tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72560502024-03-07T10:59:44.971-05:00the ashrama humble attempt at authentic living. relying on community and conversation for holistic answers to fractured questions. trying to catch a glimpse of the kingdom coming. seeking the one who said "follow me"...geoff and sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02055588922702826766noreply@blogger.comBlogger909125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-48928076560544246722011-12-09T14:57:00.007-05:002011-12-09T15:27:16.244-05:00Aha! The truth comes to light.........I read this article today on MSNBC. The article highlights how much US defense contractors stand to gain from the Iraqi government buying US weapons. I thought I would post it here along with a few cartoons from Michael Leunig. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one of my Leunig favorites, the one where a massive cargo truck with "LIES" emblazoned on the side is preparing to run down a small car billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-91232033872799981842011-11-28T12:28:00.002-05:002011-11-28T12:39:09.814-05:00Some interesting observations on unemploymentToday I read the article below and thought the author made some interesting observations about the current problem with jobs in America. See what you think....here is an excerpt:Yes, it's huge. But only 50 people work there.Optimists argue that the solution to the US's sky-high unemployment and income inequality is more companies like Apple--the resurgent tech company that has revolutionized the billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-4596048405681862232011-11-03T11:09:00.002-04:002011-11-03T11:24:37.839-04:00The Network of Global Corporate ControlTo go along with the preceding post, here is a fascinating scholarly paper brought to my attention by my colleague Greg Leffel. The article offers a very detailed accounting of how a very small number of transnational corporations exert tremendous control over the sum total of decision making capacity in the global economy. The bulk of the article is very highly technical, but has enough plain billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-40065498667842606452011-11-03T10:41:00.003-04:002011-11-03T10:56:57.521-04:00Poorest of the poor: Now 1 in 15 AmericansThough sobering and disheartening, this is a nice summary article on the deepening demographic realities of poverty in America. Here are a couple of excerpts:"New census data paint a stark portrait of the nation's haves and have-nots at a time when unemployment remains persistently high. It comes a week before the government releases first-ever economic data that will show more Hispanics, elderlybillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-89877242238887487852011-09-29T12:40:00.004-04:002011-09-29T12:48:16.551-04:00Down syndrome's rewards touted as new test loomsI saw this article today and though the title at first seemed counter-intuitive, I quickly thought, "Yeah, that actually does make a lot of sense." I really found the article to be an interesting and provocative look at what really matters in life and what values lead to the most lasting fulfillment.billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-42635313962507492962011-08-09T16:28:00.005-04:002011-08-10T10:12:18.890-04:00Social Inequality
I've been reading Zygmunt Bauman's newest book called, "Collateral Damage: Social Inequalities In A Global Age." I've been finding it to be a pretty good and generally insightful read. At the same time I've been talking about these issues with my colleague Greg and listening to his reflections, as he's been reading a related book called, "The Spirit Level," that also addresses the topic of billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-76585927210961848392011-07-19T13:58:00.004-04:002011-07-19T14:52:33.795-04:00The Efficacy of LifeI seem to remember writing in this space some time ago about a book by Henri Nouwen called "Reaching Out." That book is one of the most important books I've ever read, and continues to reverberate within me to this day. However, I must admit that over the course of the last year I've been falling away from some of the vital disciplines that I learned in this spiritual classic. Any of you who've billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-42975598772503853352011-06-21T16:33:00.002-04:002011-06-21T16:38:22.466-04:00Making Our Mark?Here is a link to a fascinating article in The Economist about what some geologists are saying about the recent and accelerating impacts of humanity on the earth and some of its cycles.billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-75840584890430610152011-06-06T16:00:00.011-04:002011-06-06T16:39:17.673-04:00Reconsidering the "War on Drugs"Over the past few weeks I've enjoyed reading a series of articles that address the topic of the "War on Drugs." It seems that there is at least a small groundswell of new reflection and debate about this longstanding policy and its implications for our country and our immediate neighbors. I'll offer a few links for those of you who might be interested in reading further. These links are to billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-11046830005400749172011-06-02T16:46:00.003-04:002011-06-02T17:04:20.086-04:00What Does Lady Liberty Mean Today?Last night (when I should have been in bed resting) I enjoyed watching the last part of Lawrence O'Donnel's show. I especially enjoyed the message of last night's "Rewrite." While out of town this past week I was having a discussion with an acquaintance who works in investments. I was surprised when, in the natural course of the conversation, he stated very strongly that people need to realize billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-83856888761313494692011-05-15T23:38:00.003-04:002011-05-15T23:43:23.709-04:00Summer reading listSORRY ALL...wrong blog.What are you all reading?The White Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08697943632481431641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-60957774141475648252011-04-14T11:51:00.005-04:002011-04-14T11:59:37.703-04:00Coal....also helps put the lights out.....Here is a link to a nice article in the NY Times about a tiny "mining" town in West Virginia that was forwarded to me this morning.billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-54215120306534435912011-04-11T15:08:00.005-04:002011-04-11T15:28:57.287-04:00The Missionary AttitudeSome well-worn and time tested wisdom that I encountered today, along with a picture of my kids from the UK Arboretum that somehow captures for me much of what is expressed below.First, some thoughts from Thomas Merton (From "A Letter To A Young Activist"): Do not depend on the hope of results. When you are doing the sort