The Crappy Christmas Pt 2

This is not the first time I've talked about a Crappy Christmas.

However, this year the sullen mood results from facing the fact that I soon will not have a Grandfather. Recently I've gotten to spend some quality time with him. In such a short time I've seen him express both extreme joy and deep sorrow.

A couple days ago I told him that I donated my birthday to Him, and used it to raise money for Blood/Water Mission. I was able to raise $370 dollars towards the cause. He started crying; first for the joy he felt, then for the unresolved sins in his life. It was very powerful- I've never seen him cry so uncontrollably before.

I also had to help my grandma clean up after he alleviated himself in his diper. I hesitate to even type these words- as the act itself is seems so degrading that it should remain private. And yet that is what people tend to do with their Sin. They try to hide it so the appalling reality is hidden under the covers. As disgusting as it was in both sight and smell, what I was witnessing was nothing in comparison to the way God views our sin. The process really made me reflect on the purpose of Christ birth and death on this Earth. Christs death allows God to pick us up from our own filth and wipe off the sin excrement. God then restore us to a pure state. Why.... because of His Love!

Designing a web interface and.... woah, I'm a Glutton!

While looking at blogs to get ideas for designing a User Interface, I came across this phrase (linked here)

Most people think of gluttony in terms of eating. However, the more generic definition of this sin is over-consuming something to the point that it is wasted. It’s a desire to consume more than you can possibly consume.

Wow, I realize recently I have become a glutton for movies. Why? Is it because I download on average 6 movies a day? Is it because my Netflix in-box has 250 movies saved in its queue? Is it because I have two hard drives with about 500 gigabytes filled with movies? Is it because I have around 200 movies on DVD? Is it because I have an accounts at nine different video stores in the midwest? Is it because I know of all the web sights where you can watch free movies/TV? (stagevu.com, quicksilverscreen.com, hulu.com, veoh.com, crackle.com, sidereel.com, surfthechannel.com, southparkstudios.com, vimeo.com, youtube.com, megavideo.com, megaupload.com, tudou.com, .....).

While these are all symptoms of gluttony, I don't believe any alone represent my depravity. They are symptoms, not its source.

I identify myself as a glutton because I acquire so much more than I'm able to consume. Why do I do it? Because I can never have enough... because it is a habit....because I am sinful. We as humans are all to familiar with self destructive tenancies.

I recognize this tendency in my life. Please God, now give me the desire and strength to break it.

a dream within a dream....

Last night I had a dreamed that I was dreaming about my ex girlfriend. It is weird to have a dream in a dream. Then in my dream I was analyzing what I needed to do in response to my dream. In my dream was planning how I would get her back. It was interesting because I don’t think about her much anymore, however she still seems to haunt my subconscious. Why is it that there are those who still haunt us despite having little to do with our current lives? People who have left their mark so vividly that even in their absence they haunt our dreams. Be wary of the people you entrust yourself to. The impact they have may be far greater than you can ever realize.

Driving vs. Crashing Through Life...

Yesterday one of my housemates (and the nephew of the landlord) wrecked his car. Somehow he managed to hit a guardrail head on. As I heard him arguing with his uncle in a mixture of Polish/English, It made me reflect on an epiphany I had come to the week before while reading Tim Kellers Counterfeit Gods. To really dive into it, I need to introduce it as it was revealed to me.
Have you ever found yourself frantically search for your keys as you contemplate on being late for an appointment or work? If not, I commend you..., and you're a weirdo. For those more normal individuals who occasional find themselves misplacing things, this may strike a cord. I assure you there is a sense of urgency, and you experience a sense of tunnel vision where nothing else matters. The reasoning behind this is simple, if we can't find our keys then we can't get to where we need to go.
In Ephesians 2 we here Paul talk about the same dependence. Why don't I radically pursue Christ like I do when I lost my keys? Don't I realize I will never be able to drive on the Christian Road of life without Him? My past week I did little this to seek Jesus, and the byproduct was a multitude of selfish decisions. However, focusing on not making those selfish decisions is fruitless, because if I did not want to make them I would not have. My problem is I need to change not just behavior, but the mind in heart that leads to such behavior. Despite what psychology has taught me, I seem to be unable to do on my own. Therefor, absolute surrender seems to be the only option.

