WinterDelight

Merry Christmas 2009

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Jason, Sheri, Danielle, and Andrew would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and to update you on what we have been up to this last year.  First of all, as you can tell from the picture, our children have not adhered to our policy of not getting older or bigger.  Funny thing is we do not mind.  I think we love them more and more as they get older and become more of their own person.  Both have had an excellent year at school.

Danielle has started piano lessons in late Summer.  We enjoy hearing her practice and were entertained at her first recital.  She seems to be advancing fast through the material and loves playing loud on the keys.  The fifth grade has given her many fun challenges.  She learned all 50 states and capitals.  Homework seems to roll in and keeps her busy in the evenings.  She continues to play soccer, although it was another season without a victory on the field, but with no discouragement.  Some other activities Danielle takes great delight in are JOY (girls only group at church), talking on the phone with friends, sleep overs, birthday parties, and this year’s Christmas choir.

Andrew has come to take delight in the game of Football.  Not so much as watching it on the television, but playing.  We toss and kick the ball, tackle each other, and he plays at recess when ever he can.  Academics is going good at the second grade level.  Mathematics does not pose him a challenge and his reading is at the top, but as Christmas vacation presses on, what he misses most is gym class.  He is not much for sitting and cannot wait until the third grade, when he can partake in pee-wee football.  Now that he has his two front teeth, all he wants for Christmas has been Star Wars Legos.

Sheri and I celebrated our fourteenth anniversary of marriage this past May and most days we like being parents.  Seems we have started the run-a-child-here-and-there stage of life.  Our family had a nice trip to Long Island, New York this Summer.  We got to walk on Broadway, see Time Square and the Empire State Building, ride a train/subway, and dip in the ocean.  I have been at MapleTronics for over ten years now and Sheri continues to make sure Supreme is clean and spotless on a weekly basis.

So once again, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2010.  May God bless you with His delights and through the gift of salvation for eternal life through Jesus Christ.

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Contentment: Set Sail

Well, I have been avoiding writing anymore until I finish this thought on contentment.  That has caused me to not write at all.  Now I will finish up my thoughts on contentment, so that I may write about more things in my life.  Never again, in the near future, will I start a series that I commit to finishing before I start something else.  It is not my style, but do not hold me to that.  This is not the end of my journey on contentment, only were I push away from the dock and trust God to guide me.

I would like to share a few quotes about what contentment is to me and where I am going to search for more.

“Wealth is defined as freedom, not having to worry so much about money and debt” ~ @LifeTuner

“Imagination is more important than knowledge…” ~ Albert Einstein

“A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.” ~ Jonathan Swift

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” ~ Zig Ziglar

From my perspective, I see that all of creation testifies to God being the source of contentment.  God wants us to love our neighbor and that love is in the action of giving.  Giving our time, money, skills, and a listening ear.  Right now, there is a group of people who are committed to a 10 day give.  I have signed up and day one has been great.  Stop living for ME and start giving to others in relationships that matter.  When you stop focusing on the more for me mentality, you are going to not need to spend to find your happiness and will not want to compete materially against those you love.

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What is a Civil Right?

With all the discussion in Goshen lately about the ordinance to extend what is considered as a civil right as covered by the constitution.  When questions like this come up, then it is time for me to search to make sure what I believe is based on the values that I claim as a Christian.  Also I need to make sure I understand what a civil right is.  So here is what I have found.

Here is what is in the “Declarations of Independence”, note this is not found in the United States Constitution as usually quoted by homosexual supporters.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Note that these rights come from God, the Creator.  What unalienable Rights are we born with?  God, the Creator, created us to be a certain way and these ways are spelled out in His book, the Bible, and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Unalienable rights are those that are given to us by God, the Creator.  The idea of civil rights comes from the idea that you should not show preference to people based on pigmentation of skin, gender, religion, or age.  So what does the Bible teach about homosexuality?  If you do not agree with my basis of values, that is fine, I cannot change in light of what I have hope for in God’s plan for eternal salvation.

Romans 1:18-32 (NKJV)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

I do not believe God has created homosexuals with a natural attraction to like genders.  I know God loves people who choose a homosexual lifestyle and He would like to see them repent of this sinful lifestyle.  Other people who have problems with sexuality have taken a stance to suppress that behavior or chastity in light a deeper desire of eternal life.

