Fox News published an article about couples who are married. Loving money may not be good for your love life, according to research. Years of research show that materialism isn't great for anybody. Across the board, marriages with at least one materialistic spouse were worse off on all measures than marriages where neither spouse was materialistic. Non-materialistic couples had greater marriage stability and lower levels of conflict. Materialism often means spouses making bad financial decisions, spending beyond their means, getting in debt, and stressing each other out.
I found this article very interesting. I found this research to be very practical. The research also did not surprise me.
When I read this article I was reminded of the saying, "You can't buy happiness." This is so true. So many people think they will just be happy if they get this or that. However, they are wrong. Yes, they will be happy for just a brief period of time, but then it is never enough. They are never satisfied with what they have. They must always be getting something newer, bigger, or better. Learning contentment is an extremely hard task in today's society. We are constantly bombarded by companies and people pressuring us to get the latest or to buy this or that. When this happens in a marriage, just like the research shows, often spouses make bad financial decisions, spendbeyond their means, get in debt, and stress each other out. This is the formula for an unhappy marriage and one that will often end in divorce. If couples could learn that they do not need everything that the world tells them they need, then I believe they would find a much bigger and better sense of fulfilment.
So, are you content with what you have or do you have to have the biggest, best, and latest of everything? May we all strive to be content with what we have and learn that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Cards Tie Up
Fox News published an article this week about the St. Louis Cardinals and their loss against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night. The Brewers beat the Cardinals in St. Louis. This caused the Cards and Brewers to tie up in the NCLS Series 2-2. The Cardinals played tonight in St. Louis and won. The Cardinals won tonight 7-1. The Cards are now ahead 3-2 in the series. The Cardinals need to win one more game to play in the World Series.
Thursday nights game made me slightly upset. However, the Cardinals won tonight and I am so very glad that they did.
We stayed up last night waiting on play by play updates for the Cardinals. I was very upset when they lost last night. I was hoping they could win last night and then win again tonight in front of the home crowd and clinch the title. However, they will have to make another trip back to Milwaukee. Nevertheless, they won tonight and this makes me very happy. I just came from the hospital where my grandpa is currently staying due to a slight heart problem. We watched the game there with him and he was very excited that they won. I hope that they can pull through this and win this series. It would be amazing if they could win one more game and make a trip to the World Series. I know that it would make my grandpa very happy if they would do this. I look forward to watching them and seeing how they do. Hopefully they can pull it together and win this series without to much drama. Then, off to the World Series I hope we go!
So, are you a Cardinals fan? It would probably not be a good I idea if you said that you weren't.
Thursday nights game made me slightly upset. However, the Cardinals won tonight and I am so very glad that they did.
We stayed up last night waiting on play by play updates for the Cardinals. I was very upset when they lost last night. I was hoping they could win last night and then win again tonight in front of the home crowd and clinch the title. However, they will have to make another trip back to Milwaukee. Nevertheless, they won tonight and this makes me very happy. I just came from the hospital where my grandpa is currently staying due to a slight heart problem. We watched the game there with him and he was very excited that they won. I hope that they can pull through this and win this series. It would be amazing if they could win one more game and make a trip to the World Series. I know that it would make my grandpa very happy if they would do this. I look forward to watching them and seeing how they do. Hopefully they can pull it together and win this series without to much drama. Then, off to the World Series I hope we go!
So, are you a Cardinals fan? It would probably not be a good I idea if you said that you weren't.
Dead Sea Scrolls
Fox News published an article concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls this week. Twenty of the Dead Sea Scrolls will be coming to New York in a giant Times Square exhibit. The exhibit in Times Square will be starting next moth on October 28th. The exhibit will display 500 pieces, making it the largest collection of ancient artifacts ever to be on display outside of Israel. The display will contain sections from the Hebrew Bible, including the books of Genesis, Exodus and Psalms. The scrolls date back 2,000 years. The exhibit will move on to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in May 2012.
I found this article very interesting. I would love to go and visit this exhibit. I believe that it would be so interesting to see and learn about.
I was amazed to find out that this exhibit was coming to the United States. I was also excited to find out that the display would be so large. The exhibit will contain 500 pieces of the Dead Sea Scroll. This is a very large quantity that will be traveling outside of Israel. I love pieces of history like this. I know that I would absolutely love this exhibit. I find this so interesting for several reasons. First of all, I am a Christian and I read that Bible every day. Secondly, I love ancient artifacts like these that have been discovered. I find these artifacts so interesting. I love to hear the stories about how they were found and discovered as well as what they were used for in their day and age. I think that this would be a great thing to take your family to go see. I know that my family would love it. I think this would be a great teaching tool not only for teachers, but also for parents and churches. I think this would bring a new dimension to the Bible. I wish that there was some way that I could go and see this exhibit. However, I do not think I will be able to make it. Nevertheless, I still think anyone that can go, should go to the display.
