America's Capitalism is failing.................

Consumers, the backbone of the economy, are taking a beating from the worst economic crisis in seven decades. America's economy is being destroyed by human greed by executives.

Capitalism is failing and our government is gaining control in the new Stimulus package. With the avalanche of corporate corruption scandals that have rocked the markets over the years, people are getting fed up by the corporate greed in this country. This is the very integral part of free-market capitalism. Lack of internal control and lack of government over-sight to ensure that executives do not take advantage of the stockholders and customers. They do not accept the moral laws in their hearts: you will not steal; you will not bear false witness (lie, deceive, defraud); and you will not covet. Morality basically means a code of conduct held to be authoritative in matters of right and wrong. Money has given us more freedom, but we are unable to tell the difference between right and wrong. America's attitudes towards money should be in their conviction that money is a social good, not a private possession and that the economic main purpose is the welfare of everyone in society, not the personal pleasure of the person who happens to have control over it. Greed is one of the major flaws of Capitalism.

Business is based on the idea that self-interest and the desire for profit are moral and good. However there are those who make inappropriate ways to profit. Today, what we are seeing a major assault on morality in America. America is becoming morally bankrupt! Covetousness is yet another corruption of love that stems from a narcissistic desire for self-gratification. The pure in heart can see; but when covetousness gets into the heart, it makes the eye dim or blind.

All of us are going through this trial. Going through any trial of life for a Christian can be a joyous experience if perspective is right. Remembering the story of Job. A Christian can go through the severest imaginable trial of life if he or she really trusts God. And if he/she believes that God is on the throne, that God will keep His promise, that God never makes mistakes, that God always fulfills His word and that God will accomplish His purposes, it is that kind of faith that passes the test. Trials come to test the strength of our faith.

What's the main purpose of the trials? God doesn't have to test any of us to find out what's in our heart because He already KNOWS. God tests us so we can find out because sometimes, we are too blind to see them. He assists us in doing that spiritual inventory. He assists us in self-examination. I need to know and you need to know the strength of our faith. James says trials have a perfecting work. Peter says after you've suffered a while the Lord will make you perfect. God uses suffering to reveal our spiritual condition. Trials come to us to reveal what we really love.

We must realize that God allows trials in our lives, especially when we are blessed in places of spiritual service, to keep us humble, lest we think more confidently of our spiritual strength than we should and start to feel that we're invincible. Many Christians take sufferings with despair and despondency, others despise them, some feel God is far off.

Instead of trust, doubt comes.

Instead of quietness, turmoil comes.

Instead of contentment, resentment comes.

Instead of hope—knowing God is perfecting us, that the testing of our patience has a perfect work—instead of hope and giving of thanks, thoughts of bitterness arise toward God.

Sufferings attempts to tempt us and trials to bring out the WORST in us (see: James 1:13-14).

Trials give us a greater affection for that which is eternal because they help us long for the eternal city in Heaven. We set our affections on things above through trials and that's a very important spiritual thing. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4, "For which cause we faint not, for though our outward man perish, the inward man is renewed day by day and our light affliction which is but for a moment works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible only according to God's will, not our imagination. Real faith knows only one way and willing to allow God lead us as He did with great faiths in the Scriptures. True saving faith is not dependent on positive circumstances but negative circumstances as well. In the book of James, the entire letter is about living faith during trials and list the tests intended to reveal the legitimacy of someone's faith.

Trials cannot destroy true faith; they only put it to the test and strengthen it as in spiritual training. We know it takes true faith to perseverance because true faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the blessings for faith are to see what you believe. As this one well known verse says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).

We all have to remember God's GRACE. What we may not be aware is grace is working in our lives.

2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

2 Corinthians 12:9
God said: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Romans 5:15 "......how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!"

According to His grace, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit that being justified by His grace we might be made heir according to the hope of eternal life. In God's Grace that we have great spiritual and eternal freedom to grow.

Spiritual training which is forming spiritual fruits. In 2 Peter 1:5-9: make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

As we Christians are training for our spiritual growth, we look NOT AT our faith but in Christ of WHO we have faith in, who is THE author and finisher. "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1). The Holy Spirit tells us to keep our eyes on Jesus not on others who are also running the race! There are important things each of us should know and understand about our struggles as the faithful people of God.

