The Smartest Cities

Posted on February 13, 2010

Joel Kotkin, author of the excellent book The City: a global history, recently wrote an article on the world’s “smartest cities.” He notes that: “today’s “smart” cities tend to be smaller, compact and more efficient: places like Amsterdam; Seattle; Singapore; Curitiba, Brazil; and Monterrey, Mexico.”

Kotkin adds “economic fundamentals” to the typically green measurement of smart cities. Singapore, featured left, ranks as #1. Houston, Texas comes in at #7. This research generates an important profile of cities that will have significant influence in the next 40 years.

Read The World’s Smartest Cities

The Gospel & Single Loneliness

Posted on February 12, 2010

Loneliness is more pervasive in our society, and in our churches, than we’d like to admit. Cities bustle with activity and coffeeshops are packed, but people work and drink in loneliness. What’s the remedy? How can we work through our loneliness, especially as singles, when everywhere we look we perceive relational connectedness among marrieds, families, and communities?

Jayne Clark offers a very helpful response to the issues that surround loneliness in her booklet Single and Lonely: Finding Intimacy You Desire. She empathizes with loneliness but also exposes the futility of relational strategies, pointing us to the intimacy of union with Christ. She writes:

The real solution to loneliness lies not in marriage, but in our union with Christ, which leads to our union with one another.

If you struggle with loneliness, I encourage you to read this booklet prayerfully and discuss it with some friends, a Fight Club or a City Group. You can read the entire booklet for free online at CCEF. Also, consider sharing some of your struggle in the comments, and how you’ve found strength or joy or encouragement in it.

Great Insights from Alan Hirsch

Posted on February 12, 2010

If you attended the VERGE conference, you’ll know that missiologist and theologian Alan Hirsch. Michael Stewart used Hirsch’s work on Missional DNA in The Forgotten Ways to give structure to the conference. Alan also led some of the pre-conference to VERGE, which was a stimulating time. Alan’s unique combination of intellect, humility, creativity, and faith have led to some great insights over the past few years. Here’s a list of some of them:

10 Ways to Help the Homeless

Posted on February 12, 2010

As we continue to interact with homeless people on 6th street, we need to do so with wisdom. Read and implement these tips from the Seed Blog at Sojourn into your interactions with the homeless who need the hope of the gospel:

1. Never give cash to a homeless person
Too often, well intended gifts are converted to drugs or alcohol – even when the hard luck stories they tell are true. If the person is hungry, buy them a sandwich and a beverage.

2. Talk to the person with respect.
Taking time to talk to a homeless person in a friendly, respectful manner can give them a wonderful sense of civility and dignity. And besides being just neighborly, it gives the person a weapon to fight the isolation, depression and paranoia that many homeless people face.

3. Recognize that homeless people (and their problems) are not all the same.
The homeless are as diverse as the colors of a rainbow. The person you meet may be a battered women, an addicted veteran, someone who is lacking job skills the list goes on.

4. Share God’s love whenever you can.
If Jesus were walking the earth today, He would certainly spend time with the homeless. He would speak with them, heal them, and help them. Today, Jesus chooses to work through those who believe and follow Him.

Read the Rest