:: MIS Insights ::

I attended Rory’s church yesterday. It wasn’t part of my weekend plan, but hey, a true MIS professional has to be flexible right?

I was actually hesitant about attending, but how can you say No to an invitation from the Big Man up there?

So, I went. The church was like a scene taken out from Whoopi Goldberg’s Sister Act sans the nuns. Western community church really isn’t my thing but it’s something that I’m not a rookie at. The church had a groovy band (lively), participative parishioners (they actually sing along with the choir) and insightful pastors (not boring, which is always good). All in all, the atmosphere set up the mood for the night’s topic: Self-control.

Self-control Redirects you to keep you in the right path, Restrains you to stick with the necessities of life and Rewards you for being good children of God. Among these three Rs, I was able to relate most with the second R - restrain.

Financially, I have spent more money than all my expenses in high school and college combined. Nutritionally, I think I consume enough calories every day to feed a family of three every day. Ambitiously, I am trying to do everything that I want to do - all at the expense of my health.

If I can exercise proper self-control, I can restrain myself to the basics of what I need.

From Proverbs 25:28:

Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.

I do believe I can have self-control.

Mark 7:14-15

Jesus called the crowd to him and said,
“Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’”

Nouveau-riche

Nouveau-riche - Characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position.

Everyone in this world can be wealthy. Though not everyone in this world knows how to handle wealth. Today’s bible passage is not asking “Did you do something bad with what you have?” It’s asking us “Did you do something good with what you have?”

You who can spare a pack of crackers for the street beggars, when was the last time that you did?

You who don’t tolerate mendicancy, when was the last time you voted for someone who had actual solutions for the poor?

You who can spend 100 pesos (US$2) on a drink, when was the last time you gave to charity?

Do you know how to handle your wealth for the benefit of the people? Are you really rich where it matters?