Addendum...

Had a great opportunity to hear Matthew Smith play last night; in light of my post yesterday, I thought the following John Newton lyrics (which Smith has reset to fresh, new music) were appropriate. May this be the Church's attitude throughout the economic crisis and future storms to come:

The Lord Will Provide
Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide.
The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne’er be denied,
So long as it’s written, the Lord will provide.

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, the Lord will provide.
His call we obey like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers we have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide.

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart–cheering promise, the Lord will provide.
He tells us we’re weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne’er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions, the Lord will provide.

No strength of our own, or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior’s great name;
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide.
When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting, the Lord will provide.

What does the Church have to say about saving/spending?

I won't be blogging much the first half of this week...much to be done on my thesis + I plan to blog frequently at week's end about the Ryan Adams & the Cardinals concert and the True/False Film Festival. I did want to share an article which absolutely expresses my heart when it comes to Christian engagement with the economy. Good stuff from Collin Hansen at Christianity Today whose work is always solid. Here's just one passage of many which stood out:

When what's good for Americans is bad for the economy, then you know something is wrong. This is the church's opportunity to help our neighbors and reform our own behavior. We can model for our neighbors a lifestyle that shows more isn't always better. We can respond in faith to this latest crisis, displaying trust in the God who fortifies us against the stock market's ups and downs. We can follow the example of the Acts church, whose members with financial means cared for those less fortunate.

Branding: Are We Marked for Life?

Several times a semester, my church hosts a discussion called Theology at the Forge, which takes place at Forge & Vine, an eatery in downtown Columbia. TATF is designed to take us outside the walls of the church and engage in conversation about how our theology and our worldviews come to bear on some of the biggest political, social and cultural issues of the day. I'm leading tomorrow night's discussion, entitled "Branding: Are We Marked for Life?" Below, you'll see a description of the event. If you're in Columbia tomorrow night around 7, meet us at the Forge and join the dialogue.

Experts tell us that by grade school, American kids are familiar with hundreds of logos. Whether it’s swooshes or golden arches, companies and advertisers work together to create unforgettable images that build customer loyalty. But branding is about more than just selling a product. It’s about selling a way of life. From culturally accepted catchphrases to commercials which debate what kind of computer best represents us, branding has left an indelible mark on our society, affecting the way we view our money, ourselves and each other. Are the brands we buy simply harmless economic choices or do they reveal something about our personality and beliefs? Is it ethical for companies to try and create lifelong customers through marketing in schools? And what of upstart movements to make pervasive branding a thing of the past? The answers to these questions may reveal more about our own brand of thinking than we realize. Bring a few friends, an opinion and an open-mind, and grab a table, food and drink in the upstairs lounge at the Forge & Vine downtown. All ideas are welcome.