giving

From Rick Atchley:

In the March issue of Science magazine, the University of British Colombia and Harvard University published a study called Money Can Buy Happiness. These two Universities did very extensive research and here's what they found: that there is no marginal register of improved happiness just by getting more money. You can take a person, they said, making $45,000 and suddenly raise him to $100,000 a year and there is no noticeable improvement in their marriage or in anything in their life that brings them happiness; in fact it seems the stress levels go up. But they did find out money can buy happiness. They published and said, "What we learned is it's not having more money, it's how you spend the money you have. We learned that even just as little as $5 a day given away to help a kid go to camp, to help a needy lady pay an electric bill, will markedly increase a person's personal happiness." And so the most esteemed learning institution in our country has published in Science magazine a study with this conclusion: It's more blessed to give than to receive.

I thought 2000 years ago somebody said that...


I would like to insert my opinions in here in the form of articles I read, so feel free to ignore these. I am a fan of Nicholos Kristof, who happened to live in China for several years, and he writes about the reputation of the U.S., and the effect Obama will have on that. Also, a recent endorsement McCain is not bragging about.

Think About It

They know us by the t-shirts that we wear
They know us by the way we point and stare
At anyone whose sin looks worse than ours
Who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bear

They know us by our picket lines and signs
They know us by the pride we hide behind
Like anyone on earth is living right
And isn’t that why [He] died
Not to make us think we’re right

When love, love, love
Is what we should be known for
love, love, love
It’s the how and it’s the why
We live and breathe and we die

They know us by reasons we divide
And how we can’t seem to unify
Because we’ve gotta sing songs a certain style
Or we’ll walk right down that aisle
And just leave ‘em all behind

They know us by the billboards that we make
Just turning [His]words to cheap clichés
Says “what part of murder don’t you understand?”
But we hate our fellow man
And point a finger at his grave

When love, love, love
Is what we should be known for
love, love, love
It’s the how and it’s the why
We live and breathe and we die

They know us by the t-shirts that we wear
They know us by the way we point and stare
Telling ‘em their sins are worse than ours
Thinking we can hide our scars
Beneath these t-shirts that we wear

Sorry that politics is all I talk about

I am very curious why people who are complaining about the economy can still manage to donate $600 million to campaign funds. How in the world did we reach the point we are at, and when will it end?

I'm pretty disappointed in Bush for deciding to keep Guantánamo
Bay open. Not that I wasn't already disappointed in him though.

From the debate:

"Were gonna have to embrace a culture and an ethic of responsibility. All of us, corporations, the Federal Government, and individuals out there who may be living beyond their means."

Agreed.

If anyone actually reads this, I would appreciate your opinion on the subject of "spreading the wealth around" that was approached by Senator McCain in accusation of Senator Obama. I have my own opinions that are not yet fully formed and very possibly erroneous. I'd love yours.

Some thoughts from today

I have discovered that I don't want China to change. I know that I'm too late. That much has changed already and that more change is inevitable. I walk around and I see girls holding hands with their girlfriends in such an innocent expression of friendship. It's totally unacceptable in America and yet I treasure it. I see the butt of a waddling toddler hanging out of his split pants and it brings me uncontrollable amusement every time. Already you can see the old blending with the new. An old man carries a basket of vegetables on his back as he is passed by honking taxis and motorcycles. The vegetable market that is spread out on blankets by my front door every morning is only a block away from a supermarket where all their goods and more can be found. I love the heartfelt hospitality of the Chinese people. They are unequaled in their efforts to make you feel welcome. As much as it grosses some people out, I appreciate that it's acceptable to spit in public. In a way, it brings a sense of freedom. There are less rules about many things, and many more about others. In America you could never ride three people to a motorcycle. But that sure is a way to LIVE! I think if all the world were like China I should hate it. But the beauty lies in the diversity. YHWH gave us so much to see and do that we can never experience it all, and that is what is so wonderful about trying new things and knowing that just around the corner is something even more incredible.

Paul was a wise man

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Sine we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
For HIS love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded HIM in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in HIM, there is a new creation: The old has gone, the new has come! All this is from HIM, who reconciled us to himself through his Son and gave us the job of reconciliation. We are therefore His ambassadors, as though He were making his appeal through us. We implore you on His behalf: Be reconciled to Him.