![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rayww on December 31, 2004, at 10:08:49
I was feeling maybe it was wrong to post the church's humanitarian aid site as a place of trust through which to donate to the recent disaster. http://lds.org/newsroom/showrelease/0,15503,3881-1-20741,00.html
But when I listened to the news this morning say that any agency that doesn't give at least 66% of your donation to the cause shouldn't be considered, I stopped feeling guilty.If Rod or Dinah was saying this it might be better received, than if I do, but here goes: we give 100% to the cause, we are already organized in Asia with people who live or are stationed there, and our 11 million members world wide already contribute monthly to humanitarian aid. The first Sunday of every month we fast for two consecutive meals and contribute what we might have spent on them. This Sunday we invite all to join by fasting two meals for the needy, and uniting in prayer while fasting. Donate to whichever cause you support.
I plan to empty my bank account of all that is left after I pay off my speeding/photo radar tickets. Why? Because several years ago our family had an opportunity to donate specifically to the Etheopian famine fund. During a family meeting we gave each of our children the opportunity to donate. One by one each went to their room and brought back their portion. $1.00, $5.00, $.25, etc. One of my daughters went to her piggy bank and emptied it completely, giving all that she had, something like $20.00. I was so touched by that, and have always remembered it. This particular daughter continues to do all she can to help others. I want to be more like her.
Giving has more to do with the heart than the amount. There is power in unity. If we want to watch miracles unfold before our eyes, give what we can, pray how we can, and love.
Are we keeping balance?
spiritual: pray
emotional: love
physical: givefaith: Pray
hope: love
charity: giveI still see my daughter's eyes and feel her spirit as she lovingly gave all she had to the Etheopian children.
Posted by rayww on January 2, 2005, at 23:31:06
In reply to give, pray, love, posted by rayww on December 31, 2004, at 10:08:49
Looking back over the life altering events of last Sunday, one wonders many things. Like, why did it happen on a Sunday? Why the day after Christmas? Was Jesus trying to send the earth a message, like "don't forget me"? Was anyone attending church when it happened? Were any churches destroyed? Some are trying to remove Christ from the politically correct world, by insisting it is no longer acceptable to say "Merry Christmas".
We hate to bring up the question of "why did God allow the earth quake and tsunami to happen?"
But maybe it is time to take a look.Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth and life of Jesus. It deserves our attention. A universal and personal tragedy has occurred. It is up to us to do whatever we can to make a better world out of it.
Life seems to be one test after another. We are constantly being strengthened and tested, tried, and proven, tempered and refined. Why?
I find it very interesting that people who were attending church that day, and keeping the Sabbath day holy were protected. Is this common to all religions, or has anyone heard?
Posted by Angel Girl on January 3, 2005, at 0:41:17
In reply to Re: give, pray, love, posted by rayww on January 2, 2005, at 23:31:06
> Looking back over the life altering events of last Sunday, one wonders many things. Like, why did it happen on a Sunday? Why the day after Christmas? Was Jesus trying to send the earth a message, like "don't forget me"? Was anyone attending church when it happened? Were any churches destroyed? Some are trying to remove Christ from the politically correct world, by insisting it is no longer acceptable to say "Merry Christmas".
>
> We hate to bring up the question of "why did God allow the earth quake and tsunami to happen?"
> But maybe it is time to take a look.
>
> Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth and life of Jesus. It deserves our attention. A universal and personal tragedy has occurred. It is up to us to do whatever we can to make a better world out of it.
>
> Life seems to be one test after another. We are constantly being strengthened and tested, tried, and proven, tempered and refined. Why?
>
> I find it very interesting that people who were attending church that day, and keeping the Sabbath day holy were protected. Is this common to all religions, or has anyone heard?
RaywwAs a Christian, it has always been extremely annoying to me that we can no longer call a Christmas tree erected by our city a "Christmas" tree, it must be called a "Holiday" tree. This is to not offend those of other religions. But what is Christmas? The first 6 letters spell out the answer. It is about C H R I S T mas. Our country was founded on the Christian religion. I have absolutely no problem with those of other faiths practicing whatever they do, so why do Christians have to be so accomodating to them? Back to the "Christmas" tree, 2 years ago, our mayor listened to the Christians in the city of which I live and went against others in government and changed it from a "Holiday" tree back to a "Christmas" tree. Our mayor is a jew. I think that was a jesture to show all of us that there are many religions among us and nobody should be denied to practice what they believe. Unfortunately, Christmas has become too commercialized, with everyone frantically running from store to store looking for that perfect gift for each person on their list instead of stepping back and thinking of what Christmas is REALLY about, the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus.
I agree that all these tragedies in the world are God's way of trying to get our attention.
I think I recall though that some of the people who died in last week's tragedy were in a temple.
BTW, sometimes I think we have a lot to learn from small children. Your daughter is a very good example. Children have not yet been tarnished by what the world has to offer which takes our focus off God.
AG
Posted by rayww on January 3, 2005, at 1:08:39
In reply to Re: give, pray, love » rayww, posted by Angel Girl on January 3, 2005, at 0:41:17
Thanks AG. I agree with you that people of other religions for the most part respect the Christian right to worship their Lord on Christmas. I have heard similar stories as your Jewish mayor. I think it is great that he had the guts to stick up for Christmas trees. It's a flip flop world we live in today. Someone always seems to be messing with the terms.
I like what CS Lewis said about Jesus. I don't have the exact quote, but it went something like, "either Jesus Christ was/is the Son of God, or else He was a nut case" He wasn't just a great teacher or leader, or anything less than the Son of God. He was either who the prophets said he was or else he was a terrific imposer, a loony toon. There is no middle road belief here, it's cut and dry. Frankly, I prefer to take out all the fog, eliminate the grey area, and look at the black and white of it. Jesus is the white. When comparing black, to grey, to white there is no dispute. White is undisputably white. Jesus is the Christ. And I for one am very thankful we can celebrate Him each Christmas. I know of no other person who has ever lived that there is such a tradition.
Happy Birthday Jesus! We love you.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Faith | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.