RUBRICS FOR CASE ANALYSIS/ PRESENTATION

Written Case Analysis Grading Rubric

GRADE	CRITERIA #1	CRITERIA #2
(A)	THE CASE:       The Background Facts are presented accurately and completely;       The Question to the Court Issue is accurately presented and correctly identified;       The Decision of the Court is accurate and presented with complete detail.	MECHANICS:       Paper is organized according to the required format;       Excellent use and familiarity of the Court’s decision.       Paper is neat with NO spelling or grammatical errors;
(B)	THE CASE:       The Background Facts are presented, but may contain a flaw or missing some details;       The Question to the Court & Issue is presented but maybe flawed;       The Decision of the Court contains a flaw in the reasoning, or the rule of law.	MECHANICS:       Paper is organized , but may not totally follow the required format;       Some use of and familiarity of the Court’s decision is evident;       Paper is neat with SOME spelling or grammatical errors.
(C)	THE CASE:       The Background Facts are presented with some flaws and FEW details;       The Question to the Court & Issue is presented but with error;       The Decision of the Court is presented with a number of weaknesses in the reasoning or the rule of law.	MECHANICS:       Paper is does not completely follow the required format;       Little use of and familiarity with the Court’s decision is evident;       Paper has A NUMBER of spelling or grammatical errors
(D/F)	THE CASE:       The Background Facts are poorly presented with little to no details;       The Question to the Court  & Issue is inaccurately presented;       The Decision of the Court is seriously flawed in the reasoning & rule of law; the decision is weakly presented.	MECHANICS:       Paper is not organized according to the required format;       No evidence of use and familiarity with the Court’s decisions is present;       Paper has MANY spelling or grammatical errors

TEACHER COMMENTS:

Grading Rubric for Case Analysis PowerPoint Presentation

Score		ORGANIZATION: Logical sequencing; transitions
	4	The presentation follows the required format.  A forward progression of ideas with smooth and clear transitions from one part of the Case Analysis to the next is evident.  The listener can effortlessly follow the piece.
	3	The presentation follows the format.  The presentation does contain all parts of the Case Analysis, yet the transitions from one section to the next are not always clear.
	2	The format of the presentation is not clearly followed.  Transitions from one element of the Case Analysis to the next are poorly organized and are confusing for the listener to follow.
	1	Presentation format is lacking.  The progression of ideas is difficult or impossible to follow.
		DETAILS and CONTENT: Appropriate to purpose, consistently maintained; depth or elaboration.
	6	The presentation offers an accurate and complete discussion of the Background Facts of the case; the Question to the Court accurately presents the issue; the Decision of the Court and rule of law are accurately and completely discussed.  The presentation shows depth by the use of accurate and pertinent details.
	4	The presentation offers a discussion of the Background Facts of the case; the Question to the Court accurately presents the issue; the Decision of the Court and rule of law are discussed.  A flaw exists in one of the elements of the case analysis. Some details and discussion beyond the slides add some depth to the presentation.
	2	The presentation has a 2 or more flaws in the discussion of the Background Facts, the Question to the Court (issue); and the Decision of the Court and Rule of Law. The presentation lacks depth.  Few, if any, ideas or details are developed. Student(s) basically read the slides.
	1	The presentation has a many flaws in the discussion of the Background Facts, the Question to the Court (issue); and the Decision of the Court and Rule of Law. The presentation lacks depth.  Details are inaccurate or lacking.  Students read the slides.
		STUDENT LED DISCUSSION & PRESENTATION:  Proper use of PowerPoint as a tool; student led presentation and discussion of the case.
	4	Student(s) describe elements of the case without constantly reading the slide and can expound upon each element and respond to questions with confidence. (All group members participate)
	3	Student(s) describes elements of the case with reference to the slide and can expound upon each element and respond to questions with prompting. (Some all group members participate)
	2	Student(s) present elements of the case by simply reading the slide.  There is difficulty in elaboration and responding to questions. (Few group members participate)
	1	Student(s) presentation of the elements of the case is limited to reading the slide; student(s) are unable to expound upon each element or respond to questions. (ONE group member participates)
		SLIDE SHOW & POWERPOINT:  Use of technology
	4	Slides are neat, no spelling errors; use of graphics and sounds enhances presentation; size of print and colors enable the slides to be easily read around the classroom.
	3	Slides are neat, some spelling errors; some use of graphics and sounds; size of print and colors enable the slides to be read around the classroom.
	2	Slides are neat, a number of spelling errors; little use or inappropriate use of graphics and sounds; size of print and colors make it difficult to read the slides around the classroom.
	1	Many spelling errors; inappropriate or no use of graphics and sounds; size of print and colors make it difficult to read the slides around the classroom.

