SIMPLE LIFE

Most people say they want to simplify their life but don't know how, or as Confucius said "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated". In all areas, a genuine simple life is how you define a balance between excess and deprivation. This blog entry will investigate how you can find a better balance if you are willing. The February 2006 version was about a balanced life, but this month's could have been titled voluntary simplicity. Minimalism and down shifting are two terms used in different generations to communicate the same thing. An old Yiddish proverb says "the truly rich are those who enjoy what they have". Don't confuse this message with the television series by the same name that ran from 2003 until 2007 and added to the fame of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Their purpose was to make fun of the happy people they met living a simple life. We know from media reports that the personal lives of Paris and Nicole were not simple and were not happy. Wisdom comes from recognizing you are not in control of the beginning, middle, or end of your life. Psalms 90:12 says "Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts." That wisdom can be defined as the self-control and decisions you make with the stewardship of the free will God gave you.

I recently read a book titled "Simple Life" by Thom Rainer, because I'd previously read his great book "Simple Church". Before that I read Dave Ramsey's publications from "Peace University". About a decade ago I attended a seminar held by Bruce Ammons and learned some practical steps to simplify (and therefore de-stress) my life. A great example was his view of footwear. Bruce concluded and I agreed that a black pair of dress shoes with black socks would fit all the circumstances of my life except when I needed athletic shoes with white low-cut socks. Everything else could be discarded and the two pairs of shoes and the two sections of my sock drawer lasted for years. Then one day I bought a pair of sandals for summertime. Then a day came when the idea of multiple color dress shoes, athletic shoes for differing events, slippers, cowboy boots, and casual shoe needs ruined my footwear simplicity. Maintaining a simple life takes diligence. Controlling your thoughts is a continual needed discipline, as the mind searches for things you want. I can go back to footwear simplicity and donate my excess to those that need it far more than I, so if you have ruined simplicity in an area of your life you also can fix it by learning how.

"Simple Life" breaks it down into clarity, movement, alignment, and focus. A quick internet search found other books and websites, like the philosophy book, "The Simple Life" by David E. Shi, or self help sites like www.zenhabits.net or www.aquietsimplelife.com. The point is that there are sources of information other than this blog and the previously mentioned book by Thom Rainer and his son. The first step is the decision to simplify your life and that almost always requires acceptance of less. In my shoe example, my needs did not change, only my wants. Simplicity requires controlling your wants. Many times people will even go into debt to purchase what they want for themselves, which adds to the actual price with interest payments on top of what was paid. With the complexity and speed of technology it would seem reasonable that we would have more time, but in reality the expectations have been increased so you'll also have to control your time. This requires prioritization of what is the most important. If you recognize it is almost all small stuff the old saying makes sense. "Don't sweat the small stuff". Happiness is not found in increasing the things we own, but how what we "own" is used for other people.

In our shrinking world, the increasing number of people we know and the friends we connect with on Facebook or other social media, makes the societal pressure to conform complex. That complexity seems to make the promise Jesus made about abundant life in John 10:10 impossible. A simple answer can be found in Hebrews 10:24-25, "and let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near". An abundant simple life is based on your attitude, not your finances. An abundant simple life is based on your priorities, not your time. An abundant simple life can't happen with personal excess, but doesn't require great deprivation. As Romans says in chapter 13 "pay your obligations to everyone.....the commandments all are summed up by this: love your neighbor as yourself". Relax and enjoy the ride, it's a simple life because you really are not in control of more than obedience. God is in control. Anything more just leads downhill to stress and unhappiness. As if it was needed to pound home the point, Romans 12:3 cautions "for by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one". How are you using your measure?

RISK ASSESSMENT

The discussion about the current Swine Flu pandemic brought up the term relative risk, which is the ratio of the proportion of those exposed to the non-exposed. The raging health care debate brought up the term risk continuum, which is often a graphical depiction of risk compared to other risks. Our recent townhouse purchase on the water brought up the insurance terminology of flood risk, hurricane risk, and other risks described in the policies. The news media covers the risk of a lengthening recession and other possibilities that can be statistically studied. The definition of risk is: the possibility of suffering harm or loss; danger. This blog is focused on how we view those possibilities, and the opportunities presented by those views. 100% of people die but "life" insurance companies still make billions of dollars.

While my memory of statistics class is a little fuzzy, the conclusion is that the application of a formula to a set of data results in a probability. Probabilities are the conditions or quality of the likelihood that the possibility is true. There is even a branch of mathematics dealing with the statistical evaluation of the probability of random occurrences called probability theory. With all this capability to assess the risk of any particular subject, one would think that there would be very few unknowns in life. Alas, the opposite seems to be true. Even advisors we hire to tell us the direction of the stock market average 50% at best. Predictions of the future rarely seem to come true. The media loves to report on the unknowns. The resulting vacuum of expanded unknown can often be offset with insurance, available for a fee. Acceptance of the unknown is easier if the statistical probability is known. Failure of one can be balanced with success of others, making a "pool" of risks.

Insurance operates by spreading the individual risks into large risk pools, lowering the probability while allowing them to charge at a higher probability. Individually we might accept a higher risk on the continuum, which is why the lender required the flood, hurricane, and homeowners insurance on the waterfront townhouse. The lender forced me to a lower risk to protect their investment. The willingness to accept risk is called our risk tolerance. This risk tolerance varies from person to person but over the past few decades has seemingly dropped for the majority in our society. An old saying; no risk, no reward was based on the recognition that accepting risk would result in higher income (or losses) than not doing so. The lender didn't care what my risk tolerance was, they had their own and the forced insurance premium payments would come from me, not them.

The wisdom of accurate risk assessment, along with an applicable risk tolerance, results in more profitable decisions. The life insurance companies essentially make their money betting people will live longer than the term of the policy, or that they will pay in more than the inflation adjusted pay outs. By averaging the lifestyles and medical history of all people they set their premiums at a rate that will make a profit, then turn down those that are unlikely to live that long. However, since I can control my lifestyle and don't have a lender involved I am able to "self insure" by not paying for their product. Acceptance of future risks with a higher risk tolerance can also save me money. High deductible, catastrophic policies are far cheaper. The message here is not anti-insurance, the point is just easier to make with insurance examples. The message is pro-responsibility for each of us to accurately assess risks. This thought process goes far beyond insurance to all life decisions.

Eternal risk assessment is even more important than the temporal subjects mentioned so far. Consider the possibilities that exist beyond death. Hebrews 9:27 says it is appointed for men to die once and then the judgement. Revelations 20 describes the judgement and concludes with verse 15 that says "and if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire". This book of life is as close to the eternal insurance policy as an analogy can describe, but it is not available for money or time. Jesus himself said in John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life". The faith needed comes the same way as Romans 10:17 says "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ". Even with the Bible available at every bookstore, people more often buy "life" insurance policies.

Living life to it's fullest isn't just an eternal guarantee either, but it will affect your risk tolerance for your remaining days on earth. Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen". Relative risk is just a ratio when the God who created the universe is allowed to choose the outcome. The risk continuum is balanced by the directions given for life. 2nd Timothy 3:16 says "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness". Wisdom allows a divine view of your life and challenges, so that the funds you are assigned stewardship over are not wasted on the perceived risk reduction provided by insurance, but more wisely used on the purposes of the almighty God. Truly assessing risks comes not from the statistical analysis, but from knowing the one who controls the future and spending time listening to Him.