Life in Christ

Chapter 3 of Collossians has such a similar message to the one Tim Keller Presents in Counterfeit Gods. Tim's Message focuses on the Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power. Paul's message is that "we are to be concerned about heavenly things". This section is not a 10 point bulleted list of ways to "live the Christian life"... but rather something so simple it is easily missed, "Set your mind on things above...". If I lost my keys, I would look for them where I suspect I lost them. I wouldn't do anything else before I find them, probably because I wouldn't be able to get where I am going without them. I need to be as passionate when finding true life "In Christ", I must go where Christ is, and seek Christ, for only then will I be able to get anywhere in the Christian life.

After reading this article, i am wondering if my ambiguious tendency was a factor in my three year dating relationship. The high ambivalence had been useful in counseling situations, but not ideal in long term relationships.

"Such shades-of-gray people tend to have trouble in relationships...they stay in relationships longer..."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703694204575518200704692936.html

My problem with Multi-Level Marketing

I had two friends pitch Network marketing (multi level marketing) to me last week. Not a fan of the whole process, especially since it has some inherent flaws. However, my problem is that I can no longer trust my friends. Let me explain. When I watch a advertisement on TV, I already know there is an agenda attached to the ad. However, when a friend recommends me something, I am typically more apt to consider their recommendation. However, when a friend wants to talk to me about network marketing (and does not tell me upfront), automatically they become a walking commercial to me, pushing to others what ultimately benefits them. I know in some fashion or another we all do this with our peers- but at a socially acceptable level. However, with multi-marketing, friends become dollar signs. I never wish to see my friends as means to an end.

faith.... allowing us to believe in fiction?

After just having a great conversation with my office-mate about God, I am attempting to understand how he perceives the world. He sees faith as a way to believe the ridiculous. I have actually heard that statement a number of times with people, perhaps more so since moving to California. Is faith truly a way for us to bridge the gap between reason and the ridiculous? When Jesus talks about faith, how is it defined in the culture of His day? How do I communicate faith to a western world that believes science and religion are opposing forces? A world that does not believe what it can't see, and scoffs at the idea of God as the Creator Have we the church created this paradigm by not adhering to 1 Peter 3:15? Are we as individuals not prepared to give an answer to why we follow Christ? Have we not asked our self the tough questions that the outside world asks of us? Have we not given it with gentleness and respect? I find that those who are most adamant about their point in a discussion, are least comfortable with it. Perhaps more time should be spent reflecting on why we have hope. Do we except blindly what was put before us as children? Let us not forget that we are to worship God in both Spirit and Truth (John 4:23).

Usability testing & revealing the True Self....

If I've learned one thing while doing usability testing these past couple weeks with participants, it is not to ask them about what they would do in the future. The thing is, when asked about a future scenario, many people do their best to answer truthfully. However, they answer with their ideal behavior. We like to think we'll behave in the most logical, effective manner. In short, we want to think we'll do the right thing. However, people don't always act logically, and we don't always do what's ideal. It is true we want to predict future behavior so we can anticipate software that will respond to this behavior. Yet, asking participants may not get the answer we need.The best way to predict future behavior is to look at past behavior.

The statement has personal implications as well. If we want to see the predisposed pattern that we gravitate towards, look at past decisions. If we want a realistic portrayal of our self... look at past decisions. Get the picture? To better understand the true self vs. the ideal self.... look at the decisions the true self has made. This reveals his/her strengths and faults, his/her shining moments and his/her sins. The best way to reach the ideal self is realize you are not that person- and embrace the true self.

Stolen Waters

The moment the human body experiences that kind of relationship (sexual intimacy), the seduction is to find the feeling without the cost of it. And the cost of it actually is what preserves the feeling, otherwise even the feeling ultimately dies...it is not a feeling, it is a fact of a commitment which properly expressed, preserves the feeling. Improperly expressed, the feeling will die out and the person becomes diminished in the process.
...as painful as it is, you have to find ways and means ... to crucify yourself in that desire, and ask the Christ ...to be to you what only he can be to you in this and nobody else can. - Ravi Zacharias

Language # 2

I guess it should be no surprise that the the more motivated you are to learn a language, the more successful you will be at language acquisition. I've been "trying" to learn Spanish since visiting Honduras back in 2006. However, I guess trying means listening to the podcast "Coffee Break Spanish" every so often and taping Spanish flash cards up around my room.

