2012 November

How to Get the Most Out of Christmas

November 29, 2012 by Brian 2 Comments

I know stores already have decorations on display, but for me, Saturday, December 1^st will officially begin the start of the 2012 Christmas season. In the next 25 days, we will attempt to cram more into each 24-hour day than is usually desirable. For me, the annual cramming revolves around two specific lists - my December “To Do List” and my December “Present Wish List.”

The “To Do List” for December is very important for me because as a teacher I receive a two-week vacation as school is out of session for Christmas break. (Not really a vacation because I take care of our four kids.) This gives me a greatly needed window of time to catch up on tasks at home. “Yes dear, I am putting that storm door up soon.”

The “Present Wish List” is all about what I would like to receive on Christmas day during our annual gift exchange.

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Filed Under: Current Events, Giving Tagged With: Christmas, Giving

The Best Food Budget Ever

November 27, 2012 by Brian Leave a Comment

What would it be like if you could go 40 days without food? If you could, that would seriously put you ahead on your monthly food budget. In my family of six, I estimate approximately six weeks of no grocery shopping or going to restaurants would put us to the positive about $1,800. (I know…we don’t coupon much.)

I think there would be a revolt in my house if I tried suggesting this and rightly so. None of us could naturally go this long without eating…unless maybe we had a supernatural meal to sustain us.

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Filed Under: God's Provision Tagged With: Budgets, God's Provision

5 Articles Worth Your Time

November 24, 2012 by Brian Leave a Comment

Here are five articles I read this week that you might find interesting.

I Believe and Am Thankful. (This article is from Erick Erickson, editor of RedState.com. He discusses 1) Marco Rubio’s response/dodge to an evolution question from GQ magazine and 2) highlights some problems Christians conservatives need to overcome with the media and in politics.)

The Hard Lessons of Building Wealth. (This article outlines five challenges we face and usually overlook when starting new things.)

Communication Gap (Health and money may be the toughest topics for families to discuss. Gives some tips on how to break the ice.)

Don’t Choke! 10 Interview Questions (with Answers) That Will Help You Land Your Dream Job.

7 Habits of Wealthy People.

Filed Under: Weekly Recaps

God’s Doing This For You Today (Psalm 23)

November 22, 2012 by Brian Leave a Comment

Perhaps no passage of Scripture is more familiar than Psalm 23. Here, I’ll get you started - “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…”

What follows below is not my attempt to improve on God’s written Word. I think He did a pretty good job without my help. Rather, it’s just what went through my mind as I read this passage again recently. Perhaps today, we can stop and consider all that God has and is currently doing for us.

My reflections on Psalm 23:

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Filed Under: God's Provision Tagged With: God's Provision

Snickers Isn’t the Only Thing That Satisfies

November 20, 2012 by Brian Leave a Comment

Around 3:00 pm this Thursday afternoon, I expect to be settling down into the leather reclining love seat in my living room for my annual post Thanksgiving Day meal ritual. Kids will be running around the house, there will be the noise of dishes getting cleaned in the kitchen and the CBS football analysts will probably be dissecting a helmet-to-helmet personal foul call.

Yes, there will be a lot of noise, but it won’t matter. I’ll have a really satisfied feeling. My body will need to allocate more energy towards food digestion which means less blood flowing to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system. With blood flow to the CNS decreased, I can foresee only one possible outcome…nap time.

We love food that satisfies. In fact, Mars, Incorporated in the 1980s developed an entire add campaign for one of their candy bars around this theme. C’mon…you know the tune. Sing it with me. “Snickers satisfies you!”

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Filed Under: God's Provision, Relationships Tagged With: God's Provision, Relationships

Why the Rich (And Maybe All Of Us) Can’t Sleep

November 16, 2012 by Brian Leave a Comment

So, you have finally accomplished your financial dreams. Through sheer hard work, determination and sacrifice you are now able to live more comfortably than you ever thought possible. You have enough money stored up so that you can purchase anything your heart desires. Your problems are over, or so you thought. Because now there is a new problem to face, one that keeps you up for all hours of the night.

You can’t sleep.

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Filed Under: Planning Tagged With: Fear, Rest, Riches

Have a Dream? You’ll Have to Change This

November 13, 2012 by Brian Leave a Comment

Daily schedules can be an exhausting grind. We wake up, hit the morning home routine and life doesn’t stop all day…kids to school…rush hour traffic…(some of you are worn out already)…hectic, mentally draining work-day…kid pickup from school…rush hour II…quick dinner…county rec-league sports practice…evening projects…10 minutes (maybe) talking to your spouse…your favorite late night show…repeat again tomorrow.

But wait, I missed a step in the daily schedule…a step that is crucial to us being able to “repeat again tomorrow.” Our bodies can’t do without it and, if truth be told, it is something we all look forward to everyday.

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Filed Under: Work Tagged With: Dreams, Rest, Work

A Simple Answer to Election Results (and Other Life Decisions)

November 8, 2012 by Brian 2 Comments

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama won a second term in the White House by defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney. President Obama prevailed despite a laundry list of national challenges that were present in his first four years in office. Here is a short recap:

- Rising unemployment

- Expansion of national debt

- Higher gas prices

- Lower household incomes

- Controversial health care reform

- Government takeover/bailout of an auto company

- Soon to be higher tax rates

- Tense foreign relations (especially with Israel)

Logic dictates these challenges would not bode well for a sitting President. How did he overcome these seemingly devastating national issues? How was he able to convince 60 million Americans he was still the man for the job? The answer lies in a simple word: pain.

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Filed Under: Current Events Tagged With: Change, Fear, Pain

Forget Me Not

November 6, 2012 by Brian Leave a Comment

“For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” - Psalm 9:18

It has been a horrific week in the northeast. In case you missed it, Hurricane Sandy ripped through New Jersey and New York, devastating the region. Many lives have not returned to normal as they are still lacking some basic necessities of life like food and shelter. Other lives will never return to normal as they have lost loved ones to this epic storm.

With power still not restored in some places and gas in short supply, the coming days will still present a high degree of challenge for those who are assisting in the relief efforts. But this week might prove to be even tougher for the affected residents of the east coast for an entirely different set of reasons.

America is moving on to a different news cycle.

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Filed Under: Giving, Relationships Tagged With: Giving, Poor, Responsibilities

Of Marathons and Money: Recovery Week Edition

November 2, 2012 by Brian 2 Comments

Recovery. It begins the moment you cross the finish line. First step, take the shiny, thermal blanket to stay warm. Then, keep walking…drink…eat…stretch. Once you are home, it’s hot tub soak…eat and drink some more…and Tylenol PM so you can sleep. The next few days means no running, maybe a massage, and lots of stretching to relieve muscles soreness. All in all, the physical recovery from completing a marathon takes about a week for most people.