer to this field for their success, but also to give credit to their newsletter's Christian principles. Brimelow clearly acknowledges there is a worldly bias against such entities that he terms Christophobia, illustrating this contention with the erosion of "Merry Christmas" greetings into "Happy Holidays."

He paraphrases from TCVI's Mission Statement that announces their model portfolio's avoidance of "sin stocks" such as tobacco, alcohol, gambling casinos, pornography etc. likening this moral position as rather like the various environment-conscious funds that avoid alleged polluters.

About their investment strategy he states "Certainly the Christian Value Investor editors have a bold and incisive investing technique." A refreshing feature of this piece in a secular column is his parallel credit to one other overtly Christian letter among those Hulbert rates for having consistently edged out the market over the last 15 years despite being somewhat down this year.

To learn more about The Christian Value Investor or its two sister publications that focus on the Utility and Transportation segments of the market one can visit the website that combines the publication's initials and the fact that they're always available intowww.TCVI-24-7.com.

The Christian Value Investor's prayer for 2012 is that you have a joyous and prosperous New Year and tithe your good fortune.

Why I Don't Ask God for Money

2011-12-28T04:25:00.000-08:00

by Ed Cyzewski

I’d like to think I’m an expert at the “Low Checking Account Balance Prayer.” I also call it the “Money Prayer.” We’ve moved and changed jobs enough that I should be able to proclaim a few prayers to settle things down with a suave confidence that emanates from my spiritual authority over low balances.

We just passed through such a time recently. My wife moved into a new job, and for a few months our financial security rested entirely on me and my fledgling business—something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. We did all right, but I finally hit the point where I felt the need to pray the “money prayer.”

There are two basic ways to say the money prayer. I have a feeling that God only likes one of them, but I’m usually willing to give them both a shot just in case.

The first version of the money prayer involves a simple formula: Hi God + we have no money + please help us = waiting for a response.

The second version adopts a slightly different approach: Hi God + use me to bless others + please give me what I need to do that = response.

The more I ask for my own provision, the less I see happening. The more I ask to be used as an instrument to bless others, the more I see God doing both for and through me.

Saying that God wants to use us to bless others isn’t exactly breaking new ground. If I tried to teach a seminary course based on this premise, I’d meet a room full of vigorous nods and then a rash of yawns.

The difference for me is that I sometimes compartmentalize my work and paycheck from “real” ministry. God wants my customers to feel cared-for, he wants my colleagues to return home with a greater sense of peace, and he wants to support life-changing ministries with the money I earn from my work.

As soon as I started asking God to send what I needed in order to bless others, my work changed. I discovered ways to connect colleagues with the help they needed. Prayers for provision that could bless others turned into extra work that enabled me to increase my generosity.

Only asking God for provision is like asking God to replace himself. My self-centered prayers are really something like this: “Dear God, life is hard, and I need money to take care of me. Please send money to provide the security you can’t provide.”

Asking God to use me to bless others puts us both in the right place. This places God in charge of my needs, the needs of others, and the overall direction for my life.

When I need more money, I really need more of God. I need to stick myself right at the center of his will. If God can use me, then I’ll never lack anything I need.

The provision of more money will cloud my vision of God. The provision of more God turns everything in my life into a tool that God can use as he pleases.

The trouble is that some days I still think prayer would be a lot easier if I had a bit more money.

Image by Velo_City. Used with permission. Sourced via Flickr. Post by Ed Cyzewski.

Are You Up and Down With the Dow?

2011-12-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

Over the past few years, the economy has been a roller coaster that's left most people screaming, "I want off!" As if that's not enough, news about the world economy all over the media has given us more reason to feel afraid and out of control.

Staying armed with truth will ward off the panic for you and the people in your church, promoting peace no matter what's going on with the Dow. Keep spreading the word to your congregation that market volatility doesn't have to mean mood volatility!