INNOVATION

You may have heard the saying "Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die". Innovation is similar because it seems everyone wants to innovate but nobody wants to change. By definition, innovation is "that which is newly introduced; a change". Inventions are innovative and many believe innovation is crucial for long lasting success. Whether changed by discovery or invention, 100 years ago we did not have: Motion Pictures, Air Conditioners, Bras, Zippers, Insulin, Penicillin, X-Rays, MRI, Air travel, Helicopters, Photo Copiers, Microwaves, Television, Computers, or even Credit Cards. 100 years ago there was no income tax and average life expectancy was less than 50 years. Transistor and microchip work in the 1950's and beyond revolutionized the lives of everyone on the planet in just 50 years. The World Wide Web didn't even exist 20 years ago, let alone all the on-line networking activities far beyond E-mail. Many smart business consultants teach "Innovate or Die". The pace of change in all aspects of our lives require that attention is paid to the marketplace of ideas.

Can you imagine owning a business 15 years ago renting VHS movies and deciding that new DVD invention in 1995 would never catch on? All the items mentioned above matter because they did catch on, meaning the marketplace changed. There was a competing format to DVD named Beta, but most people have already forgotten it. Waiting for innovation to become clear or choosing early is often a huge financial decision. Choosing wrong can be a financial disaster for people and businesses. Choosing correctly can be a huge financial gain for them. Creating the innovation, and/or creating the marketplace for innovative items that follow can also be very rewarding. Bill Gates with Microsoft did not invent the computer or software, but he made the most money (so far) from computers. Change occurs so often in business, many corporations have training programs in "change management". Conversions to different methods, systems, or attitudes must occur. That acceptance is as important to innovation as the actual innovation itself.

Influential people are those that have exercised the change or direction of change in others. The recognition of innovations and inventions has to be augmented with the knowledge of who the most influential people are that will steer the change. Becoming one of those influencers is highly desirable (see the May 2008 edition of this blog). As change is constant, leaders and managers react or respond to multiple changes all the time. Unlike the past, which can be researched, reviewed and studied, the the future is unknown. Historians study the past to put the present into context. Futurists study the present to put the future into context. By the way, reform is the same as innovation but more precisely a change to what already exists, rather than an invention or discovery. The wisdom of innovation and reform is understanding that as everything changes around them and as a result change them, people don't want to change. Resistance to change is not something to be overcome, it is something to be leveraged with small incremental steps. Since change involves risk, take on the argument of risk of those steps directly to be influential.

The United States is going through an enormous fight over the future of health care in the country. The influential leader of the CHANGE NOW group is President Barak Obama. He seems to have forgotten the first rule an influencer has to leverage. Risk of change is always greater than the risk of standing still, or at least that is the approach to life that the vast majority of people take. He and his group have failed at describing how life will be more difficult if NO CHANGE takes place. A second key to leveraging resistance is to provide a role model for desired new activity. Those fighting the President's plan provided examples from Canada and Europe where the proposed change caused bad things to happen to people, but no role model of positive change emerged. The third key to understanding resistance to change is that people feel overwhelmed and overloaded by the details of change. Instead of presenting a simple plan with slight adjustments over time, a legislative bill of 1300 pages and growing raised the resistance of the healthy skeptics and caused concern about hidden agendas of the reformers. Innovation in health care coverage is not likely with the current approach. These same rules apply to any other innovation or reform you are responsible for persuading people about.

Laws and principles are beyond innovation. Newton discovered the Law of Gravity, but could not change it. The Golden Rule Jesus described in Matthew 7:12 has been true for over 2000 years, and will not change. Discernment is needed to tell the difference between innovations that will affect the future, and those that violate principles or laws and can not succeed. Looking for a better way to accomplish something can lead to efficiency and is a good thing. The probability of future success can be discerned with study and understanding (see the July 2009 edition of this blog on the subject of framing). Change is constant, but not all change will last. Change is constant, but not all change is good. Innovations are those things that have been newly introduced by you or others. The marketing of the idea (see the April 1st, 2009 edition of this blog) or product is also important to the future success of it. Peer into the future as the futurists do by analyzing the present. Understand human nature as the influencers do. Grasp firmly what you care about and innovate in the marketplace of ideas, as I am with this edition of Wilkins Wisdom.

EDUCATION

Neither my grandparents nor my parents graduated from college, but each taught their children that education was critically important. Like many of my era I went back to school as an adult and completed my degree. I even went on for an MBA, although later in life. That importance was passed to my children who have now all graduated from college. Certainly formalized education is important and with the increase worldwide of college graduates, more jobs require it than ever. This blog, however is a much broader discussion of the wisdom of education. The goal of education is to teach one how to think so that they can be taught to learn. While the purpose of this process may be to teach them how to work, the basics are not as simple as you might think. Factual information has little appeal to the average human, who is searching for self-realization and happiness. An interest in learning anything has to be preceded by a recognition of the value of the information.

When we were each born we learned to breathe in the first seconds of life. There was no teacher and the way we breathed only mattered to the extent that we survived. Later in life we find through some educational experience that there is a better way to breathe. Swimming class teaches you to breathe a certain way. Musical training for wind and brass instruments have a preferred way to breathe. Public speakers learn breath control. The point is there are ways to perform things that are better, and the knowledge of that better way is accumulated through a process called education. You can live without education, but you can live far better with it. By definition, education is the process of imparting knowledge or the obtaining of knowledge. It does not have to be a formal process but it should be continual. Curiosity about a broad range of subjects is important. Remember, the horizons of your knowledge is the frontier of your ignorance.

Arguably, the four most important basic areas are reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Much has been written about a plethora of subjects, but without reading skills you will not be able to obtain the words or numbers off the page. The same concept applies to listening, which is an active process far beyond hearing. The writing and speaking skills are demonstrations that you can apply what you read and heard in a society of many people. In this modern era of digital media, the visual aspects of learning has overwhelmed the verbal and is rapidly creating huge gaps in the lives of many people. Literacy is the ability to read, write and use language. The percentage of people around the world who were illiterate continued to drop over the preceding centuries but is now climbing because of this imbalance. Verbal knowledge is crucial to the expansion of your education. Visual knowledge can assist in the process, but when it is overused you're back to listening and speaking only (illiteracy).

A second area of concern for modern education is a growing notion that self-realization and happiness is more attainable without rules. If one can create ones own version of life, any experience can be acceptable. When applied to basic education the idea that words can be spelled and pronounced any way you want as long as you feel good about it is disastrous. The exponential result of this idea is that any fact is true, even if it is not. Discipline is required in education, just as it is in every area of life. You may feel like skipping school, or answering any way you desire on a test, but the result will be bad. Mae Carden, a great educator in the 20th century said it this way: "Control of emotions because of personal choice is the great lesson of life". Laws do not bend based on our whims. I may feel like I want to throw a rock in the air and have it stay there, but the law of gravity will bring it back to the top of my head in a painful way. There is no such thing as relative truth, just one truth.

The value of the information that brings self-realization and happiness is the motivation for learning, which follows learning to think. Galatians 6:3 says "For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself". 1st Corinthians 13:11 says "When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things". John 8:32 says "and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free". Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" and in verse 15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments". He goes on in chapter 15, verses 11 and 12 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you". There is an entire Bible to read, study, understand, and internalize.

Maximum learning is always the result of maximum involvement, as long as the activity is meaningful. An ancient Chinese proverb says I hear, and I forget. I see and I remember. I do, and I understand. Education should affect your emotions, your ideas, and your behavior. I mentioned earlier that you can live far better with education that without it. That does not mean that everything you learn has value, even if it is factual. A balanced approach is suggested. Physical, mental, and spiritual subjects cover mind, body and soul. Continually learning is often done in informal ways, so it is not the formal classes that this message is focused on. It is the purposeful activity and prioritization of your time in response to curiosity about things you do not know that I am advocating. As eternal subjects will last longer, I'd suggest starting there. What you will find is that those subjects lead you to that self-realization and happiness that appeal to us as humans. My process has named it Christianity.