How about you? Do you think you would find this interesting? Would you take your family to go see the Dead Sea Scrolls?
I found this article very interesting. I would love to go and visit this exhibit. I believe that it would be so interesting to see and learn about.
I was amazed to find out that this exhibit was coming to the United States. I was also excited to find out that the display would be so large. The exhibit will contain 500 pieces of the Dead Sea Scroll. This is a very large quantity that will be traveling outside of Israel. I love pieces of history like this. I know that I would absolutely love this exhibit. I find this so interesting for several reasons. First of all, I am a Christian and I read that Bible every day. Secondly, I love ancient artifacts like these that have been discovered. I find these artifacts so interesting. I love to hear the stories about how they were found and discovered as well as what they were used for in their day and age. I think that this would be a great thing to take your family to go see. I know that my family would love it. I think this would be a great teaching tool not only for teachers, but also for parents and churches. I think this would bring a new dimension to the Bible. I wish that there was some way that I could go and see this exhibit. However, I do not think I will be able to make it. Nevertheless, I still think anyone that can go, should go to the display.
How about you? Do you think you would find this interesting? Would you take your family to go see the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Young Adults Leaving the Church
The Washington Post published an article today concerning teens leaving churches. The article stated that many teens and young adults are leaving churches because they see them as judgmental and unfriendly. Many say that their Christian experience has been shallow and the they consider most congregations antagonistic to science. David Kinnaman has done of study of 1,296 young adults who were current or former churchgoers. Researchers found that 59 percent of young adults leave church life either permanently or for an extended period of time after age 15. One in four 18-29 year olds said, "Christians demonize everything outside of the church." One in three said, "Church is boring." Skepticism towards authority, Christianity, and the Bible have heightened due to the influx of technology. The world of young adults is changing in significant ways.
I found this article very interesting. I could talk about this topic for hours. So, I will try and keep my thoughts as short and clear as I possibly can in this next paragraph.
There is so much involved when it comes to topic of young adults and religion. What I believe the root to this whole problem is the Gospel and how it is being proclaimed. Today in United States, for the most part, we have so dumbed-down or watered-down the Gospel that it is really almost meaningless. Today, we see the Gospel being more man-centered, rather than Christ-centered. Many "preachers" or "evangelists" talk about how you can have your best life now or what Jesus can do for you. We quickly run past the fact that we are sinners and swiftly move to the part about how you can go to heaven and how Jesus will just give you what you need. The Gospel is only good news to sinners. We are all wicked, evil hopeless sinners. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). There is no one who seeks God (Romans 3:11). However, God in his infinite love and mercy, poured out his wrath upon his one and only perfect, sinless Son. Whoever will believe and put their trust in faith in Jesus will be saved (John 3:16). Those who are truly saved will be changed. Their life style, desires, associations, friends, music, entertainment, clothing, etc. will all be different from that of the world. They will bear fruit of their salvation (John 15). If there is not a changed life that desires the things of the Lord and not the things of the world, then you can be sure that they not saved, although ultimately that is up to God to say. This is not the Gospel that is preached today. We accept anything and everything. We don't make a stand for truth and what is right and wrong. Therefore, if someone does stand up and say that something is right or wrong, they are usually accused of being judgmental, when in fact they are just being biblical. I believe that if the true, unadjusted Gospel was preached from the pulpits today, then we would see many problems like this one diminish. There will always be problems because we are all sinners, but I think you would see a dramatic decrease. We need to quick watering-down our view of God and the Gospel, bring down our view of man, and elevate our view of God and his Word. I pray that church would wake up, be regenerated, and begin to proclaim and truly practice what the Word of God says.
What do you think? Are you a Christian that loves the ways of the Lord and not the world? Or, are you not a follower of Christ and would like to become one? Either way, I plead with you to cling to Christ for the rock of your salvation, and not the world.
I found this article very interesting. I could talk about this topic for hours. So, I will try and keep my thoughts as short and clear as I possibly can in this next paragraph.
