Kingdom Stimulation

July 24, 2008 // 5865 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F07%2Fkingdom-stimulation%2FKingdom+Stimulation2008-07-24+22%3A12%3A26JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D586

I received my Economic Stimulus Payment the other day and wondered what I would do with it.  As I thought and prayed, I decided to join the ranks of those who called the whole premise of the program into question.

Feel free to accuse me for oversimplifying things if you want, but bottom line, the whole point of the Economic Stimulus Payments that virtually everyone received this year, was singular, “The economy is hurting, so please go buy stuff.”

Sadly, this advice just doesn’t square with those of us who live in a new reality under the Kingship of a God who says, “a man’s life does not consists in the abundance of his possessions” or whose dream for people is to live lives of sacrifice, sharing, generosity, and stewardship.

God’s economics fly in the face of the dominant American addiction to consumerism illustrated perfectly both by the opening line of a recent credit card advertisement, “We are a nation of consumers….and there’s nothing wrong with that.” (ht: Grete), as well as our President’s advice to the country after the 9/11 attacks of, “Go shopping.”

So, 1/2 my check went to Geronime, a woman in Benin, Africa, a fruit vendor through Kiva – a group (you definitely need to check out) that makes micro-loans to “entrepeneurs in the developing world, empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty,” and the other 1/2 went to pay down debt.  Guess I will just have to go without that gizmo, gadget, or do-dad that I probably needed sooooo badly.

Posted in capitalism, consumerism, decisions, God, money

I Heart Contentment

June 24, 2008 // 5611 Comment »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F06%2Fi-heart-contentment%2FI+Heart+Contentment2008-06-24+13%3A44%3A04JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F06%2F24%2Fi-heart-contentment%2F

A wise man once said that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Sadly, we live in a culture which would rather have us understand contentment as a vice – something for the weak, disinterested, and apathetic. It is not.

If this picture strikes you, please check out this brother’s post.

Posted in art, bible, capitalism

The Story of Stuff

April 10, 2008 // 508No Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F04%2Fthe-story-of-stuff%2FThe+Story+of+Stuff2008-04-10+19%3A39%3A57JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D508

I caught wind of this from my friend Wess, and he has a teaser to offer, but I am happy to offer you, my loyal readership, the whole shabang!  If you have 20 minutes to spare… Eh, check that, you need to crave out 20 minutes to watch this video.  It is an informative and compelling look into the inner workings of consumer capitalism.  When you are done, be sure to visit the parent site – The Story of Stuff and let the conversation begin!

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Posted in capitalism, consumerism, video

David Fitch on Willowcreek’s REVEAL

November 15, 2007 // 460No Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F11%2Fdavid-fitch-on-willowcreeks-reveal%2FDavid+Fitch+on+Willowcreek%27s+REVEAL2007-11-15+14%3A25%3A38JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F460

Back in October I posted on the REVEAL project that Willowcreek has been working on.  Part of the project involved a humble repentance of much that they realize has been wrong with their ministry philosophy.  David Fitch, who wrote, The Great Giveaway: Reclaiming the Mission of the Church from Big Business, Parachurch Organizations, Psychotherapy, Consumer Capitalism, and Other Modern Maladies, and who also blogs, has posted a much more thorough treatment of the REVEAL project that I wanted to recommend to you. 

I am not aware of many other people who, like David, are working to sort out the issues of the Church in (Midwest) Western culture from both academic and pastoral (he is also a bi-vocational pastor at a community named Life on the Vine) vantage points, which is why I give his writing so much credence. 

You can also check out the conversation in the comment section. 

Posted in capitalism, christendom, church, community, midwest, spiritual formation, theology

The Church and Cultural Relevance

November 1, 2007 // 453No Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F11%2Fthe-church-and-cultural-relevance%2FThe+Church+and+Cultural+Relevance2007-11-01+21%3A39%3A49JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F453

My friend Wess has posted an introductory piece on his blog entitled, “Church in Mission: The Problem with Being Relevant.”  He shares some initial background to the topic and is planning on offering a few more posts on the topic.  Though I am jealous that he beat me to it , if you’re interested in this issue, I’d invite you to follow along and participate in the discussion with me.

Posted in blogging, capitalism, culture

No, No, Please God, No

September 25, 2007 // 4218 Comments »http%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2F2007%2F09%2Fno-no-please-god-no%2FNo%2C+No%2C+Please+God%2C+No2007-09-25+14%3A41%3A20JR+Rozkohttp%3A%2F%2Flifeasmission.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F421

From Leadership Blog: Out of UR

September 25, 2007

ATMs: Automatic Tithing Machines

How can you pass the plate to people who don’t carry cash? You can’t. So
the next big wave may be the “Giving Kiosk” in your church’s lobby.

“A lot of people no longer carry cash or a checkbook,” says Marty
Baker, pastor of Stevens Creek Church in Augusta, Georgia. So he
installed two ATMs in 2005. The experiment has been a success.

During the first year, the kiosks processed over $100,000 in
donations at Stevens Creek. In 2006, that number increased to just over
$200,000, representing more than 25 percent of the church’s total
income. Even more impressive is the fact that giving as a whole
increased 18 percent since the ATMs were installed. “It’s a safe,
convenient way for people to donate to their church,” Baker notes, “and
it meets people where they are today.”

These positive returns encouraged Baker to launch SecureGive, a
for-profit company that produces and maintains several different
versions of the giving kiosks. “We knew that if this concept and
technology was so beneficial for our church, others could benefit from
it as well,” says Baker.

SecureGive currently operates in 25 churches around the country. One of them is
Family Church in West Monroe, Louisiana, where Terry Taylor is the
executive pastor. “We wanted to help those who were not giving to start
walking in obedience,” says Taylor. “We feel that is being achieved.”

Princeton Pike Church of God in Hamilton, Ohio, had featured online
giving for years, but the service was used consistently by only ten
families. The church engaged SecureGive in January and now has more
than 150 families contributing regularly through the giving kiosk.

The company points out an array of practical advantages. One example
is a decreased risk of embezzlement, since donated funds are
transferred directly into a church’s bank account, bypassing the
counting committee. And the kiosk documents satisfy Internal Revenue
Service regulations requiring taxpayers to present a written statement
from a bank or charitable organization when claiming a deduction on
their returns.

Phil Martin of the National Association of Church Business
Administrators says that Automated Tithing Machines might only be the
beginning. “Whether we’ll have an offering plate with a card reader one
day, who knows,” he said. “But we’re certainly not far from that.”

Posted in articles, capitalism, church, consumerism, evangelicalism, individualism, modernity