FRAMING

Framing may not be a term you are familiar with but it is crucial that you understand it, important that you use it, and helpful if you embrace the positive qualities of framing. By definition it is an inevitable process of selective influence over the individual's perception of the meaning attributed to words or phrases. A frame defines the package of an element of rhetoric in such a way as to encourage certain interpretations and to discourage others according to Wikipedia. An example might be in the question: "Are you willing to stop beating your wife"? Someone overhearing the question starts with a perception that the one being questioned has beaten his wife. Political campaigns must control the message to win. The "message" or rhetoric has been carefully crafted to make the largest percentage of the electorate perceive the positive aspects of the candidate and the positions of the candidate. As an example, is the picture above a door or a painting? Your perspective can be adjusted by a politician describing it as either one. This subject goes much deeper than politics, however. It is your communication plan.

The rapid growth of digital media means future communication will involve far more video and far less written verbiage. In writing, the sentence including the words "she winked" have a different meaning than "she blinked". The framing in the written communication is either physical or social, while the same framing in video form can be easily manipulated to be either. Imagine a video of a person waiting to be interviewed in a theft investigation seated on a hard chair. The individual has their arms and legs crossed legs together, and squirms in the chair as a guilty person might. If the audience was aware that the temperature in the room was 58 degrees they might come to a different conclusion. The mass media of television and video blogging have no ethical constraints that prevent them from leaving out such crucial information so the resulting perceptions can be framed. As you can tell, you have to learn discernment to avoid the manipulation of your opinion. "Truth" as we know it can change. This blog site even has a link to www.snopes.com to help the reader determine the probability of truth. Visual images are powerful communicators.

Word selection has been a component of rhetoric since the beginning of time. Drilling for oil has a different connotation than exploring for energy. Tax relief and tax burden is used for the exact same legislation when communicated to different groups. Names also matter. Recent terms like Bailout and Economic Stimulus didn't actually accomplish either, but did get spending legislation passed in Congress. Social Security implies that our society can rely on it. "War on Terror" was used during the Bush administration for support of the overseas wars following 9-11-2001. Once a frame is established it is even harder to realign it's meaning but it can be done. I wrote last month about the change in actual meaning of liberalism. The addition of photos and videos augmenting the language has an enormous impact. Many historians blame the demise of the VietNam War on the television coverage showing the carnage at the dinner hour. Today we don't have a dinner hour but a 24 hour news cycle that repeats the same story over and over until the rhetoric seems normal. Who controls what you hear? Who controls what you say?

I stated earlier that it is important that you use framing. Social networking has connected millions of people. Recent events in Iran pointed out the power of connecting a world-wide populace and lumping them into two competing "camps" of political position. Videos showing mass demonstrations were spread quickly and due to government restrictions on media became the "factual" reports of events shown around the world. Cell phone video and picture capability along with text messaging linked through the internet will communicate something to dozens, hundreds, or even millions. Please decide in advance what you want that frame to be. Is a video of a child being spanked a message against child abuse or for assertive traditional parenting? Does your Twitter message say about you what you want to be known for? Framing isn't always intentional, so thinking through the ways that messages can be construed shows great wisdom. We all communicate something constantly.

In social science a frame is a collection of stereotypes that individuals rely on to understand and respond to events. In theology, a frame is which documents scholars use for the study of God and truth. The 66 books that make up the Bible come from translations of the chosen scrolls written in Hebrew, and Greek over thousands of years. The core message of the Bible has been proven over time throughout recorded history and today remains the book that has more copies in print than any other since the invention of the printing press. Deception in framing has been around since the Garden of Eden reported in Genesis 3:4-5 through the New Testament in 1st John 2:21-26. Matthew chapters 5,6 and 7 are full of Jesus realigning the framing of the Pharisees. He stated in John 14:6 unequivocal language "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but through me". Two thousand years later we find organized religions and societies in total denial of that truth.

Communication has always been a key to success in life, but is rapidly changing today, requiring us to change. Using the positive aspects of framing will prevent unintentional messages. Often we don't become aware of a frame we are already using until something forces us to replace one frame with another. Applying a frame takes thoughtful and purposeful focus. Otherwise we use the prisms we currently have to perceive the input provided. What is your life message for others? How can it best be communicated to others? You presently influence others, even if by accident. You already have a communication plan based on your relationships with those around you and your chosen lifestyle. The width and depth of the audience chosen can expand far more rapidly than at any time in history with the explosion of internet connectivity. Are you ready with your personal message to the world, framed in the positive direction you've chosen? The internet just brought you mine.

PARTNERSHIPS

The definition of partnerships is an association of partners, or more accurately the relationship between the people that make up the partnership. A partner is a person associated with another ,or others, in some activity of common interest. It sounds relatively simple but can be the most complicated of all relationships. Yes, the connection, association, or condition that creates the partnership is the mode or way that a person is connected with others. A relatively simple partnership is between two people who both made a decision to do something or be mutually responsive for a defined time period. The interaction can be defined through conversation, documentation, or willingness. The fact is that each partner brings things to the partnership that the other (or others) do not have. The recognition and expectation of those differences is the key to all relationships including partnerships. There are many ways people and institutions are connected.

In a business setting an individual proprietor has a partnership with an individual supplier to purchase specific products at a specific price for a specific time period. In a personal arrangement, an individual with talent in cutting hair partners with an individual that cuts lawns and creates a barter partnership. In a marriage relationship, the bride and groom agree on a life-long partnership to live together, raise children, own a home together and other detailed expectations. In all societies there are partnerships with people and a government that define how they will live their lives. There are partnerships between large groups of people, such as political parties or large corporations. The larger the number of people involved in a partnership, the more complicated and difficult the interaction between the people involved become.

The reality of life is we each have many partnerships and are involved in group partnerships out of necessity. I have a partnership with the city to pick up my trash at a set rate so I don't have to drive it to a landfill. I have a partnership with other homeowners in an association to protect a neighborhood and quality of life. Unlike the wild West where a man and a gun decided things, we have partnered with other citizens to pay for a police force and a court system. That partnership means the consensus of the citizens become law and the police follow that direction, even if some of the citizens in the partnership do not agree. The submission of individual personal values and goals to the group majority is what makes partnerships increasingly complex as the number of participants grow. It is also what has produced the system we call politics, where representatives of like minded individuals speak for the groups within the partnership.

The alternative to being part of partnerships is that you would do everything yourself. It would require that no other people would ever cross your path and your lifestyle would include only those things that you had adequate survival talents in. As the population of the world no longer allows such existence, the wisdom of partnerships is the relationship requirements that must be learned. As silly as submitting one to another seems, Ephesians 5:21 says "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ". The Bible is full of practical ways to do this. Ephesians 4:2 says "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love". I now have a need to drive a car but I can't manufacture one, or provide the fuel needed to drive it, let alone build the roads to drive it on. A hundred years ago that transportation need could be solved with a horse. Consider how many people, companies, government agencies and countries are now involved in my auto ownership, all partners in my transportation plan. These partners also erected speed limit signs that control the actions I can take on those roads that I share.

Your involvement in each of the many partnerships of life, voluntary or otherwise, should start with the recognition that your performance is critical to others. It should be closely followed by the knowledge that the performance of others is just as critical to you. Jesus suggested in Matthew 7:12 that "however you want people to treat you, so treat them". We now call it the Golden Rule, but it's an important part of partnerships. Influencing the group that you have partnered with as a corporation is up to you. Influencing the group you have partnered with in each level of government is up to you. Living your life so that all the partnerships of life you are involved with are successful is up to you. Despite the increasing complexities of life, the wisdom of partnerships is that the solutions to success have not changed. It's often called people skills, but I submit to you that viewing each one as a partnership is wisdom. How did you treat each person you came into contact with this month?

