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Corporate Clash: McDonalds vs. Burger King
2007-11-30 21:38:00
Today’s Corporate Clash matches up the two largest hamburger chains in the world. I love Burger King ’s Whopper, but I’m also partial to McDonalds’ fries. Giving up either one is going to hurt. We’ll start with the Golden Arches:MCDONALDS:Corporate Affiliates: Boston Market, Chipotle Mexican GrillAnnual Sales: $21.58 billionCEO Salary (2006): $12.7 MillionPros:* McDonalds scored 85 out of 100 on 2005 Corporate Equality Index which rates companies on policies affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees.* In April of 2007, McDonalds forged an agreement with the Coalition of Immolakee Workers. They agreed to pay a penny per pound more for their tomatoes in order to improve conditions for tomato pickers in Florida.Cons:* McDonalds has been criticized for violating labor laws in China. They have paid hourly wages as low as 52 cents; demanded workdays up to 14 hours; refused to pay for overtime, vacation, or sick leave; neglected to give medical insurance or pensi...
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Challenging Corporations
2007-11-29 04:40:00
As we move deeper into into the realm of corporations, their impact on the world, and our responsibility as consumers - here is a three-part documentary called "Challenging Corporations " I found on YouTube. It's a little heavy on the left-wing rhetoric, but it does provide a perspective that is rarely represented in mainstream media. It also moves beyond critique of the current situation and outlines some real strategies for change. Enjoy!Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZsioHCXMC sPart 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM6CTOTTtQ 0Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp1HtwZHl2 YAnd just for fun, here's a poem called "Corporations Are Machines" by Jennifer Jacobs:They aren't people A person who works for one Might care about you But the Corporation Doesn't make it easy The Corporation Doesn't make friends The Corporation akes fake beauty If it will sell No The Corporation Makes money The Corporation Doesn't even care Who gets the money Or if money is What they need C...
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NASCAR Gets The Black Flag
2007-11-26 03:31:00
Of all the different flags that fly during a NASCAR race, the black flag is probably used the least. It is waved for a specific car when it is either grossly in violation of the rules or it has become a hazard to the other cars. A driver receiving the black flag must immediately pull off the track.Today, I am finally waving my personal black flag at the entire sport of NASCAR, which has been my favorite sport for the last seven years. NASCAR, and in particular track-owner Bruton Smith, are in gross violation of God's rules of economic justice, and they have become a hazard to the well-being of society.I will no longer tape the NASCAR race to watch when I get home from church on Sunday evenings. I will no longer cheer on the orange and white #31 AT&T Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton. I will no longer maintain "The Jimmy Cup," the blog that featured the NASCAR scoring system that I invented.This long-overdue decision was prompted by the news that broke in Charlotte over the Thanks...
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What I Am Thankful For This Year
2007-11-21 06:49:00
My Wife MargaretMy Two Boys - Benjamin and SamuelMy ParentsFree Trade CoffeeThe InternetFree BloggingThat Barry Bonds Got CaughtThat I Can Walk To Work On A Nice DayBeing Wealthy Enough to Worry About Gaining WeightThe Simple Beauty of Orange and Red Trees in AutumnAlternative, Non-Profit Media OutletsPeople Who Give Their Lives For a Good Cause With Little or No RecognitionTeachersSocial WorkersChurch EducatorsStay at Home ParentsFair and Compassionate BossesPoliticians Who Truly Stand Up For The Poor, And Don't Just Pay Them Lip Service At Election TimeConsumers Who Know What Their Favorite Corporations Are Up ToPeople Who Write Letters to the Editor, to Congress, and To Corporate Executives PetsMeatloaf - Easy to Make, Easier to Eat!Homegrown VegetablesThe “Off” Button on the Television RemoteBicyclesThat Time Right After the Sun Goes Down When It’s Not Quite Light and Not Quite Dark and Anything Seems PossibleThe First AmendmentThe People in My ChurchThe Privilege of Spea...
