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PAYDAY LENDING

• Analysis: What does the Bible say about lending practices?
• Profiting From Recession, Payday Lenders Spend Big To Fight Regulation

DailyFianace.com Costly Cash Payday Loans Series:

• 1st Costly Cash: The Great Recession Is Paying Off for Pawnshops and Payday Lenders
• 2nd Costly Cash: How a Retiree Wound Up With a 375% Loan
• 3rd Costly Cash: In Texas, Towns Try Zoning Out Payday Lenders
• 4th Costly Cash: Don’t Expect Federal Regulators to Protect You From Payday Loans
• 5th Costly Cash: Where to Turn If You’re Strapped for Money

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ALCOHOL

• Parent notification policies for underage drinking evolve

CHILDREN

• Consumer Alert: Parents Should Keep Children Away From new Video Chat Web Site Chatroulette.com
• New center aims to help children fight off pounds
• Obesity expert backs tax on sugary drinks | Yale psychologist Kelly Brownell says unhealthy food should cost more.
• The Obesity-Hunger Paradox
• Study: Children’s snacking packs a punch | Snacks now account for more than a quarter of children’s average daily caloric intake, researchers report

CHURCH/STATE

• Faith-based council presents reform recommendations to Obama Administration
• Faith-based council adopts reform recommendations
• Faith-based panel narrowly recommends separate 501(c)(3) entities for churches
• Federal appeals court says Pledge of Allegiance is constitutional
• N.Y. agencies to monitor Salvation Army practices

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

• Dallas megachurch pastor promotes rehabilitation of criminals
• Prison cuts: 3,000 jobs, meds, programs to get axe
• Starting Over: Second Chance Community Church caters to people looking for a new start, especially ex-convicts

PAYDAY LENDING

• Analysis: What does the Bible say about lending practices?
• Profiting From Recession, Payday Lenders Spend Big To Fight Regulation

DailyFianace.com Costly Cash Payday Loans Series:

• 1st Costly Cash: The Great Recession Is Paying Off for Pawnshops and Payday Lenders
• 2nd Costly Cash: How a Retiree Wound Up With a 375% Loan
• 3rd Costly Cash: In Texas, Towns Try Zoning Out Payday Lenders
• 4th Costly Cash: Don’t Expect Federal Regulators to Protect You From Payday Loans
• 5th Costly Cash: Where to Turn If You’re Strapped for Money

ENVIRONMENT

• Get solar panels installed for free through TXU program
• A bright idea on solar panel leasing
• Building Green: Experts give advice on greening church facilities
• Council urged to pass renewable energy plan
• Energy plan would put Austin among nation’s greenest cities, but comes at a cost
• Plan to add wind farm land heads to council | Utility wants city to buy West Texas acres for future power source
• Texas Businesses Ask Governor Perry to Support Solar Power (pdf)
• Texas sues to stop EPA from regulating greenhouse gases
• Key senators abandon ‘cap-and-trade’ climate legislation | Lawmakers crafting alternative to market-based approach to curbing greenhouse gases.
• Ranchers team up with feds to clear cedar, boost water supply | Range management is important strategy, conservationists say.
• Report by environmental groups says most Texas cities do little to wring out water supplies
• Solar Industry Learns Lessons in Spanish Sun
• State aims to make groundwater rules more uniform | Different districts have different sensibilities.

GAMBLING

• Texas gaming supporters gambling on new inroads with 2011 Legislature
• Commissioners examine possible lottery conflict
• Ex-official charged in theft from Thomas Jefferson High | Money used to support a gambling habit
• Lottery pushes Floridians to spend more amid recession
• Timeline: Bingo start to finish

HUNGER & POVERTY

• Goal: Feed more children
• OUR OPINION: Organizations fight hunger in San Angelo
• Lubbock churches work to end hunger
• Ranch provides beacon of hope to hungry and hurting
• State campaign works with food bank, churches to tackle problems of feeding those in need
• Texas Baptists set record in giving to world hunger offering
• New formula to give fresh look at U.S. poverty
• State joins effort to encourage younger farmers
• Texas Hunger Initiative seeks to make state food secure by 2015
• Key Texas food stamp official is reassigned
• Texas Digest: Food banks will help handle food stamp applications

IMMIGRATION

• New abolitionists shine light on human trafficking
• North Texas Groups Work To End Child Trafficking
• Illegal immigrants in Texas get in-state tuition
• Perry seeks reimbursement for detained immigrants
• Poll: 52% back visa or path to legal status…But 38% of Texans favor deportation in survey on illegal immigration

*The views and opinions expressed in any sites to which this article links do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of either the Christian Life Commission or the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

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March is International Women’s Month and the Global Women Group from Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio chose to celebrate by hosting a Good News Goods Fair Trade Market, which creates a missional avenue for church members to connect to and purchase from people in the developing world who are making what we buy, especially women and children, who are the most vulnerable victims of extreme poverty conditions such as forced labor, abuse, disease, and human trafficking.