Recognition that each small part is as important as seemingly large parts keep us humble. Is the work of the airline mechanic any less important than the pilot? Should the honor given to each individual be different? The relationship between the people that make up the partnership includes mutual respect as a human being. The defined time period mentioned in the earlier definition is actually just one of the details that must be worked out for realistic expectations. You are free to choose most partnerships, but a surprisingly large and increasing number include you without your requested input. Your involvement with the various levels of government may be different if you recognize you are a partner. How many partnerships in your life can be better defined through conversation, documentation, and willingness? Jesus summarized the entire subject in Matthew 22:37-40. "And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets".

LIBERALISM

The political process in the United States of America has had exponential change. It has changed so much that I, as a self-described conservative, am writing this month on the wisdom of liberalism. First, let's define terms and see if the dictionary definition is different than what you imagine. The 1st definition listed under liberal is: having/expressing or following social or political views or policies that favor nonrevolutionary progress or reform. The 2nd definition listed under liberal is: having/expressing or following views or policies that favor freedom of individuals to act or express themselves in a manner of their own choosing. The 3rd definition listed under liberal is: expressing or following a belief in LAISSEZ-FAIRE economic policies. I checked quickly to discover that LAISSEZ-FAIRE is the doctrine that government should not interfere with commerce. Since I'm sure our government needs to be reformed, and I favor freedom of the individual, and I'm sure the market is better than government regulation, it is obvious. Because of governmental changes I am now a Christian LIBERAL capitalist.

Conservatism is defined in the dictionary as the disposition in politics or culture to maintain the existing order. It involves the principles and practices of those who resist or oppose change or innovation. A conservative is averse to and distrustful of change, tending to favor the preservation of the existing order. When the existing order was similar to how it made sense to me, I was a conservative. Not any more. In the first 100 days of the Obama administration (actually the last 100 days of the Bush administration as well) the hope and change discussed in last year's campaign became the reality that has raised this concern. Liberty is the condition of not being subject to restriction or control and we have lost it. A libertarian is someone who believes in freedom of action and thought, especially for individuals. These folks are now referred to in the media as right wing extremists, but they are not conservative at all. The hope and change policies, government power grabs, and spending bills passed that my grandchildren will be saddled with over the past 200 days is mind numbing, and they want them changed.

Last month there were "tea parties" around the country on the day income taxes were due. Hundreds of thousands of taxpayers who thought they were conservatives only a few years ago were in favor of nonrevolutionary reform of government spending. They protested against the government taking over banks and auto companies (sounds like that LAISSEZ-FAIRE non-interference with commerce plan). They expressed concern that their constitutional right to bear arms might be further restricted. By now, a vast majority of you reading this recognize the wisdom of liberalism applies to an entirely new group of people than it did previously. What used to be thought of as left wing people now want even more change and progress with their agenda. That defines them as liberals since they don't want the status-quo either. There are very few conservatives anywhere in the United States because anyone at this point that does NOT want change is insane. We are now a country of right wing liberals and left wing liberals fighting for nonrevolutionary progress or reform, but polar opposites regarding what those reforms are. We all know it can't stay the way it is.

This month makes history as the longest recession in America since the Great Depression. The national debt is planned to increase as much as it has since the beginning of the country over 230 years ago. Unstable governments around the world have nuclear weapons. Pirates on the high seas attempt to take over our ships. We are at war in multiple countries with people we don't even have enough courage to call terrorists. Any disposition to maintain the existing order and resist change, a description of conservatism, is no longer acceptable. The battle is between differing ideologies of liberals who want reform. We can call them left and right for discussion purposes, or perhaps socialists and libertarians. The days of Democrats and Republicans are over, as the compromising of principles by leaders of both political parties have created the conditions we find ourselves in. The executive, legislative, and judicial balance set up by our founders to sustain us through periods such as this, are each conspiring against the populace for their own personal gain. It is past time to do battle, but how?

As regular readers of this blog know, the answer to all questions are found in the Bible. Lets refer to a few verses to determine the best approach for this situation. From Matthew we find Jesus saying: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand....Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill....But go and learn what this means, I desire compassion and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners....Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand." From Mark we find His words: "These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the traditions of men... And what I say to you I say to all, Be on the alert". From Luke we get: "Beware, and be on guard against every from of greed; for not even when one has abundance does his life consist of his possessions.....You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you did not expect.....Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.....For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." It sounds to me like repentance is the first step we are to take individually and corporately.

Much has been written in the media about the demise of the religious right. The leaders such as Jerry Falwell and James Dobson are dead or retired. The policies they railed against are still law and more laws like them have been passed. Economic conservatives (the old meaning, not the new one) went along with their organizations to get Reagan elected in the 1980's but were not affected by their message of morality. Teaching morality or teaching ethics within the confines of political ideologies is bound to fail. We were all created by God and he yearns to develop relationships with us individually and corporately. Following commands from His Word rather than suggestions from humans always work better. Changing our country starts with each individual, not groups of people. There are obviously many other verses in the Bible than the ones mentioned above, but any red letter edition easily shows the words of Jesus. None makes the point better than Luke 12:31 that says "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you." As previously mentioned, repentance is the first step. The second step follows automatically for the repentant. Focusing on God and His purposes will create obedience and sharing of the Good News. As we share with those that he placed in our sphere of influence, the correction in the country occurs as exponentially fast as the disaster. If you've read all of this, the baton is being handed to you. Change your country by starting with yourself and the wisdom of liberalism and change. I'm with you all the way, and so is He. /

MARKETING

This month celebrates the beginning of my 5th year of writing this monthly blog on wisdom. In August of 2005 I published 50 "borrowed bits of wisdom". As my life has changed over the years and I've now completed my first year as a Director of Marketing, here are another 50 "borrowed bits of wisdom", but with a focus on marketing. Although the strict definition of marketing is to buy and sell in a market, the business of promoting sales of a product, business, or person is a better definition. As you have to "sell yourself" to others in most aspects of life, consider the following information to be market research. A special thanks to Roy Williams who wrote a great book entitled "The Wizard of Ads". For your reading pleasure, after checking out August of 2005, here are 50 more pieces of wisdom:
1) The risk of insult is the price of clarity.
2) Don't allow the dictates of public opinion to hamper your efforts.
3) Customers seldom pay attention so entice them.
4) Information is to intellectual as experience is to emotional.
5) The most powerful three letter word in the language is YOU.
6) Truth we have realized is the only truth we own.
7) Honest persuasion is the water that will put out any fire.
8) The human mind discounts the predictable.
9) Everyone acknowledges the audacious.
10) Successful companies don't teach their customers to wait for a sale.
11) A traffic driver that reinforces your market position is a winner.
12) Compromise can make even the best plan ineffective.
13) Everyone imagines themselves doing a thing before they do it.
14) Transferring imagined experiences to actual experiences is persuasion.
15) Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
16) Brevity is never using two words when one will do.
17) Reaching 100% of the people and persuading 10% costs more than the reverse.
18) The ability to answer questions no one is asking has no value.
19) Intellect and Emotion are partners who do not speak the same language.
20) Time is the currency of this generation.
21) Ideas that fail are promoted by people who refuse to accept reality.
22) The only thing more expensive than training is NOT training.
23) Elevation of the anticipated price is environment, not advertising.
24) Value is the difference between the anticipated price and the marked price.
25) Massive success came to many with the audacity to say "everyone else is wrong".
26) Intangibles are the most honest merchandise anyone can sell.
27) People use intellectual logic to justify what their emotions decided.
28) Pious experts do a poor job of making people feel good.
29) Cheerfully embrace failures and count on successes to outweigh them.
30) Success is often the result of noticing what others overlooked.
31) It is management's job to make sure employee's needs are met.
32) Difficulties are things that show what and who people are.
33) Don't let the polite knock of opportunity become the relentless banging of obligation.
34) The preparation required to take advantage of opportunities is observation.
35) The finger of God never leaves identical fingerprints.
36) Vision is the ability to see the end from the beginning.
37) Risk the ridicule of those who say it can't be done.
38) Democracy recognizes there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.
39) Every successful father wishes he knew how to give his children the hardships that made him.
40) No great person has ever complained for want of an opportunity.
41) All success is a journey, not a destination.
42) Wealth is always a by-product of passion.
43) He who overcomes himself is mightier than he who overcomes others.
44) Geniuses are just regular people doing what they love.
45) Destroy your enemies by converting them to friends.
46) The only cure for birth or death is to enjoy the interval.
47) Intuition is the ability to come to the right conclusion without information.
48) It is always easier to be brave from a safe distance.
49) The lure of distant and difficult is deceptive as simple and close win.
50) Answers come easily when we embrace a new perspective.