However, staying motivated to learn a second language seems equally as daunting as the language itself. One of the benefits of learning a language young include hearing the difference in pronunciation, which are cemented at a early age. Plus your faculties and energy are more honed in this skill. Since learning a language for me is simply recreational, I find it difficult to devote the time needed to the task. Right now learning consists of watching Soy tu Duena and a impromptu flash card session. I'm not even sure how helpful watching the hour long Spanish soap opera (it's true what they say) a day truly is. I hope one day I'll have the benefit of immersion to motivate me- but until then I'm left with a half heated motivation. On top of that, my recent schooling in french was actually detrimental to the Spanish I did know (it's called double semi lingualism). If you have stuck it out and do speak two languages- kudos.

The Truth about Science...

This started as a simple response to a friends blog, however the response elaborated into my own post.
Objectivity is a tenant of science like legs are the foundations of a table. However, any firm believers in such objectivity may be sadly dismayed to find that objectivity better resembles the tablecloth rather than the foundation. Jack Webb's character on Dragnet was infamous for saying just the facts ma'am. (On a brief side note, this phrase is incorrect. The actual phrase was All we know are the facts ma'am). You may have also heard the popular phrase "the facts speak for themself".

Research is conducted to find the facts of a situation. However, those facts are sought to prove or disprove a hypothesis. When we make an argument for a case, our arguments contain a premise and conclusion. So what if a underlying premise is difficult to deduce? For instance, the statement "We are causing global warming" contains a underlying premise: the rate of increase in global warming is increasing, the increase is unhealthy, and we are the cause.

I still believe it is important to do extensive research in your suppositions and science is the best model we have of pursuing knowledge- but it is simply a tool that's at the mercy of its wielder. Scientist are still attempting to prove their own hypothesis. (not saying that in itself is not a bad thing; as human factors expert Jeff Atwood points out in his blog, research without a purpose is pointless). Therefore, unless you read the raw data, your simply getting a experts point of view. While good scientist recognize that they have an innate bias and factor that into their tests, this added value is lost on the reader if they lack a understanding of the data and statistics used to analyze the data. Since the average person is often unaware of complex arithmetic equations used in research, they are forced to trust the deductions of the experts. But, the experts don't always know what they are talking about (read the book "the experts speak" if you doubt this).

So to summarize, we should be aware that often we are getting someone's interpretation of the facts. These interpretations themselves carry their own baggage. This is unavoidable, since everything we do is colored with emotional overtones. Basically we can't strip the impact that emotions play in our decisions, choices, and beliefs. However, that's a topic for a different time...

giving up myself

I give myself to God because he keep me from giving myself to unholier pursuits. I give myself to God because It is the only way to keep myself. I give myself to God because He gives the best return on my investment.I give myself to God because He makes new what I gave Him. When I don't give up myself, I end up loosing myself. Giving him the day releases any fears that my life is irrelevant and ultimately pointless.

The Old Man & the Fox

(Not a true story, however it was inspired by my first experience with a Fox yesterday)

There was an old man, retired, who lived deep in the woods alone. However, the man did not feel alone. He had the birds to sing to him in the morning and the coyote’s song at night. His entertainment was watching the dear and the rabbit from his porch and the mischief of the possum. But his most recent and favorite guest of all was the fox.

Once a week the man would take 40 minutes drive into town to visit and gather food. He had the same routine of visiting the library for a few books, than the grocery store for some perishable items and sometimes the hardware store. The last stop he always made though was to visit the butcher, to buy leftover scraps for his friend- the fox.

The fox was a slender small little creature who made his first appearance only a short while ago. He was an extremely short animal, only a foot off the ground. The little fox seemed to have been separated from his pack. He was quite skinny and sniffed the grown around the porch for food. The old man sat on the porch and thought to himself that such an unusually shy creature must have a stomach louder than his fear of humans.

