One for the road...

What would you do if everyone in the world gave you one dollar..?

 

This is the interesting question that struck the people behind onehitwonder - but instead of receiving that one dollar what if we all gave one dollar to help some one else instead?  We often are asked to practice generousity, especially in the run up to christmas, but if you are feeling a little rusty (like i was today) this is another chance to practice giving rather than getting...

Here's the blurb from the site:

"What if everyone in the world gave you one dollar? Have you wondered what you’d do with it? We have, and we’d like to see how many people across the planet will give a dollar, and then we’ll give it away to the poorest communities in the world. Our aim is to gather 7.29 million dollars, one dollar at a time. Here’s how we seek to do it...

The world is amazingly connected. Apparently we’re no more than six steps away from each person on earth. Currently 729 million people across the world have internet access. Now, imagine if only 1% of those with web access participated and gave a dollar—that would amount to over 7 million dollars to give away to those who need it most. Not bad for a measly dollar! On December 25, 2008 we’ll begin to give away every dollar, 90% to the poorest communities in developing countries, and 10%, plus interest will be used for community development projects within Australia. The money will be given through various organisations across the globe covering many regions and need. Not one dollar will be used for administration or any other associated expenses, these operational costs will be covered by us and our partners."

In case you are wondering $1 Aus = $0.88 or £0.43 so a real bargain :)

HT to Makeesha

Investing in God's economy...

A hand out? No, a hand up! That has been my experience with microfinance, loaning small sums of money via Kiva to people who invest the money into their livelihood The loan enables their business to grow from the investment so they can not only repay the loan but also continue the journey out of poverty.

$10 million in loans have been made through Kiva and 99.7 percent of the money has been repaid!

It takes about 1.5 days for the average entrepreneur to receive funding for a project through the website. Kiva use PayPal, who provides us free payment processing. People loan through PayPal through Kiva, and they wire that money directly to the field partner that gives it to the entrepreneur."

I am very excited that my first loan got fully repaid today and I took the money and reinvested in loans to 3 more people. Even more exciting was this message on the site:

Due to a recent surge in support ignited by viewers of the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show, and readers of President Clinton's newly released book Giving, there is currently a shortage of businesses in need of loans. The Kiva.org staff and our Field Partners are working overtime to get more businesses on the website. In the meantime, thank you for your patience!

One of my challenges this year has been engaging with the Kingdom of God, not just as a theological concept, or a way of explaining why some people get healed now and some not, but as a practical way of living my life. I have found myself, thanks to Brian McLaren's book, thinking of the Kingdom as how to invest my life, my time and my money in generous ways that cost. In God's economy he has a heart for the poor, the needy, those at the bottom of the heap, the have nots rather than the haves - so maybe so should I? Kiva seemed one excellent way of helping to make a difference, investing and then reinvesting my money in ways that make a real personal difference.

Giving not getting, suggested Jesus was the currency of the Kingdom of God, the principal activity is God blessing us so that we can bless others, that we don't hang on to our treasure but are willing to risk losing it.

I also think of how i give money to Vineyard Church Sutton - partly because we see it as our church [just like people are more willing to invest in their own business] but also because i see how the money that is given is multiplied to enable the Kingdom of God to grow - it is an investment in the Kingdom of God rather than an investment in what I want [which is currently Bioshock and Halo 3 for my xbox!]. Giving up control of my money, giving it away and trusting it to be invested on for the benefit of others is not such an easy thing for me to do - even if I am reassured by accountability structures and transparency/honesty around the financial needs of the church.

I know it is easy for western christians to get accused of throwing their money at problems as their way of making a contibution - as if somehow £/$ was less costly/holy than going out and doing something in person - and sometimes maybe there is truth in that - a heritage not of our christianity but of out western consumerist model e.g. Live 8 say us consuming concerts to help the poor! However being generous with our money and chosing to use it on something that has no direct benefit to us is I think a powerful statement of changing intent.

If we as western christians are by and large enjoying a level of wealth/standard of living unprecedented in history and yet still feel anxious that we haven't got enough then maybe learning to give away our money in ways that start to cost us choice is a reality check? I am struck by some of the stories of people who have been on a recent mission trip to Sri Lanka from our church on howthe Sri Lankians who have so little are cheerfully prepared to give so much and contrasting it with how we have who have so much struggle to give so little.

