Comments on: Eight Dollar Hot Dog http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/ theology. church. culture. life. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:10:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Marv http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3461 Marv Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:02:10 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3461 There is a website (www.generousgiving.org) that provides substantial information on how blessed Americans and Christians are and how little we give to meet the needs of the poor. I recommend that anyone interested in this subject consult that site for some very interesting and sobering data. There is a website (www.generousgiving.org) that provides substantial information on how blessed Americans and Christians are and how little we give to meet the needs of the poor. I recommend that anyone interested in this subject consult that site for some very interesting and sobering data.

]]> By: Larry F. http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3460 Larry F. Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:55:33 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3460 No worries! I didn't think you were being hard. I, in fact, agree with what you say. We are blessed beyond belief in this country (at least financially) and should give far more thought to how we spend our money than we do. No worries! I didn’t think you were being hard. I, in fact, agree with what you say. We are blessed beyond belief in this country (at least financially) and should give far more thought to how we spend our money than we do.

]]> By: Joe Thorn http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3459 Joe Thorn Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:22:31 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3459 Larry, I hope you can tell I am not trying to be hard here (thus the winky-smiley-face-thingy). So, I don't think that was Chris's point. Nor do I believe he was trying to use guilt as a motivator. He was sharing his own sense of burden, while affirming the blessings he enjoys as an American. I think his point was to call us to consider our wealth and opportunities to serve/help. The stats on America point to so many things we are willing to spend our money on, but too few Americans personally seek help those who are suffering - especially those in other contexts. Also, it is possble to solve the "water crisis" in particular areas. It is happening right now. Relatively small ammounts of money can provide fresh water for villages in need. So, while we "will always have the poor" with us, and while corrupt government will exist until the Kingdom of God comes in full and eliminates every other kingdom, we can (especially as the church) serve the world with the gospel in word and deed. I think some who do not know Chris assume a bit too much about him or his ideology via a very short video-thought. We need to evaluate what he, or anyone says, but be charitable toward him in light of the format. Just my thoughts. Larry, I hope you can tell I am not trying to be hard here (thus the winky-smiley-face-thingy). So, I don’t think that was Chris’s point. Nor do I believe he was trying to use guilt as a motivator. He was sharing his own sense of burden, while affirming the blessings he enjoys as an American. I think his point was to call us to consider our wealth and opportunities to serve/help. The stats on America point to so many things we are willing to spend our money on, but too few Americans personally seek help those who are suffering – especially those in other contexts.

Also, it is possble to solve the “water crisis” in particular areas. It is happening right now. Relatively small ammounts of money can provide fresh water for villages in need. So, while we “will always have the poor” with us, and while corrupt government will exist until the Kingdom of God comes in full and eliminates every other kingdom, we can (especially as the church) serve the world with the gospel in word and deed.

I think some who do not know Chris assume a bit too much about him or his ideology via a very short video-thought. We need to evaluate what he, or anyone says, but be charitable toward him in light of the format. Just my thoughts.

]]> By: Larry F. http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3458 Larry F. Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:10:05 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3458 Joe, perhaps I am missing the point that you got out of this but I see this guy talking about 'solving the water crisis' or 'solving the food crisis' implying that those things wouldn't exist if we here in the West only spent less on makeup. That's simply sillly. Those crises are not caused by lack of resources in most cases but by a host of other things. The amount of money this country sends to other countries out of the public trough each year is astronomical to say the least. If these problems could be solved by money, they would have been already. I guess that is what I was reacting to. Again, I'm not denying the Biblical mandate to be good stewards and to help the poor, something all of us can do a better job of. I was just put off by this guy's approach. Joe, perhaps I am missing the point that you got out of this but I see this guy talking about ‘solving the water crisis’ or ‘solving the food crisis’ implying that those things wouldn’t exist if we here in the West only spent less on makeup. That’s simply sillly. Those crises are not caused by lack of resources in most cases but by a host of other things. The amount of money this country sends to other countries out of the public trough each year is astronomical to say the least. If these problems could be solved by money, they would have been already. I guess that is what I was reacting to.

