Sunday, May 20, 2012

I Will Support Any Charity Whose Purpose is to Feed the Children

I have supported a number of charities in my life, as I have always felt that I was quite blessed with all that I had been given in life. There are some organizations that are nearer and dearer to my heart, however, and one type of charity that I always try to contribute to is one that makes it its goal to feed the children. I can think of nothing more necessary in the world, and I can think of nothing more sad than a child going to bed hungry, with no prospect of food in the near future.

One organization that I have always supported is one that is through my church called Cross International Outreach. What I love so much about this particular charity is its objective to feed the children, but not just for a day. It will allow a person to make donations that will buy people in other countries such things as cows, chickens and goats. These are things that can produce food in multiple ways for years to come and can be useful to have around for other reasons.

Another ministry that always sought to feed the children was the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, of which I was a member and served as the chapter president for six years. Whenever we had to make a food delivery to a family with children, I always made a motion to raise the spending limit we had agreed upon for each family. Needless to day, I always got a second and the vote passed almost unanimously. I remember on a number of occasions going to homes and handing out groceries and having little kids come up and hug me. That sort of thing really touches your heart.

Then there is Child Fund, formerly known as Christian Children's Fund. This is an organization which has worked to feed the children for decades, and has done so admirably. They have also gone places that many people are afraid to go in order to try to help out however they can. I always make it a point to donate whatever I can to this organization, because I know of all the good work they do to help out as many people as they can.

Friends have asked me about why such charities that feed the children are so important to me. The answer is quite simple, really. I truly believe in treating others how you would want to be treated. I think about my own children having to go hungry, and it is a thought I cannot stand. I will always support such organizations and do whatever I can to help.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

What does Going Green Mean to You?

Going green is a term that is often thrown around and still many people do not know what it means. When asked what does going green mean to you they are often at a loss. Basically, going green is the decision people make to go back to health and natural means of living. It also means conserving forests, eating healthily, using alternative medications. After realizing that planet Earth is getting affected with the carelessness that has been exhibited by most people over time, most people have joined the bandwagon and are now going green.

If you want to go green within your environment all you have to do is to carry pout simple things in your environment and the most important thing to remember is that you do not have to start like as a fanatic, you can start slowly and then go on to bigger things. One of these things is turning off your water when it is not in use. Water is one of the scarce resources and the more we can all save the better.

Gas is another of the resources that needs urgent saving and for the people who are asking what does going green mean a good way of saving the gas is by walking from one point to another. Another great way of saving gas is by car pooling with people who are going in a similar direction as you. Most people are also used to eating unhealthy foods with preservatives which in the end only work to destroy their health. You can be different and buy organic, natural food products that are known to be healthy.

If you are still wondering what does going green mean you should also know that using natural products for cleaning both the house and your car is a viable means. Without their knowledge, many people who have been recycling over the years have been going green. Recycling can be done for things like plastic bottles and aluminum cans. The importance of placing particular items for recycling in their correct places cannot be over emphasized at this point.

Recycling is not the only thing you should do if you want to go green as you also have to make a point of going to buy things that have been made using recycled products. You can the recycled packages from the symbol they always bear on the boxes. The best thing about these recycled products is that they are somewhat cheaper as compared to the ones that have not been recycled.

You cannot talk about going green without mentioning how people have opted to use solar panels as a way of tapping into the natural energy of the sun thereby conserving the non renewable resources. Solar energy is used for appliances and other needs and has been very helpful to quite a number of households. Now that you have known the answer, go on and do your part.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Tips On Going Green

Today, everyone thinks more about what they do and what could happen as a result of their actions if they are not careful. It has taken a while, but people are finally paying attention. If you are serious about this, you need some tips on going green. This is something you can apply to almost any area of your life if you wish. Some things are harder and some are easy, but as long as you make some changes, you are doing a great thing for the earth and world your children are going to inherit. You can even do things one at a time to make them less painless.

