Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Children 'starving' in new Iraq

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Children 'starving' in new Iraq: "Malnutrition rates in children under five have almost doubled since the US-led intervention - to nearly 8% by the end of last year, it says. "

Darfur death toll 'may be 300,000'

CNN.com - Darfur death toll 'may be 300,000' - Mar 30, 2005: "'The world's failure to protect the people of Darfur from the atrocities committed against them by their own government is a scandal,' said Tony Baldry, chairman of the cross-party International Development Committee."

Uh, we'd like to give this more attention, but we've got this feeding-tube issue to resolve first.

Friday, March 18, 2005

Africa: I Have a Dream

allAfrica.com: I Have a Dream:

A dream for Africa from a Rwandan named: Gitau Muthuma. Please read his entire post.

"I have a dream, that the fallacy of aid to Africa will stop benefiting the donors more than the recipients, where the conditionalities are tied to sourcing materials from the donor; thus merely recycling the funds back to themselves.

I have a dream, that African leaders shall not be tempted to cling to power forever, in the mistaken belief of their messianic mission.

I have a dream, that 5% of the world's population shall see the immorality of squandering the lion's share of the world's resources while the rest sit back helplessly watching and starving.

I have a dream, that Africa will one day be one big united family, working for its benefit and that of the world.

I have a dream, that the lion shall lie with the lamb and the Kingdom of heaven shall be at hand.

I have a dream. "

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Vineyard Movement

We have been attending a new church for the past month. We've attended a "vistors welcome meeting" and I even went to a men's breakfast last Saturday morning. The question I have for you, my dear visitor, is; What do you know about the Vineyard Movement?
When we first heard about this church, we thought that Vineyard was just a name, like Mars Hill, but it actually indicates its affiliation with the Vineyard Association or Vineyard movement. At our visitor's meeting I heard the term "Vineyard Movement " used for the first time.
I had no idea what it was . . . so I asked and was told about John Wimber and a brief history of the movement. I've since done a bit of googling on this and found a wide variety of views of the vineyard for example: The Vineyard movement is a hyper-charismatic organization that is also known by the names of "third wave," "Signs and Wonders Movement," and "power theology." - - also I read some equate the movement with heresy or a cult. I've read how there is an emphasis on "spirit-driven" worship, like speaking in tongues, prophesy, and even "holy laughter" ( from a Toronto group which has since been booted from the organization.)

This is all new to me. What do y'all know about it? I'll be honest, so far we really like this church - the services are very interesting and the people seem friendly. I'm just curious to learn more about the vineyard movement, if any of you have had experience with it, postive or negative?

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Compasionate Conservatives . . . think again.

publictheologian.com :: A Response to Dignan: This is a great take on how "compasionate conservativism" is failing the poor. Well worth reading the entire entry.

"So while I don't think that conservatives hate the poor, I also don't think that they are doing what they can to make things better for the poor. Motives, in the end, are notoriously slippery to judge. But conservatives saying that they are concerned about the poor seems quite strange when the policies that the same people are supporting are throwing more people into poverty. To me the simple question is this: If they care so much, then why are they using their political power to make the rich even richer and matters worse for the poor? How many million more people will have to fall below the poverty line before Christian conservatives who care about the poor will be willing to change their policies and raise taxes, for example? Would one million people do it? Two? Five? Is there any point at which the Republican orthodoxy of lower taxes and less government would be jettisoned by Christians in the Republican Party? Or how many million more Americans will have to lose their health insurance before Christian conservatives would be willing to share their health care dollars so that their neighbor could have some coverage too? I think that party orthodoxy has to give way to genuinely serving the poor in the face of the mounting evidence that what Bush is doing is not working. The plight of the poor has to be central to the ethics of Christians of every stripe if the scripture is to be taken seriously, but while I hear an acknowledgement of this, I don't see one coming from my conservative brothers and sisters."

Saturday, March 05, 2005

Never Again . . . Again