tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629544195298405862024-03-13T23:32:24.275-04:00KindlingsKindle [kin-dl]: fire, light. Kindle, ignite, inflame imply setting something on fire. To kindle is esp. to cause something gradually to begin burning; it is often used figuratively: to kindle someone's interest.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-88741894489146071622011-02-03T14:18:00.000-05:002011-02-03T14:18:09.964-05:00When Will Winter End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pdnphotooftheday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2011_02_02_Groundhog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.pdnphotooftheday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2011_02_02_Groundhog.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(from PDN's <a href="http://www.pdnphotooftheday.com/2011/02/8125">Photo of The Day</a>, Feb 2, 2011)</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-32654668816180448092011-01-18T14:17:00.006-05:002011-01-18T14:22:29.055-05:00I'm Busy...<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://asbojesus.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/doorstep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://asbojesus.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/doorstep.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hat Tip ---> <a href="http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i>ABSO Jesus</i></span></a></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-92147274839036306772011-01-13T08:29:00.000-05:002011-01-13T08:29:31.173-05:00Gulp...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">XXXIX</span></span></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-53783639997232690162011-01-11T15:21:00.001-05:002011-01-11T15:21:25.492-05:00My Prayer<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just had a meeting with a sweet saint from <a href="http://www.stmarysumc.com/">FUMC</a>. She told me about a prayer that she prayed, and now I am praying it too. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Lord, I want to know You, and You alone. If I have believed any lies about You Lord - be it from tradition, from school, from teachers, from parents, from friends, from colleagues - show them to me and set me free. I only want to know the way, the truth, and the life. I want to know Jesus. </i></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-69207489560067616202011-01-06T14:38:00.000-05:002011-01-06T14:38:25.070-05:00Ponder this...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If our theologies make us focus only on the eternal (i.e., getting my soul into heaven) so that we avoid God's concern for the historic and global (i.e., God's will being done on earth as well as in heaven), then the more people we win over to our theologies, the fewer people will care about God's world here and now. The more converts we make, the worse the world will become.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ~ Brian McLaren, Adventures in Missing the Point, pg 57</span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-15669287390395901502010-12-24T11:58:00.000-05:002010-12-24T11:58:53.975-05:00This is for you."... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">for your sakes he became poor." - 2nd Corinthians 8:9</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">When Jesus stepped down out of heaven, He did this for us. Sounds good right? That God wrapped Himself in human flesh and became one of us. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Heres the thing. Its too easy to get caught up in this "us" language. Its very easy for me to say that God did this for us, but when I say that God did this for me... it gives me pause. It catches my breath. God did this for Chris? "For Chris' sake, Jesus became poor"? For God so loved Chris? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<a href="http://irational.org/heath/fly_poster_graffiti_it_costs_more_to_be_poor/fly_poster_graffiti_it_costs_more_to_be_poor_bristol00.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://irational.org/heath/fly_poster_graffiti_it_costs_more_to_be_poor/fly_poster_graffiti_it_costs_more_to_be_poor_bristol00.gif" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I don't feel worthy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I still don't feel worthy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">And yet this is God's Word to me. This is the meaning of Christmas to me. That God did this for Chris. Jesus is my Emmanuel. He is my Savior. He is my Lord. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">If you happen to be reading this, you need to know that Jesus willingly became poor for you as well. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Christmas is for us. But please also know that Christmas is for you. </span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-16067352220106625382010-12-15T14:04:00.000-05:002010-12-15T14:04:43.652-05:00Which is it for you?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://files.jhuskisson.com/blog/twitter_bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://files.jhuskisson.com/blog/twitter_bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px;">The "good news" is bad news to those who prefer a Far Away, Long Ago, Cloud Nine God to a down-to-earth, flesh & blood, face-to-face God.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px;"> ~ <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/lensweet">Len Sweet, via twitter</a></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-41910390204883737802010-12-14T09:22:00.000-05:002010-12-14T09:22:25.355-05:00Stay Sharp!<div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.furnessenterprise.co.uk/images/Return%20to%20work%20logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="http://www.furnessenterprise.co.uk/images/Return%20to%20work%20logo.jpg" width="320" /></a>"And then—then!—they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!"</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man." </div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> ~ Luke 21:25-36 MSG</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">How can anyone pity anyone who is doing the will of our Lord? Is there anything sweeter on earth than to do the will of Him who loves? And if it gives one some trouble to carry it out, the sweetness is all the greater.