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Who Is Getting Rich? - Health Care
2007-11-19 04:22:00
(This is a new segment that highlights the people who are making the most profit from the industries that are failing the poor the most. We start with health care.)These 9 individuals have become billionaires in the health care industry:1. James Sorenson. Has made $4.3 billion in medical equipment. Invented and patented several medical devices, including the plastic catheter.2. Patrick Soon-Shing. $3.4 billion in pharmaceuticals. Invented the cancer drug Abraxane.3. William Alfred Cook. $3.2 billion in medical equipment. Invented the cardiovascular catheter.4. Peter Nicholas. $1.9 billion in medical equipment (Boston Scientific).5. Thomas Frist. $1.8 billion in hospitals (HCA Heal th care). Brother is Bill Frist, Senator from Tennessee and former Senate majority leader (and opponent of health care reform).6. Ernest Stempel. $1.7 billion. Health insurance (AIG).7. Gary Michelson. $1.4 billion. Surgeon. Invented spinal implants and other procedures. Holds over 185 patents.8. Michael Jah...
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Pop Quiz - Corporate Power
2007-11-16 03:25:00
Place the following numbers in the appropriate blanks. Each number is used only once. Answers are at the bottom.2, 10, 21, 51, 70, 100, 4561. Of the 100 largest economies in the world, _____ are corporations.2. The revenues of the 10 largest corporations are more than the Gross Domestic Products of the ____ smallest countries.3. If Wal-Mart were a country, it would rank # _____ on the list of largest economies.4. ____ percent of corporations account for nearly 75 percent of the business in the U.S.5. ____ percent of the U.S. population owns 81 percent of the publicly traded stock.6. Because of inadequate health insurance, Wal-Mart workers and their children cost $_____ million to taxpayers nationally through their use of public health programs.7. ____ percent of both political parties' contributions now come from corporations.Sources:http://www.endgame.o rg/primer-facts.htmlhttp://www.globalissu es.org/TradeRelated/Corporations/Facts.as phttp://www.walmartmovie.com/facts.phphtt p://fin...
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Allison
2007-11-14 06:55:00
I'll never forget the day that Allison came into the church office. It was during that God-awful heat wave back in August. I think it was 104 that day. She said she had walked a mile from her house (she has no car), because her friend had told her that the Ministerial Association helped people in need.Allison struggled to get the double stroller through the door. Did I mention she had two toddlers with her? And a six-year old, too? They all had beet-red cheeks and were sweating profusely. I was worried that Allison was going to collapse right there on the floor. The first thing I did was get them all a cold drink of water.Then we talked. I nearly passed out when Allison told me that she was three months pregnant. And that because of the extra doctor's visits (she had no insurance, of course), she was behind on the electric bill. They were coming to shut it off tomorrow if she couldn't come up with at least $150. It said so right there on the letter she handed me. She also showed ...

And Now For Something Completely Inappropriate...
2007-11-09 05:30:00
I am still compiling the "Consumption" issue of the print newsletter - it's more work than I remembered! But I do feel the need to post something on the blog, something irreverent and irrelevant. So here's a glimpse into the darker, stranger side of my brain:As I was leading a 45-minute funeral procession today, I forgot where I was and almost blasted my radio with the windows half down when a really cool song came on the radio. It got me to thinking about what would be the most inappropriate song to blast in such a situation. Here's my top 10:10. "You Picked A Fine Time to Leave Me Lucille" by Kenny Rogers9. "Slow Ride" by Foghat8. "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel7. "So Long, Farewell" from the Sound of Music6. "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas5. "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner4. "Enter Sandman" by Metallica3. "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead" from the Wizard of Oz2. "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks1. "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC
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DFJ-The Newsletter Nearing Publication
2007-10-31 11:47:00
The next issue of the print version of Discipline for Justice is being prepared. The theme is "Consumption." I will not be posting on the blog for about a week. Please drop me a line if you would like a free copy.
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Pray for Your Coffee Maker
2007-10-27 16:15:00
For whom do you pray? For your children? For you parents? For a friend in distress? For folks in your church who are sick? For the hungry? For victims of crime, war, and natural disasters? For yourself? There are so many people who are worthy of our prayers.But have you ever prayed for you coffee maker? Not the machine that sits on your counter and spits out a fresh pot of java each morning, but the actual person whose labor and skill went into producing the package of beans that sits on your counter.I had never thought to do such a thing until last week, when I met a Presbyterian missionary named Mark Adams. Mark works on the border between Mexico and New Mexico, and one of the projects he is developing is a fair trade coffee company called "Just Coffee ." (a name after my own heart!)Fair trade coffee has been around for a while and is mainstream enough to be found in grocery stores, so "Just Coffee" is not a revolutionary idea. But they do one thing I have not seen before. They put...
