CHICAGO, IL (July 6, 2018) – Covenanters routinely share links to social media articles and videos that Covenant News Service believes may be of interest to others. Each Friday we post five of them. Following is a sample of those submissions—their inclusion does not represent an endorsement by the Covenant of any views expressed.
World Cup Stoppage Time Is Wildly Inaccurate
The website FiveThirtyEight comes through again with a fascinating statistical analysis that is easy for anyone to read. Part of the discussion involves the pressure on referees not to get it right because doing it correctly would be so at variance with current practice.
From the article: “That referees are awarding an average of six minutes less than what should be included in added time is substantial. These are often the most valuable minutes in a game. Through Tuesday, 16 goals were scored in added time of either half, or 15 percent of all goals. In fact, the only goal in that Morocco vs. Iran game came in the 95th minute.”
Scot McKnight: What Do I Think About Willow
The sexual harassment claims against Bill Hybels were disturbing, but former North Park University scholar Scot McKnight, who previously attended Willow Creek, writes that the church’s response is a disturbing lesson in how churches should not respond when claims are made.
From the article: “Willow Creek’s leadership should have chosen to seek the truth at all costs, patiently listened to the stories of each woman in a safe environment, asked the congregation to await its findings, and only then gone public. But Willow’s leadership chose early on not to proceed in this way and seems intent on getting this story behind them as quickly as possible. What they most needed and what they still need is a genuinely independent investigation…. I believe the women.”
Robot Is Chef at New Burger Joint
Although there will be fewer workers, they will be paid a lot more than employees at most restaurants. Still, the pay being offered at this San Francisco restaurant falls several dollars short of what MIT considers a livable wage for a single person in the city. It is easy to understand the trepidation felt during the industrial revolution.
From the article: “‘Overall, what we’re doing is reducing the cost of food,’ says (Alex Vardakostas, restaurant cofounder and CEO.) ‘That’s something that’s positive for everybody. When it comes to a discussion of, hey, let’s try to keep people in a position of flipping burgers, I’m kind of incredulous–why the hell are we asking that question? Why aren’t we trying to figure out how to get those people to do something that’s more fulfilling, more human-centered, more creative, and more social?’”
India Faces Worst Water Crisis
Cape Town, South Africa, has been facing a similar unimanginable crisis.
From the article: “More than 20 cities, including New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai, will run out of groundwater by 2020, affecting 100 million people, according to the report.
Agricultural baskets, states that are home to 50 percent of the population, are the low performers in the government policy body’s Water Index, that could pose a “significant food security risk” for India.”
Features of a Better Argument
Former presidential speech writer Eric Liu recently laid out five best practices for arguing well, so that the country can move past the bitterness that seems to divide us more each day. They are great ideas. Actually getting people to do them – that’s the hard part. It would be great if the church would lead by example.
From the article: “Rather than seeking victory, the goal should be truth-seeking, with a reinstitution of civility in service of achieving it. Participants are charged with arguing in order to better understand.”
