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Latest Activity
Grace CRC in GR was enabled to acquire the house next door in our old urban high transition neighborhood. That was a wonderful gift, and it stimulated some intense discussion and disagreement about whether we should even accept it, and if so how w...
one thing I've been thinking a lot about recently, and that is the question of what our deacons ought to be doing to help our congregations respond to the economic crisis. What shape does it take in our particular community? What problems are bein...
Our deacons have a free hand in setting our goals. What do you think ought to be our priorities?
Shameless plug alert: just wanting to make sure you all are aware of a great organization for you to support. A Rocha. http://www.arocha.org/us-en/index.html
I don't know of an organization that better addresses the issues we discuss in this grou...
Hello everyone -
I am working on a proposal for grant funds to continue to support our garden efforts locally. The granter that I am approaching wants to see us leverage their money with other money. We have local grants, donations in mind but I w...
Thanks, looks interesting. Going to share this with some folks.
You might want to watch the trailer for the sequel... http://www.bigriverfilm.com/
At Grace CRC (GR) we have given the deacons the primary responsibility for "outreach". I'm not a deacon myself, but my impression is that this is still a "work in progress". You've prompted me to explore this some more with my deacons.
Profile Information
- Location:
- NW Washington
- Church/School/Organization:
- Third CRC, Lynden
- Justice issues I'm interested in:
- Creation Care, War, Poverty, Overconsumption, Greed, Apathy..........................
Dave Timmer's Blog
A Scotland Review
This is a recent article I wrote for my church's newsletter after a small group of us returned from a mission/vision trip to a church in Glasgow, Scotland. A son of the church, who we support, is involved with a church plant there - we went to see this place we support, bless it, but as important...be blessed by it.
Here is a link to the church: http://www.rehope.co.uk/
I recognize there are some generalities in the article but it was an initial response to the trip. From a personal standpoint… Continue
Here is a link to the church: http://www.rehope.co.uk/
I recognize there are some generalities in the article but it was an initial response to the trip. From a personal standpoint… Continue
Posted on March 8, 2009 at 3:03pm —
A Guatemala Reflection
I wrote this awhile back for my church's newsletter after a group from my church visited Joel Van Dyke and his amazing work in Guatemala City. Cindy's post about Uganda reminded me of this cross-cultural experience and reminded me that these are experiences that need to be shared.
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The Guatemala City dump is like a slap across… Continue
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The Guatemala City dump is like a slap across… Continue
Posted on November 19, 2008 at 10:52pm — 2 Comments
Comment Wall (9 comments)
- At 2:00am on March 13, 2009,
VDB said… - OK
- At 11:21pm on December 15, 2008,
VDB said…
- Dave, thanks for the great questions.
I'll do my best with my answer:
How do we all get beyond "political bias"? I believe we should have one bias primarily and that should always be Jesus. He is the vine and there are many branches. But we must keep our focus always on Jesus.
And yes, we are political - by nature and this is not bad. Politics - like everything else - was, is and will be corrupted with sin. And we are to redeem it. Not just ivory tower public policy position papers - a la Association for Public Justice (there is a place for this, but it is only what it is) - but real in the trenches politics policy development and the political games required to bring about decisions in a pluralistic society at various levels. We all hold values and they are usually valid. Politics comes in when valid values compete. Say, for example, a State must decide where to place an airport, or a sewage plant, or a land-fill area. It has to go somewhere. The question is, where? Here is where politics comes in. We all know these sites will not end up in certain areas because some areas and their constituencies are more powerful than others. Power too is part of creation. And power is related to politics.
Even our families and workplaces deal with politics. Anyone who has taken a few sociology courses knows this. The question is, how do we love Jesus and each other in politics?
One thing we can do is to learn to make public decisions and discuss the politics to do that in a respectful way. There are tools. Debate and logic are among the tools, as well as parliamentary procedure. Sadly, these skills are rarely taught here in the States. I used to teach these at a Christian high school and practice these in the workplace in Canada. So, these are a few practical suggestions and we will not likely see the schools here in the States jumping to do this. Those of us with influence in school boards can advocate for these skills to be part of the curriculum.
This site is an incredible opportunity for us to practice vigorous debates with Christian love for each other. Will it be perfect? Not likely. Can we learn from each other? "Yes, we can!" :-)
You are right, Dave. Conservative vs. Liberal is superficial. The real debates we should be having and learning from together are deeper and go beyond stereotypes. We can expect and insist information from disinterested credible sources. And we could use logic and dare to change our minds when given overwhelming credible evidence and sound logic. And we can hold each other accountable when we stray from logic or biblical principles. We can remind each other of our presuppositions. And we can self-study - including disciplining ourselves to also read from sources that present alternative points of view from ours.
Finally, we can go outside of our comfort zones sometimes, perhaps by interacting and attempting conversations with people we would consider our "Samaratans" - a la Jesus going to the Well in Samaria and interacting with the Samaritan woman (the whore with many past husbands who became a missionary among her people for Jesus).
