Combating Poverty - For the Right Reason

A great quote in a Christianity Today article:

"In pragmatic America, we are often enamored of and motivated by pragmatism rather than simple obedience to Jesus. We are too often tempted to justify our existence on this planet by doing something "significant," by "making a difference in the world," so that we can go to bed at night feeling good about ourselves. But the Christian message is about a God who judges and loves us in our insignificance—that is, when our selfcenteredness has sabotaged our ability to make any fundamentally sound contribution to our lives or to others'. This God speaks to us the frank word that not only do we not make a difference in the world, day to day we threaten to make the world worse by our sin. But in Jesus Christ, he has judged and forgiven us through the Cross, and now he uses even our insignificant efforts to witness to his coming work in Jesus Christ.

What is that coming work? Among other things, it is the end of poverty. No,we cannot end poverty, but God can and will. From this perspective we see that our efforts to stem poverty have significance not because they make us feel better, but because they point to Jesus' final antipoverty program."

Source: Mark Galli, "The Best Ways to Fight Poverty - Really" Christianity Today. 10 Feb. 2012.  Accessed 11 Feb. 2012. Available: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/february/best-ways-to-fight-poverty.html 

 

Building His Church

Russell Moore wrote a fantastic article that the future leaders of the church may be her current enemies.

Whenever I’m tempted to despair about the shape of American Christianity, I’m reminded that Jesus never promised the triumph of the American church; he promised the triumph of the church. Most of the church, in heaven and on earth, isn’t American. Maybe the hope of the American church is right now in Nigeria or Laos or Indonesia.

Jesus will be King, and his church will flourish. And he’ll do it in the way he chooses, by exalting the humble and humbling the exalted, and by transforming cowards and thieves and murderers into the cornerstones of his New City.

So relax.

And, be kind to that atheist in front of you on the highway, the one who just shot you an obscene gesture. He might be the one who evangelizes your grandchildren.

Source:

Russell Moore, "The Next Billy Graham Might Be Drunk Right Now" 2 January 2012 http://www.russellmoore.com/

 

Gambling Away Reality

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I inwardly groaned when I heard on the radio this morning that there is a new proposal to build a casino in downtown Toronto.  I have long-held that casinos (and gambling in general) redistributes wealth from the poor to the middle class and wealthy and in the process leads to significant societal problems.

The local residents who expressed concern on the radio about the casino were mostly worried that traffic levels would increase.  Perhaps. But there's a whole lot more at stake than congestion.   

The Globe and Mail had a live chat with an expert on gambling from the University of Lethbridge.  I was pleased he pointed out something that the people worried about more cars (and also the politicians who support revenue generating proposal), probably hadn't thought of.

"It is true that all government revenue is used for the good of the people. However, the important thing to remember about gambling is that it is a type of industry that simply involves a transfer of wealth, not a creation of weath (e.g., as you would have in a manufacturing industry). Hence, all this new revenue and employment has to come from other parts of the Ontario economy. The primary economic losers would be a) neighbouring casinos and slots at racetracks, b) other retail businesses in the Toronto area, and c) the citizens and city of Toronto, if the revenue contributed is not returned in equal measure in terms of provincial services. Furthermore, although there would be some economic gains for the very local area, this transfer of wealth creates social costs in terms of increased rates of addiction and a small increase in crime."

 

He continues,

 

"Only last point I would want to make concerns where the money is coming from. Governments always correctly point to where the money goes (i.e., to support education, heatlh care, infrastructure, and other good causes). However, we cannot ignore where the money comes from. Research shows that 1/3 of Ontario govt gambling revenue comes from gambling addicts (a much higher percentage just for casinos). Thus, raising money in this way become a potentially ethically problematic enterprise"

 

Source: http://live.theglobeandmail.com/Event/Discussion_The_Globe_talks_with_gambling_researcher_Dr_Robert_Williams_on_the_OLGs_Toronto_casino

Lost in Translation

From the weatheroffice..I think something was lost in translation..

11:19 AM EST Tuesday 27 December 2011
Winter storm warning for
Natashquan continued

We expect 20 to 40 centimetres of snow over these regions beginning this evening. Moreover, strong winds will accompany the snow and will create generalized blowing snow over the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and north coast areas.

A new low pressure system with an explosive development is presently building over Kentucky. This system will move to Northern New England this evening and will reach the province of Quebec Wednesday morning.

The snow will affect the Southern Quebec areas beginning on this evening. Over the Eastern Townships and the Beauce, the storm will give a mix of precipitations. The heavy snow, strong winds and blowing snow which accompany this system will reach several regions of Central and Eastern Quebec beginning tonight, leaving a more than significant amount of snow. These bad conditions will persist through Thursday.

Please refer to regional public forecasts for details pertaining to each region.
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?qc25

Good Question!

On the bus this morning a young girl asked her mom why a man was wearing a Santa hat.  Good question! I wondered why as well. 

Good Timing

While waiting for the bus this morning, I noticed a new 'for rent' sign has been posted on a building across the street.  The building appears to house a financial consulting business and a Christian dance studio (?) on the main floor and an apartment on the top floor.  No sooner had I wondered why the sign had been posted, I saw a man walk out of the building holding a baby!  The timing couldn't have been more perfect.  A growing family calls for more space!

From Manhattan to Newark

I recently moved to another city after accepting a job transfer, and the experience has been somewhat akin to moving from Manhattan to Newark.  My new city is in many ways an extension of the American rust belt; a former industrial powerhouse that has lost its employer base and lost its way in the process.

And because of its declining financial fortunes people seldom move to the city for employment I'm told by both the statistics and locals.  Most newcomers are university and college students who move to town, keep the downtown bars and clubs in business, and then move away.  Most locals react with surprise when I tell them why I moved to town, and where I came from. 

There is a lot to like about my new city.  Minimal gridlock, a decent public transit system, and generally friendly customer service.

But when you move from "Manhattan" to Newark there's bound to be culture shock, a shift in expectations and a lifestyle realignment.

There are churches....A lot of churches, including many large evangelical congregations.  But so far I have observed that many of the churches in town struggle to incorporate newcomers.  They're fairly good at welcoming new people; but actually involving them their community and lives is another thing.  I suspect its mostly because of what I said earlier.  A town filled of people unaccustomed (and even surprised) when someone chooses to move in, lacks the experience of other cities that routinely welcome (and expect) new residents to settle.