Poverty, Part 2 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42 I remember learning about a phenomenon called the cycle of poverty in an undergraduate class in college. For me, it was a stunning revelation about how public efforts aimed at helping prevent … Continue reading Poverty, Part 2
Category: meditation
Poverty
Poverty Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20 I covered some impacts of poverty in my Life Notes on homelessness over the past few weeks. Certainly, homelessness is a subset of poverty, and many of the challenges of homelessness remain even after one becomes housed, but now … Continue reading Poverty
Homelessness, Part 5
Homelessness, Part 5 Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40 I have written that the homeless often expose the hypocrisy of Christian churches, particularly those located in areas where marginalized persons congregate, which … Continue reading Homelessness, Part 5
Homelessness, Part 4
Homelessness, Part 4 The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. Lamentations 3:19 (NRSV) Many churches, particularly downtown churches, face a challenging dilemma when it comes to the homeless. My own church is among them. There is no doubt … Continue reading Homelessness, Part 4
Homelessness, Part 3
Homelessness, Part 3 “Homelessness is associated with dereliction, dispossession, instability, rootlessness, restlessness, emptiness and chronic longing. The Book of Symbols [1] In considering the social pandemic of homelessness, it is interesting to explore the symbolism of houses and homes. Symbolically, a house often represents the container for the soul or the true self. In dreams, … Continue reading Homelessness, Part 3
Homelessness, Part 2
Homelessness, Part 2 “I like to think of this problem of homelessness as a prism held up to society, and what we see refracted are the weaknesses in our health care system, our public health system, our housing system, … our welfare system, our educational system, … our legal system, and our correctional system. Dr. … Continue reading Homelessness, Part 2
Homelessness
Homelessness “I like to think of this problem of homelessness as a prism held up to society, and what we see refracted are the weaknesses in our health care system, our public health system, our housing system, … our welfare system, our educational system, … our legal system, and our correctional system. Dr. Jim … Continue reading Homelessness
The New-Old Social Pandemic, Part 3
The New-Old Social Pandemic, Part 3 “I like to think of this problem of homelessness as a prism held up to society, and what we see refracted are the weaknesses in our health care system, our public health system, our housing system, but especially in our welfare system, our educational system, and our legal … Continue reading The New-Old Social Pandemic, Part 3
The New/Old Social Pandemic, Part 2
The New-Old Social Pandemic, Part 2 “’Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘…just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did … Continue reading The New/Old Social Pandemic, Part 2
The New/Old Social Pandemic
The New-Old Social Pandemic “’Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘…just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do … Continue reading The New/Old Social Pandemic
Contemplating Grace 