Archive for March, 2006

Bono’s Remarks to the National Prayer Breakfast

In case you haven’t already, I think everyone on the planet should hear and read the comments made by Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast last month. Video and transcript included…

Mar 23, 2006 | 1 comment | View Post

Dikaiosune: and justice

Did you know that the word justice does not appear in some translations of the New Testament? That could be a bit disconcerting for those who understand biblical social justice to be central to Christianity. The reality is that God’s heart for Justice is so integrally linked to His Righteousness that the original greek word used [...]

Mar 20, 2006 | 3 comments | View Post

The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity

The Just Life has roots fed by the minds from the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity.  They are leaders in the biblical bioethics conversation and their resources are second to none.
Recognizing that biblical values have exercised a profound influence on Western Culture, the Center explores the potential contribution of such values as [...]

Mar 20, 2006 | 0 comments | View Post

Poverty Statistics

Just a few of the many alarming poverty statistics for you to chew on:
Illinois continues to have the highest child poverty rate in the Midwest and has since 2000. The percentage of children living in poverty is 17.7%.
An Illinois worker would need to work 2.4 full-time jobs at minimum wage ($6.50 per hour in Illinois) [...]

Mar 14, 2006 | 3 comments | View Post

Social Justice and the Global Church

Imagine yourself as part of a church where you are by far the richest person in the community, but most of the others in the congregation have next to nothing — or worse are starving and homeless. Would you be able to just go on living as if your wealth and the reasons you [...]

Mar 14, 2006 | 0 comments | View Post

Poverty and Personal Responsibility

“Preach the gospel everyday; if necessary, use words.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
I think today’s discussion was possibly the strongest and most thought proving yet. We began with a nod to keeping things practical with a focus on poverty. Then, after a brief discussion about difference between urban and extreme poverty, local vs. global issues, [...]

Mar 12, 2006 | 2 comments | View Post

The shrewdly practical Randy Frazee

Those of you who attended New Community tonight heard Randy Frazee’s message on “shrewd” stewardship that offered up many poignant and practical ways to serve God and serve others with all that you have. The example he gave about the guy who instead of writing a rent check for a needy couple fixed up a [...]

Mar 08, 2006 | 1 comment | View Post

Some thoughts on the Church and government.

“He who converts his neighbor has preformed the most practical Christian-political act of all.” ~ C.S. Lewis
I am loving the dialog in the previous comments and I hope it keeps going…there’s certainly much to discuss and unpack with the group. I have a few thoughts inspired by some of the comments that I’d like to [...]

Mar 04, 2006 | 6 comments | View Post