The market was a huge success, and the excitement that filled the air was infectious and glorious.  It was an honor to witness a church, led by a group of faithful women, take part in Jesus’ mission to restore creation and redeem the image of God in all people through simple Fair Trade purchases.

When I asked Dena Dalton (one of the Global Women leaders from Woodland Baptist) to tell me about her Fair Trade Market experience, she said, “Talk about refreshing! I truly believe that our response to missions should never be static. As Christians we should always be mindful of the constantly changing political and economic dynamics in our world. Attention to what drives these dynamics brings us much closer to fulfilling our missional calling. Our call to missions should always be vigorous, purposeful, and energetic. Thank you for bringing Good News Goods to Woodland. What a wonderful way to introduce congregations to the far reaching implications of fair trade. Seeing the faces behind Good News Goods brings the issues of abuse, hunger, human trafficking and slavery to the front of our conscious. Our dollars make a powerful impact and so do you!”

St. Francis of Assissi said “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.”  This quote holds so much power for me because I believe that as Christians and co-partners with Jesus Christ, we are constantly preaching the gospel (or not) by our lifestyles—our everyday words and actions, intentional or not.    To paraphrase N.T. Wright in his book Simply Christian, when we receive the Holy Spirit, our bodies become the Temple of God—the place where heaven and earth intersects!    Therefore, everything we say and do is a spiritual and ethical decision that reflects who we are as image bearers of God, and as His active agents in this world.  This includes how we shop and what we buy.

When churches (and individuals) commit to making ethical, life-giving purchases, entire families and communities in the developing world can begin to experience a taste of God’s kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven”.

For additional information about Good News Goods or to sign up your church for one of our Fair Trade ministries, visit www.goodnewsgoods.com or contact charlotte.bumbulis@texasbaptists.org.

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Bike Out Hunger – Texas Baptists Not Just Spinning Their Wheels

Bike riders from all over Texas… ride to raise awareness and fight against hunger in Texas and around the world.

On Monday, April 19, Bike Out Hunger, a 450-mile bike ride to end hunger, will kick off in Ballinger, Texas, ride east through Brownwood, Hamilton, Gatesville, many towns in between, and in Waco, turn south to end on Saturday, April 24, in San Antonio. See BikeOut daily map routes here.

Hunger rallies along the way include Sunday morning kickoff/FBC Ballinger, Monday evening/Howard Payne University, Tuesday lunch/FBC Hamilton, Wednesday lunch/Truett Seminary, Thursday lunch/University of Mary Hardin Baylor, Friday lunch/Bee Cave, and Saturday lunch and celebration/The Fellowship of San Antonio.
Riders are signing up now to ride the full distance or come-and-go at any stop along the way. Proceeds for Bike Out Hunger will go to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger, sending aid for hunger relief and development to many countries around the globe, but also to many places in our own state of Texas.

Bike Out Hunger Rider Registration (pdf)

If riding isn’t your thing…support a rider. (pdf)

Churches…please pledge $5 – $10 (or more!) per mile to support a rider(s).  They deserve it!  Hungry children in Texas deserve it! Print this poster for promotion in your church (pdf).

With 1.3 million Texans unsure where their next meal will come from, Texas Baptists are mounting up, pushing forward, rolling over hunger in our beloved state.  Everyone can be a part…join us!

Your questions/comments are welcomed at joyce.gilbreath@texasbaptists.org.

More Information for Riders:

• For you full-time riders, all breakfasts, lunches and hotels are taken care of and not your expense.
• For you daily riders, all lunches are taken care of and are not your expense.
• We will have various snacks and drinks at the stretch points.
• We will ride out at 8 am each morning and end at/around 5:30 pm.
• We’ll have basic bike repair tools and equipment. For major repairs, we have identified the bike shops along the route.
• There will be numerous sag wagons and vans for safety and for necessary transportation.
• Each rider, please fill out the Rider Registration form (pdf) and send/e-mail it to rand.jenkins@texasbaptists.org.

Because you give, we are able to give back to those in need.

Donate now!

