I am not a coffee drinker, but I hate deceit of any kind and this article made me angry.

After my
children were used for a misleading ad for a tutorial center that was not created yet, I did a
Bible study about deceit and found out that God really hates it too.

October 25, 2007

A Wake-Up Call for Coffee Drinkers
(by Dave Yoder for The New York Times)

Want coffee to take to work?

Prepare to be buzzed-- even if you ordered decaf.

You may be getting an unwanted jolt from that morning decaf.

Coffee sleuths from Consumer Reports recently tested cups of decaf ordered at Dunkin’ Donuts,
Starbucks, Seattle’s Best Coffee, 7-Eleven, McDonald’s and Burger King. They visited six
locations of each chain, evaluating 36 cups of decaf in all.

A regular cup of coffee has from 85 to 100 milligrams of caffeine. Most of the 10- to 12-ounce
decafs tested had less than five milligrams, the magazine reports in its November issue. But one
decaf from Dunkin’ Donuts contained 32 milligrams of caffeine-- about the same amount in 12
ounces of Coca-Cola Classic. A cup of Seattle’s Best was found to contain 29 milligrams of
caffeine, while a tall Starbucks decaf packed 21 milligrams. Results varied at each chain, but the
magazine found that the decaf at McDonald’s consistently had the lowest levels of caffeine.

It’s long been known that the decaffeinating process doesn’t eliminate 100 percent of the caffeine
in coffee, but there are no standards for acceptable levels in brewed decaf. Last year, University
of Florida researchers also tested several 16-ounce servings of decaf, finding the caffeine content
ranged from nine to 14 milligrams, according to a study published in the Journal of Analytical
Toxicology.

By testing nearly four times more cups of coffee, Consumer Reports showed there is wide
variability in caffeine levels in both decaffeinated and caffeinated coffees. Notably, even the
caffeinated coffees purchased at the chains varied widely in terms of caffeine content, ranging
from just 58 milligrams all the way up to 281 milligrams.

The findings are important for people with certain health issues. Caffeine can increase heart rate,
interfere with sleep, cause heartburn and increase anxiety, and heavy consumption isn’t advised
for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and for those who take certain medications. The
findings show that one or two cups of decaf will contain some caffeine, but probably not enough
to cause a health concern. Still, people who drink several cups of decaf coffee a day may be
getting far more caffeine than they bargained for.

************************************

But I was blessed by what was in this article. It was the first of its kind that I have seen in
response to the recent Southern California tragedy. I believe that many true Christians were
some of the first responders for helping the evacuees.
 From far and wide, helpers pour into a fire-stricken San Diego
(compiled by Candice Reed)
Friday October 26, 2007

Rachel Hanley arrived in San Diego Wednesday after a 12-hour drive from her home in Colorado
Springs, Colo. She parked her truck at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, home of the Del Mar
Thoroughbred Club, and set to work caring for some of the more than 2,500 horses that have
been given shelter there from the region's firestorm.

"There are a lot of displaced folks, but they seem to be taken care of," says Ms. Hanley. "But
these animals are really scared, and not a lot of people can handle them. People are helping the
fire victims of San Diego in all sorts of ways. Mine just happens to be with horses."

At least 1,000 volunteers have turned out in recent days, arriving at the fairgrounds and
Qualcomm Stadium, evacuation central, to offer their services to the fire-besieged – everything
from medical skills to yoga instruction.

Likewise, fire crews who've been battling the blazes since Saturday are seeing reinforce- ments
arrive, as fires that had blackened nearly 500,000 acres by Thursday morning continue to burn
throughout San Diego County. Eight deaths have been attributed to the southern California fires,
and in a bit of bad news that represents the opposite spirit of the volunteer corps, authorities
reported that arson is the suspected cause of two wildfires to the north – one in Orange County
and one in Riverside County.

Among the firefighters who have worked to contain the San Diego fires are crews from Tijuana
and Tecate in Mexico. "It is very important for Mexico to cooperate with the United States in
situations like these because these fires affect the environment on both sides," said Capt. Marco
Antonio Garambullo, Tecate's Fire Department director.

Mexico has also sent electricity to the area. A fire cut a main power link with Arizona, and a
blaze near the Marine base at Camp Pendleton was, at press time, threatening the main north-
south power corridor that connects San Diego with the rest of California.

The Mexican firefighters have since returned home to battle their own fires, but caravans of fire
crews from northern California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington continued to roll into San Diego
on Wednesday. About 950 firefighters from the US Forest Service will arrive soon, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency reported.

Away from the fire lines, average Americans with strong arms and big hearts threw their energies
into helping all creatures, great and small, survive the fires as comfortably as possible.

