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

"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

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"

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

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

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

Too Many Ministers?

Well, new Jmaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding today
released his Cabinet appointees. the names came at in a rush on the nightly news,
but the number I heard clearly - 18 in all, including at least three (if not four)
Ministers Without Portfolio.
This contradicts somewhat - if one discounts the MWPs, and we're not trying to discount them on a personal basis - Mr Golding's earlier profession of maximum 14
ministers, not to mention that it goes against my recommendation of 12.

I'll return soon with the next instalment, He blessed the food.

How much do we have?

That was the question Jesus asked in Mark 6 v 38. This was in response
To his disciples own protestations when he instructed them to give the followers,
over 5,000 in number, something to eat.
“Should we go out and spend a year’s wages on bread to feed them? They asked of Jesus.
John’s Gospel (ch 6 v 5) identifies Phillip as the disciple who asks the question and makes the claim of a year’s wages. Clearly, the disciples weren’t too keen on taking
Responsibility for this multitude, but Jesus already had a clear strategy.
“How much do we have?’ he asked. “Go and see.”
The lesson for us economically is that we need to carefully take stock of our resources before stating that a particular need cannot be met. This, I believe also applies to extensive external borrowing, which is presently causing immense hardship for many,
and moreover, is stifling the innate resourcefulness and creative spirit of the people.

Government officials, especially the Cabinet members, need to take more time to go out
around the country, identify resources, particularly in the massive yet largely untapped
cultural/historical sphere, and then proceed to the next step. Increased domestic enterprise will reduce the need for expensive external debt by providing greater revenue inflows, as was stated by the then Opposition Spokesman on Finance during the pre-Electoral debates.


The youth have the answer
Amidst all the all adults present, (at least 5000 males and more females), it was a boy, most likely under the bar mitzvah age of 12 and therefore most likely not even counted
in the numbering process, who provided the basics.
Too often, the youth and their ideas are discounted (I know I have been guilty of this), and in a nation where the vast majority of the population (some 60% if I recall the last Census) is under 25, we continue to ignore the youth to our peril. In the hands of a boy lay the simple formula for feeding the nation.
I propose that each member of the Cabinet retains a youth advisor, and the existing linkages through such institutions as the National Youth Service, the Police Youth Clubs, church youth groups (it goes without saying that every church operating in this nation must have a vibrant Youth ministry) must be strengthened. Youth that are organised and motivated in a healthy way, will hardly turn to crime. This time of organisation and motivation (in an unhealthy way) is almost exactly what the dons of the inner cities offer.
Organisations like the Young Entrepreneurs and the youth arms of the major political parties also need to be strengthened and encouraged, by the Government, as well as by media.


Next: He blessed the food

Make them sit down

Now that the election has been essentially decided, the time is
especially fruitful for expounding on the 5:2 principle.
This time out, the element of order, as established in the
feeding of the 5000.
No progress, whether economic or social, is possible in a state of disorder.
Jesus gave the instruction, not only for the people to sit down - bringing
everyone to the same level(regardless of social station) - he insisted that they
be formed into groups of 50, each group thus representing about 1/100th of the
total numbered(the men, that is).
Putting that in the Jamaican context, that equates to a minimum administrative
group of between 25 and 30 thousand persons.
furhter, I'm suggesting the Cabinet be limited to 12 ministers - with Junior Ministers of State apportioned in accordance with the burden represented by the particualr Ministry (thus some may have only one, while others have two, and others still a maximum of three Juniors.
I am also proposing the merger of the existing Kingston & St Andrew Corporation withthe Portmore Municipal Council to form a Ferdal Metropolitan (Metro)District.
irecognise this will engender harsh resistance from Portmore interests, but I believe would be in the ebst interest of the nation and would in fact acknowledge the conurbation that is already underway and being accelerated via the new road network. The increased revenues tothe state would then be usd for the proper development and re-development of the areas encompassed, including downtown Kingston, Prot Royal and Greater Portmore.
This would mean the existence of 12 parish Councils plus the Federal Metro District.
Such a structure would then facilitate the implementation of the 5:2 principle through the following strategies as revealed in Scripture.

next: How much do we have? & the youth have the solutions

Five from the land, two from the sea

Here is where the revelation of the 5:2 principle first comes into play.

