Weed

1,000 Thanks

Part 3.

As before, click the title for the previous post

21. Sovereign Grace of Orange County. Simply put, I love this church and my brothers and sisters there

22. tea. I love how many different aromas and tastes I can put in my mug. Tonight: Chocolated flavoured black tea (decaf!) from Fresh n Easy

23. toothpaste. really. I LOVE the taste and smell of toothpaste, and the way it makes my mouth feel clean. Yes, I am strange?

24. the Ocean. the grey, the blue, the green. the salt-air. the lullaby of the waves. the sunsets.

25. blankets

26. Phở

27. snuggly sleepy babies

28. hugs. real hold-you-close hugs.

29. chilly night air

30. the Bible. words of life

Affluence

Recently, I wanted to see what the dictionary definition of affluence.

When I Googled it, I found a site, affluence.org, that is a social network for those with net worth exceeds $3 million or whose annual income is upwards of $300,000.

Yeah, a million's not enough.

While it's true that financial status can naturally separate persons, without any conscious decision, I find it disheartening that there is a whole social network dedicated to exclusitivity. 

Hip-Hop Lies [REMIX]

Oraia's piece, Hip-Hop lies



This gal is legit.

Be disillusioned by the things of this world. Follow your hunger for more. Don't merely have Christianity. Have Christ. There is no life apart from Christ. Live by his words, his words of life. be alive. Alive in Christ, dead to sin. Dead to self.

Kitties!

No one ever taught him how cats normally sit

ooooooh! look, a tail!

if you are what you eat, this cat must love pears!

slouchy cat

Ribbon, aka Yoda

Walter and Jack

Macabbee howls when we call the cats.

Pibbsy begging at the table

Wally and Jack

testing gravity

beware the fat cat!

??

I have no idea. . .

Quest for Compassion

If you have/know elementary-aged kids, Quest for Compassion is a great way for them to learn about poverty and Compassion's work around the world. 

screenshot--users choose an avatar. facts "pop-up" after clicking on various objects 

Paired with the study guide, this site will educate kids about the state of the world and what Compassion is doing to better it.     Trust me, it's a lot better and far more relevant than what you learned in 7th grade social studies.

Why Buy Interstate Batteries?

A number of months ago, I was warned that my car's battery was on its way out and it would be necessary to buy a new one. I've had my car for 3 years and the battery (an Interstate) was in it at the time; however I am unsure of its age.

I did my research and found that Interstate and Costco have the best batteries both in the opinions of customer and expert reviewers (such as Consumer Reports).

A couple of weeks ago, my car's battery was drained when my fan ran for hours. Though I realised it was not the battery, but the fan causing the problem, I decided to purchase a battery. I chose Costco because of the ease, the price, and their reputation. My fan decided not to act up again after that day (yet) so I've had no other problems.

I would, however, purchase an Interstate next time (provided the cost is comparable and it is feasible to do so) because of the policies by which Interstate operates.

Here is their mission statement:

"To glorify God as we supply our customers worldwide with top quality, value-priced batteries, related electrical power-source products, and distribution services. Further, our mission is to provide our partners and team members with opportunities which are profitable, rewarding and growth-oriented." 

and their philosophy:

"To treat others as we want to be treated: treating all our business associates with respect, fairness, and integrity; caring for and listening to them; professionally serving them; always being a model of working hard and striving toward excellence." 

http://corporate.interstatebatteries.com/norm_miller/testimony/

I would rather support a company such as Interstate that has the same values I have and supports things I agree with.

There's nothing like seeing a company that claims Christian principles and actually backs it up by delivering superior goods.

Love

It was said by François de la Rochefoucald that, "true love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen." When it comes to human relationships, I would say that this is true and we are unable to exemplify a pure, selfless, undying love. I have, however, heard of and experienced a love so far beyond what I am capable of imagining or giving.

Jesus said during a Passover seder in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." Just hours later, he allowed himself to be crucified in an act of unconditional love. Pilate, the governor officiating over the trial of Jesus, determined Jesus to be without fault, yet there were Jews who still demanded he be crucified. Pilate complied. Though he was blameless, Jesus went to his death willingly, in order that people would be able to escape Hell, which is proclaimed to be the consequence of disobedience to any of the 613 Mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah. The death of this one faultless man was to replace thousands of years of sacrifice and atonement, so that people could receive grace freely.

As the imperfect human I am, I find the degree of love exemplified by Jesus to be above my capacity to comprehend or realise. I am awed by the willingness of a man, whom I've never seen, to die in order that I might not be (justly) condemned.

The love of Jesus is my model for relationships I have; however, despite my greatest attempts, I find that I still value my needs over my friends'. Though it is sometimes disheartening, I press on, seeking to align myself as much as possible with my example, and come to be honoured by the love which I am freely given. I have devoted my life to the attainment of unconditional love. I, in light of such an example, am willing to lay aside that which I naturally desire in order to honour Jesus. As Isaac Watts penned, "Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all."

Tell Me Why

• One person in seven battles hunger every day
• Approximately 963 million people across the world are hungry
• More than 9 million children under age 5 die every year, and malnutrition accounts for more than one-third of these deaths. Most of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
• About 5.6 million deaths of children worldwide are related to under-nutrition. This accounds for 53 percent of the total deaths for children under 5.
• More than 140 million or 25 percent of all children in developing countries are underweight and at risk form the long-term effects of malnourishment.
• Nearly 15 percent of babies in developing countries are born with low birth weight compared with only 7 percent of babies in industrialised countries. 
• More than 6 million children die from malnutrition each year
• Worldwide, 161 million preschool children suffer from chronic malnutrition
• Already 923 million people worldwide are undernourished, and there are more than 9 million deaths related to hunger each year.

From Compassion. Click the title for the original link

www.fpg.org, www.unicef.org, www.whoint.org, www.un.org February 2009

I don't understand why this is happening. Do I question God for it? Maybe a little. But I know it's a result of sin, and thus a result of man's choice, so really my question is, "why are WE letting this happen?"

When you read things like this, what happens?  

Do you try to visualise the numbers? Do you read it like a news story and just move on to the next? Do you suddenly feel like skipping breakfast is nothing more than a minute inconvenience?

Do you tear up? Do you tell someone? Are you changed?

I'll admit it.  I'm desensitised to death. I know it happens, and I know it often happens prematurely. Off the top of my head, I could list at least 4 people I've met or known who died before 40. But what if instead of living in one of the richest parts of the world, I and everyone I know was subject to these same rates? I'd say I've known at least 500 people. Were we subject to these rates, in my 21 years, I would have seen 11 people die of hunger alone.  I don't know a single person who's even suffered from malnutrition, much less died of it! With these same rates, 66 people I know would be under-nourished, 4 of them on my mom's side of the family. I can't imagine watching 4 of my family members suffer from malnutrition.

Sometimes I have to make it personal to be motivated to do anything about it. These are God's created beings, his children that are dying. There is no need for these children to starve; rather there is only a desperate need that we who have plenty share with those who little. Is it really that hard? I find in this culture and especially in Orange County I am just sickened by our lifestyles. As my friend Crystal said, it's Babylon.

I am convinced this is not God's plan for us, so can someone please tell me why this is happening?