Among those pitching in alongside Hanley to tend to displaced horses and other livestock were
Future Farmers of America students from Eureka, Calif., who drove 700 miles nonstop to help.

At the stadium, where evacuees rested on cots and makeshift beds assembled on sidewalks,
students from the University of Kentucky, Hawaii Pacific University, and Utah State University
reported for duty. Church groups from Providence, R.I., and Yuma, Ariz., manned information
booths and led prayer groups, and a motorcycle club from San Francisco roared into action,
moving stacks of food and toiletries.
"I wanted to help because I couldn't do anything during the Katrina hurricane," says Dan Alves
of Oakland, Calif., who adds that he had tried to volunteer in New Orleans but was turned away.
"It wasn't as well organized. We went out there, but they said we couldn't help. This is a well-
oiled machine."

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, speaking Wednesday at Qualcomm Stadium, praised the
volunteers and donors who have reached out to displaced residents. "This is the best of San
Diego," he said. "This is where we take care of each other." Experienced medical personnel are
still needed at all San Diego County shelters, Mayor Sanders added.

The American Red Cross is training 3,000 volunteers to lend a hand in coming weeks. So much
food and water have been donated that officials at the fairgrounds and the stadium stopped
accepting them Tuesday, asking for monetary donations instead. The two major evacuation
centers are asking volunteers to help at smaller shelters.

Some of the 500,000 evacuees are being allowed to return to their neighborhoods, but others
must remain in shelters or with friends until firefighters can contain – and then extinguish – the
flames. That effort is unrelenting, and some firefighters at last were getting much-needed rest
before returning to the fire lines.

"We sleep when we can, usually on the lawn," said engineer Randy Smith of Sacramento,
encamped at Kit Carson Park in Escondido, command center for the Witch Creek fire. "Every
time someone new arrives, it gets a little easier. But we all help each other and if this happens to
us [in Sacramento] you'll see these same faces. It's what we do."

• Wire services were used in this report.

And as you probably know, there are about 16 individuals running to become the next President
of the United States. Normally, most don’t start campaigning until the beginning of the year of
the election, but this time they started campaigning the year before. Normally debates did not
happen until August through October after the Party Nomination Conventions during the year of
the election. So far there have been about 14 televised debates (more by the Democrats than the
Republicans. And there have been many polls. There has been a lot of slander and lies, deceit,
and money wasted, but no reports of compassion like is indicated in the last article. And none of
the candidates has proven that they are Bible believers and live the National motto “IN GOD
WE TRUST” which is on the USA currency. Also none of the candidates indicate high marks in
the following:

Christian Character Qualities with Scripture References

(compiled by Bill Stevenson)

Note: I developed this list after I indexed a three volume anthology using A. C. E.'s 60
character traits and studying Bill Gothard's list of 36 character traits. In 2007, I finally
searched for appropriate Scripture for each one. It can be used for self assessment and
as a Bible study “springboard”. Married couples can use it to improve or revive their
marriage.
Directions: For each character trait, after looking up all of the Scriptures, introspect and use a
1-5 or 1-10 system with the higher number meaning either already done or all of
the time.