RIP AJ Perez :( [Died from a Vehicular Accident, 12AM April 17, 2011]

[NOTE: This blog compiled the stories behind the incident, from different sources, as stated in each post]

Antonello Joseph Sarte Perez (born February 17, 1993) is a Filipino actor, a member of ABS-CBN's circle of homegrown talents collectively known as Star Magic, a performer in ASAP Sunday Variety Show died at the age of 18, due to a vehicular accident in Panici, Tarlac. Here's the full story (based from Ogie Diez' tweets since he was one of those connected with the parents of AJ, who had a personal touch with them after the incident, and tweeted it for everybody's information): While heading back to Manila from an event in Dagupan (Bangus Festival), a bus collided at the side part of the van he was riding after trying to overtake a trailer bus, where AJ's head was leaning. This caused him severe injury on his head and it's too late, he was brought to Paniqui, Tarlac Clinic, dead already. The photo below shows the damaged van where AJ Perez died.

Mr. Gerry Perez, AJ's dad was also inside the van when this happened.
"Sana, panaginip lang to, Ogie. Si Aj ang buhay namin ng mami nya, bakit sya pa? Sana, ako na lang. Napakamasunuring bata ni Aj,walang kaaway, friendly at very professional. Sana,ndi na lang siya Ogie.", crying out loud, these are the words stated by Mr. Gerry Perez to Ogie Diaz after the incident. Before AJ was brought to Paniqui Clinic, he's already dead. AJ is the only casualty in this accident. :(( He was in Dagupan for the Bangus Festival 2011 event by the Kapamilya Network, alogn with Zaijan Jaranilla & Matt Evans. Before this, AJ expressed hwo happy he is when he was one of the chosen performers to join the Kapamilya Caravan, "Grabe po, overwhelming and sobrang thankful lang po talaga kay God for the opportunities He continuously gives me. Sana magustuhan ng mga taga Dagupan City yung hinanda naming numbers for them". Also, AJ shared that he is excited for hsi upcoming MMK episode this April 30 and a movie.

