Vol. 1 No. 36 |  December 8, 2006  

    

This week

“The Bible teaches that Christians are totally different from anyone else.” -  
Peter Jeffery, Evangelicals Then and Now (Buy Now)


 

Finance

Planning to Give Gift Cards for Christmas? Watch Out for These Hidden Traps…

If you’re planning to buy gift cards for anyone on your Christmas list this year, U.S. banking regulators are telling you to be careful.

Turns out, some of these gift cards have hidden fees that don’t show up until they’re used to buy something. That means the $25 gift card you buy for your loved one is worth less than the $25.

You also have to make sure the cards you buy don’t have expiration dates. It’s ridiculous to spend money on a card, only to have it expire. So make sure you read the fine print on the back of the card before you buy it.

There are two types of cards available. One type is sold by major retail stores, entertainment providers, and restaurants. These are typically good only with that establishment.

The other type is offered by banks. These are easily recognized, as they typically carry a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express logo on them. The advantage with these cards is that they can be used anywhere the credit cards are accepted. The disadvantage is that they usually carry the hidden fees.

Personally, I think the best thing to do is to avoid the gift cards and buy a real gift. It takes a little more effort on your part. But it’s a more personal gift and encourages your relationship with the person you’re buying it for. There are times when they make a lot of sense, but they can also encourage us to become lazy gift givers.

And if you receive any gift cards for Christmas, you’ll want to check the fine print as well. You don’t want your card to expire before you get a chance to use it. And you also don’t want the fees to catch you by surprise when you’re checking out.

– Steve Kroening
     
 

 

Health

These Popular Drugs Could Land You in a Nursing Home

If you think taking an antacid is safe simply because so many doctors recommend them and so many of your friends take them — think again. Not only are antacids unsafe, but if you take them routinely, it could land you in a nursing home.

The medical community doesn’t promote antacids just for their ability to control stomach acid. In fact, many antacids, such as Tums, are promoted more as a good source of calcium than for their effectiveness in treating heartburn. But this is a perfect example of the medical community’s lack of nutritional savvy. Antacids don’t increase calcium levels, quite the opposite. They block its absorption.

And you know what that means. Low calcium absorption leads to bone loss and osteoporosis. It even causes an increased risk of falls and bone fractures – the leading reasons for admission into nursing homes.

Just how bad is the problem? Some people are so desperate to block stomach acid that they’re willing to take the anti-ulcer drug Prilosec (omeprazole). Prilosec is popular because it blocks the stomach’s production of hydrochloric acid and relieves reflux symptoms. But a new study showed that Prilosec also blocks significant calcium absorption.

In the randomized, double-blind trial, 18 elderly women took either 20 mg of Prilosec or a placebo every day for a week. They also took a daily multivitamin providing 400 IU of vitamin D. Vitamin D enhances calcium absorption. The women also took calcium in a special form that allowed the doctors to measure the exact amount that was absorbed. The researchers found that Prilosec caused between a 41% and a 61% decrease in calcium absorption compared to the absorption in women who did not get the drug.

This isn’t a surprise. Successful absorption of calcium and many other nutrients depends upon the acidic environment in the stomach.

Blocking stomach acid sets you up for nutrient deficiencies, leading to anemia and more serious health problems. Stomach acid secretion also protects you against harmful microorganisms in your food. People with low stomach acid are likely to end up with bacterial or fungal overgrowth in their stomach or intestines.

But that’s not all the damage antacids can cause. Antacids containing magnesium and sodium bicarbonate cause diarrhea over time, especially when you take too much. On the other hand, aluminum and calcium carbonate, as well as bismuth drugs, generally lead to constipation. Other complaints include urinary problems, headaches, nausea, muscle weakness, and appetite changes. You could also be allergic to antacid components, which can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Obviously, I think it’s important to stay away from antacids. They cause a wide array of health problems. They can cause brittle bones. And they can lead to long hospital or nursing home stays, and even death.