1. Attentive: desire to listen and to be respectful.

Luke 19:47-48, John 5:24, John 8:47, John 10:25-30, Revelation 3:19-21, John 18:37,
Matthew 13:8-9, (Matthew 13:1-23 or Mark 4), Luke 11:28, Matthew 7:24-27, Acts 10:21-
22 & 33, Acts 13:42-44, James 1:19, Hebrews 2:1, Luke 21:34-36, Revelation 1:3,
Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11 (Revelation 2:17 & 29, 3:6, 13, & 22), Revelation 22:16-19
2. Available: desire to be flexible and generous with time.
Luke 2:41-49, Mark 17-18, Titus 3:1-2, 1 Peter 3:15-16, Acts 19:8-11, Acts 20:31
3. Careful: desire to be accurate and efficient.
Philippians 4:10, Titus 3:7-11
4. Compassionate: desire to be sensitive and loving.
Proverbs 15:23 & 30, Matthew 10:35-38, Romans 12:9-13, Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians
6:1-10, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 2:1-5, Hebrews 6:9-12, Hebrews 10:23-25, 1 Peter
3:8-9, 1 Peter 3:8-9 & 15, 1 John 3:16-19, Jude 21-23
5. Consistent: desire to be orderly and to usually remember.
Job 11:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 3:12-15, Hebrews 10:19-25
6. Content: desire to be thankful and peaceful.
Philippians 4:11, 1 Timothy 6:6-11, Hebrews 13:4-6
7. Cooperative: desire to work with others.
Psalm 133:1-3, Ephesians 4:1-7, Colossians 3:12-15, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12
8. Creative: desire to pray for new ideas and to be resourceful.
Genesis 4:20-22, Isaiah 57:19, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
Also, think about the making of the tabernacle in Exodus and the songs that David created
in Psalms, and how creative God has been.
9. Decisive: desire to discern right and wrong according to God's Word.
Psalm 25:10-12, Proverbs 1:29-30, Isaiah 7:14-15, Romans 12:2, Romans 13:12-14,
Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:8-17, 1 Peter 1:13-15, 1 Peter 3:8-17
10. Dependable: desire to be responsible and punctual.
Matthew 25:21 & 23 ff, 2 Corinthians 8:20-22, Colossians 1:10, Colossians 3:23
11. Enduring: desire to keep healthy and to be persevering.
Psalms 33:20-21, Psalm 43:4-5, Proverbs 3:7-8, Proverbs 4:20-23, Proverbs 12:17-19,
Proverbs 16:24, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 12:9-13, Hebrews 6:11-12, 1 Corinthians 1:5-8,
Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 4:13, Colossians 1:21-23, 1 Timothy 6:12,
Hebrews 6:9-12, Hebrews 10:23-25, Hebrews 10:35-39, Hebrews 12:12-13, 1 Peter 5:8-9,
3 John 3, Revelation 14:12
12. Faithful: desire to be loyal and responsible.
Deuteronomy 7:8-10, Psalm 37:3-6, Psalm 101:6-7, Proverbs 14:5, Proverbs 18:24, Daniel
6:4, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 1
John 1:9, Hebrews 3:1-6, Hebrews 4:14-16, Revelation 17:14, Luke 19
13. Flexible: desire to change without compromising standards.
Read about Saul and Ananias in Acts 9, Cornelius and the Apostle Peter in Acts 10, more
about Peter, Barnabas, and Saul in Acts 11, more about the Apostles Paul and Barnabas in
Acts13-14, about the Circumcision controversy in Acts 15 & Galatians 2, more about the
Apostle Paul in Acts 16-20. This trait is also related to contentment (# 6).
14. Forgiving: desire to feel sorry and to be considerate.
Matthew 6:14-15, Genesis 37 & 45, Matthew 18:15-16, 2 Corinthians 2:4-11
15. Generous: desire to pray and give anything.
 Deuteronomy 15:7-8, Deuteronomy 16:17, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
16. Gentle: desire to be considerate and patient.
Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Titus 3:1-
2, James 3:17
17. Hopeful: desire to be thankful for God's control and promises.
Psalm 33:18-21, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 43:4-5, Psalms 71:14-15, Psalm 119:81-82, 114, 116-
117, 147-148, & 166, Psalm 130:5, Psalm 147:11, Proverbs 10:27-28, Proverbs 23:17-18,
Jeremiah 17:7-8, Lamentations 3:21-24, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 8:23-25, Romans 12:10-
13, Romans 15:4 & 13, Galatians 5:5, Colossians 1:23, 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10, 2
Thessalonians 2:16-17, Titus 1:1-2, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 10:23, 1 Peter 1:13-15, 1 John
3:1-3, 1 Peter 3:15-17
18. Joyful: desire to be happy and enthusiastic.
1 Corinthians 13:6, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 43:4-5, Psalm 71:23, Psalm 94:19, Psalms 126:3 &
5, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 1:8, Psalm 149:4-5, Romans 15:13-14, Psalm 19:8, Psalm
119:111, Jeremiah 15:16, Psalms 68:3, Psalms 97:11, Proverbs 10:28, John 15:10-11,
Hebrews 1:9, Proverbs 12:20, Proverbs 21:15, Proverbs 15:30, Isaiah 29:18-20, Luke
10:17, John 16:20, Romans 12:12, Romans 15:13, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:18-21, 1
Thessalonians 1:6-8, 1 James 1:2-4, 3 John 3
19. Kind: desire to be friendly and considerate.