The kind old man had pity on the fox and threw out some scraps onto his hard from his dinner that evening. The fox readily consumed the scraps of food, and left. The following day around the same time, the man was on the porch and noticed this fox had returned, licking his lips in expectation. The old man welcomed the new company and gladly provided the days dinner. This pattern continued till almost a year had gone by.

One day however, the fox did not meet the man at their scheduled time. The man waited for a while- and finally went to bed. When he noticed the fox was absent again the second day, he went on a hike to find his mammalian friend. The man walked for miles and miles in the woods until evening approached. Before the sun sought to hide its face, the old man found his friend. Upon closer inspection, the man saw that the fox’s leg was caught in a trap. The man could see the fear on his little friends auburn haired face, and felt pity. The man reached down to release the creature from his bind. The fox felt fear and bewilderment- he did not understand the man’s intentions, only that the man was causing his leg to hurt more. The fox bit the old man.

The man withdrew his hand in pain, and for a moment was tempted to leave the fox. However, the man thought to himself, “my friend hurt me, but could it be because he is scared and in pain? If I truly care for this creature- I would think about his needs above my own.” Therefore, the man did not withdraw his help, even when the fox bit him a second and third time. After about ten minutes, the man was able to help the fox get his leg out of the trap. When the fox was finally free, he dashed into the woods, never seen from again by the old man. The man walked home and treated his wounds; all the while hoping the fox would be able to recover from his wounded leg.

The next time the man was in town, he swung by the butcher to pick up food for himself. The butcher asked about the bite marks on the old mans arm and change in meat purchases. The man shared with him the story of his friend, the fox. The Bucher responded in bewilderment, “Why did you help a creature that hurt you in return, and showed no gratitude in the end.”

The man replied with a soft smile on his face “Caring means initiating without expecting a return. It seeks to understand the plight of a friend, even when they don’t understand it themselves. It may even mean hurting a friend more to help them in the end. It could involve subjecting oneself to pain, simply to see a friend free.” As the man left, the butcher was surprised at all the wisdom the man had gained simply from opening his heart to a small creature- the fox.

Touch me!

Touch is good for physical health. It is a primary reinforcer and is inherently pleasurable. When you get touched on the forearm, it sends a signal to your orbital frontal cortex, which is involved in reward (click here to learn more). This is very similar to when we taste pleasurable foods, like chocolate for instance. The tactile system is also the largest system in the body and first to develop in a fetus (check out Haptic Communication). I probably should throw a disclaimer in here. Context is key. If a girl I liked touches me on the arm , then my heart is through the roof. However, I don’t like when mr. strange comes up behind me and starts rubbing my shoulders. Different cultures also have their own set of norms. For instance, in Thai culture, it can be considered offense to touch someone’s head.

This phenomenon is not unique to our species alone. France Dual & Jane Goodal discovered that chimps groom each other when there is no bugs in their environment. And why do chimps systematically share food with those who've recently groomed them? Because touch brings about reciprocity. Darleen Francis of UC Berkley also found that rat mothers who spend more tactile content with their babies had cubs with stronger immune responses and calmer responses to environmental stresses. (check out pg 170 in book emotions, stress, and health).
Not only has tactical content shown to reduce/remove external stresses, but babies also have been shown to live longer if they receive daily tactile content (cited in this article on orphanages). The research shows it and your body knows it- we want to be touched!

To learn more, check out the lecture "The Communications of Emotion" By UC Berkly professor Dacher Keltner- which you can download if you click here.

Going Ergo- to the -nomics

Currently I work as a Usability Engineer in silicon valley. This means I deal heavily on Ergonomics, which is applying what we have learned in human sciences like psychology or medicine to improve the workplace (in this case the user to computer interface. The reason we do this is to offer secure solutions that are comfortable. To me this sounded easy at first, but consider if you will that people don't always know what they want (check out Malcom Gladwells TED talk for a frame of reference). Plus, factor in the diverse variety of users we have to design for. Each with their own slew of habits, knowledge and expectations. At times when I am designing these user interfaces, I feel I am shooting in the dark.

