As my profile indicates, my line of work is real estate appraisal and consulting. I'd like to think I know what I'm doing and that knowledge has allowed me to work on some big and interesting projects. Though I haven't sought it out, I've worked on several low income housing projects. The purpose of these projects is obviously noble - to provide good, safe, affordable housing to folks making well less than the median income. What I've discovered, sadly, is there is incredible profit in these projects. Investors set up shell "not for profit" companies to avoid paying real estate and other taxes, and then proceed to make large sums of money due to a variety of reasons with greed certainly being one of them.
One of the newest members of the Forbes 500 is billionaire real estate mogul John Manning . I don't know Mr. Manning, but I certainly raise an eyebrow at someone who "brokers" low income housing "deals". I just don't like that, but I'm sure it's not against the law.
So, does the "rich get richer and the poor get poorer" apply here? Reach your own conclusions.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
God, Riches and Joel O'Steen
Mike Cope's blog is a good one today (no need for a hot link to a blog with 90,000 monthly views) on God and riches. As I commented there, God and riches is definitely a user-friendly sermon to the Christian consumer of today. And, I will admit that Joel O'Steen's sermons are easy on the ears and eyes. I've flipped through channels before and stopped on his sermons and listened for a few to several minutes.
In the past few years, however, I think I've matured and changed quite a bit in the area of God and riches. Oh, I'll certainly admit I'd like to be making more money, working fewer hours, and doing more for the Lord. But, my thought process is usually in that exact order - and that can lead to troubles.
I do believe that Jesus' message is not O'Steen's message - I think they are in total contrast to one another - and for that reason I do have a problem with Joel's ministry. It does not matter how many it attracts, it really doesn't. Is it somewhat unsettling to me that hundreds of thousands of Houstonians worship at his church in a given month? Somewhat, but not surprisingly so.
Jesus knew his words would not be attractive to everyone, but his message was very attractive to those we are to be ministering to - the fringe, the oppressed, the downtrodden, and, yes, to even the disillusioned, but the disillusioned are often looking for worldly answers to make their life richer - richer in every sense.
In the past few years, however, I think I've matured and changed quite a bit in the area of God and riches. Oh, I'll certainly admit I'd like to be making more money, working fewer hours, and doing more for the Lord. But, my thought process is usually in that exact order - and that can lead to troubles.
I do believe that Jesus' message is not O'Steen's message - I think they are in total contrast to one another - and for that reason I do have a problem with Joel's ministry. It does not matter how many it attracts, it really doesn't. Is it somewhat unsettling to me that hundreds of thousands of Houstonians worship at his church in a given month? Somewhat, but not surprisingly so.
Jesus knew his words would not be attractive to everyone, but his message was very attractive to those we are to be ministering to - the fringe, the oppressed, the downtrodden, and, yes, to even the disillusioned, but the disillusioned are often looking for worldly answers to make their life richer - richer in every sense.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Crowded Houses without Enough Doors
As I dive into the Gospel of Mark in my daily reading, I've found it interesting that Mark starts off quickly, and gets it going with crowds, healing and a general "buzz". Early on in Chapter 1, Jesus left the synagogue to go see about Peter's mother-in-law at her house. Mark says "the whole town" gathered at their door. How many is that? - 200, 1,000, more?
A little later just as Chapter 2 commences, we have the story that we've heard many, many times if we've grown up in the church, flannel-board lessons and all. The story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man that his friends let down through the roof to see Jesus. We have another crowded house with only one door, so, the only way to Jesus was through the roof.
The second story is interesting because Mark initially says Jesus "had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door." Question - was this Jesus' own home? I honestly had not read that before - I always assumed it was someone else's home.
Lots of teaching, healing, crowded houses and insufficient doors to get into the house to see what everyone was talking about.
Mark 1
32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Mark 2
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
A little later just as Chapter 2 commences, we have the story that we've heard many, many times if we've grown up in the church, flannel-board lessons and all. The story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man that his friends let down through the roof to see Jesus. We have another crowded house with only one door, so, the only way to Jesus was through the roof.
The second story is interesting because Mark initially says Jesus "had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door." Question - was this Jesus' own home? I honestly had not read that before - I always assumed it was someone else's home.
Lots of teaching, healing, crowded houses and insufficient doors to get into the house to see what everyone was talking about.
Mark 1
32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Mark 2
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Josh & Joel
I ran into Jesus (Hay-zeus - see previous posts) yet again -this time at a local bank. Uncanny is such an understatement. I've run into Jesus now three times in totally differing settings. We had chatted before about his sons doing some work for me, and I brought the conversation up again when he was lamenting that Josh did not have the money for driver's education.
