Quiet Weekend

This has been a peaceful weekend around the IOU NO MORE compound. My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary yesterday. We did a little shopping, ate out and watched an old movie last night. We found a bin of ancient movies and tv shows at "everything's a dollar". These were selling 2 for $1. So we bought $2 worth of old stuff. Last night we settled in and watched "The Over the Hill Gang". It was a cute made for TV movie from 1969. I remember watching it as a kid.

I made a little progress on "Recession Proof Living", the working title of my next book. I'm really quite happy with the direction of the book, just not the pace at which it's being completed. I'm probably going to have to sequester myself somewhere for a couple days and get the darned thing finished. But I don't see any breaks in my calendar until late January to make that happen.

Today has been very quiet. Church this a.m. followed by a light lunch and a wonderful nap. Now that's what I call a good day.

Just in Time for Christmas

Looks like retailers have gotten creative with alternative payment methods to "help" you in these tough economic times. Personally, I think cash rules! Read HERE.

Can't Resist One Final Reflection on the Election...

Please indulge me this one last look back on the election and some of the implications.

I changed schools back in the 4th grade. In September of 1965, I was being enrolled in Clays Mill Elementary School, Lexington, KY. I remember looking down on the parking lot from the Principal's Office while my parents got me enrolled. I watched a black family pull up and get out to enroll their children. They were met by a posse of whites, some armed, who refused to allow them into the school. That family was forced to get back into their car and leave. The incident was burned into my memory. The police were not called. The school officials did not get involved. A gaggle of stupid vigilantes controlled the whole encounter. We've come a long way! And that's a good thing. I have never been able to grasp race as an issue. My Christian World View is so much a part of my DNA that I can't even begin to understand race playing a role in any decision. Never have. Never will. So on one hand, electing a black man as President is no big deal to me. On the other hand, it's one of the biggest event in my lifetime, even bigger than Neal Armstrong's walk on the moon.

Finally, I lived under Socialism for 13 years in Scotland. I don't like it. I don't think Socialism is the way forward. It discourages achievement, especially over achievement. In many ways it encourages laziness and sloth. But it's also not the end of the world. America will get a good close look at Socialism over the next few years. We will then be able to make more informed decisions for or against it in the future.

And just as I predicted, Jesus is still Lord and the sun did indeed rise in the east. I watched it.

America Has Spoken

Well, it's a little after 10 p.m. Eastern and it pretty much looks like Mr. Barack Obama will be our new President come January. Congratulations to him. I voted for the other guy, but it appears that more people felt differently. It must be a little bitter sweet in that his grandmother, who pretty much raised him, passed away yesterday. One day away from history.

I genuinely wish McCain had won. But I will pray just as fervently for President Obama as I would have if McCain had won.

The election outcome has no impact on the Revolution. We continue the fight to help Americans become and live debt free, one family budget at a time. I am optimistic that the coming years will see tens of thousands join the ranks of those who have escaped debt row.

It's past my bedtime now. Must sleep. Still have to go to work in the morning. Sleep well.

Happy Voting Day Tomorrow

Nov. 4. Whew! We thought it might never arrive. Now it's upon us. If you didn't take advantage of 'early voting' I truly do encourage you to participate in the process. If you are a registered voter, please express yourself by casting your vote. Your candidates may win. They may not. But when we all take part, we help make the process work. Feel free to tell the world who you voted for, or keep it to yourself. Its up to you.

Since Brittan and I voted on Friday, we will just go about our business as usual. The only difference for me will be a little extra time praying for voters and candidates (all the major ones, anyway). I will be praying for voter and victor wisdom.

I will not be staying up watching the results. It's not like I can control the outcome. I will go to bed and wake up to a surprise on Wednesday. Regardless of the identity of our next President, I make you this guarantee; the sun will rise in the east.

Bible Shocker! Jesus Taught Redistribution........