However, my psychological studies have enlighten me to certain human characteristics of our sensory, cognitive, and motor system that provides me with some framework. For instance, our working memory is roughly limited to what Georges Miller defined as 7 mnemes (information units). Where as our long term memory is able of storing an indefinite number of pieces of information (check out this woman who remembers everything!). One way to bridge this gap is by repetition, so when I design, I attempt to build repetition into the interface.

If you think the sensory system is complex, just try factoring in our cognitive system. Our brain is what forms the mental representation prior to action, but these mental representations are susceptible to any number of internal or external variables that makes it exceedingly difficult to fully empathize with the user. To keep it simple, I try to stick to a series of rules when creating an interface. They are as follows:

Short messages to enhance memorization
Put important info at the top
All information must be 3 clicks away
Allow each access to the home screen
keep navigation elements consistent from page to page.
Segmentation
Including feedback from to ensure the user is receiving a true representation of the system

What is Heartbreak?

What is heartbreak? I believe it is giving your heart to another, and finding out they don't value it as high as you do. The feeling is indescribable. I better empathize for any I've hurt and ask for forgiveness for any heart i have not treated delicately. I am sorry to any whose hearts I have broken in anyway.



God has enabled me to reflect on this. I admit I'm still really close to it (45 minutes ago). However, I would not do anything differently. The experience has only confirmed what I've learned from previous heartbreaks. I would rather have you learn from me then experience it yourself...

1) If you end the relationship- it is not helpful to follow up with dating advise. Don't try to be a matchmaker.
2) They may feel horrible afterwards. It is better to expect this.
3) After you break it off, it is no longer your job to console the other person.
4) It nobel to want to provide closure- but short and sweet is the best way to end things.

5) It will take time to move on. Allow for such time, your thinking may be tainted by the emotional backlash. Don't make any immediate decisions that may have lasting consequences.
6) You may find yourself wanting to rebound. Resist this temptation, or risk loosing friends of the opposite gender who are close to you.
7) The longer you are together, the harder the break will be (and vice versa).
8) The more physical intimacy you share, the harder the break will feel.

9) No Girl (or guy) will be every girl (or guy). Don't end the relationship because they laugh too hard or can't swim like you.
10) Have God given standards that exist before you meet someone. If they don't meet up to these standards, then they're not the person for you- no matter how strongly you feel for them.
11) It may feel like no one can take their place. However, there is approximately 6,697,254,041 people in the world... so chances are someone will.
12) You can't really choose who you are attracted to. Attraction may emerge over time. If it does not- don't force it.
You should be attracted to physical appearance and personality. It is best not to initiate unless you feel both.

I am only 26, there may be exceptions to these rules that I'm unaware of. Yet, if you are younger than me, I doubt you know better. Save yourself some heartache and learn from me. Wish you the best in Life and Love.
-Nate

Remember....

It caught my eye, a 25 year old named Nate from California who worked with one of the organizations I sponsored- Invisible Children- ripped from this world by a Islamic Extremist. A guy I don't even know has died and I am effected. I am sad that a young man around my age who has spoken out for the voiceless is now silenced. I am sad that another extremist from the Shabab in Somalia have taken lives in Uganda because the country contributes to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia. I'm sad because this extremist group that condemn music, dancing and sports, have been arrogant enough to consider themselves purging evil from this planet. In a NY Times article a spokesperson for the group was quoted as saying “Uganda is one of our enemies. Whatever makes them cry, makes us happy. May Allah’s anger be upon those who are against us.” His statement caches me off guard. How could he think he is doing God's Will? Then I'm reminded how often we live our lives daily without even considering "God's Will". This terrorist knew a different God than I do. I am left to ponder, how would his life have been different if he had known the same God that both Nate and I do. May God be with Nate's family- and all the others effected by this disaster.

Danger!

The danger of giving your heart away, is sometimes it comes back broken...

Friendship

As I approach my last days in Muncie, I think about how the Lord has brought people in my life that have brought me joy along the journey.
A wise man named Aristotle categorized three types of friends. 1) friendships based on utility- like coworkers or business partners 2) friendships based on pleasure- like friends we enjoy partying with. 3) friends based on admiration for an others good character. The third friendships are more fulfilling, but rare. Such friends may be transitional-sharing the road we transverse for a period of time while making life's journey joyful. At times such friends may become written on our hearts. As sad as I am go see our paths diverge, I know that God will introduce me to new people on my journey.