Here are some things to keep you calm and peaceful no matter what the market is doing:

Where is your security? First things first. When your investments are bouncing around like a pinball machine, it's a good time for a gut check. Take a look at how much it's bothering you and remind yourself that security lies in God, not money. No amount of money can give you security, but you can be secure in Christ no matter how much or little you have. A loosened grip on your wallet or purse strings might bring some much-needed peace back into your life.

Maintain a long-term perspective: Like Dave Ramsey says, the only way you get hurt on a roller coaster is if you jump off! Investing is a long-term process, not a get-rich-quick attempt. Unless you are retiring tomorrow, you don't need to be concerned if your 401(k) looks more like a 201(k). The market always bounces back, and you'll make yourself sick if you stress over it. Keep investing just like you would in any other economy. Over time, you will win!

Imagine yourself debt-free: Think about it—how much do market fluctuations really affect your day-to-day life? And how much less would you care if you were completely debt-free with a fully funded emergency fund? If you are already there, congratulations! If you're not there yet, keep at it. Your hard work will be so worth it! When you are in complete control of your personal economy, what's going on in the nation and world economy just doesn't seem to hold as much weight.

Speak out against the hype. The sky is not falling. Encourage your congregation to keep working their way through the Baby Steps and striving to be excellent stewards of all that God has given them. You can't go wrong with that!

Learn how to start an FPU class in your church.

Stewardship Ministry: A Tale Of Two Churches - daveramsey.com

2011-12-02T04:48:00.000-08:00

Stewardship Ministry: A Tale Of Two Churches - daveramsey.com: "Gunnar Johnson, Stewardship Pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, leads a stewardship ministry that serves about 3,000 people a year. As a result, hundreds of church leaders contact him every year to ask his team how to start a stewardship ministry. In general, churches that reach out fall into one of two categories."

Read more...

Christian Charities Look for Cyber Monday Donations

2011-11-29T03:27:00.000-08:00

(AP Images/Paul Sakuma)

It’s Cyber Monday. That means millions of consumers will flood the Internet looking for online bargains in what has become the busiest Internet shopping day of the year. By some estimates, Cyber Monday revenue will top $1 billion again in 2011.

But virtual shoppers can give back while cashing in on Christmas deals—and Christian charities are hoping they do.

The charitable giving trend is expected to continue despite another holiday season faced with a struggling economy, according to a Harris Interactive study. Of survey participants, 51 percent say they're now more likely to give a charitable gift as a holiday present this year. And 80 percent of adults say they'd prefer to receive a "meaningful gift" that would help someone else instead of a traditional holiday gift like clothing or electronics.

International Christian humanitarian organization World Vision is proving this study out. More than half of the $32 million contributed through the organization's annual holiday Gift Catalog were funds raised through its online catalog.

The virtual store features more than 250 untraditional holiday gifts including cows, chickens, mosquito nets and microloans that are purchased on behalf of families living in impoverished communities.

"This year, World Vision is issuing a challenge to all Cyber Monday shoppers to consider items in the Gift Catalog," says Traci Coker, national director of the World Vision Gift Catalog. “We know times are tough but we also know shoppers are looking for gifts that are impactful. As long as you're going to be doing some shopping online, why not include a meaningful gift?"

Givers can make the purchase in the name of a friend, family member or business associate. World Vision sends special cards to those individuals, describing the gifts and their impact on people in areas where extreme poverty is a reality.

Last year alone, the World Vision U.S. Gift Catalog helped provide assistance to more than 800,000 people around the world. Since launching the catalog in 1996, World Vision has raised more than $162 million.

Dear God, Thank You for This Crummy Job

2011-11-24T05:39:00.000-08:00

I remember the days when I bounded out of bed, ready to seize the day.

Back then, work was a joy. My coworkers banded together as we found new solutions to fix problems. My chain of command was empowering. My duties were challenging and fresh, engaging my mind and abilities.

That was yesterday.

These days, the workplace has a certain sense of gloom. The economy hasn’t treated my company well. When I enter my building, it seems as if half the lights are dimmed, probably to save electricity. But it certainly doesn’t help the atmosphere.