Sufferings produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4) Suffering experiences may be viewed as coming from God to bring out the BEST in us (See: Gen. 22:1-2, 15-18; Hebrews 11:17).

Quotes:
“The very fact that faith looks to a power beyond itself means that it is continually subject to loss of control. So if you’re looking to get control of all your problems, forget Christianity. If you’re looking for success, happiness, or freedom from pain, forget Christ. The way of Christ is the cross, and the cross spells weakness, poverty, failure, death.” (Mason, Gospel According to Job, 418)

“Take away material prosperity; take away emotional highs; take away miracles and healing; take away fellowship with other believers; take away church; take away all opportunity for service; take away assurance of salvation; take away the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit... Yes! Take it all, all, far, far away. And what is left? Tragically, for many believers there would be nothing left. For does our faith really go that deep? Or do we, in the final analysis, have a cross-less Christianity? Unless the simple gospel has center-place in our faith, it has no place at all. Unless the cross is everything, it is nothing.” (Mason, Gospel According to Job, 210)

"The point of the Book of Job is not suffering: where is God When It hurts? The prologue (chapters 1-2) dealt with that issue. The point of the Book of Job is faith: Where is Job when it hurts?" - Phillip Yancey

"If a bird is flying for pleasure it flies with the wind, but if it meets danger, it turns and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher." Corrie ten Boom

"We human beings instinctively regard the seen world as the "real" world and the unseen world as the "unreal" world, but the Bible calls for almost the opposite." Phillip Yancey

When disaster comes into a person's life, it reveals what's truly in their hearts." Kimber Kauffmann - pastor College Park church

"If you love, you will suffer, and if you do not love, you do not know the meaning of a Christian life." Agatha Christie

"The deep meaning of the cross of Christ is that there is no suffering on earth that is not borne by God." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Why should the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" replied Lewis......"They're the only ones who can handle it." CS Lewis

"The most devastating effect of sin is that by it, we are blinded to it." Billy Graham

"Faith in God offers no insurance against tragedy." Philip Yancey

"Pure suffering has a consciousness, a tongue, a heart all its own and even the memory of it is but a pale unreality when compared with the actual experience." Mike Mason, The Gospel According to Job

"Suffering is not an elective, it is a core course in the University of Life." Steven J. Lawson, When All Hell Breaks Loose You May be Doing Something Right

"Adversity often produces an unexpected opportunity. Look for it ! Appreciate and utilize it! This is difficult to do if you're feeling sorry for yourself because you're faced with adversity." John Wooden

"Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has." Billy Graham

"Pain narrows vision. The most private of sensations, it forces us to think of ourselves and little else." Phillip Yancey

"What is the greatest deficiency among human Chrsitians? They have an inadequate view of human suffering." Helmut Thielicke, German pastor and theologian

"It is easy for us to tarnish God's character because He never argues back; He never tries to defend or vindicate himself." Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

"Our response to suffering is an accurate barometer of our soul, Steven J. Lawson, "When All Hell Breaks Loose - You May be Doing Something Right".

"I had to be healed of my desire to be healed." Joni Eareckson Tada

"If God is not in some sense responsible for bad things, then he is not responsible for good things either. If we do not "blame" God for death, we should not praise God for life. We cannot have it both ways." Joseph Hill

"How can you get to know God without suffering - - you can't ! - - Charles Stanley

"Just because we don't see a reason for evil and suffering doesn't mean there's not a reason for it.Consider the story of Joseph and the amazing conclusion in Genesis 50:20 - " You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." There are countless other stories, where suffering was not good, but with time and perspective, some see the good that resulted from the pain and tragedy in their lives." Tim Keller

"Real faith is refined in the fires and storms of pain". Eugene Peterson

"Every truth about suffering can be twisted into a weapon for or against God. Most often suffering speeds us in the direction we are already heading - whether toward or away from God." David McKenna, The Whisper of His Grace

Men and Depression

Reading one blogger about men and depression prompted me to post the blog.

I am dealing with my own depression mostly caused by Multiple Sclerosis(MS)since MS damages the myelin and nerve fibers deep within the brain. If MS damages areas of the brain that are involved in emotional expression and control, a variety of behavioral changes can result, including depression. There are some evidence that the interferon medication that I am taking may trigger or worsen depression.

