The $88 Million “School Dorm Room”

An $88 million Manhattan apartment listed for sale this past November had the potential to break the record for the highest individual transaction in New York City history. It did!

The record was broken in December — by a 22-year-old. Forbes magazine reports the daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev is buying the 6,744-foot condo at 15 Central Park West (photo). Ekaterina Rybolovleva will soon attend college in the United States (it’s unclear which one) and she plans to use the apartment as her “school dorm” while attending classes. The sale works out to be $13,000 per square foot. That will buy her the luxury of four bedrooms, two wood-burning fireplaces and a 2,000-square-foot wraparound terrace.

While NYC poor homeless make it day to day on dumpster diving, crumbs and spoils, New York continues to be the city of blinding extravagances ranging from Serendipity Restaurant’s (225 East 60th Street, near 3rd Ave.) $1,000 gold-leaf-chocolate-truffle ice cream sundae and $1 million dollar ruby emerald pendants at 5th Avenue’s Cartier and Tiffany’s to now an $88 million posh dorm room on the upper west side!

[Jesus said] “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:23-24

The saying was a response to a young rich man who had asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus replied that he should keep the commandments, to which the man stated he had done. Jesus responded, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The young man became sad and was unwilling to do this. Jesus then spoke the above response, leaving his disciples astonished.
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It’s Between You and God

“People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.” Mother Teresa
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Discovering the What and Who of Our Eternal Home

By St. Augustine

What are You then, my God? What, but the Lord God? For who is Lord but the Lord? Or who is God except our God? Most high, most good, most potent, most omnipotent; most merciful, yet most just; most hidden, yet most present; most beautiful, yet most strong, stable, yet incomprehensible; unchangeable, yet all-changing; never new, never old; all-renewing, and bringing age upon the proud, and they know it not; ever working, ever at rest; still gathering, yet lacking nothing; supporting, filling, and overspreading; creating, nourishing, and maturing; seeking, yet having all things. You love, without passion; are jealous, without anxiety; repents, yet grieves not; are angry, yet serene; change Your works, Your purpose unchanged; receive again what You find, yet never lost; never in need, yet rejoicing in gains; never covetous, yet tough on usury. You receive over and above, that You may owe; and who has anything that is not Yours? You pay debts, owing nothing; remit debts, losing nothing. And what have I now said, my God, my life, my holy joy? Or what can any man say when he speaks of You? Yet woe to him that speaks not of You, since mute are even the most eloquent without You.

Oh! That I might rest in You! Oh! That You would enter into my heart, and inebriate it, that I may forget my ills, and embrace You, my sole good! What are You to me? In Your pity, teach me to utter your goodness. Or what am I to You that You demand my love, and, if I do not give it, are obsessed with me, and threaten me with the most grievous afflictions? Is it then a great anguish to not love You? Oh! For Your mercies’ sake, tell me, O Lord my God, what You are to me. Say to my soul, “I am Your salvation”. Speak, so that I may hear. Behold, Lord, my heart is open before You; open also my ears and say to my soul, “I am Your salvation”. After this, let me make haste, and take hold of You. Hide not Your face from me. Don’t let me die — but I will die — but only let me see Your face. (The Confessions by St. Augustine, Book I)
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Living Penniless by Choice

Recently, Sarah Weir, a writer for Yahoo! Financially Fit, reported on a story of a woman who voluntarily chooses to live without money. Could you go sixteen years without spending any cash? That's how long 69-year-old Heidemarie Schwermer (photo), an Austrian grandmother of three, has lived without any dinero! Schwermer's journey to live without cash is the subject of a documentary film, Living Without Money, by director Line Halvorsen, which is screening internationally and will soon be available on DVD.

In 1996, Heidemarie, a former schoolteacher and psychotherapist, decided to try to live without money for a year as an experiment. As a child she had experienced deep deprivation as a refugee fleeing from Russian forces during World War II. Her family had escaped what was then East Prussia and ended up in Germany "penniless." She has always felt a sense of compassion and empathy for the homeless community that live in the city of Dortmund where she settled as an adult.

Two years before she began living completely without money, Schwermer had opened a swap shop where people could barter services and goods. It was such a success it gave her the confidence to take the leap of quitting her job, giving away all of her possessions except what could fit into a single suitcase and backpack, and moving out of her rental home. According to the Austrian Times, Schwermer says she "had become irritated by the greedy consumer society" she was witnessing.

She acknowledges that her friends were confused and her two grown daughters were initially shocked (she says they now accept her lifestyle). Schwermer lived nomadically, trading gardening, cleaning, and even therapy sessions for food and a place to sleep. She found it liberating: "Living without money gave me quality of life, inner wealth, and freedom."
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Knit Wits

In Dearborn, Michigan, The Times-Herald reports today that local school children under the direction of teacher, Julie Wieleba-Milkie, have come together at recess and free time to make winter scarfs for the homeless. They call their social justice project “Knit Wits.” Knit Wits is comprised primarily of students at Sacred Heart School in Dearborn, MI. “We’re doing this all winter,” said Ms. Wieleba-Milkie, director of religious education.