Luke 6:35-36, Romans 12:10-13, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Ephesians 4:31-32
20. Meek: desire to be humble and patient.
Numbers 12:3, Psalm 22:26, Psalm 25:9-10, Psalm 147:5-6, Psalm 149:4-5, Deuteronomy
8:2-3, Zephaniah 2:1-3, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 29:18-20, Isaiah 61:1-3, Matthew 11:28-
30, Matthew 21:4-5, Proverbs 16:18-19, Proverbs 29:23, Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 23:10-
13, Matthew 5:3-10, Galatians 5:22-23, James 4:6 (Proverbs 3:34)-10, 1 Peter 5:5-7
21. Obedient: desire to be submissive and to learn from doing.
Deuteronomy 13:4, Hebrews 5:8-9, Matthew 11:29-30, James 4:7, Romans 6:14-18, 2
Corinthians 10:3-6, Hebrews 13:17, Philippians 2:1-5, Philippians 3:15-16, Hebrews 13:17,
Colossians 3:18-24, 1 Peter 5:5-7
22. Patient: desire to wait on God for changes.
Ecclesiastes 7:7-9, Luke 8:15, Romans 15:1-6, Colossians 1:9-11, James 1:2-4, 2 Peter 1:2-
8, Romans 2:5-11, Romans 8:23-27, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, James 5:7-8, Hebrews 10:35-36,
Romans 5:1-5, Luke 21:19, 1 Thessalonians 1:3-6, Romans 12:10-15, 1 Timothy 6:10-12, 1
Thessalonians 5:12-15, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, 1 Timothy 3:2-3, Titus 2:2-5, Hebrews 6:11-12,
Hebrews 12:1-4, James 5:10-11, 2 Timothy 3:10-12, Revelation 1:9
23. Purposeful: desire to do what God wants.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 & 13-17, Ecclesiastes 8:6a, 1 Corinthians 3:6-15, 2 Timothy 1:7-14, 1
John 3:7-8, Acts 11:19-24, Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:8-12, Proverbs 15:20-24, 1 Peter
4:17-19, Psalm 119:9-12
24. Respectful: desire to be reverent to God, and proper authorities, and other people.
Psalm 145:3-5, Psalm 119:6-8 & 13-16, Romans 13:7, Ephesians 6:2-3, 1 Peter 2:17, 1
Timothy 2:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, Leviticus 19:14-15, James 2:1-9, 1 Corinthians
12:20-27, Matthew 22:37-40, 1 Peter 3:7-8, Philippians 2
25. Righteous: desire to be like Jesus Christ was when He was on Earth in human form.
Proverbs 2:20-22, Proverbs 4:14-19, Zephaniah 2:3, Matthew 5:6 & 16-20, Romans 14:16-
19, Luke17:20-21, Ephesians 5:1-17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:8-10, Galatians 5:19-
26, Ephesians 6:12-14, 2 Timothy 2:22-26, Romans 1-6, Philippians 2, Ephesians 4-5
26. Spirit-submissive: desire to obey the Holy Spirit's guidance.
 Proverbs 3:5-7, Ephesians 5:18-21, John 14:26, 15:26, & 16:7-14, Romans 5:1-5, Romans
15:13-14, Philippians 2:1-5, Titus 3:3-7, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, Romans 8:1-15, Galatians
5:16-25, 1 Corinthians 12:3-13, 2 Corinthians 13:14
27. Thankful: desire to be observant and appreciative.
1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 105:1-5, Philippians 4:4-7, Colossians 2:6-8, Colossians 3:15-
17, Colossians 4:2, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:15b-18, Hebrews 13:15-16, Psalm
97:10-12, Psalm 79:9 & 13, Ephesians 5:3-4
28. Thorough: desire to do everything necessary for success.
Colossians 4:12-13, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Colossians 2:6-10, Ephesians 2:8-10, 2 Timothy
3:16-17
29. Thrifty: desire to use and purchase things properly.
2 Samuel 24:15-25, Matthew 6:24-34, Acts 2:44-47, Acts 4:32-37, Luke 16:10, Luke
14:28-30, 2 Corinthians 3:4, 2 Corinthians 8:20-22, Philippians 4:15-19, Revelation 3:14-
22
30. Tolerant: desire to understand others' viewpoints, not putting up with others' sins.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, Acts 9-10, Matthew 11:23, Romans 1:17-32, Matthew 5:17-30,
Galatians 5:15-21, 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Why was Jesus Christ ridiculed for the men He chose to be as His close disciples? Why
was He criticized and scorned for ministering to the woman at the well, the lepers,
Zacchaeus, Mary (sister of Lazarus), and others?
Why should a Christian be against having prejudice or any forcing others to have the same
preferences? When does God become tolerant of a sinner?
31. Truthfulness: desire to be honest and sincere.
Proverbs 8:6-9, Proverbs 12:17-20, Psalm 15:2, Psalm 25:10, Psalm 45:4a, Ephesians 4:20-
25, Luke 8:15, Philippians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 5:8, 1 John 3:18-19, 3 John 3-4, Ephesians
4:14-16, Ephesians 5:6-10 & 14, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, Romans 12:17, 2 Corinthians 8:20-
22, 2 Corinthians 13:7-8, 1 Peter 2:12, Philippians 1:9-11
32. Wise: desire to understand and apply God's truth.
Psalm 19:7-8, Psalm 107:43, Proverbs 1:1-7, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 8:33, Proverbs 10:14,
Proverbs 15:7, Proverbs 16:21-24, Proverbs 14:16, Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 9:8-12,
Proverbs 29:11, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 17:27-28, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 11:30,
Proverbs 24:5, Proverbs 3:35