Many of my coworkers have left through early retirement or have been forced out through downsizing. Those that are left have the duties of two or three, with no other resources to call on.

All the managers are stressed, trying to keep the fiscal boat afloat while still delivering a valuable product. At times the duties are creative and challenging, but I mostly find new ways to tell a continuing saga of sagging revenues, depressed demand and a bleak future. It’s a crummy position to be in, for sure.

I sense that I’m not alone. As I talk to friends, I’m finding that many of them have gone from the rolls of short-term unemployed to long-term. Others are underemployed, finding work as temps or part time workers, benefits trimmed or stripped outright.

And for those that are still working, they have to do way more with way less.

Rather than let my employment challenges drag me down, I’ve decided to take back the workplace for God’s glory, and I’m doing it through an attitude of gratitude. The seed of thankfulness was first planted by scripture, “In all things give thanks.” It was watered by The High Calling editor, Ann Voskamp, with her book, One Thousand Gifts, where she dares me to “live fully”, right where I am.

So, I’m putting the challenge into action. And it’s working.

First of all, I’m thankful I even have a job. When I think about my friends Steve and Becky, and a host of others stuck in pervasive unemployment, my complaints just feel wrong.

I’m thankful for the challenge, and even the frustrations. Through fire and trial, I’m becoming God’s man.

I’m thankful for the out-of-control schedule, the 117 unopened e-mail messages and the drop-everything-projects. I think there’s some patience to be gained in all this.

I’m thankful for my coworkers, and I often find myself saying this sort of prayer: “Lord, bless them in the stress.” We’re in this together, and using a calm voice of reason might just work wonders.

I’m thankful for every penny that my employer sends my way. I haven’t always earned it.

In every way, I’m grateful for this crummy job.

Image by Ben Fredericson. Used with permission. Sourced via Flickr. Post by David Rupert.

A Fundamental Shift in Holiday Giving?

2011-11-14T13:56:00.000-08:00

New Study on Long-Term Impact of the Great Recession on Charitable Giving

SEATTLE, Nov. 14, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The struggling economy continues to affect holiday spending and holiday generosity. According to a World Vision study, more than 7 in 10 (71%) Americans report that they'll spend less on holiday presents this year because of the current economic climate. This number has remained nearly the same three out of the last four years. This trend appears to reflect a fundamental shift in how Americans perceive holiday generosity. This is the third year World Vision has commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct research on holiday charitable giving. This is the second year the U.S. and Canada have been included in the same comprehensive study.

Key findings:

Americans Expect to Spend Less on Holiday Gifts

71 percent in 2011 - 69% expected to in 2010 - 57% in 2009 – 71% in 2008

But Americans want those dollars to mean more. Because more than half (51%) say they're now more likely to give a charitable gift as a holiday present this year. Again, this number has remained nearly the same three out of the last four years (51% in 2011, 51% in 2010, 38% in 2009 and 49% in 2008). And 4 in 5 adults (80%) say they'd prefer to receive a "meaningful gift" that would help someone else instead of a traditional holiday gift like clothing or electronics. This number is identical to 2010 (80%). About 7 in 10 U.S. adults (71%) – the same proportion as 2010 (71%) – agree that they plan to increase their charitable giving once the economy improves. In 2010 that number was exactly the same (71%).

Americans More Generous?

The phone survey, conducted October 26-30, 2011 also says that U.S. adults are more likely than Canadian adults to have experience with both giving and receiving charitable gifts: More than 2 in 3 U.S. adults (68%) have given a "charitable gift" that honors a loved one, compared to just over half of Canadian adults (55%).

"It is worth noting that while the proportion who wants to receive a meaningful gift has been steady over the past two years, it is still an increase since the low of 76% who felt this way in 2009," reported Michele Salomon, Senior Research Director at Harris Interactive. "This suggests that the relevance or meaning of the cause, charity, or gift becomes more important for people as they make giving decisions in a strained economic environment."

FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN HOLIDAY GIVING?

New study:

"This survey shows once again that, during uncertain economic times, Americans continue to prioritize helping those in need," says Traci Coker, World Vision-US Gift Catalog Senior Director. "Even more so than our neighbors to the north, Americans want to reach out with charitable gifts like those found in the World Vision Gift Catalog this holiday season."

"A gift given from the Gift Catalog significantly improves the life of a child or family in need by providing tools and opportunities to overcome extreme poverty, while at the same time honoring your friends and loved ones," says Coker. For each World Vision gift, the giver can make the purchase in the name of a friend, family member, or business associate. World Vision then sends special cards to those individuals, describing the gifts and their impact. In the months that follow, the gift itself or intervention reaches a child or family in need.

Last year alone, the World Vision U.S. Gift Catalog raised more than $32 million and provided assistance to more than 800,000 people around the world. This year's projected goal: $34 million. World Vision launched the Gift Catalog in 1996. Since then it's raised over $162 million dollars. And while a goat ($75) may be World Vision's number one seller, there are more than 100 gifts (many under $35) to choose from.

To order in the United States: www.worldvisiongifts.org or call toll-free 888-511-6511.

World Vision U.S. Gift Catalog on facebook:www.facebook.com/worldvisiongiftcatalog

About the poll:

This poll was conducted by telephone within the United States and Canada by Harris Interactive on behalf of World Vision, Inc. between October 26 and October 30, 2011 among 1,007 U.S. adults ages 18+ and between October 27 and October 31, 2011 among 1,021 Canadian adults 18+. (for complete methodology contact John Yeager jyeager@worldvision.org).

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world's poor, regardless of a person's religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visitwww.worldvision.org.

Dave Ramsey’s Momentum Theorem by Stephen Blandino - ChurchLeaders.com - Christian Leadership Blogs, Articles, Videos, How To's, and Free Resources

2011-11-14T06:45:00.000-08:00

Intensity plus time plus God equals Momentum.

Dave Ramsey’s Momentum Theorem by Stephen Blandino - ChurchLeaders.com - Christian Leadership Blogs, Articles, Videos, How To's, and Free Resources: "Dave Ramsey has helped millions of people navigate their finances, break out of debt, and take a path toward financial freedom. He has also worked hard to lead his organization with excellence and create a healthy organizational culture. In another post I shared some of the insights of Dave Ramsey’s Organizational Culture."

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Os Hillman to Headline Economic Summit in Grande Prairie, Alberta Nov. 10-13

2011-11-09T04:41:00.000-08:00

Os Hillman

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alberta, Nov. 8, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- One of the featured speakers at KEYS Canada will be Os Hillman, president and founder of Marketplace Leaders, Cumming, GA. Hillman is a pioneer and forerunner in the modern marketplace reformation movement that is integrating faith and work, and empowering business and financial leaders to exercise spiritual influence and authority in their workplace environments.

Hillman is a serial entrepreneur who has authored 12 books, including The 9 to 5 Window and The Upside of Adversity. His latest book is entitled Change Agent! Engaging Your Passion to be the One Who Makes a Difference. You can purchase it atwww.ChangeAgentBook.com. Hillman also offers a Change Agent video series and weekend seminar, and will be presenting several sessions from those. Cost of the Keys Canada webcast is $111.11 for all keynote sessions and worship. The event starts Thursday, Nov. 10th at 7:00 pm MST and ends Saturday, Nov. 12th at 10 pm MST. The Keys Canada weekend will close with a communion service Sunday at 8:30 am MST.

"We are delighted and thrilled to bring leaders of this caliber to the heart of the world-famous Alberta Tar Sands region," said Dr. Bruce Cook, founder and convener of the summit, known as K.E.Y.S. (Kingdom Economic Yearly Summit). Cook lives in the Austin, TX, area and is Founder and President of VentureAdvisers Inc., Kingdom House Publishing, and Kingdom Venture Partners, and is a director and/or trustee of four other companies, including Merging Streams Financial Network LLC.

