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Vol. 1 No. 28 | October 12 , 2006
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This week
“The Bible teaches that Christians are totally different from anyone else.” -
Peter Jeffery, Evangelicals Then and Now (Buy Now)
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Finance
College Is Expensive – Here Are 3 Ways to
Make It Work
Whether your children are still young or old enough to go to college, paying for school is a challenge. Here are a few things that might help keep your costs down.
If your children are young, consider signing up for uPromise. This website offers a great way to help you finance your child’s education. Consumer guru Clark Howard says, “The method is similar to airline frequent flyer programs with member merchants and companies contributing credits to your personal saving for college account when you use services or purchase products.”
It’s free to sign up and the site offers ways to increase your savings over time. When you’ve accumulated rewards, you can have them deposited in a college savings 529 plan. The site has several to choose from. According to Clark Howard, the only downside to the plan is if “you end up spending more with member merchants than you would elsewhere just to get the account contribution. You need to look at the site as a win-win and shop wisely to receive the ultimate benefit.”
Clark also “suggests that you talk with your son or daughter about attending a 2-year community college program and taking an additional 3 years to complete the remaining two years while working part-time. Attending a community college just about cuts the cost of a 4-year degree in half. Stretching out the remaining two years to work will also provide savings benefits. Another way to save is to complete a 4-year degree in just three years.”
And, finally, make sure your children go to college to learn skills with which they can make a living, or at least to learn thinking skills and disciplines they won’t learn elsewhere. If your children go to school to party, socialize without studying, learn a hobby, or learn something they could learn on their own, then college is a waste of money.
– Steve Kroening
(Source: http://clarkhoward.com)
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Health
This Deficiency Predicts Cancer Risk Better Than Smoking
Would you like to know the single most important thing that you can do to reduce your risk of cancer? This simple thing is even more important than avoiding cigarettes or liquor.
It is taking vitamin D. You read it first here last year. And now another brand-new study brings this message to light. Literally. A study published this summer in the journal Anticancer Research confirms that UVB exposure from sunlight is associated with reduced risk of 16 sites of cancer, apparently through production of vitamin D. These cancers include six sites of gastrointestinal cancers, three cancers of female organs, three urogenital cancers, two types of lymphomas, and two esophageal cancers.
Look at this. The study showed that 16 sites in the body are at risk for cancer when vitamin D levels are low. Only 10 body sites are associated with cancers from smoking and only nine sites are linked to cancers from alcohol! Low vitamin D status is the most dangerous single factor we’ve identified yet!
Vitamin D reduces the risk of cancer though several well-known effects. These include effects on intercellular adhesion, apoptosis (programmed cellular death), the inhibition of new blood vessel growth around tumors, and the inhibition of metastasis.
Yes, I know you’ve seen a relentless barrage of public service messages to avoid the sun and wear sunscreens in order to reduce your risk of skin cancer and melanoma. Unfortunately, the experts parroting these messages never tell you that these risks are counterbalanced to a substantial degree by the advantages of producing vitamin D from sunlight. Insufficient sunlight and inadequate vitamin D costs society about 10 times what excess sunlight costs us.
Since many of us live too far north to get UVB from sunlight on a consistent basis, experts are now suggesting that we all need to boost our vitamin D levels by taking supplements. Recent studies found that it takes 1,000 to 1,500 IU of vitamin D per day to reduce the risk of cancer incidence and death by 30-50%. In the U.S., dietary sources provide only 250 to 300 IU per day. We are coming up short.
Now, one answer could be to spend a few quality minutes in your backyard exposing large amounts of your body surface to the sun each day. But running around naked in the yard is probably not practical, and may get you into hot water with the local authorities. And besides the legal obstacles, it’s really not a good option for you if you happen to be in Minneapolis in February. Take a good vitamin D supplement instead. Look for vitamin D3, not the synthetic D2. It’s widely available at natural food stores and on the Internet.
Individual vitamin D status is usually estimated by measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in the blood. This test is widely available and should be part of your annual check-up. Pay out of pocket if necessary. It’s that important.
Vitamin D deficiency is not simply raising your risk of cancer. It is an established risk factor for osteoporosis, falls and fractures, diabetes, and MS. Clinical trials have demonstrated that 800 IU per day of vitamin D in combination with 1,200 mg calcium effectively reduces the risk of falls and fractures in institutionalized patients. Furthermore, 400 IU per day in combination with 1,000 mg calcium or 100,000 IU orally every fourth month without calcium reduces fracture risk in individuals over
65 years of age living at home.
