The Cost of a Wife’s Freedom Gland – 100 Bucks

For any who have taken the courses from Financial Peace University, or ever listened to “The Dave Ramsey Show,” you have heard Dave speak jokingly of the female’s “security gland.”  Dave states that when this gland tightens, it affects a woman’s face – becoming tight and twisted, showing the unsecurity she feels within.  A couple of weeks ago, I inadvertantly discovered my wife has a freedom gland.  This gland has NOTHING to do with security.

While taking the course last year, I thought surely I would be the “free spirit,” visualizing myself struggling against being held captive by a restrictive budget.  That budget being restrictive down to the zero bottom line was the only way we were ever going to have a better life, for God and for our family.  So I bought into this idea that the little guy could actually do something he dreamed of – with hard work.  I wanted to believe the little guy was NOT limited by his circumstances and he could retire comfortably one day, IF he wanted too.  

My wife followed my lead and our lives began to change, not overnight, but faithfully and steadily.  The more faithful we were, the more debt was paid off.  But we were gazelle intense - we were angry with our debt, we were putting every free dollar we had towards debt, and over time it began to wear.  With each month’s new budget, I could feel her resistance coming on stronger, she was having a hard time digesting that every dollar was going out the door with a purpose, but with little wiggle room.  She was patiently supportive, but I knew something was not right, and I refused to feel as though I was doing this without the love of my life for the next 2 years (the time it would take for us to be out of debt).

We talked and talked and talked some more; we even cried a little bit together.  We came to realize that she didn’t want money just to blow, she wanted to fix some things up around the house.  Money for the house, maybe for some paint, or bath towels, or just a few new shirts for the boys every now and then.  She also realized that I did NOT want to put any more money on major house projects for this place we will not be staying in forever and I would rather use that money toward debt, so we can get a NEW house.  So we agreed, she keeps supporting me in our debt snowball, and I give up $100 of my debt money to do whatever she wants to with. 

It was amazing the difference!  Last week, my wife ran into an old friend who is trying the “Dave Ramsey Diet” and she said she was having difficulty getting started…the budget just seems so tight.  My wife said, “I know what you mean, this is the first month we’ve done our budget and not cried afterwards.  It was a tremendous testimony of her faithfulness to me, and to our plans, and to her friend.  She’s cried to do this and KEEPS ON DOING IT!  Now, she’s freely doing it, with a good, supportive attitude that makes her beauty shine.  The freedom gland I discovered has relaxed, and all I did was give her a little wiggle room.  One hundred dollars…who would have thought.  It will take a little longer to pay off that debt, but it’s worth it to have the FULL support of my wife. 

You nerds who are gazelle intense, even if your spouse is supportive, don’t take advantage of it.  Let your actions speak louder than words.

Worshiping In the Face of the Enemy

The imagined battle lines were drawn.  Two armies, Israelites and Philistines, had come to slaughter the other into submission.  The giant of a giant army has come to laugh and scoff at the “army of God;” and he states in more definitive terms what the battle lines truly are – man to nine foot, giant man.  Any average soldier imagining themselves fighting this enemy of God were “shaking in their armor.”

Enter David, the shepherd with staff in hand and some food from his father, on a mission to see how his brothers fare in a battle which very well could change the fate of a nation.  Based on the terms the uncircumcised Philistine has laid, David’s concerned father Jesse back home could not only be son-less, he could be cleaning Goliath’s chamberpot and weapons.  It doesn’t take long for David to hear what he considered blasphemy and idiocy spewing from this “champion.” 

David’s worship begins here, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” David asks.  After some rucous, and a scolding from his eldest brother, David is summoned before King Saul and automatically says EXACTLY what Saul should have said the whole battle.  “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”  Here he worships in the presence of this royalty, giving credit to the Lord.  “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 

Saul replies the only way he can, “Go, and the LORD be with you.” 

And so he does, with a sling and a stone, to make the strongest worship to God almighty.  “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

Goliath draws near to attack, and David without hesitation RUNS quickly to meet Goliath in battle, slinging a stone from his bag that sinks into the giant’s forehead and brings him to the ground.  Goliath’s sword is then drawn by the young shephard, and used to take his head, and show the size that the giant always was in his eyes compared to the living God. 

David honored God with his lips and heart through this entire ordeal.  He did it among the army of Israel, amidst the presence of Israel’s king, and then in the face of Israel’s enemy.  And he never stopped. 

I think of the impossibility there must have been for David with just his sling and stone to kill this giant.  I have heard this story countless times in my life before, and I must say that I always thought there was someway that “scientifically” the stone hit Goliath just right.  But the more I ponder it, I think of the IMPOSSIBILITY.  Physically, scientifically, this would have been impossible for me to do, and it must have been the same for David the shepherd boy.  David was as human as I am.  Yet David had God, and he knew it, and that was all he wanted - that made the difference.  Knowing God and glorifying His name was David’s utmost desire.  Not because God NEEDED David’s glory, but because David NEEDED God’s heart and honor.  Nothing less would do.  The very character of David’s LORD did not demand David’s honor, but drew his love, and it gave David the heart of a warrior.  This gave God the opportunity to magnify Himself, not just to the Philistine army, but to the army of Israel, and He did the impossible.

