1) The rice analogy. First with a 1 lb bag of rice representing 24,000 lives lost to poverty and suffering. And then secondly, the 1 hiroshima bomb, that killed 100,000 + people * 122,000 bombs currently in the US armament. Based on those numbers, the US could wipe out all of God’s creation – TWICE. The tricky question is, how do you persuade a country who became the wealthiest in the world because of war, to lay down their weapons? I sure hope Shane and friends have more speeches lined up, I hope Obama bridges partisan politics and enacts change, and I hope we can do something. Anything to bring peace.

2) Average Wage inequity analogy. I like how Shane illustrated a positive trending when he said: “what’s so exciting is that that world is starting to go: ‘i’m not so sure the world can afford that dream… maybe God has a different dream than the American dream, or the Canadian dream, maybe, maybe GOD has a different dream in mind, that is actually going to set the opressed free.” I like the Canadian shout-out for all those who went down to Urbana. But in all seriousness, I’m not convinced the world is starting to “wake up” from the american or canadian dream… economic bubbles and busts always make our attitudes about money change. Yes, the economy is shrinking. Yes, consolidation of industries, bank bailouts, company re-organizations, down-sizing of workforce, and executive bonus claw-backs, have been making headlines recently… but just because the economy is shriking and our sentiment for high-earning individuals has been exacerbated recently, does not eliminate our personal innate want for more. In the end, people are designed with greed. We always want more. UNTIL we can truly find a selfless way of living, or at least get on the path to love our neighbours more… The money markets will continue to sway in peaks and valleys, and we’re just going to hold onto our wallets tight, and go along for the ride.

I don’t mean to be a cynic, but we need practical ways to be more like a community and less like individuals before any of God’s dreams can be lived on earth. What a day it would be to live in His kingdom.

from experience, switch-and-bait is bad, but love bombs are even more ineffective. deception is not good no matter how you cut it, but being overly attentive and focused on building relationship with someone for the purpose of conversion can be absolutely detrimental. JUST TAKE TIME TO KNOW PEOPLE – whether they are already faithful, dabbling in the faith, or not even sure what the faith is about. it’s not about your agenda anyway. you may be called to build a relationship, but remember, it’s His relationship with the person that saves them.

let God move you, and you will move them.