Patterned loosely after the World Economic Forum, but with a Christian focus and perspective, K.E.Y.S. Canada will feature more than a dozen keynote speakers -- including Cook and Hillman - such as Dr. Gordon Bradshaw, Dr. Doug Atha, Dr. Mark Kauffman, Charlie Fisher, Marc Brisebois, Glen Boyd, Carolita Oliveros, Wende Jones, Fulton Sheen and John Anderson.

Grand Prairie Mayor Bill Given will welcome the Summit delegates and attendees on Friday, Nov. 11 at 9:00 am, followed by a 2nd welcome from First Nations representatives Art and Lori Auger from Grande Prairie, and then a brief awards ceremony honoring the late Sylvan Swanberg and Frank Bigel of Grande Prairie.

K.E.Y.S. and GBT will be donating part of the proceeds from Keys Canada to a local community nonprofit organization named Rising Above, which ministers to the homeless, jobless, abused women, needy children, etc. www.RisingAboveGP.com.

Summit worship leaders are Krista Fisher and Peter Christensen of Grande Prairie. Personal prayer ministers are Jess Bielby and Charles Robinson. Intercession leaders are Jon Grieser, Wigs Bello, Yvette Jobson and Tammenthia Diesel.

Venue for K.E.Y.S. Canada is the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, located near downtown and the airport. Schedule is registration 2:00-7:00 pm Nov. 10th and opening session 7:00 pm -12:00 midnight, then Nov. 11-12 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. The Summit will close Sunday, Nov. 13th with a final service from 8:00 to 9:30 am.

For more information on K.E.Y.S. Canada, visit their web site atwww.KeysCanada.org or call toll free 1-877-409-3663, ext. 701. Registration includes all meals on site. Group rates are available, with an 11% discount offered to groups of 11 or more.

Black Friday Becomes Bless Friday® -- Bless Friday® Nearly Triples in 2nd Year

2011-11-08T07:29:00.000-08:00

HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Houston and Galveston area churches and Christian organizations are providing an alternative to frenzied Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (MDPC), Beacon of Light Christian Center, St. Luke's United Methodist Church, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Fair Haven UMC and Mission Milby are each scheduling community service projects on Friday, November 25. These churches ask families and individuals to celebrate Bless Friday® as an alternative to Black Friday.

Chuck Fox, founder of Bless Friday®, states, "I am excited that Bless Friday® expanded in its second year. People get our message that when we focus too much on buying things, we lose sight of the real reason for Christmas -- remembering and honoring Christ. We want to begin our Christmas celebration by serving others just as Jesus did."

He further says, "I'm also pleased that multi-church organizations such as the Presbytery of the New Covenant, The Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Texas recently advertised Bless Friday® in newsletters or on their websites. The publicity and endorsement helps us reach more people." More information is available at BlessFriday.org or by contacting Chuck Fox at 713-502-6356.

Dave Peterson, Sr. Pastor at MDPC states, "We want to transform lives as people reconnect to the real reason we celebrate Christmas. I am especially thrilled when children and youth participate. It changes how they view the season." MDPC congregants are volunteering at local ministry partners (Star of Hope, SEARCH), painting a Hurricane Ike damaged home or participating in a service project they can do at home with family and friends. More information is available at bless.mdpc.org or by contacting Jan Roe at jroe@mdpc.org or 713-490-9552.

Beacon of Light Christian Center plans to invite the surrounding community to its church, located at 6655 London St. in South Houston for a day of fellowship and caring. The church plans to serve the community the entire day by offering food to the hungry, clothing to those in need, and activities for people of all ages. Pastor Anthony Gasery states, "Our community is filled with people who financially overextend themselves at Christmas. We want to show them a more positive and more spiritual way to celebrate." For more information please contact Myree Francis atmyreelfrancis@yahoo.com.