Love God in the presence of your enemies, in your difficulties, seek Him , not His glory, not what He will reward with…HIM.

 

 

Intensity Of Our Lord

Monday morning I woke up thinking to seek God; the Sunday School message I taught the day before suggested all Christians should do so.  We should all seek God with a gazelle type intensity with a fervor and passion that can do absolutely nothing but bring glory and honor to Him.  The problem was, it was difficult to find Him that morning. 

So immediately this story came to mind…

And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Kings 19:11-12

The things that I have reflected from this passage gives me more of an idea of how the character of God is.  It amazes me that as the Lord passed by a wind went BEFORE Him.  I tried to place myself in Elijah’s shoes, standing on a mountain and knowing the Lord is passing by, but before He passes, chaos goes before Him, such a strong wind that rocks and mountains were torn in pieces!  Not only this unnatural wind, but an earthquake, and if that wasn’t enough -  fire!  And all of this goes before the Lord.

What an intensity must go before Him!  Then I realized this is the same God I serve.  And He is with me because I have faith in His son Jesus Christ.  My actions should reflect what a God I serve as well, the same Jesus who’s spirit is within me should be living the same type of intensity in my everyday world.  When this type of life is lived, people start to look, but they shouldn’t see God in all the zealousness and determination that His servants serve Him with, they should be able to listen and hear the still small voice that is behind it all – motivating and powerful.  It is in that still small voice that people begin to find peace and salvation, when they look BEHIND the wind, earthquakes and fire my life brings through the Spirit of God.

Our Reasons for Financial Peace

Last year my wife and I went through Financial Peace University.  This is a program from Dave Ramsey, who is becoming increasingly popular through television and radio media as America believes all the dramatic news about going into the days of deep dark depression.  Or at the least a recession.  I have my own opinions about that, but seeing as how I’m no financial expert, I will leave that for another posting at another time.

Our quest to be debt free, has a few ends in itself.  Some of the principles Dave teaches are starting to form the opinions and character of my wife and I.  It’s getting into us…we are sipping the kool-aid and starting to like it.  Here’s why:

First, we can’t even think about buying a house until we are debt free.  My wife, Karen, only works part time and my income isn’t enough to cover a house payment, car payment, and every other “payment” that comes standard in America’s world…not to mention phone or electric bill or whatever other utilities people pay these days. 

Second, social security is a joke.  It won’t be fixed from what I understand, it can’t be, and I refuse to allow my wife and I to be worried month after month…waiting on checks that may or may not be there and then it not being enough to live on or cover whatever medication we may need when we’re older.

Third, the Lord has placed a burden on my heart for the Banjara people of India.  Our communication is limited with these folk, and very few them have ever heard the name of Jesus.  There is a film ministry that we are contributing to right now.  This ministry currently is focused on buying a quality used sport utility vehicle and a projector that the Jesus film can be shown in remote villages in a language they can understand.  To be debt free means that we can be contributing WELL to this project and many, many of the Banjara people can come to know our Lord Jesus.  Then they can spread the news of the gospel themselves, telling the story and worshipping Christ as only the Banjara do.  My wife and I one day hope to contribute much, much more than what we are currently contributing to this mission.  It’s hard to do that when we’re funding the bank (who could care less about our well being or salvation).  We have a responsibility to spread the gospel, and this is the best way to do this with this particular people group.  I’ve made many friends with the Banjara people, and hope to make many more.

We’ve tested the wisdom of Dave Ramsey to see if there truly is any “financial peace” and we are finding that there is.  You know the wierd thing is, a lot of Dave Ramsey’s wisdom comes straight from the Bible.  Hmmm…the Word of God doesn’t steer you wrong?  Go figure.

Honoring God When It Hurts Most

In the Sunday school class I’ve been attending for the past three weeks, we’ve been talking about honoring God.  So far one of the main ideas that have been learned, discussed, and reinforced is the thought of honoring God in “the little things.”  Sounds pretty simple doesn’t it?  One would go, “duh!” to such a thought; but as I’ve found out this week, when it starts hurting, it’s easier said than done.

I’m a firm believer that a person has to have a shift of paradigm; a change in their vantage point (this has been discussed in the Sunday school class as well) must take place before anyone will change their actions for good or bad.  Though I’ve understood this concept and been able to see where it has been applied in my own life to things like personal finance and smoking; I also must admit there are everyday actions and behavior that I’ve not applied this concept to. 

