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Derek Drenth october blog

I don’t know anyone who got back recently from a trip but I know someone who is leaving soon... Rereading journals is fun and cool to see what was all written. One major lesson: that is impossible there are too many. Mission statement: I want to be committed to being the hands and feet of God in loving the world through providing materially, emotionally, and spiritually for others. My mentor and I concluded that God is constant in every culture and does the same things but can work in different… Continue

Added by Derek Drenth on November 6, 2009 at 10:12pm — No Comments

Kate Kooyman Belhar in your congregation?

Curious which congregations are engaging with the Belhar confession, as Synod encouraged, and in what way. Sermon series? Sunday school classes? Guest speakers? What's happening that you're aware of in the CRCNA to wrestle with this important confession? Continue

Added by Kate Kooyman on November 6, 2009 at 1:26pm — No Comments

Micah Schuurman House Evictions in East Jerusalem

This video is worth watching. The Palestinians build houses illegally because it is almost impossible for them to get building permits. They build anyways (sometimes it is only an addition to their existing house) and then get evicted. In such cases, either the house gets bulldozed or Jewish Settlers move into the house. This is one of the clearest examples of racism in the state of Israel. It amounts to ethnic cleansing. I… Continue

Added by Micah Schuurman on November 4, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Micah Schuurman Thoughtful Intervew of Richard Goldstone by Bill Moyers.

In this incredible interview, Moyers asks all the tough questions. He doesn't pull any punches. He lays out all the arguments against Goldstone's report on the investigation into war crimes in the war between Israel and Gaza last winter. Please, take 50 minutes to watch it. Here is the link. Continue

Added by Micah Schuurman on November 3, 2009 at 1:51pm — 3 Comments

Tracy Young Calling Christian School Teachers!

The Office of Social Justice is excited to share the CRC Teachers' Lounge with you - a place for Christian K-12 educators to access justice-related resources for the classroom, share ideas and lessons plans, and give one another support. Last spring, GR Christian High School teacher Jane Hilbrands came to the OSJ with a great observation and a question. The CRC, she noted, has so ma… Continue

Added by Tracy Young on November 2, 2009 at 3:39pm — No Comments

Micah Schuurman Israel expands its land grab

Here is an article from the Washington Post. This time, Israel is claiming that they cannot give up the Jordan Valley. Once again, the Israeli government is claiming that it is for security purposes. Benjamin Netanyahu said that the 1967 borders are "indefensible." I'm not sure what he is talking about. Israel defended herself pretty well in the 1967 war. Furthermore,… Continue

Added by Micah Schuurman on November 1, 2009 at 11:42pm — 2 Comments

Marc Peterson Economic Justice?

The media tries helping the administration out by signaling an end to the recession as in this report; "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in more than a year as government stimulus helped lift consumer spending and home building, fueling an unexpectedly strong advance. Signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years, the Commerce Department on Thursday said the economy expanded at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the July-September peri… Continue

Added by Marc Peterson on October 30, 2009 at 9:10am — 2 Comments

Micah Schuurman Water

Gaza water crisis. West Bank water crisis. Regarding the second article, the Israeli official isn't telling the complete truth. Israel is in complete control of the water systems in the West Bank from beginning to end. The Palestinians are not mismanaging their water because they DON'T manage their water... Israel does. Continue

Added by Micah Schuurman on October 27, 2009 at 12:30pm — 5 Comments

Meghan Kraley The Manufactured Financial Crisis

Introduction Keith Oosthoek is a brother in the Reformed faith who has been a leader in the banking industry in Canada for almost four decades. We invited him to initiate a discussion on justiceseekers that could help us to have a dialog that is informed, educational, and charitable. He graciously accepted this invitation, and his essay follows (attachment). Says Keith, “I am a person with 38 years in the banking industry and my views are practical -- from a sinner who loves Jesus, but n… Continue

Added by Meghan Kraley on October 21, 2009 at 4:22pm — 2 Comments

Micah Schuurman Capital Punishment

I wrote this two years ago while at Dordt. I presented the paper in a panel discussion. Any thoughts? Suppose for a moment that there are no problems with implementing capital punishment. Suppose that the death penalty is not biased against minorities. Suppose that it does not discriminate against the poor. In other words, imagine a world where the death penalty is completely just. What does the “ideal” use of capital punishment look like? It looks something like this. A man commits murder. The… Continue

Added by Micah Schuurman on October 18, 2009 at 2:44am — No Comments

Pat Jewett Where do you stand on Public Healthcare?