– James Balch, MD

(Ed. Note: Next week, Dr. Balch will have several ways to battle heartburn without drugs. Don’t miss it.)

Source: American Journal of Medicine, 2005; 118:778–81. Adapted from Prescriptions for Healthy Living, May 2006, 800-728-2288.
     
 
   

Marriage and Relationships

Break the Cycle of Divorce

If you grew up in a broken home, you’ve probably heard that your marriage is far more likely to end in divorce. Well, that doesn’t have to be the case. In this week’s Word to the Wise section, Skip tells us that Christ came as a restorer, not a destroyer. So in Christ you can restore many of those things that were lost in the broken home you grew up in. And you can have a very successful marriage.

In his book, Breaking the Cycle of Divorce: How Your Marriage Can Succeed Even if Your Parents’ Didn’t, John Trent gives several ways to overcome the legacy of divorce. Here are a few of them:

(1) “Embrace the love that will never abandon you. Understand that, while people might let you down, God will always come through for you. Accept the love that He offers you – unconditional love that you can count on, no matter what. If you haven’t already, begin a relationship with God through Christ. Make it a top priority to build a closer relationship with God each day.

(2) “Know that you have a choice. Recognize that you aren’t a powerless victim. Know that what happened to your parents doesn’t have to happen to you, and that you aren’t a slave to your past. Decide to choose to respond to your circumstances in ways that will lead to a positive future.

(3) “Face your fears. Take your fears out of the dark (lurking in your imagination) and bring them into the light by talking about them openly with your spouse. Pray about them specifically rather than just worrying about them. Seek and accept help from a close friend or a professional counselor to confront stubborn fears.

(4) “Focus on positives instead of negatives. Ask God to renew your mind and help you reprogram your thinking about your marriage and life in general so you’re more positive than negative. Write several lists: one that lists ways you and your spouse are not like your parents, one that lists ways your marriage is not like your parents’ marriage, and one that lists your spouse’s strengths and positive attributes. Then post your lists in prominent places in your home or car where you can see them every day to remind you.

(5) “Rely on God’s power rather than your own. Don’t try to wrestle with your struggles on your own. Instead, invite God to work in and through you, empowering you to handle everything that comes your way. Trust that whenever you ask for His help, He will respond – day by day, and moment-by-moment.”

I would add one item to this list: learn to solve problems biblically. This is the primary reason Christian marriages fail. When you try to solve problems according to your opinion or emotion or those of your spouse, there’s no standard to determine who is right or wrong. Both of you should learn to submit to God’s Word and follow it in problem solving.

If you can’t figure it out, then seek help from a biblical counselor (to find a counselor near you, visit www.nanc.org). Trent says, “Schedule some strategic sessions so the counselor can coach you through the issues. Realize that just a few short meetings can benefit you.”

– Steve Kroening
     
 

 

Parenting and Education

One Habit Every Child Must Learn

If you want to save your child a lot of pain and suffering as they grow up, there’s one habit they must learn. This habit will help them avoid financial problems, many relational problems, and a large number of health problems. But it will do a lot more than help them avoid problems. It will also help them become far more successful in their occupation and relationships.

What one habit can possibly do all this? It is called delayed gratification. Unfortunately, not many people today understand what this is or how to make it a habit. Delayed gratification is the opposite of instant gratification. Most of us know exactly what that is. Our society is built on instant gratification. Advertising demands you make a decision right now. Restaurants have drive-thrus so you don’t have to wait. And even our fireplaces light up with the push of a button. No more kindling, logs, and matches.

Not that all of these things are bad. Some are wonderful. But it’s so difficult to know when it’s best to gratify ourselves and when not too. We get sucked into the world so easily that we don’t even realize it until we’re in debt, alone, and dying from a preventable disease.

Scripture gives us some clear direction on when instant gratification is wrong or unwise. Any sinful activity is a definite no. Some people, such as the Amish (see below), say almost all types of instant gratification are wrong. While the Scriptural evidence for this extreme viewpoint is weak at best, there are few times when delaying gratification is unwise.

