Comments on: When Good Intentions Lead To Bad Decisions

By: sTim

sTim — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:13:43 +0000

@GregQualls, that’s because Christians *should* drink beer. Or at least feel free to. Nothing to debate there!

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:27:05 +0000

I was just reading my friends blog at http://www.morethandodgeball.com and was reminded what the student ministry does out at Saddleback. They have containers set up all around campus to collect plastic bottles. They are able to purchase 1 Bible per every 10 Bottles recycled. Here is the link to a post talking about how they are gearing up to push the campaign during their Save the Planet Series this summer. http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=3748

Nicks last blog post..Small Steps to Making Huge Impacts

By: CJ Mills

CJ Mills — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:58:15 +0000

Had no idea about that Mars Hill deal – that’s crazy. I agree with Scott – business folks know how to maximize resources for the largest result.

CJ Millss last blog post..Asher And Adobe Lightroom

By: ScottMocha

ScottMocha — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:06:42 +0000

I realy thought that the post that would get you in trouble was the tampon post… lol

Check out what Mars Hill is doing about the water problem… http://www.marshill.org/water/

THEY are hiring scientists, they are contracting with agencies to find the cheapest ways to make the biggest splash (deliberate pun.)

I dig this, because it is treating the act of giving like business, where people are looking for ways to get the maximum impact from their giving. That is brilliance in action, and I have to confess it reminds me of the parable of the talents more than a lot of sermons I have heard on the topic.

ScottMochas last blog post..40 Day Fast 2008 – Viva Le Dieu (God Lives)

By: Small Steps to Making Huge Impacts « Nickcarnes.com

Small Steps to Making Huge Impacts « Nickcarnes.com — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:08:49 +0000

[...] new blog friend Brad Ruggles had this post and this post on his blog for the past couple of days. The conversations have been great, a little rough at [...]

By: Brad Ruggles

Brad Ruggles — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:43:21 +0000

Dang, and to think this whole conversation started with me picking up a bottle of water at Starbucks!

By: Read Scott

Read Scott — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:19:52 +0000

Holy cow. You have more commenters on a blog than I’ve ever seen. Except like Swerve or Los, this thing is exploding.

My biggest hangup with Ethos is that they are selling charity and laughing all the way to the bank.

By: jesse phillips

jesse phillips — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:08:41 +0000

may I suggest 3 things:

1) Missions giving is NOT the same as giving to help the third world. While I agree it’s more important to get ppl saved than to improve their standard of living, I do not equate what American Idol does with Missions giving. We need to be doing more of the American Idol thing, in my opinion, to get more ppl saved = they are still beating us.

2) Most of the money we tithe, goes to support buildings and programs and staff, and not meeting peoples’ physical needs, probably over 90%. No wonder the world sees us as uncaring and irrelevant.

3)the “C”hurch is not a tool. The whole body is the Church, not just a bunch of buildings and a very small number of pastors – although “churches” seem to be our only (maybe just the most visible?) expression of The Church.

I think “The Church” needs to stop relinquishing its responsibility to a small subset of Christians with flashy people skills and speaking abilities. – I agree with you, Nick.

This is a very serious and important issue to discuss.

jesse phillipss last blog post..Francis’ Crazy Building Project

By: GregQualls

GregQualls — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:53:07 +0000

Brad…I’m impressed you write about something as simple as buying a bottle of water and it turns into a huge controversy. I write about Christian’s needing to drink beer and I don’t even get this much of a response. NICE!!!

By: Brad Ruggles

Brad Ruggles — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:41:34 +0000

@Aaron – You’re right. There is a fine line between praising the missions efforts of the local church and becoming complacent and think we’re doing enough. Like you said, whether we like it or not the church is God’s vehicle to reach the lost. We can’t shoot the car in the tire because it’s not getting us there quick enough.

@Dean – you bring up a good point, people are complacent and want to feel good about themselves for giving to charities but don’t want the guilt of thinking too hard about it. Like you said, whether or not Ethos is giving as much as we think they should, at least they’re tapping into that market and giving something. $6.2 million isn’t too shabby.