Vicariously Ski with me

So I've slacked in the area of posting lately. Afraid trying to compete in the job market has demanded much of my time. For those of you who still follow my daily ramblings, I'm giving you the rare opportunity to peak into my life. Back in March I went to Colorado to Ski. What you see below is a recent memento of the occasion- and the craziness that ensued.

simple comedy

Take a break and enjoy my sense of humor. No insights or wisdom gleamed, simply comics that I found humorous. Have a nice day!

How can user end devices and networking change the world?

How can we use computers as a catalyst for positive social and political change? How can we use computers to help us address the marginalization and silencing of individuals because of race, age, gender, handicap? How can we use computers to promote increasingly egalitarian exchanges among groups of people who have different levels of privilege and power? How can we use computers to promote both collaborative activities and to support dissent in its most productive forms? Hard questions derived from research on a seemingly unrelated topic, computer assisted writing)

The Theological Disconnect

We have more access to information today then ever before, and yet individuals in the protestant church are more ignorant about theology than ever. Due to the heresy that existed in the church, the council of trent met and formed the Nicean creed. This became an instrumental part of the church, as it was a clear indication of what Christians believed. A similar creed who's name lends to the story that it was jointly created by the Apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with each of the twelve contributing one of the articles. It is also helpful in indicating may of the staples of the Christian faith. However, it still does not address some Christological issues defined in the later Nicene Creeds. for instances, the divinity of Jesus or of the Holy Spirit.

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and life everlasting.
Amen.

I believe in....

We have more access to information today then ever before, and yet individuals in the protestant church are more ignorant about theology than ever. Due to the heresy that existed in the church, the council of Trent met and formed the Nicene creed. This became an instrumental part of the church, as it was a clear indication of what Christians believed. A similar creed who's name lends to the story that it was jointly created by the Apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with each of the twelve contributing one of the articles. It is also helpful in indicating may of the staples of the Christian faith. However, it still does not address some Christological issues defined in the later Nicene Creeds. for instances, the divinity of Jesus or of the Holy Spirit.

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and life everlasting.
Amen.

Peepoo

Sometimes hearing the cries of the people require your mentality to get out of the way. Anders Wilhelmson knows this all too well. An architect who did not intend to go to the slums of Kibera to solve the problem of sanitation. Due to the lack of a solid waste management system, people relieve themselves in plastic bags and then throw them outside. This is especially a hazard during the rainy season, as water sources get contaminated. The aid agency Amref says incidents of cholera, typhoid and other waterborne diseases are rampant. It's estimated there is an average of one toilet for more than 2,000 people. Anders saw the need and wanted to make a difference. He created the Peepoo, a chemically treated bag that not only neutralizes waste, but makes it able to be used as fertilizer. Check out the article here.

The Disconnect

As I look upon Las Vegas Boulevard, the flashing lights compete for my gaze. I scan the magnificent Casinos, built to awe their audience. From my hotel window I catch the fountains in front of the Bellagio, and the infamous Caesars palace. It is difficult to connect these images with other memories I have. Memories of children grasping for the food and water I have. The food warrants a break from their life lived in the landfills of Tegucigalpa. Here they live, sleep, eat, and do what they must to survive. I'm struck at the disconnect of such wealth all around me now, and yet having walked amongst such poverty. It is not that I live in the realization of these worlds. Often I am simply in the moment, oblivious to past experiences. Yesterday I spent some time amongst the miracle mile shops and casino. I lost thirty dollars in twenty minutes to the slots, enough for a child in Honduras to eat for a month. Why did I not remember these children then?

This brings me to another realization, I am not alone. It would seem that human nature is view our decisions based on our context. Perhaps the best way to reach out for aid is not to show a video of starving children and tell a sad story. That may reach a few empathetic souls, but it probably wont connect to most of us rich Americans. Perhaps companies like Toms Shoes or Kiva provide a better approach. Were may not be able to change human desire to focus on our self. However, if we provide a service that benefits ourselves and others, perhaps then we can bridge the disconnect that exists between those who have, and those who have not.