Again, I’m not denying the Biblical mandate to be good stewards and to help the poor, something all of us can do a better job of. I was just put off by this guy’s approach.

]]> By: Joe Thorn http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3457 Joe Thorn Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:24:07 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3457 Uhhh. Thanks for missing the point Larry ;) Uhhh. Thanks for missing the point Larry ;)

]]> By: Larry F. http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3456 Larry F. Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:56:39 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3456 This reminded me of one of those 'Christian Children's Fund' commercials designed to use emotion and anecdotal data to get you to respond to their plea for money. We're certainly called to be good stewards of the resources God has given us but we cannot save the world. Only God can do that. We should choose one or two ministries who are about God's business and then do all we can to support them rather than heaping liberal guilt on ourselves all the time due to the disparities which exist between ourselves and other nations. As has been pointed out, these are often due to corrupt political systems in these countries (among other things, all of which are beyond our control). BTW, we're most assuredly not all children of God. We're all made in God's image but only those who know Him in a saving way are His children. Again, not an excuse for poor stewardship but we don't need to make appeals like this using faulty theology. This reminded me of one of those ‘Christian Children’s Fund’ commercials designed to use emotion and anecdotal data to get you to respond to their plea for money. We’re certainly called to be good stewards of the resources God has given us but we cannot save the world. Only God can do that. We should choose one or two ministries who are about God’s business and then do all we can to support them rather than heaping liberal guilt on ourselves all the time due to the disparities which exist between ourselves and other nations. As has been pointed out, these are often due to corrupt political systems in these countries (among other things, all of which are beyond our control).

BTW, we’re most assuredly not all children of God. We’re all made in God’s image but only those who know Him in a saving way are His children. Again, not an excuse for poor stewardship but we don’t need to make appeals like this using faulty theology.

]]> By: Tim Ellsworth » Blog Archive » Book review: “The Total Money Makeover,” by Dave Ramsey http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3455 Tim Ellsworth » Blog Archive » Book review: “The Total Money Makeover,” by Dave Ramsey Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:18:10 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3455 [...] use those resources wisely. You shouldn’t go out spending money on stuff just because you can. A video that Joe Thorn posted a couple of weeks ago has application here. I’d encourage you to watch [...] [...] use those resources wisely. You shouldn’t go out spending money on stuff just because you can. A video that Joe Thorn posted a couple of weeks ago has application here. I’d encourage you to watch [...]

]]> By: Rob http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3454 Rob Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:53:38 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3454 Recently I heard someone say that when Evangelical Christians think about what the Bible has to say about poverty, they most typically think of Jesus' words to his disciples: "you will always have the poor with you." Somehow, we think those words let us off the hook. How infuriating that must be to God. Thanks for posting this. I probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Recently I heard someone say that when Evangelical Christians think about what the Bible has to say about poverty, they most typically think of Jesus’ words to his disciples: “you will always have the poor with you.” Somehow, we think those words let us off the hook.

How infuriating that must be to God.

Thanks for posting this. I probably wouldn’t have seen it otherwise.

]]> By: Joe Thorn http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3453 Joe Thorn Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:45:59 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3453 Thanks Brian. Thanks Brian.

]]> By: Brian in Fresno http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3452 Brian in Fresno Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:11:41 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2007/06/10/eight-dollar-hot-dog/#comment-3452 Cool! I don't know him at all so I don't know where he stood on this. So many people seem to be naive and just want to help the poor and go about it in ways that actually make it worse for them. By the way, I seriously love your photography. You do very good work. Cool! I don’t know him at all so I don’t know where he stood on this. So many people seem to be naive and just want to help the poor and go about it in ways that actually make it worse for them.

By the way, I seriously love your photography. You do very good work.

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