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Who's Your Pharoah?
2007-10-25 05:08:00
Tonight, my church screened the animated film, "Prince of Egypt." It tells the story of Moses from his birth up to the crossing of the Red Sea. The movie embellishes a bit on the text from Exodus, most notably on the relationship between Moses and the young Pharoah. The two boys grow up as brothers in the royal palace, and the central tension in the plot becomes Moses' struggle to reject his upbringing and follow God's command. In one of the most dramatic scenes, Moses returns from Midian to demand from Pharoah the release of the slaves. The pain is evident on the face of both young men as it becomes clear that their kinship has been severed. They now stand on opposite sides of this great struggle.Like Moses, we all have slaves to free. All of us who are called to seek justice and peace have something specific for which we are fighting. It could be to stop the war. It could be for homosexual rights. It could be for racial equality. It could be for an end to hunger.Whate...

Two Questions That Must Be Addressed
2007-10-23 04:28:00
In a recent conversation on Decently and In Order, several people challenged the notion that Americans need to cut back on their consumption. This is actually a very common response that DFJ'ers should know how to counter. With this goal in mind, I have prepared the following document. How does reducing consumption make the world a better place?I. Frees up money to give to charities, which:A. Feeds the hungryB. Builds homes for the homelessC. Cures the sickD. Clothes the nakedE. Etc., etc., etc.II. Makes corporations less wealthy and powerful, which makes:A. Politicians more likely to look out for the poor and the working class instead of corporationsB. Consumers more aware of the power we have over corporationsC. Corporations more responsive to consumer concerns on social and environmental issuesIII. Reduces the drive for global corporate expansion and interference in the economies of other nations, which means:A. Less exploitation of foreign workersB. Less destruction of foreign ...
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Five Facts About Wal-Mart You Probably Already Know (and Five You Might Not
2007-10-19 16:44:00
(1) Wal-Mart is the largest corporation in the world, with 6500 stores, 1.9 million employees, and $312.4 billion dollars in total annual revenue.Wal-Mart ’s sales are greater than the total economies of 144 of the world’s 194 nations. (2) Wal-Mart was founded in Arkansas nearly fifty years ago by a man named Sam Walton as one of the first discount retail chains in the nation.According to Walton’s autobiography, his founding principles included more than just low prices. He also lists priorities such as “a wide assortment of good quality merchandise (!) ; guaranteed satisfaction with what you buy (!!); friendly, knowledgeable service (!!!); and a pleasant shopping experience (!!!!)” (Exclamation points added for emphasis)(3) Wal-Mart has succeeded because of innovative methods of wholesale purchasing, high volume sales, and regional distribution centers.According to Charles Fishman, Wal-Mart has revolutionized more than just the retail industry: “Wal-Mart reshapes the eco...
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Shop Local - Produce
2007-10-17 04:47:00
(This is the first in a series of posts on the benefits of shopping at locally owned businesses instead of large chain stores.)In my hometown, there is a small, family-owned business called McCall's Produce . About a year ago, I started shopping there as much as possible instead of at Bi-Lo, a regional chain of supermarkets that operates throughout the southeastern United States. Here are a few of the many reasons this switch was a good idea:1) Loca l produce is usually cheaper. For example, apples at Bi-Lo cost $1.99 per pound last week; at McCall's, $1.29. Tomatoes at Bi-Lo were $1.59; at McCall's, $0.99.2) Local produce requires less transport. The Bi-Lo apples came from New Zealand, about as far away from South Carolina as one can get and still be on planet earth. At McCall's, they were from Hendersonville, North Carolina, about 100 miles away. The less distance and time between harvest and purchase, the fresher the produce.3) Local produce benefits the local economy more. Mor...