In the various gospel accounts, the disciples acknowledge early on that what they have in hand is five barley loaves and two fish, nowhere near enough to feed such a large gathering.

Five loaves = harvested from grain = domestic production;
Two fish = taken from the sea = imported input;

Thus the ratio for economic provision (especially food sufficiency) is two units of imported inputs for every five units of domestic production.

It may seem that having provided this formula, the discourse could end here, but as we'll see, there is so much more to what God intended.

Place, time & people

Bethsaida
Generally translated as the 'house of fish'
The Gospel writer also emphasise the remoteness of the place.
In Mark's and Luke's versions, the disciples entreat Jesus to send
the people away to the "closest villages and farms" Bible scholars place
Bethsaida - one of three cities cursed by Jesus - on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, with the other two cities , Chorazin (Korazin) and Capernaum, in fairly close proximity.
John further states that that there was plenty of grass to accommodate the people when Jesus commanded them to sit down (more on that in a later post), thus dismissing the 'desert' interpretation that some have put forward for the use of the word 'wilderness'

John also states that it was the time of the Passover, the first month of the Jewish year (March into April).

There were at least 5000 men and an indeterminate number of women and children,
since the contemporary custom (linked, according to the book of Numbers and other references, to military service) meant that only able-bodied males were counted in any census.
Of course, there was also Jesus and his 12 disciples.

next: From the land and from the sea

The story x 4

Following are the four Gospel accounts of the 5,000 feeding, beginning with Matthew 14: v 15-21:
As evening approached the disciples came to Him and said, "This is a remote place and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about 5000 men besides women and children.


Mark 6: v 30-44The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ 37But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii* worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’ 38And he said to them, ‘How many loaves have you? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ 39Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42And all ate and were filled; 43and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.

Luke 9: v 10-16When 1 the apostles returned, 2 they told Jesus 3 everything they had done. Then 4 he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town 5 called Bethsaida. 6 9:11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He 7 welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, 8 and cured those who needed healing. 9 9:12 Now the day began to draw to a close, 10 so 11 the twelve came and said to Jesus, 12 “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging 13 and food, because we are in an isolated place.” 14 9:13 But he said to them, “You 15 give them something to eat.” They 16 replied, 17 “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unless 18 we go 19 and buy food 20 for all these people.” 9:14 (Now about five thousand men 21 were there.) 22 Then 23 he said to his disciples, “Have 24 them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 9:15 So they did as Jesus directed, 25 and the people 26 all sat down.
Then 27 he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks 28 and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over 29 was picked up – twelve baskets of broken pieces.

John 6: v 1-13

After this 1 Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias). 2 6:2 A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick. 6:3 So Jesus went on up the mountainside 3 and sat down there with his disciples. 6:4 (Now the Jewish feast of the Passover 4 was near.) 5 6:5 Then Jesus, when he looked up 6 and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?” 6:6 (Now Jesus 7 said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.) 8 6:7 Philip replied, 9 “Two hundred silver coins worth 10 of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.” 6:8 One of Jesus’ disciples, 11 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 6:9 “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good 12 are these for so many people?”

6:10 Jesus said, “Have 13 the people sit down.” (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.) 14 So the men 15 sat down, about five thousand in number. 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, 16 as much as they wanted. 6:12 When they were all satisfied, Jesus 17 said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.” 6:13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves 18 left over by the people who had eaten.

Intro

The miraculous feeding of the 5,000 (and this is only the number of men; the women and children were not numbered in accordance with contemporary custom)is the ONLY miracle of provision performed by Jesus that is mentioned in all four Gospels.
WHY?
That very same question came up for me one night while reading the account in Luke (Ch 9: v10-16) and prompted the pursuit of further revelation and knowledge that has led to this blog.
I'll share what God has given me about the feeding of the 5000 and specifically the ratio of five (5) loaves to two (2) fish
Stay with me on this journey to economic provision -God's way - for all nations.