NEW DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO FOR YOUR 5TH SUNDAY PROMOTION

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Public Policy at the CLC Annual Conference
On March 22 & 23 the CLC Annual Conference will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, TX. The theme this year is Neither Need Nor Greed: Christian Stewardship of Money and Resources. Several speakers will touch on topics relating to public policy including predatory business practices like payday lending, the lottery and gambling. Stephen Reeves of the CLC and consultant Rob Kohler will make a presentation explaining why current law and past history demonstrate that the idea of limited casino gambling expansion in Texas is flawed and would lead to uncontrolled and unregulated Native American Casinos.

Texas Food Policy Roundtable Moves Forward
The work of the Texas Food Policy Roundtable (TFPR) is well underway. There is a strong commitment to end hunger in Texas, and participation in the TFPR is proof that Texans are ready to fight the hunger epidemic on a statewide policy level. The CLC has taken a leadership role in coordinating communication to members of the roundtable, and at the end of February, the first TFPR newsletter was sent to over one hundred recipients. The TFPR’s website, http://txfoodpolicy.org, is also now up and running.

The Texas Food Policy Roundtable is committed to creating a legislative agenda for the 2011 Texas Legislative Session, focusing primarily on four issue areas.

These areas are:

• SNAP. Formerly referred to as “food stamps,” SNAP food benefits are designed to help Texans in poverty to buy food and other resources for good health. Right now, Texas enrollment rates are extremely low as compared to the number of those eligible. The state has recently begun concentrated efforts to relieve a backlog of applications in the eligibility process. Since SNAP funds are entirely federal, it is the job of the state to make sure those resources reach those in need.
• Obesity. There is a direct relationship between hunger and obesity. A recent New York Times article quotes an expert saying that obesity and hunger often the “flip sides to the same malnutrition coin.” Often, when people are hungry but cannot afford healthy food, they buy what they can afford—processed, high-calorie meals that will keep them full. If hunger is going to end in Texas, the obesity issue must be addressed.
• Summer Food Programs. Summer Food Programs in Texas offer children at least one meal per day during the months they are not in school. This program has a lot of room for growth, and this summer the goal is to drastically increase the amount of food sites in Texas. Churches are getting involved with this initiative, feeding children and keeping them active during the summer months.
• Nutrition and Sustainability. Through it all, in order to end hunger in Texas, every Texan must have access to nutritious meals, with the ultimate goal of increased sustainability.  The Texas Food Policy Roundtable will focus on helping to meet that goal.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Texas Food Policy Roundtable, or if you are simply curious to know more about hunger in Texas, please e-mail txfoodpolicy@gmail.com to subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

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On Friday, June 25, the CLC is sponsoring a College Student Forum (pdf) with SMU and Texans Standing Tall. The Forum will be at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. The focus of the forum is the prevention of underage drinking and binge drinking at colleges and in their surrounding communities. The forum is a wonderful opportunity for churches to network with local organizations.

Research provides more reasons than ever for parents, students, college professionals, and other adults to be alarmed about the effects of underage drinking on Texas college-age youth. Among Texas college students, alcohol is the primary drug of choice – nearly double the use of other substances. Alcohol is linked to poor class attendance and low academic performance, unwanted sexual activity, depression and suicide, and alcohol poisoning.

Registration is free and is available at www.texansstandingtall.org. Participants will receive materials, breakfast and lunch at no charge.

Resource for Article:
Parent notification policies for underage drinking evolve

Texans Standing Tall Regional Forums 2010 Dates and Locations

Do Something: Substance Abuse Ministry DVD

Introducing Do Something: A Substance Abuse Ministry DVD available through the Christian Life Commission. To order, contact Alicia Enriquez at 214.828.5192, or e-mail alicia.enriquez@bgct.org. The cost is $2.

CLC Substance Abuse Ministry Podcasts
Pathways to Prevention Website
www.hazelden.org

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Recently I did research on a little family history from 1923. I read the front page news for 5 months in 4 daily Texas newspapers in the spring of 1923.  I found what I was looking for, but I was also struck by the daily headlines – they covered the beginning years of the Texas oil industry. Discord, risk and suspicion about the uncertainty of this speculative industry were major stories in the daily news circa 1923… policy fights in the legislature and business competition on the street.

Texans were used to relying on coal oil and whale oil and expecting very little from energy in their daily lives but pretty soon the oil glut began to affect ordinary Texans – at home, on the farm, transportation by land and sea, and motorized conveniences that were just imaginary 5 years prior.  All this new energy activity was taxed – By 1919, the revenue from the oil-production tax was more than $1 million; by 1929, it was almost $6 million. And who were these nutty wildcatters? Names like Sid Richardson, Haroldson Lafayette Hunt, Clint Murchison and Hugh Cullen were suspect…until 20 years later when they became the philanthropist millionaires of the 1940”s and 1950”s.