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10 Lane Freeways and Waterless Urinals
2007-10-14 19:26:00
This weekend, I am in Los Angeles for my brother's wedding. Being from a small Southern town, I am experiencing a slight degree of culture shock. The traffic is probably the biggest difference.The hotel we are staying at overlooks a monstrous 10-lane freeway, with traffic being heavy (at least by South Carolina standards) 24 hours a day. I commented to my mother that more cars pass by on that freeway in one night than pass through my hometown in an entire year. At rush hour (or "drive time" as they call it here - it's more like three hours), the traffic is more or less at a standstill. I'm amazed at how people can cope with spending two, three, even four hours a day in this mess. It reminds me of the words from an old Police song, Synchronicity II:And now the working day has ended.Only the rush hour hell to face.Packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes.Contestants in a suicidal race.But just as I was getting all worked up about over-consumption, I discovered something ve...
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Poverty and Global Warming
2007-10-10 05:06:00
October 15 is Blog Action Day, a day when bloggers all over the world are being encouraged to blog about the environment. Check it out at http://blogactionday.org/.Since I will be out of town for the next 8 days, I am going ahead and doing my post today. Here are several excerpts about the impact of global warming on the poorest areas of the world.WWF South Pacific News:Global warming is already happening. Its impact is being felt most by the world’s poorest people. Food production, water supplies, public health, and people’s livelihoods are all being damaged and undermined.Global warming threatens to reverse human progress, making the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for poverty reduction unachievable.Industrialized countries must lead the switch from polluting fossil-fuel based energy systems to clean energy – they have the biggest historical and present share of emissions, the best investment possibilities, and a large, highly skilled workforce. The new...
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Boycotting China
2007-10-08 03:45:00
The other day, my wife finally reached her limit. They announced yet another recall of toys made in China that might contain hazardous lead paint. On the list was a set of soft, fuzzy cubes that both of our young boys have played with and chewed on for hours on end.The cubes instantly went in the trash. Then began an inspection of all the toys in the house to see where they were made. The initial intention was to get rid of everything that was made in China. Much to our dismay, we soon learned that nearly every single toy we have was made in China. Only a few hand-made specialty toys were not.So we made a new pledge. We will no longer buy any new toys made in China. Our decision is similar to what the Bongiornia family of Baton Rouge, Louisiana did - only they gave up all products of all kinds. Alarmed by the numbers of factories that were closing down in their hometown, they tried to do it cold turkey; and they discovered just how difficult it is to get by without any good...

Eye-Opening Stats: Bush Vetoes Children's Healthcare Bill
2007-10-05 03:30:00
Yesterday, President Bush vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance program to an additional 4 million children who are currently uninsured. Bush claims that the bill would represent a move toward socialized medicine and that it simply costs too much - $35 billion over 5 years.Let's do a little math:$35 billion dollars over 5 years comes out to $19.2 million per day, or $o.o6 per American citizen per day.Estimates I could find on the cost of the war in Iraq range from $200 million to $720 million per day, which equals $0.67 to $2.40 per American per day.Let me get this straight. Fighting an unpopular war that has all but been a disaster (and which has led to six-figure death tolls and caused millions to be driven from their homes) costs 10 to 4o times as much as insuring the health of 4 million children. And we're supposed to believe that the health plan is an unwise way for the government to spend its money.Harry Reid was being graci...
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Deconstruct an Ad: Wal-Mart
2007-10-02 04:39:00
It’s an All-American scene. Boys playing football. Mothers tirelessly driving minivans. Nice, two-story middle-class homes. Kitchens stocked with ample supplies of Doritos, Little Debbies, and Mountain Dew - enough for your son and all of his touchdown-scoring friends to enjoy!And it’s all made possible by the good folks at Wal-Mart . As their commercial leads us to believe, their amazingly low prices make the “good life” possible for hard-working Americans like you and me. It’s too bad they don’t make the good life possible for their own hard-working employees.In 2005, the average pay for a full-time Wal-Mart employee was $8.23 per hour. That comes to about $14,000 per year, which falls well short of the poverty line for a family of four ($19,157). Even with two full-time Wal-Mart incomes, a family is only making $28,000, which is a far cry from the middle-class lifestyle depicted in their commercial.And if that’s not enough to convince you of Wal-Mart’s hypocrisy, c...
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Sermon - The Great Chasm
2007-09-29 20:33:00
(Note: My sermon ended up being a lot different from the outline, although I think it keeps the same overall message. My newsletter article will pick up a lot of the topics my sermon discarded.)Luke 16:19-31There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner...
