Quote of the day

"Cognitive dissonance is where true learning occurs. Hearing two vastly different view points causes you to truly examine what you believe and why." 
(from a commenter on a blog)


Love, love, LOVE this! Some of you might be going, "well duh", but I cannot begin to tell you how much that struck a chord with me. 

A penny saved; A penny earned

After walking in the front door, I put my purse on the entry table, took off my coat, and sat in front of the computer and BUZZ, there was an IM from my husband.

"Haha! BBT just sent me the balance update,

I know where you are! You just hit the bank!"

I smiled as I typed him a reply back. Since we signed up for email alerts for all our transactions, he knew I was following through my promise to deposit the extra change we had to our checking. This was in light of our new financial goals to pay off our debt and make needed house repairs. We downloaded a (free) ebook on finances that we're currently reading together, one chapter at a time since there is SO much to glean from.

It drew us in and inspired us to re-evaluate our finances. From that inspiration we made the following goals; perhaps it might inspire you as well:

• Transfer $50 to savings account every payday and budget with the remainder $

• Transfer any extra cash from primary income to credit card the day before payday

• Wife gets a PT job to help fund house repairs (currently going through interviews atm)

• After house repairs are completed, secondary income goes towards debt

• All upcoming bills are to be paid on payday and not the due date; this prevents overspending

• Search for a better deal on internet service

If all goes to plan, our credit card will be paid off by June, our personal loan by 2013 and my student loan by 2014. Even with just one income at the time, it is still very doable. The trick is to keep staying as motivated and on task as we are now.

And the book we're reading? It's no longer free, but still worth getting. Find The Simple Dollar here: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Dollar-Achieved-Dreams-ebook/dp/B003HOXLHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1302031267&sr=1-1.

We still have a ways to go, but as one of my teachers once said "Luck favors the prepared man".

Food for a thought

Got some snow last night--it is so pretty. I have to admit I'm already looking forward to summer though, but it'll get here soon enough.

Lately, I'm realizing how much I enjoy pondering theological questions. Does the crucifiction of Christ completely eliminate the need for the law in the Christian life (including the 10 commandments--not all of them are repeated in the NT)? How well has the Bible been preserved throughout our history? While God's word is in no doubt, perfect, how much margin for error should we allow for human transcription issues? Since the Bible is so easy to misinterpret or take out of context--is it possible for an average layperson with no knowledge of Greek or Hebrew to defer the true meanings of the text? Does the tribulation happen after or before the rapture--if that does exist at all? How does the Bible (in context) give us guidance on how we conduct ourselves in everyday life whether it be disciplining children, dating/courting, making friends with the unsaved, eating, etc? While on that point, does Bible reading give us a false confidence of a relationship with God? That is, because we can infer a list of "standards" from reading, we're automatically close with Him?

The thrilling part is, I don't have answers but I'm learning is more than okay to wonder and have questions. I used to be scared that these questions and others would make me less than a "good" Christian. I was afraid the answers wouldn't be there and that I'd end up agnostic or worse. If I could summerize all this up, it'd probably narrow down to two questions: what is truth and what is the extent of our Christian liberties?

The next blog posts will be reflections as I begin seeking after knowledge. As a poet Alfred Tennyson said:

I falter where I firmly trod,
And falling with my weight of cares
Upon the great world's altar-stairs
That slope thro' darkness up to God,

I stretch lame hands of faith, and grope,
And gather dust and chaff, and call
To what I feel is Lord of all,
And faintly trust the larger hope.

Pass me not...

An epiphany I just had today: my God is big. I feel like I’ve been cynical and doubtful of many things lately, but He is big enough to handle it. I question my abilities, strengths, and often fear the future. And yet, He’s big enough and it doesn’t faze Him in the slightest. He is big. Big enough to...

understand me
comfort during sorrows
meet my longings
bear my hurts
accept my weakness
forgive my failings
and is much bigger than the box I had placed Him in for years...

I love how Fanny Crosby expresses it:

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

God is big enough to notice the unnoticeable.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

He's big enough to do what man can't--heal.

Let me at a throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

Yes, please Lord help us all.

Spiritual Cliches

"Freedom is frightening. There are people who want to be told what to do and when, how to believe and why. And the result is tragic perpetual adolescence." Chuck Swindoll

A big pet peeve of mine is the overuse of spiritual cliches. It's not that I'm an atheist, but every "amen", "just pray on the spirit", "the devil is attacking our ladies", and etc is to me empty, meaningless words. From another point, it's as if these overused phrases gives one something to say when there is no substance to be said. It's playing it safe instead of speaking with sincerity and transparency.

It's a shame really when our English language contains such an exhaustive choice of words. We can say old things in fresh new ways. Perhaps we are just too lazy to do so. For I believe a big part of becoming older is forming your own thoughts and expressing them in an original manner unique to you. Most people seem frightened to do this however. But think. Reason. Feel. And be real. Perhaps in doing so, it'll be a step towards leaving adolescence behind.

Goodbye 2010!

While skimming through my old blogs I realized I had a goodbye post for 2008, but not 2009. Somehow I had two years that have gone by since then. As I wrote on a friend's facebook status: "every year goes by quicker than the one before it". That much I know to be true. Since 2008 was a hard year, it's only fitting I reflect on one of the best years I've had: 2010.

This was the year fulfilled dreams and adventures. When I finally:

finished that last college course,
received my college degree in the mail,
married my best friend,
went on vacations/honeymoon to cool places,
moved to my very first house,
became a preschool teacher (however temporary),
read, learned, decorated and crafted to my heart's content,
and it's safe to say many good things happened in 2010.

As blessed I was this past year, I have so many other goals I wish to achieve in 2011. But regardless of what the new year will bring my main goal is to "...be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." I Cor. 15:58

A blessed 2011 to us all!

Tangled thoughts

The stomach flu while gross, does provide one with ample time of thinking and reflection. While bedridden the past few days with ginger ale and crackers, I pondered my beliefs and values. I love reading the blogs from various Christians with different theological leanings. I used to be paralyzed at the idea of considering other stances on issues I had long thought I had made up my mind on. Now, I find it intellectually invigorating and it forces me to be a "Berean". I'm asking questions like a critical atheist, but with the goal of digging the meat from the bones; instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. (And how bad is it I just used two metaphors in one sentence?)

I'm starting to notice that a lot of Christians that leave legalistic, "Independent Baptist" backgrounds tend to take a reformed/Calvinistic stance. While I relate to no longer wanting to be associated with most of Baptist culture, a part of me puzzles on why they give up much of man's free will/stewardship/etc. And I'll be the first to admit that I haven't figured it all out.

For the goal is that while swimming through the whole Bible versions debate, pinpointing when human conscience begins, noticing when verses are taken out of context, and other big/small issues, is that in the end I'm that much closer to knowing who God is for myself and not what others would have me to believe of Him. My hope is to come close to this before I have a family, but if not I'm willing to be honest about what I do/don't know and learn alongside them.

"Freedom’s calling, chains are falling,
hope is dawning bright and true.
Day is breaking, night is quaking.
God is making all things new.
Jesus saves."