Now for our earthly duty I feel that extending an ordinance to allow ones sexual choices would do the following:

1. Encourage a homosexual lifestyle; nobody who loves someone would ever encourage them to do something hurtful to them.  I feel that eternal life is more important than earthly desire.  Who would encourage their child to do drugs if it make the child happy?  We know as parents that drugs are not true happiness.  In the same way, earthly happiness could hamper the ability of future repentance and acceptance of God’s salvation found in Jesus Christ.  I cannot be part of encouraging sinful lifestyles when I have this understanding.  This is not hate, but it is a loving concern.
2. People are making this to be a “no big deal”, but really it is a stepping stone to future laws and ordinances of sinful acceptance.  Understanding that people who think this is “no big deal” are a pawn in a bigger plan.
3. This ordinance would open the door to other types of sexual choice lifestyles.  I do not like to think about what this could lead to, but it will be a basis to allow other exceptions that you might judge as wrong, but you accept. We have to stand for something or we will fall for anything.

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Contentment: Money

First of all a refresher on what contentment is: “happiness with one’s situation in life”.  Do you know anyone who is content with money?  It is not that they have everything or too much money that they are content, but that they have enough.

“A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.” – Jonathan Swift

This is a very good statement that was shot across my tweetdeck this week.  As I ponder it’s meaning, I find it very true and fitting.  For one to be wise with money is not to be consumed by money.  To be consumed would be discontentment, because you would not be happy in your current situation.

Lets look at some signs that you might have “money in the heart.”

1. Dept – being a slave to your dept might consume your thoughts.
2. Wanting more – Always thinking that you will be happier on the other side of the money fence.
3. Greed – Care more about money that people.
4. Selfish hording – The mine attitude.
5. Jealous thoughts – Different than greed, because you would not hurt anyone, except in your heart.

Seems we have many laws in the world to protect us from people trying to take our money.  Many brothers and sisters fighting about money left behind by their parents.  Marriages broken up because of money and that means children left as pawns to money fights.

What is the solution?   I think it has many layers.  Examine my heart to make sure there is not green in it.  Daily review my activities to make sure greed was not controlling my actions.  Consider myself a manager of money that God has entrusted me with.  Eliminate dept and make money work for you instead of working for money.  If you need help, maybe follow Dave Ramsey’s, “Financial Peace University.“

This does not mean that we should not plan.  You need to have control of money and not let it control you.  More is not better, but learn to say that you have enough.  Save little by little to get what you want instead of get now pay later attitude our society has now.

What have you done in your life that you can share about finding contentment in your finances?

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Tuesday Twister 20090901

Welcome everyone to September.  Wow, 2009 has been going fast.  I did not do any wrap up last week on Tuesday, so I should have two weeks worth on here right?  Well, not really.  I am still thinking about contentment, but I have not forced myself to write about it. I think I need o use this Tuesday Twister to express and vent what has been happening the past two weeks.  Seems like all this political mess about public or socialistic health care has been the hot topic of late on the national scope.  Locally, Goshen, Indiana is voting on an ordinance to give special rights to homosexuals and cross-dressers.  I rest assured that God is in control and I do not need to defend Him.  On the other side of the coin, I do not want to tell homosexuals that their choice to live a non-repentant sinful lifestyle, which leads to eternal death, is okay.

Seems that when pro-homosexual proponents picks a fights with Christians they focus on two things.  First, that Christians are not to “judge” and second, that Christians who do not support actions and ordinances like this are being hateful.  I would like to address both of these in a short paragraph each.  Please do not twist my words to try to make them into more than they are.  I am not speaking for everyone who is against this ordinance, because there are some people who really do hate homosexuals.

First topic is judging.  I would like to study this more, but here is my understanding.  There are many New Testament verses about not judging, most of these seem to relate to “brothers” in the church and salvation and not to what is or is not sin.  There are also several verses in the New and Old Testament that point out that homosexuality is a sin.  I will use the tools I have been given to discern right from wrong based off the Bible.  I am not to condemn people based on sin, because then I am blocking my ability to share the love of Christ.  I am using the discernment based off the Bible and Holy Spirit to judge if actions are sinful or fruitful.

Second topic, is about love being twisted as hate.  I have shared about this before and I will write a bit about it here.  If someone tells me they do not agree with choices I am making, shared out of love, can be taken as hate, when it goes against what I want to do.  This does not make their concern a hate.

In conclusion, I would like to say that passing of this ordinance would be wrong.  I do not think people need special rights based on choices they make.  Sadly in the past this has been needed when people are bias based on skin pigmentation or gender, both of which are God given attributes and neither are condemnations that I can find in the Bible.  An ordinance cannot change the hearts of people who really do hate other people and, if we face the truth, that is the problem.