Depression remains taboo in many christian circles, but eventually some degree of depression reaches each person's life no matter how close they are to God. Well meaning, yet ignorant Christians will say things such as; Repent and ask forgiveness for your sin because real Christians don't get depressed and depression is a self discipline problem.

While it is true in the "Fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5 explains why we get depressed. Depression and despair is a lack of joy, which is part of the fruit of the Spirit. Inner conflict and fear is a lack of peace, which is also a part of the fruit of the Spirit. We may be experiencing personal problems such as dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and depression but all of us have to explore ALL aspect of the disease which should include spiritual along with medicine. Psychology and medicine have not really proven themselves capable of dealing effectively with the human mind and with mental and emotional processes. King David was a person who occasionally sought advice from human counselors, but he always turned to God for answers in the end. Reading Psalms shows that David was especially dependent on God alone when he struggled with personal problems or emotions. We all can be "theologically knowing while at the same time spiritually ignorant". We can have GREAT knowledge but if we don't have spiritual wisdom, our knowledge is worthless. Many Christians have spent their time correcting their faith symptoms rather than allowing the Holy Spirit lead their faith. Real faith knows only one way and willing to allow God lead us as He did with great faiths in the Scriptures. In one of Christ's parables (Matthew 13), Jesus is emphasizing that it is the Holy Spirit's conviction that God’s design for us is to be radically transform by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) allowing us to grown from within and it is our hope for this radical transformation is by the power of the Holy Spirit in His grace (Romans 15:13).

Christians should also realize that depression is REAL and should be dealt with in positive and honest approach. There are about 80 percent effective way of overcoming depression is through amino acid, vitamin, and mineral supplements. Depression is often caused by a deficiency in certain chemicals in the body. Depression may have abnormal levels of certain brain chemicals, including serotonin, acetylcholine, and catecholamines (such as dopamine).

Nutritional deficiencies are as follows:
Vitamins A, C, E, the B-complex vitamins, and trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium. Omega-3 fatty acids,Vitamin C, 500 - 1000 mg,Coenzyme Q10, 100 - 200 mg, Melatonin, 2 - 5 mg and others.

I have been taking nutrition along with my medications to help control my depression that is usually caused by MS medication and other medications I am taking.

Other causes of depression are complex and involve a combination of biologic, genetic, and environmental factors.

Clinical depression was once considered a "woman's disease," more than 6 million men in the U.S. have at least one episode of major depression each year. Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of loss, anger, sadness, or frustration interfere with everyday life.

Depression in men often can be traced to cultural expectations. Men are supposed to be successful. They should rein in their emotions.They tend to deal with their symptoms with a macho attitude or by drinking alcohol which destroys much needed nutrients. Without proper nutrients, men can fall into deep depression.

Lacking nutrients usually means medication like prozac.

Men can find more information about this topic in: Men get depression

Christians can find out more information about this topic in: Christian Depression

Christian Support for Depression

Bipolar Disorder

I don't have bipolar disorder however, my ex-wife has it but never got treated for it and refused to get treated. My own daughter also have bipolar disorder and she got treated and doing great. I am learning that bipolar disorder is like multiple sclerosis, the victims are females more than males.

My current wife also have bipolar disorder and she is getting treated as well as getting therapy. Now that all of her 3 girls also have bipolar disorder and they all are getting treated.

I have learned that Bipolar disorder is not a single disorder because they have different levels of disorder. I don't know my ex-wife's level so I would not know. My current wife and her two of three girls have mild disorder which means they are able to cope their every mood swing without hospitalization. While my own daughter as well as one of my wife's daughters have more depressive disorder which can lead them to hospitalization. In fact, my own daughter was hospitalized about 4 times.

I get depression which is similar to bipolar disorder which characterized by a pervasive low mood, loss of interest in usual activities and diminished ability to experience pleasure. Mine is related to Multiple Sclerosis and my medications.

Bipolar disorder and depression are the most common causes for lack of self-discipline, lack of assertiveness, lack of ambition and procrastination.

We all as a family need to have a family committment of doing what is right for us and for our bodies. Joining YMCA is our first "action" to get our butts moving.

Hall of Faith and Spiritual Depression

Another of my "Hall of Faith" is David Martyn Lloyd-Jones. After leaving medicine in 1927, Dr. Lloyd-Jones became the minister of a Welsh Presbyterian Church in Aberavon, South Wales. He was there until 1938, when he moved to London to share the ministry of Westminster Chapel in Buckingham Gate with Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, who retired in 1943. His ministry lasted for thirty years until He retired in August 1968. He then engaged in a wider preaching ministry and in writing until shortly before his death in 1981.

