2/12/17 Added Updates

Ran out of room for the tags so starting a second page.

Refugee Crisis

Good comments (as usual?) from Ed Stetzer:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/01/26/evangelicals-we-cannot-let-alternative-facts-drive-u-s-refugee-policy/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.1174a3666755

21st Century Race and the Church

What too many of us may miss in our "white privilege:"

 https://thedisciplemaker.org/your-healthy-conversation-on-race-starts-here/

Moral Courage and Political Pluralism

Incredibly important long program on the ways too many are disdaining those they disagree with--and why this is so dangerous to our society.

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/02/15/mpr_news_presents


Frugality and Long Term Savings

Here are two great calculations to keep in mind, even if it isn't clear what interest rates are assumed:

From now on, to calculate any expense long-term, use these two formulas (borrowed from this post):

• To calculate a weekly expense compounded over ten years, multiply the price by 752.
• For a monthly expense, multiply by 173.

https://qz.com/913249/the-practical-steps-it-takes-to-actually-become-a-millionaire/?utm_source=atlfb

Payday Lending and Phoenix Churches Responding

 Interesting to see that the "Surge" group is a group of churches working with Reformed Theological Seminary-Dallas!

https://www.cpjustice.org/public/page/content/pjr_dcc_loving_our_neighbors_through_politics


"Cost Disease"

Even when adjusted for inflation, some things (all education costs, not just college tuition for example) are just growing way too fast.

http://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/09/considerations-on-cost-disease/?utm_source=New+Daily+Newsletter+Subscribers&utm_campaign=2d88a5c89f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_02_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4675a5c15f-2d88a5c89f-81832257

Olmsted County in 1985

Fascinating vintage planning video from 1965.

https://vimeo.com/115804095

2/12/17 Updates

The tabs on my Firefox have been increasing lately, as I delayed putting this list together so I can close the articles for later reading. I'm trying to keep the Trump-related posts to a minimum, but there are a few that must be saved for reference.

First David Gerson. Two great takes:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-best-fortnight-in-a-decade-for-conservatives-uh-oh/2017/02/06/93e2f1aa-ec9a-11e6-9973-c5efb7ccfb0d_story.html?utm_term=.3fd1359edf2c&wpisrc=nl_opinions&wpmm=1

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/gorsuchs-so-called-weakness-is-really-his-greatest-strength/2017/02/02/8ca168ce-e96e-11e6-bf6f-301b6b443624_story.html?utm_term=.ef49429c54d3&wpisrc=nl_opinions&wpmm=1



Legal but Immoral; Moral but Illegal

Lessons from Uncle Tom's Cabin:

https://bobonbooks.com/2017/02/09/legal-but-immoral-moral-but-illegal/

How to read 200 books a year--Really!

https://qz.com/895101/in-the-time-you-spend-on-social-media-each-year-you-could-read-200-books/

Who are Deacons?

Two great pieces by David Apple:

http://network.crcna.org/deacons/who-are-deacons

http://network.crcna.org/deacons/deacons-must-equip-members-service

Helen Keller--dissident radical?

Great article here:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/the-radical-dissent-of-helen-keller

Strengthening Communities

Several excellent articles here, on keeping communities strong in our changing times:

http://www.bruderhof.com/en/voices-blog/justice/community-building-at-the-firehouse

 http://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/tool-kits-resources/info-2016/where-we-live-communities-for-all-ages.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/aarp/a-communitys-best-tool-toward-change-its-residents/1175/?sr_source=lift_facebook

Transportation is also a part of building community strength

http://www.curbed.com/2017/1/24/14361030/best-cities-public-transportation-light-rail-bus

...and affordable housing is a part--of course!

http://www.startribune.com/poverty-series-highlights-importance-of-affordable-housing-community-building-strategies/408862215/?ref=nl&om_rid=AALNYM&om_mid=_BYa6$mB8xYFAck

Then there is "quality of place:"

http://www.citylab.com/design/2016/12/why-quality-of-place-matters/509876/?utm_source=SFFB

There are advantages to small towns!

http://www.startribune.com/opportunity-grows-out-of-small-town-america/386364241/


Racial Segregation Today--and Its Ongoing Impact

This is a 51 page document but worth perusing

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ccf_20170116_racial_segregation_and_health_matthew_reeves2.pdf

Finally--Abortion 

This is an excellent summary

https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/kevindeyoung/2017/01/18/9-myths-about-abortion-rights-and-roe-v-wade/

1/3/17 Highlights

More on Affordable Housing and Inequality within Communities

Looks like these will be important, related, topics again this year.

http://www.startribune.com/poverty-series-highlights-importance-of-affordable-housing-community-building-strategies/408862215/?ref=nl&om_rid=AALNYM&om_mid=_BYa6$mB8xYFAck


http://www.citylab.com/housing/2016/12/battling-inequality-seattle-bets-on-transit-oriented-housing/510599/?utm_source=SFFB


What is "middle class?"

An important question in relation to housing--affordable for what part of the population?

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/05/what-does-middle-class-even-mean/392471/?utm_source=atlfb


Catchment ponds and other costs to cities for building

Good discussion related to fees for new construction:

http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/who-s-watching-the-water/article_f91b6ef1-dab6-5680-99b7-5bf704f8facc.html

Historical heroes and preaching

Two interesting takes on a totoally different topic:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2017/02/heroes-of-the-faith-true-but-not-accurate/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=BRSS&utm_campaign=Evangelical&utm_content=248

"...the success of the church, often intertwined with the prosperity of the nation or the ruling social group, did not build the kingdom. These are the historical lessons we need to hear. Certainly, we should be inspired by the convictions and selfless action of modern saints. But we must also own up to the fact that those extraordinarily bold figures were just that: extraordinary. Compelling stories of believers standing against injustice and oppression are – unfortunately – the exception rather than the rule in the church’s 20th-century history. An accurate history lesson from the pulpit would remind us that most Christians, and their leaders, have set aside the gospel for the security of the church and the greatness of the nation."

And this, on immigration attitudes over the years:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2017/02/spreading-faith-lessons-us-history/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=BRSS&utm_campaign=Evangelical&utm_content=248