QOD

"Psychiatry enables us to correct our faults by confessing our parents' shortcomings."

-- Laurence J. Peter

Are YOU Serious?!

Society's New Rock-Bottom

North Carolina Program Pays Girls a Dollar a Day Not to Get Pregnant

A dollar a day keeps the babies away.

That's the incentive behind College Bound Sisters, a program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro that aims to keep 12- to 18-year-old girls in school and baby-free.

Girls in the program attend 90-minute meetings every week at which they receive lessons in abstinence and the use of contraceptives — and they receive $7 every week they do not get pregnant. The money is deposited into a fund that's collectible when they enroll in college.

But not everyone thinks paying kids to stay childless is the right way to lower the teen pregnancy rate. They say the program sends mixed messages, specifically to parents, that incentivizing good behavior is the way to go.

"It makes me a bit uneasy," said Bill Albert, chief program officer at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. "I do have mixed feelings. It's hard to pay people to do something that we think they should be doing regardless. It would be like if you didn't want young people to experiment with marijuana, you'd pay them not to do

More here.

Joyful?

I was having a discussion with a friend regarding random stuff that need not be mentioned anymore.... and I asked her if she saw me as a happy or joyful person.

She said no. Her assessment is most likely true.

I come off as the sarcastic, joke filled, sometimes insightful, sometimes mean person who is more likely to destroy momentum than create it.

But, God can change me.

I have experienced pure joy in different circumstances. It seems that those times are fewer and fewer. I would usually read something and get excited for Jesus. But, time for reading has been scarce. Or I would hear a wicked sermon, and feel that holy discontent.

So the question is... have I caved into the pressures of the world and succumbed to her temptation? Or maybe I am living in disobediance to what He has commanded me to do? [I can think of at least one thing I have been putting off].

Or is this what life has to offer? There must be more. I know it.

Patience

Definitely, need to work on that.

Work

I am really tired.

It is a 2.5 km walk to work each day. (one way - which wouldn't feel so difficult if I made better use of that gym pass. :P)

My next three days, I will be in back to back to back meetings (breaking for lunch only)....probably not understanding anything.

The number of times I have been left completely dumbfounded: 7 times (since starting work).

And this is technology, something I thought I knew.

I am like the big fish that moved into a bigger pond, only to find that it is actually a sea and I am dying cuz of salt-water.

People are nice though. I will stand to learn a lot if I try hard.

Insightful

It is amazing how insightful one's mom can be.

... and how often the same problems repeat...

Work Day

"Every workday should be undertaken as if it were your last workday..."

Possible Endings:
...completing the race diligently.
...doing absolute no work whatsoever.
...people realizing your worth, and asking you a bunch of questions about the work you do as they now bear responsibility for it.

QOD

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live."

-- Henry David Thoreau

Free Lunch

Yes, it was worth it to get business cards.

I won a free lunch from East Side Mario's!

The end.

Now to convince people to eat at East Side Mario's for lunch. o_O

UPDATE:

Extra win! On my last day, there is a free BBQ! The burgers were huge last year...huge!

QOD

"I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises."

Buzz Aldrin

I wish I read this quote BEFORE signing up for the gym!

Teach

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
James 3:1

I think one of the reasons why I have been so quiet lately... is that I fear I teach something improper, and lead you all to stumble. Because, when I think about it...how little do we know of His Word!

For instance, when we say... "God loves you". How many verses can you think of that qualify that statement?

But, Richard...Even though I cannot state a verse. I KNOW it..because..

My personal experience...

I do not mean to disqualify personal experience, but anyone can think of any number of reasons why God loves me because of X and Y. Also to counter, I can go on and say "God hates me" because of A and B.

Because X told me...

What about appeals to authority? Pastor Scott said this... Elder Chan said this... ...whatever Paul's title is...said this. They are human, they make mistakes (as do I). Furthermore, if they can offer this opinion...surely, they can substantiate their claim with reference to Scripture? And if they cannot... what good is their opinion (mine included)?

Hence... my inability to speak as of late. I know not Scripture to answer your question, so I prefer to be cautious... and not say anything at all.

lol, but Richard...your post is on teaching.

And rightly so! I do not know if this new cautious stance will be that helpful. We all make mistakes, and to be super cautious and not do anything for fear of screwing up cannot possibly be from God. It shows a lack of trust in Him, as well as a desire not to glorify God, but to avoid screwing up.

But on the flip side, how often do people examine the faith to see if they are in it? (2 Cor 13:5)

Especially our teachers at MCAC. Do you approach the post with fear and trembling, measuring each word to ensure that you teach proper Scripture? Or are we lackadaisical in our teaching, thanking God that we have gotten through another pointless Sunday School lesson?

Underdog

I am not as logical as I appear (shocking, I know). I realize I have this innate tendency to side with the underdog. Their arguments seem clearer, their cause more noble, and I subject them to less scrutiny. Although, it is perceived as "noble" to have a heart for those facing insurmountable odds... it is not good, nor Christ-like.

As Christians, our values do not shift. Whether we are with the majority, the minority, or are alone... we adhere to what is written in Scripture. The truth of the gospel can never be diluted by compromise or political correctness.

E3 Review

Preamble: this post will probably be boring for girls.

All from Gizmodo:

Sony:
- zomg motion sensor technology
- Hannah Montana PSP!!!!!!! ....... o_O
- The Guardian
- FF XIV. exclusive.. nuff said.
- NO PS3 PRICE DROP! :D (I got mine for $350... and I am keeping it.)

Nintendo:
WiiMotionPlus! not as good as Ps3 ver.
Photos on DSi to facebook.
Wii Vitality Sensor...?
New Metroid!

Microsoft:
Beatles Rockband version!
COD: Modern Warfare 2!
L4D 2!
Splinter Cell: Conviction.
Social Community thingy
MOTION SENSOR + VOICE RECOGNITION. (clear winner)

Why couldn't Microsoft have Bluray in their Xbox 360?