Dr. Morgan and Dr. Lloyd-Jones' association was a fitting example of how Christians can work together even when they differ on secondary issues.

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan was an Arminian and his Bible exposition, though famous, did not deal in the great doctrines of the Reformation.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was in the tradition of Spurgeon, Whitefield, the Puritans and the Reformers.

Yet the two men respected each other's positions and talents and their brief partnership, until Campbell Morgan died at the end of the war, was peaceful and much furthered the work of Christ in London.

From reading his books, I have learned that Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who did not approach the Bible from a dispensational perspective, states in his book, Revival, "Let us not forget that the camp of Israel was the, then, church of God. In the Old Testament the nation of Israel was the church in the wilderness." (Page 166)

One of his famous quotes:

"If I may say so in passing, the thing that has given me greatest pleasure, and greatest encouragement of all the things I have ever been told that people say about my ministry, is this. It was said by a lady, who remonstrated, and said, 'This man preaches to us as if we were sinners!' Quite so. You see, you must not be searched, you must not be examined, you are all right. Of course, denounce those sinners who are outside, or those liberals, but, why, we are the people who are orthodox! We do not need that, we need instruction. We want these general lectures, these addresses, these character studies. How interesting, how nice. But we must not be disturbed. There is nothing wrong with us. And so such people, as you see everywhere in the Bible and in the history of the Church, have always disliked anything that searches them, or makes them feel uncomfortable, or probes them."

Dr. Lloyd-Jones was brought up in Welsh Calvinistic Methodism, first as a boy in Wales and then as a teenager and student in London, when the Charing Cross Chapel, which his family attended. If you have never heard of the Calvinistic Methodists the very term may seem contradictory. Because of his spiritual foundations in that movement it would be wise to take some time to hear an explanation of that denomination from Martyn Lloyd-Jones himself. Though he did not truly found it, Welsh Calvinistic Methodism finds its roots in George Whitefield. During the mid 1700's the churches of Great Britain could be divided into two main camps. The Methodist branch (under John Wesley) was Arminian meaning they emphasized man's free will. The Presbyterian and Congregationalist were Calvinistic meaning they emphasized the sovereignty of God in salvation. Both of these camps had their problems. The Methodist ignored the nature of the doctrines of Grace and the need for depraved man to be regenerated by the effectual call of God. On the other hand the Calvinists (including many Baptists) had become hyper-Calvinistic meaning they began to deny the free offer of the gospel to all men and the need for evangelism and missions. In many ways Calvinistic Methodism sought the best of both sides. These Welsh Christians were thorough believers in the doctrines of Grace. Unlike their English counterparts, however, they did not believe that being Calvinistic means ignoring one's heart and emotions. They were aware of what George Whitefield called a "felt Christ."

Lloyd-Jones rightly notes that right doctrine apart from this "felt" Christ had inherent problems. The Welsh church saw a need to return to Bible preaching rather preaching of doctrinal statements, Catechism and Confessions. One other great concern of the Calvinistic Methodist Church was revival. For that reason Lloyd-Jones observed that he believed that Jonathan Edwards was in his heart a Calvinistic Methodist.

While the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church had itself grown cold by the time of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, it history played an important part in formulating his life and ministry.

"The Doctor" reintroduced in his preaching ministry the need for careful, expository preaching. He restored to Great Britain what it had known under Spurgeon and that was a hungering for the unfettered Word of God itself over liturgy and religious form. The British expositor Martyn Lloyd-Jones have said ''In a sense, a depressed Christian is a contradiction in terms'' Dr. Jones does a marvelous job of breaking down each of these traits found in those in the doldrums and sheds the light of Scripture on each as he takes a solely Christian look at the root of these problems and how to deal with them biblically. Dr. Jones explains that by living according to God's pattern, by thinking according to God's pattern and by feeling according to God's pattern, right attitudes, right thoughts, right actions. You have to police your life and your action ultimately will control your stability. That means you have to be disciplined.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in writing his book on Spiritual Depression, of course he was a medical doctor, he was a physician to the queen before he felt the call of God to preach and teach the Word of God. And he suggested that this matter of looking at God's power coming into action at the end of our resources was similar to the issue of health. He put it this way, he said, "Health is something that results from right living. Health cannot be obtained directly or immediately or in and of itself. There is a sense in which I am prepared to say that a man should not think of his health as such at all. Health is the result of right living. And I say exactly the same thing about this question of power in our Christian lives."

