Effective Compassion

December 15, 2008

‘Tis the Season for Giving

We’re a fortnight away from the new year, and that means that you are probably getting a spate of letters, postcards, and packages appealing for your donations in this critical giving season. Continue Reading...

November 04, 2008

Update: Acton Video Short Gathers Attention

First posted on the PowerBlog by Brittany Hunter, and picked up by a number of other prominent blogs, the “How Not to Help the Poor” Acton video short has collected over eight thousand YouTube hits. Continue Reading...

November 04, 2008

Doctoral Work on Religion and Philanthropy

I received this notice via H-Net last week: THE LAKE INSTITUTE ON FAITH & GIVING THE CENTER ON PHILANTHROPY INDIANA UNIVERSITY DOCTORAL DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP The Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at the Center on Philanthropy, Indiana University will offer a one year doctoral dissertation fellowship of $22,000 for the academic year 2009-2010. Continue Reading...

October 30, 2008

Busted

The lyrics to “Busted,” written by Harlan Howard, and made famous as performed by Johnny Cash: My bills are all due and the babies need shoes, But I’m Busted Cotton’s gone down to a quarter a pound And I’m Busted I got a cow that’s gone dry And a hen that won’t lay A big stack of bills Getting bigger each day The county’s gonna haul my belongings away, But I’m Busted So I called on my brother to ask for a loan ‘Cause I was Busted I hate to beg like a dog for a bone, But I’m Busted My brother said, “there’s not a thing I can do, My wife and my kids Are all down with the flu And I was just thinkin’ about callin’ on you, ‘Cause I’m Busted.” Continue Reading...

October 22, 2008

New Video Short: How Not to Help the Poor

New from Acton Media, this video short titled “How Not to Help the Poor” discusses the root causes of poverty and how even the best of intentions can go wrong in dealing with and trying to help those in need. Continue Reading...

October 17, 2008

Is John Wesley’s Economic Advice Sound?

Writing a commentary for the United Methodist News Service, J. Richard Peck encourages readers to heed John Wesley’s advice on economic policy. “In short, Wesley called for higher taxes upon the wealthy and laws that would prohibit the wasting of natural products,” says Peck. Continue Reading...

October 14, 2008

Faith-Based Charities Understand Long Term Need

USA Today has an excellent assessment of the impact of faith-based charities in an October 7 piece titled “Faith-based groups man the front lines.” The gist of the article points out the obvious to those who are still recovering from devastating hurricanes, and that’s that religious charities understand and are committed to the long term need of hurricane victims. Continue Reading...

October 01, 2008