on relationships

during my teenage and college years, i always had friends around me. it wasn't difficult to find to a group of friends to hang out with and identify with. to me, friends were an abundant... resource.[this terminology reflects how i took relationships for granted and how little value i placed them with...more on this later]

now that i've graduated college, married, and have had a child, many people have entered and left my life. Facebook gives the illusion that these people have NOT left my life and i feel i have bought into that illusion for a long time. out of all those hundreds of people that have entered my life, only a few have stayed. granted, multiple factors must align for a relationship to be sustained such as employment, location, interest, etc. and so many of these factors are indeed out of my control that i have once thought that the relationships i have in the present is a divine present.

because of the low number of people that have stayed, friends have become a scarcity.

on faith

it's been around 10 years since i've become a christian.  i've had a fantastic journey.  i experienced change and exponential growth as a part of kccc. i've served in local churches as a small group leader. in recent years, i've served as a deacon.

because of a lack of dependable workers, i've served in all sorts of capacities from incorporating the church, to signing the lease as a guarantor.

by now, i feel like i've seen and experienced both the glitters and pits of ministry and there is one thought these experiences leave me with :

our faith is a marathon, not a sprint.

the tragedies, difficulties, troubles, worries of this world indeed have the capacity to gnaw at our faith, slowly chipping away at what we once thought was indestructible.  

the struggle becomes more real and raw as time passes, and for some of us, the only remaining part of our once seemingly indestructible faith are scattered fragments.

how are we to keep our faith grounded, growing, and flourishing?

on the use of money as a christian

ever since becoming a full time worker and earning the wages of a full time worker, i've wondered about the proper use of money as a christian.

some obvious and well known pointers are :

1) do not worry about money
2) you have a right to spend your money
3) God allows you to enjoy good things
4) God wants you to be generous with your money
5) God wants you to help the poor
6) we are a steward of God's money.

The difficulty i have is with how to balance enjoying money(luxury) and giving it away.  I do not have a problem with giving money, but i often feel uncomfortable buying luxury items while i know that there are suffering people not only in the world, but in the communities i am a part of (primarily church - but also family, friends, etc.)

recently we gave $500 to a family member who was in urgent need of a car. the person used the $500 and some other money to put a down payment on a leased car.  When i saw her with the new car - smiling, glowing - i felt that that was the best $500 i ever used.

in instances like this, i feel like i should turn from every luxurious purchase and stick only to the necessities of life. but at the same time, i WANT some luxury.  I try to persuade myself that by being generous over keeping money for myself, i will be more handsomely rewarded in heaven.  however, i WANT that nice item.. is that want a greed? certainly that item is not a necessity..

there is a saying it is better to give than to receive.

what does that exactly mean? better for the giver? or the recipient? or everyone?

to give is a to parttake in the generosity of God, in his care for those less fortunate.

Review : Communist Manifesto

I love the kindle! it makes available the books that have expired copyright dates.. i've downloaded a few of them to read - and i remember once again that i do not like literature as much as i should as an english major!

one of the books that were available was the communist manifesto by karl marx.

it's the blueprint of the communist movement of the 1900's - a movement that caused a world war and oppresses citizens even until this day.  but what is communism? What made it so appealing? why does communism not work? is there a fundamental problem with communism? even with a college education, i could not answer these questions succinctly and refute communism, prior to reading the book.

my dad once asked me, "isn't the idea of equal income a good thing?" I answered yes..he then asked "then why is it that communism is evil?"  back then, i didn't have an answer.. but now i do.

the communist manifesto must be required reading for all highschool students - they must know why it has failed, what caused it, what is fundamentally/principally wrong with it,  where we find ourselves in the progression of history in relation to it, and how society must move onward from this point.

communism is largely a reaction to the industrial revolution, a dynamic period of time, where productivity and  profitability began to increase exponentially.  in light of the fact that the industrial revolution happened around the time where capitalism began to flourish, the wealth disparity became more and more of a problem - particularly for the lower income society.

labor by wage.
capitalism works by natural/available resources.

problems
conflict between classes
destruction of the means of old and new.
individual property is no good.

