Giving Tied More to Happiness than Wealth September 26, 2010
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A new study by published by a British foundation finds that happiness is a better indicator of a person’s generosity than wealth.
The World Giving Index used data from Gallup’s Worldview World Poll to analyze three types of giving: giving money, volunteering, and helping a stranger. Australia and New Zealand topped the list of 153 countries (representing 95% of the world’s population).
Of course, one wonders – do happier people give, or are giving people happier?
The survey does suggest that there is a “positive cycle of giving.” It theorizes, “Those who donate are likely to help improve the happiness of others, who in turn may be more likely to give to charity and so on.”
It also has interesting ideas on how age, region and other factors effect the way we give. Download the report to read more.
When The Whole World Is Focused on Philanthropy September 20, 2010
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“Philanthropy” has made the news several times in the last few months, and this week adds to that in a star-studded way. Several events, most of them kicking off today, are bringing in the “Who’s Who” of social change:
The Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting: This conference is bringing together dozens of world leaders and celebrities, such as Laura Bush, Ehud Barak, Lance Armstrong, Tom Brokaw, the Gates, and the Obamas. This group of “changemakers” will gather to bring attention to topics like rebuilding Haiti and creating “market-based” solutions to healthcare and poverty.
The UN Millennium Goals Summit: When the 192 member states of the United Nations agreed to achieve the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) by 2015, they knew the task would be daunting. Five years from the target, the UN is calling on all world leaders to come together to accelerate the work on these goals. USA Today reports that “President Obama, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are among the leaders who will put forth rival plans to get the Millennium Developments Goals back on track.”
The Social Good Summit: Mashable and 92Y have partnered with the United Nations Foundation to discuss the Millennium Development Goals with a broader audience. Specifically, this event (one of the only public events surrounding the UN Summit) will seek to create solutions to the world’s ongoing problems utilizing social media and other innovative technologies.
TEDxChange: The Gates Foundation and TED joined forces to host a “global event” via the web today, presenting a variety of talks by “thinkers and doers” in TED’s typical short-form style presentations. TED broke from its normal course to create a live stream of the day.
What am I to do with this? It’s easy to feel insignificant when you have such big names and entire governments throwing their weight at these problems. Here are a few of my thoughts:
- Rejoice that God’s grace is working through those who do not know Him to tackle such problems as poverty, disease and inequality.
- Remember that the world’s problems cannot be solved without the Gospel. Apart from new life, the root to the problems that plague this world cannot be finally addressed.
- Learn all you can. Concepts which began in secular philanthropy (like micro-finance and the market-based approach) are being used effectively in missions around the world (such as business-as-missions).
- Give strategically. Gates and Buffet may make the headlines, but 75% of giving in the U.S. is done by individuals like you! This dwarves the 12% given by these big foundations. Your dollars, big or small, are able to achieve great good when used wisely in the Kingdom.
Future Magic September 15, 2010
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Summer hiatus is over. Back to work.
Thoughts after “Stop and Think” May 1, 2010
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Last night I started reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I didn’t get far into the book before it started sending me to my computer to watch some of Chan’s videos online. In the video sermonette Stop and Think, a surfboard carrying Chan encourages us to reflect on the world God created for us and the love he wants to show us. But one line popped out and hit me hard:
“God loves you, and He doesn’t want to punish you.”
I’ve heard “God loves me” all my life. But I’ll confess that I struggle terribly with actually believing that this is true. I look at myself, and I don’t know how he couldn’t be repulsed. How he couldn’t just be sick of me and my intentional ignorance of him.
But he doesn’t want to punish me? At first, I was honestly skeptical. But how could I deny that this is exactly what the coming of Christ proves. Not that I don’t deserve to be punished or rejected, but he doesn’t want to do it. He wants me in spite of it.
Doe the Nexte Thynge April 10, 2010
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A friend linked Justin Taylor’s post on this poem. God knows it’s exactly what I need to let sink in right now!
Doe the Nexte Thynge
Author Unknown
From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the doors the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: “DO THE NEXT THING.”
Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.
Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.
Looking for Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, do the next thing.
