Look out for more on investing from Jesus,
this time from the parables of the clever servnat
and the parable of the talents
Monday, October 29, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
First summary
There's much more to discuss in relation to the
feeding of the 5,000 and modernself-sufficiency
[heard an interesting discussion on te Breakfast Club this
morning concerning continuing fears over China's economic
expansion and fears of US credit implosion), but just to summarize
the ground we've covered thus far.
We've looked at:
Thhen eed to re-use nad recycle as exemplified by Christ's order "Let nothing be wasted";
Global trade & output in light of the 5:2 principle;
the need for a national day of thanksgiving for balanced production and economic output;
the ideal size of Government (12 the ideal number)
the need to take stock of what we do have and to take on board the
fresh ideas and energy of the youth;
the need to impose order - not just in terms of general activity,
but in terms of administration
feeding of the 5,000 and modernself-sufficiency
[heard an interesting discussion on te Breakfast Club this
morning concerning continuing fears over China's economic
expansion and fears of US credit implosion), but just to summarize
the ground we've covered thus far.
We've looked at:
Thhen eed to re-use nad recycle as exemplified by Christ's order "Let nothing be wasted";
Global trade & output in light of the 5:2 principle;
the need for a national day of thanksgiving for balanced production and economic output;
the ideal size of Government (12 the ideal number)
the need to take stock of what we do have and to take on board the
fresh ideas and energy of the youth;
the need to impose order - not just in terms of general activity,
but in terms of administration
Monday, September 17, 2007
"Let nothing be wasted"
Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
John 6:12-13 (KJV)
Jesus knew about sustainable development long before it becamea buzzword.
Having miraculously increased the food store from a measly five loaves of
bread and two fish ot a feast for over 5,000 (Think, when was the lat time you attended any function where even 1,000 persons ate - it seems like a logistical nightmare - with waiers and wairesses streaming through ballroom aisles and
tightly packed tables to serve course after course), he made sure that everything left was gathered up - 12 baskets worth of leftovers; one for each disciple.
Every minister must have his portion.
None of the four accounts tells us how the 12 baskets were distributed or disposed of, but Jesus' command gives strong indication that they were put to appropriate use or otherwise carried and consumed by the disciples themselves. In the same way, God the Father sent the manna (literaly "What is it?" in Hebrew), on the children of Israel during their desert wnaderings and left specific instructions for the consumption of the daily supply (In the timeless prayer that he taught his disciples, Jesus asked that the Father would provide the "daily bread")
Psalm 78 (the only Pslam, incidentally, to mention both the words 'camp' and 'David' i nthe same text - the Camp David Accord signifying peace between Israel and Egypt was brokered in 1978 at the US Presidnetial retreat of Camp David) describs the manna as "the corn of heaven" or the "grain" of heaven.
Let's begin to take the mantra of reuse nad recycle more seriously. Not htat we're going to all start consuming leftover food as a matter of ocurse. No, let's look at our production processes and see how we can move toward zero-waste
All Cabinet ministers ,whether with portfolio or without, must begin to takea seriosu inventory of the material and other resources avaialble to their ministries and msut - withth the help of all their staff -identifiy and implement ways of eliminating or substantially reducing waste.
Next: A summary thus far
John 6:12-13 (KJV)
Jesus knew about sustainable development long before it becamea buzzword.
Having miraculously increased the food store from a measly five loaves of
bread and two fish ot a feast for over 5,000 (Think, when was the lat time you attended any function where even 1,000 persons ate - it seems like a logistical nightmare - with waiers and wairesses streaming through ballroom aisles and
tightly packed tables to serve course after course), he made sure that everything left was gathered up - 12 baskets worth of leftovers; one for each disciple.
Every minister must have his portion.
None of the four accounts tells us how the 12 baskets were distributed or disposed of, but Jesus' command gives strong indication that they were put to appropriate use or otherwise carried and consumed by the disciples themselves. In the same way, God the Father sent the manna (literaly "What is it?" in Hebrew), on the children of Israel during their desert wnaderings and left specific instructions for the consumption of the daily supply (In the timeless prayer that he taught his disciples, Jesus asked that the Father would provide the "daily bread")
Psalm 78 (the only Pslam, incidentally, to mention both the words 'camp' and 'David' i nthe same text - the Camp David Accord signifying peace between Israel and Egypt was brokered in 1978 at the US Presidnetial retreat of Camp David) describs the manna as "the corn of heaven" or the "grain" of heaven.
