Coming Challenges in the Global Economy

I realize that most of you do not live in the Seattle area but for those that do I would like to extend an invitation to join us for the first of MSA’s new Turbulent Times–Ready or Not! Conversation Series.  We are planning to record the event so those of you who are not able [...]

Are the Turbulent Times Already Here?

Tom & I arrived in Sydney yesterday and are still fighting to get our clocks turned around.  The weather here is warm and balmy.  Quite a contrast to Seattle where it was heading towards winter temperatures and rain when we left on Tuesday.  The fact that it is now Friday is hard to believe.  Going [...]

Turbulent Times: Ready or Not

We leave this afternoon for Australia – the house sitter has moved in (well more of a dog sitter actually as Bonnie told us she does not like being alone) and are furiously working to get our contributions for the MSA Seed Sampler done – as well as working on powerpoint presentations for all our [...]

What Will The Future Hold?

Summer is drawing to a close, and it seems to me that the end of the year is moving towards us at a very rapid clip.  The MSA team has begun a series of discernment sessions to try and shape at least some of what we focus on over the next couple of years.  As [...]

Lent – Finding Freedom in the Desert

Over the weekend I read through Thomas Merton’s book Seasons of Celebration an interesting little book that looks at the meaning of the liturgy and the liturgical seasons.  One line in particular stood out for me
…the People (of God) first came into existence when the children of Israel were delivered from slavery in Egypt and called [...]

Eating on $2 a day

Yesterday I mentioned that a number of people have commented that they cannot eat nutritious food on $2/person/day especially with kids.  Most of them I suspect have never even tried, some I know have never cooked from scratch before and don’t know what to do.  If you are still struggling with whether or how to [...]

Generosity not fear

Check out this great post with a poem on Generosity and Fear by Todd Hierstand.
We are living in a time where fear and despair are the overwhelming attitudes. Whether we’re talking about our personal financial situations or our national financial situation or our world’s financial situation these attitudes are prevalent. Fear. Despair.
But as those who [...]

Deepening Recession Ready Or Not

MSA is getting ready to host another brainstorming session to help provide resources for churches that want to be God’s compassionate response to those who are suffering from the deeepening recession.  We are hoping to produce a video presentation as well as written resources from this session but to make this a sucessful we need [...]

Tough Choices for the hungry

In view of our concerns about recession responsiveness here is an interesting and very sobering article from CNN

Story Highlights

More than 1 in 10 Americans are part of the federal food assistance program
Some people say it is hard or impossible to make ends meet, even with help
President Obama’s economic stimulus plan could increase [...]

Are You Recession Ready?

Tom has just had an article on Recession Readiness published in Leadership Journal
Mustard Seed Associates hosted our first ever Recession Preparedness Brainstorming Session here in Seattle.
We have been concerned about a possible economic downturn since 2007. In fact, I met with the administration and board of a leading evangelical college in January 2008, urging them [...]