Test http://www.gilliammease.com/The-350,000-Baby.c1799.htm

FREE ebook by Josh Gilliam. View or download at www.gilliammease.com

Professor William Jeynes, Ph.D, discusses whether Christianity is a key ingredient to economic success. He relies upon Max Weber and the case Weber made in his classic work The Protestant Ethic. Jeynes relies on other sources as well. He says that the Chinese Communist Party recognizes the contribution of Christianity to the economic development of the West, and cites economist Zhao Xiao in making the point. But Jeynes' case for a Christian influence in China appears to be tentative, and his conclusions are challenged by two academics of Chinese ethnicity during the Q&A that follows the lecture. The lecture and Q&A last an hour twenty minutes, but are worthwhile. 

The debate of our day continues...

I Hope I Die Before I Get Old: America's Long-Term Budget Crisis and "A Call for Intergenerational Justice"

Hosted by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

Pardon the cliche, but trying to implement a biblical approach to helping the poor through the framework of a secular government is like trying to put a square peg through a round hole. The Church is "on the hook" to care and provide for the poor. Not through political discourse (or even political action) but through personal action.  Each of us (individually) will give an account about what we did to help the poor. Government programs will never be radical enough to truly help the poor. 

*Debate gets good at 1:21:00

   "All men are alike in their dreams, and all men are alike in the promises they make. The difference is what they do." 

--Moliere

I Hope I Die Before I Get Old: America's Long-Term Budget Crisis and "A Call for Intergenerational Justice"

Hosted by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

Pardon the cliche, but trying to implement the biblical approach to helping the poor and through the framework of a secular government is like trying to put a square peg through a round hole. The Church is "on the hook" to care and provide for the poor. Not through political discourse (or even political action) but through personal action.  Each of us (individually) will give an account about what we did to help the poor.  Be the "Secret Church". 

   "All men are alike in their dreams, and all men are alike in the promises they make. The difference is what they do." 

--Moliere

Background checks and prenups are one thing, but divorce insurance and divorce funding take the cake! CNBc's new reality show Divorce Wars may not have a redemptive purpose, but it surely shows that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil...not the least of which is creative ways for other people to capitalize on the tragedy of failed marriage!

DIVORCE INSURANCE: After a divorce left him broke, businessman John Logan had an idea to begins selling divorce insurance. He opened Wedlock, an insurance company that provides a financial safety net in case of divorce.

DIVORCE FUNDING: Following a lengthy divorce battle, Stacy Napp started Balance Point Funding, a business providing fight money from private investors to underdogs who have a good chance of winning the divorce. Balance Point pays for lawyers and accountants... and then takes a percentage of the “winnings.”

Genesis says that humans were created in the image of God, so all of our work—not just church work—is holy. We are called to be co-creators, with God, of a flourishing life on Earth. --Dave Evans Co-founder Electronic Arts

Read more at WSJ

A must read for every Christian.  

...if we want to order our economic and social lives justly, if we want to help people rather than merely feel like we're helping people, we have to learn the economic terrain. Rich Karlgaard, the Christian publisher of Forbes magazine, has complained that listening to a pastor or a priest preach on business "is like hearing a eunuch lecture on sex: He may have studied the topic but really know little about the mechanics.

Buy on Amazon

Preview on Google books

 To be "fair" Joel walks a very fine line in his teachings...It's not so much what he says, its more about what he doesn't say!

 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 

(Matthew 13:22 ESV)

  We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

 (Isaiah 64:6 ESV)

"Churches are the next wave in this economic crisis," says Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., president and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a non-profit civil-rights group, who works with pastors around the country to help churches negotiate better terms with their bankers.

More at WSJ.com

WATCH: First Saint Paul's Lutheran Church of Hastings, Nebraska is raising money to buy motorcycles (probably not Harleys) for pastors in the African country of Tanzania. Pastors there serving multiple congregations cannot simulcast their sermons--they have to walk upwards of 60 miles to be with their flock. We take much for granted.

The economic crisis of recent years has forced many Americans to rethink and redefine retirement as a matter of necessity. For Christians, this represents an important opportunity. The ideal for Christians should be redeployment, even after employment. Read more at albertmohler.com.

...humans will, either by design or default, end up worshipping some god, if by god we mean "that to which we willing offer service and sacrifice in exchange for a sense of meaning and purpose." 

Read full article at Huffington Post

 Choose Whom You Will Serve

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 

(Joshua 24:14; Joshua 24:15-28 ESV)And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” 

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.” 

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance. 

