Notice the ad at the bottom of the list - how is that for good stewardship!

Nielsen Company


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Today there are numerous articles from some of my favorite sources; rather than comment on them, just go to my Google Reader Favorites on the left side of this page - read the five who's headlines are showing today.  Remember, I am always open and looking for your comments.

    

Read Jennifer Harris' excellent article in EthicsDaily.com.

How does this make sense to me when I have experienced more snow already this winter than anytime in my life?  It could be because I do not have my head in the sand in regard to the overall Earth situation. And because every thing I think about does not revolve around capitalism (translated making money with no concern for the environment and the plight of others).


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There is much being said lately about how much money is being given to Haiti.  Of course, right wingers like Rush Limbaugh make ridiculous statements like "... we've already donated to Haiti.  It's called the U.S. Income Tax."  But intelligent and honestly informed people understand that Rush has no interest in truth telling - for him, its simply all about selling propaganda to non-thinkers who will listen.  (Rush is to journalism what championship wrestling is to sport).

Sorry, it is too easy for me to get off on a tangent; back to the issue:  Locally, many charities are complaining that their donations being down because people are giving to Haiti.  That probably is true to some extent, but it raises the question about how generous we really are, and for what reasons.

Monty Self, a hospital chaplain in Arkansas addresses this issue in an EthicsDaily.com article titled Proudly Tossing Poor Nations Our Pocket Change.  I think you should read it!






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from Richard Rohr's daily meditations:

Question of the Day:
Do I take comfort in my acts of vengeance?

There has to be a way out of the stupidity of violence and vengeance!  When both of us are blind, we both fall into the pit, as Jesus says.  Vengeance seems so logical, but it doesn’t really work.  It doesn’t advance human history, or finally our own agenda.  It only delays and disguises the problem. The devil is now on both sides.

The wonder of the resurrection stories in the Gospels is that Jesus exhibits no vengeful attitude toward the authorities or his cowardly followers. He is not even judgmental toward them.  Afterwards, his followers never call for any kind of holy war against those who killed their leader, which is almost unknown in world history. Something new has clearly transpired.  This is not the common or expected story line.  A new Spirit is abroad.

Even Gandhi and Martin Luther King said that they learned their nonviolence from Jesus, but most of us church people are still catching up with him.

Adapted from Hope Against Darkness, p. 27

    

This Friday I will begin facilitating a discussion group based on "Different Books, Common Word: Baptists and Muslims," a video produced by EthicsDaily.com, an imprint of The Baptist Center for Ethics.  This will be a three week study as part of the Friday Noon Study Group program at Providence Baptist Church.  Everyone is invited to join us; learn more about the video at the Providence Blog.

I also encourage all to read the following article that accentuates the problem in our country with the marriage of religious fundamentalism and right wing politics:         EthicsDaily.com

    

Not a one of us should need an incentive to give generously to the Haiti relief efforts; but we all know sometimes an extra nudge might influence us.  Spirit Airlines will give 5,000 free frequent flyer miles to any persons donating at least $5 to the Red Cross, UNICEF, or Yele Haiti to help with Haiti’s recovery efforts. (That amount of miles will qualify for a free flight, and the airline says it’s planning to give away up to one billion miles as part of this promotion.)

Go to Free Spirit to enroll in the airline's frequent flyer program.  Then go to Haiti Relief to choose the agency you want to donate to (I would recommend Yele Haiti).  Complete the form on that page for the 5000 miles to be credited to your Free Spirit account.

If you are not interested in going through all the above procedure, just find an agency of your choice and GIVE!Share

    

This is one of the reasons for my unrelenting fight against virtually everything religious fundamentalists stand for!

And this is one of the reasons for my unrelenting fight against virtually everything right wing politicians and their mouthpieces stand for! And more of Rush - remember, this is the spokesperson for the Republican Party today!

    

I am a fan of the quotes attributed to Dag Hammarskjold.  Two of my favorites to share as we start this new decade:


For all that has been, thanks; for all that will be, yes.

If only I may grow: firmer, simpler, quieter, warmer.


But I also want to start the year off with another fine article by Jim Evans, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Auburn Alabama:

EthicsDaily.com

    

My Christmas wish is that all religious fundamentalists would read this and dare to challenge it!

Street Prophets