For most people, 2,000 IUs daily will be needed to get your vitamin D level into an optimal range, but some will need higher doses.
– James Balch, MD
(Quoted from Prescriptions for Healthy Living, 800-728-2288)
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Marriage and Relationships
Life Got Your Marriage in a Rut? Read This…
Are you trying to have a cookie-cutter marriage? You know what I mean – a marriage that fits all the Christian paradigms you read in magazines, books, and even this newsletter? If you are, then it’s time to break out and make your own pattern.
No, I’m not giving you the freedom to disobey Scripture. There are some things that are absolute “musts.” Failure to do them is a recipe for disaster. But there are too many times where we let our marriages fall into a rut. We do the same thing every day and we lose all the excitement we had for our spouse years ago.
If this describes your marriage, then Gary Thomas might be able to help. In his book “Devotions for a Sacred Marriage,” one of his devotionals is called, “Marital Ruts.” See if this helps your marriage:
“Maybe your rut is more behavioral—you’ve learned to tune out your spouse’s voice, or you always make love in the same, predictable way or on the same, predictable night. Maybe you’ve completely stopped trying to find creative ways to demonstrate your affection and care. Perhaps you’ve become so ensconced in the workweek routine—the early-morning departure, the commute, the time away from home, coming back in the evening tired and grouchy – that you’re completely missing opportunities to affirm and reconnect with each other.
“Never underestimate the element of occasional surprise in the delighting of your spouse and building up your marriage. It can be so simple – a wife going to the trouble of picking out a book on tape that her husband can listen to on his morning commute; a husband buying his wife a completely unexpected gift, unconnected to any holiday or anniversary, for no other reason than to tell her he loves her.
“What would it mean to your spouse if you took an afternoon off – from work or watching the kids – to go to a matinee, take a walk around the lake, or go on a picnic? Sometimes all it takes is something out of the ordinary, something that says, “I don’t take you – or us – for granted. I’ve put some special thought into this. I want to fight the ‘murderous repetitions’ and ‘infernal element of boredom.’”
“Through Ezekiel, God promised Israel, ‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh’ (Ezekiel 36:26). In the same way we can become calloused toward God, so we can become calloused toward each other. Pray for a new spirit and attitude toward your spouse, that your ‘heart of stone’ will become a ‘heart of flesh.’
“Occasional ruts are inevitable in any long-term relationship, but they’re never insurmountable. We can break out of them if we really want to.”
Whether you want to or not, take some time to break out of your rut. The joy it will bring could save your marriage. And it will give you the desire to stay out of (or break out of) future ruts.
– Steve Kroening
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Parenting and Education
This Destructive Force Can Destroy Your Children – But Few Parents Admit They Do It
One of the most destructive forces I’ve found in a family is favoritism. It demoralizes the children. They feel unloved and it creates fierce competition among them. Unfortunately, it’s more prevalent than we like to admit, as it’s often disguised as love. To overcome favoritism, it’s important to understand the root of the issue.
Favoritism usually has a deep seat in selfish ambition on the part of the parent. The parent finds something he or she prefers in the favored child and focuses attention there because it’s easier – and seems more fulfilling. However, it can inflict enormous damage on a family – making life much more difficult and less fulfilling in the long run.
In the book of Genesis (chapter 37), we find a vivid account of such a situation. The father was Jacob and he favored Joseph because he was the son of his old age. He made him a special coat of many colors as a mark of his love.
Joseph twice had a dream predicting he would rule over his brothers one day. He shared this mystery with his brothers, who only became more bitter than they already felt. They devised a plan to kill Joseph. In the fields, they grabbed him and threw him into a waterless pit. They then sat down to eat a meal, which showed how hardened their hearts were to their brother.
As they ate, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites heading to Egypt. Instead of killing him, they sold Joseph for 20 shekels (about three years wages for a shepherd). They then deceived their father by telling him a wild beast had devoured Joseph. As proof they presented the coat soaked in blood, which was really goat’s blood, Jacob's broken heart would not be comforted.
There are many applications here for our lives. First is the obvious truth that sin enslaves and multiplies. Jacob’s family was broken and guilt ridden. More than 20 years would pass before Jacob would see his beloved son. The emotional pain that favoritism brings has long-lasting effects.