...... but interestingly, not the kind of redistribution we've been hearing promoted by one of the major political parties. First, read this:

Mat 25:14 "At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there was a man who was about to leave home on a trip; he called his servants and put them in charge of his property.
Mat 25:15 He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave five thousand gold coins, to another he gave two thousand, and to another he gave one thousand. Then he left on his trip.
Mat 25:16 The servant who had received five thousand coins went at once and invested his money and earned another five thousand.
Mat 25:17 In the same way the servant who had received two thousand coins earned another two thousand.
Mat 25:18 But the servant who had received one thousand coins went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
Mat 25:19 "After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
Mat 25:20 The servant who had received five thousand coins came in and handed over the other five thousand. 'You gave me five thousand coins, sir,' he said. 'Look! Here are another five thousand that I have earned.'
Mat 25:21 'Well done, you good and faithful servant!' said his master. 'You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!'
Mat 25:22 Then the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, 'You gave me two thousand coins, sir. Look! Here are another two thousand that I have earned.'
Mat 25:23 'Well done, you good and faithful servant!' said his master. 'You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!'
Mat 25:24 Then the servant who had received one thousand coins came in and said, 'Sir, I know you are a hard man; you reap harvests where you did not plant, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed.
Mat 25:25 I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look! Here is what belongs to you.'
Mat 25:26 'You bad and lazy servant!' his master said. 'You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not plant, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed?
Mat 25:27 Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned.
Mat 25:28 Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand coins.
Mat 25:29 For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him. (Good News Bible)

Interesting, isn't it? This text suggests the lazy man should get nothing and even what he has should be given to the one with the most. How contrary that is to Socialism. In Jesus' scenario, the achiever is rewarded with more. The lazy man was punished.

Let me be clear; Jesus teaches social responsibility. The very next section in Matthew 25 is all about serving those in unfortunate circumstances. That's a biblical principle, too.

But socialism isn't about social responsibility. Socialism is a world view. Part of that world view is an economic system that takes from the achiever and gives not only to the unfortunate, but to the lazy and slothful. Jesus says that we should invest (not just money, but time and abilities as well) and earn interest. We will be rewarded for doing so. Then WE VOLUNTARILY give to the hungry, thirsty, persecuted and sick. The government has no right to determine our priorities. In fact, that's what started the American Revolution. The colonists were suffering high taxation and tariffs and they had no representation in London to argue on their behalf. King George and Parliament just took it. The Constitution of the United States was written to LIMIT the power of Government. This nation was founded on a belief in individual responsibility and individual potential. Those principles still stand and they still work.

Consider this; the Politically and Economically conservative, give more to charity per capita than do the Politically and Economically Liberal. The Income Tax Returns of the current Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates is illustrative. Liberals want to take other peoples money and give it away as they see fit. Conservative give out of personal concern and from the heart.

The Bible is very clear. Christians should look after 'widows and orphans'. But we have no responsibility to look after the lazy. The one who works hard and earns will be rewarded. The wastrel will suffer the consequences. As far as I'm concerned that's the end of the story.

I feel bad for men and women who can't work or take care of themselves. I will do my part to lift them up. But I resent those who are able and milk the system. And the Bible tells me that's ok.

Debit Cards - New Opportunities, New Dangers

Based on a recent article in Business Week, that I read on msnbc.com, Debit Card use is on the rise and credit card use may be on the decline. On the surface, that may sound great, but there is an undertow that is fraught with new dangers.

First, people still spend more with debit cards than with cash. Plastic numbs the pain of spending. It's kind of financial Novocaine. Banks and businesses are starting to discover the connection and are introducing 'perks' and 'incentives' for using debit cards. Alert! Danger Ahead! Caution! Cuidado! Open Manhole!

Secondly, debit cards create a fee bonanza for the banks. Because most Americans still don't budget and are poor record keepers, it's easy for Mr. Plastic to send the checking account into the red. No problem, your friendly bank honors the overdraft and hits your account almost immediately with an overdraft fee. So that $14 pizza ends up costing $43 after the service charge is added. I sure hope it was cheesy enough for you!

Mind you, I don't blame the banks for charging overdraft fees. They deserve to make money on loaning us money. Whether or not the rates are excessive, however, may be up for debtate.

Don't think that having 'overdraft protection' by linking your checking to a savings account will save you, because there are usually fees, either transactional or monthly connected with that service as well.

The correct answer is to BUDGET your finances and STICK TO THE BUDGET!

In the end, Debit Cards can be a blessing or a curse. I love mine. It makes things so easy at the gas station. It's great for shopping online, or paying bills that I can't do with other online bill pay. But for groceries, dining out and etc. Nothing works like cash!

Read the article HERE.