Let's begin to take the mantra of reuse nad recycle more seriously. Not htat we're going to all start consuming leftover food as a matter of ocurse. No, let's look at our production processes and see how we can move toward zero-waste
All Cabinet ministers ,whether with portfolio or without, must begin to takea seriosu inventory of the material and other resources avaialble to their ministries and msut - withth the help of all their staff -identifiy and implement ways of eliminating or substantially reducing waste.
Next: A summary thus far
Deficit
Note from the lsits I posted recently that Jamaica, not on the list of
the world's largest economies, is promient among countries with large
trade deficits - US970 million dollars in 2006.
Note laso that nearly all the Latin American, Caribbean and African nations
were running deficits, as were as few Asia-pacific nations.
Next: we return to the Scriptures with "Let nothing be wasted"
the world's largest economies, is promient among countries with large
trade deficits - US970 million dollars in 2006.
Note laso that nearly all the Latin American, Caribbean and African nations
were running deficits, as were as few Asia-pacific nations.
Next: we return to the Scriptures with "Let nothing be wasted"
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Trade balance plus/minus
This is a list of countries and territories by current account balance, in millions of U.S. dollars, equivalence based on The World Factbook ([1]). Most data are 2006 estimates.
According to this list, 64 countries are in surplus, while 99 countries are in deficit.
Rank Country Current account balance
(million US$)
1 People's Republic of China (PRC) 179,100
2 Japan 174,400
3 Germany 134,800
4 Russia 105,300
5 Saudi Arabia 103,800
6 Norway 63,330
7 Switzerland 50,440
8 Netherlands 50,170
9 Kuwait 40,750
10 Singapore 35,580
11 Venezuela 31,820
12 Sweden 28,610
13 United Arab Emirates 26,890
14 Algeria 25,800
15 Hong Kong 20,900
16 Canada 20,560
17 Malaysia 17,860
18 Libya 14,500
19 Brazil 13,500
20 Iran 13,130
21 Nigeria 12,590
22 Qatar 12,510
23 Taiwan 9,700
24 Finland 8,749
25 Iraq 8,134
26 Angola 7,700
27 Oman 7,097
28 Belgium 6,925
29 Austria 5,913
30 Argentina 5,810
31 Chile 5,063
32 Denmark 4,941
33 Philippines 4,900
34 Luxembourg 4,630
35 Trinidad and Tobago 3,259
36 Azerbaijan 2,737
37 Egypt 2,697
38 Korea, South 2,000
39 Bahrain 1,999
40 Gabon 1,807
41 Botswana 1,698
42 Yemen 1,690
43 Indonesia 1,636
44 Peru 1,515
45 Israel 1,643
46 Uzbekistan 1,410
47 Burma 1,247
48 Republic of the Congo 1,215
49 Vietnam 1,029
50 Ecuador 727
51 Bolivia 688
52 Papua New Guinea 661
53 Namibia 572
54 Ivory Coast 460
55 Cameroon 419
56 Morocco 389
57 Bangladesh 339
58 Turkmenistan 321.2
59 Equatorial Guinea 175
60 British Virgin Islands 134.3 (1999)
61 Kazakhstan 113
62 Cook Islands 26.67 (2005)
63 Palau 15.09 (2004)
64 Tuvalu 2.323 (1998)
65 Samoa -2.428 (2004)
66 Tonga -4.321 (2005)
67 Comoros -17 (2005)