Ideology, Philosophy , Complementarianism, Chauvinism, Christian Egalitarianism...?

Democrat or Republican? Progressive or Conservative? Radical or Moderate?

I always grew up hearing the term Conservative Christian, yet was unsure of the terms meaning. Conservatism is the belief that traditional institutions work best and that society should avoid radical change. The root word is Latin and means, “to preserve”.
A religious conservative seeks to apply the teachings of particular ideologies to politics. Ideally for the Conservative Christian, this would be the ideology of Jesus Christ. It’s important to note there exists a distinction between religious conservatism and its more radical extension. Radical religious conservatism generally sees the status quo as corrupted by abuses, corruption, or heresy. Similar phenomena have arisen in a large percentage of the world's religions today. The modern Western society that has inadvertadly pushed it’s value system has triggered many violent cultural collisions with traditional societies in question for the past 500 years.

Sometimes religious conservatism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism#Religious_conservatism) may find itself at odds with today’s culture. This is often a good thing. However, not all firmly held beliefs should be maintained. For instance, some would have been called conservative Christians were against the freedom of slaves. For such people this was a Progressive act. Progressivism is often viewed in opposition to conservative. Progressivism is a political attitude favoring or advocating changes or reform. The Progressive movement began in cities with settlement workers and reformers who were interested in helping those facing harsh conditions at home and at work. The reformers spoke out about the need for laws regulating tenement housing and child labor. They also called for better working condition for women. Typically today the term is associated with left wing politics. “In the late 19th century into the 20th century in reference to a more general response to the vast changes brought by industrialization: an alternative to both the traditional conservative response to social and economic issues and to the various more radical streams of socialism and anarchism which opposed them.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivism)

I have hence learned that I too am a Conservative Christian in the sense that I seek a partial return to the way things were in the Body of Christ. In part, because I wish we had the social message and radical ideology, the unwavering faith and call to the broken that existed in the Way (early Christian Sect, not to be confused with current organization). I seek the action and reaction, the vibrancy and activity that existed in the early church. However, I don’t wish a return to the difficulties of roman persecution and lack of religious freedom, nor do I wish to reencounter the rampant heresy that existed.

Revisiting the research on Health Care...

I've drawn understanding from the writings of Randy Barnett, a Georgetown University professor who wrote a article for the Washington post Is health care reform unconstitutional?.
When asked how a bill making people purchase health insurance or suffer fines could be constitutional, he suggested that

the most strongly pressed argument will be that this is a "tax" from which you can be exempted if you buy private health insurance. Courts have been very deferential to tax measures.

I was able to deduce from Randy's Blogg post He is not a proponent of the bill. He suggest that Judicial rulings have expanded the power of Congress beyond those given in the Constitution, and that mandating insurance by means of a fine labeled a "tax" is another example of this.

Some other major points of the bill are listed below:
What does bill accomplish: demands health coverage for all
Who buys insurance: A better question is who doesn't. Exceptions include certain people with religious exceptions, American Indians and people in prison.
Who gets subsidized: That Is determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. Those who make less than3x or 4x the poverty level pay about 10 percent of their income for a decent health insurance package. Those who make $14,000 would pay 3 to 4 percent of income on insurance If your flat broke, you enrolled in the Medicaid program.
Who pays for it: New taxes, fees on industries involved in health care, and cuts in projected spending growth for existing government health efforts, primarily Medicare. The bill cost about $940 billion over its first 10 year, plus 40 billion worth of tax credits for small business.
How can you get it: The bill will set up non profit or government administered Health Option exchanges, which is basically a a number of small business and individuals banded together to allow for the breaks that big corporations can negotiate for with their employees.

Health care, a step towards socialism?

This bill does represent a step towards Egalitarianism. Opponents of the bill outcry communism or socialism, probably because both philosophies stem from the egalitarian philosophy. The root of the word is French and means equal. The political doctrine suggest all people should be treated as equals and have the same political, economic, social, and civil rights. The philosophy advocates for the removal of economic inequalities among people. I think most people today in the United States will suggest they believe this, until it cost them something.

