Socialism and Capitalism

Just a thought about socialism and capitalism:

“To prosper as a socialist you need to threaten people, while to prosper as a capitalist, you need to please them.”Edwin J. Feulner

Interesting.

Why I’m on Facebook

Last week I got this note from a “friend” on Facebook:

I just want to thank you for accidently adding me on here. You have so much faith, that it gives me faith. So, thank you :)

Crazy story here… I was trying to add a friend from Pennsylvania and accidentally misspelled her name. The result? I befriended another person. Someone I didn’t know. Now I get this note from her… someone I don’t even know.

facebook

I love Facebook for the following reasons:

  • It allows me to interact with all kinds of people. I have friends who drive trucks. I have friends who are gay (one is a trapeze artist in Las Vegas). I have friends who are fundamentalist Christians. I have friends who are not Christians. I have friends who are old. I have friends who are young. I have friends who are black. I have friends who are white. I have friends who travel around the world. I have friends who work in fast food joints.
  • It allows my friends to interact with each other. Often times my friends have pretty vigorous debates about something I’ve said. I love it.
  • It allows me to be a pastor to people I’ve never met. Just last week I spent some time talking with a lady who’s husband has violated her trust in a very significant way.
  • It allows me to see how other people live.
  • It allows other people to see how I live.

So I really like Facebook. It’s an online community that I’m proud to be part of for these reasons.

How about you? Are you on Facebook? If so, send me a friend request.

I’d also love to hear what you love about Facebook.

Some follow up advice for wives… from a wife

Sherri M. is a friend of mine. Her husband, Chuck, is too.

Sherri and Chuck have been separated for a while now.

She responded to my post 6 Ideas for a Great Marriage.

Her comments must be heard. Here they are:

And for you Ladies:

#1 – Put your husband second ONLY to the LORD. Not the kids, not your mom, your sister, your best friends. He is to be the most important human on the planet as far as you are concerned.

#2 – Respect him. Even if you think it is the dumbest thing that you have ever heard.

#3 – Thank & praise him. Especially if he makes any of the efforts that Paul has outlined above. He will not touch that vacuum ever again if you criticize the way he did it.

#4 – Love him. Put a note in his sock drawer. Send a card to him at work. Make his favorite dinner on a Thursday, not just his birthday. The same things that you would do for your kids, just to see the look on their face – do it for your husband. He MUST know where he stands in your world. PROVE IT!

#5 – and probably the single most important thing that you can do for your man – Pray for him. Daily. Hourly. Whatever. Ask the LORD for wisdom, protection, his relationships with you, the kids, his boss & co-workers, his family, etc. Ask God for a good day for your husband. The benefits are astounding – try it.

As Paul said, 5 ideas that you can start immediately to create a better marriage and contribute to a better world.

Proof that I own a suit

Last weekend I preached in a suit. Not because I like it, but because I lost a bet. The Phillies lost the world series to the Yankees… and I had made a bet on them.

The bet was with a friend, Bruce, who is a Yankees fan. We agreed that if the Phillies won he would wear jeans with his shirt pulled out and receive the offering… right up the middle aisle. And if the Yankees won I would preach in a suit. The Yankees won. I preached in a suit.

Funny thing happened… a number of the guys on our team donned suits and joined me! And now there are pictures to confirm the whole thing!

paul in a suit

paul and the guys in suits

Five marks of a financial genius

Admittedly I am no financial guru BUT I am studying these things because I need to be!

I need to be financially astute because I am:

  • A husband to one and a daddy to five girls (can you say “Weddings”).
  • A pastor (In addition to the fact that this is much like leading a business, I am also called by Christ to lead by example… this includes how I manage my money).

Recently I’ve discovered a financial paradigm that is proving quite helpful. In fact, on our last date, Sherri and I spent quite a bit of time discussing our finances based on this paradigm.  We want to be:

  • Diligent Earners
  • Generous Givers
  • Wise Savers
  • Cautious Debtors, and
  • Prudent Consumers

(This paradigm was developed by Good Sense Ministry).

What do you think about this financial paradigm? Would it prove helpful for you?

6 ideas for a great marriage

God created three institutions:

  1. Family
  2. Church
  3. Government

We can’t expect to get government right if we don’t get church right and we can’t get church right if we don’t get family right.

Bottom line, to see health and wellness (spiritual, financial, relational, racial, etc.) in our world we must start in our homes.