68 Kiribati -19.87 (2004)
69 Swaziland -23.13
70 São Tomé and Príncipe -24.4
71 Vanuatu -28.35 (2003)
72 Federated States of Micronesia -34.3 (2005)
73 Anguilla -42.87 (2003)
74 Cape Verde -44.43
75 The Gambia -54.61
76 Burundi -57.84
77 Haiti -58.72
78 Tajikistan -73.95
79 Lesotho -75.44
80 Seychelles -78.59
81 Antigua and Barbuda -83.4 (2004)
82 Guyana -84.3
83 Rwanda -104.1
84 Honduras -160
85 Zambia -165.4
86 Republic of Macedonia -167
87 Belize -173.4
88 Malawi -186
89 Ghana -219
90 Armenia -247.3
91 Togo -261.9
92 Zimbabwe -264.6
93 Kyrgyzstan -287.3
94 Paraguay -300
95 Chad -324.1
96 Benin -342.7
97 Guinea -344
98 Cambodia -369
99 Mexico -400.1
100 Uganda -423
101 Eritrea -440.5
102 Mozambique -444.4
103 Fiji -465.8
104 Panama -467
105 Madagascar -504
106 Laos -404.2
107 Belarus -511.8
108 Syria -529
109 Moldova -561
110 Uruguay -600
111 Burkina Faso -604.6
112 Mauritius -651
113 Albania -679.9
114 Georgia -735
115 Tunisia -760
116 Slovenia -789.2
117 Nicaragua -883
118 Senegal -895.2
119 Thailand -899.4
120 Tanzania -906
121 Malta -966.2
122 Jamaica -970
123 Cyprus -1,051
124 El Salvador -1,059
125 Sri Lanka -1,118
126 Kenya -1,119
127 Dominican Republic -1,124
128 Costa Rica -1,176
129 Cuba -1,218
130 Guatemala -1,533
131 Bosnia and Herzegovina -1,730
132 Estonia -1,919
133 Ukraine -1,933
134 Colombia -2,219
135 Serbia -2,451 (2005)
136 Latvia -2,538
137 Lithuania -2,572
138 Jordan -2,834
139 Croatia -2,892
140 Iceland -2,932
141 Ethiopia -3,384
142 Slovakia -3,781
143 Czech Republic -4,352
144 Sudan -4,510
145 Poland -4,548
146 Bulgaria -5,100
147 Lebanon -5,339
148 Pakistan -5,486
149 New Zealand -7,944
150 Hungary -8,392
151 Ireland -9,450
152 Romania -12,450
153 South Africa -12,690
154 Portugal -16,750
155 Greece -21,370
156 Italy -23,730
157 Turkey -25,990
158 India -26,400
159 France -38,000
160 Australia -41,620
161 United Kingdom -57,680
162 Spain -98,600
163 United States -862,300
Yes, the US is the country with the highest trade deficit in the world. Surprising?
Its a trend that has been developing over the last 10-15 years and looks setto worsen. Waht are the links to the country's moral decline
According to this list, 64 countries are in surplus, while 99 countries are in deficit.
Rank Country Current account balance
(million US$)
1 People's Republic of China (PRC) 179,100
2 Japan 174,400
3 Germany 134,800
4 Russia 105,300
5 Saudi Arabia 103,800
6 Norway 63,330
7 Switzerland 50,440
8 Netherlands 50,170
9 Kuwait 40,750
10 Singapore 35,580
11 Venezuela 31,820
12 Sweden 28,610
13 United Arab Emirates 26,890
14 Algeria 25,800
15 Hong Kong 20,900
16 Canada 20,560
17 Malaysia 17,860
18 Libya 14,500
19 Brazil 13,500
20 Iran 13,130
21 Nigeria 12,590
22 Qatar 12,510
23 Taiwan 9,700
24 Finland 8,749
25 Iraq 8,134
26 Angola 7,700
27 Oman 7,097
28 Belgium 6,925
29 Austria 5,913
30 Argentina 5,810
31 Chile 5,063
32 Denmark 4,941
33 Philippines 4,900
34 Luxembourg 4,630
35 Trinidad and Tobago 3,259
36 Azerbaijan 2,737