NETWORKING

I'm sad to say I wasted a few decades of my life before I grasped the real value of networking. The 1987 dictionary defines it as"establishment and use of a system of professional contacts in business and industry for such purposes as mutual guidance and exchange of information about jobs". Multi-level marketing was more popular in that day and was sometimes called network marketing. With the high unemployment in today's economy, these more traditional views of networking still exists. The Pensacola Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a "networking" event this week that appears to be no more than matching up employers with unemployed people. It all seemed to be an unpleasant situation of meeting strangers and taking turns using each other, so I avoided any opportunities involving networking.

The on-line dictionary "The Free Dictionary" today defines networking :To interact or engage in informal communication with others for mutual assistance or support. The social networking site MY SPACE kicked off this more updated view of networking. FACEBOOK took the market by storm and now has well over 100 million "subscribers". LINKED IN and PLAXO are several of the business networking sites that more closely resemble the networking of old. The big difference is that geographic areas no longer confine the contacts that can be made, and the software provides all the information about each person so you don't have to ask questions in a conversation to find out the facts you want to know. This is also a weakness as the rest of this blog will show.

The start-up of our office in Pensacola (see the April 2008 issue of this blog) involved moving to a city where I knew very few people, and hiring people from outside the area who were in the same situation when they moved. Through church, Toastmasters, and business I soon met hundreds of people, many that I got to know over time. The Brand and Advertising Manager that moved here from Texas purposed to get to know the people she met, so that she would meet the people they knew. In the same way that FACEBOOK growth has been exponential, one of her contacts who owns a sports marketing agency seems to know everyone in our key markets. As I'm able to meet the people she met and the people he knows, for the business reasons presented, the real advantages of networking are so clear.

The number of "friends" I have on the social networking site FACEBOOK continues to grow, across all age groups, states, and even countries. The number of "friends" I have off-line are just acquaintances until I take the time to get to know about them. Unlike website versions, people don't walk around with a way to know their beliefs, their dreams, their interests, and their goals. It requires time and conversation to have those discussions. The result of those conversations are how friendships are built. The mutual guidance and exchange about LIFE, not just employment, is where networking has the greatest value. Understanding the needs of others allows me to serve, often by finding people who can meet those needs. It's not taking turns using each other, as the first paragraph said, it's about helping each other.

Galatians 5:13 says "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love". The fewer people you know well enough to be aware of their needs, the more focused on yourself you will become. Philippians 2:3 says "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself". Jesus explained it this way in Mark 10: "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many".
Networking is just an extension of our purpose, and the new technologies a quicker way to be aware. If your focus when you meet people is how you can help them, your list of friends will grow quickly. When you can link them with someone you previously met so their need is taken care of you are networking correctly.

TRUST

I've heard a story about a father who had his six year old son jump off a table into his arms. After repeating this a few times, rather than catching him he stepped back and let the boy fall to the floor. As the six year old lay there crying, the father said "That will teach you. Don't trust anyone, not even your father". The dictionary defines trust as confidence or reliance in the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle of another person or thing. A second meaning is to allow to do something without fear of consequences. Difficulty in trusting is usually for the same reason the six year old experienced. Expecting one thing and getting a far different result reduces or eliminates the confidence needed to trust. The older people get, the more experiences they have that destroys their ability to trust.

Barak Obama was inaugurated ten days ago after running a campaign that promised hope for the future. His campaign attracted many young people, who haven't had as many years of political disappointment. It also attracted 90% of black voters who believe this was their best shot at having a black president elected in a country that previously endorsed slavery of black people. His administration took over at a time of economic turmoil, multiple wars overseas, and a national debt that is not sustainable. While the future is unknown, it's very difficult to believe that the multi-trillion dollar expenditures by the federal government is likely to improve the situation, and quite likely to make it worse (ironically all those dollars say In God We Trust). While conservatives believe the free market is best, liberals believe in the government spending Obama is pursuing.

The Bible advises in Isaiah 20: 4 to "Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord we have an everlasting rock". An old hymn says it this way" Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey". We can have confidence in the Lord, but will be disappointed by mankind many times over. The question is: Why is having trust in a flawed man, a flawed administration, or a flawed relationship wisdom"? It is wisdom because we are not God. We can't be in charge of all things and our purpose is to develop relationships with other people who are not perfect. In the Super Bowl today one team will win and one team will lose, but within each team are offensive and defensive units that must play as a team regardless of the mistakes made by a team member.

Trusting will include negative consequences as well as positive consequences. Trusting will sometimes result in being caught, and sometimes hitting the floor as the six year old did. Our expectations should include all results, not just the ones we like. Our relationships should not be conditional, but unconditional. Over and over we should trust those who fulfill their roles in life, no matter what the results. To believe in a person is the ultimate confidence builder for that person. To believe in God, who is perfect, is easy by comparison. To believe in a person that you know is not perfect requires more faith. The wisdom of trust allows you to overlook all previous failures and have confidence in your spouse, your child, your teammate, even your elected politician. Give it a try.

BLESSING

Has anyone said to you lately "You are such a blessing"? The dictionary defines blessing as the act of one who blesses. It also says beatify is to make blessedly happy. Think for a minute about the word blessing used as a verb, rather than as a noun. Blessing is an action, one that we should consciously make. The wisdom of blessing implies it is a wise thing to do, but most people are confused about how to bless. If you watched the video at the start of this blog, you heard Baxter Black recognizing how blessed we are as Americans. He also identified some actions taken by our forefathers, our fathers, and our fellow citizens that account for many of our blessings. In the October 2006 edition of this blog I discussed reflection as a means of recognizing your own blessings. I believe this is a key first step to preparing for the task of blessing others.

Blessed means happy. If blessing is the act of one who blesses, then you are to make others happy. When I hear the term, sweet spirit, I think of a kindly Christian woman who in all humbleness delights in serving others. Certainly having a sweet spirit is an important prerequisite to blessing people, but the most important aspect is to have God's perspective of people's happiness. Because of the culture we live in, the wealthy, the famous, and the successful are considered groups that have been blessed. Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus lists some groups that he calls blessed, and the freedoms and fortunes Baxter Black spoke of didn't make the list. The groups He calls blessed are: the poor in spirit, ...those who mourn,...the gentle,...those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,...the merciful,..the pure in heart,...the peacemakers,...and those who have been persecuted. Proverbs 3:13 says "How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding".