I suggested to him again in this meeting that his two sons - Joshua-16, and Joel (pronounced Jo-el)-14 come do some work with me on Saturday. Due largely to the short work week, I more or less forgot that I told him "this Saturday". He told his sons the news - and obviously they thought I meant it - thank goodness.
Joshua called me out of the blue Friday evening to ask if we were still on for the workday. I was surprised to say the least, but happy he called. We discussed the scheduling - and agreed that Sunday afternoon worked much better for everyone. So, I picked up Josh and Joel Sunday afternoon - and we did some painting and work around my house for three hours. I paid them each $6/hour - and they seemed delighted. They worked hard, are great young men - and we made it back home in time for them to attend Sunday evening services at Salvation Army.
A great Sunday afternoon for all.
I suggested to him again in this meeting that his two sons - Joshua-16, and Joel (pronounced Jo-el)-14 come do some work with me on Saturday. Due largely to the short work week, I more or less forgot that I told him "this Saturday". He told his sons the news - and obviously they thought I meant it - thank goodness.
Joshua called me out of the blue Friday evening to ask if we were still on for the workday. I was surprised to say the least, but happy he called. We discussed the scheduling - and agreed that Sunday afternoon worked much better for everyone. So, I picked up Josh and Joel Sunday afternoon - and we did some painting and work around my house for three hours. I paid them each $6/hour - and they seemed delighted. They worked hard, are great young men - and we made it back home in time for them to attend Sunday evening services at Salvation Army.
A great Sunday afternoon for all.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
The Church with a Choice
Nice ring to it. No, really, it is and does have a nice ring. Our local, very popular Methodist church had this slogan on it's sign today. I have no real problem with it. I also have no problem with this church having a gym complete with changing/work-out areas; a separate facility just for youth worship, and a multitude of other space.
But (you knew a but was coming) - I wonder if this is what the church has become in 2006? Has it become primarily, or exclusively a place where the Christian customer can be filled with his/her "choice" of vendor services? Nice digs, nice choices, nice song selection, nice temperature, nice provision of consumer services for the local church-goer? What exactly is a missional church, and is "choice" anywhere near a Top 10 list for such a church? My good minister friend Mark Love has an excellent article discussing the missional church of today. Choice is o.k. - in moderation; Missional is Jesus. Here is the article .
But (you knew a but was coming) - I wonder if this is what the church has become in 2006? Has it become primarily, or exclusively a place where the Christian customer can be filled with his/her "choice" of vendor services? Nice digs, nice choices, nice song selection, nice temperature, nice provision of consumer services for the local church-goer? What exactly is a missional church, and is "choice" anywhere near a Top 10 list for such a church? My good minister friend Mark Love has an excellent article discussing the missional church of today. Choice is o.k. - in moderation; Missional is Jesus. Here is the article .
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Acting as If.....
I was reading the road to Emmaus story in Luke this morning and noted something interesting. Luke tells us in Chapter 24 that Jesus appeared to Cleopas and a friend as they were walking toward Emmaus to find the others. Jesus inquires and elicits thoughts and feelings from Cleopas about the recent events of Jesus' death. After a long journey, several hours of walking and talking, they reached the village, but Jesus "acted as if he were going further".
He is then persuaded to stay and eat with them, and, at that point he reveals his resurrected self to them.
I find it interesting that the world tells us to "act as if":
We are richer than we are - which brings about the burden of unwanted debt.
We are younger than we are - which brings about costly and sometimes hideous looking plastic surgery and other un-needed procedures.
We are more successful than we are - which brings about phoniness and compromised ethics.
And, yet, here Jesus "acts as if" to determine the level of one's committment and to more deeply and clearly expose their heart. He then reveals himself to them, and they confess "were not our hearts burning within us..."
Heart exposure - the purpose of most of what Jesus does. Rather than "acting as if" - we need to "seek Jesus as if". Jesus does not agree with the world's lingo of "fake it 'till you make it".
On the Road to Emmaus
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.
17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19"What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
He is then persuaded to stay and eat with them, and, at that point he reveals his resurrected self to them.
I find it interesting that the world tells us to "act as if":
We are richer than we are - which brings about the burden of unwanted debt.
We are younger than we are - which brings about costly and sometimes hideous looking plastic surgery and other un-needed procedures.
We are more successful than we are - which brings about phoniness and compromised ethics.
And, yet, here Jesus "acts as if" to determine the level of one's committment and to more deeply and clearly expose their heart. He then reveals himself to them, and they confess "were not our hearts burning within us..."
Heart exposure - the purpose of most of what Jesus does. Rather than "acting as if" - we need to "seek Jesus as if". Jesus does not agree with the world's lingo of "fake it 'till you make it".
On the Road to Emmaus
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.
17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19"What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
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