Robbie Grasinski, a 10-year-old fifth grader, is a first-time knitter, and said using the loom is pretty easy. “It sounded like fun and I just like to make stuff,” Grasinski said. He hasn’t set a specific goal for himself, and said he is just going to see how many scarves he can make. He said it was important to make scarves for the homeless “because they’re cold out in the winter and you want them to be as warm as possible.”

Arwa Saleem, a 12-year-old seventh grader was curious about Knit Wits, so she decided to give it a try during a cold recess. She has been working on her first scarf at home in her spare time while watching television or listening to music. “The homeless get really cold and they need a lot of donations and a lot of people really can’t give it to them right now, so giving them the scarves really helps,” Saleem said.

Her friend, 12-year-old seventh grader Maddie Kaplan, who joined Knit Wits with her, had knitted the traditional way with knitting needles with her grandmother, and finds winding yarn around the loom and pulling the loops over the pegs with a crochet hook much easier.

“I think it’s really cool because you can do something that you like to do and something also that’s really helpful for people in need,” Kaplan said. “It’s something good for them, even if it’s just making one small scarf. You’re keeping them warm no matter what.”

Yarn, craft looms, crochet hooks and discount coupons to local craft stores may be donated to Sacred Heart Parish, 22430 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. For more information or to become a local Knit Wit, contact Julie Wieleba-Milkie via email at churchlady75@hotmail.com.
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A Message from Jesus for the Rich and the Poor

"A rich person, as far as his means allow, should give to the poor with divine charity. But you might ask: 'What should a poor person who owns nothing give?' He should have the right intention and think the following thoughts: 'If I had anything, I would gladly give it generously.' Such an intention is counted for him as a deed. If the poor man's intention is such that he would like to have temporal possessions like others but only intends to give a small sum and mere trifles to the poor, this intention is reckoned for him as a small deed. Therefore a rich person with possessions should practice charity. A needy person should have the intention of giving, and it will gain him merit. Whoever gives more weight to the temporal than to the spiritual, whoever gives me one shilling and the world a hundred and himself a thousand does not use a fair measuring standard. A person who uses a measuring standard like that does not deserve to have my gold. I, the giver of all things, who can also take all things away, deserve the worthier share." (The Revelations of St. Bridget, Book 2, Chapter 14)
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What do you do on New Year's day?

By Larry R. Linville

My parents always said that you should do good things on New Year's Day because that is what you will get back the rest of the year. Seems like a noble practice.

What you do on New Year’s Day
you will do the whole year.
I don’t know if that is true
but that is what I hear.

It makes perfect sense to me
something I try to do.
So I pass along this thought
a suggestion to you.

I want my poetry to be
a background every day
to look for positive thoughts
as guides along the way.

I hope you’ll find some things
that will bring joy and love
and help others receive
peace from God above.
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Jesus is better than Santa.

Any Surprise Here?

Yesterday, HealthDay News announced the results of a recent Stanford University study indicating that poor people are quicker than middle-class or rich individuals to recognize the suffering of others and to show compassion, according to new research.

It included more than 300 young adults who were divided into groups that took part in three experiments designed to assess their levels of empathy and compassion.

The findings challenge previous research that concluded lower-class people are more likely to react with anxiety and hostility when faced with adversity, said the researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

"These latest results indicate that there's a culture of compassion and cooperation among lower-class individuals that may be born out of threats to their well-being," study author and social psychologist Jennifer Stellar said in a university news release.

"It's not that the upper classes are cold-hearted. They may just not be as adept at recognizing the cues and signals of suffering because they haven't had to deal with as many obstacles in their lives," she explained.

The findings, published online Dec. 12 in the journal Emotion, suggest a scientific basis for emotional differences between the rich and poor that are depicted in such Charles Dickens classics as "A Christmas Carol" and "A Tale of Two Cities."

The results also indicate that people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may do better in cooperative settings than those who are wealthy.

"Upper-class individuals appear to be more self-focused, they've grown up with more freedom and autonomy," Stellar said. "They may do better in an individualist, competitive environment."

More information on the compassion study, go to the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University.
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The Differences Between Jesus and Santa Claus

Santa lives at the North Pole . .
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh . . .
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year . . .
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies . . .
JESUS supplies all your needs from His riches in heaven.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited . . .
JESUS stands at your door and knocks,
and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa . . .
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap . . .
JESUS is the Good Shepherd and lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is
"Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?" . . .
JESUS knew your name before you were born . . .
Not only does He know our names,
He knows our addresses too.
He knows our history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jellybeans . . .
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO . . .
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry" . . .
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys . . .
JESUS commands all the angels of heaven.
They are messengers of new life, healing wounded hearts,
repairing broken homes and builders of heavenly mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but . . .
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree . . .
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree, the Cross . . .
Jesus Is The Reason For The Season!
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An Open Letter to Everyone from Jesus about Christmas

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just "GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER".

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa's and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish - I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls "the Holiday", be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember.

LOVE,

Jesus
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