Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Christians and Paying for Stuff
There were a couple occurrences this last week that stuck out in my mind and that have me mulling. So here's a mull:
One instance was with a guy I met at a party. After talking theology for awhile, we got to discussing different pastors he listens to and I mentioned one who I think is fantastic, but I mentioned that you have to pay for his sermons (something just over a dollar a piece, maybe two). He immediately wrote him off because he believes sermons should be accessible to all, shouldn't charge for them, etc.
The second experience was with some church people at a lunch and a very nice member bough cookies for us all. I gladly accepted a cookie and offered to pay him a dollar or whatever. He politely said it was on him. The girl next to me then explained how at this church they believe what goes around comes around, no need to pay.
In each instance I felt of tinge of a thought that didn't quite agree with both people's assumptions. Also in each instance I didn't say anything in response. Since I do not know them well I can only guess at their assumptions, but in each case I would guess the assumption is Christians shouldn't charge money for things. I can totally understand that perspective. Jesus talked about generosity, the stumbling block of material wealth and the early church as talked about in Acts 2 provides a clear example of shared resources. However, too quickly I think do Christians jump to the conclusion that because money is involved, the person accepting the money is a greedy money grabber doing it solely for his selfish sake.
No doubt that can be true in many cases. However, what about those on the other side? In offering Cookie Man my money, I would like to dignify his expenditure in resources he earned with an expenditure of my own in resources I earned. As for the pastor who charges a small fee for his sermons, the only people who will be buying and listening to his sermons are the ones who want to most and will get the most value out of them. Also, his time is limited and represents an investment, and should be dignified by others placing a representation of their limited resources/investments in his care.
I guess the bottom line is: human dignity, in the full sense of that phrase as talked about in scripture, can be fulfilled through voluntary transactions also known as purchases. Money is not the root of all evil, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. And as Scripture tells us, we can fall into the trap of generosity and giving to the poor, just as easily as the trap of money grabbing or greed. Each can smother our soul if we are not careful to look to Him in all things.
One instance was with a guy I met at a party. After talking theology for awhile, we got to discussing different pastors he listens to and I mentioned one who I think is fantastic, but I mentioned that you have to pay for his sermons (something just over a dollar a piece, maybe two). He immediately wrote him off because he believes sermons should be accessible to all, shouldn't charge for them, etc.
The second experience was with some church people at a lunch and a very nice member bough cookies for us all. I gladly accepted a cookie and offered to pay him a dollar or whatever. He politely said it was on him. The girl next to me then explained how at this church they believe what goes around comes around, no need to pay.
In each instance I felt of tinge of a thought that didn't quite agree with both people's assumptions. Also in each instance I didn't say anything in response. Since I do not know them well I can only guess at their assumptions, but in each case I would guess the assumption is Christians shouldn't charge money for things. I can totally understand that perspective. Jesus talked about generosity, the stumbling block of material wealth and the early church as talked about in Acts 2 provides a clear example of shared resources. However, too quickly I think do Christians jump to the conclusion that because money is involved, the person accepting the money is a greedy money grabber doing it solely for his selfish sake.
No doubt that can be true in many cases. However, what about those on the other side? In offering Cookie Man my money, I would like to dignify his expenditure in resources he earned with an expenditure of my own in resources I earned. As for the pastor who charges a small fee for his sermons, the only people who will be buying and listening to his sermons are the ones who want to most and will get the most value out of them. Also, his time is limited and represents an investment, and should be dignified by others placing a representation of their limited resources/investments in his care.
I guess the bottom line is: human dignity, in the full sense of that phrase as talked about in scripture, can be fulfilled through voluntary transactions also known as purchases. Money is not the root of all evil, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. And as Scripture tells us, we can fall into the trap of generosity and giving to the poor, just as easily as the trap of money grabbing or greed. Each can smother our soul if we are not careful to look to Him in all things.
Monday, October 24, 2011
The Seasons and Led Zeppelin
As some of you know, Led Zeppelin is definitely my all time, favorite band. Since I started listening to recorded music at 16, they have consistently remained at the top of my list. Sometimes I'll go for half a year or more without listening to them much but I always have returned with renewed appreciation and usually in a totally different way than before. I think the diversity in their music is what makes them amazing and so versatile. You can find any song of theirs to match with a season of life you are in or a particular kind of day you are having. It bugs me when people bill them as Heavy Metal when they never thought of themselves as such and there are only a couple songs, let alone no whole albums, of theirs that could be considered any kind of metal. They are tremendous musicians who made American blues songs their own and didn't release an album of completely original recordings until their fifth album. Age adds appreciation to most everything in life, and I have noticed that with Zeppelin's music in particular lately.
This song, Going to California, has been a song for the last year or so of my life during the periods of transition I've been in. It speaks to me of the real, God given human emotions involved in wandering, love, hope in new beginnings, and of course, California. Plus the guitar work is something you just can't unhear.