Yes, Dave, this is possible and necessary - now more than ever. We need this more than groupthink - that is not what God expects of us - I believe. We believe we are to be in the the world but not of it. We are to be involved in politics and to reclaim it all for Christ. We have a few models and there is obviously much to learn yet.
Last thought: we can remember that our brothers and sisters in politics or public policy development are our brothers and sisters - even when we disagree. We can remember to be humble and remember that even our best political moves are as filthy rags before the Lord. We can pray for His wisdom and strength and we can support each other in the good fight - even when w disagree on the details. Chances are, our ultimate goals are similar - i.e., justice, mercy, safety, freedom, etc. We probably have different strategies to get there - these strategies are based on our experiences, cultures, and biases, etc.
Your thoughts?
- At 7:19pm on December 14, 2008,
VDB said…
- Hi Dave -
Further to our conversation on the academy and the new forms that may replace much of it ove the next eight years: This, from Camille Paglia (Salon):
Dec. 10, 2008 | Roads and bridges! What joy. Last week's announcement by President-elect Barack Obama of his massive public works initiative to stimulate the economy won loud applause from me. Not only does the decaying U.S. infrastructure need emergency attention but construction commissions will be far more substantive and enduring than the half-mythical 5 million "green" jobs that Obama was airily promising before the election.
But then I gulped when Obama also pledged educational reform by putting state-of-the-art computers in every classroom. Groan. Computers alone will never solve the educational crisis in this country: They are tools and facilitators, not primary conveyors of knowledge. Packing his team with shiny Harvard retreads, Obama missed a golden opportunity to link his public works project with a national revalorization of the trades. Practical training in hands-on vocational skills is desperately needed in this country, where liberal arts education has become a soggy boondoggle, obscenely expensive and diluted by propaganda and groupthink.
Technology and the huge gap described in brief by Ms Paglia will likely lead to completely new forms of higher education - and even in the lower grades. My recently graudated daughter (now 18) completed her entire high school educaqtion - with a few technical courses as the exception - these were taken at a regional technical school - online. Online high school is already here in WA and in AZ - probably other states as well. It's already here and it will grow. This very site is an example of what some of these new forms may use.
Yes, this has its exciting and its troubling aspects, I agree. It will have to be sorted out and it will not be perfect - though it may be more intellectually diverse - again, not necessarily a bad thing and not always good either.
- At 1:32pm on December 13, 2008,
VDB said…
- Hi Dave -
In answer to your question about why would I be here when it appears that I am "stirring dissent" - which we both agree - is, as we've all heard for the past eight years,"patriotic": I was invited to participate several months ago by Mr. Andrew Ryskamp - a CRC leader - responding to observations that the site at that time appeared to have a certain political bias. I believe Marc Peterson was given a similar invitation - by Mr. Peter Vander Muelen. I say think and this is from my recollection of posts from the past. It was - apparently - the thought by those mentioned that a diversity of respectfully communicated opinions here would be a healthy thing - and not a negative thing. Hope you agree and I hope this answers your question.
- Your brother in Christ and your patriotic dissenting neighbor, VDB
- At 10:58am on November 30, 2008,
Cindy Verbeek said… - Hi Dave,
A church newsletter...I'm so jealous. I'm lucky if I can get a two liner in our church bulletin. I love writting too which might be why I appreciate it so much when people are so articulate. Anyway, I am the church and community group liaison as well as the Northern B.C. Rep for A Rocha. I am staff but only work 1.5 days a week right now because the rest of the time I am home with my young children. I hope to increase that in Sept 2009 when my youngest goes to Kindergarten. A split postion...I'm jealous again. Raising money for my salary is tough. I hope you are able to come up with that position because the more help on that front that the person can get the better. Anyway, I'd love to chat more. You can reach my regular email at cindy.verbeek (at) arocha.org Blessings to you in your important work. Cindy
- At 1:25pm on November 29, 2008,
Cindy Verbeek said…
- Hi Dave,
Your name came up in a conversation with a collegue Rick Faw yesterday. I'm glad you are part of this website. Cindy
- At 7:45pm on November 13, 2008,
Jeremy Heyboer said… - Thanks Dave. Great pictures. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe we voted an African American into office in 2008.
- At 12:54pm on November 5, 2008,
Jeremy Heyboer said…
- Friends of mine were at Grant Park last night. But with a 2 year old in bed and some other issues going on at home, my wife and I decided to stay home and watch it from the tv, though we couldn't have been more proud. Especially my wife, who grew up in Roseland and was one of 2 white girls in her class throughout all of elementary and middle school at Roseland Christian School. It was a profound moment for us in spite of the fact that I was cleaning the bathtub, releasing some nervous energy when she ran in to tell me Obama topped the 270 mark.
- At 9:32pm on October 26, 2008,
VDB said…
- Welcome Dave.
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