Monday, November 28, 2016
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
FW Christian Think Tankery
The challenge for a carpenter is to skillfully use his hammer without concluding that every problem in life is, in fact, simply a nail. I've spent a good deal of my life in politics and/or public policy, and I'm at risk for the same hubris, in that not every problem in the world needs a public policy patch.
Still, policy is important, and here is my wish list of think tanks that existed in Fort Wayne and/or Northeastern Indiana to solve perennial problems.
I want Fort Wayne researchers evaluating current pro-life work -- including not only babies, but elder care and general life culture issues -- and disseminating best practices news to FW PL ministries and beyond.
Basically, take Stop the Madness-like research and implement it at a Christian Church level.
Purpose: The problem with notion of "racial" is that it is an evolutionary concept. I wonder how we could change this assumption. Center for Imageo Collaboration? (Interesting branding, but definitely needs refinement.)
Development department: charged with pursuing major gifts.
What is working, what is not. What is working in other areas around the world that could be replicated in FW.
I'd like each center to operate its own virtual online library, in which it "maintains" books that it commends on a variety of subjects. People can "buy" these books from the Tank's website (actually buy from a back end retailer, which fulfills the order, and cuts the Tank a percentage.)
Still, policy is important, and here is my wish list of think tanks that existed in Fort Wayne and/or Northeastern Indiana to solve perennial problems.
Center for Life Studies
Purpose: Studying best practices for advocating for life.I want Fort Wayne researchers evaluating current pro-life work -- including not only babies, but elder care and general life culture issues -- and disseminating best practices news to FW PL ministries and beyond.
Center for Marriage Studies
Purpose: Studying best practices to strengthen and encourage marriage.Center for Non-violence.
Purpose: Studies and helps churches and community groups implement best practices for reducing violence.Basically, take Stop the Madness-like research and implement it at a Christian Church level.
Center for Racial Reconciliation.
Perhaps better: Center for Racial Collaboration.Purpose: The problem with notion of "racial" is that it is an evolutionary concept. I wonder how we could change this assumption. Center for Imageo Collaboration? (Interesting branding, but definitely needs refinement.)
Center for Homiletic Studies
Purpose: This is a center for evaluating best practice sermons and preaching. Distributes facts that can be strategic resource for pastors to use. Hosts conferences for pastors to attend. Panels for evaluating theological trends and disagreements.Center for Entrepreneurship Studies
Purpose: This is a center for evaluating and disseminating news on best practices for encouraging the founding of business and enterprise centers. The center would reach out to target communities -- usually downtown, poor -- communities to encourage business start up and wealth production.Development department: charged with pursuing major gifts.
Marketing Department
- Educate FW leaders about the tank's research progress.
- Educate lawmakers about our progress.
- Help the development office achieve its fundraising goals.
- Staffed with journalists experienced int elling the tank's story on a regular basis. Ideal: people who have been trained and are regularly trained at the World Journalism institute.
Events Department:
Quarterly speakers series:
Every quarter, we'll have a major Kai Nielsen - JP Moreland style debate. I would hope this would be a profit center for the organization. We'd have to be careful that we understood what was on the radar of the public to ensure sufficient interest to generate demand for purchasing tickets and swag.Quarterly major speakers.
Gig 1 will be a private setting for major funders. Gig 2 will be a speech for the entire community.Center for Evangelism and Discipleship
Purpose: This group studies best practices for effective evangelism and discipleship.What is working, what is not. What is working in other areas around the world that could be replicated in FW.
Center for Ministry Effectiveness
Purpose: This center studies the metrics of ministry effectiveness and serves as a resource for emerging and established ministries alike to better understand the management process in order to thrive in their mission. Things like accounting, marketing, sales, conversion, board selection, and the like.I'd like each center to operate its own virtual online library, in which it "maintains" books that it commends on a variety of subjects. People can "buy" these books from the Tank's website (actually buy from a back end retailer, which fulfills the order, and cuts the Tank a percentage.)
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany
I'm taking off for a twelve day tour of businesses and sight-seeing in Poland, Czech Republic and Germany tomorrow with the Taylor University MBA program in Fort Wayne. I'm taking my laptop with me (and hopefully bringing it back!...) and, as the internet avails itself, I'll try to post updates to the blog. Scheduled visits include Capgemini, British-Polish Chamber of Commerce, Woodmizer, and Sabre-Holdings in Poland; Berlin-Adlershof Incubator-Center, Adlershof Science and Technology Park, Ligna Exhibition, Volkswagen and Kind Hearing in Germany, and an assortment of cultural stops in Czech Republic.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
New York Times Assaults U.S. Marine in course of defending African immigrant...
> BIKER STORY Receives New York Times Best
>
>
>
> A biker is riding by the zoo, when he sees a little girl leaning into
the lion's cage.
>
> Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull
her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents.
>
> The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the lion
square on the nose with a powerful punch.
>
> Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl,
and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly.
>
> A New York Times reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter
addressing the biker says, 'Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I
saw a man do in my whole life.'
>
> The biker replies, 'Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind
bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right.' The
reporter says, 'Well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a
journalist from the New York Times, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have
this story on the front page... So, what do you do for a living and what
political affiliation do you have?'' The biker replies, 'I'm a U.S. Marine
and a Republican.'
>
> The journalist leaves. The following morning the biker buys The New
York Times to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on
front page:
>
> U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH
>
>
>
> A biker is riding by the zoo, when he sees a little girl leaning into
the lion's cage.
>
> Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull
her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents.
>
> The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the lion
square on the nose with a powerful punch.
>
> Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl,
and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly.
>
> A New York Times reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter
addressing the biker says, 'Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I
saw a man do in my whole life.'
>
> The biker replies, 'Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind
bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right.' The
reporter says, 'Well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a
journalist from the New York Times, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have
this story on the front page... So, what do you do for a living and what
political affiliation do you have?'' The biker replies, 'I'm a U.S. Marine
and a Republican.'
>
> The journalist leaves. The following morning the biker buys The New
York Times to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on
front page:
>
> U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH
Monday, June 23, 2008
FRC: Homeschooling Gestapo Strikes Again
From the Friday 6/20/08 edition of the daily Family Research Council listserv:
What do homeschooling and drunk driving have in common? A lot, according to a German judge who made the comparison when he sentenced parents to three months in jail for educating their children at home. Juergen and Rosemarie Dudek, both Christians, are one of the estimated 400 couples in Germany who secretly homeschool their kids despite an antiquated ban on the practice instituted by Adolf Hitler 70 years ago. The decision, which smacks of Nazi-era oppression, will be appealed to a higher court, where the ruling will likely stand. German courts have repeatedly upheld homeschooling as a form of "child abuse," a conclusion echoing that of a California court last February when a three-judge panel struck down the rights of homeschooling parents in that state. While the California ruling was later vacated, both have something in common--the desire to use public education as a vehicle for indoctrinating children in the liberal views of the state.
What do homeschooling and drunk driving have in common? A lot, according to a German judge who made the comparison when he sentenced parents to three months in jail for educating their children at home. Juergen and Rosemarie Dudek, both Christians, are one of the estimated 400 couples in Germany who secretly homeschool their kids despite an antiquated ban on the practice instituted by Adolf Hitler 70 years ago. The decision, which smacks of Nazi-era oppression, will be appealed to a higher court, where the ruling will likely stand. German courts have repeatedly upheld homeschooling as a form of "child abuse," a conclusion echoing that of a California court last February when a three-judge panel struck down the rights of homeschooling parents in that state. While the California ruling was later vacated, both have something in common--the desire to use public education as a vehicle for indoctrinating children in the liberal views of the state.
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