Here is somethng out of "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger"

that Dave Workman at the Vineyard says we must all read instead of watching ER or Gray's Anatomy, this week. (okay, dave didn't say that)

if you don't read it, your punishment is watching "Medium" and "Invasion".

see you at the Simpson's and The King of the Hill...



Question your lifestyle, not your neighbors

Reduce your food budget by:

Gardening: try hoeing instead of mowing

Substituting vegetable protein for animal protein

Join a food co-op

fast regularly (see bible verse below)

opposing (by speech and example) the flagrant misuse of grain for making beer and other alcoholic beverages (the U.S.
annually uses enough grain - 5.2 million tons - in the production of alcoholic beverages - enough to feed 26 million people)

setting a monthly budget and sticking to it <--this idea scares me perhaps i should not mention it

Lower energy consumption by
keeping thermostat at 68 degrees

supporting public transportation with feet and vote

using bikes, carpools, and feet

making dishwashing a family time instead of buying a dishwasher

buying a fan instead of an air conditioner

Resist consumerism by:
laughing regularly at TV commercials
developing family slogans like: "Who are you kidding?" and "You Can't Take It With You!"

Making a list of dishonest ads and boycotting those products

using postage-paid envelopes of direct-mail advertisers to object to their unscrupulous advertising

Buy and renovate and old house in the inner city. (persuade a few friends to do the same and start a christian community - reclaim the abandoned places of the Empire of Global Consumerism)

Reduce you consumption of nonrenewable natural resources by
resisting obsolescence (buying quality products when you must buy)

sharing appliances, tools, lawnmowers, sports equipment, books, even cars (this is easier if you live close to other Christian committed to simple living)

organizing a 'things closet' at your church for items used only occasionally - edger, clippers, cots for unexpected guests, lawn mowers, camping equipment, ladder

Have one or two 'homemade' babies and then adopt

See how much of what you spend is for status and eliminate it

Refuse to keep up with clothing fashions (virtually no reader of this list needs to buy clothes - except maybe shoes - once every few years)

Enjoy what is free

Live on a welfare budget for a month [practice the incarnation: 'gave up riches for poverty'] (Ron Jones's Finding Community tells us how)

Give your children more of your love and time rather than more things

Find alternative ways to celebrate our culture's "holidays" (could be as simple as - celebrate the liturgical calendar)


Sider says, "I am convinced that simpler living is a biblical imperative for contemporary Christians in affluent lands. But we must remain clear about our reasons. We are not committed to a simple lifestyle. We have only one absolute loyalty and that is to Jesus and His Kingdom. But the head of this kingdom is the God of the poor! And hundreds of millions of his poor are starving to death."