There is so much involved when it comes to topic of young adults and religion. What I believe the root to this whole problem is the Gospel and how it is being proclaimed. Today in United States, for the most part, we have so dumbed-down or watered-down the Gospel that it is really almost meaningless. Today, we see the Gospel being more man-centered, rather than Christ-centered. Many "preachers" or "evangelists" talk about how you can have your best life now or what Jesus can do for you. We quickly run past the fact that we are sinners and swiftly move to the part about how you can go to heaven and how Jesus will just give you what you need. The Gospel is only good news to sinners. We are all wicked, evil hopeless sinners. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). There is no one who seeks God (Romans 3:11). However, God in his infinite love and mercy, poured out his wrath upon his one and only perfect, sinless Son. Whoever will believe and put their trust in faith in Jesus will be saved (John 3:16). Those who are truly saved will be changed. Their life style, desires, associations, friends, music, entertainment, clothing, etc. will all be different from that of the world. They will bear fruit of their salvation (John 15). If there is not a changed life that desires the things of the Lord and not the things of the world, then you can be sure that they not saved, although ultimately that is up to God to say. This is not the Gospel that is preached today. We accept anything and everything. We don't make a stand for truth and what is right and wrong. Therefore, if someone does stand up and say that something is right or wrong, they are usually accused of being judgmental, when in fact they are just being biblical. I believe that if the true, unadjusted Gospel was preached from the pulpits today, then we would see many problems like this one diminish. There will always be problems because we are all sinners, but I think you would see a dramatic decrease. We need to quick watering-down our view of God and the Gospel, bring down our view of man, and elevate our view of God and his Word. I pray that church would wake up, be regenerated, and begin to proclaim and truly practice what the Word of God says.
What do you think? Are you a Christian that loves the ways of the Lord and not the world? Or, are you not a follower of Christ and would like to become one? Either way, I plead with you to cling to Christ for the rock of your salvation, and not the world.
Radio Telescope Snaps First Photo
Fox News published an article about the world's most complex radio telescope. This complex telescope snapped it's first picture of the cosmos and it is stunning. After years of construction, the ground-based telescope has captured it first photo from South America. The Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array, or ALMA, has officially opened for business in the Chilean Andes. The picture that was taken and released shows the Antennae Galaxies and a pair of colliding spiral galaxies found about 70 million light years away.
I found this article completely fascinating. I love seeing pictures of the universe and other galaxies. I have mentioned in previous posts that I am somewhat of a "space" nerd. Therefore, I find this article completely fascinating and amazing.
I love to look at pictures that have been taken by telescopes, like the Hubble Telescope and this telescope. I am just fascinated and in awe of the vastness and immensity of the universe. I love the Bible verse from Psalm 19:1 that states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the skies proclaim the work of his hands." I believe that this is why I stand in such awe of outer space. I serve the God who cannot be contained. He is not bound by space. When I think about how God created the universe, my mind is just blown away. This particular picture was 70 million light years away. When I think about how I serve a God who is larger and far greater than the universe (because he created it), I am left in awe and I must worship and praise him. When I look at this picture, all I can think about is the majesty of God. My God is completely in control at all times, he is not bound by time or space, he is far greater than I, and he does not need me. However, I am beyond indebted to him because he choose to use me. My God does not need me to defend him. He does a perfect job of defending himself; just look at this picture. When I look at this picture, I am made to worship. Therefore, I will worship the Lord, my God, the rock of my salvation.
What do you think about when you look at this picture? Do you see the majesty of God or do you see just a bunch of colors that happen to be stars? I pray that you are caused to worship and adore the Lord our God as you gaze upon his workmanship.
Missing Missouri Baby Dispute
Fox News published an article concerning a missing baby in Missouri this week. A 10-month-old baby girl was reportedly stolen from her crib in her home in Missouri. As of Thursday, the parents of the baby have stopped working with investigators. The couple said that the baby was abducted form their home sometime Monday night or early Tuesday after her mother put her in her crib and before the father got home. They also claimed that whoever took the baby also stole their cellphones. This has not produced any leads for the police. The police have searched a heavily wooded area near the home, sewers, and an industrial park near the home. However, they have been unsuccessful. Investigators will continue to search for the missing baby as they get new leads and they will do their best to find her.
I found this story very sad. This is just a bad situation all around and I do not wish for anyone to ever have to go through this. I hope that they are able to find the baby alive and discover just what happened to this tiny girl.
No matter which way you look at this, this is just a bad situation for everyone. It is always hard to know who to believe and what to believe in situations like this. There are so many crazy people in the world, even though we are all crazy in our own way. There have been countless situations like this throughout my lifetime alone. Everyone is always so skeptical of things anymore that you don't know how or what to believe. You don't know if you should believe the parents or be against them. I do know that it is too early in the investigation to start pointing fingers at any one person or people. However, I do realize that there are morbid and cruel people in this world and that you have to be aware of the possibility of the parents being responsible for this event. Even if the parents are not responsible, it doesn't look good that they have stopped cooroperating with the investigators and that the information that they gave them concerning their cell phones has not produced any leads. Either way, I just hope that they can find this baby girl soon and alive. Putting aside who did what, this is about finding that baby girl, and her being okay. This is such a terrible and frustrating situation that I hope that no one ever has to go through this. I cannot imagine the stress and frustration that this has to cause for both the family and investigators.