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> ~ from <i>Meditations of a Hermit</i>, by Charles de Foucauld</div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-59345421040304170932010-12-13T16:09:00.000-05:002010-12-13T16:09:06.579-05:00This Christmas...<div class="tweet-row" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="tweet-text tweet-text-large" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; word-wrap: break-word;">This Christmas, don't wear your heart on your sleeve. Wear your heart on your hands.</div><div class="tweet-text tweet-text-large" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; word-wrap: break-word;"> ~ Len Sweet, via twitter</div></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-28172295874031162892010-12-10T09:14:00.000-05:002010-12-10T09:14:57.585-05:00Wedding this Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.excellent-wedding.cn/wp-content/uploads/wedding-rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.excellent-wedding.cn/wp-content/uploads/wedding-rings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-34273336391983139582010-12-09T12:14:00.000-05:002010-12-09T12:14:00.798-05:00Going Back To School, gulp.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.3dlearner.com/Portals/40107/images//GoingToSchool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.3dlearner.com/Portals/40107/images//GoingToSchool.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I recently decided to go back to school to pursue a Doctor of Ministry degree at </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://seminary.ashland.edu/index.php">Ashland Theological Seminary</a>, focusing on the area of s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">piritual formation. I will be taking my first class early next year and am getting started on my reading. The following is the required reading for my first class,</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Leading the Church in the 21st Century.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Richard Bauckham, </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Grand </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Rapids: Baker, 2004. </span></span></div></i></i></li>
</ul><i></i><ul><li><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Amy Hanson, </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Baby Boomers and Beyond: Tapping the Ministry Talents and Passions of </span></span></u></i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span></u></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Adults over 50</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Somerset: Jossey-Bass, 2010. </span></span></div></i></i></li>
</ul><i></i><ul><li><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brian McClaren and Tony Campolo, </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Adventures in Missing the Point: How the Culture-</span></span></u></i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span></u></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006. </span></span></div></i></i></li>
</ul><i></i><ul><li><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">James K. A. Smith, </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism?: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault </span></span></u></i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span></u></div><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">to Church</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006. </span></span></div></i></i></li>
</ul><i></i><ul><li><i><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">N.T. Wright, </span></span><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">London: SPCK, 2006. </span></span></div></i></li>
</ul><br />
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</div></i></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-62710228551118194812010-12-09T11:54:00.000-05:002010-12-09T11:54:09.085-05:00Me and Luke Wilson are both getting fat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vMY_MwDfXMs/TQEJPhCEcjI/AAAAAAAAAcU/7XBIOj5okPk/s1600/obstacles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vMY_MwDfXMs/TQEJPhCEcjI/AAAAAAAAAcU/7XBIOj5okPk/s640/obstacles.jpg" width="553" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lunchbreath/">via lunchbreath</a></i></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-55926935451723510152010-12-08T14:13:00.007-05:002010-12-08T14:25:32.177-05:00GraduationOn this past Monday night (December 6th), a group of 12 couples and individuals watched the 13th and final lesson from<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/home/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Dave Ramsey</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">'s</span> <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Financial Peace University</span></a>. What a wonderful class it has been! We have spent over 13 hours with an incredible financial advisor who has a heart for God. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_222608333"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">And although </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/preview/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">I can honestly say that there was a lesson that I didn't enjoy</span></a>, here were my favorite classes:</span><br />