A quick word to Christians that want to share the love and forgiveness they have received from God through Jesus Christ.  First of all, work at removing your planks(sinful choices), then build relationships out of love.  Allow the Holy Spirit to expose sinful behavior.  Once again we cannot change peoples hearts with laws and ordinances, but only by allow ourselves to be ears, feet, hands, and voice of God.

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Tuesday Twister 20090818

Now that I am focused on contentment, I am finding it everywhere.  I find parts of this popping up all over.  Last night my devotional was from Leviticus 26 and I will share part of it.

Leviticus 26:1-7

 ‘You shall not make idols for yourselves;
neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves;
nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it;
for I am the LORD your God.

 ² You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary:
I am the LORD.

 ³ ‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them,

 ⁴ then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

 ⁵ Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing;
you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

 ⁶ I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid;
I will rid the land of evil beasts,
and the sword will not go through your land.

I read that and think that should be enough for me to be content.  My needs are provided and God is my provider.  What more should I need?  What more shall I want?

Verse of the week:

Psalm 34:10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
         But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

Information you need and might have missed:

The Change BLOG shares about seven foods that will help make you feel happier.  No, chocolate and beer are not on the list.

Jeff Rose will answer your questions about converting your 401k into a Roth-IRA.

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Contentment Intro

Contentment is a journey, a state of being, and not just a destination.  What I mean by that is you do not reach a goal of contentment and then you are done.  My brain has been spinning around the topic of contentment, but it is large and would be too much to read in one blog entry, so I will break it up.  Being content in all things is a journey that I want to embark upon.

Now I am trying to figure out what contentment is and what it is not.  I think I will start with a definition:

contentment
       n : happiness with one’s situation in life [ant: {discontentment}]

And looking up what it is not.

discontentment
       n : a longing for something better than the present situation

I will have other blog entries that will focus on areas of life that we can find happiness and where we have a longing for something better.  Here is a list and a small description that I will get started on.  Please feel free to share more with me as you think of them.

• Power – The ability to control people and situations.
• Money – Used to buy more stuff, bigger house, and more storage, the list never ends.
• Sex – Seems this is also another topic that is always at the top of the list.  With the wide use of pornography and extra marital relations to find happiness.
• Relationships – Does being popular bring us happiness?
• Competition – Do I always have to win?  Do I need to be in first place?
• Education – How many facts do I need to know?  We are living in an age of information overload with television, radio, Internet, E-mail, and books.
• Life – Life tosses us many different situations, opportunities, gain, and loss.  Life can bring us happiness and we can choose to be happy.
• Food – Snickers really satisfy, right?  Also in this topic I will cover drugs and alcohol.

Now I see nothing wrong with the above list.  These are all good things that God has blessed us with that can make us happy.  I would like to also explore where we find the balance between being content and being lazy or the perversion of good.  How can we have a desire to learn more, to grow a business, or to have deeper relations with someone without it being discontented?  I think I know the answer, but it is not that easy to explain or live out in our daily lives.  I am not sure you can have contentment without assurance of eternal salvation.  I believe that can only come from trusting in Jesus Christ for our salvation.  Once you have the assurance of salvation, you should not need to fulfill happiness through external means.

Stay tuned for more and please share where I am wrong or where I could explore more.  Right now I will leave you with this definition of contentment from “Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary” for your pondering.

a state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot
whatever it may be (1 Tim. 6:6; 2 Cor. 9:8). It is opposed to
envy (James 3:16), avarice (Heb. 13:5), ambition (Prov. 13:10),
anxiety (Matt. 6:25, 34), and repining (1 Cor. 10:10). It arises
from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility,
and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and
benignity of divine providence (Ps. 96:1, 2; 145), the greatness
of the divine promises (2 Pet. 1:4), and our own unworthiness
(Gen. 32:10); as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us
of rest and peace hereafter (Rom. 5:2).

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Tuesday Twister 20090811

I am going to try the “5 a day to keep the clutter away” challenge.  My wife and I started  in July with our Bedroom, but we are not done, well I know I am not done.  I like the feeling of being freed.  I am thinking we will extend this to the rest of the house as it is catching.

Last Friday was a slumber party for Danielle for her birthday.  I think the girls had a good time.  I think they all need to go back to school so they can see each other more often.

Tomorrow we are going to the Air Zoo in K-zoo.  Should be fun and I will report on how it was.  I have also been thinking about contentment lately.  I plan on writing a little post about contentment and also I know I have a book on loan from a few years back about “The Power of Enough”.   I think I will read that and report on it.

