500 Days Of Walking

Tonight marks the 500th consecutive journal entry for The Daily Christian Walk! It's time to kick back, and celebrate the achievement of realizing a worthy goal- something I've admitted to having trouble with in the past. Perhaps, some of these memories of failure can finally be replaced with success- we've made it! I'm so thankful for this process; it's been tremendously rewarding sharing many of life's experiences with you over the past year and a half. I pray that reading each evening's entry was a worthwhile investment of your time, as well. A lot can change in 500 days...

This week, we will begin the next phase of the online journal. I envision more of a free-form entry schedule for the foreseeable future. This new approach will allow for me to set some new goals to accomplish in the scope of my evenings, and relieves some of the pressure to post something each night, even when I'm completely spent. I believe that by yielding to the Holy Spirit, and posting only when prompted to do so, that resultant blog entries will be more meaningful, and of higher quality in the days, weeks and months ahead.

God Bless You,

Good Night

We Must Train Our Children

We've been virtually walking through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University together over the past couple of months. While I've shared some of the experiences and insights derived from attending the classes, one of the great treasures that accompanies the program is the book Financial Peace Revisited.

In Chapter Seventeen: Family, Friends and Money, Dave unknowingly sucker-punched me in the gut. He explained how he and his wife raised their children to adopt a strong work ethic, and how to properly manage their money. By the time they were teenagers, they were able to seek out and earn commissions on various jobs, run a household budget and make adult-like financial decisions.

And then, I thought about the things I have (and haven't) taught my own children. Our kids are "normal", having grown up in a lower middle-class neighborhood. While they do not receive everything they want, they aren't in need. Often, they have things given to them (such as portable electronics) on holidays, instead of working towards reaching a particular goal themselves. On all accounts they're on par with the average American- which is sad. What have I done to teach my children about money? What about hard work?

If I take an honest look at my children, it's obvious we've done them a great disservice. Currently, none of them will work unless poked, prodded or nagged to do so. And, I'm certain that the word "budget" isn't a part of their young vocabulary. While they vary in age, they're what Dave would call "financial four year olds". If left unchanged, I worry about what kind of adults they'll become. They're great kids, mind you. But are they prepared for the real world? No.

It's definitely time to change all of that. In the days to come, I hope to teach basic budgeting skills, and the power found in working hard and saving money. Most importantly, we'll keep taking steps to model Godly, responsible adult lives for them to mirror.

Proverbs 22:6 (The Message)

Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost.

Good night

Winning Through Simplification

The other day, while I was synchronizing Daily Audio Bible podcasts between my computer and phone, I noticed that the transfer rates were extremely slow. I waited for a couple of minutes, but because I was running late for work, I ended up having to choose which of the audio programs was most important to me, and stop the remaining streams which were parasitically utilizing bandwidth. There simply wasn't enough time, or resources to waste while waiting for everything I wanted to download.







As a result of focusing on the important download, all of the time and compute resources were focused on the accomplishment of the goal. Had I not simplified my experience, I would have likely been late for work, without any of the desired audio programs on tap.







The more I thought about it, I noted some interesting parallels between this simple transaction and life. As we live our lives, we can often choose to attach ourselves to several things, important or not. Often times, we spend so much time focused on things that aren't important, that we can become "bogged" down. If we've never developed discipline, or adjust our habits, we can spend years in this condition. It's important to remember that we only have so much available bandwidth (time) and resources- they're finite. I think it's best to simplify, and focus on our priorities. Priorities in our relationships. Priorities in our finances. Priorities in our spirituality.

Good Night

Happy Mothers Day

I'd like to take a minute to wish all of the mothers in my life a very Happy Mother's Day. God bless you.

Good Night

Tired Saturday

Today was hectic. We were up at 6:00 AM, and driving to Walker Middle School by 7:20. After helping with light duty volunteering (guest check-in), it was off to our youngest son's final bowling league game of the season. Afterward, we made a B-line to the gas station to fill up the tank and then headed home for a quick sub-sandwich buffet lunch. After cleaning up from the meal, we hosted a family "laundry party" where everyone was recruited to fold the various clothes and blankets and put them away.

After catching our breath from the busy morning, everyone piled back into the car for a trip across town to a graduation reception for a dear family friend. We were only able to stay a bit shy of an hour, because I was on tap to run slides for the church services this evening. (By the way, the church service was good, however I completely botched a series of slides). Once rehearsal and services concluded, it was home for a quick bite to eat with my wife, before preparing for sleep.

I'm going to bed now. Thank God!

Good Night

Slow And Steady Wins The Race (FPU - Part 8)

Last night's Financial Peace University training was wonderful. We were able to break down (through use of clever analogies and demonstrations) and digest what a 'mutual fund' really is. We talked about what it means to diversify, what stocks, bonds and annuities are, and when to utilize (or avoid) each. These were things that even a 'smart guy' like me historically had trouble grasping at times. The financial vernacular is totally different than what I'm accustomed to using, so I can think of situations in my past where I would simply be quiet, nod and sign myself up for things I never truly understood. However, Dave Ramsey made it fun and easy to understand. Knowledge is power!