This song, Going to California, has been a song for the last year or so of my life during the periods of transition I've been in. It speaks to me of the real, God given human emotions involved in wandering, love, hope in new beginnings, and of course, California. Plus the guitar work is something you just can't unhear.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Economic History in 4 Minutes
Author Sylvia Nasar takes us through recent economic history in this nice video. She is the author of A Beautiful Mind.
Tremendous Resource
For sound teaching on economic ideas, LearnLiberty.org is a tough website to beat. Definitely check it out if you'd like to hear a perspective on the minimum wage being the worst thing ever (my own opinion) or something like the example below of a generally used term in economics.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Skipping the Self Checkout
Has anyone ever heard of this? Skipping the self checkout in order to protect people's jobs? Seems like good reasoning, but after you get beyond step one, it falls apart.
Professor Boudreaux offers his opinion in this blog post from yesterday on Cafe Hayek. It's in his usually sarcastic tone, but brings up some inconsistencies in anyone's thinking that not using technology is somehow better for the economy.
Similarly, Blockbuster going out of business can be viewed as a bad thing and indeed it was a difficult situation for many people. Hulu, Netflix, Red Box, etc are blamed for putting them out of business, which I think is correct. My family were frequent Blockbuster customers in an effort to keep us kids mildly sedate during key periods of the day and would spend a healthy sum of money in video rentals. Now for less than half the price, my family has instant access to thousands more choices than the Blockbuster store saving money and time. Seems like a win, win situation to me. And this streaming video service is a whole new industry barely imagined a decade ago.
As history has clearly shown, true ingenuity of the types mentioned above is best achieved in an environment of political and economic freedom.
Professor Boudreaux offers his opinion in this blog post from yesterday on Cafe Hayek. It's in his usually sarcastic tone, but brings up some inconsistencies in anyone's thinking that not using technology is somehow better for the economy.
Similarly, Blockbuster going out of business can be viewed as a bad thing and indeed it was a difficult situation for many people. Hulu, Netflix, Red Box, etc are blamed for putting them out of business, which I think is correct. My family were frequent Blockbuster customers in an effort to keep us kids mildly sedate during key periods of the day and would spend a healthy sum of money in video rentals. Now for less than half the price, my family has instant access to thousands more choices than the Blockbuster store saving money and time. Seems like a win, win situation to me. And this streaming video service is a whole new industry barely imagined a decade ago.
As history has clearly shown, true ingenuity of the types mentioned above is best achieved in an environment of political and economic freedom.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Horror!
Huff Post says evidence ties Herman Cain to Americans for Prosperity, a grass-roots group funded in part by the Koch brothers.
The articles states that AFP "lobbies for lower taxes and less government regulation and spending."
Oh goodness, anything but lower taxes and less government regulation and spending, please!
The article goes on to say how Cain's ties to a group funded by rich people is dangerous because all rich people do is take away democracy (paraphrase). I speculate that the Huffington Post people would push for more regulations, at least. But only the right and just ones, of course. However, I find that interesting because the more power you give government (like in regulatory power) and as it is invested in one place, the more the "rich people" are going to lobby the government as that becomes the way to get things done. Imagine Government as a bed. The bigger you make it, the more people can hop in and dictate from it.
The articles states that AFP "lobbies for lower taxes and less government regulation and spending."
Oh goodness, anything but lower taxes and less government regulation and spending, please!
The article goes on to say how Cain's ties to a group funded by rich people is dangerous because all rich people do is take away democracy (paraphrase). I speculate that the Huffington Post people would push for more regulations, at least. But only the right and just ones, of course. However, I find that interesting because the more power you give government (like in regulatory power) and as it is invested in one place, the more the "rich people" are going to lobby the government as that becomes the way to get things done. Imagine Government as a bed. The bigger you make it, the more people can hop in and dictate from it.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
For those who may care, I now have a twitter account: Tay_Bark. I would love to follow you if you have one. Comment or email me.
This Twitter feels like a new frontier for me but I like it so far. I took the plunge because one Ben and one Josiah's gentle encouragement, many people here in DC tweet like fools, and it seems like a good way to get news of all sorts. Of course I will still keep blogging here as this allows a little more freedom (aka words).
This Twitter feels like a new frontier for me but I like it so far. I took the plunge because one Ben and one Josiah's gentle encouragement, many people here in DC tweet like fools, and it seems like a good way to get news of all sorts. Of course I will still keep blogging here as this allows a little more freedom (aka words).
Columbus
This year especially it seems fashionable to be angry at Columbus. As if we are all experts on the man and his intentions. I note this because of various comics and pictures on Reddit and Facebook. You've probably seen the one that says: Celebrate Columbus Day by walking into your neighbor's house and claiming it as your own.
I lump myself in the above classification in the fact that I am no Columbus scholar, historian or biographer. However I don't like the current fad that incorrectly casts him as an Annexer Extraordinaire. I think it is historically wrong and miscasts Columbus's intentions and actions. The mere fact that he crossed the ocean and the Native Americans did not seems like an historical fluke and a matter of who had the more advanced technology. Chance encounters of the kind that Columbus had with the Native Americans are very difficult to judge as right or wrong.