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When The News Becomes The Crime Report
2007-09-28 04:44:00
(Note: I should have something to post tomorrow on my outline for the newsletter article. Today, I'll catch up on some old business with this letter I've written as part of the Spiritual Discipline for Media)Dear Station Manager,I am concerned about the level of violent crime that is reported in the local TV news. Stories about murder, armed robbery, assault, and pedophilia dominate the newscast each evening. Stories about poverty, which I believe is a much more prevalent problem, are few and far between.Over the next few weeks, I am going to be paying close attention to all of the local newscasts in the region. Eventually, I will decide which one I will watch based on how they balance their reporting of crime and poverty.I have included with this letter a copy of an article I have written on the subject. I hope you can take the time to read it and consider its conclusions. Thank for your attention to this important matter.Sincerely,The Rev. James E. MossHonea Path, SCI plan to se...
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The Great Chasm - Sermon Outline
2007-09-26 20:44:00
Now it is time to assemble the three pieces I have researched (Radiohead’s video for the song “Just”; the story of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16; and Chapters 2 and 6 of Niebuhr’s “Christ and Culture.”) Today, we will focus on an outline for the sermon.I. The Culture of ConsumptionA. Consumerism has permeated every aspect of modern life - it is the air we breathe.B. This consumerism has led us down the path of idolatry and injustice. (the “Great Chasm” - between rich and poor; and between the way we live and the way God wants us to live)C. Cannot escape consumer culture - description of what I consume in a single day - and the ripple effect this consumption has around the world)II. The Temptation to WithdrawA. Reference to Tolstoy from Niebuhr, Ch.2 - noble attempt to withdrawB. Rich man in Luke 16 - un-noble attempt to withdraw - he himself creates the Great Chasm keeps him from being with God in eternal lifeC. Complete withdrawal is impossible, but so is cr...
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The Great Chasm - Christ and Culture
2007-09-26 04:38:00
Today, I will continue to lay the groundwork for what will be a sermon and a feature article on over-consumption and American culture. Having done our Biblical research yesterday, we will now turn our attention to H. Richard Niebuhr’s “Christ and Culture .”“Christ and Culture” outlines five different ways that Christians relate to human society. For the purposes of this study, we look at the separatist and conversionist positions.Here are the most salient point from Chapter 2, “Christ Against Culture.” For a true separatist:- All human culture is marked by tawdry values and meaningless existence. Culture and sometimes even creation itself is seen as bad (dualist tendency).- Following Christ means withdrawing from all aspects of society and then actively crusading against it.- The church helps to maintain the status quo of culture by obscuring or simply ignoring the true message of the Gospel.- The institutions of society (business, government, media, education, church) ...
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The Great Chasm - Biblical Research
2007-09-25 04:52:00
The material I have been reading and contemplating of late is about to give birth to both a sermon and a feature article for my newsletter.The sermon is going to be on Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The article, as I mentioned previously, is going to be loosely based on H. Richard Neibuhr’s “Christ and Culture” and the Radiohead video for the song “Just.” What’s going to tie it all together is the over-consumption of American culture and how Christians are called to respond. I encourage comments or suggestions at any point as I make transparent my writing process.Today, I will show the raw results of my Biblical research. My work with the original Greek shows these words and phrases to have particular significance that is not reflected in the English Bible.Verse 19 (NRSV): “There was a rich man who… feasted sumptuously every day.”More complete meaning for “feasted”: “Enjoyed himself, rejoiced, was glad.”Better translation: “There wa...
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This Week's Sign That The End Is Near
2007-09-23 05:48:00
In 1988, the Charlotte Coliseum opened and was hailed as a "state of the art" facility. At over 24,000, it boasted the largest capacity of any NBA arena.I can vouch for the fact that it was a beautiful building. I saw Billy Joel there. And Aerosmith. I watched my beloved Davidson Wildcats knock off crosstown rival UNC-Charlotte on two occasions. I watched Aloznzo Mourning hit a buzzer-beater to beat the Celtics and give the Hornets their first playoff series win.I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this video today:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEWj uIKXln0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsistertoldj ah%2Ecom%2Farchives%2F2007%2F06%2F05%2Ffa rewell%2Dcharlotte%2Dcoliseum%2F1988 was not that long ago. The Charlotte Coliseum was still a fine facility when it was demolished. It was a victim of greed. The quest for more luxury boxes and a corporate-friendly uptown location led the city to build a new arena with mostly public money, despite the fact that Charlotte citizens voted down a bond refere...