37 Egypt 2,697
38 Korea, South 2,000
39 Bahrain 1,999
40 Gabon 1,807
41 Botswana 1,698
42 Yemen 1,690
43 Indonesia 1,636
44 Peru 1,515
45 Israel 1,643
46 Uzbekistan 1,410
47 Burma 1,247
48 Republic of the Congo 1,215
49 Vietnam 1,029
50 Ecuador 727
51 Bolivia 688
52 Papua New Guinea 661
53 Namibia 572
54 Ivory Coast 460
55 Cameroon 419
56 Morocco 389
57 Bangladesh 339
58 Turkmenistan 321.2
59 Equatorial Guinea 175
60 British Virgin Islands 134.3 (1999)
61 Kazakhstan 113
62 Cook Islands 26.67 (2005)
63 Palau 15.09 (2004)
64 Tuvalu 2.323 (1998)
65 Samoa -2.428 (2004)
66 Tonga -4.321 (2005)
67 Comoros -17 (2005)
68 Kiribati -19.87 (2004)
69 Swaziland -23.13
70 São Tomé and Príncipe -24.4
71 Vanuatu -28.35 (2003)
72 Federated States of Micronesia -34.3 (2005)
73 Anguilla -42.87 (2003)
74 Cape Verde -44.43
75 The Gambia -54.61
76 Burundi -57.84
77 Haiti -58.72
78 Tajikistan -73.95
79 Lesotho -75.44
80 Seychelles -78.59
81 Antigua and Barbuda -83.4 (2004)
82 Guyana -84.3
83 Rwanda -104.1
84 Honduras -160
85 Zambia -165.4
86 Republic of Macedonia -167
87 Belize -173.4
88 Malawi -186
89 Ghana -219
90 Armenia -247.3
91 Togo -261.9
92 Zimbabwe -264.6
93 Kyrgyzstan -287.3
94 Paraguay -300
95 Chad -324.1
96 Benin -342.7
97 Guinea -344
98 Cambodia -369
99 Mexico -400.1
100 Uganda -423
101 Eritrea -440.5
102 Mozambique -444.4
103 Fiji -465.8
104 Panama -467
105 Madagascar -504
106 Laos -404.2
107 Belarus -511.8
108 Syria -529
109 Moldova -561
110 Uruguay -600
111 Burkina Faso -604.6
112 Mauritius -651
113 Albania -679.9
114 Georgia -735
115 Tunisia -760
116 Slovenia -789.2
117 Nicaragua -883
118 Senegal -895.2
119 Thailand -899.4
120 Tanzania -906
121 Malta -966.2
122 Jamaica -970
123 Cyprus -1,051
124 El Salvador -1,059
125 Sri Lanka -1,118
126 Kenya -1,119
127 Dominican Republic -1,124
128 Costa Rica -1,176
129 Cuba -1,218
130 Guatemala -1,533
131 Bosnia and Herzegovina -1,730
132 Estonia -1,919
133 Ukraine -1,933
134 Colombia -2,219
135 Serbia -2,451 (2005)
136 Latvia -2,538
137 Lithuania -2,572
138 Jordan -2,834
139 Croatia -2,892
140 Iceland -2,932
141 Ethiopia -3,384
142 Slovakia -3,781
143 Czech Republic -4,352
144 Sudan -4,510
145 Poland -4,548
146 Bulgaria -5,100
147 Lebanon -5,339
148 Pakistan -5,486
149 New Zealand -7,944
150 Hungary -8,392
151 Ireland -9,450
152 Romania -12,450
153 South Africa -12,690
154 Portugal -16,750
155 Greece -21,370
156 Italy -23,730
157 Turkey -25,990
158 India -26,400
159 France -38,000
160 Australia -41,620
161 United Kingdom -57,680
162 Spain -98,600
163 United States -862,300
Yes, the US is the country with the highest trade deficit in the world. Surprising?
Its a trend that has been developing over the last 10-15 years and looks setto worsen. Waht are the links to the country's moral decline
The Global Top 50
The following is a list of the world's 50 largest economies,
with their GDP figures. I will be examining
their balance of trade and balance of payments in
another post.
