DinnerDialogue.com is a free service of Family Matters. Its purpose is to bring deeper and more open discussions to your family. Every weekday brings new news that opens up topics for discussion on moral, ethical and spiritual issues.

TODAY'S DIALOGUE - October 10, 2002
This page is updated weekdays by 2 pm PT.

Apparently, money can buy happiness. - FOX News
Andrew Oswald from Warwick University in England determines the values based on research that suggests that the richer you are, the happier you tend to claim to be. Using large, random samples of people in 25 Western countries, Oswald determined how much happier they said they were compared to how wealthy they were. By working out the ratios of happiness changes to income changes, he calculated dollar values for them.

• What makes you happy? Be honest now - do you think that you would be happier if you had/made more money than you do now? If so, how much more and why? If NOT, what if you had/made LESS money? Would you not be as happy? Explain.
  
  
• Lets say your family has been planning a week long family vacation for an entire year to an awesome, fun getaway spot (you pick it)! A couple of weeks before you are to leave, you are offered $10,000 to do something you enjoy but it is during the week of your scheduled family vacation. What would you do -- earn the money or go on the trip? Explain.
  
  
• What do you think you deserve in life right now? Why?
  
  
• Who is the biggest tightwad in the family? What is good about being tight with your money? What is bad about it?
  
  
• What does the Bible say is the way to have an abundant life (John 10:10)? What other scripture comes to mind with this subject? 1 Timothy 6:10; Ecclesiastes 3:12; 7:14; Proverbs 29:9; Psalm 34:8; Matthew 5:3-12.
  

Also check out the books Little House by the Freeway by Dr. Tim Kimmel and Master Your Money by Ron Blue (proceeds go toward DinnerDialogue and Family Matters).

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SIDE ORDERS - other news from today

Miss America told to zip it on chastity talk - WASHINGTON TIMES
Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, yesterday said pageant officials have ordered her not to talk publicly about sexual abstinence, a cause she has advocated to teenage girls in Illinois.

Survey: Abortions are less common - USA Today
The U.S. abortion rate dropped significantly during the second half of the 1990s, particularly among teenagers, and experts attribute the decline to better awareness of contraception and a fear of disease that has cut down on sexual activity.

UN Criticizes Britain for Child Smacking - CNS News
At the core of the debate is statute dating from 1860 that provides a defense against assault laws. Parents cannot be found guilty of assault if their actions are a "reasonable chastisement" of their children.

HOLLYWOOD STARS DEFEND PRO-LIFE VIEWS ON TV TALK SHOWS - LifeSite
Former supermodel Kathy Ireland and Emmy-award winning actress Patricia Heaton of “Everybody Loves Raymond” appeared on talk shows Monday and Tuesday where both were pressed on their pro-life beliefs.

Filmmakers Hope Kids Like Their Veggies - Fox News
The best-selling direct-to-video series of the last two years features a group of digitally animated vegetables that recreate biblical stories. And on Friday, the oh-so-nutritious bounty is leaping to the big screen with Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie.

LEFTOVERS - previous dialogues

Wednesday - October 9, 2002

Florida man changes name to 'I am who I am'

Monday - October 7, 2002

KUPD deejay suspended over Kile prank

Friday - October 4, 2002

Indiana teen saved after online suicide bid

Thursday - October 3, 2002

Trophy Husbands

Wednesday - September 11, 2002

Church Attendance Back to Normal

Click here for more Leftovers