LATEST UPDATE:
*From AJ Perez' Official Twitter managed by his family now: (posted 12:25PM, April 19)
"Aj's body is transferred to Christ The King Church Greenmeadows (Libis area). There will be a public viewing at 9PM-12MN tuesday, Apr 19. Apr 20, 4pm-7pm, 9pm-12mn. To those who loves Aj, please visit him. Thank you. "
*From Ogie Diaz' tweet, 10PM, April 18,2011: "Sa Tues, April 26 ang libing ni @ajperez sa Manila Memorial Park. Tom until 12nn na lang ang wake sa LSGH at ililipat na sa Christ D King GM"
*From Ogie Diaz' tweet, 11:15AM, April18,2011: "ndi ang multiple head injury ang kumitil kay @ajperez17 (AJ Perez). Sa autopsy, tumusok ang ribs sa puso at left lung ni aj sa lakas ng impact".
*From Eric John Salut's tweet (around 11:30PM, April 17) - "AJ Perez's wake will be open to public viewing tomorrow, Monday(April18) 11AM-2PM and resumes 9PM-12MN."
*From Eric John Salut via twitter, "The family of AJ Perez decided to donate AJ's cornea to blind singer Fatima Soriano."
*AJ's body will be in La Salle Green Hills starting this afternoon (April17) until Tuesday (April19) lunch time, as tweeted by ABS-CBNchannel2.
*From ABS-CBN News site, AJ was with his dad and 4 others aboard an ABS-CBN van which collided with a provincial passenger buss (Partas) along McArthur Highway in Barangay San Julian, Tarlac. The Police Officer 2 (Michael Millante of the Moncada Police) said that the van carrying the 6 passengers (AJ Perez, AJ's Dad Mr. Gerry Perez, Driver Christopher Bautista, Christina Ferrer, Edwin Patelos, and Danny Linunga) tried to overtake tried to overtake a trailer truck when it collided with the incoming Partas bus. As quoted from thsi Police, "Nung makarating sa may Barangay San Julian, allegedly itong van ng ABS-CBN, um-overtake ng isang trailer. 'Yung pagka-overtake n'ya po, in the process, nag-alangan po siya. Tinamaan po niya itong Partas na nagresulta sa pagkapinsala nung laman ng van".
*From GMA News Site, Moncada town police director Chief Inspector Augusto Pasamonte said “Si AJ, nasa likod ng driver’s seat. Yan ang bahagi na may tama". He also added that the driver, Patras Driver is already under custody, and will file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries.
*I think ASAP ROCKS will pay tribute to AJ Perez on today's episode, April 17, as tweeted by his colleagues from this show (Jed Madela, Luis Manzano, ABSCBNchannel2, etc). They were all feeling down in the backstage as tweeted by Javier, Enrique Gil's Brother.
*These are the words shared by AJ's Mom while crying to Ogie Diaz: "Napanood ko pa kagabi yung teaser ng MMK ni Aj, ndi ko alam kumba't ako bigla na lang naiyak, kaya tinawagan ko si Dadi. Tinanong ko si dadi, bat ang tagal nilang umuwi? Pauwi na raw sila from Dagupan, pero nag-aalala pa rn ako, d ko alam kumbakit balisa ako. Nag-Boracay pa si AJ nung first week ng April. Nag-alala na ko non dahil sila lang mga friends nya ang magkakasama. Tapos, eto, kasama niya pa ang daddy niya, kaya Ogie, you'll never know talaga pag aksidente".
*I stand corrected in the tribute video I made, this is the statement shared by Ogie Diaz after talking with AJ's parents: "Sa bus po bumangga ang van sakay si AJ Perez kung saan yung left brain nya ang matinding napuruhan.".

The photo below was a shot of AJ's last show, held in Dagupan.

 Currently, AJ is one of the lead actors in Hit TV Show "Sabel", known as Dido and a regular performer in ASAP, also a member of a teen male group "Gigger Boys".May your soul rest in peace and you will always be remembered, AJ... Condolences to AJ's family, friends and relatives. :(

I'll miss him in twitter & in ASAP every sunday. I dunno what's with number 17: he was born in Feb17, Died at April17, his jersey no. is 17, his twitter account is @ajperez17 . His last tweet in twitter:
"On the way home already from Dagupan.Long drive ahead.. Thanks to everybody who watched, thanks to zui for the gifts.And hi again to jarred!". He also believes in the saying
"I'll take character over reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. ". He was also in Boracay on the first week of April2011, also a photo of AJ Perez with Rico Yan in ABS-CBN Hallway (See photos below)

AJ Perez' true to life story will be featured in Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) on April 30.

