Wired magazine posted a feature article about how the economics of waste. The major premise is that the new internet/digital age has transformed certain goods and services by reducing their production costs to zero, or nearly zero. As a result, these products which are now so abundant and so cheap as to be disposable, can now be “wasted” in pursuit of other aims. The cost of computer processing power and storage is a prime example. Computers are so cheap that they’re approaching “free,” which means that their abundance will cause people to create new uses for them since they cost so little. Its a lengthy article, but fascinating.
General
Stick Figures Explain the Mortgage Mess
Uncle Sam is experiencing a housing crunch. Sucks to be me, I am getting ready to sell my own house. Be that as it may, one might be wondering, “how did we get in this position?” Great question. A hilarious depiction is shown in stick figures of the whole mess. [Disclaimer: lots of foul language in the stick figure presentation] The biblical answer, however, is this. Sinful human beings can be greedy, leading them to mortgage their entire lives for the dream home that they can’t otherwise afford. Proverbs 22:7 says that “the borrower is the servant to the lender.” That means if someone owes someone else money, they are essentially that person’s slave until the debt is paid. In the OT, when someone couldn’t afford to pay their debts, they would literally mortgage their own bodies by selling themselves into slavery to pay their debts. Christians are called to…
Definition of Retirement
Retirement has taken some shots from certain sectors of evangelical Christianity over the last decade or so, and for good reason. Many retirees use it as an opportunity to no longer produce for the good of society but rather leisurely set the cruise control to “almost dead” and hope for a peaceful transition to the next life. David Bahnsen writes in World Magazine his definition of retirement: Retirement is “a period of financial independence where one’s financial needs are provided for, even if income is no longer being generated.“ This is good specificity, because the complaints against retirement are not against leaving a job, but rather wasting one’s financial independence. In his view (which I agree with), retirement is not the issue, but what one does with this new freedom from their job. John Piper urges folks to not waste their retirement. Retirees are some of the best resources that…
Conservatives and African-Americans
Leonard Pitts from the Miami Herald had this column appear in Sunday’s Courier-Journal. He explores the rift between African Americans and conservatives.
The Evils of Christian Music?
For some more over-reactions to the Christian music scene, read this.
How to Know if You’re Called Into Ministry
I recently pulled an old journal off of my shelf from about 10 years ago. Some of the notes were from a Campus Crusade for Christ Christmas conference where Dan Hayes (author of Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening) was a main speaker. But during that time, I was wrestling with whether or not I was called by God into full time ministry. Dan gave a breakout session that was specifically geared towards answering this question. I think his insights were right on the money, so I decided to pass them along to the teeming throngs of devoted “Everything is Backwards” readers. He sums it up in four steps. If you are called by God into ministry, you will at least experience all of the following. 1. You develop an increased awareness that the deepest needs of mankind can only be met by God through Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, one does not have…
My Favorite Canadians and Other Helpful Insights
Our wintry, left-leaning neighbors to the north have graciously given the world a few incredible Christian scholars. I’ve never met a Canadian I didn’t like. I mean that. After befriending a few sandals-with-socks wearing brothers in Christ it seemed appropriate to give Canadians their due on this blog. Here’s my favorite four Canadian scholars.
Reflections on my 33rd Birthday
Yesterday, according to Shire Reckoning, was Bilbo Baggins’ birthday. When he turned eleventy-one years old (111 for those of you who prefer regular numerals), he gave a very fine speech just before slipping on the One Ring and disappearing from sight before escaping from the Shire altogether. What a laugh. Today is my birthday. This is not always a fun day for me, because us brooding types don’t need special reminders that we are getting older and our bodies are dying every day. So what’s on my mind today as I turn 33? I’m glad you asked….
Of a Dangerous Prayer and a Meat Grinder
I’ve prayed on various occasions for God to reveal sin to me, that I might not sin against Him. This seems to be one of those prayers that God is always happy to accommodate. As a result, I have been shown new depths of sin in my heart over the last few weeks that can seem overwhelming at times. This is a good place to be, I suppose, as long as I don’t give in to despair. But I’ve been teetering on the edge of that for a little while.
The benefits of blogging
Timmy Brister posted a quote on his blog from David Alan Black about the benefits of blogging. Black makes some very helpful comments and encourages blogging because of the potential to disseminate information very quickly. Frequent posting sometimes can lead to quick, unreflected and unthoughtful remarks, which are posted to the world. But this need not be. The greatest power of blogging is also its greatest vulnerability, but rather than avoiding it, we should embrace it with wisdom. The potential for sin does not make something inherently problematic. This is the same old protectionist philosophy applied to new mediums. So, blog on, bloggers! But be careful, too.