St. Luke's will hold a pot luck lunch at the Gethsemane campus where participants will prepare blessing bags of non-perishable food items for distribution to the homeless and needy. Mireya Ottaviano, event organizer states, "Many at St. Luke's want to spend a portion of the day giving thanks by sharing with others and send a message that Advent is about celebrating our values, not focusing on material things." More information is at 713-774-7693.

St. John the Divine will send one group to The Beacon to serve food to the homeless and help with laundry and other practical needs. Another group will go to Agape Development to work in the Urban Garden. For more information please contact Taylor Dawson,tdawson@sjd.org, 713-622-3600.

Moody Memorial UMC (Vivian Pinard, vivian@moody.org, 409-744-4526) will host a Clean Galveston Day. Mission Milby (Jose Pena -jose.pena@servantsnow.org, 713-454-6480) and Holycross Lutheran Church (John Jairo y Sussy- hclc@holycross.us) will each share lunch in their communities. Finally Fair Haven UMC is also scheduling events (Jairo Ortiz- jortizc@yahoo.com).

Bless Friday® was founded in 2010 in Houston to change the way Americans celebrate Christmas.

G20: The Verdict | Robin Hood Tax

2011-11-05T04:39:00.000-07:00

G20: The Verdict | Robin Hood Tax: "At the G20 this week, a growing group of G20 countries from South Africa to Brazil backed the Robin Hood Tax, and the link between the Robin Hood Tax and fighting poverty and climate change became clearer than ever. Momentum is building and leaves leaders like David Cameron who opposed the tax looking increasingly isolated having sided not with the 99% suffering the effects of the economic crisis, but the interests of a privileged few in the financial sector."

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Catholics more inclined to share wealth than Protestants, Euro central bank says | FaithWorld

2011-11-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

Catholics more inclined to share wealth than Protestants, Euro central bank says | FaithWorld: "Catholics are more likely to support government intervention in the economy than Protestants and also have a stronger preference for sharing wealth equally, a European Central Bank study said."

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The Morality of Income Inequality » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog

2011-11-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

The Morality of Income Inequality » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog: "Income inequality is one of those pseudo-political issues that no one really thinks is an important issue. If anyone were truly concerned about unequal distributions of income they’d be willing to do something about it. But they aren’t. I’ve never met anyone who earns $40,000 a year express a desire to redistribute half their income to someone making only $20,000 a year so that we can help fix this immoral inequality problem. What people mean when they say that income inequality is a problem is that they think its a problem that someone who makes more than they do. “Income inequality” is merely the politically correct term for covetousness."

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Top 3 Reasons Churches Avoid Evaluations by Thom Schultz - ChurchLeaders.com - Christian Leadership Blogs, Articles, Videos, How To's, and Free Resources

2011-10-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

Top 3 Reasons Churches Avoid Evaluations by Thom Schultz - ChurchLeaders.com - Christian Leadership Blogs, Articles, Videos, How To's, and Free Resources:

'via Blog this'

It's the Economy: More Than 1 in 4 Young Americans 18-29 Say They Will Delay Repaying Student Loans and Other Debt Due to Poor Economy - Christian Newswire

2011-10-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

It's the Economy: More Than 1 in 4 Young Americans 18-29 Say They Will Delay Repaying Student Loans and Other Debt Due to Poor Economy - Christian Newswire:

'via Blog this'

Dear Occupy Wall Street ... - daveramsey.com

2011-10-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Occupy Wall Street ... - daveramsey.com: "“I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” Yeah, that’s great. But what do you want? What are your goals? What are your demands? What result are you looking for?

The beauty of being vague is that anyone who has any emotion can get caught up in the excitement and join your crusade. They’ll just get mad at something and assume that you’re both mad about the same thing. Put a few hundred of these people together, and boom. You’ve got a crowd, a headline and a lot of attention … but no message."