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Consuming Slogans
2007-09-22 04:35:00
I recently stumbled across a list of corporate slogans on Wikipedia. As I perused the food section, I was struck by how many of the slogans had a gluttonous tone. Clearly, it pays for advertisers to appeal to our tendencies to overconsume:1) Hungry Man Dinners: "It's good to be full." These dinners contain a pound-and-a-half of food.2) Doritos: "Crunch all you want. We'll make more."3) Lay's Potato Chips: "No one can eat just one." Do they mean chips or bags?4) Jell-O: "There's always room for more"5) Miller Lite: "Tastes great. Less filling." So you can drink more, of course.6) Jolt Cola: "All the sugar, and twice the caffeine." A childhood favorite of mine. Now it takes me three cups of coffee to wake up in the morning.7) Schaeffer's Beer: "The one beer to have when you're having more than one." Quantity over quality.8) Milky Way: "The sweet you can eat between meals without losing your appetite." So you'll be able to finish your Hungry Man Dinner. Some slogans reflect the ...
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Street Music
2007-09-20 06:42:00
In the next couple of weeks, I will be introducing a series of articles called "Christ and Consumption." It will be based on H. Richard Niebuhr's classic of Christian ethics, "Christ and Culture." The question: In doing Discipline for Justice, are we seeking to remove ourselves from consumer culture or to transform it?Here is an interesting music video from Radiohead for the song "Just" that will start the discussion:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =R5X7HKxpiQA(Added 9/21/07):It's been reported to me that it is difficult to make out the subtitles in the Radiohead video. Since the video makes no sense without these words, here is a transcription:(Man lies down in the middle of a city street. A pedestrian trips over his body.)Pedestrian A: Jesus, I'm sorry I didn't see you there. Are you okay?Man in Street : YesPedestrian A: What happened, did you fall?Man in Street: No, I'm fine. Please leave me alone.Pedestrian A: You've been drinking.Main inStreet: No, I haven't been ...
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Practice What You Preach: Ordinary Cycle II
2007-09-19 05:30:00
I am attempting to practice in my real life all of the Spiritual Disciplines that I advocate in this blog. Here are my results from Ordinary II Cycle (Pentecost-Labor Day). Once again, I will give myself letter grades for each Discipline. I must miss being in school.(Please see "Spiritual Discipline - Giving It All Away" from April 12 for background on the cycles)Consumption and Money1. Giving It Up to Give It Away - Forego a small luxury in your life and then give the money you save to a good cause.Previous Cycle: A-Current Cycle: A-Still my strongest subject. I keep an old coffee can on my desk at work and place my saved money in it each day. Since this cycle was the beginning of year 2 for me, I did not add any items to my give-up list. It remains at-work sodas, desserts, fast food, beer, paper towels, and satellite radio.Saved this cycle: $202.00 Total saved since Pentecost 2006: $754.092. The Pain at the Pump - Keep a log of your driving mileage. Each month, try to drive less t...
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Sermon: Astonishing Angels
2007-09-17 03:36:00
Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went, and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and spent the night there. The king of Jericho was told, ‘Some Israelites have come here tonight to search out the land.’ Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, ‘Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land.’ But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, ‘True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them.’ She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof. So the men pursued them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone ...
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Easy Issues
2007-06-21 05:34:00
This lively discussion we have been having on poverty vs. other issues has reminded me of a topic that has been floating around in the back of my head for some time now. The topic is easy and hard issues.First, let me begin with a disclaimer: This article does not seek to diminish the reality of suffering and persecution surrounding issues such as homosexuality, abortion, and capital punishment. It is merely offering a suggestion as to why some issues have been thrust into the spotlight and others have been placed on a relatively cold backburner.OK. I’ve satisfied legal. Now let me define my terms. Because I call an issue easy does not mean that it is simple. It does not mean that it is painless. And it certainly does mean that it is without controversy. What it does mean is that it is easy to choose sides on this issue. It is easy to declare your side to be the right side, and then it is easy to throw stones at the other side.Tackling an easy issue, then, lends itself to condemni...
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