Our culture has this image in our head of Columbus as Darth Vader entering the Rebel ship, guns blazing, claiming the New World as his own, all in the name of the Christian God. The portions of Columbus's diaries that I have read through mentioned no such action. He and his crew were welcomed by the natives (who warred with each other by the way) and sought to have a discourse with them as best they could. Apparently Columbus communicated with the natives which is rather impressive and would take a lot of patience, a virtue conquerors don't seem to have when dealing with foreign people groups they are trying to steam roll.
Treating Columbus as a symbol of some of the terrible mistakes the Europeans made in their colonization is maybe legitimate. But even then it is making him out to be the villain he was not.
I lump myself in the above classification in the fact that I am no Columbus scholar, historian or biographer. However I don't like the current fad that incorrectly casts him as an Annexer Extraordinaire. I think it is historically wrong and miscasts Columbus's intentions and actions. The mere fact that he crossed the ocean and the Native Americans did not seems like an historical fluke and a matter of who had the more advanced technology. Chance encounters of the kind that Columbus had with the Native Americans are very difficult to judge as right or wrong.
Our culture has this image in our head of Columbus as Darth Vader entering the Rebel ship, guns blazing, claiming the New World as his own, all in the name of the Christian God. The portions of Columbus's diaries that I have read through mentioned no such action. He and his crew were welcomed by the natives (who warred with each other by the way) and sought to have a discourse with them as best they could. Apparently Columbus communicated with the natives which is rather impressive and would take a lot of patience, a virtue conquerors don't seem to have when dealing with foreign people groups they are trying to steam roll.
Treating Columbus as a symbol of some of the terrible mistakes the Europeans made in their colonization is maybe legitimate. But even then it is making him out to be the villain he was not.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Craiglist Jewel
Found this while looking for some drums on Craigslist. Don't drink and write ads.
Nicer set-First act Drum set 4 drums
First set sold the oold base set this morning
now A set First Act Set there been hard too ut better 485
I would like to firn a time to see it, before giving the full address or the phone number for I need to be here too,
most days 830 Am. will work for me
would you like to come to see them,
house is Just 4 miles South 28
From i-66 Near CVS 8300 Centreville Va
Near CVS few Houses down 2
YorkshireLnManassasva20111
All sure We have a time & Day so I can be there too
Estate Sale most have to sell
offer s are asked for
Nicer set-First act Drum set 4 drums
First set sold the oold base set this morning
now A set First Act Set there been hard too ut better 485
I would like to firn a time to see it, before giving the full address or the phone number for I need to be here too,
most days 830 Am. will work for me
would you like to come to see them,
house is Just 4 miles South 28
From i-66 Near CVS 8300 Centreville Va
Near CVS few Houses down 2
YorkshireLnManassasva20111
All sure We have a time & Day so I can be there too
Estate Sale most have to sell
offer s are asked for
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Twitter Map
Shows where tweets are coming from around the world. Kind of cool. Kind of.
I'm thinking a Twitter account is coming within the month...For those who for some reason might care that I have a Twitter account. There's a lot of tweeting here in DC, I feel it necessary to keep up with the times and the latest whatever. Like my recent arrival on the Mad Men bandwagon, I'm a little behind the times.
I'm thinking a Twitter account is coming within the month...For those who for some reason might care that I have a Twitter account. There's a lot of tweeting here in DC, I feel it necessary to keep up with the times and the latest whatever. Like my recent arrival on the Mad Men bandwagon, I'm a little behind the times.
Live Apple Presentation Blog
Engadget has a pretty sweet live blog for the announcements Apple is making today. Check it out.
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Occupy Wall Street Demands
This list of demands is on the "de-facto website" run by the protesters on Wall Street right now.
I too would like to see an end to cronyism, political corruption, and immoral business deals. However I believe a majority of the demands in this list would lead to the very opposite of what the protesters desire. For instance, "Demand three: Guaranteed living wage income regardless of employment." Where would that money come from? Why would you even want to work if that were the case?
More porous borders, I agree with. Human beings are the most important part of any economy.
I also have a proverbial wish list probably as unlikely to happen as the one above and that many would regard as crazy. However, this is a wish list ignorant of economic realities, human nature and how true prosperity is achieved. These efforts have been tried and have failed nearly every time to achieve the sought after result.
I too would like to see an end to cronyism, political corruption, and immoral business deals. However I believe a majority of the demands in this list would lead to the very opposite of what the protesters desire. For instance, "Demand three: Guaranteed living wage income regardless of employment." Where would that money come from? Why would you even want to work if that were the case?
More porous borders, I agree with. Human beings are the most important part of any economy.
I also have a proverbial wish list probably as unlikely to happen as the one above and that many would regard as crazy. However, this is a wish list ignorant of economic realities, human nature and how true prosperity is achieved. These efforts have been tried and have failed nearly every time to achieve the sought after result.
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