The Unholy Family of Christmas (Part 1)

Artists depict the holy family of Christmas on everything from cards to pieces hung in galleries. One pose that has may variations shows Joseph standing with a staff and looking over Mary’s shoulder. Both of them are focused on their newborn lying in a manger. The scene is iconic and conveys a holy hush.

Mothers and fathers everywhere are photographed similarly holding their newborn in adoration and quiet amazement at this new life now in their lives. Though these poses also hold a sense of the sacred, only Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are called “the holy family.”

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Defending the System on the Christian Airwaves

Thanks to the technology of the internet I am able to listen to Christian radio from my home city of Chicago even while living in Chiapas, Mexico. Specifically, I listen to WMBI, the flagship station of the Moody Radio Network. On average I listen a couple hours a day and especially appreciate Chris Fabry who touches on deep issues of the human spirit and Nancy Turner who invites guests not ordinarily heard on the station.

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Ched Myers at JEM

Ched, in the red vest hand made in PalestineIt came on short notice, but for those 16 or so who heeded the email that Ched Myers of Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries was in town and had time to swing by the JEM office for an evening’s bible study with an eye to the situation in Palestine-Israel, it was quite a treat.

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Duchrow Assesses Global Economy

What should Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, or Hinduism be saying about global capitalism? That question is addressed by Ulrich Duchrow in the Winter, 2011, issue of Tikkun magazine—an excellent publication presenting perspectives from writers of many of the world’s religions.  Duchrow is a professor at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, where he specializes in theology-economic issues, dialoguing with many throughout his global, ecumenical activities. In 2004 and 2007, Jubilee Economics Ministries hosted Ulrich for a series of gatherings in both Southern California and Chicago. Kairos Europa also links you to some of the work Ulrich does with many colleagues in Europe.

The article in Tikkun includes a statement prepared for the May, 2011, International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica. The article concludes with “A Response to an Imagined Critic from North America.”

Look Out Justin Bieber! JEM is on YouTube!

Yesterday Lee Van Ham was interviewed by T.C. Porter of Adams Avenue Crossing, a unique dirt-under-the-fingernails ministry effort in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego (where the JEM office is located). Lee addresses a number of questions that help introduce the historical/theological background of the Jubilee economics model, and considers what embracing jubilee means for the disciple who is called to live according to this model that stands in contrast to the model used by the superpowers and empires of the world.

So look out Justin Bieber! Lee might be the next YouTube star with all the videos popping up lately on YouTube. Have you seen the JEM channel, JubEcoMin? It is our YouTube channel featuring our own uploads, and footage from allied groups on a similar path. Lee is guest preaching for four weeks at the African-American congregation at Southeast Presbyterian Church in San Diego. We’ll get as much of that footage as we can. You can find the first week’s sermon among our uploads on the YouTube channel.

Metanoia Newsletter, November 2008

Download the November 2008 newsletter here. PDF format.

Features:

• Our current economic crisis
• Fear-based human economy versus a faith-based divine economy
• Comments on Reading the Bible Economically
• The perfect holiday gift