Weights and Measures

I was at the Fairtrade Association last week, one story really hit me, sadly i cant recall all the exact facts and fingers but the general idea goes something a little bit like this.

A very large fairtrade coffee co-op with over 50000 farmers can only sell a very small percentage of its product as fairtrade, because there is not enough demand for it, so sells the balance on the world market. Given the small percentage of fairtrade coffee people where starting to ask why so many farmers wanted to be a part of the co-op when so little of the coffee was receiving the fairtrade price.

The farmers response make a pretty big statement, "the coffee beans always weight more when weighed by the co-op"

Sadly we live in a world where justice is not always done, but heres yet another example of a good reason to support fairtrade.

Rock and the church

I scored this fantastic book at the local op shop yesterday- entitled 'Rock and the Church'. Before i do some quoting, the context is everything. This book is by a gentleman called bob larson, the book published in 1971, and i am assuming followed a raft of books on this subject. This book is a peice of history, I had to have it!

I can identify with some of this book, in the last chapter Bob states 'the spiritual drop out rate remains high'- Man i think that is prophetic, as we have the same transition issues between youth and adults remaining in church. However the core message of this book is that 'Rock music is creating crisis in the church...' he continues 'As in every moral crisis, Gods people are forced to take a stand against that which is evil.' I have had a great chuckle reading some of this book But also i see the consideration and isssues found in Bobs arguments- here is some of the arguments *Christian Rock attempts to con the world by Madison Avenue Approach taht appeals to the unregenerate masses. Its interesting because this raises a good point for our worship industry (named by brian Mclaren- Youtube him and listen to what he has to say).

*Christian rock presetns a false perspective of the chirtian life by trying to show how groovy it is to be a christian. -Jesus message is totally counter cultural! *Christian Rock songs focus on ambiguous ideals of love, peace and philosophical humanism while neglecting to emphasise mans sinfulness and his need for salvation. *Christian Rock identifies with the same life and music styles of the rock culture with an "add Jesus to your bag"philosophy that offers no alternative to those fed up with that style of living.

Bob is really concerned with how the gospel is presented- that is so eveidently one of his major concerns. And we have to same concern today. What language are we using? are we invitational or manipulitive when presenting the gospel message? Bobs message is filled with things we grapple with today, but yet culturally contextual.

Can you think of things that may be the 'Scnadal' for the church today? Shirley- an amazing woman i work with says that 'the chuch excludes to many people and their oppinions'. Stew points out a couple, one being the attractional model/prosperity dotrine church vs alternitive ways of doing church. A real hot button issue for the church may be homosexuality. What ever the scandal of our time, i reckon our eyes need to fixed on the person of Jesus becuase often the scandle of our time is not where we need to be spending our energy. Keeping our eyese fixed on the bigger picture is where we will find truth... adn the truth shall set us free.
What do you think?

A New Journey

Issues and Reflections for the 2008 Elections