How do I/we go about learning to focus not on what we haven't got but how much that we do have?Does being kind and generous come witha very real cost to our wallets?

What do you think/feel?

• what do you think of Kiva?
• do you thnk it is too simple to criticise western christians for giving money rather than personal involvement?
• what practices do you do to help focus on how much we have rather than how little?
• If we can take Brian's idea of seeing the Kingdom of God as God's economy where/how do you see investment of your money?

Bono: rock star...diplomatic world-changer and great CEO?

HT to Josh Case for highlighting this great article on Bono.  Here's a quote:

Indisputably Inspiring
Both times I met with Bono, I mused that if he weren't a rock star and diplomatic world-changer, he could easily be a great corporate chief executive officer.

He leads by example. No one works harder or delves as deeply into issues and data as he does. He surrounds himself with the best people, is an extraordinary listener, and takes advice extremely well. He understands economics, markets, consumers, media, and regulation. And he has a dynamism that attracts and inspires just about everyone he meets.

Some may question the efficacy of Product (RED). Can a for-profit enterprise really do good? How much money will ultimately be generated to pay for medicine for the people in need?

Others may question Bono's motives. After all, he's already been a Time magazine Person of the Year -- maybe he's simply interested in winning a Nobel Peace Prize. While that may be, it's indisputable that his passion for curing AIDS in Africa is genuine. One only has to spend time with him to appreciate how devoted he is to this cause.

The key lesson to take away from Bono's example is this: If an individual with a sharp mind, a dynamic personality, amazing musical skills, and a desire to make the world a better place can have such a far-reaching positive impact, it makes you wonder what else you can do...

You can out more including what difference you cn atart to make at Debt, Aids, Trade, Africa (DATA)

Start with what I have, start with who I know, start from where I am...and give away more than I need to those who need it...

I have been reflecting on the last few days on the question I asked on my last post - about wheree to start in taking the NOW of the Kingdom of God seriously... and have been inspired having watched this clip reminding me of God's heart for the poor, the oppressed, the lost and the least, something you also may wish to do:

HT to Jamie

More than ever I think that the following words of Jesus sound the simpliest and yet seem the hardest to put into practice but maybe that has just been an excuse.  This year I said I would like to live more graciously and generously than last yr so I will try and take these words as being for NOW and not just for some other better time and ask Jesus and fellow followers like me to  help us all to live this sort of revolutionary life giving/revealing light...

"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind."

The Light...The Action...and God the Father or starting to take the nowness of the kingdom of God seriously...

You are now entering the Kingdom of God...population too many to count. Please praise safely!

One of the great things that I love about the wider community of faith that I am in (the Vineyard) is the emphasis on the Kingdom of God - this in-breaking into the world of the will/wish of God and being a people that have a relationship with the King to be his representatives/workers/servants in embodying his kingdom - at it's best it is that we are here not to be rulers and lord it over the world but to be those who get their hands dirty and souls achy in caring, tending, longing, blessing, praying, healing, embracing, restoring, renewing all in the name of Jesus in/through/with the Holy Spirit...

It is not just a personal mission, or a personally empowered one, but one we undertake as part of a community - the missio Dei (the mission of God) is one that is inherently communal, God existing within his own community of three and inviting us to join with him and to extend that invitational embrace... or to put it another way being a people of God who are connected to each other and God who embody the good news narrative...

The now but not yet of the kingdom of God

One of the key teachings of kingdom theology that I have come across is that the kingdom of God is about the now - Jesus saying the kingdom was of the atmosphere, here, material, touchably at hand - but also of the not yet - in other words it is not fulfilled, is it not complete, not everyone who is is sick gets healed when we pray, we still do stupid sinful wrong things etc.  It is to me a dynamic tension and  one that I often am uncomfortable with - in fact I confess one that I often put off as doing things as well 'not yet...'

Yes it's great to talk about helping the least, the lost....but not yet.