<div><ul><li>Lesson 3 - <b>Cash Flow Planning</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Unlocking the secret of developing a monthly spending plan that really works.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lesson 4 - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dumping Debt. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">D</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ebunking some common debt myths! Dave reveals the truth about credit lies and gives a plan to walk out of debt with confidence.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lesson 5 - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Credit Sharks In Suits. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What is a credit score, anyway? Dave unpacks your credit rating and shows how to handle collectors when they call.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lesson 7 - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Clause and Effect. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dave walks through the world of insurance, carefully explaining what we need—and what we need to avoid.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lesson 13 - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Great Misunderstanding. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This lesson challenged the way most people think about money. Dave showed how generous giving can completely revolutionize attitudes and improve finances, business and relationships.</span></span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The facilitators of the class, Joe and Bonnie, did an excellent job during our discussion time, and Bonnie always had the greatest "reminder goodies" (for example, a dum-dum lollypop to remind us not to spend like dumb-dumbs, smarties to remind us to use our money like a smartie. My favorite was the 100 grand candy bar during the saving lesson, so good and a good reminder to save now!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vMY_MwDfXMs/TP-7L_R7ZkI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/wr_PeF4oqG0/s1600/IMG00044-20101206-1849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vMY_MwDfXMs/TP-7L_R7ZkI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/wr_PeF4oqG0/s320/IMG00044-20101206-1849.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">For the last class, Bonnie and Joe had a cake made up for us as we celebrated our 13 weeks together. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">As a class we kept track of a couple of numbers. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">1. Debt Paid over the last 13 weeks of class.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">2. Amount Saved </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">over the last 13 weeks of class.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">3. Debt Avoided (from credit card offers, etc.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">over the last 13 weeks of class.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">AND HERE ARE OUR CLASSES NUMBERS (minus a few who were absent)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Debt Paid</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> over the last 13 weeks of class... </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">$39,363!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Amount Saved</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">over the last 13 weeks of class... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">$24,555!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Debt Avoided</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">over the last 13 weeks of class... </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">$277,437!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
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</span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Wow... I am so thankful to have taken the class, and I will miss gathering with my brothers and sisters on Monday nights. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">If you have never taken Financial Peace University, I'd like to personally recommend it to you. We have another class starting on January 22nd from 9am-11am. Normally, FPU costs $100, but the church is covering the first $50, so your cost is only $50. <b><u>Please consider this class, it will change your family's financial future.</u></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-42961005473552707162010-12-08T10:47:00.000-05:002010-12-08T10:47:01.582-05:00The Bible is God's attempt to "friend" us<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Facebook: The Original Version</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">by Greg Asimakoupoulos</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">It's a book of faces (leatherbound) in which I've looked and where I've found profiles in courage, downcast eyes and blemished skin like mine. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Adam's wrinkled face is old and Moses' face is fierce and bold, while David's ruddy countenance suggests a poet's soul. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">In Esther I see bravery. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">In Ruth I see true loyalty. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">But in poor Job's revealing brow I see the scars of pain. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The Virgin Mary has a glow while Judas' head is hanging low. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The way each person faces up to truth is clearly seen. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">In Peter, Paul and Timothy each face reveals the likes of me... afraid and flawed yet claiming faith reflected in their eyes. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">But most of all there is a face in whom I see amazing grace. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">His smile pictures haunting love that seeks until it finds.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">This Facebook finds God friending me just as I am without one plea. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">It's bound to be the means by which I recognize His face.</div><!--EndFragment--> </span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1762954419529840586.post-76300673777892640162010-12-06T14:34:00.001-05:002010-12-06T14:36:07.185-05:00Prepare to be Assimilated<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jan, Sophia and I made gingerbread cookies over the weekend. I enjoyed the process, but my geek-side slipped out a bit. For more on making cookies, check out </span><a href="http://picksfromtheparsonage.blogspot.com/2010/12/gingerbread-people.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jan's blog here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vMY_MwDfXMs/TP05SkWL_TI/AAAAAAAAAcM/Ql2PI1BxaxE/s1600/IMG00040-20101204-1304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vMY_MwDfXMs/TP05SkWL_TI/AAAAAAAAAcM/Ql2PI1BxaxE/s320/IMG00040-20101204-1304.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977799699814671231noreply@blogger.com0