davidkess's Xanga

A Negative Housing Market?

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:35:45 GMT

Anyone with there eyes half open will be aware that the economic situation of the middle and lower classes is somewhat disparaging. This is most always attributed to a rise in commodity prices coupled with a downturn in the housing market. The commodity inflation can almost certainly be attributed to the rising price of crude oil and I doubt there is any near relief for this trend. The fall in housing prices is also certainly a blow for many people view their estate as their most significant (or only) investment. For years housing prices have climbed steadily and slowly, but in recent history that price inflation has increased astronomically. People all talked about the "housing bubble" but few believed it would "pop". The problem was that the inflation of house prices well exceeded the increase of salaries. For the population of home owners this was hardly a problem because selling their home at the inflated rate meant they could buy another home at the inflated price. The low interest rates also prompted many first time buyers to buy outside of their means and the subsequent slowing economy and rising interest rates has been tragically hard on many families with ARMs. In the end there is some hope for those of us who have yet to buy our first house. As the economy continues to slow and housing prices settle to more appropriate levels, we find that the interest rates have also been lowered to help support a credit driven economy. It is my hope that the next year will prove to be the best time for anyone to buy a house. I just hope that you don't have to sell one first.

Waiting on the Lord

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:42:02 GMT

God is amazingly good. He has always graciously provided more than enough for Heather and Myself. Now I am praying that He provides a job soon but we have to wait on His timing. I wish to wait patiently and not become anxious. (obviously, I am failing or I would not me writing this). In other news; Tyler is five, the new baby is almost zero, T-Ball has started, and Heather has not had any kidney stone pain for over a week. God is good, all the time.
David

Stength

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:10:08 GMT

Every boy wants to grow up to be strong. Like beauty is for girls, strength is a measure of value for many men and young men in the world. Like beauty, strength is a good thing but often becomes a sinful stumbling bock. Like beauty, strength is often viewed as an external attribute rather than an internal characteristic.

Tyler is four now, He will be five at the end of March. He wants to fight all the time (a common way boys measure strength). He tries to pick up heavy things and says "look at me dad, I'm strong." He is a boy to the core. As he grows I want to instill in him a sense that "good" strength is primarily not an external quality but a internal attribute. So what is strength?

Perversion of Strength.

Strength is most often perverted to be a measure a dominance. Like the bully in a schoolyard, some people feel like having control, inspiring fear, being able to gets one's way, or, in short, dominating another person is a proof of being stronger. This perversion of strength can be observed everywhere in life and stems from the fact that it takes a certain kind of strength to overpower another persons will. If I force you to to what I want than I must be stronger than you... right? But Christ was obviously the strongest man that ever lived and he willingly submitted himself to the will of the Father and did not overpower or control his fellow humans.

The Measure of a Man

But if being strong is not measured in showing strength, then what is it measured in? I think the answer is endurance. It takes a very strong man to endure the trials of life in a proper way (in submission to the Father). Christ was not calling men to be weaker when he said "turn the other cheek" but much stronger than they were even capable. To control oneself and to master one's own will is the ultimate test of strength and the one that we constantly fail. This "real" strength is beyond our grasp without the grace of God in our lives. This is the strength I want Tyler to have. I would rather see him suffer the trials of life with praise on his lips than to win an ironman competition or become the President of the USA. If he suffers with gladness and praise in his heart, I will be overwhelmingly proud of him.... then I will know that my son grew up strong.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:07:41 GMT

Facebook stinks, they did one thing better than Xanga. Oh well. I am personally bringing Xanga back. ;)

Obviously, I am done with my dissertation examination. YEAH!!!

So I have been half listening to the election coverage and am particularly uninterested in the battle for democratic nomination. The question of who would be worse is one that has rolled around in my mind.

First off, some have said that Hilliary is more beatable than Barack so we should hope she wins. I personally wouldn't bet $2 that the republicans have a shot this round (especially if McCain gets the nom.) so to me the democratic primary is the question of who gets to be our next president.

On one hand it is difficult to imagine anything being worse than Hilliary Clinton. She has the wrong stance on all the issues and a personality to match. I really can't stand her.

Barack Hussein Obama however is so much fluffier. He has all the wrong ideas but their is still a question as to whether he has the grit to get anything done. It is possible that the fluffiness will continue into the presidency and he will maintain the present policy of spinning his image all the time. That, in my opinion, would be a good thing. First of all, it would minimize the damage that would be done. More importantly, it would disillusion and dishearten the ultra left and particularly the younger population of democrats (who make up a large portion of the Obama swell). This would put the left in the same position many conservatives find themselves in this go round. Disappointed with politics in general and there own party in particular. Of course, Obama may be able to enact some of his bad ideas but is it really possible that he could do more damage than Clinton? I personally doubt it. The only charge that can be made against him in particular is in regards to his Islamic heritage. However, I really don't see that as valid as he is clearly pretty darn liberal and a good Muslim would actually be more conservative that us (in a legalistic way). He may be as Muslim as John Kerry is Catholic but I doubt any more (if that much).

So between the two, I like the idea of Obama better than the Clintonator. What do you think?

Hello world

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:21:22 GMT

I guess everybody knows now but I figure I better make an official announcement. Heather is with child! Yeah!

I am trying to write a thesis. Yuck!

Tyler grow an inch last month. (insert your own exclamation here)!

This is For Athena

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:12:01 GMT

The Ghost of David Future

Chicago

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:05:48 GMT

Hey Jon, Are you OK? Heather and I wondered if the last weekend in October would be a good weekend to visit. Let me know.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:04:45 GMT

Doughnut Eating Constant

Monday, September 10, 2007

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:43:49 GMT

Somebody had a birthday

and ate cake

and got presents

Happy birthday nephew.

Happy birthday Warren.

Happy birthday Dad.

Happy birthday Grandpa.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:35:15 GMT

Some Pics