I’ve recently started reading Forbes magazine. It’s a magazine on business and financial news, stock market analysis, and technology & global headlines. It’s something I first picked up in the business department at Covenant. I read a recent article by Rich Karlgaard entitled “Why Growth Matters.” Although I don’t necessarily agree with everything the author is saying, I do think he makes some interesting points about why economic growth is so vital if our country is going to make it out of this recession. Karlgaard makes the point that GDP growth is, at best, an inaccurate number when taken by itself.  GDP doesn’t always accurately capture inflation, as well as the point that increased government spending (like the “Cash for Clunkers” program, etc.) can make GDP appear higher than is really evident by actual growth of the economy.

Another big point that Karlgaard makes is that President Obama’s push towards greater social equality, even if it sacrifices economic growth, is not as simple (or as attractive) as it may seem. Even if GDP’s growth rate were cut only by 1% (from 3% to 2%), the real effects would be much greater. It is “reducing the rate of expected growth by 33.3%, not 1%, and that reduction is palpable in the real economy.”  It has far-reaching consequences in not only the investment world, but also in increasing unemployment rates. Simultaneously, the higher tax rates (and consequently, higher tax receipts) that President Obama would like to implement wouldn’t necessarily bring in more government revenue. As Karlgaard points out, there “might be less [tax revenues] than if growth had occurred at 3% with the lower tax rates.” The best way to increase tax revenues is to first increase growth in the economy (Art Laffer’s economic theory, 1970s). Yet another problem with sacrificing economic growth for increased social equality is the “damage done to innovation and entrepreneurship.” When taxes are increased, the ability to research and develop new ideas is made harder. Innovations, inventions, and creativity are seemingly and effectively punished by making it more difficult to enter into these ventures. Karlgaard uses the example of social engineering in Europe. “European entrepreneurs are hampered by higher hurdles of social engineering: VAT taxes, union work rules, employee job security, etc.”

Real economic growth is “vital to the health of a society.” That is what should be our focus in reviving the economy – not multi-billion dollar bailouts and stimulus packages and higher tax rates which, in the end, do not really serve to fix the real problem.

Professor Dodson, my accounting professor and a CPA, emailed me and some of my fellow classmates today with an encouraging word about job security for future accounting professions. Here is a snippet of the article that he sent to us.

Demand for Accountants to Remain Strong in 2009

Despite the current recession, demand for accountants remains strong. Although a number of industries are cutting back, the accounting industry projects jobs to maintain at their current rate or possibly increase. In fact, the 2008 Trends in the Supply of Accounting Graduates and the Demand for Public Accounting Recruits from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), 91% percent of accounting firms expect hiring to remain steady or increase. And as the New Year begins, the role of accountants continues to expand along with employment opportunities. Today accountants and their clients are facing increasing regulatory complexity, the need for specialization, the globalization of businesses and shifting demographics. According to AccountingWeb.com, “Given the heightened regulatory environment in which we operate, mastery over the hard skills of being a Certified Public Accountant is more important than ever before.

I’m working on an application right now to get in to Ernst and Young’s Summer Leadership Program. It’s basically a weekend-long program where you can get to know the company, as well as learn how to be more of a leader in that particular field. I’m hoping and praying that I get accepted. E&Y primarily chooses their interns from the people that are accepted into the Summer Leadership Program… and if I get into an internship, hopefully I’ll be able to work there once I graduate.

It’s somewhat frustrating and disheartening though with the way the economy is right now. I hope and pray that it turns around and begins to get better. A lot of my friends’ parents are beginning to lose their jobs. It’s discouraging.

I’m also applying to a few places for jobs this summer. It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to stay at home though. I haven’t been able to find anything in Franklin. If anyone knows of any summer employment or needs someone to work for them, let me know.

I’ve been thinking a lot about integrity today… and what it actually means. My mom always pushes me and challenges me to live my life with integrity before God and before the people around me… but I confess that I don’t always know what that means. I often do things that are questionable, yet I rationalize and justify them in my mind as being “not that big of a deal.” Have you ever done that? A few of my good friends got turned in for breaking contract and doing some things that were against the administration’s policies and standards. It actually surprised me that they were turned in… when it really shouldn’t have. I knew they were doing things that were against contract, but because I knew them and that they were really good guys, I justified it. It wasn’t a very big deal in my mind.