Yes fantastic to talk about changing the status quo, about empowering those who are powerless, about giving up rights to wealth, health and a high quality of life just cos I am born within an economic/social power structure...but not yet...

fantastic to talk about equality, about dreaming about peace, harmony, social/political/economic justice which is not skewed only in my favour... but not yet.

of course it is an high calling to tend and care for creation, to look after this planet and its scarce resources but I need to consume a bit more, get a few more things a bit cheaper, make my life a little more comfortable first... so not yet.

yes I love the idea about having a faith that is about talking about taking action, about the right way to engage and the wrongs ways to get involved (how I am not like those who are getting it so wrong and how i am so glad that I am like those whose who know the right ways of phrasing these matters), about the right phrases and structures and influences... but taking action well not yet.

I love these missional phrases of my faith, the thought of all being contextual and relevant but if that means I might have to live counter-culturally, if I have to go against the flow not to be deliberately perverse but because i have chosen a revolutionary way to live which embodies laying down my rights, throwing up my doors, dismantling my 6 ft fences, applying judgement to myself, confessing, being honest, giving up private bubble for a wider community and serving those who it will cost me to serve - well not yet.

One day God I will, one day it will all come to pass as you say -  but right now I'm too busy being rich, powerful, white, western, male, consumer...so not yet!

Why now is not a good time but then there is no good time...

I mean I want too but why should I start, why should I bother going first in loving someone? in being generous? in laying aside my rights when they aren't going to change and lay down theirs, especially when their right of being right involves them telling me how right they are and how wrong I am?  This whole servant gigg sounds glam to begin with but it quickly fades, especially when people start treating me like a servant, taking advantage of me, exploiting me  - being a door mat for God is so not happening ever, the meek can keep the earth thank you very much...

But I am feeling challenged by the now of the kingdom of God... of actually being, or starting, or trying to be... of wondering if Jesus words about faith and the impossible were to help me when I look at the mountain of all the reasons I should wait, of all the reasons of saying heh not yet and doing nothing... what if faith can move that mountain?  what if the impossible of the kingdom happening now can start? what if it is like small  seeds germinating and growing into huge trees, or little yeast spreading through the bread making it rise and grow?

Was Jesus really serious when he said...

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. "

If he was, and I have a growing feeling that he is and that this is just one example of the NOW of the kingdom of God then these are be-attitudes, something to try and do now, not just see as happening at the end of the not yet...

Now to start...but where?

My Q is the how?  Anyone else doing this and can let me know?  Anyone want to start doing this and want to explore doing/being/acting like  the kingdom of God is now?

The revolution Jesus would lead...

Excellent summary post here (thanks Justin) from the Revolutions conference, with Brian McLaren talking about 'the revolution that Jesus would lead' - go and read it!  Still need to be convinced, ok a couple of the things that smacked me in the face and had me turning my cheek for more were:

“The revolution Jesus would launch is a revolution of justice and kindness....”

"Pulling a drowning person out of the river is kindness. If it keeps happening, and drowning people keep floating down the river to you, you have to ask who is throwing them into the river. Doing something about that is justice...."

"God’s right hand is powerful. But God is not one-handed. God’s left hand - the prophetic hand - reaches out to the poor and powerless, and says to be just and kind. Priestly & prophetic religion - right hand & left hand of God.  Sinner’s Prayer & Lord’s Prayer..."

Now you've gone heh :)

The Kingdom of God - making poverty history?

In the comments to my post on consuming conscience, Molly wrote this awesome Q:

"Can we actually make poverty history? This is probably my Dispensationalist Background speaking here, but didn't Jesus say, "the poor you will always have with you?" Obviously He wasn't saying to IGNORE them, because He sure focused on them BIGTIME, but...can we get rid of poverty altogether on this planet?"

It's a great Q for me to reflect on, especially as I am thinking about a series of posts about Luke 4:18, which is the prophesy of Isaiah that Jesus applies to himself and then lives out (and how we should do likewise :).  The first line of this is Jesus saying he is is about preaching good news to the poor and goes on to say as well that he is about liberation of the oppressed too.  We can often turn 'poor' into the spirtually poor, but what if Jesus first meant the literal poor, those who have not, who are at the bottom ofthe pile, the oppressed, the used, the least?