Unfortunately, delaying gratification is a habit that’s completely foreign to children. They’re born demanding what they want. And they learn early to cry and even scream when they don’t get it. And today, few of them are taught to do otherwise. So most adults expect instant satisfaction of all their wants.

The earlier you can train your children to delay spending money on what they want, eating what tastes good, but has no nutritional value, and adopting habits that may feel good, but don’t benefit the mind (video games), body (such as smoking), or soul (sin), the better off they’ll be as they grow up.

– Steve Kroening
     
 

 

Success

A Different Type of Success

Recently, my wife and I took some relatives from Australia to Amish country. Holmes County, in Ohio, boasts one of the largest groups of Amish in the U.S. For tourists, there’s much there to see and do.

Amish culture, however, has some interesting aspects, and I think we could learn a few things from them. The history of the Amish and Mennonite groups traces itself back to the early Anabaptist groups. At the time of the Reformation, there were two strands of Christianity breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church. These were the general protestant groups that followed either Luther or John Calvin. And there were the Anabaptists, who followed such men as Menno Simons and Jacob Amman.

In the modern age, the Amish are known and recognized in Pennsylvania and Ohio by the way they dress, their mode of transport, and the way they do business. Their dress is austere. No fancy zips or buttons. They have special clothes for Sunday. They travel by horse and buggy, and you can tell the different stands of Amish/Mennonite by whether or not the buggy has a clear plastic window in the rear for example. Only the somewhat liberal groups of Amish have this feature. If a buggy has both a rear plastic window and rear-vision mirrors, it indicates yet another even more liberal group.

The Amish meet in homes for worship. They still speak an old form of German, and sing in this language as well. They take their religion seriously, and this is what drives their lifestyle.

What is noticeable is their commitment to family. They average around seven children per family. When they become teenagers, the children are given an opportunity to leave or remain in the community. Around 80% elect to stay, so the Amish are one of the few Christian groups in the nation that’s growing.

They have traditions that go back through generations. They affect farming methods and health treatment, among other things. In a book entitled “Amish Home Remedies” they have three treatments for hemorrhoids. One of these involves taking one teaspoon of blackstrap molasses before breakfast, followed by a glass of water. They claim you will see results within weeks.

They sing a lot. Make beautiful quilts. They don’t take medical insurance, and help one another when the need arises. When a barn needs to be built, up to 400 men might turn up to work, and the barn goes up in less than a day. This is followed by a feast.

Families are strong. Crime is low among the Amish. Their sense of community is something to be admired. They have low unemployment.

But there’s a lesson for us to learn. It is about success. The Amish do not think about success the way many of us do. In fact, success is not a favored word in their culture. They prize humility. And success, many Amish believe, opens the door to pride.

Yet the Amish are very successful business people. Their prices are very reasonable. They make quality goods. Many English (non-Amish) people employ the Amish to build their homes because of both price and quality. But their dress fashion does not change with success. Neither does the size of their home, and they don’t get a bigger and faster car.

The lesson we can learn, then, is that success does not need to have an appearance that is so often displayed. For the Amish, their measure of success is a strong worth ethic, discipline and persistence. We should be content with these virtues rather than the material appearances that so often come with success in our Western culture.

– Ian Hodge

     
 

 
 

Wisdom From History

How Devotion to the Word Created Unity

Noah Webster stepped onto a ferry from Connecticut to New York and wondered whether he had wandered into the Tower of Babel.

“It was 1782, and America had almost won its battle with Britain for independence. Webster expected to see a joyous celebration among the troops on the boat. Instead, he heard a dizzying cacophony of languages and accents,” wrote Harlow Giles Unger in Noah Webster: The Life and Times of an American Patriot.

He could not understand them, and the sporadic fights he saw told him that many of them could not understand one another, either, Unger wrote.