Texas remains at the forefront of the energy industry as the 21st century energy revolution eclipses our recent past. The total renewable energy “resources” in Texas, outstrip every other State. Energy from sunshine falling on a single acre of land in West Texas is capable of producing the energy equivalent of 800 barrels of oil – each year. Today, Texas in the midst of a revolution the echoes of 1923 are with us…

Pioneers and entrepreneurs are developing clean renewable energy – Like their 1920’s counterparts, wind wildcatters in west Texas have already proved Texas can be a leader in this industry; Thirty-five (35%) percent of the power Abilene Christian University purchases is generated from West Texas wind turbines-. Recent community college programs are offering all women workforce training in solar installation skills.

Energy moves in next door -  thank goodness today’s energy innovations don’t bring black oil gushers into the neighborhood, but Barnett Shale natural gas drilling is now in churchyards, in parking lots and returning handsomely in urban neighborhoods; encouraged by Economic Development Councils in Texas, wind energy equipment is now manufactured in at least 3 Texas towns…more to come. In towns where a rebate policy is an incentive, churches, homes and businesses are installing solar collectors – one church installed it’s panels in the form of a giant cross. A 10 percent goal for solar energy can make a significant difference as the US transitions to a diverse energy future.

Odd sounding ideas and speculative endeavors hold promise of new industries – oil production changed the barrel from wooden spokes to steel drums – unheard of at the time. Solar collector and battery innovation is taking on every shape imaginable including inflatables, film, fabric, tiles, roof shingles and myriad forms of tempered glass. Randy Hill is the owner of a company that manufactures equipment that dries agricultural products; he has turned his moneymaking attention to drying mesquite beans for biomass within the alternative energy industry.  Off shore towers that create energy from constant wave motion – tidal power – are a part of the energy portfolio in the North Sea.

Agricultural and urban Texas changes as energy changes – not every rancher or landowner of the 1920’s welcomed oil derricks, pumps and equipment. However, priorities in agriculture, forestry and energy research are yielding a productive focus on renewable energy. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture are retraining and advising.  Resistance in the Texas Hill Country has been strong in response to a plan to put transmission lines across central Texas counties.  The fact remains that wind turbines in sparsely populated West Texas, can supply needed energy to Texas populated quadrants, but transmission is a necessity.

New energy will mean new policies, encouragement to new leaders, incentives and business models that track our Texas ingenuity and get ‘er done mentality. Agricultural and manufacturing opportunities are emerging and the world beyond our borders will once again look to a Lone Star for guidance. We have a chance to act in the interest of our future. Welcome to 1923? Wow! Does history ever repeat itself.

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It is often said that energy efficiency can be considered our country’s largest energy resource for the future. If individuals, businesses and yes, even churches used energy more wisely we could potentially trim our usage by up to 20-25% from projected levels by 2020. Churches can practice being good stewards of God’s creation by reducing their energy consumption throughout the week.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:?

1. Conduct an energy audit. By participating in an Energy Audit through your local power company, you can determine how you can make your church building more energy efficient. This is a great way to begin the energy efficiency process because you will know exactly where your church could improve.
2. Control the climate. During the week, when congregation members are not in the building, be aware that your sanctuary and unused classrooms do not need to be a comfortable 75 degrees. By keeping these rooms cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer, you also reduce the cost of your church’s electric bill.
3. Change the bulbs. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (or CFL for short) have become popular replacements for incandescent bulbs, with good reason. CLF bulbs use about 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs do.
4. Establish a Creation Care Council. Creating a Creation Care Council allows individuals who are passionate about being compassionate stewards of God’s creation to lead their congregation in action and education on energy efficiency and conservation.
5. Become an Energy Star congregation. Many congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30% by investing in energy efficient equipment, building upgrades and maintenance. Energy Star gives congregations free information and technical support in order for congregations to more easily improve church’s budget costs for energy-related bills.

There are numerous resources available online to educate you and your congregation about energy efficiency and give you more ways to improve your church’s efficiency.

• To read A Christian’s Call to Conserve (pdf) and other CLC publications about energy efficiency and conservation, please visit http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists.
• To find out more about Energy Star and how your church can become an Energy Star congregation, http://www.energystar.gov/.
• To find out what faith groups in Texas and other states are doing to help conserve energy, visit Interfaith Power and Light.