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Global Men's Summit Seeks to Reverse Financial Crisis by Calling Men to Live a Life of Integrity - Christian Newswire

2011-10-22T03:34:00.000-07:00

Global Men's Summit Seeks to Reverse Financial Crisis by Calling Men to Live a Life of Integrity - Christian Newswire: "
Global Men's Summit Seeks to Reverse Financial Crisis by Calling Men to Live a Life of Integrity
Contact: Josh Hixson, 817-980-1240, jhixson55@gmail.com

DALLAS, Oct. 21, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- In the midst of headlines detailing the latest financial downturn and the weakening of the world's economic integrity, one vital statistic has gone unreported:

Single-parent households are nearly twice as likely to be living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
"

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Would Jesus Side with the Wall Street Protesters? - Christian News, Conservative Commentary

2011-10-22T03:04:00.000-07:00

Would Jesus Side with the Wall Street Protesters? - Christian News, Conservative Commentary: "One of President Obama’s chief spiritual advisers is Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners, a liberal Christian community in the D.C. area. He has now likened helping the Occupy Wall Street protesters to siding with Jesus."

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WORLD Magazine | No jobs, no sale | Warren Cole Smith | Oct 22, 11

2011-10-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

WORLD Magazine | No jobs, no sale | Warren Cole Smith | Oct 22, 11: "On Monday, Sept. 19, President Barack Obama made a Rose Garden speech to unveil his $3 trillion plan to shrink the deficit and create jobs, with about half of the savings coming from spending cuts. Most of the rest will come from taxes. Despite an aggressive sales tour by the president—mostly to states that will be battlegrounds in the 2012 election—he's finding few buyers."

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CNS STORY: Vatican to issue document on global financial reform

2011-10-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

CNS STORY: Vatican to issue document on global financial reform: "VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican has prepared a document on reform of the global financial system and the potential role of a public regulatory authority.

The document, prepared by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, was to be released Oct. 24 in four languages, and presented the same day at a Vatican news conference by Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the council."

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Investing My Talents | The High Calling

2011-10-20T04:04:00.000-07:00

Investing My Talents | The High Calling: "This post is an except from Dan King's new book, The Unlikely Missionary: From Pew-Warmer to Poverty-Fighter.

“I’m not qualified for this.”

That was the prevailing thought running through my mind as I settled into my room for the night in Thika, Kenya. I couldn’t be more excited to teach the next day, but somehow I couldn’t shake the feeling of being unworthy of teaching these beautiful people anything."

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Business and Financial Leaders to Meet in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada November 10-13th - Christian Newswire

2011-10-20T03:09:00.000-07:00

Business and Financial Leaders to Meet in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada November 10-13th - Christian Newswire: "GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alberta, Oct., 19, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Christian business and financial leaders from Canada, the U.S., and other nations will attend the K.E.Y.S. Canada marketplace summit Nov. 10-13, 2011 in Grande Prairie, according to Charlie Fisher, event host and Founder and President of Guiding Business Transitions (GBT), a corporate strategy, board governance, investor relations and business development consulting firm. Theme for the summit will be "Kingdom Keys to Supernatural Abundance." "

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New ECFA Paper Urges Faith-Based Nonprofits to Put God First in Fund Management - Christian Newswire

2011-10-20T03:04:00.000-07:00

New ECFA Paper Urges Faith-Based Nonprofits to Put God First in Fund Management - Christian Newswire: "WINCHESTER, Va., Oct. 19, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Faith-based nonprofits must operate with "Kingdom values" as stewards, not owners, of the endowments that help sustain their organizations, even as they manage such funds with an eye toward the future, according to a new monograph offered by ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)."

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WORLDmag.com | The ‘animal spirits’

2011-10-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

WORLDmag.com | The ‘animal spirits’: "In the General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, John Maynard Keynes pondered on a peculiar characteristic of human nature. He identified it as a major contributor to the cyclical pattern of growth of modern capitalist economies. In his view, most human decisions are not made on the basis of a “weighted average of quantitative benefits multiplied by quantitative probabilities.” Instead, Keynes believed that most wealth-generating activities are a result of “spontaneous optimism.”"

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