Kindle Review : Onward by Howard Schultz

This book is Mr. Schultz' very personal narrative account of the fall and revival of the Starbucks Company. It was fascinating and engaging read, perhaps because of the fact that i myself work as an entrepreneur. The driving force behind not only the book but the revival of Starbucks can be summarized by the following terms : Relentless Pursuit and Global Citizenship.

Relentless Pursuit

Mr. Schultz' decision to return as the CEO of Starbucks was not a light decision. It was the conclusion he made after having assessed the poor condition of the company that he had started and had grown to a global brand. To see his trophy, his master piece crumbling down little by little compelled him to take action - to do whatever he can in order revive the company.

As I noted, Mr. Schultz' return as the CEO was only the beginning of the long, uphill, rocky climb. There were sacrifices that the company had to make and risks that caused casualty. For instance, Starbucks initiated an ambitious product that showed promise - Vivanno. The yogurt drink was delicious and appetizing. New and different. They tested the product in Southern California, the leading marketplace of modern and pop culture. The product has failed because the product required too much work and did not have the approval of the baristas who were to prepare the new products. In another case, Starbucks closed down numerous stores that were not profitable. Along with laying workers off, they had to take huge financial losses due to early termination of the lease contracts.

Throughout these obstacles that hindered the revival of the company, Mr. Schultz demonstrated a relentless pursuit of the success of his company. Mr. Schultz took dramatic measures in order to breathe life back into his company. Despite heavy losses and doubt, Starbucks was able to get back up on its feet with profitable numbers.

Global Citizen (Humanity of.)

Perhaps Starbucks' dedication to the wellness of the Global Economy and Society justifies the money they charge for a cup of coffee.

Mr. Schultz made a conscientious effort to purchase coffee that is sustainable, and ethical. This shows Mr. Schultz' wisdom that a merchant must be considerate and accountable for every part of his business. Particularly when a business becomes so grand in scale that it affects the local/national/global economy, the business men must considering how a business decision might affect the environment, other businesses, the economy, and society as a whole.

Kindle Review : The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

I picked up this book on the Free Books section of the Kindle Store. Why? I figured he was an important and accomplished man since his face is imprinted on the biggest bill of the US prints.

I wish I had the discipline and desire to write about this man in a clear, coherent, satisfying essay but I lack such things. so I will write about the following aspects of this man, Benjamin Franklin - virtue/religion, intellect, industriousness(diversity of profession),

before i proceed, it'd be important to comment that franklin's deliberateness in everything he did played a crucial role in the development of his character.

virtue/religion

Franklin placed a great emphasis on virtue - perhaps more so than those who practice a certain kind of faith. He had a set of thirteen virtues that he painstakingly tried to develop in himself. Some of the few I remember are - frugality, sincerity, humility. etc. (it's a pity i can only remember 3 out of 13! a testament to my .."intellect") Franklin was very deliberate in how he developed these virtues - he developed a system where he would focus on one virtue every week, and measure himself on how he had upheld that particular virtue. he believed he would get better each week where by the end of several cycles of this, those virtues would become a second nature to him.

i very much admire Franklin's persistent adherence to the development of the virtues. it's something we all should pick up for ourselves - particularly, those of faith. it would indeed be a shame when a man who does not cling to any certain faith should prove himself more virtuous than one who believes in the One who himself embodies Virtue!

Franklin was a self-proclaimed Deist. He recognized the existence of a higher power and did everything in his own might to perhaps please "this higher power" - this, possibly testified by Franklin's own obsession with virtue. He rejected any kind of dogma, but looked for the positive aspects of each religion and abstracted, and then accepted, the parts that somehow benefited, brought unity and dispelled division in the human race.

Deism has one crucial similarity to Relativism : it is willing to accept the "lesser" truths of the Deity such as - virtuousness, honor, love, respect - but is unwilling to accept the "greater" truth of the identity of this Deity. In particular, I know of one religion in which the primary character declares himself and proves himself as Deity through his teachines and his resurrection.