Webster decided that the U.S. couldn't survive as a strong and free nation without a common language for its citizens. At age 24, he determined to undertake, in his own words, “an employment which gave a complexion to (my) whole future life: demolish(ing) those odious distinctions of provincial dialects which are objects of reciprocal ridicule in the United States.”

Webster's decision to try to standardize the new republic's language led him to write spelling books that eventually sold about 100 million copies and a dictionary that with its successors has sold more copies than any other book published in English except the Bible.

He also wrote a spelling and grammar book so all American children could learn the same mother tongue.

He delved into research for the book. He listened carefully to the dialects of his students and other people he met across the country to get the most common pronunciation of words. For instance, while many English textbooks insisted that the suffixes “cion,” “sion,” and “tion” be pronounced with two syllables, Webster told students it was all right to use the conversational “shun.”

Webster’s spellers were denounced by some as uncouth and even blasphemous. “He’s changing the psalms of David and making children say salvashun instead of sal-va-ci-on, the way we sing it in church,” one critic complained.

But Webster relied on his devout Christian faith, which helped him ignore the attacks.

Webster wanted to keep the spelling of English words recognizable, but he wanted to make common spelling easier, too. So he changed the “-ce” to “-se” in words such as defense, offense, and pretense. He dropped the k in musick and the u from most “-our” endings, as in humor and rumor.

Many critics called Webster crazy for his attempts. But he pressed on, remaining ever optimistic. In 1828, Webster's An American Dictionary of the English Language was finally published. He'd done all the writing and research entirely by himself, compiling the origins, pronunciations and definitions of 70,000 English words.

Webster did more than write a great dictionary. Until Webster, no great nation on earth could boast of the linguistic unity that Webster created in the United States, Unger wrote. Noah Webster helped create far more than an American dictionary; he helped create an American nation.

– John Berlau

(Adapted from “Educator Noah Webster,” Investor’s Business Daily, December 6, 1999.)

     
     
 

 

Word for the Wise

Do You Tear Down or Build Up?

“and you shall be called the repairer of the breech, the restorer of the streets” – Isaiah 58:12

Restorer – Jesus is born to be the restorer. If we follow in His footsteps, we must also be the restorers.

The Hebrew word shub is used more than 1000 times in the Old Testament. It has a wide range of meanings, but all of them circulate around the idea of movement back. To do again, to bring back, to answer, to recompense, to reestablish, to restore, and many more. God's heart is bent on recovering what was lost. It is fixed on repairing what is broken. It is committed to restoring what was once there. That's why we call it salvation, not indoctrination. We are saved from something. We are brought back from death to life. God’s purpose is not to re-educate you to be a more profitable and more upright person. God’s purpose is to redeem you from destruction, to restore you to His loving care and favor. Once, long ago, when our race was created, we had full fellowship with Him. And ever since we fell away from that fellowship, God has been carefully, patiently repairing and restoring. He could have erased the whole mess and started again. The work of restoration is far more difficult. But He was not willing to let any part perish. He restores.

Isaiah has given us the mile markers. Acknowledge sin. Be broken. Don't hide. Be a servant. Cry in prayer. Follow. Be filled. And now, restore. As Bethlehem approaches, the real Christmas message is restoration. Restoration takes these steps, each one in turn. I am called to restore what has been broken – between me and my fellow travelers, between me and my environment, between me and my world, between me and my God. Christmas will be meaningless without this. I will insult the Christ without this. He came to restore. It is His gift, a gift that I can only enjoy if I pass it to someone else.

Are you anticipating a Christmas celebration of restoration? Is that at the top of your gift list?

– 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

Break the Cycle of Divorce, by John Trent, PhD (BUY NOW)

Noah Webster: The Life and Times of an American Patriot, by Harlow Giles Unger (BUY NOW)

Also Recommended: Defining Noah Webster: A Spiritual Biography, by K. Alan Snyder (BUY NOW)

Evangelicals Then and Now, Peter Jeffery, Evangelical Press (Buy Now)

   

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