Before AJ died, he made a letter for his "future" girlfriend, this was featured in Candy Magazine. You should read this one, :(

Dear Future Girlfriend,

I’ve already come across many nice girls, all of them gorgeous in their own way, but like you, I am still searching. I don’t think it’ll be too hard, because I don’t really demand too much- after all, I am not looking for Ms. Perfect, I am looking for Ms. Right. Physically, you may be the simplest girl in the room, but there has to be that certain something about you that I find charming. It will be nice, of course, if you have positive attitude and an interesting personality. I hope that you can be understanding and supportive of the things I do and the things that are important to me. It will be great if you can make me laugh! There are no dull moments with someone that I know is funny. I want our relationship to be filled with excitement and surprises- I don’t want anything stagnant; I don’t want “just okay”. One of my weaknesses is the sweetness of a girl. If you can find a way to cheer me up after a long bad day, that would really make me feel good. I will also appreciate if you text me sweet stuff. I’d like to wake up to a good morning message from you, and go to bed at the end of the day after hearing you say goodnight. Another thing you should know: I believe that the best relationships always start from friendship. I want to be able to talk to you, be silly with you, and simply hang out with you. I want you to value the “friend” part of being my girlfriend. I also want us to share each other’s life, and I don’t want everything to be just about the two of us. I want our relationship to extend to other aspects of our lives, including our friends, family, and most of all GOD. A relationship will last only if we accept both the good and bad things about each other. Despite all the criteria I’ve mentioned above, I want to make it clear that I don’t want you to change a single thing about yourself just to please me. Losing your identity and turning into someone completely different is not necessary. Relax, I already like you, and I like you for who you truly are. I am looking forward to meeting you, and I know that one of these days, I will. I trust that we’ll find each other soon, and when that time comes, I know you’ll prove to me that you were definitely worth to wait.

Your Future Boyfriend,

AJ PEREZ

copied from: BLUEMOON'S MULTIMEDIA CENTER

Radioactivity rises in sea off Japan nuclear plant

 

AP – Japanese police officers carry a body during a search and recovery operation for missing victims in the …

By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press – Sat Apr 16,8:45 am ET  

TOKYO – Levels of radioactivity have risen sharply in seawater near a tsunami-crippled nuclear plant in northern Japan, signaling the possibility of new leaks at the facility, the government said Saturday.

The announcement came after a magnitude-5.9 earthquake jolted Japan on Saturday morning, hours after the country's nuclear safety agency ordered plant operators to beef up their quake preparedness systems to prevent a recurrence of the nuclear crisis.

There were no reports of damage from the earthquake, and there was no risk of a tsunami similar to the one that struck the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant March 11 after a magnitude-9.0 earthquake, causing Japan's worst-ever nuclear plant disaster.

Since the tsunami knocked out the plant's cooling systems, workers have been spraying massive amounts of water on the overheated reactors. Some of that water, contaminated with radiation, leaked into the Pacific. Plant officials said they plugged that leak on April 5 and radiation levels in the sea dropped.

But the government said Saturday that radioactivity in the seawater has risen again in recent days. The level of radioactive iodine-131 spiked to 6,500 times the legal limit, according to samples taken Friday, up from 1,100 times the limit in samples taken the day before. Levels of cesium-134 and cesium-137 rose nearly fourfold. The increased levels are still far below those recorded earlier this month before the initial leak was plugged.

The new rise in radioactivity could have been caused by the installation Friday of steel panels intended to contain radiation that may have temporarily stirred up stagnant waste in the area, Hidehiko Nishiyama of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency told reporters. However, the increase in iodine-131, which has a relatively short eight-day half life, could signal the possibility of a new leak, he said.

"We want to determine the origin and contain the leak, but I must admit that tracking it down is difficult," he said.

Authorities have insisted the radioactivity will dissipate and poses no immediate threat to sea creatures or people who might eat them. Most experts agree.

Regardless, plant workers on Saturday began dumping sandbags filled with zeolite, a mineral that absorbs radioactive cesium, into the sea to combat the radiation leaks.

Meanwhile, the newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported, without citing its sources, that a secret plan to dismantle Tokyo Electric Power Co., which runs the radiation-leaking Fukushima plant, was circulating within the government. The proposal calls for putting TEPCO, the world's largest private electricity company, under close government supervision before putting it into bankruptcy and thoroughly restructuring its assets. Most government offices were closed Saturday, and the report could not be immediately confirmed.