For you to start handing out "happiness" in our modern culture requires teaching what happiness is. Job 5:17 says "Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty". Nurturing, comforting, training, ministering, listening, and loving are examples of the blessing you are called to do. All of these deal with what we call problems or needs that people have. The key point is not for you to try to get rid of the problems or needs. The problems may be a divine discipline or reproof. We should never look down on the problems because they are different than the ones we have. We are to support people as they go through their life experience. That is why Matthew 22:37-40 sums up the Old and New Testaments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and foremost commandment. And a second is like it; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets".

Another word that can be used for blessing is serving. Galatians 5:13 says it this way: "For you were called to freedom brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another". Happiness comes from giving not from getting. What seems like happiness from the temporary pleasures of fulfilling what momentarily feels good is a trap. When you start purposely blessing other people you'll begin to see that you're ministering to people who got themselves trapped and are paying the price required, sometimes a very painful price. Or, you may recognize from the reflection of blessings in your own life that focusing on what Baxter Black calls "as good as it gets" instead of other people, is the American trap. With the start of a new year, now is an excellent time to examine how much time and effort you spend on the important task of blessing those around you. In our global environment, there are billions around you. Don't worry about how many there are, just start where you are. God will take it from there. Make Happy New Year a reality to those you're called to serve.

FRUGALITY

Warren Buffet was recently quoted with some great investing advise. "Be fearful when everyone is greedy and be greedy when everyone is fearful". With the economic difficulties the world economies are currently facing, this must mean it's a good time to buy. That's probably true for those that have cash. Most of us, however, don't have cash because we have already spent it. To make matters worse, most people also spent what they did not have via a devastating crutch called credit. The only thing worse than having no cash is having no cash while you're in debt. The reason people go into debt is to have things now that they can't afford until later. Multiple generations of Americans are now known as Gimme-Now folks that created a cliche of "keeping up with the Jones". Since Warren Buffet is a multi-billionaire and one of the wealthiest people in the world, you may be surprised he still has the same house in Omaha that he paid $31,000 for. He has demonstrated he understands frugality. Possessions can rule your life, or they can be a tool to accomplish what you've been called to provide.

Frugality is the state of being frugal. Frugal is defined in the dictionary as 1) economical; not spending freely or unnecessarily; saving; sparing; not profuse, prodigal or lavish, or 2) denoting economy; indicating the necessity or desire to save; sparingly provided; not costly or luxurious. Between the words of the definitions is an unwritten understanding that the use of money is disciplined. Americans would do well to remember the words of Thomas Jefferson "Never spend money before you have it. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold." Of course thousands of years before Thomas Jefferson, the Psalms recorded in chapter 22 "Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender". Romans 13:8 even says "Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another..". The Bible contains over 2350 verses dealing with money so there is no shortage of biblical wisdom on how to handle and view money. There are also many great organizations to help, such as Crown Financial or Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

A visit to a third world country, either physically or virtually, will help you determine the difference between needs and wants. At this time of year, many of the ministries that focus on the needy in our county or the children in other countries target consumers to support those that they provide for. Yet, billions of dollars will be spent on gifts for the Christmas season that are often not even what people want. A celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, is what Christmas is about. Because the wise men from the east brought gifts, the tradition of gift giving began and grew into the commercialism we witness today. Perhaps some words from Jesus himself on the subject would be enlightening. Matthew 16:19-21 says "Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your hear will be also". He followed that up with a series of parables, but Chapter 25 verse 40 clarifies what was meant: "Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me".

Therefore the purpose of frugality is not to build up wealth for yourself, it is to be a good steward of what God allows you to control. The needs of others trumps the wants we each have. We have responsibilities to provide for ourselves, our families, our futures, but also for those placed in our life experience. The balance between what our loved ones want and what our "neighbors" need is where frugality comes into play. The bad economic news we hear from the media include growing numbers of people who don't have jobs. The plunge in the value of stocks and real estate have caused many to consider adjustments to their lifestyle. Frugality practiced in previous years would free up the cash needed now. Frugality now just allows survival through the tough times. The point is that the wisdom of frugality is important at all times. Live on less than you make. Stay out or get out of debt. Become more disciplined with how you handle money if you can't provide what is needed and wanted now. Have a Merry Christmas with what you have and start the next year off with a frugality plan.

STRESS

Several people lately have asked how I handle stress, as I often appear to be calm when others don't. The definition of stress I'm referring to is "the state of extreme difficulty, pressure, or strain". In physics, stress is an applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body, and the internal resistance of that body to the applied force. That is the root of what we refer to as stress in our lives. Many times it is capable of an increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression, with perhaps more alarming damage to both our physical and mental health. A recent Booth Research poll for Ester-C asked adults if they were more stressed today than they were only 6 months ago. An astonishing 64% of adults aged 18 to 24 said they were. The percentage dropped with each age group (55% of 25-34, 47% of 35-44, 46% of 45-54) to a low of 37% of adults 55 and older. It provides a clear picture that stress continues to build at an increasing rate in our culture. With internet access the amount of knowledge available (often negative) is increasing exponentially, perhaps explaining some of the age related percentages in the poll. I want to make a case that this stress is not a bad thing, but a good thing, and explain the heavenly wisdom of how it should be handled.

About 15 years ago I started a physical fitness regimen that included a session with a personal trainer. He explained that muscles grow in size when I lift additional weights by tearing the muscle fibers causing them to repair themselves with more fibers if given time to do so. Muscles also grow in strength with increased repetition of the same weight without additional pounds. My choice of exercises and the time period between them would end in two different results, either bulky muscles or smooth muscles. The difference was the level of stress I chose to apply to them. If I chose no exercise at all my muscles would continue to weaken until I had no strength. It is a principle that made sense to me because the output was determined by the input. Recent 24/7 news about our economy, negative campaigning for the election, housing price fluctuation, and years of war on terrorism are all examples of negative input. Our mind is the control center of the body, so the input we choose for our mind will result in the output of our physical and mental health. Our thoughts are often controlled by the surroundings we choose to place ourselves in.

In the same way that lack of exercise results in weak muscles, lack of stress results in a weak person. God made us with all the chemicals in our body that react to input. Adrenaline automatically is released when we come face to face with a bear, or one we fear. Seratonin is automatically released when we come face to face with our spouse, or one we love. Spending our time and our thoughts on these two extremes requires a balance. If you are running from "bears" every day your personality will become increasingly negative and stressed. If you always want to feel good and avoid all the "bears" you won't learn how to run and one will eventually eat you (think of drug, alcohol or sex addiction). Learning to deal with and enjoy all aspects of life is wisdom. I'd say it requires a plan, as what we were probably taught by our parents comes from a different era that didn't have the 24/7 news of every event in the entire world. In the February 2006 version of this blog I wrote about a balanced life, and that should be your plans starting point. Many of the subjects written about that year apply to your plan: Confidence (where its says loving and being loved is the key), Goal Setting, Preparation, and Contentment. The point I am making is it won't happen accidentally, you need a plan. The plan should not avoid any area of life, nor should it dwell on any one area of life, but the first step is the most important.

Those that teach martial arts or boxing say that the key is to redirect the force behind the punch. In Toastmasters we teach that the nervous adrenalin should be redirected to the energy and passion behind your words and gestures. Consider those things in your life that you find stressful and determine how they can be redirected. I believe everything I have is God's and I am a steward of what He has allowed me to accumulate. When events beyond my control such as the large drop in 401K values happened recently the stress level was low for me as a sovereign God changed where he placed what belongs to Him, so my response was to pray for financial wisdom as a steward of what remained. When the presidential candidates inundate me with negative ads and insult my intelligence with what they say, I know the Bible says in Romans 13 and elsewhere that governmental authorities are established by God for his purposes, so my role to vote and pray (not necessarily in that order). For God to send his only Son to die on a cross for my sins, then promise a heavenly reward for accepting him and repenting of sin, is only possible if He loves me. John 3:16 says that is applicable to the entire world. He calls for those that have accepted to "deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). Being a Christian is not an easy life as we are voluntarily slaves of the King of Kings, but it should not be a stressful life.

The applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body, and the internal resistance of that body to to the applied force is how we defined stress earlier. The Bible acts as an owners manual for what is absorbed, what is redirected, and specifically how the resistance to the applied force should be obediently completed. Adversities are allowed by God to not only strengthen us, but to help us look to him in all things. Stress is not a bad thing, but a good thing, as for both the Christian and the seeker it ultimately focuses our attention where it belongs, a commitment to God. The first commandment God gave to Moses was "You shall have no other gods before me". Becoming a Christian involves putting ALL things lower than Christ. That acceptance is the first step of any plan, which will allow 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 to become a reality in your life as I strive to make it in mine. "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things". Verse 6 is the ultimate for how to live in our stressed-out world. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God".

ACCUMULATION

A single snowflake is beautiful and eagerly anticipated at the beginning of the winter season. Even thousands are viewed with appreciation. It isn't until they begin to accumulate that the scenario begins to change. The accumulation begins to be measured in inches, then in feet, and if it continues to snow can stop almost all activities. When the season changes, the warmth begins to melt the snow and a trickle of water runs into a small creek, then a river, and eventually an ocean. If the accumulation of warm days comes too fast, the trickle becomes a stream, the creek becomes a rapids, and the river becomes a flood. The accumulation of all things have a different long term effect than a small quantity in a short amount of time. With warm weather comes opportunities to spend time in the sun, absorbing vitamin D. Stay outside too long and you'll have a sunburn. Accumulate too many sunburns and you'll have permanent skin damage or even skin cancer. Wise people understand the effect of accumulation and over their lifetime use that understanding to avoid catastrophes, and embrace positive uses of the abundance. The accumulation of knowledge is happening faster than at any time in the history of the world, challenging our educational systems. 2nd Timothy 4:3 and 4 warns however, "for the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they will have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths". Please recognize the difference between known facts and truth (see my January 2007 blog on avoiding truthiness).

A recent AP story stated that Amazon deforestation is on the rise. It noted that in 2007 4,250 square miles of rain forest was razed for agricultural use. That accounted for 2.7% of the Amazon rain forest according to the National Institute for Space Research. The need of Brazilians to raise cattle and grow corn and sugar cane is recognized but the accumulation of years of deforestation affects the entire world. Our human systems produce CO2 and need oxygen, while trees need CO2 and produce oxygen. If deforestation continues in Brazil at the current rate the accumulation of years will eliminate the largest rain forest on earth in 37 years. While tree planting programs can prevent the damage to the world environment from becoming permanent, the reality is that they are not even close to offsetting the damage. Most people listen to loud music, work where excessive noise is part of their commute or workplace, or attend celebrations with loud fireworks each year. Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. The louder the sound, the shorter the time period before hearing loss can occur. Noise induced hearing loss is a permanent hearing impairment resulting from prolonged exposure to high levels of noise. One in 10 Americans has a hearing loss that affects his or her ability to understand normal speech. Excessive noise exposure is the most common cause of hearing loss. When noise is too loud, it begins to kill cells in the inner ear. As the accumulation of exposure time to loud noise increases, more and more hair cells are destroyed. As the number of hair cells decreases, so does your hearing. There is no way to restore life to dead hair cells; the damage is permanent. These are two examples where the accumulation of daily events can lead to catastrophe.

Retirement planners recognize the time value of money. The accumulation of funds grow exponentially, depending on the interest or rate of return and the length of time. The rule of 72 says money will double when the multiplication of time and interest equals 72. $1,000 becomes $2,000 when invested at 14.4% for 5 years, or 7.2% for 10 years. The idea of interest is that those who need money will pay a charge for the use of it. If you are paying the interest, such as with credit cards, you'll have a different view than if you are earning interest, such as a savings account. Banks can pay you interest for your savings because they loan your money to others at a higher interest rate. An entire industry of mutual funds exists to accumulate the investment funds of many people and use those larger totals to purchase stocks or bonds of businesses and provide a rate of return. The larger the amount of money, the higher rate of return can be expected. The longer the time of accumulation the bigger the total. Saving $25 per week for 30 years will give you significantly more money than saving $50 per week over 15 years, assuming it is invested in something with the same rate of return. Most of us eat three meals a day, and all of us eat food. If it is good food that nourishes our body, we remain healthy and have fewer diseases. If the food that we eat is not nourishing, but just tastes good at the moment, we become sickly and have more diseases. By controlling the intake of food each day to only the nourishing kind, each year and decade has fewer diseases. These are two examples where the accumulation of daily events can lead to abundance.

The discipline I'm asking of you is to take a lengthy view of the accumulation of each thing you do each day. A great saying is "life will come out the way today went". It means that our life is an accumulation of all the days in it. Another consideration is a lengthy view of the accumulation of each thing you do NOT do each day. Our days fill up with thoughts, and those thoughts become our actions, and eventually our actions become our habits. A quarter pound hamburger won't hurt me, but if I eat that everyday for twenty two years I've consumed a ton of beef. Will eating 2000 pounds of beef improve my health? Setting aside 20 minutes per day to pray and converse with my heavenly Father doesn't sound like a long time. Do that for 30 years and you've spent over 150 days focused totally on Him. Planting a tree each month to offset what is happening in Brazil will add 120 trees in 10 years. Convince 10 people to do the same and their 1200 trees will add to your 120, but if they also convince 10 people the ten year total will be over 12,000 trees. The Bible warned us about the population turning away from truth. Understanding the wisdom of accumulation, we can make a difference where we have been placed. The same math that works for trees also works for people. Jesus said to Thomas in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. " In Matthew 28:19 he told all the disciples "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you". A film was produced this year titled "Demographic Winter". http://www.demographicwinter.com It graphically shows that Satan understands accumulation very well. How we live makes a difference and our combined lives make a bigger difference. The various roles your life has been assigned need introspection. Will you start the accumulations of abundance and stop the accumulations of catastrophe? It's up to you.

HUMOR

Most people think of jokes or someone being funny when they hear the word humor. Seriously, it has an astoundingly powerful meaning that you may need to check out yourself to believe. It is more closely associated with moisture, and the liquids required of life. The #1 meaning of humor in the unabridged dictionary is "any fluid or juice of an animal or plant considered responsible for one's health and disposition". If you're like me, you're thinking that's not funny, just weird. Meaning #2 is "a person's disposition or temperament - mood or state of mind. Meaning #3 is a whim or fancy. You have to get to meaning #4 before it even sound familiar "the quality that makes something seem funny or amusing". When I laugh hard my eyes tear up and become moist, but other than that I didn't get the connection at all to the critical importance of humor. Laughter may be contagious but some people laugh more than others. Is laughter even a good thing?

The truth is that laughter reduces stress and perks up the immune system. Clifford Kuhn, professor of psychiatry at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, said "drug companies would be knocking themselves out to get the patent, if medicine could harness the proven health benefits of laughter". In his book, The Fun Factor, he states that laughter reduces the level of stress hormones, relaxes muscles, clears the respitory tract, increases circulation and reduces pain. Lee Beck, while an associate professor of Pathology at Loma Linda University said "laughter soothes and stimulates with endorphins allowing us to feel like we do after an aerobic workout". Psychiatrist William Fry of Stanford University says "laughter is a total body exercise that requires repetition. All mental stimulation expands brain function which is a good reason to laugh a lot". Milton Berle called laughter an instant vacation.