(Joshua 24:14; Joshua 24:15-28 ESV)

Cities Gracing Both Lists:

San Francisco #2 Drunkest City and #3 Most Charitable City

Denver #12 Drunkest City and #10 Most Charitable City

Minneapolis-St Paul #11 Drunkest City and #12 Most Charitable City

Portland #32 Drunkest City and #7 Most Charitable City

San Diego #10 Drunkest City and #20 Most Charitable City

Boston #8 Drunkest City and #19 Most Charitable City

St. Louis #24 Drunkest City and #15 Most Charitable City

Chicago #29 Drunkest City and #17 Most Charitable City

Cincinnati #35 Drunkest City and #18 Most Charitable City

Cleveland #22 Drunkest City and #21 Most Charitable City

See slideshow for Drunkest Cities and Most Charitable Cities

 "What people really value is acquiring crap. Oprah's show purports to be a lot about spirituality. If it was, then wouldn't she tell her worshiping flock to sit down and stop losing your sh*t over material stuff?

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As for me, I don't really know what spirituality means, but I know if you're weeping over a sweater then you don't either." --Bill Maher

Well said.

Gaze in amazement at this one of a kind spiritual accessory.

What does Bill O'Reilly know about Jesus??? Watch and learn.  On top of this sad apologetic for the Christian faith, don't be surprised if you see a commercial for Mormon.org.  

Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.  (1 Corinthians 15:34 ESV)

Product Description:

Everyone knows that Jesus saves, but now he can help you save your loose change! Made of cold cast resin, this blue coin bank features Jesus giving a sermon, while standing on a pedestal that reads "SAVES". The bank measures 11 1/2 inches tall, 6 1/2 inches wide and 3 3/4 inches deep. It empties via a twist off plastic cap at the bottom. It makes a great gift for family and friends.

The bank is brand new, never used. View at Amazon

Christian theology has much to say about our work. Honor God with your study and work ethic. 

Paul Washer will not lose sleep tonight worried about your best life now.

John Piper is on a crusade to crucify the the prosperity gospel.

And,

John MacArther believes the only way you can have your best life now is if you're going to hell.

May the truth set you free.

Skeptic Magazine's Founding Publisher Michael Shermer believes markets are the best tools for securing wealth and prosperity.  With this in mind, one of Barna Research Groups Six Megathemes from 2010 suggests that American Christians and Atheists think an awful lot alike.

3. Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life.

When asked what matters most, teenagers prioritize education, career development, friendships, and travel. Faith is significant to them, but it takes a back seat to life accomplishments and is not necessarily perceived to affect their ability to achieve their dreams. Among adults the areas of growing importance are lifestyle comfort, success, and personal achievements. Those dimensions have risen at the expense of investment in both faith and family. The turbo-charged pace of society leaves people with little time for reflection. The deeper thinking that occurs typically relates to economic concerns or relational pressures. Spiritual practices like contemplation, solitude, silence, and simplicity are rare. (It is ironic that more than four out of five adults claim to live a simple life.) Practical to a fault, Americans consider survival in the present to be much more significant than eternal security and spiritual possibilities. Because we continue to separate our spirituality from other dimensions of life through compartmentalization, a relatively superficial approach to faith has become a central means of optimizing our life experience.

Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot. But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville, DID NOT.... The holiday season brings specials galore

They teach us that Christmas can’t come from a store. More

 

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.  And a poor widow came and put in two small

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copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” 

 (Mark 12:41-44 ESV) 

 

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  VIEW PLEDGES

We can learn much from watching Rudolph.  Don't be like Cornelius!

How the world measures silver and gold:

SLV

GLD

How God measures silver and gold:

Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold Proverbs 8:10 ESV

My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. Proverbs 8:19 ESV

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  1 Peter 1:14-19 ESV

If--the rich rule over the poor and the borrower is the slave of the lender (Proverbs 22:7)

And--Consumer debt = $2,423,000,000,000  

And--No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24)

Then--We must be a pagan nation and Alaska is leading the way

Look at the facts.

Adbusters parody. 

The first nationally celebrated day of Thanksgiving was November 26, 1789 after President George Washington issued the following proclamation:

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’ Now I do therefore recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of the great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be...”

Sadly, less than two centuries later, Thanksgiving would be nearly forgotten, except for the fact that its passing indicates the official kick-off of the holiday shopping season. The day after Thanksgiving--Black Friday--is the busiest (and most dangerous) shopping day of the year when retailers venture out of the red into the black, becoming profitable. 

If that weren’t enough (or for those who aren’t brave enough to participate in the American version of the running of the bulls) we’ve christened a new national shopping day--Cyber Monday--the Monday following Black Friday. On this day, we retreat to the world wide web sanctuary and use our faster internet connection from work to surf the sea of sales and to make even more purchases.