"I suggest that the main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression is this, that we allow ourself to talk to us instead of talking to ourself. . . . Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?" ([Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965], p. 20).

"Now we believe that God extends His Kingdom partly through His people and we know that He has often times done some of the most notable things in the history of the church through the simple Christian living of some quite ordinary people. Nothing is more important, therefore, than that we should be delivered from a condition which gives other people looking at us the impression that to be a Christian means to be unhappy, to be sad, to be morbid and that the Christian is one who scorns delights and lives laborious days"

"I defy you to read the life of any saint that has ever adorned the life of the church without seeing at once that the greatest characteristic in the life of that saint was discipline and order. Invariably it is the universal characteristic of all the outstanding men and women. Read about Henry Martin, David Brainerd, Jonathan Edwards, the brothers Wesley and Whitfield, read their journals. It does not matter what branch of the church they belong to, they have all disciplined their lives and have insisted upon the need for this and obviously it is something that is thoroughly scriptural and absolutely essential"

But what's a Christian to do to effectively combat spiritual depression (but not get bogged down with the guilt of it all)?

Believing that Christian joy was one of the most potent factors in the spread of Christianity in the early centuries, Lloyd-Jones reveals the causes that have robbed you of your spiritual vitality and shows you how to find complete joy through the mind and spirit of Christ. Based on 21 sermons that the author preached at the Westminster Chapel in London. 300 pages, softcover from Eerdmans.

Lloyd-Jones addressing the following issues that many who are downcast find themselves afflicted by:
* Lack of a foundation in Christ
* Lack of clarity
* Poor spiritual balance between the mind, heart, and will
* Inability to receive forgiveness for all their sins
* Inability to move beyond past failures
* Fear of the future
* Placing too much confidence in emotions
* Faulty love of oneself and a general contempt for others
* Lack of faith
* Seeing only bad and not good
* Bondage to dead legalism
* Failing to recognize false teachings
* Weariness
* Lack of discipline
* Failure to handle trials appropriately
* Failure to respond correctly to chastening
* Bitterness

"Faith, having refused to be controlled by circumstances, reminds itself of what it believes and what it knows.... Whatever your circumstances at this moment, bring all you know to be true of your relationship to God to bear upon it. Then you will know full well that He will never allow anything to happen to you that is harmful. 'All things work together for good to them that love God'.... I do not suggest that you will be able to understand everything that is happening. You may not have a full explanation of it; but you will know for certain that God is not unconcerned. That is impossible. The One who has done the greatest thing of all for you, must be concerned about you in everything, and though the clouds are thick and you cannot see His face, you know He is there" (Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Its Cure [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965), p. 145).

This is one of my favorite quotes by Dr. Jones. We cannot change circumstances, but we can triumph in them. We can be 'more than conquerors'; and we become so as we are found 'looking unto Jesus'. Look at Him! Look at the nights He spent in prayer, look at His knowledge of the Word of God, look at the way in which He 'exercised His senses'. . . . We must become imitators of Him. We must look beyond men, we must look to the Son of God and what He has done in order 'to save us out of this present evil world', and to introduce us to the glory that awaits us with God" (The Christian Soldier [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977], pp. 93-94).

Anyway, I need to read this book again because I need a good reminder of my faith. I wonder if I still have it or did I loaned it to someone? I will find out soon enough.

I am feeling down this week and today's was my

worst thus far. I am going to turn in and go to sleep early. I hope tomorrow I will be in a better mood.

Will visit your blogs tomorrow.

Jim :)

Personal Economy and Budget Cuts.....

I am not sure about everyone else, but my family is struggling to make ends with our cost of living because housing and utility costs rose including monthly food and automobile fuel costs. I take the bus to work daily which means I saved over $250 a month of wear/tear, fuel and parking costs just by paying for a simple bus pass.

My family is one of those America’s working middle-class families who are facing a wave of economic insecurity even though we do have a secured job and we are paying our bills. However, our expenses are higher than our income due to prices going up such as food, auto fuel, others and especially medical bills. Our medical bills have been getting bigger over the years.