Opponents to the bill should also be reminded of the two basic principles of democracy: equality and freedom. Ideally all citizens under our political government have equal access to power, inherent freedoms spelled out in our constitution, and quality before the law. Do these rights not include health care? I've heard the outcry before that were rewarding the lazy. If our institutions were true to Meritocracy then that would be the case (as if a meritocracy could actually exist since it merely serves to justify the status quot). Meritocracy is a system of government where responsibilities are assigned to individuals based on demonstrated talent and ability. However, our society reflects a mesh of democracy, plutocracy, nepotism and cronyism. We are not all born in a wealthy loving home with equal opportunity. The truth is some of us are born into better situations then others.
As a proponent of biblical equality, I believe that human persons are equal in fundamental worth and moral status. While this idea enjoys wide support amongst intellectuals in many countries, is is debatable whether any of these ideas have significantly implemented in practice. This seemingly egalitarian attempt may fail as did previous, but that does not remove our call to action. Inequality is correlated strongly with social problems, and social problems present a price paid by the middle class too. Therefore, if we are not willing to assist others, at least let us help ourselves.
Alright, I'm officially fed up with writing and reading about the health care.

Facts vs. Fiction in the Health Care Bill

My research revealed myths and half truths about the health care bill. For those who cry communism or socialism, the new health care plan does not involve government taking over health care like in Britain. The government intends to help people buy health insurance from private companies, not pay their bills like the Canadian system does. However, these fears of socialism intrigued me. Here are portions of the bill that may reinforce such fears.
For instance, Medicaid will now cover all poor adults indiscriminately. Low income people who qualify for new credits to buy insurance would see the biggest drops in insurance premiums.Plus, If your against government involvement then your probably upset that those who can financially afford insurance and don't will see a minimum fine of $695. Insurance companies will also be regulated heavily.

Barack Obama suggest premiums will go down, but actually most people won't see a significant decline in premiums. In fact, people who buy insurance on their own and are not qualified for government subsidies may see a 13 percent rise in premiums due to expanded coverage. Obama also suggested that the plan will save more than $1 trillion in the second 10 years. That estimate according to the CBO is highly speculative. While the plan is supposed to reduce the cost on health care spending, the plan will cost $940 billion over 10 years. It is actually the new taxes, penalties and cost savings that would offset that spending.
I see a philosophical divide among the American people towards this bill. On one side are those who think having health care human right regardless of ones economic condition. The other side feel health care it is a privilege that people provide for themselves rather than Uncle Sam. I'm sure everyone would say that those who need healthcare should be able to get it, but it is a different matter when the cost directly effects us.

Heath Care Reform Passes March 21, 2010

The recent health care bill passing prompted hours of research on my end on the bill and the underlying philosophy behind it. The amount of data was overwhelming and I was provided with a plethora of topics to cover. Therefore I decided to break up the topic of health care into a posting each day till I run out of material or get tired of writing about health care- whichever comes first.

It's true that health care reform passed, bringing about the most tremendous sweeping change in national domestic policy in a generation...and some people are pissed. Now that in itself isn't anything new. Political discourse has reached the point to which we distrust politicians and expect the process to be debased and inherently flawed. I'm not bashing emotional appeals, but they should impact real issues. We should be able to clearly see the substance behind an argument. Hence, I've taken some time to better familiarize myself with the two sides of the debate. First, I looked into why a large majority is angered by this bill.
Opponents to the bill suggest that preventing insurance companies from denying coverage means policies will have to spread their investment further, making
rates rise and reducing access. The Virginia Attorney General claimed that the proposed Health Care Reform violates the 9th and 10th amendment to the constitution. The reality is the the constitution is vague in this matter, and for the constitution to apply on this (and other matters) requires judicial interpretation (Randy calls this judicial construction).

Another outcry against health care reform is that it is against the will of the people. This argument hits the heart of a democratic society, which is ruled based upon the popularity of people. However, the reality is that there are proponents of the bill. A majority of individuals have entrusted those in place to represent our state and to represent us. Recent American history tells us that politicians are not deaf to a majority of people, especially since their popularity effects their reelection. If we can then assume that politicians votes reflect the population, then a little more than half the people are for the bill. The difficulty we face is not a government ignoring its people, but rather a will divided.