What’s more, Easter, Independence Day, Memorial Day, President’s Day, and Labor Day have also been turned into festivals of consumption. On Easter we spend more time looking for the right outfit then we do sitting in the pew. We shell out more money for bunnies, eggs and chocolate than we give in the offering plate. 

But the Holy Grail is Christmas.

The celebration of God’s greatest gift to us, the redemptive birth of His Son, is exploited by marketers to create a grand festival of consumption. They displaced the holiday’s true and lasting message of peace, happiness and tranquility beneath the tree in the form of objects promising the same. Our nation is pierced with grief and pressured to consume, and it is heightened during our most blessed time of the year—because of consumerism, materialism and our eagerness for money.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many griefs.” ~1 Timothy 6:10

Joel Waldfogel, a Yale economist, estimates that up to one third of the gifts given during Christmas are of little use to the recipient. It’s a system of trade that would be considered very inefficient were it not for the benefits it yields for corporations.  Some may rationalize the craze of holiday spending by saying they are giving, but Christmas giving, as represented in America, is not even close to the biblical message of God’s gift. The worship is not of God but of mammon.

Religion has historically been in competition with consumption; hence the need for ancient sumptuary laws— laws used to define and regulate appropriate consumption. As a matter of fact, the Bible’s Author devoted twice as many verses to money than to faith and prayer combined. And Jesus spoke more about money than about both heaven and hell. 

Like most competitors, religion and consumption share very similar characteristics. They both make the redemptive promise to deliver peace, happiness and tranquility. They both provide an organized system of meaning that comes from the top down (from God to man and from producer to consumer). They both let us know where we are and what to do about it through the use of parables and stories. The difference is most religions believe that we achieve peace, happiness and tranquility through hard work, sacrifice and a personal relationship with God. Whereas the world would lead us to believe we achieve those things instantaneously through the consumption of goods and services.

We are not being transformed by the renewing of our minds; we are being transformed by the renewing of our stuff.

The worlds emphasis on instant salvation is parodied in an ad from Adbusters for an imaginary product called Mammon. A man says, “I need a belief system that serves my needs right away.” The caption reads: “Dean Sachs has a mortgage, a family and an extremely demanding job. What he doesn’t need is a religion that complicates his life with unreasonable ethical demands.” The ad ends with the words, “Mammon: Because you deserve to enjoy life—guilt free.”

However, should have loaded up on these back in October when they came out at $79.99...their going for $139.99 now on ebay.  Could have been blessed with an annualized ROR of 2,590%!!! 

Satire--the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Sitting in the marble lobby of a luxury hotel in Mecca, Moroccan bank director Mohammed Hamdosh gets a breather from the cacophony of pilgrims bustling around the Grand Mosque in Islam's holiest city.

Millions have flocked to the city in Saudi Arabia for the annual haj pilgrimage, a duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. But some can afford more than others, and a controversial construction boom is catering to their needs.  More

1. Righteous rich
2. Unrighteous rich
3. Righteous poor
4. Unrighteous poor

 "Has religion thus become just another commodity traded in the American marketplace? The most successful churches run themselves like businesses, selling a sense of community more than anything. They develop outreach campaigns to target key groups like minorities and youth. They create Facebook pages, post to Twitter, and sell iPhone apps to help the devoted always stay connected. Their pastors write books and host radio shows to promote the brand." 

For more insightful thoughts regarding the church and money, read Jesus Saves...Money?, by Neil Aronson, a freshman at Tufts University.

Mark Driscoll and Randy Alcorn discuss generosity--generationally.  Alcorn's biggest concern: The lack of giving indicates the lack of God's grace at work in our lives.

There is nothing more clear in Scripture than the Christians duty to the poor. The Bible teaches and helps us do 3 things regarding the poor. It teaches us to Know The Poor, Be The Poor, and Love The Poor. Yet all too often Christians seek to make these clear biblical teachings optional. In this sermon Pastor Tim Keller concisely exposes Scripture's teaching regarding the poor among us and directs Christians toward the proper response.

The God of the Bible is a God who is at work, and there is purpose to His work. God has created and called man to work. And work is to be purposeful, good, and even glorious. In this sermon Pastor Tim Keller explores this theme and its place in the very first chapters of God's Word.

"Unless you understand the biblical doctrine of work, you will never find rest. That's the irony. You see, there's a kind of work that arises from rest, and on the other hand, there's a kind of restless work. It's one or the other." --Tim Keller

In this sermon Pastor Tim Keller explores the biblical mandate of Sabbath rest. Why do we need it? Where do we get it? How do we do it? 

WATCH: “When you’re selling religion door-to-door,” one hedge-fund manager, who is a Mormon, told CNBC, “it makes every other business enterprise easier in comparison.”

