Friday, September 19, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
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.
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?
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?
Monday, September 1, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Exciting news worth repeating
BREAKING NEWS—CHOCOLATE CAMPAIGN SUCCESS
20% increase in fair-trade chocolate worldwide
This month, one member of the Chocolate Industry took a landmark decision that will result in a 20% increase in fair-trade—Traffik Free—chocolate worldwide.
Royal Verkade, a Dutch household name and subsidiary of United Biscuits, announced that they will be using 100% Fair Trade cocoa and sugar in their products from the autumn onwards. This is the first A-list chocolate producer worldwide to make the transition to Fair Trade production on a large scale and STOP THE TRAFFIK congratulates Royal Verkade for taking this decision.
Though many players were involved, a major turning point occurred during STOP THE TRAFFIK Netherlands and local NGO Fairfood's 'naming and shaming' campaign, linking Verkade with the worst forms of child labour in Ivory Coast. "Within a day we had a phone call from Fair Trade", states Antonie Fountain of STOP THE TRAFFIK Holland, "saying that Verkade had just called them to talk about the possibility of Fair Trade sourcing for their cocoa".
THIS IS BIG NEWS but It is critical we keep pressure up on this issue. We are making a difference. We will not stop until the trafficking has been STOPPED.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Extract taken from No future without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu- after discussing the processes of the truth and reconcilliation commission in South Africa, to heal the gash of Apartied.
There may indeed have been moments when God may have regretted creating us. But I am certian There have been many times when God has looked and seen all these wonderful people who have shone in the dark night of evil and torture and abuses and suffering; shone as they have demonstrated their nobility of spirit, their magnaminity as they have been ready to forgive,and so they have dispelled the murkiness and fresh air has blown into the situation to transfigure it. It has filled people with new hope that despair, darkness, anger, and resentment and hatred would not have the last word. There is hope that a new situation could come about when enemies might become friends again, when the dehumanised perpetrator might be helped to recover his lost humanity. This is not a wild irresponsible dream. It has happened and it is happening and there is hope that nightmares will end, hope seemingly intractable problems will find solutions and that God has some tremendous fellow workers, some outstanding partners out there. Each of us have the capacity for great good, and that is what makes God say it was well worth the risk to bring us into existance. Extraordinalily, God the omnipotent One depends on us, puny, fragile, vulnerable as we may be, to accomplish Gods purposes for Good, for justice, for forgiveness and healing and wholeness. God has no one but us. St Augustine of Hippo has said, "God wothout us will not as we without God cannot." A rustic Russian priest was accosted by a prash young physycst who rehearsed all the reasons for atheism and arrogantly went on, "therefore I do not believe in God." The little preist, not put off at all, replied "Oh, it doesnt matter, God believes in you." God believes in Us. God depends on us to help make this world all that God wants it to be.
Page 158-159
There may indeed have been moments when God may have regretted creating us. But I am certian There have been many times when God has looked and seen all these wonderful people who have shone in the dark night of evil and torture and abuses and suffering; shone as they have demonstrated their nobility of spirit, their magnaminity as they have been ready to forgive,and so they have dispelled the murkiness and fresh air has blown into the situation to transfigure it. It has filled people with new hope that despair, darkness, anger, and resentment and hatred would not have the last word. There is hope that a new situation could come about when enemies might become friends again, when the dehumanised perpetrator might be helped to recover his lost humanity. This is not a wild irresponsible dream. It has happened and it is happening and there is hope that nightmares will end, hope seemingly intractable problems will find solutions and that God has some tremendous fellow workers, some outstanding partners out there. Each of us have the capacity for great good, and that is what makes God say it was well worth the risk to bring us into existance. Extraordinalily, God the omnipotent One depends on us, puny, fragile, vulnerable as we may be, to accomplish Gods purposes for Good, for justice, for forgiveness and healing and wholeness. God has no one but us. St Augustine of Hippo has said, "God wothout us will not as we without God cannot." A rustic Russian priest was accosted by a prash young physycst who rehearsed all the reasons for atheism and arrogantly went on, "therefore I do not believe in God." The little preist, not put off at all, replied "Oh, it doesnt matter, God believes in you." God believes in Us. God depends on us to help make this world all that God wants it to be.
Page 158-159
Monday, August 4, 2008
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