of work you have taken on, essentially an apostolic work, you may have to billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-86629059603668522462011-03-29T15:47:00.009-04:002011-03-29T15:59:02.459-04:00The phrase "practical theology" should be a redundancyReading this week on John Wesley's theology and came across this: "Thus, as Wesley understood and practiced theology, the defining task of "real" theologians was neither developing an elaborate System of Christian truth-claims nor defending these claims to their "cultured despisers"; it was nurturing and shaping the worldview that frames the temperament and practice of believers' lives in the mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08080869629149026665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-26669165087447485702011-03-23T15:27:00.004-04:002011-03-24T11:24:03.788-04:00Some good news.....for me......Over the last year I've been walking pretty closely with a friend (of many years) who is trying to put his life back together after an extended stay in prison. In respect of his privacy I will not go into the details surrounding his incarceration or his life in general. What I will say is that he, like most other "ex-cons," is finding it very hard to make the adjustment to life "outside the wallsbillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-68541709558026493002011-02-28T16:44:00.008-05:002011-03-04T15:58:55.416-05:00More thoughts on current events......The developments that we've been witnessing over the last several weeks in the Middle-East have been truly remarkable. We do not know where they will eventually go or what in the long-run will be gained from them. However, despite all the attendant ambiguities, we can be encouraged that people are uniting (more or less collectively) to at the very least ask questions about where their countries billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-49913064823092966802011-02-23T09:58:00.006-05:002011-02-23T10:19:04.099-05:00Zygmunt Bauman on envisioning the "city"Here are some thoughts from, "Globalization: The Human Consequences," by the Polish sociologist Zygmunt Bauman that I've been contemplating a lot as I've watched Steve and Luella Pavey fight so hard for the plight of the "Dreamers" in America; and as I've considered, prayed and participated with the efforts of so many other friends working to envision and build the spaces in which we live. Thoughbillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-61691409123412792682011-02-16T12:39:00.004-05:002011-02-16T12:57:45.761-05:00World Social Forum 2011-Dakar, SenegalUnfortunately we were not able to attend the World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal this year. Therefore, it was nice to receive this update on the forum from Immanuel Wallerstein, wherein he offers a few observations on the forum and the impending challenges facing all the various parties who feel like some kind of fundamental "civilizational change" is necessary. I think that the paragraph in billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-18746672626144482162011-02-04T15:26:00.006-05:002011-02-04T15:41:25.031-05:00We always have humorI've always been mindful of that C.S. Lewis line that if evil were not so destructive it would essentially be humorous because it is so utterly absurd in its mindlessness. Well, today I was reminded of those words when I saw this video detailing the obscene crime that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has reportedly perpetrated upon the people of Egypt. I think this might be one of the greatest billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-20646378512783035222011-02-03T13:14:00.005-05:002011-02-03T13:25:39.719-05:00An Arab's reflection on Egypt and Tunisia at presentHere is a hopeful article that was revealing and thought-provoking to me. As always, the “comments” section throws light (for me) upon the infinite distances that always exist between us in our attempts to try to identify with the best and most sublime in one another-to understand one another's deepest hopes and aspirations; as well as the fleeting beauty of those moments of rare connection whenbillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-25202245895846892512011-01-26T16:34:00.008-05:002011-01-26T17:40:23.173-05:00Poverty in love leads to riches?I awakened this morning to learn that my maternal grandmother, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this week, died last night. I was planning to go to Atlanta on Friday to visit with her, say goodbye and hopefully get a chance to introduce her to her great grandson (my 13 month old son Roman). I regret that I will not have that opportunity, and therefore not be able to place the celebration of billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-52976862621199970982011-01-14T11:21:00.004-05:002011-01-14T11:56:53.726-05:00FragilityAn article I read this morning made me think about a trip that I took to China a couple of years ago. During the trip we visited an amazing park in Northern Sichuan Province called Jiuzhaigou. I remember standing and looking up at one of the ridges rising above us (to around 15k feet)and remarking to my colleague Greg about how life ceases to exist as we know it at a fairly low altitude. I'll billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-77002522353194660932010-12-10T16:51:00.010-05:002010-12-13T17:39:36.924-05:00More thoughts on last postI got an e-mail response the other day to my last post asking an important question. The respondent was asking me for more detailed thoughts on my views of the "conquest" narrative in Joshua in the light of the (obvious) conflict it creates with the teachings of Jesus-and very significant portions of the rest of scripture(something I purposely acknowledged in my post). There are many different billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-8268591512253360272010-12-03T15:49:00.011-05:002010-12-03T18:17:44.065-05:00Reflection on second week of Advent"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever for the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!"The above verse billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256050.post-25639534652410758982010-11-24T12:13:00.007-05:002010-11-29T14:31:43.968-05:00Reflection on the meaning of gratitudeTomorrow is the holiday in America that we call thanksgiving. It has become cliche to comment upon the fact that the thanksgiving holiday in our global consumerist culture has become essentially an afterthought on the way to christmas, and christmas in turn an afterthought on the way to gift giving and bargain hunting. Therefore, it becomes almost impossible to say anything that hasn't already billyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869740559280036839noreply@blogger.com0