Former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney may be the most recognizable Mormon, but members of his faith, which account for only 2 percent of the US population, have lots of influence in big money—both on Wall Street and throughout the business world.

“When you’re selling religion door-to-door,” one hedge-fund manager, who is a Mormon, told CNBC, “it makes every other business enterprise easier in comparison. More...

"People of faith are the last people standing with the power to inject spiritual realism into the financial conversation. They need to find their bearings again, fast. Otherwise, the soulless emerging paradigm of bullying hysteria and conquest will prevail."  

Ray Waddle, Editor, Reflections Magazine, Yale Divinity More...

John Piper delivers a powerful message on Matthew 6:19-34.  He says, "What Jesus has to say about money, giving, and treasure is thrilling." What do you say?

The deceitfulness of wealth...scientifically supported!

Produced from a socially responsible investment perspective this video is thought provoking and does a great job illustrating the behind the scenes truth about many investments.  

In Radical, David Platt invites you to encounter what Jesus actually said about being his disciple, and then obey what you have heard. He challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated a God-centered gospel to fit our human-centered preferences. With passionate storytelling and convicting biblical analysis, Platt calls into question a host of comfortable notions that are common among Christ's followers today. Then he proposes a radical response: live the gospel in ways that are true, filled with promise, and ultimately world changing. 

Lyrics:

When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes the bottom line 
When success is equated with excess

If your time ain't been nothing for money 
I start to feel really bad for you, honey 
Maybe honey, put your money where your mouth's been running 
If your time ain't been nothing but money

I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom

This ain't my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things 
I'm tired of fighting for just me 
This ain't my American dream

When success is equated with excess
When we're fighting for the Beamer, the Lexus 
As the heart and soul breath in the company goals 
Where success is equated with excess

'Cause baby's always talkin' 'bout a ring 
And talk has always been the cheapest thing 
Is it true would you do what I want you to 
If I show up with the right amount of bling?

Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we've been caught singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain't my America,
That ain't my American dream. 

WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE.  Watch Tupac question the opulence of church buildings.  Overlooking the language, his vehemence is real and he poses an honest question. And I don't know if there is a single answer.  However, sometimes the answer to our original question is not what matters most.  What matters most is that we honestly and diligently seek the answer.  Often, what we discover along the way will enlighten us much more than finding the answer to our original question.  Might I recommend Matthew 7:1-8 and  {{link to church marketing sucks archive 2007 church building}} as part of your search.

Watch Glenn Beck mock Jesus while using the Bible to push Gold as "insurance."  Beck's references to the Bible and Jesus may be contextualized as cynicism, nonetheless, it is not justified.  He, and others, are "profiting" off Christian values by "preying" on peoples emotions (fear and greed).

Strategically, to disarm the consumer, he discounts his own statements by recognizing the obvious skepticism one would have because of his relationship with the advertiser (Goldline)--it's advertising 101.

Today the tyrant rules not by club or fist, but, disguised as a market researcher, he shepherds his flocks in the ways of utility and comfort.  -Marshall McLuhan

...the phrase “In God We Trust” as our national motto is theologically and religiously meaningless, having “no theological or ritualistic impact,” but only a “spiritual and psychological value.” -- Al Mohler More...

CNBC: Watch as Rep. Henry Waxman tells of an internal document of a credit rating agency confessing selling thier souls to the devil for revenue, during a House oversight committee hearing on hedge funds.

GOOD.is: It's no secret that the distribution of wealth is inequitable in the United States across racial, regional, and socio-economic groups. But there is a distinct variance among and within America's faiths as well.

This transparency takes a look at the income levels of America's major religious groups, as compared to the average U.S. income distribution.
 

Watch as Napleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, descrbes how his search led him to the spiritual forces of success.  In very simple terms Hill brilliantly describes the universal truths that lead to wealth.  Think and Grow Rich is laced with enough truth to inspire any God fearing Christian to serve wealth—not God. In Philipians 4, Paul also speaks of a secret he learned--the secret to contentment--not success.

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

–Matthew 13:22

Watch Milton Friedman defend Capitalism on the Phil Donahue Show. Milton Friedman was the twentieth century’s most prominent advocate of free markets. Born in 1912 to Jewish immigrants in New York City, he attended Rutgers University, where he earned his B.A. at the age of twenty. He went on to earn his M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1933 and his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1946. In 1951 Friedman received the John Bates Clark Medal honoring economists under age forty for outstanding achievement. In 1976 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics for “his achievements in the field of consumption analysis, monetary history and theory, and for his demonstration of the complexity of stabilization policy.” Before that time he had served as an adviser to President Richard Nixon and was president of the American Economic Association in 1967. After retiring from the University of Chicago in 1977, Friedman became a senior research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

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