When you go to the grocery store, there are many tips on going green that you can use. One is to buy as many things in organic form as you can. It's sad that the good food as to have a label and the stuff that is bad for you does not, but that is how it is. Organic means no chemicals or hormones, and also means no pesticides were used when fruits and vegetables were grown. This helps your family's health as well as the earth. You can also get products made from or partially from recycled materials. Look for toilet paper, paper towels, and other paper products. Even better, skip the paper towels and use clothe ones in your home that you can be washed.

Some tips on going green can be applied when you shop at department or discount stores. Look for the new light bulbs that last for years and years and use much less energy. You can also buy cleaning products that are safer for your family and the environment. There are also hand soaps, shampoos, shower gels, and other personal hygiene items that are made with safe and natural products. Read labels carefully. If you have a baby at home, consider using clothe diapers rather than disposable. It is more work, but it is a great way to save space in landfills.

Bigger purchases are also ways that you can save energy. Some of these tips on going green may be familiar to you because there are a lot of tax breaks here and there for those that take advantage. There are dishwashers, refrigerators, and other appliances that use less energy and less water. You can get a low water toilet for your home, or put a brick in the back tank so that you use less water each time you flush. These make a huge difference in your bills as well as in the waste from producing energy and cleaning water supplies.

Lastly, some tips on going green are expensive at first, which means not everyone can afford to make the change. If you can, however, there are some great ways to save fuel, energy, and the earth with these things. Get a hybrid car, install solar panels, or build your new house with green materials. You can also invest time in looking for environmentally friendly paints and stains to use in your home. You can also make green suggestions at work. These changes are not for everyone, but they certainly make a difference with each person that tries.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

What Is a Christian Anyway?

There seems to be a controversy over who exactly is a Christian. The title of this article is "What is a Christian Anyway?" rather than "Who is a Christian?" It was purposefully titled that way since asking the who question elicits an immediate response of "Why, of course, anybody who believes in Jesus Christ."

Asking the what question makes people give more thought since it calls for a definition of the word "Christian."

The difficulty lies in the fact that there are a number of definitions of the word depending on who defines it. This article starts with the simplest definition to the more complex.

1. A Christian is a person who claims to be a Christian.

No other qualifications are required.

2. A Christian is a person who tries to live the teachings of Christ, whether the person attends church or not.

This means the person is a good family member, good neighbor, helps the needy, and is trustworthy and honest.

2. A Christian is a person who attends (or belongs to) a Christian Church.

Some would say that not all churches that profess belief in Jesus Christ are really Christian. (More on that later.)

3. A Christian is a person who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

This does not necessarily mean a person who believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ but in the virtues Jesus taught.

4. A Christian is a person who believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ and him as Savior and Redeemer.

Usually this means that the person strives to live by Jesus' teachings.

5. A Christian is a person who is "saved" by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Usually, being saved means having a spiritual experience where the person accepts Christ as savior and redeemer.

6. A Christian is a person who believes in the orthodox or traditional theology of Christianity.

This last definition of what is a Christian is the more difficult one to come to any conclusions.

What is orthodox and traditional Christianity?

It all depends on the theology of the various Christian religions.

For example, some would say that a Christian is a person who believes in the orthodox Trinity, meaning the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost being three entities in one.

What if you believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost as three separate beings (as do Mormons and other people who profess a belief in Jesus Christ)?

What if you believe that a Christian must partake of the saving sacraments of the Church (as do Catholics and some Protestant churches)?

What if you believe that, in addition to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you must provide good works as a token of your Christianity?

So, after thinking about these definitions of a Christian, which is the true definition? Who is the authority that we look to for the true definition?

Is it the Pope, Billy Graham, the head of the Southern Baptist Convention, or any other religious leader?

How about God Himself!

In the end all Christians believe that God will judge all people. And their Christianity (that is, their belief in and adherence to the teachings of Jesus Christ) will be the final test as to whether they go to heaven or not.

It all comes down to the person's relationship with God. It doesn't matter what others think. It's between God and the person (the Christian).