 

My thinking has been shaped listening to 2 great talks by Brian McLaren on the  Secret Message of Jesus (part I) and  (part II) about the Kingdom of God and the outworking of it in action towards the poor and the oppressed.  In particular, Brian looks at the story of Jesus conversation with the rich young ruler to demonstrate that Jesus is concerned not just with with moral success but with a revolutionary call to join the  Kingdom of God  (KoG) and liberate the poor and the oppressed.  Brian asks:

• is eternal life, not just about going to heaven but living a life that ‘echo’s through eternity;
• you're rich, young, successful, powerful, moral, isn't that we all want? – so why does Jesus think something is missing?
• Is Jesus a personal and socially concerned King and is this not the both/and of his Kingdom?
• the poor and the rich: an impossible task for a possible God…and what of his followers?

I've fleshed out some of Brian's comments below... oh and apologies for the poor formatting, the html is all over the shop :( Now much better :)

Beggars on a beach of gold...

In my post on consumerism there was this challenging comment made:

"Marc said " I know Jesus has provided me with what I need but not what I want. I don't really ask for much from God, forgiveness, Health & communication."

I am not knocking you Marc, but when I read this I thought hmmmm, what if it wasn’t replaced though? What if God doesn’t give you health & communication….. maybe we focus on consumerism too much as things outside of daily needs….. maybe wanting a happy healthy family is just as consumeristic?"

I am not knocking Marc either, what he wrote seemed perfectly reasonable to me and reminded me again about something that I had written in that post that I am as much in touch my consumerism as an alcoholic is with their drinking problem.  Really how much is enough, what do I expect as a normal level of life?  Well food to eat of course, an education that allows me to write this blog and earn a living, money to meet my bills and have a little left over, a house to call my own, access to health care when I need it, the ability to feel safe, to be under the rule of law & order, justice and good government.  It is not much is it?  Is it?  Well consider below some of the stats of  how my normal cosumer life compares with the rest of the world, let me compare how i eat,  where i live, the prospects of education for my children and my access to health care and my corresponding life expectancy.

And as you read those words consider these lyrics to the Mike & the Mechanics song, Beggar on a beach of gold...

"I didn't know when I was lucky
Discontented feeling bad
Filled with envy
For possessions other people had

I found my pride had always hurt me
Fought the world to gain control
Not realising
I was sitting on a beach of gold

Oh lord I'm a poor man
With all the riches I can hold
I'm a beggar
And I'm sitting on a beach of gold.."

Philosophy of poverty...

Words are a powerful thing... [Caution explicit lyrics]

Poverty of Philosophy

Immortal Technique

"Most of my Latino and black people who are struggling to get food, clothes and shelter in the hood are so concerned with that, that philosophising about freedom and socialist democracy is usually unfortunately beyond their rationale. They don't realize that America can't exist without separating them from their identity, because if we had some sense of who we really are, there's no way in hell we'd allow this country to push it's genocidal consensus on our homelands. This ignorance exists, but it can be destroyed

Nigga talk about change and working within the system to achieve that. The problem with always being a conformist is that when you try to change the system from within, it's not you who changes the system; it's the system that will eventually change you. There is usually nothing wrong with compromise in a situation, but compromising yourself in a situation is another story completely, and I have seen this happen long enough in the few years that I've been alive to know that it's a serious problem. Latino America is a huge colony of countries whose presidents are cowards in the face of economic imperialism. You see, third world countries are rich places, abundant in resources, and many of these countries have the capacity to feed their starving people and the children we always see digging for food in trash on commercials. But plutocracies, in other words a government run by the rich such as this one and traditionally oppressive European states, force the third world into buying overpriced, unnecessary goods while exporting huge portions of their natural resources.

I'm quite sure that people will look upon my attitude and sentiments and look for hypocrisy and hatred in my words. My revolution is born out of love for my people, not hatred for others...

A tale of a consuming conscience (or am I a fashion victim for the victims of fashion?)

Dan Kimball has this great post asking whether all the current interest in social justice is just  the trendy thang to be doing at the moment - a great Q which has pricked my conscience to write this response to Dan's thoughts...

The scary thing is that most of us (including me) do care for the poor through consuming an event  or a product- so I go watch 'live 8,' wear the white wrist band for make poverty history (or if we have a blog put it in the corner), go buy a red GAP tee using my red american express, give a few $ to  some guy collecting on the corner get my sticker and feel suitably smug that I am helping the poor - "heh what did you do?"  "I bought the live 8 dvd box set!"  Wow that is so awesom, can I watch it after you?" etc...

cont...