Thy Great Cathedral March 23, 2010
Posted by Jonathan in poetry.Tags: Amy Carmichael
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I couldn’t resist being outside today as much as possible. On the way home from work I heard this Amy Carmichael poem put to music. How fitting for the day. Here are the first two verses:
Thy Great Cathedral
By Amy Carmichael
Lord, here Thy great cathedral stands,
A house of God not made with hands.
High overhead the splendid roof
From trivial thoughts how far aloof,
And underfoot the lovely floor
Call us to wonder and adore.
Thy hand piled up these mighty walls,
Made for sweet music, streams and falls,
Filled it with birdsong, dressed with flower,
With ferns and moss and made it ours.
Oh, purify our praise that we
Who love Thee, Lord, may worship Thee.
An Hymne March 11, 2010
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By Phineas Fletcher (1582-1650)
Drop, drop, slow tears,
And bathe those beauteous feet,
Which brought from heav’n
The news and Prince of Peace.
Cease not, wet eyes,
His mercies to entreat;
To crie for vengeance:
Sinne doth never cease.
In your deep floods
Drown all my faults and fears;
Nor let His eye see
Sinne, but through my tears.
Redemption of talent November 24, 2009
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We were at Mildred’s Coffeehouse this morning, gathered around the old (and rather “distressed”) green table, enjoying the cookies that Gary’s wife made. Between drinks of coffee and praise over Tim’s newly acquired car, Troy shared some observations on Moses’ experience in the wilderness with God at the burning bush. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that Moses was 80 years old when God came to him. He probably thought his life was over, maybe a waste of whatever gifts God had given him, and yet he couldn’t imagine the amazing (and trying) journey that God had ahead of him.
I often feel that God gave me gifts that are nothing but unused potential: training or experiences or natural bents, abilities and talents. I know that I have indifferently allowed these tools to dull, not caring much at times, at times wanting different tools altogether. Moses reminded me that God is not a dispassionate spectator, lamenting my waste. He is a master craftsman. But he doesn’t just craft a person, wind me up, and hope I get where he wanted; he molds my entire path. “And we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
But all these are gifts of my God; I did not give them to myself. Moreover, they are good, and they all together constitute myself. Good, then, is he that made me, and he is my God; and before him will I rejoice exceedingly for every good gift which, even as a boy, I had. But herein lay my sin, that it was not in him, but in his creatures–myself and the rest–that I sought for pleasures, honors, and truths. And I fell thereby into sorrows, troubles, and errors. Thanks be to thee, my joy, my pride, my confidence, my God–thanks be to thee for thy gifts; but do thou preserve them in me. For thus wilt thou preserve me; and those things which thou hast given me shall be developed and perfected, and I myself shall be with thee, for from thee is my being.
The Confessions of Saint Augustine 1.19
Funny November 16, 2009
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Like the poem, not so sure about the typography. Get’s kinda redundant. But I don’t think it subtracts from the words.
Quote from Confessions November 8, 2009
Posted by Jonathan in resources.Tags: Augustine
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What art Thou then, my God? what, but the Lord God? For who is Lord but the Lord? or who is God save our God? Most highest, most good, most potent, most omnipotent; most merciful, yet most just; most hidden, yet most present; most beautiful, yet most strong; stable, yet incomprehensible; unchangeable, yet all-changing; never new, never old; all-renewing, and bringing age upon the proud, and they know it not; ever working, ever at rest; still gathering, yet nothing lacking; supporting, filling, and overspreading; creating, nourishing, and maturing; seeking, yet having all things. Thou lovest, without passion; art jealous, without anxiety; repenting, yet grievest not; art angry, yet serene; changest Thy works, Thy purpose unchanged; receivest again what Thou findest, yet didst never lose; never in need, yet rejoicing in gains; never covetous, yet exacting usury. Thou receivest over and above, that Thou mayest owe; and who hath aught that is not Thine? Thou payest debts, owing nothing; remittest debts, losing nothing. And what had I now said, my God, my life, my holy joy? or what saith any man when he speaks of Thee? Yet woe to him that speaketh not, since mute are even the most eloquent.
The Confessions of Saint Augustine 1.4