As parents we have a responsibility to ensure that each of our children knows they are loved completely. We must treasure the uniqueness of each one and praise them individually. Gifts, which are an expression of love, don’t always need to have the same value and size. But over time, make sure you express complete love for each child with gifts that show you love them.
And, remember, show your love in a way that they understand love. One of my daughters would cherish a pearl necklace, while the other one would enjoy a mountain bike. If I bought them both a mountain bike, because that’s what I want to do, then one might feel a little slighted (though we’ve taught them to be grateful for whatever gifts they receive). Become a student of each child and learn to love what gives them pleasure. You also don’t have to spoil your children with lots of gifts. A few well-planned and thought-out gifts will go a lot further than you think.
I believe if Jacob could rewrite his story, he would make sure that his parenting was different. However, by the mercy of God, Jacob’s family became a great nation. The story of our families is still being written. We can change. May God give us the wisdom to be faithful and the resolve to bless each one of our children.
Ps. 37:3 – Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
– Gladys Villnow
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Success
These 3 Mistakes Keep Most People From Succeeding
People crave to be successful. From the earliest age, we see children work hard to be successful, to obtain the recognition and rewards that come with success.
As children grow older, however, success becomes more elusive. The challenges are greater. The hurdles are higher.
As the child grows, the need to make a living forces them into business, either into the corporate world or as a self-employed business operator. It’s here that most people find out how ready they are to succeed.
Almost nothing in the education system prepares a child for the adult business world. Yes, children are taught to read and to calculate. But very few college courses teach skills to succeed in business. Even most business schools don’t know what it takes. That’s because they focus on theory more than practical skill. Too many have the students writing meaningless essays on esoteric subjects. This hardly prepares them for the business world.
To succeed in business, only three things count. If you have them, you can be assured that success will come your way. It may not work in the quantities you want or expect, but the rate of success is in God’s hands. Your job is to go to work.
The first point is that your motive is important. Why are you doing this? I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen rush into a job field because of the money – and fail. Sure they made lots of cash. But their lives were a wreck. Their priorities are so out of whack, they can’t see straight. As a result, the decisions they make take them down the wrong road. If your motives are to serve God and glorify Him in what you do – and to serve others with the same intensity you take care of yourself, you’re on your way to success.
The second point is that you need to bring integrity to your work. In an age when money can be the criterion, it is better to make sure that your actions are beyond reproach. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” If you want success in the marketplace, don’t compromise your integrity. It will give you a bad name and customers will not favor you over your competition. The people you serve expect integrity from you. Don’t let them down.
The third ingredient you need to ensure success is a plan. You may have heard the old saying, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” It’s true. Imagine a military exercise that was unplanned. The military not only plans, but after they execute their plan, they review their campaign to identify those activities that did not help the campaign. Whether or not their campaign is successful, the military debriefing takes place so that next time there is a better result. Don’t just plan one time. Plan out the big picture, with goals and how you intend to reach them. Then plan each year, each month, each week, and each day in a way that helps you reach your goals.
To many people think they can chase money, compromise their integrity, and go with the flow and find success. A few people might fall into it. But a sow with her eyes wide open will always find more acorns than the famous blind one. She may not get the notoriety that the blind one has, but she’ll almost always find more success.
– Ian Hodge
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Wisdom From History
The Peace That Made Sergeant York a Legend
He climbed a mountaintop near his Pall Mall, Tenn., home for a day and night of prayer.
He was a 30-year-old Army draftee about to be shipped to Europe to fight in World War I. His question for God during this furlough was whether he should fight or, in the name of Christ, sit out the war as a conscientious objector.
He'd already scoured the Bible for an answer, debating the question with Maj. George Edward Buxton, his battalion commander, who'd spotted a natural leader in the young private.
“The Bible says, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’” Pvt. Alvin C. York (1887-1964) told his major, as they sat down to examine Scripture.
Buxton responded with Luke 22:36: “He that hath no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one.”
York spoke of blessed peacemakers and the meek inheriting the earth. Buxton talked of rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and reminded the soldier that Christ, with whip in hand, had chased money-changers from the temple.
The major asked York whether he thought Christ would do nothing if he saw the Germans driving the Belgians out of their homes.
Despite the earnest debate, York was no closer to an answer. It would have to come from God.
Up on the mountaintop in March 1918, York prayed, built a fire and prayed some more. He lost track of time, communing with God through the night.
As he kept his vigil, a peace came over him, an understanding that he would serve God by preserving liberty.