Verses of the week:

Philippians 4:11-13 (The Message)

Site of the week:

Bible Money Matters

Sharing the information:

The Chicago Tribune has a great write-up about “Financial advice from the Bible a growing trend”

Looking to build a new bigger home to store your stuff.  Trying to decide to buy that next thing?  Looking for that one part that you know where it is, but you cannot fine it?  Might be time to de-clutter.  Here is a challenge from The Centsible Life to help removed clutter.

Fixing the US government by The Weakonomist.  If it is broke, fix it right.

The New Rules of Money – by Jeff Rose of GoodFinancial¢ents.

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Why God?

Why God?

Where does your hope come from?  I have found mine in Jesus Christ, but I did not always have this hope.  Before I trusted in Jesus and would admit that God is maybe real and I trusted in my own intellegence.  I thought I could be a good person by gaining knowledge and acting smart.  Now I know where that would have taken me, eternal darkness.

Psalm 34:1-8 (New Living Translation)

¹ I will praise the Lord at all times.
      I will constantly speak his praises.
 ² I will boast only in the Lord;
      let all who are helpless take heart.
 ³ Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
      let us exalt his name together.

 ⁴ I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
      He freed me from all my fears.
 ⁵ Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
      no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
 ⁶ In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
      he saved me from all my troubles.
 ⁷ For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
      he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

 ⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good.
      Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

So why believe in God?  What do you have to lose?  Say I am wrong and there is no God and you die and that is it.  Now lets say I am right and there is a God, but you have not accepted His plan for salvation through Jesus Christ, when you die you live your eternal life in Heavan rather than Hell.  This is the basis of an argument from Pascal and you can read more of it if you are into math, science, or philosophy.

I would have to say that was a start for me, but I found more.  I found peace and contentment in the fact that I am living now for Jesus Christ and my eternal life in Heavan.  This does not mean that I will not have hard times, will live a perfect life, have all the answers, or that my children will grow up perfect. I like all Christian am human and live in a world that has free choice and some still choose, against all logic, to live sinful lifestyles and yes, that includes Christians.  It does mean that I have a friend in Jesus who is my strength to finish the race.

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Sharing 101

Are you like me and buy almost anything you need.  Now I have 30 tools you used once every two to three years and they are tools that I know other people around me have.  Why not network with neighbors, family, and friends and borrow items that you do not use that often?  Why do we think we need everything?  Not me anymore.  I need to evaluate every purchase and decide on what I really will use that often.

We recently took a trip to New York.  For me it was work, but my family came along to enjoy the time away.  All and all a low cost get away for them.  I have borrowed a GPS unit on my last few business trips and really liked what it could do for me.  Now in a years time I would only use one maybe 5-6 times and I know two family members who have one and two co-workers.  Why should I buy one?  If I break it or lose it, I would be glad to replace it with a newer and better version.  I have the same problem if I purchase one and break it.  Seems that once you own something you cannot live without it.

Also for the trip we used my mother’s portable DVD player.  Great for the children and travel, but how often do we need one?  Most of the time it would sit in the basement, causing more clutter and not getting used.

We are filling the landfill with all this stuff.  Take tools at your local home improvement store.  I go in there and buy a set of dry wall knifes. There are three to pick from for each size that is needed: cheap, mid-range, and professional quality.  When I buy the cheap option and it breaks then I am running to get another.  That equates to lost time, poor quality, and more expense.  I might not be happy with results from the cheap one either.  Now I talk myself into the mid-range price knife set, but it will only last a bit longer and the quality is still not the best.  So I buy the professional version and am very happy with the quality.  I use it once in a blue moon after my current job and store it. I would love to loan it out to my neighbors, friends, or family when I hear they are doing a job.  My only worry is that they might not care for it, but I have to be willing to let it go.

What are things that I own that I would not replace when it breaks?  Things that I had to have for the kitchen, garage, or yard that you do not use like I thought I would when I had to have it.  Why do I need to own this?  Is this something I should be renting?

What holds you back from asking a friend, neighbor, or family member for something you should just be borrowing instead of purchasing?  Do you fear that you might break something?  If you would normally have purchased it instead of borrowing it, then replace it.  Give the person options at that time too.  Maybe they wanted to upgrade it anyways, so offer to pay part of the cost of doing that.

The other thing that holds us back is pride.   You do not want people to think we cannot afford things.  Time for some humble pie.  Going into debt to have something you do not need is foolish.  I say if we are open and share about how we do not need more stuff and clutter, then we are really helping educate our loaners.

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