I was thinking about this morning, and it kind of hit me that that was a lack of understanding and integrity on my part. If I truly understood what integrity is and looks like, then I would and should do everything that I can to uphold the law… God tells us in 1 John 2:3-6:

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Someone shared that with me this morning. It was pretty eye-opening… that we don’t truly know Jesus if we do not do everything in our power to walk in integrity and obedience to Him and His Word.

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity… Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path…”    Proverbs 2:1-9

These are some thoughts my dad shared with me about marriage… I’ve been sitting here trying to think of some words to add to this, but I got nothing… so here it is.

Marriage is a reenactment of the Gospel – God loving us when we didn’t deserve it, when we were still sinful and broken. God delights in us in spite of all our unpleasantness. Acceptance includes being brave enough to enter the chaos of a broken life; being kind enough to sustain the disappointments; being big enough to resolve to love another broken sinner as Christ loves me; being wise enough to face difficult situations with firmness and hope. (Accept one another. Romans 15:7) I am contributing to the beauty or the ugliness of my marriage moment by moment by how I live. As a spouse, I am moving toward either ministry or manipulation. A commitment to live as a servant in marriage must be formed and fueled by a reverence for and understanding of who Jesus is.

In my last post on “Abortion and Obama,” I wrongly said that I believed that the President ultimately had little say in the issue of abortion and that it was a decision to be made or reversed more on the state and local level. After having several conversations with people, I stand corrected..

The issue of abortion and any possible reversal of the Roe vs. Wade court decision to legalize abortion rests largely on the shoulders of the Supreme Court justices. There are three (potential) positions to be filled by new Supreme Court justices in the upcoming Presidential term, provided the current justices retire (which is likely, but from my understanding, the justices are waiting for more liberal justices to follow in their steps). The President nominates the new Supreme Court justices who remain in office until they die or retire (or under extreme situations, are removed by a 2/3 vote in both the House and the Senate – virtually impossible unless the justice performs some illegal act… he cannot be removed based on a specific ruling). Because the President is responsible for nominating the Justices, abortion does still remain an important issue. If McCain is elected, he has promised to nominate new justices to reverse the Roe vs. Wade court decision. However, if Obama is elected, he will most assuredly appoint justices who will make sure Roe vs. Wade remains.

So although the President does not directly have the final say in the matter, due to the current positions opening up in the Supreme Court, this Presidential election will be an important one in regards to the issue of abortion.

However, the issues of foreign and international affairs, new energy, the economic crisis, health insurance, education, taxes, and numerous others still remain very important in this upcoming election. Abortion is important, but not the only important issue to be considered.

In this day and age, our society in America staunchly emphasizes its freedoms… something that I cannot say that I dislike having in any way, shape or form. I enjoy my freedom as an American citizen, and I thank God for allowing me to be brought up in other cultures outside the US because I have grown to appreciate my freedom as an American all the more..

However, I do think we oftentimes abuse our freedoms (and I speak to myself here, just as much as to anyone and everyone else). In particular, I think the “freedom of speech,” as set down in the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution, is often used irresponsibly… namely in the form of internet discourse, blogging, emails, and forms of communication that do not require one to face up to the actual reality of one’s words. Honestly, I dislike the way that our fast-paced society and ever-changing and new technology has made it the norm to have increased conversation through mechanical devices rather than through actual face-to-face conversation… namely because it takes away the responsibility, as well as having to face the consequences that your words might bring. This may seem ironic seeing as I am writing this on an internet blog… but in all humility, ask me to repeat anything that I say on this blog in person and I will.

Proverbs has a lot of wisdom in the area of speech, I guess you could say. Perhaps I’m being overbearing in using seven different verses as examples… but I was told once that if something is said once it has relevance, if it is said twice it is important, and if it is repeated three or more times you had better take heed.

Proverbs 10:23 – A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,
       but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

Proverbs 18:4 -  The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters,
       but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Proverbs 10:14 – Wise men store up knowledge,
       but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Proverbs 10:19 – When words are many, sin is not absent,
       but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless words pierce like a sword,
       but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 14:3 – A fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,
       but the lips of the wise protect them.