Intellect

i remember reading that books were hard to come by back in those days. I can only imagine - as the emigrants were settling down in the Newfoundland - where survival, not intellectual stimulant, was at stake. Franklin had very few books at disposal but tried his best to come across as many books as possible, that he might read and learn from it. I experienced a strong sense of irony as i read this from the kindle, in which i have access to hundreds of thousands of books at the click of a button.

I acquired this appreciation for books much too late in my life. Why are books so important? the following note i wrote during the read summarizes it well.

".. the love of reading is the love of learning. and learning the love of growing. growing in knowledge. wisdom. capacity. capability."

reading will ultimately help me achieve my utmost potential and equip me to accomplish what i want to do. THAT is why I read.

Once again, Franklin was very deliberate in enhancing his intellect. Not only by reading, but he disciplined himself to become a very proficient writer - where later in life, he would write important bills and influence the people's minds. This deliberate action he took in order to improve his communication skills is something I must do as well. From this I learn that most people who have had impact on history and their respective cultures tried very hard to refine their skills. They made deliberate actions to improve their skill, where in time, it proved a critical skill. This is not to say that certain individuals do not exhibit an unusual aptitude for a particular skill. Clearly, some are born with biological, environmental, and characteristic backgrounds that enable the "unsual aptitude." But even those born with such privileges must have had to make the deliberate effort to enhance their skill. I must remember this.

industriousness

Franklin's life is most fascinating due to the diverse occupations he has had. Printer, Congressman, Sailor, Soldier, Inventor, etc. Honestly, I cannot pinpoint any specific reason why he was able to experience such numerous professions. But it had to have helped that he was a successful businessman and had a stable income through his main occupation, which is, Printer. Franklin was not a shrewd or sly business man. He put in honest hard work and was able to setup a business that was profitable for him. In time, he was able to delegate his work so that he would share the profit but would at the same time free up some time for to do other work.

In each profession, Franklin had an industrious attitude that helped him be a forerunner in whatever profession he found himself in. He worked to fulfill his duties with integrity and sense, where in time, he would gain the trust and respect of his peers.

Industriousness, however, for what cause?

Today's work force seems to derive its industriousness from the desire to succeed at whichever level a worker is employed in. For the promotion, the bonus. Franklin's reason differed sharply from such reasons. From what I've read, it seems Franklin had no such burning passion for financial success or social recognition. He was more simplistic. He wanted, simply, to be financially independent. As he worked hard for this goal without compromising duties and performance, the financial success and social recognition came along with it.

I do not mean to say that the desire for promotion or financial success is in anyway ignoble. However, Franklin demonstrated himself a much more content man when his goals were less lofty but at the same time gained other things that he did not even aim for.

A principle I'm reminded of is the command in the Bible to work "as unto the Lord," no matter what circumstances. Benjamin Franklin very much employed Judeo-Christian values that helped him accomplish much in life.

Summary : I was amused to discover the simplicity of Benjamin Franklin. One might suppose because of his historical significance, Franklin was a very lofty, aloof character to whom it is difficult to relate with. But no. He was merely a man, working hard to find his place and fulfill his responsibilities as a citizen of the United States. A bit more educated. A bit more hard working. A bit more noble. But not too much more.

kindle

i recently got the amazon kindle and have read two books on it so far. having the keyboard available right under the display encourages me to become a mor active reader. I wish it was available when i was a student @ uci. As i work as the manager for feliz market, i sometimes have a lot of time to spend. I resolve that i should use that spare time wisely, if i am to go anywhere in life. i decide that i must built of my character assets - and given my situation and circumstances, reading is the best medium. so i decided to purchase the kindle, a device in which hundreds of thousands of books are available at a click of a button. To be honest, i read a lot of..stuff. random stuff. information that are not particularly useful. trivia. and having read so much trivia, my mind cannot/does not digest it all, which ultimately results in wasted time and energy. I realize that i must read material that expands my view of the world, challenges my idle state of mind, guides me on the steps i must take in the future, teaches me the character, accomplishments, and experiences of those who have gone before me. and i must digest it all so that it becomes my flesh and bone - serving me in the long road to come. to help digest and remember the material, i will begin to write a summarized reflection after finishing a book. when i look back at all the material i read and wrote about, hopefully they will have become a part of me.