In the wake of the nuclear crisis, the government ordered 13 nuclear plant operators to check and improve outside power links to avoid earthquake-related outages that could cause safety systems to fail as they did at the Fukushima plant, Nishiyama told reporters late Friday. The operators, including TEPCO, are to report back by May 16.

Power outages during a strong aftershock on April 7 drove home the need to ensure that plants are able to continue to operate crucial cooling systems and other equipment despite earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters, Nishiyama said.

Utility companies were ordered to reinforce the quake resistance of power lines connected to each reactor or to rebuild them. They also must store all electrical equipment in watertight structures. Earlier, the nuclear agency ordered plant operators to store at least two emergency backup generators per reactor and to install fire pumps and power supply vehicles as further precautions.

The massive 46-foot (14-meter) wave that swamped Fukushima Dai-ichi last month knocked out emergency generators meant to power cooling systems. Since then, explosions, fires and other malfunctions have compounded efforts by TEPCO to repair the plant and stem radiation leaks.

TEPCO said Saturday it had moved power sources for some of the reactors at the stricken plant to higher ground by Friday evening in order to avoid another disastrous failure in the event of a tsunami.

Goshi Hosono, an adviser to the prime minister and member of the nuclear crisis management task force, said the damaged reactors were much more stable than they had been earlier in the crisis and TEPCO was preparing to unveil a plan for restoring cooling capacity to the ailing reactors "soon."

"Problems are still piled up and we are far from the end of crisis," he told a TV news program, citing radioactive water as one of the biggest headaches. "I expect there will be more mountains that we have to climb over."

The crisis at the Fukushima plant has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate the area, while radiation leaks have contaminated crops and left fishermen unable to sell their catches, adding to the suffering of communities already devastated by earthquake and tsunami damage.

Government officials fanned out across the affected areas to explain their decisions and calm nerves.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama apologized for the uncertainty and confusion to residents in Iitate village, parts of which the government recommended be evacuated because of the nuclear crisis.

"Everyone in the village must be extremely troubled, uncertain and worried," he said, promising to provide temporary housing and financial support for the residents, many of them farmers.

In the city of Inawashiro, Hiroshima University Professor Kenji Kamiya, who has been appointed a health risk adviser to Fukushima prefecture, met with about 250 education officials to explain that radiation levels in the area do not pose an immediate or significant threat to the public.

"I hope people understand that the levels we are seeing are fairly low. Even in the most impacted areas, we have screened more than 1,000 children for radiation abnormalities in their thyroids and have found none at all," he said.

Kamiya has been giving almost daily lectures in an effort to prevent people from overreacting to the possible danger.

"People fear things that they don't understand. We were even afraid before of the rain, because we just didn't know if it was safe," said Takaaki Kobayashi, a father of two grade school children. "I feel more comfortable now about sending kids to school. It helps to understand."

Fed Cup playoff: US trails Germany 2-0

 

AP – US Melanie Oudin hits a backhand losing to German Julia Goerges 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in a tennis Fed Cup World …

 

By NESHA STARCEVIC, AP Sports Writer Nesha Starcevic, Ap Sports Writer 

 

