A Call to Imagination

As we journey down this winding road together, we remember the words of God in the book of Micah that remind us to, "Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God." Or the words of Amos that proclaimed, "Let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like a mighty stream." These words challenged the public leadership of its day to re-examine its treatment of the oppressed and marginalized. And it is in this same spirit that we, much like the prophets of old, imagine a new and hopeful reality for our down trodden communities today. For as aspiring social workers it is not our mere imagination that compels us to serve and advocate for others, but a transcendent vision that comes from God.

Professor Lopez-Humphreys
Fall '09

An Awesome Semester

I believe I speak for the entire Social Welfare Policy & Economic Justice class of the Fall 2005 semester at NCRC, that this was an awesome semester. I learned sooo much and a passion, a fire has been ignited in me that I never thought would be. I just wanted to publicly Thank Professor Humphreys for all of your wisdom, encouragement, and prayers. It is always a blessing to have a Professor who is concerned not just about your academics, but about you personally. I pray that God continues to bless you, your family, and your ministry, as teaching is a ministry. You have ministered to the entire class in so many ways. Thank you for every resource and every extra push you gave us. You have greatly contributed to the making of some of the world's greatest social workers! >smile<. Now, YOU be encouraged and continue to press on toward the mark of the high calling of Christ Jesus. Much Joy and Peace to you.

Blessings,
Dr. J. Smith (speaking those things that are not, as though they were *wink*)

'Guest workers' won't go away Bush bows to his base for an immigration plan that has no chance of sending the undocumented home

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/opinion/nyc-opspe014533738dec01,0,6862861.story?coll=nyc-viewpoints-headlines

Social Welfare Policy and Economic Justice

Speak Up For Those Who Cannot Speak. -Proverbs 31:8

Congress will debate as early as Wednesday on how much money should be cut from the budgets of health care, nutrition assistance, and other vital services for poor and working families.

They will decide how much - up to $70 billion - they will cut taxes for the richest people in America. In Washington, this may be business as usual, but as people of faith, we believe that budgets are moral documents, and so far this budget is morally bankrupt.

We have a short amount of time to make a big difference, and we need your voice now!

1) Call Congress now. Tell them to get their priorities straight!
(800) 426-8073

Ask to speak to one of the senators from your state. When the senator's phone is answered, say politely: "My name is _____, and I live in [your town/city]. As a person of faith, I would like Senator [name] to oppose budget cuts to Medicaid, Food Stamps, and other vital services, and to oppose more tax cuts for the very rich. Needs of poor families should be a moral priority at this time, not tax cuts for the wealthy.”
After you're done, please call your other senator, followed by your representative.*
2) Tell 10 friends now!

The success of this call-in day will depend on how many people call their senators and members of Congress. Congress does listen to what their constituents think, so after you call, please tell your friends, family, pastor - anyone who shares your concern for restoring just budget priorities - about this call-in day!**

When We Share Woundedness

How strange that we should ordinarily feel compelled to hide our wounds when we are all wounded! Community requires the ability to expose our wounds and weaknesses to our fellow creatures. It also requires the ability to be affected by the wounds of others...But even more important is the love that arises among us when we share, both ways, our woundedness.

M. Scott Peck

As I read this I wondered how we can overcome our fears of sharing our spiritual deficits? Without it- we are all marketed finished products that appear to be without damage-impression management is dangerous. It has nothing to be with growing more into Christ's likeness, but rather working on the appearence of what that would look like.

Professor Lopez-Humphreys

Click below to reade more:

FREAKONOMICS

Since we have been discussing economics and policy in class, this book came my way while I was reading quite a disturbing article within the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/30/politics/30cnd-bennet.html?hp
Please read it and share your responses. But back to the book...

Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter?

These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. The authors show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives - how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing.

In Freakonomics, they set out to explore the hidden side of … well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Ku Klux Klan. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality.

Reading & Reflecting,
Professor Lopez-Humphreys