My wife and I are making efforts to cut costs and reduce the amount of not needed costs which means giving up what we enjoyed.

I am sure many of us have financial fears regarding the effects of the corporations and businesses attitude in regarding working with us because they are in the business of making money and they don't care if we have problems. This is just another specific economic area that affect other economic areas and they are all related. Corporations and other businesses needs to remember that we consumers drive the U.S. economy according to our ability pay for supply of goods and services that debts are in nominal terms, falling sales and wages made it impossible to service the debt. When that happens, everything else in economy will be affected. There are limited programs that help people survive through bad economic times because many corporation do not want to work with us. They rather have the government work with us while they reaping in millions.

In one of my posts in this blog, I posted about most corporations are paying their CEOs and other exectuves too much and I find that disgussing. Shareholders needs to speak up and tell the executives to shape up or else. While I understand the logic behind the salary amount which competition is expected because they attract a large number of qaulified applicants. I know CEOs face long hours, considerable travel, and intense pressure but we have to remember, there are hundreds of thousands CEOs who are not making over $ 150,000 a year including non-profit agencies. It is very laughable when many CEOs earning more than 100 times the average wage. They should be helping the company and sharing their wealth with their workers. CEO's bonuses are even WORST and their employees working their butts of making the companies success, executives should also have their bonuses should flow through so all members of a company have a reason to perform.

The purpose of the corporation was and still is to generate profits for its investors (shareholders) which is not a problem for me because I am one of those "investors". However, I am the investors who are trying to live while executives are making more money than they deserve. Therefore, corporations and major investment holders really do not serve minor investors but their own. Our relatives ran into these kind of business people in the past (1800's, 1900's and years later) and they were often referred to as "politicians as villains and businessmen as heroes" and they still are today. Today, many corporations are restructuring two processes that are known as "downsizing" and "outsourcing", because they are basically shedding of higher-paid employees (not exectuves) and the hiring of low-wage contingent workers elsewhere. Therefore, there are American workers who are not making money or not making enough money to help with the economy.

Back to our budget plan.....
After paying off debts, we are going to invest more so that when economic crisis come again, we will be ready and will not rely on corporations and government. Since my income can only pay so much therefore, in the future, I am going to make some changes in my budget to focus on a much more simple living than I am living now. My first step to making better choices about my family spend our money by living consciously. This is not about to "consume less" but rather to "consume differently" to save money in the long run.

My family's first focus is our current debts. We are going to use our tax refunds and rebates towards our debts. Close out some accounts that are considered wasteful even though they do "help U.S. economy". I am sorry to say that our rebates are not really going to help U.S.'s economy since many companies do not and will not like working with consumers so therefore, there's no point working with them and I rather spent my money to companies that desires to help the economy by working with consumers rather than relying on the government alone.

If I remember correctly, the last time we received tax-rebate checks, most Americans have used the money to pay off their debt -- not spent it in the stores. Recently, the UBS Securities commissioned survey was released by the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc. found that 43% of the 1,000 surveyed Americans would pay off debt, while 26% said they would save the money and only 24% said they would spend it.

So... this week and weekend, we are going over our bills and find ways to cut costs. We are cutting our cable and phone features.

Oh yes, in terms of investments, I am looking into investing into companies that don't have high executives salaries and bonuses. I want companies to work for investors and consumers more than they are working for their own bank accounts, pockets and wallets. I would encourage all investors do the same.

Are you all facing similar issues as I am?

My moods are way off this week......

even though I am having a good week at work. Very productive and very focused. In fact, I am not feeling romantic this week and I know tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Sheesh.

Hopefully, I will get romantic feelings tomorrow.

Jim

Taboo discussion among Christians..............

When discussing "depression" among Christian community, this can be a taboo subject. To conservative Christians, their attitude is this "depression is a spiritual self discipline problem" based on the assumption that all depression is caused by demonic oppression/satan's attacks. Which in fact is false. There can be a wide variety of reasons why depression comes for each individual person who experience it. Yes it is possible that satan's attacks can cause depression, but he is not responsible for every case of depression. Whenever we are inclined to presume that the illness or suffering of another person is the result of that person's sin, we should recall the foolishness of Job's "counselors" in attempting to explain the mystery of God's will. Job's friends were obstacles to Job's relationship with God when they don't really know why things are happening to Job. Their lectures were based on logics, assumptions and reasoning. The problem was that all their accusations were unfounded. We must be careful about how we react to the problems or sins of others. We must not accuse others of things we are uninformed about.