Proverbs 16:23 – A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
       and his lips promote instruction.

I would encourage you, my brothers and sisters and friends… take the high road. Be careful in throwing out rash comments and strong words over the internet simply because it is so easy and often without consequence. “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth…”

In response to the current Presidential election and some of the issues surrounding this day and age…

I recently read a journal about Covenant, the issue of abortion, and Obama for the Presidential election. I will refrain from stating too strong of an opinion on here because I don’t believe I know enough to make a strong statement either way.

I had a few thoughts about the matter though, particularly to do with the focus on abortion as a main factor in the Presidential election. Please understand, I won’t give my decision either way as to who I support – Obama or McCain. I’m merely pointing out thoughts and opinions that I have.

Abortion remains an issue that neither McCain nor Obama, whichever one is elected into office, will have a great affect on. Our country has decided to legalize abortion… state by state. President Bush, who is staunchly against abortion, has served two terms in the Presidential Office, and yet abortion is still legal in our country. While I am avidly against abortion, I do not believe that electing McCain into office will do away with the murder of innocent life. I believe it is far more important (and more effective) to assure that Republicans are voted into office on the state and local level. It is our state senators and government officials who will have a much greater impact on that issue than our President… namely because the issue of abortion is a decision on the state level. The federal government, ultimately, has no final say on the matter.

I believe that foreign and international affairs are a greater issue for our country. Please understand that I am in no way belittling or advocating abortion… The importance and value that new life has for me is far greater than I could ever express here. I simply believe that if abortion is the main issue in your eyes, than not electing Obama is not the way to abolish it. Click to continue »

To whoever is interested…

I know a lot of the issues surrounding the current Presidential election have caused people to become angry, tense, uptight, and fired up about who should be President… as well as why certian issues (specifically those of abortion, foreign affairs, gun control, etc.) should prevent Obama (or McCain) from being our next president. I think these are important issues to know about, to understand, and to take an active part in – not for the sake of getting fired up about some issue but because I think it is important to know what’s going on, particularly when it involves the college institution that we attend… as well as the upcoming Presidential election which involves the country to which we belong. Here is a passage from Proverbs that one of my hallmates gave to me, especially in consideration of the current issues in our country today.

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with 
you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to 
understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity… Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path…”    Proverbs 2:1-9

I don’t know the perfect solution to this issue.  Can there be a perfect solution when we are depraved sinners living in an imperfect world?  That is why we need the wisdom of God. Pray about it.

Death is such a morbid word. I almost hesitate in beginning to write on this topic… as one of my respected professors said in class one day, “One should only write on a topic that he or she is both intellectually curious about and intellectually capable of writing about.” I would say that I am, without a doubt, curious about it.. but whether or not I am intellectually capable of writing about this topic is not for me to decide.

I used to fear death far more than anything else I could ever imagine. Something about being in a state of complete non-existence scared me “to death.” Now, I knew about heaven… and I knew that if I believed in God that I would one day go there. But still, the fear of death in my mind was all too real. I’m not sure if it was the thought of great pain (my pain tolerance is not that high) or simply the thought of passing on into a realm that I had no knowledge or experience of. I was told that heaven was magnificent and far beyond all comparison to life on earth… but I still could not wrap my head around what that meant. Death still scared me.

As I’ve grown and learned more and been challenged more in my faith, I’ve come to a point where I no longer fear death. This summer, I had a good friend and fellow student pass away from a bacterial infection on his heart. For the first time, I did not fear the presence of death in my life. Rather, it was Ben Entwistle’s life that had a profound affect in my mind and on my life. Ben was in a better place… I say that almost casually. Ben was in HEAVEN! He was with His Father… my Father. And he no longer had to endure the pain, the weight, and the sin that corrupts this life. For the first time in my mind, Heaven completely and utterly outweighed all thoughts and fears of death.

I read this passage from John 11:21-27 the other morning.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

It again assured me of the peace I can find in death… or life, rather… knowing that in my belief and faith in Christ, I no longer need to fear death or think of it as a morbid word. If I have Christ, what can I stand to lose? As Jim Elliot once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”