We had an interesting discussion in our Organizational Behavior class this afternoon. With all the scandals in the business world, there is a push towards "ethical" leadership. We are studying a chapter over Leadership. Our discussion question to start the class was, "How can we expect anyone without moral absolutes to act in any way other than self-centered?"

In 1 Corinthians 15:32 Paul said:
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what
advantage is it to me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow
we die.

In-other-words, if this world is all that we have, why should we not just live a hedonistic, me-first lifestyle? To think that we should live a "moral" life when there are no morals simply does not make sense.

We then discussed how, without an absolute standard, all morality is simply relative. It changes as the wind blows. You have your morals and I have mine.

A study came out recently stating that greater than one in four teenage girls have an STD. Planned Parenthood responded that abstinence programs simply aren't working. Really? Neither is the "war on drugs" working. I hate to agree with Planned Parenthood on anything; but, abstinence programs aren't working. Why do we expect children who are trained in moral relativity all day long to do other than what pleases them? Why do we expect them to not just eat and drink, for tomorrow we die? Why do we expect that one or two hours of church will give them what they need to fight against the sexual perversions that are prevalent in our society?

Finally, when there are no moral absolutes we lose the need for redemption. If we haven't "sinned" why do we need a Savior? Let us hold firm to the absolutes of Scripture! For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Praise the Lord that we have a big Savior!

Finance Opinion

There is a wonderful story of God's provision for His people in the book of Genesis (41). You know the story--God gives Pharaoh a dream of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. After interpreting Pharaoh's dream, Joseph gave an outline of how to provide sustenance for the years of famine. Please note that Joseph did not say, "Don't worry about it Oh Great King, God will provide supernaturally for our needs." God had already begun His supernatural provision by giving the dream to Pharaoh. God expected Joseph to use his gifts, abilities, and hard work to accomplish His sovereign will. Joseph worked diligently for seven years to provide for the coming needs of Egypt in the great famine to follow.

God uses our gifts, abilities, circumstances, and hard work to accomplish His will for our lives.

Joseph wasn't told that his seven years of hard work would also accomplish God's provision for his own family--sustaining the line of Messiah-- when they could not take care of their own needs.

God uses our gifts, abilities, circumstances, and hard work to accomplish His will for others when they are unable to provide for themselves.

Joseph's plan entailed saving up 20% of the grain each year for seven years in order to provide enough for the seven years of famine. Through careful planning and hard work, Joseph accomplished God's will...he saved both Egypt and his own people.

I am certainly not a prophet and have not had a vision/dream from God. However, I do know that God uses our "plenty" to accomplish His will, both for our lives and for those who presently can't provide for their own needs.

We need to use our plenty to provide for ourselves, our families, our churches, our friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world, to the glory of God.

We live in a land of plenty, at least I do. I have a desktop computer, a laptop computer, another computer at work; we have four cell phones, two cars, a microwave, books aplenty, CDs, DVDs, an extra freezer, etc. This is a land of plenty. Like Joseph, I am to save from my plenty to provide for my family and for those who currently can't provide for themselves.

Are you saving your plenty or consuming like the world around you? I John 2:15-17

D3 National Champs

The Howard Payne University Lady Jackets won the D3 National Title today, beating Messiah 68-54. It is the University's first national title. Congratulations to the Lady Jackets. By-the-way, they have a team GPA greater than 3.0.

Budget

I have read articles that bemoan the pain that rising gasoline prices are putting on families in our country. Families now can't afford to get further into debt because they have to pay their increasing gasoline (and food) bills.

The real problem is that America is up to its eyeballs in debt! People can't afford any additional expenses because they systematically (more than) maximize their income. The problem isn't with income, the problem is with spending.

We budget $200 per month for gasoline, and never use that much unless we go on trips. When we go on trips, we use our Vacation budget account for gas. A 10% rise in gas prices raises our potential gasoline expenditure by $20 a month. Not earth-shattering by any means. If you spend $1,000 per month on gas, this will raise your expenditures by $100 per month...also not an earth-shattering figure-->unless you've maxed everything else out and are already spending more than you earn. We do have a negative savings rate in our country, by-the-way.

I've made financial mistakes in the past and will probably make more in the future. This is one thing I am certain of: Having a budget that is less than you actually make is much better than spending more than you earn.

Don't expect a government bailout if you can't afford to pay an additional $20-$100 in gasoline. Bailouts are reserved for those who are monumentally more stupid and/or greedy!

Mediocrity

As a teacher I see much mediocrity, some real excellence, and some real failure. This is a blog about coffee, however, not education.

I don't drink caffeinated beverages any more due to a heart-rhythm problem. I do, none-the-less, still like a bracing cup of decaf, especially when I am reading/studying. As you well know, prices are going up, up, up. Even coffee prices! The shop where I purchase my decaf coffee beans is raising the price. From $5.00 per half pound to $6.50. That is a 30% rise in the cost of coffee beans in a single movement. As I drink one of the last few cups from a $5.00 bag, I ponder, "Should I switch to Folgers?"

Please understand, coffee isn't just a beverage, it represents higher values...the search for excellence and the rejection of mediocrity.

We use filtered water in which to brew the coffee. We use a Chemex coffee maker. We also have a home coffee-bean roaster and have purchased green coffee beans with which to brew our coffee. You get the picture.

James 1:17 says, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Much of my life has been replete with the tacit acceptance of mediocrity. With the Lord's help I hope to strive for excellence in serving Him and His kingdom. Let's talk about it over an excellent cup of coffee (I'll take decaf).

Back in Blogland

I am back in blogland after quite some time off. I am looking forward to putting my thoughts out there...

I am "hoping" that we are past the last freeze here in Central Texas. We get an Easter freeze fairly often. We have a couple of small gardens in our small town home. Today we planted a bit of sweet corn. We now have corn, squash, potatoes, green peppers, onions, lettuce, and spinach planted.

Besides gardening, I am interested in serving the Lord, playing basketball, economics, and personal finance. That's enough for today.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and cause His countenance to shine upon you.