Solar opportunity for residents in North Texas
Homeowners in North Texas now have an option to “go solar”! TXU Energy is teaming up with California-based firm SolarCity to lease solar panels to homeowners for about $35 a month. Installation of the solar panels is free, and SolarCity takes care of maintenance and insurance. The lease is a 15-year commitment, and the monthly price rises 2.5 percent annually, so over time there is a cost. But the trade-off is well worth it.

The CEO of SolarCity estimates that the panels will result in a 15 and 20 percent savings for customers on their electric bills. And TXU Energy’s vice president for innovation gave the following example in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to illustrate the savings a customer might see.

A 4-kilowatt solar array of about 20 panels, sufficient for a three-bedroom or four-bedroom home, would have an initial leasing cost of about $35 per month. A homeowner paying 12 cents per kilowatt-hour might reduce a monthly electric bill by $50 with the solar system, producing a net savings after the leasing fee.

For residents in the North Texas area, this new solar option is a great way to use a renewable energy source to save money and care for God’s creation.

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The future of energy production and distribution is an issue in which all Texans have a vested interest. From our electric bill to gas prices, energy policy hits close to home. For Christians, the issue sits in the balance of two principles – care of creation and concern for the poor. Fortunately, these values are not in conflict but complimentary when it comes to investment in and development of renewable energy resources.

While politicians in Washington discuss legislation addressing climate change, a polarizing debate that generates hostility on both sides, the reality is that Texans support the expansion of renewable energy opportunities, regardless of their feelings on climate change. A poll conducted by Baselice & Associates, Inc. and released in April of 2009 shows:

• 85% of those polled believe Texas should increase the production and use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power
• 79% of Texans support financial incentives, such as loans, subsidies and temporary tax reductions to recruit renewable energy businesses and associated jobs to Texas
• 61% agree that the state should require a certain percentage of the state’s electricity be generated from solar power
• 53% of those polled said they would support solar requirements even if it costs $2 -$3 more on their monthly electric bills

When considering measures to increase development of renewable energy, Christians should consider their effect on the poorest among us. Any policy changes that increase energy costs should be offset by funds to aid those struggling to pay their bills. The education and training necessary to fill new jobs created by a clean energy economy should be made readily available through scholarships and grant programs. Energy efficiency programs that can immediately reduce energy costs should begin where folks need the most help with bills and have the least resources to offset upfront investments. It is necessary for Texas to move our energy sector into the 21st century without an undue burden falling on the poor.

In 2010, Texas finds itself at a crucial decision point and at the center of an energy crossroads.  The state has been a leader and gained great power and wealth through the old, petroleum-based energy economy. Texas has similar potential to lead the nation in renewable energy production. Our state is located in the middle of the Eastern and Western Interconnections on the US power grid, but Texas has its own grid. This unique position means that Texas is not subject to the same federal regulations as the rest of the country. This gives the state more freedom to experiment with the interconnectivity of renewable energies than any other state. In 2009 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Texas received $593 million for energy and weatherization programs and an addition $90 million for the Skills Development Fund which can be used toward green job skills training. Combine these factors with the possible passage of national climate change legislation and it is clear – now is the time to act.

Texas leads the nation in wind energy production. It does so not only because we have an ideal climate, but also because important policy decisions were made.  The state set a goal in 2005 produce 5,850 MW of renewable energy by 2015. With the support of state leadership we have already eclipsed that goal based on wind energy production alone. The state now has over 7, 116 MW of wind capacity and much more under construction.

While the success of wind energy is something all Texans can be proud of, we must not let that be our only success story. In order to further energy independence, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create sustainable energy options and drive a new clean energy economy, we must continue to diversify our energy sources.  With the right investment and state support, Texas can have just as much success with solar energy as we have with wind.

It should come as no surprise to Texans that our state has the most solar radiation of any state in the country. What you may not know is that the state is also home to companies that manufacture the components necessary for solar energy production across the entire supply chain. From Wichita Falls, to Brownwood to Pasadena, Texans are already producing the tools necessary to harness our abundant sunshine and turn it into usable energy. Should the state choose to support solar energy the way wind has been supported, Texans stand to gain thousands of jobs while improving our environment.

Texas Christians are uniquely positioned to help encourage positive policy changes while keeping in mind the least of those among us. Through education and advocacy we can help make sure Texas remains a leader in energy in the 21st century. In the coming months, the Christian Life Commission will be educating folks not only about the Biblical call to care for God’s creation, but also about how a clean energy economy can benefit all Texans.

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