losing truth and calling

Like any other public institution so organized, the organized church is dependent on "the economy"; it cannot survive apart from those economic practices that its truth forbids and that its vocation is to correct. If it comes to a choice between the extermination of the fowls of the air and the lilies of the field and the extermination of a building fund, the organized church will elect—indeed, has already elected—to save the building fund. The irony is compounded and made harder to bear by the fact that the building fund can be preserved by crude applications of money, but fowls of the air and the lilies of the field can be preserved only by true religion, by the practice of a proper love and respect for them as creatures of God. No wonder so many sermons are devoted to exclusively "spiritual" subjects. If one is living by the tithes of history's most destructive economy, then the disembodiment of the soul becomes the chief of worldly conveniences. — Wendell Berry, "God and Country" in What Are People For?

everyone smile

At least he's following through on his promises.

too big to fail

While I don't get too much time to listen to the radio, I stumbled upon this commentary by Dave Ross the other day in the car. I laughed out loud while I was in the car alone. It's ridiculous:

Fill In The Blanks: Wall Street

toph economics

Thanks to Toph for a great link to reading on the Bailout.

While it is quite in depth I found these articles especially interesting on Mr. Bailout (Alan Greenspan), Avoiding Another Depression, Austrian Theory on Depressions, and these on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The fact that these articles date back at least to 2002 lends some credibility to their assertions about the fact we would come to the current crisis, be tempted by Federal involvement and the nationalization of finance, as well as real ideas for not making things worse (i.e. no bailout).

No matter where you stand, some serious thought about our current financial crisis is in order. This is a good place to start. Anybody else have other resources?

bailout response

Consider contacting your Congressperson and Senators regarding a responsible, accountable, and long term decision to the financial crisis. Here is a link with a suggested letter by Sojourners (but you can edit it, the main thing is it will automatically email your representatives for you).

bono on bailout

It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases. - Bono (source)

bailout or bribe?

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers it can bribe the public with the public's money. - Alexis de Tocqueville

linkedin

Sean harassed me the other day to update my Linkedin profile. So I did.

adsense

So you may be appalled by the ads that have appeared on my blog. I have shamelessly sold space on my blog to Google AdSense. Whenever you click on one or view one of these links I get money. So far I have earned about $0.03. You can also use this website to do a Google Search, its the same as going to Google itself, but you make me money!!!

microfinancing

One way to find out more, or get involved: World Relief. You can read more on their blog (World Relief Stories) about the people they help.

Another interesting organization that I don't know enough about, but may be worth your investigation Kiva.

banker to the poor - the critics

After reading most of Muhammad Yunnus' Banker to the Poor, see my previous post, I came to a realization that this guy must come under fire all the time. A passionate advocate for the poor, anyone with such determination and focus must come under criticism. So I began reading what was available online (the following are a sampling):
The Micro-Credit Cult
Microcredit, Microresults
The Myth of Grameen
Grameen Bank: Taking Capitalism to the Poor
Is Micro-Credit a Macro Trap
Microcredit Globalization Unlimited
Grameen Transforming Lives
Social and Economic Impact of Grameen and BRAC

Personally, I found the Columbia University article, Grameen Bank: Taking Capitalism to the Poor, the most helpful. I felt like this had a good balanced perspective on Yunnus' work from a business perspective (while admitting it did not try to rate the social impact). It also fills in some of the missing years from the end of Yunnus' book, published in 1999, through 2003. It also addresses some of the setbacks Grameen faced (like a religious and political boycott in 1995) that I missed reading about in the book.

My evolving thoughts are exemplified in this quote from Yunnus about how one of his colleagues use to think that "governments were the savior (of the poor)" so "he turned to the private sector." Savior is the keyword. While micro-credit is an exciting option for helping the poor rise above their way of life from a capitalistic perspective, the ultimate Savior and Hope for the world is Jesus.

I say this not as a catch all, but as balance and a personal reminder. The second most mentioned subject in the Scriptures is the poor (number one is salvation). God is a god of the oppressed, forgotten, and poor. The establishment of the Kingdom of God through Jesus will ultimately heal the systematic brokenness of ourselves, our community, and our world that allows for their to be the oppressed and needy.

banker to the poor

Okay, okay. So I read a lot of books, and I say that a lot of books are really good. I am going to have to temper future statements about most books so that when I come to one like this people will realize that whether they are a book person or not they need to pick it up.

Banker to the Poor is a must read. Muhammad Yunus was the first Nobel Peace Prize winning economist and it all stems from his concept of micro-lending which has lifted nearly 2 million Bengali people out of poverty. His concept has spread to over 100 countries and is really changing the world.

Most of you have already checked out, but if you haven't you are in for a surprise. Yunus is a great author! In the midst of his economic perspective he weaves a beautiful story of life and hope. I was whisked off into the third world by the powerful images invoked by Yunus' words. If you have never been to a third world country, Yunus captures not only the visuals and smell, but the heart tweaking reality of poverty.

Yunus admits that his economic idea was simply a way to cope with his personal guilt for those that were literally dying on his doorstep. He never intended for the idea to spread beyond his personal work with the poor and the hearts of his students. Instead it caught on like wild fire and became an integral part of the national bank in Bangladesh.

Take some time to visit a Borders or Barnes & Noble and read the Introduction (you can also read an excerpt of the first chapter online). Let Yunus' words grab you, transport you, and inspire you to be a part of ending poverty.