There are some habits that we have that are not necessarily sinful, but they are also not necessarily good either.  Let me use myself as an example.  I have a coworker who knows my moods.  At least, she thinks she does.  And for the most part, she’s right, she knows I like coffee in the mornings, and she thinks enough about me (or God) to have a fresh pot of coffee brewing when I get there.  I usually don’t say much when I come in, and it takes me a while to get woke up, when I finally do come out of my grogginess, my mood improves and the rest of the day is usually quite pleasant.  I like my job and I like the people I work with so being in a good mood is usually not that difficult.  But that habit of being unpleasant in the morning just because I haven’t had my second cup of coffee yet has become a hard habit to break.  And what happens when the mood doesn’t improve?  What if someone says something in the wrong tone while I’m reinforcing my habit?  Or says nothing at all and I think they should?  The results can become disasterous, and in the end, sinful because others can be hurt by what the apostle James calls a tongue of fire.  Who’d have thought I could be half asleep and have a tongue on fire!  (Okay, that was corny, but it does make a funny mental picture)  Either way, I hope I’ve made my point, my paradigm has changed, my point of view.  It is no longer acceptable to be in a bad mood just because its early.  It doesn’t bring honor to God. 

Our God, Lord and Savior deserves more than what I give him and so…enough is enough with this bad habit, and others, but that’s for another blog.

Life After The Mission Trip (Over There)

We’ve been home for nearly three weeks.  We’ve received a couple of emails from Pastor Damodar, the head pastor over the Banjara For Christ Society.   The work we did while we were there yielded some fruit.  We preached in 32 thadas (villages) and 27 people accepted Christ, while 35 others expressed interest in people coming back to talk to them more about Jesus.  We also had 40 men in our training sessions and 50 women in the women’s classes.  Almost 400 people showed up for the final rally and heard the gospel preached. 

Life is steady for the pastors in India (as though it would have stopped when we came home right?).  Pastor Damodar has notified us there are still pastors going deep into the country to follow up in the thandas where we people expressed interest while we were there.  People are still accepting Christ as their Savior even now and the gospel continues to be preached by our Banjara Christian brothers!

This morning we received notification that Damodar’s wife, Sush, is sick.  Apparantly she has chicken pox.  I’m not sure how serious a thing this is in India, but he says she’s throwing up a lot and she has a rash.  He also says that their daughter, Goldie, doesn’t understand why she can’t go near her mom.   Their kind of worried about her, she’s only about a year old.  They are more worried for Sush though, Sush is one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever met.  She always works so hard to make sure we are taken care of in India.  We love her as our sister in Christ and hope she gets better soon.  She is in our prayers, as well as the rest of her family and the pastors who are still spreading the gospel.

Get well Sush.

Complacent: To be or not to be

Today was a strange day…

I slept in.  I hate sleeping in, but I find myself, more often than not, hitting the snooze button a lot more than what’s necessary and developed a nasty habit of just going back to sleep.  Because of this, I missed my devotion time, my prayer time, and most of all, just my alone time with God.  However, I found the day to be absolutely beautiful and having very little difficulty getting ready for work as I just accepted that my normal “alone time” just wasn’t going to happen because I woke up late.  When I got out the door, with a hot cup of coffee in hand, I was 10 minutes earlier than I normally am.  I had plenty of time to get to work without having to drive like a maniac.

The rest of the day went…GREAT!  Odd as it sounds.  I know, I know…a lot of folks in this mode of thinking would say that they missed their quiet time and so the rest of the day was “off.”  Well, I’m not going to say that I didn’t have that initial conviction…it was there.  But all in all, it was a good day.

I guess because I was in the mode of looking for Christ, opportunities came up today I may not have seen before.  Ways of pointing to Jesus that wasn’t just coming from a “good ole boy” but real issues that Christ looked at and gave stern warnings for.  Things like “beware the leaven of the Pharisees” (Matthew 16).  I was also able to share the verse that made me realize what it meant to actually know Christ and make him Lord of my life (Matthew 7:21-23).  I also was able to share how God is a God of second chances, and third, and fourth and even fifth chances, not that we should tempt Him, but that we should remember He is gracious, no matter how stupid or sinful we are.  Aren’t our loved ones blessed, aren’t we blessed, that when we would normally give up on a person, God says, ” here’s another chance, oh yes, and if they screw this one up, I’ll give them another.”  Praise God for His mercy.

I reflected on how easy it was, to wake up and just go, and have a great day, and the appeal that most Christians have just to run out the door as quick as we have what we “need.”  Not often do we think that the real NEED went sufficiently ignored, in fact, probably not even thought of.  Isn’t it easy to think the next day will be just as good, and the next, and the next?  Soon we are just running out the door everyday, asking the Lord to bless the day (and fooling ourselves that this is enough).  Maybe, this is the danger of complacency.  It sneaks up on you, one day you are serving the Lord, praying for people, having quiet time, genuinely caring for folks, and the next, it’s okay to excuse one ignored area of your life for another…the next…your soul is struggling to catch up with you as you’re running out the door. 

Be diligent church, be diligent to run the race as Paul encouraged us too (1 Corinthians 9:24).  Let us stop being complacent.