Oh, how I wish I'd been taught about how money really works when I was young! God bless my parents. They did the best they could to equip me for the real financial world. However, they were only able to give me the best (and worst) knowledge they possessed at the time. Sadly, we've had to learn a lot on our own- and suffered some pretty hard knocks before enrolling in the FPU classes. If there were an inappropriate way to approach finance, my wife and I have done it. We've paid our fair share of 'stupid tax'.

Towards the end of the video lesson, Dave spoke of his encounter with an elderly billionaire over lunch. It would seem that Mr. Ramsey had gleaned all he could from other millionaires (he'd become one himself), and was looking forward to the next level of financial success. The man indicated two simple things that were tenets to becoming wealthy. First was to continue to practice generosity; giving of one's time, talents and resources. Secondly, was to read "The Tortoise and the Hare", and take it to heart. It would seem that there is no genuine method to getting rich quickly (contrary to some late-night infomercials). However, investing slowly and consistently over time, and in the correct ways, will generate wealth.

This idea got me thinking. Don't these principles spill over into other areas of our lives as well? Take a minute and play a little game with me, won't you? I'm going to ask that you be honest and speak the following phrases out loud. Don't worry if your spouse, your kids, or the family dog stares at you. Answer each question with either 'slowly', or 'quickly'. Remember to say them out loud, and pause in between questions to allow ample time for the answers to penetrate your noggin.

1. True wealth is built ___

2. The most meaningful of relationships are grown ___

3. Our bodies become fit ___ through regular exercise

4. An education, or well established career is established ___

5. A person's reputation is built ___

6. Lasting personal change generally occurs very ___

Slow and steady wins the race. We've got to work for it. If you're struggling in any of these areas (as we are), it's never too late to start rebuilding. All you need is a plan, a good old-fashioned helping of honesty, and the determination to make a permanent change for the better.

Good Night

Tactari II Is Coming

What do you get when you cross this



with this?



Tactari, baby!

That's right. In the next couple of weeks, several of our friends and family will gather together at our house for an evening of laughter, a bounty of delicious all-you-can-eat taco goodness, and gaming on the big screen.

Friends: consider yourself warned. The second semi-annual Tactari is on.

Good Night

Faithful In Little Things

As I've shared several times before, my wife and I are really enjoying the life lessons that are being unearthed in each of the Financial Peace University classes we attend each week. Dave Ramsey imparts so much wisdom that [one would think would be commonplace, but] largely flies in the face of conventional thinking- and much of the good advice conflicts with the standard American way of life we were taught (or observed from our parents) as children.

Budgeting, saving, intensely attacking debt, developing an 'emergency fund', giving and investing instead of relying on plastic, are the real keys to financial peace. This paradigm shift in knowledge is affecting the way we look at money- and what we're willing to pay for the goods and services used by our family.

We haven't even gotten to large purchases yet. We aren't masters of any technique, nor are we fully on track. We simply aren't willing to pay $4 for a bag of potato chips at the local grocery store any longer! Rather than mindlessly opting for convenience as we've done many times in the past, we now buy larger, more affordable brands of chips in bulk from an outlet store while we're picking up other grocery items. The snack is perfectly acceptable, costs much less, and is often much larger in quantity than the convenient (yet highly priced) local alternatives. Perfect for a family with children who like to eat!

Evey little bit counts, and our monthly grocery expenses are happily showing signs of falling from the stratosphere. We're learning to be disciplined in the little things, with the hope that one day, we'll be consistently faithful in the big things.

Matthew 25:21 (Amplified Bible)

21His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.

Mother Teresa
Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

Good Night

Opening Prayer

I was blessed with the honor of seeing our very own pastor of West Salem Foursquare lead the opening prayer to the Legislative Session in the House of Representatives this morning in the Capitol building.

This is one tradition I'm grateful hasn't fallen by the wayside, in the subject of 'Separation of Church and State'. We're very blessed to be able to publicly worship the Lord in this great country.

Good Night

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Never Forget.

Good Night

Little Victories

Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Our little bathroom adjacent the laundry room has been rejuvenated; there is bright yellow paint on the walls (it's called 'Aruba' and it's far prettier than what you see in the picture). New Italia-stone 'Bianco' tiles were laid on the floor, and a completely rebuilt toilet was successfully installed and tested.



Although the picture shows the project at 90% complete (and not yet cleaned), I'm ready to celebrate. The remaining odds-and-ends will be picked off in the evenings to come; trim and baseboard will be pained and installed. Artwork will be hung up, and a little bit of silicone will be applied to various places.

It's a small victory, but one that I'm proud of. I'm thankful for all of the learning opportunities and guidance that helped to get the job done.

Good Night