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A cause is not something we mindlessly pick up as we go about futile affairs. It is, rather, a commitment that we make to stand up and advocate for the preservation, amelioration and faithful execution of our God given rights and responsibilities.
In today’s economy the chief differentiator is, arguably, knowledge, not power, wealth or title. More specifically, it is technology, otherwise known as applied science, which, in many instances, has the greatest potential of making a business successful. When used properly, technology adds value to both the supply side and the demand side of the equation.
As a matter of fact, research and development systems that use state-of-the-art technology give rise to the majority of products and services that dominate the marketplace in both quantity and quality. A promotion and distribution infrastructure like that of amazon.com allows producers and consumers to maximize value on the basis of information coupled with the scale, concentration and diversification of product inventory.
Having a visible target breeds results. The urinal fly has proved it so. Its presence in the men's room has the potential of reducing urine spillage at a rate of eighty percent more or less.
The book of James begins with the astonishing declaration “count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” But how is one supposed to rejoice in difficult times? The answer is not within the realm of human ability or understanding. This how, rather, is a God-given capacity to endure, trust and obey even when we are preyed upon by enemy powers in multiple fronts as they come at us forcefully and concurrently. Since it comes from God, this capacity is not a function of human merit. If it were we would most certainly fail the test given our sinful condition; condition that is in diametrical opposition to a spirit of submission to God’s will, confidence in His promises and readiness to obey His word. Hence, for us to do the how of “counting it all joy” we must, in a sense, rid ourselves of ourselves and ask God to take control of our hearts, minds and souls as we operate in a world that is, perhaps more than ever before, centered on the self without much regard for God and fellow men.
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Latin America has a common origin and history. The level of cultural homogeneity between the countries than conform it is significantly higher than that of the nation-states that comprise the European Union. Yet the level of economic and political integration in LATAM is not anywhere near what Europe has accomplished amid the great degree of idiosyncratic, economic and political heterogeneity that characterizes that region. Given this reality, how can LATAM states learn from the EU to foster regional integration and cooperation?