In fact, his communion became so fervent that he incorporated a certainty 'that I would be protected from all harm, and that so long as I believed in him he would not allow even a hair of my head to be harmed,' York wrote in his diary.
On Oct. 8, 1918, Cpl. York’s patrol stumbled upon a German company having breakfast on a French hillside. Within moments, York’s patrol was pinned down by machine-gun fire. Half the patrol was cut down in an instant, leaving York in charge.
While the other men hugged the earth for safety, York calmly took aim at the machine gunners.
“In order to sight me or swing their machine guns at me, the Germans had to show their heads above the trenches, and every time I saw a head I just teched it off,” the expert marksman later explained. One by one he “teched off” more than one dozen machine gunners.
In desperation, a German lieutenant led a bayonet charge against York. As if protected by an unseen force, York stood up and calmly picked off each man in the charge with his Colt automatic pistol.
Afterward, York noticed the underbrush around his position had been thoroughly chewed up by machine-gun fire. A canteen lying nearby had 18 holes in it.
York took the remaining men prisoners and headed for the Army's 82nd Division headquarters in Varennes. Gen. Julian R. Lindsey greeted him. 'Well, York, I hear you have captured the whole damn German army,' he said.
“No, sir. I only got 132,” replied York, who would be awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the Italian Croce di Guerra and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross and Congressional Medal of Honor.
– Brian Mitchell
(Quoted from “Sgt. Alvin C. York,” Investor’s Business Daily, 11/11/1998.)
Ed. Note: If you’d like to learn more about Sgt. York, one of the most famous Americans from World War I, Wisdom’s Edge recommends Sgt. York: His Life, Legend & Legacy: The Remarkable Untold Story of Sergeant Alvin C. York, by John Perry. And the movie, “Sergeant York,” is one of the best to ever come out of Hollywood. It’s not completely accurate, but it does show the tremendous faith York had in his Lord.
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Word for the Wise
Life's Success Formula
“The Lord keeps all who love Him” – Psalm 145:20
Keeps – You don't need a ten-step program for success. You don't need seven, or even eight, habits. You don't need deeper insight or more knowledge or greater effort. Why? Because God's formula for success in life is one simple thing: love Him.
The Psalmist saw the truth of the matter. The only thing that we are completely responsible for, and the only thing that we have complete control over, is our love for Him. All of the rest of life is not under our control. So, it follows that the more time we spend trying to bring it under our control, the more we work at cross-purposes with God. God is in control. Not me. Not you. God gives us authority but not control. We learn to exercise our God-given authority as we learn to love Him.
The temptation to control is a powerful one. It is a deep pattern in this world. It has been the principle temptation since the beginning when the serpent suggested that Eve could control her own destiny. Everyone experiences the desire to control. It shows up in families, friends, spouses, employees and churches. It is the greatest impediment to genuine relationship. We even try to control God. Maybe that's why there are so many "how to" books, even about spiritual matters.
The Psalmist says that God keeps. The word is shamar. It has a wide range of meanings, all appropriate for understanding the difference between what I do and what God does. Shamar can mean watch over, guard, carefully observe, preserve, protect. Is there anything better than the thought that God stands guard over you? Is there any event or set of circumstances that is not under His watchful eye? No wonder the Bible constantly tells us not to be afraid.
Of course, this verse doesn't say that God preserves everyone. In fact, the psalm goes on to contrast the situation of those who do not love God. They will receive punishment, not protection. The simple rule of a successful life is this: love God and stop worrying.
Isn't that what Jesus had in mind when He spoke about the greatest commandment?
This simple thought raises a big question. What is the role of control in your life? Do you love Him with such devotion that you confidently go forward knowing He guards you?
– Skip Moen
(Ed. Note: Skip Moen, PhD, is the president of At God’s Table and the author of Words to Lead By.)
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Resources
Devotions for a Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas (BUY NOW)
Sgt. York: His Life, Legend & Legacy : The Remarkable Untold Story of Sergeant Alvin C. York, by John Perry (BUY NOW)
“Sergeant York” the movie (BUY NOW)
Evangelicals Then and Now, Peter Jeffery, Evangelical Press (Buy Now)
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Wisdom’s Edge is a complimentary e-mail service from Quest Media International LLC. It contains general information on finances, health, relationships, and other beneficial areas. Readers are advised to consult their financial advisors, doctors, or counselors before implementing any ideas they read about in these pages.
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