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At least 370 parties scheduled for party conventions

At least 370 Parties Scheduled for the Democratic and Republican Parties
Despite New Ethics Law, Lawmakers & Lobbyists Party On

WASHINGTON, DC — As part of its about-to-be-launched Party Time project, the Sunlight Foundation has obtained lists of 370 parties and events scheduled for the Democratic and Republican conventions, sponsored by the likes of Bank of America, the Distilled Spirits Council, Eli Lilly, AT&T, and Anheuser Busch.

Compiled by a top Washington lobbying firm, Quinn Gillespie & Associates, the lists show how partying will continue at the conventions despite the new ethics law, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (HOGLA), which prohibits lobbyists from throwing parties honoring specific
lawmakers. The DNC list is available at http://tinyurl.com/6pm4lo and the RNC list is online at http://tinyurl.com/6ew8rf.
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Remembering Hiroshima — 63 years later

From e-mail:

I invite you to join Faithful Security in prayers of remembrance marking the 63rd anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima, today, and Nagasaki, on Saturday.

If your community holds a prayer vigil or education session or other activity, send a picture and/or a short description – I’ll post them on our website and they can provide ideas for others next year. One inspiring story I read recently was “Novenas to disarm the world” about Ms. Fatima Portugal and St. Charles Borromeo Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

As I’ve been reflecting on the atomic bombings, a news story on sick nuclear weapons workers caught my attention in late July. While thinking about the only times nuclear weapons have been used in war and the devastating long-term health consequences for those who managed to survive initially, this news story on U.S. workers left me shaking my head.

The Rocky Mountain Times special report draws attention to what is a matter of justice: fair care and compensation for impacted workers, some of whom were not alerted to the dangers even when the federal government knew of increased risks of health problems. For example, there is a story in the report on Navajo uranium miners: “Ten thousand Navajo men mined uranium for America’s atomic bombs. The U.S. government knew early on that uranium could cause lung damage. But instead of warning the Navajo miners, the government decided to study what happened to them.”

On this anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, may your remembrances and reflections renew your commitment to engage our government with a clear message: Never again.

T.C. Morrow, Communications Officer

Anyone doing anything this week to remember those killed 63 years ago – along with those left to dealt with the aftermath? I’d love to hear what yall are doing?

Tribal Life

I spoke to my tribe yesterday and encouraged them to think about new ways to express & understand Christian community. (You can listen to the message online via the encounter website.)

Got one comment about me turning into Karl Marx – but I think it was in jest and if that’s the worst they can say… it was a good day ;-).

As I think more and more about my tribe, and Christian community other thoughts are crossing my mind.

I keep asking myself this same question, “So what does this tribe, this community, this oneness look like?” As I mentioned yesterday, “I’m not entirely sure — especially in modern America.”

But I do know this ::

Jesus told his disciples, “By this all men will know you are my disciple — if you love one another.” — John 13:34 & 35.

Seems that Christian brotherhood and sisterhood and community and unity were very big on Jesus’ plan/plate.

In the Hebrew Scriptures we read about the “tribes of Israel.”ï¿½ The 12 tribes whom God called upon to be different in their culture. To be set apart. To be unique.

He calls them to accept the foreigner into their homes.

He calls them to ignore the idol worship of their neighbors.

He calls them to put their trust in Yahweh rather than in a king, or a Pharaoh or a President.

He calls them to honor the Sabbath — a day you set aside all your business of the 24/7 consumerism and focus on God — the creator of it all.

And so the Hebrews get very accustomed to this calling of being “separate” from the world (not that anyone’s ever really figured that out).

And then Jesus shows up on the earth and starts telling everyone that he was forming a new tribe.

A tribe where the Hebrews would join together with the Gentiles. No wonder they got upset and had him killed. That in and of itself could be considered blasphemy.

A tribe for all who were baptized into Christ and have clothed themselves with Christ.

Where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

It’s a radical idea and I believe it calls for radical changes in our thinking and behavior.

When the tribe succeeds – everyone succeeds!

the rule of life…

It is the Christians, O Emperor, who have sought and found the truth, for they acknowledge God.

They do not keep for themselves the goods entrusted to them.

They do not covet what belongs to others. They show love to their neighbors.

They do not do to another what they would not wish to have done to themselves.

They speak gently to those who oppress them, and in this way they make them friends.

It has become their passion to do good to their enemies.

They live in the awareness of their smallness.

Every one of them who has anything gives ungrudgingly to the one who has nothing.

If they see a traveling stranger, they bring him under their roof.

They rejoice over him as over a real brother, for they do not call one another brothers after the flesh, but they know they are brothers in the Spirit and in God.

If they hear that one of them is imprisoned or oppressed for the sake of Christ, they take care of his needs.

If possible they set him free.

If anyone among them is poor or comes into want while they themselves have nothing to spare, they fast two or three days for him.

In this way they can supply any poor man with the food he needs.

This, O Emperor is the rule of life of the Christians, this is their manner of life. — Asistides 137 AD

Duncan McFadzean talks about micro-financing

I’m editing and listening to the next Something Beautiful Podcast – version 1.10!

Version 1.10 is a great interview that Thomas did with Duncan McFadzean who’s wrapping up his career in the secular finance world to head a start-up ministry – Seven Men. The ministry is based around micro-financing and supporting the marginalized.

From the Seven Men site:

Seven Men Limited is a new vehicle created to launch, invest in, and nurture small businesses for the purpose of bringing freedom, justice and restoration to the city of Edinburgh and around the world.

By launching a series of businesses across a range of sectors, Seven Men Limited will seek to create a sustainable flow of profits that can be used for good.

Great stuff! Thanks to Thomas for getting the interview and sharing Duncan’s story with us.

While surfing Duncan’s site I was also intrigued by his page “Understandings.” Probably the best way to describe the page is a “statement of faith.” Looking over the page I love the ways hes worded his beliefs and written them in a great manor. I may have to sit down and write a similar page…

Today actually marks Duncan’s last day at the Bank of Scottland – so have a listen to the podcast and then drop by his site and wish him luck on his new ministry and outreach.

Interesting too that this podcast will go live the same day I twittered this:

related ::
something beautiful podcast
duncan mcfadzean’s blog
seven men
wikipedia :: microfinance
my twitter feed

justice is what love looks like — in public

27 million people still live in slavery. TODAY.
whare are you going to do about it?

call + response coming in fall 2008:

Category: take action

At least 370 parties scheduled for party conventions

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Remembering Hiroshima — 63 years later

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Tribal Life

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the rule of life…

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Duncan McFadzean talks about micro-financing

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justice is what love looks like — in public

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