The best gift we can give to our world is a healthy home (I mean healthy in every aspect of the word).

Here are six ideas for husbands. Six ideas that will make your marriage/family better and have a positive ripple effect:

#1 Date your wife every week.

Just do it. Turn off the TV, say “no” to your buddies, find a babysitter and date that lady! Date her just like you did BEFORE you married her!

#2 Kids in bed by 8 p.m.

Your wife needs you WITHOUT the kids! Kids up after 8 is kids up to late! This is not so much about the kids as it is about you and her! Help her get those kids in bed so you two can make out… or make up… or just enjoy each other as you clean the house.

#3 Teamwork

Teammates don’t go “tit-for-tat”; they work together to win the game! They do what needs to be done. Husband, look around what needs to be done that you can do now… even if she normally does it? Can you run the vacuum? Brush the kids teeth? Fill the dog dish? See what you can do and do it… you’ll be surprised at what happens!

#4 Open the door for her

This is about being a gentleman. When Sherri and I were newlyweds I opened the car door for her (I still do). One time a “friend” said, “Ha! You’ll not be doing that a few years from now.” I wanted to say, “Dude, just because you’re marriage sucks doesn’t mean mine will.” Men, be a gentleman. Treat your wife with honor and respect. Speak well of her and give her the honor a lady deserves. Be a gentleman.

#5 Do Domestic Detail

This is a manly way to say “help around the house.” You can do laundry or dishes without having to check in your “Man Card.” Help your bride around the house. I do all the laundry and clean up everything after supper (in addition to being a teammate and doing other “domestic details” that need attending). Men, a great way to show your wife you love her (in addition to the constant groping and grunting) is to help her.

#6 Do things the way she would do them

Sherri is meticulous. I’m not. She folds her dirty clothes before she puts them in the hamper. I’m lucky if mine hit the hamper. I used to criticize this. Now I realize that it doesn’t take long to do things her way and it makes me a better man in addition to making our home a better place! She has a certain way she likes her dishes put away. I used to fight it. Now I do it her way. The result = the kitchen looks great and my bride thinks I’m sexy (I have no clue how sexy and dishes go together but they do). I’ve just realized that on most things it’s not worth having a conversation about. Just do it her way when you’re helping her!

So there you go. Six ideas that you can start doing immediately that will create a better marriage and contribute to a better world.

Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki and Dave Ramsey

I’ve read Dave Ramsey. Many of us have. His book Total Money Makeover provided a turning point for the way I think about money.

He has outlined a financial paradigm that I’ve bought into:

$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund
Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
3 to 6 months of expenses in savings
Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
College funding for children
Pay off home early
Build wealth and give!
Invest in mutual funds and real estate

Now I’m reading a book by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki, Why We Want You To Be Rich.

It’s interesting to see how these experts differ, particularly with regards to debt and investing. While I’m not going to elaborate on their differences in this post, I did talk to a friend of mine the other day who happens to be a Financial Planner. I asked him about debt. He said that there are two kinds of debt:

  1. Good debt = low interest rates and tax deductible
  2. Bad debt = high interest rates and non-deductible

In other words, not all debt is bad debt. This is where Trump and Kiyosaki would land.

The question you and I have to ask ourselves is, “Is my debt bad?”

What resources have you found helpful as you develop your financial acumen?

If you’re new to this blog…

If you are a new reader of this blog let me say, “Thank you for swinging by!”

A few things you should know about this blog and me:

  • Jesus is my Leader.
  • Sherri is my wife.
  • We have five daughters.
  • I am a pastor.
  • I love UFC, politics, reading, and spending time with all of my ladies!
  • If you’re interested in traveling with me, let me make it easier for you:

    So why am I inviting you to this journey? Because I believe that life is a journey. I am a pastor and I’m traveling out loud and want to invite you to travel with me. By following me on Twitter, interacting with me through this blog and on Facebook you can see how a pastor lives. It’s not always pretty and it’s not always ugly. It’s just the real life of a man who’s seeking God and leading others to do the same thing.

    Ashton

    Snapped this close up of Princess Ashton this morning…

    ashton up close

    I can’t think of a better wake-up call!

    A mother’s love

    Last night on our date there was a special moment between Sherri and Karis.

    I caught it on my phone to share it with you, and to keep it forever.

    karis and sherri on our date

    Now read these words, “I will comfort you there as a child is comforted by its mother.” God (Isaiah 66:13).

    Be aware today that your Heavenly Father is looking at you with love.