Thoughts on Health Care

I’m worried about a lot of the rhetoric I’m hearing.

I’m worried about the way some Christians are discussing the issue of health care. I think a short passage in John can teach us something about the way that Jesus would approach the issue.

John 6.11-13

Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.

In Jesus’ economy, the food is distributed evenly. In Jesus’ economy, there is so much food for the hungry that 12 baskets are left over after everyone has eaten their fill. In Jesus’ economy, the water that was supposed to be used for purity rituals (Jn 2.6) is instead used to make awesome wine. Clearly, Jesus is not someone who is worried about maximizing profit. Jesus doesn’t discriminate when he offers abundance. Jesus offers food and wine to all. And plenty of it.

I don’t like the current health care legislation that the US Congress is discussing. I think it has tons of problems. But if you are a follower of Jesus, then I sincerely pray that you are working towards the economics of Jesus. An economics that offers abundance, without discrimination.

6 Reasons why your church needs (more) beer!

A little jocularity to begin the day:

1. Beer is good for the community. Beer reduces inhibitions and nowhere are people more inhibited than in church. Congregants want at least one chair between them and the person next them. Even better if they get the entire pew to themselves. With a few pints down them, on the other hand, that invisible wall, that awkward space is all but gone. People will start laughing together, they will start crying together. They will even hug! Paul’s “holy kiss” might once again become commonplace, and not a relic of the Bible sped through by embarrassed readers-aloud. In addition to strengthening the ties between those already in the local church, the stranger will be welcomed with open arms, both his presence and his strange thoughts. Which leads me to the second point.

2. Beer is good for the church’s communal theological inquiry…

Read the rest of the hilarity at http://www.arnizachariassen.com/ithinkibelieve/?p=571

5 Foods to Avoid in 2010

This is especially important for those of you making food choices for young ones…

Change.org offers a simple list of foods to avoid in 2010. Here’s #1:

1) “Factory-farmed” meat — This is basically any meat product you can purchase in the grocery store, and certainly anything with the name “Tyson,” “Hillshire Farm” or “Smithfield” on it.  Meat production — and more accurately I believe, industrial meat production —  is said to be responsible for up to 51% of total greenhouse gas emissions across the globe.  In addition to the environmental damage these large-scale livestock facilities cause, the inhumane and unsanitary conditions many of these animals are raised in is a leading cause of food-borne illness in the U.S. On average, 76 million Americans are sickened by the food they eat every year (and more than 5,000 die).  If that alone isn’t a reason to think twice about eating factory-farmed meat, I’m not sure what is.

Be sure to check the rest of the list at: http://food.change.org/blog/view/5_foods_you_should_avoid_in_2010

Favorite Songs of the Decade – Top 25

And here are the top 25. Unlike the honorable mentions, I put these in order. Also, I added LaLa.com links so you can preview the songs. I hope you enjoy. Leave me a comment ranting about what I missed

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25. Off the Record – My Morning Jacket
24. Gone (Feat. Cam’ron) – Kanye West
23. Archangel – Burial
22. Silent Shout – The Knife
21. Animal – Miike Snow
20. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
19. 99 Problems – Jay-Z + DJ Danger Mouse (from the Grey Album)
18. Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
17. Hang Me Up To Dry – Cold War Kids
16. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
15. Paper Planes – M.I.A.
14. Last Nite – The Strokes
13. I Summon You – Spoon
12. Losing My Edge – LCD Soundsystem
11. Wake Up – The Arcade Fire
10. A-Punk – Vampire Weekend
9. B.O.B. – OutKast
8. The Rat – The Walkmen
7. Knocked Up – Kings Of Leon
6. Weapon Of Choice – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
5. When the Sun Goes Down – Arctic Monkeys
4. The Seed (2.0) – The Roots
3. Staring At The Sun – TV On The Radio
2. I Might Be Wrong – Radiohead
1. My Girls – Animal Collective

Favorite Songs of the Decade – Honorable Mentions

Well, the end of the decade is looming. I thought I would spend a few minutes hours putting together a list of my favorite songs of the decade. For the sake of variety, I only picked one song from each artist/band. Here are the honorable mentions in alphabetical order. The top 25 will be in order and posted tomorrow!

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• GFC – Albert Hammond, Jr.
• Video Tapez – AmpLive
• You Know I’m No Good – Amy Winehouse
• The Funeral – Band Of Horses
• E-Pro – Beck
• Chemical Calisthenics – Blackalicious
• Banquet – Bloc Party
• Toxic – Britney Spears
• West Coast – Coconut Records
• Testify – Common
• Lights & Music – Cut Copy
• Old School – DANGERDOOM
• People C’mon – Delta Spirit
• The Man Who Told Everything – Doves
• White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes
• Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
• Rock The House – Gorillaz
• Two Weeks – Grizzly Bear
• Ready For The Floor – Hot Chip
• Obstacle 1 – Interpol
• Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love) – Jay-Z
• In The Morning – Junior Boys
• D.A.N.C.E. – Justice
• Señorita – Justin Timberlake
• Club Foot – Kasabian
• Whistle Song – Kent
• Day N Nite – Kid Cudi
• All These Things That I’ve Done – The Killers
• My Party (Kenna & Chad Hugo Remix) – Kings Of Leon
• The Age Of The Understatement – The Last Shadow Puppets
• Superstar – Lupe Fiasco
• Wet And Rusting – Menomena
• Kids – MGMT
• Float On – Modest Mouse
• Stockholm Syndrome – Muse
• Nothing To Worry About – Peter Bjorn & John
• 1901 – Phoenix
• Shove It – Santogold
• You’re A Wolf – Sea Wolf
• Bump – Spank Rock
• Blinded by the Lights – The Streets
• Chicago – Sufjan Stevens
• The Start of Something – Voxtrot
• You’ve Got the Love – The XX