I'm struggling with the whole public funding of medical insurance or citizen insurance debate. On the one hand, I see the need for people who can not otherwise afford insurance to be given the chance to get coverage. On the other hand, is it fair to place this burden on everyone else? I am leaning toward support of… Continue

Added by Pat Jewett on October 17, 2009 at 11:30pm — 1 Comment

Karen Bokma Action for Sri Lanka

For more than 30 years, civil war has raged in northern Sri Lanka. This past May there was a dramatic increase in violence as the Sri Lankan government attempted to reclaim the last stronghold of the Tamil Tigers in the North. In May of 2009 the government declared victory; there was no victory, however, for the countless families who were uprooted from their homes as a result of the violence. CRWRC has been active in Sri Lanka since 2005 and, by working through local partner, was able to respon… Continue

Added by Karen Bokma on October 16, 2009 at 2:39pm — No Comments

Cindy Fallsen Poverty Rescue

I live in a city that has a 34% poverty rate. Our church has been hosting OPT (Overcoming Poverty Together) groups to aid in this dilemma. The circle groups are finding the largest challenges finding some sort of affordable Dental insurance. Perhaps even some sort of Short term insurance would be beneficial in many… Continue

Added by Cindy Fallsen on October 7, 2009 at 5:08pm — 1 Comment

Kate Kooyman What DOES the Bible say about immigration?

Earlier in the week, our OSJ twitter feed posted this paper from the Center for Immigration Studies, which is the policy arm of NumbersUSA. Both CIS and NumbersUSA were founded by John Tanton, a known white supremacist, who also founded the Federation for American Immigration Reform (designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center). Needless to say, their Biblical Perspective is not our perspective at OSJ. Danny Carro… Continue

Added by Kate Kooyman on October 6, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Micah Schuurman Iran

I just read a story from the NY Times saying that Iran has agreed to send most of it's nuclear fuel to Russia. I also came across this blog which has some really good answers to some of the uninformed notions that I myself used to believe. Food for thought. Continue

Added by Micah Schuurman on October 1, 2009 at 9:49pm — 10 Comments

Derek Drenth blog september 09

The parts of the experience that I remember the most are: -worshipping in Ugandan churches -visiting vulnerable people -visiting the hospital in Kabale -seeing genocide memorials -working with Ugandan team members These memories tell me that I enjoy and benefit from working and worshipping with people that are different from me and that I have a heart of compassion for the oppressed. I hope to be able to use these gifts to further God’s Kingdom, but in all honesty, I have no idea what I should… Continue

Added by Derek Drenth on September 30, 2009 at 9:08pm — 1 Comment

Meghan Kraley Five days left to enter our song-writing contest. Prize money totals $1000!

The Office of Social Justice, Reformed Worship, and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship are accepting original songs on the topic of justice. Musical skills not required! Lyric-only submissions are also eligible. For more information on judging criterion and submission details, visit http://www.crcna.org/pages/songcontest.cfm. Hurry - the deadline is October 1. Apply soon! Continue

Added by Meghan Kraley on September 25, 2009 at 10:41am — No Comments

Cindy Fallsen Mission Trip to Central America

My church has been considering doing a work camp next year. We have checked out several travel agents to arrange the details. Atlas travel has set up a trip to Central America for us, but we are unsure if it is safe. We are also concerned about the medical services there. One person in our group had Heart surgery… Continue

Added by Cindy Fallsen on September 23, 2009 at 2:00pm — 1 Comment

Derek Drenth august

1. Major observation: service learning trip where we worked on projects, experienced, and lived the local lifestyle and shared God’s love with the community 2. What I would do differently: longer trip, different country (so that it is more of a cross-cultural experience for the Ugandan youth as well) 3. What went well: EVERYTHING. Enough said. 4. What I benefited: interdependency, selflessness, strengthened relationship with God, value of community and friends, God is in control, listening, adva… Continue

Added by Derek Drenth on September 20, 2009 at 9:54pm — 1 Comment

Micah Schuurman Core issues relating to the future of Israelis and Palestinians.

The best description that I have found that seeks to describe Israel's goals is this: Israel wants to be democratic, it wants to be Jewish and it wants to keep the "historical land." The first two goals are pretty self explanatory. But, the third might require some explaining. Ultra-Orthodox Jews often refer to the West Bank as "Judea and Samaria." They want to retain control over the land which used to belong to the historic nation of Israel as found in the Old Testament. Not all Israelis care… Continue

Added by Micah Schuurman on September 16, 2009 at 2:30pm — 17 Comments

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