World's TOP 50 Largest Economy's
IN US $
► A list by Jonathan Province
Rating:
United States 9602bn
Japan 4519bn
Germany 2064bn
United Kingdom 1460bn
France 1438bn
Italy 1163bn
China 1063bn
Canada 650bn
Brazil 610bn
Spain 595bn
Mexico 497bn
India 455bn
South Korea 421bn
Netherlands 398bn
Australia 388bn
Taiwan 283bn
Argentina 276bn
Switzerland 274bn
Belgium 252bn
Russia 241bn
Sweden 241bn
Austria 205bn
Turkey 202bn
Denmark 172bn
Poland 162bn
Norway 155bn
Saudi Arabia 150bn
Finland 130bn
South Africa 129bn
Greece 126bn
Thailand 122bn
Indonesia 120bn
Portugal 111bn
Iran 107bn
Israel 104bn
Venezuela 104bn
Singapore 99.4
Egypt 95.4bn
Ireland 86bn
Colombia 85.3bn
Philippines 78.8bn
Malaysia 78.7bn
Burma (Myanmar) 73.9bn
Chile 69.9bn
Pakistan 61bn
Czech Republic 53.9bn
Peru 53.4bn
New Zealand 49.8bn
United Arab Emirates 48.7bn
Algeria 47.9bn
Note that Jamaica is not on this list.
Of course, GDP is not the only benchmark of economic success
or achievement, as we shall see
with their GDP figures. I will be examining
their balance of trade and balance of payments in
another post.
World's TOP 50 Largest Economy's
IN US $
► A list by Jonathan Province
Rating:
United States 9602bn
Japan 4519bn
Germany 2064bn
United Kingdom 1460bn
France 1438bn
Italy 1163bn
China 1063bn
Canada 650bn
Brazil 610bn
Spain 595bn
Mexico 497bn
India 455bn
South Korea 421bn
Netherlands 398bn
Australia 388bn
Taiwan 283bn
Argentina 276bn
Switzerland 274bn
Belgium 252bn
Russia 241bn
Sweden 241bn
Austria 205bn
Turkey 202bn
Denmark 172bn
Poland 162bn
Norway 155bn
Saudi Arabia 150bn
Finland 130bn
South Africa 129bn
Greece 126bn
Thailand 122bn
Indonesia 120bn
Portugal 111bn
Iran 107bn
Israel 104bn
Venezuela 104bn
Singapore 99.4
Egypt 95.4bn
Ireland 86bn
Colombia 85.3bn
Philippines 78.8bn
Malaysia 78.7bn
Burma (Myanmar) 73.9bn
Chile 69.9bn
Pakistan 61bn
Czech Republic 53.9bn
Peru 53.4bn
New Zealand 49.8bn
United Arab Emirates 48.7bn
Algeria 47.9bn
Note that Jamaica is not on this list.
Of course, GDP is not the only benchmark of economic success
or achievement, as we shall see
He blessed the food
The four gospels universally mention the above act in their
individual accounts of the Feeding of the 5000.
Moreover, the clear implication is that this act above all else
transformed the boy's meagre offering into a feast for the masses.
He blessed the food and gave thanks.
Thanksgiving - the key to God's favour
Prime minister Bruce Golding announced in his inauguration address a
National Hurricane Dean Clean-Up Day, and I'm recommending an annual
National Day of Thanksgiving. No need for a new holiday - it could be incorporated into National Heroes Day, or Labour Day.
The primary focus of this Day of Thanksgiving will be on the
nation's production and exports, in all sectors. It will do what
the National Prayer breakfast does, but will involve the entire nation
for the whole day.
Jesus took five loaves (domestic production) and two fish (imported inputs) and
by giving thanks, met the needs of thousands. With thanksgiving, The 5:2 Principle
applied today, can similarly meet the needs of multitudes around the world - and we can lead the way.
Next: Waste not
individual accounts of the Feeding of the 5000.
Moreover, the clear implication is that this act above all else
transformed the boy's meagre offering into a feast for the masses.
He blessed the food and gave thanks.
Thanksgiving - the key to God's favour
Prime minister Bruce Golding announced in his inauguration address a
National Hurricane Dean Clean-Up Day, and I'm recommending an annual
National Day of Thanksgiving. No need for a new holiday - it could be incorporated into National Heroes Day, or Labour Day.
The primary focus of this Day of Thanksgiving will be on the
nation's production and exports, in all sectors. It will do what
the National Prayer breakfast does, but will involve the entire nation
for the whole day.
Jesus took five loaves (domestic production) and two fish (imported inputs) and
by giving thanks, met the needs of thousands. With thanksgiving, The 5:2 Principle
applied today, can similarly meet the needs of multitudes around the world - and we can lead the way.
Next: Waste not
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