For most of us a sense of humor is defined as the ability to perceive and appreciate or express what is funny, amusing or ludicrous. In Ecclesiastes 3:4 the Bible says there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance". Well executed humor has the power to deliver a message in an entertaining and therefore memorable way. Peggy Noonan, a noted speech writer for President Reagan, says "humor is gracious and shows respect". Perhaps the best way to describe humor is to review what it is NOT. It is not joke telling. It does not embarrass, insult, offend, or demean. It is not slapstick silliness, although there is a place for that skill. Comments that are sexist, racist, or otherwise dismissive of a group of people, just like crude language, is not funny. When people think of Mark Twain as a humorist it is because of his stories. The more tangled they were the more entertained we were.

Humor is the attitude we have about what happens to us. If your family has not drummed the humor gene out of you, your life experiences can be described in a way that will make folks laugh. As you learn to paint rich word pictures of your life events the comical view you have will cause your own life sustaining laughter. Author Norman Cousins reported in his book, Anatomy of an Illness, that 10 minutes of laughing at himself resulted in the release of enough natural opiates to be pain free for 2 hours. Keeping company with positive, optimistic people helps raise our moods. Emotions are an "open" system that allows us to pick up the moods of others. Rudyard Kipling said "words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind". Creating a "light mood" around you at work, at home, at church, or with others as you meet them, will encourage spontaneity and mirth-making. Humor is that fluid in the brain responsible for my disposition, and I have the responsibility of administering it.

Picture me as a young first-time father proud that I could be helpful in the care of our new son when my wife asked me to change his diaper. I knew from previous observations that the chill of being diaper less could cause a steady stream of yellowish liquid shoot straight up in the air to an amazing height. I cautiously ripped the sticky tape holding the sides of the diaper together and cleverly held it above his appendage like a hovering UFO. With my other hand I deftly grabbed a wet wipe and began to cleanse the buttocks area when an unexpected eruption occurred. A gray-green substance began oozing onto my confidently placed wet wipe. It continued and continued and soon my large outstretched hand was full so I spun the hovering diaper around to assist the out manned wet wipe. Now both hands are placed to receive what I later found out was a meconium release seemingly as large as my son. I instinctively yelled for help, but when my loving wife and my sister saw my predicament they both fell down laughing and were of no help at all. I prayed for a third hand but God was apparently laughing as well and didn't send one. By this time the ooze has left the wipe and diaper and was headed up my arm while I was stuck awaiting the soon to arrive urine stream aimed at my self-confidence as a father. I suppose that is humor, especially if you laughed.

QUALITY

Twenty five years ago the dentist I went to had a sign in his office that said "The bliss of a low price is long forgotten when the pain of inferior quality shows up". The longevity of items we choose or purchase should be weighed against the price we paid, when comparing to other price points for similar things that will last for less time. The low salary of employees who accomplish little, are far more expensive than a highly paid employee that performs well. An old English saying is "penny wise and pound foolish". It meant a person was tight with money in small things but lost all their savings and more with big things. Wal-Mart has had an enormous effect on our country in the past 25 years by forcing their vendors to provide lower price points on the items they carry. As consumers warmed to the lower quality and price points provided by these vendors, the retail competitors of Wal-Mart were forced to reduce the quality of their goods to compete in the marketplace. Companies who provide high quality goods have been forced to find retail channels that cater to groups other than the masses. More and more consumer goods have become disposable. As costs were driven out of the supply chain, manufacturing moved to other countries that provided lower production costs. When Sam Walton was alive Wal-Mart advertised that their products were made in America, but no longer. Other third world countries have offered labor at even lower rates, moving manufacturing jobs to their people. The American consumers that liked the low prices found more of their own jobs disappearing and Wal-Mart products came from China and Indonesia, among others.

Without jobs, Americans had less money to spend, causing retailers to find even cheaper means of providing goods. When the toys they bought their children turned out to have potentially deadly lead in the paint, they were outraged. When the helpful employees at stores they shopped were replaced with fewer lower paid people who didn't know enough to help, they were disgusted. The result of this multi-decade process has been a huge decline in the number of people in the U.S. considered middle income, as more people are employed at low quality jobs, that pay less than what is called a livable wage. When health warnings go out because our food sources as a country have been moved beyond the inspection of a bloated government agency, nothing changes to prevent the next one. The percentage of low income workers is now big enough to control the election of politicians who promise higher "minimum wages". The percentage of the population employed in non-government jobs is at the lowest in history, about 58%. Combine folks who get their incomes from the government and those who make less than a "livable" wage and politicians find a new majority that can get them elected with promises of higher income, guaranteed jobs regardless of work performance, and higher government benefits. Once elected, they provide poor quality representation to the overall population, choosing instead to focus on promises to their special interest groups for re-election .

During this 25 year time period the quality of family life came under attack by a rapid rise in dual-income families as people tried to keep up with an increasingly disposable society. Products that previously were made to last for many years were manufactured to be disposable or in need of replacement frequently. A new generation believed they could have everything immediately that their parents worked many years to obtain. Easy credit made it seem simple and those same politicians mentioned earlier passed laws to encourage trade, consumption, and growth in all areas that could be taxed (or get them re-elected). When societal disintegration of the family grew, politicians then used those tax dollars to lock up the people who had reduced parenting in the home and committed crimes against society. Quality family life (see the July 2007 blog on family) can not be cheapened by teaching and preaching that quantity of time with each other is not as important as so called "quality" time with each other. The current foreclosure crisis is but one example of the economic strain on families who have been weakened by too many hours of employment and not enough at home. When the market price drops and the easy credit becomes hard credit, they not only lose their house but also their family. The definition of family has now begun to change. If you believe, as I do, that the foundation of our society is the nuclear family and the qualities instilled by caring parents, our future looks quite bleak without fundamental changes.

Quality is defined by the dictionary as any characteristic which make something commendable or reprehensible; the degree of excellence which is possessed; the attributes or elements of superiority. 1st Corinthians 3:13 says "his work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work." Precious metal is considered more valuable when it is purified, a process that is accomplished with fire, then removal of the impurities. The lesson here is that the process of burning off the poor quality components is what brings out the high quality components. Many Old Testament stories are misunderstood, because God seemed to continually "burn" the Israelites in ways that consumed seemingly important things. The reality is that He was exposing the true quality and pureness by burning away the rest. Deuteronomy 8:2 says "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands". So, you ask, how do we get out of this mess? A glimpse is seen in 2nd Kings 23:3, which reads "The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord - to follow the Lord and keep His commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant."

Quality life begins in the heart, is taught in the home, preached in the marketplace, and chosen by you, the individual. Society is made up of the people and in the U.S.A. the majority of voters choose the politicians that make the rules that govern society. Our founding fathers realized people are responsible for their government. John Adams in 1798 wrote: "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Joshua said in the Bible "choose this day whom you will serve". All aspects of life have high quality and low quality options. The choices are yours to make, and your actions make the choices so you can't choose not to participate. The sign in the dentists office meant the seemingly higher price for high quality is always worth it in the long run. Be discerning in all things and constantly question choices made for any reason other than top quality. The burning sensation you feel is the impurities being "burned" away to reveal what really matters. Do your actions as a consumer, as a voter, as a parent, as a spouse, as a follower of Christ, as a citizen, as a worker, as a human being, match up with the highest degree of excellence? If you need a reference book to define the highest degree of excellence I would suggest the Bible. When a boat crosses the water the ripple effect is called a wake. What does the wake of your life look like? If it is not what you want, please change and teach all those placed around you to influence, to do the same. Together we can reverse the previous choices of low quality made by our fellow citizens, making the channels chosen by the masses the high quality choice.