STUTTGART, Germany – The United States is on the verge of being relegated from the World Group for the first time after losing both singles matches to Germany in the Fed Cup playoffs on Saturday.
Andrea Petkovic defeated 18-year-old Christina McHale 6-3, 6-4 in the opening singles, and Julia Goerges edged 19-year-old Melanie Oudin 6-2, 7-6 (5) to lead Germany within a point of securing victory in the best-of-five tie.
The Americans, who have won the competition a record 17 times, have never been relegated. The United States was Fed Cup runner-up in the last two years, losing both times to Italy.
Venus Williams cheered on her teammates from the stands in the Porsche Arena. She is sidelined with a hip injury, but made the trip to Germany to be eligible for the 2012 London Games. Players are to make themselves available for the Fed Cup to play in the Olympics.
Serena Williams also is unavailable because of two foot operations and blood clots in her lungs.
The reverse singes and the doubles are Sunday.
McHale started strongly, staying with Petkovic at 3-3. In the second set, the 19th-ranked Petkovic led 4-0 before McHale rallied to within a game. But the German served out the match.
McHale said the seventh game of the first set was the turning point.
"It changed the momentum a little bit, there was a stretch when I was in the match but could not win a game. I was happy I was able to compete better in the second," she said.
Petkovic saved three break points and won seven straight games to take command.
"I've seen her play in the United States, she has beaten some top 10 players so I knew what to expect," Petkovic said. "She played really well until then, but she then lost her focus a little. That's inexperience, but she can play really well."
McHale just reached a career-high No. 82 in the WTA rankings.
Against Oudin, Goerges rolled through the first set but had a harder time finishing it off in the second.
Oudin nearly came within a point of set point. A shot by Goerges was called long and would have given the American a 6-5 lead in the tiebreaker. But the chair umpire inspected the mark on the indoor red clay and overruled the call.
Goerges, who had lost to Oudin recently in Miami, won the last two points to close out the match.

A Boy's Love

A good reminder: "Take time to appreciate what you have now." --Dont miss reading this one.

      On the last day before Christmas, I hurried to go to the supermarket to buy the remaining of the gift I didn't manage to buy earlier. When I saw all the people there, I started to complain tomyself,"It is going to take forever here and I still have so many other places to go. Christmas really is getting more and more annoying every year.How I wish I could just lie down, go to sleep and only wake up after it..."Nonetheless, I made my way to the toy section, and there I started to curse the prices, wondering if after all kids really play with such expensive toys.

      While looking in the toy section, I noticed a small boy of about 5 years old, pressing a doll against his chest. He kept on touching the hair of the doll and looked so sad. I wondered who was this doll for. Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him, "Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?"

The old lady replied, "You know that you don't have enough money to buy this doll, my dear."

Then she asked him to stay here for 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I started to walk toward him and I asked him who did he want to give this doll to. It is the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for this Christmas. She was so sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her." I replied to him that may be Santa Claus will bring it to her, after all, and not to worry. But he replied to me sadly. "No, Santa Clau she goes there." His eyes were so sad while saying this. "My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mummy will also go to see God very soon, so I thought that she could bring the doll with her to give it to my sister."s can not bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mother so that she can give it to her when

      My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said, "I told daddy to tell mummy not to go yet. I asked him to wait until I come back from the supermarket." Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me, "I also want mummy to take this photo with her so that she will not forget me." I love my mummy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister." Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.I quickly reached for my wallet and took a few notes and said to the boy, "What if we checked again, just in case if you have enough money?" "Ok," he said. "I hope that I have enough." I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it.

      There was enough for the doll, and even some spare money. The little boy said, "Thank you God for giving me enough money." Then he looked at me and added, "I asked yesterday before I slept for God to make sure I have enough money to buy this doll so that mummy can give it to my sister. He heard me." I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mummy, but I didn't dare to ask God too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and the white rose. "You know, my mummy loves white rose." A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I left with my trolley.

      I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local newspaper article 2 days ago, which mentioned of a drunk man in a truck who hit a car where there was one young lady and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-assisting machine, because the young lady would not be able to get out of the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

      Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young lady had passed away.I couldn't stop myself and went to buy a bunch of white roses and I went to the mortuary where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wish before burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place crying, feeling that my life had been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to that day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk man had taken all this away from him.

Living Life More Abundantly

Living Life More Abundantly

by Charles E. Bryce

 

To one degree or the other, most people on earth today live miserable, empty, meaningless lives. There are exciting moments here and there. There is relief now and then. But generally speaking, from birth to death, day in and day out, the majority of humanity lives tough, despondent and desperate lives. This is not what God had in mind when He created human beings.
Jesus Christ said, “The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He came that we might have abundant life now—and later on for all eternity.
You might have heard of the old saying “misery is optional,” and it really is. God did not create human beings to be miserable. Misery comes from wrong choices. Unhappiness is caused by wrong decisions.