I hope that they can find this baby girl soon and that she will be alive. I cannot imagine what it would be like to go through this situation. I will be awaiting any information concerning this case and I hope that they are able to find her well and safe.
I found this story very sad. This is just a bad situation all around and I do not wish for anyone to ever have to go through this. I hope that they are able to find the baby alive and discover just what happened to this tiny girl.
No matter which way you look at this, this is just a bad situation for everyone. It is always hard to know who to believe and what to believe in situations like this. There are so many crazy people in the world, even though we are all crazy in our own way. There have been countless situations like this throughout my lifetime alone. Everyone is always so skeptical of things anymore that you don't know how or what to believe. You don't know if you should believe the parents or be against them. I do know that it is too early in the investigation to start pointing fingers at any one person or people. However, I do realize that there are morbid and cruel people in this world and that you have to be aware of the possibility of the parents being responsible for this event. Even if the parents are not responsible, it doesn't look good that they have stopped cooroperating with the investigators and that the information that they gave them concerning their cell phones has not produced any leads. Either way, I just hope that they can find this baby girl soon and alive. Putting aside who did what, this is about finding that baby girl, and her being okay. This is such a terrible and frustrating situation that I hope that no one ever has to go through this. I cannot imagine the stress and frustration that this has to cause for both the family and investigators.
I hope that they can find this baby girl soon and that she will be alive. I cannot imagine what it would be like to go through this situation. I will be awaiting any information concerning this case and I hope that they are able to find her well and safe.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Criminals: Church or Jail?
Fox News published an article about a town in Alabama in which non-violent criminals can either choose to go to church or serve time in jail. Authorities say that Operation Restore Our Community begins next week. The city judge will allow non-violent criminals to choose between going to church every Sunday for a year or pay off their sentence either by serving time in jail or paying a fine. If the offenders decide to go to church, they must check in weekly with the pastor of the particular church and then the police department as well. If the offender goes to church for a year, then the case will be dismissed. Bay Minette Police Chief Mike Rowland says that the program could change lives that are headed down the wrong path. So far 56 churches are committing to the program.
I found this article very interesting. I thought that the program was a neat and great idea if used in the correct way.
Today in society, countless numbers of individuals are place in jail for all sorts of crimes. Many of these individuals seem to just return time and time again to the jails throughout their entire life. Their problems or behaviors are usually not solved, but rather just kept to a manageable state until they can get back out into the world and act the same way they did before. By giving the option of either going to a church for a year or going to jail/paying a fine, I think there might be more success stories. While just going to church does not save a person or necessarily change them, we can pray that they will be confronted with the gospel and their sin and in turn dedicate their life to Christ. God is the only one who can change their life, so hopefully by attending a church for a year, many individuals will become transformed by God's saving grace. I think that this is a much better idea than just putting people through jail time and time again. It would be interesting to see how the level of crime and those going in and out of jail is affected by this program. I think this is a great idea as long as the churches participating are Biblically driven, Gospel-saturated churches. I would love to see more programs like these implemented in towns and cities all over the United States.
How about you, do you think this is a good idea or not? Do you think this will have a positive or negative affect on the community?
I found this article very interesting. I thought that the program was a neat and great idea if used in the correct way.
Today in society, countless numbers of individuals are place in jail for all sorts of crimes. Many of these individuals seem to just return time and time again to the jails throughout their entire life. Their problems or behaviors are usually not solved, but rather just kept to a manageable state until they can get back out into the world and act the same way they did before. By giving the option of either going to a church for a year or going to jail/paying a fine, I think there might be more success stories. While just going to church does not save a person or necessarily change them, we can pray that they will be confronted with the gospel and their sin and in turn dedicate their life to Christ. God is the only one who can change their life, so hopefully by attending a church for a year, many individuals will become transformed by God's saving grace. I think that this is a much better idea than just putting people through jail time and time again. It would be interesting to see how the level of crime and those going in and out of jail is affected by this program. I think this is a great idea as long as the churches participating are Biblically driven, Gospel-saturated churches. I would love to see more programs like these implemented in towns and cities all over the United States.
How about you, do you think this is a good idea or not? Do you think this will have a positive or negative affect on the community?
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