I have been studying "Job" for a long time and learned about my own sufferings and learned patience through them. Job reads like history. It talks about a man named Job. He lived in the land of Uz. It relates details about his family, his life, and his suffering. It communicates to us his friends' interest in his suffering, and the spiritual struggling with which Job dealt. What's interesting is that other biblical writers refer to Job as a real person. Ezekiel refers to Job along with Noah and Daniel (Ezekiel 14:14,20). And James draws upon the example of Job to comfort the suffering, proving the point that God is merciful. He commends the endurance of Job (Jas. 5:11). From the Book of Job, we see that God is in complete control. Satan had neither the power nor the authority to do anything without the permission of God. It was consistent with God's nature and will for him to have allowed those things to happen to Job.

Some examples of bad theologies: Job 4:7 - Eliphaz told Job "Stop and think! Does the innocent person perish? When has the upright person been destroyed?" Job 5:6 - Eliphaz insisted, "Evil does not spring from the soil, and trouble does not spourt from the earth". Meaning if someone's life is messed up, then there is obviously a cause. After all, trouble doesn't come out of nowhere. Job 8:4 - "Your children obviously sinned against God, so their punishment was well deserved". Job 8:20 - Bildad said "God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he make evildoers prosper". Job 11:6 - Zophar said "God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve." Job 11:13-20 - Zophar said "If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to God in prayer.......you will be protected and will rest in safety". Zophar's theology was wrong when he told Job that a godly person who suffered still cannot be righteous. Job 15:20 - Eliphaz said "Wicked people are in pain throughout their lives". Job 22:5 - Eliphaz said "Your guilt has no limit."

There are many bad theologies came from Job friends' mouths that I would encourage you all to study the book of Job. There are several reason the Book of Job was placed in the Bible along with other books. I truly believe that God put Job in the Bible is because He wanted us to avoid bad theology regarding His Sovereign.

Job's friends made up a list of sins they were sure Job had committed at one time or another. The problem was was that all their accusations were unfounded. He did not know Job or the tthings he had done. We must be careful about how we react to the problems or sins of others. We must not accuse others of things we are uninformed about. Read Job 42:7-9 regarding God's rebuke to Eliphaz and his friends for judging Job wrongly

What do you take for Depression?

I was posting my experiences with antidepression medication with fellow MS blogger and I thought I post and ask other MS bloggers about what depression medication they are taking. Antidepressant medications that affects chemical messengers within the brain. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. Many experts believe that an imbalance in these neurotransmitters is the cause of depression. Fluoxetine is believed to work by inhibiting the release or affects the action of serotonin. The medications for antidepression are usually classified under "Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)" which are a class of antidepressants used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and some personality disorders. There are at least 7 SSRIs products out there and its good to get familiar with all of them. Also, for people with Multiple Sclerosis, there have been reports stating that Tricyclic antidepressants works for management of depression; thought to increase synaptic concentration of serotonin and/or norepinephrine in the CNS by inhibition of their uptake by the presynaptic neuronal membrane; useful in the management of neuropathic pain.

I hear success stories about antidepression medications from fellow MSers. In fact, I might post a question asking people with MS what kind of antidepression medication they are taking and which ones have been working for them. I noticed that there are different kinds of depressions and I think people with MS are in common when experiencing depression. I am doing a poll right and I already voted which one works for me.

I use Fluoxetine for my depression and this week, my doctor increased Fluoxetine (i.e. prozac) from 60mg to 80mg and I hope this will help my mood and bring back my sexual desire that my wife misses. Flueoxetine have been working for me since I started taking it in 2001, just before I was diagnosed with MS. I have never really experiences any nausea, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, drowsiness, and loss of appetite that they have labeled. I do wished it help me with my appetite because I do need to eat less. However, Fluoxetine helps me last longer sexually for there have been studies that they are effective and used in treating premature ejaculation problems for men.

You might be interested in reading this article that was published in October 16, 2007 called Fluoxetine Shows Promise in Multiple Sclerosis. According to the quote from the article: Studies have shown

"a trend toward a reduction in new enhancing lesions with fluoxetine treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting or relapsing secondary progressive MS."