Happiness does not depend on possessions

When you consider someone who has the abundant life, one of the words that ought to come to mind is happiness. If someone is living the abundant life, they are truly happy! Proverbs 29:18 is one of the most succinct and concise summations of the abundant life: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.” Sometimes we fail and slip up. Then we must repent and receive forgiveness from God and get back on track. But in every situation and in every circumstance, we must try to keep God’s law. If we do that, we are going to be happy and blessed and live the abundant life.
Does that mean we will not have problems? Struggles and difficulties are part of the learning experience and part of building holy, righteous, godly character. Trials and challenges are part of developing endurance and showing God what kind of core values we have. But overall, God intends our lives to be happy and full of joy. That comes about by keeping His law, the Ten Commandments. All ten of them! They are summed up in two great ones—love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul; and love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37–40).
When you bring up the subject of the abundant life, most people start thinking about who they are around, where they can travel and what possessions they have—the home, the car, the clothes, the job and the money in the bank. Some have a boat, a second house, a cabin in the mountains, a home on the beach. Others possess a ritzy apartment downtown, an expensive art collection, private club membership, and maybe even a private airplane. When people hear about the rich and the famous, they often look on with envy and say, “Oh, I just want to be like them someday because they really do have the abundant life.” But they really do not have the abundant life!
You can be surrounded by all those things and still be miserable. The only way a person is going to be happy, whether he has a lot or has nothing, is to base his life on God’s law, in the spirit and in the letter. Happiness and the abundant life will follow.
Abundant living is the way of life based on God’s law of love. It comes from within. Happiness does not depend on people, places or things: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses” (Luke 12:15). So do we go to the other extreme and say the more poverty we live in, the happier we will be? The situation we live in is not the determining factor. The deciding factor is if we are obeying God’s law. Does it start from within, from the heart?
Circumstances, people, places and things can add to our happiness—can be contributing factors. But they are not determining factors. The abundant life is not based on what you have or who you know. Some of the happiest people do not have much. On the other hand, there are those who have a lot and are happy and some who have little and are miserable. It all comes down to attitude and outlook—positive or negative: “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart has a continual feast. Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith” (Prov. 15:15–17).

Road map to peace

I have been to dinners in mansions where rich people are sitting around being waited on and the cutlery is the best, the china is the best and the food is the best. But there is no happiness around the table. I have been in other places where the silverware does not match, the plates are a bit cracked, the table is wobbly and the meal was peas, turnip greens, cornbread, iced tea, and homemade berry pie. But the fun, the laughter, and the joy were bountiful! Material possessions only enhance the happiness achieved by obeying God. It comes down to the way we think and what we do with what we are given.
Anyone who leads an abundant life is at peace. The whole world wants peace, but they want peace their way. How do they go about trying to achieve this peace? By political maneuvering, military development and producing lots of wealth—none of which ever brings peace! The only way anybody can ever have peace of mind and the only way the world will ever have peace is found in Psalms 119:165: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” When we obey God and follow Jesus Christ, we think about the Ten Commandments more. We try to keep them with God’s help, and the result is happiness, peace and joy, in our lives and in the lives of anyone else that has that understanding and approach—even whole nations. God gives us our needs and more. We receive unexpected benefits: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psa. 84:11). Anything, spiritual or physical, that would be good for us, God will provide in His time if we walk uprightly and keep on trying to grow and overcome. Sometimes He waits awhile so we can develop more patience, because that is also a part of the abundant life.
Abundant living is built on God’s law, kept through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. This produces the fruits of the spirit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Gal. 5:22–23). Look at Micah 6:8: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” All of these qualities are based on God’s commandments.
So what does God require of us in order to be happy? What does He require of us in order to live in peace? What does He require of us in order to enjoy blessings from Him and the abundant life He wants to give to all of us and to all of mankind?
Here is what He requires—do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. That is the way of life rooted in His perfect law. That is truly living life more abundantly!