How Much is Too Much?

Just next week, one of the most anticipated boxing matches of all time will occur between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. This fight has been in the making for several years now as boxing fans have eagerly hoped to see two of the greatest boxers of our generation face off in the boxing ring. 

I was completed startled to hear just how much the tickets for this event are selling for. After seeing one report on my twitter feed about the absurdly high prices, I went onto Stubhub, a ticket selling site to see just how much they were actually selling for. Currently, each ticket is selling for $5,445.75. I am not entirely sure how many tickets have already sold, but there are 257 remaining tickets for sale. After doing some quick math, this amounts to approximately 1.4 MILLION dollars that will be spent on tickets within the next week just to watch two grown men punch each other.

Let's just let that sink in again.

1.4 MILLION DOLLARS. $1,400,000.00

This does not include any of the many tickets that have already been purchased. 

With that money...

-Over 100 children could be adopted

-Sponsor 560 LBC students on Journey Teams

-Purchase nearly 16,000 people out of slavery

People are willing to pay SOOO much money to watch people fight, yet are not willing to give to greater causes. It hurts me to see signs of worldliness like this. Bridges says on page 166, worldliness is "being attached to, engrossed in, or preoccupied with the things of this temporal life."

Viewing a boxing match is not wrong in and of itself, but I am convicted of how much money is spent on this while people go hungry and there is worldwide need for help. Something needs to change. Let's be that change.

http://www.stubhub.com/floyd-mayweather-vs-manny-pacquioa-tickets/?creative=59353781963&keyword=121671325_c&gcid=C12289X486

Angry America

In my life, I can never remember a time in which racial tension was as visible as it is now. I do not doubt for a moment that this tension has always been there, but I have always been completely naive to it. But there is so much anger and strife that is underlying in our culture.

The last year or so, I have been appalled to see the emerging prevalence of reported news stories that tell of white police officers who have killed black civilians. Many of these killings involve the cop using excessive force, leading to unnecessary deaths. For most of my life, I would have likely overlooked these occurrences, but as I have grown in my friendships with black friends, I am increasingly frustrated by these events. One such event was the killing of Eric Harris in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

On page 132 of his book Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges says that "Strife describes open conflict or turmoil between parties, usually between opposing groups as distinct from individuals." There is so much strife in our country. As much as America claims to be a country of equality, reality does not reflect that. I long for the day when blacks and whites alike will be outraged over such atrocities. Something needs to change, and the hearts of people need to be changed.