Open the Gates...

What does it take to spark creativity?

There were a few months when I posted every day. I sought out quotes each day and tried to glean what I could to create a post. Sometimes they came easy. Sometimes it was hard work.

Eventually I fell off.

Now, I'm sporadic, at best.

I will say that it wasn't all for naught. Some of that focus was diverted to new priorities. Fortunately, those did bear some fruits. 2011 was definitely a year of change, with a few setbacks. But, in those setbacks, we learned lessons in patience and self-control.

Now, for growth.

Open the gates...

Everything in my life is a blessing.

God's unbounded love shines through in everything that touches my life.

Yes, sometimes I've seen negative impacts on another's life turn out to be positive in mine. But, I've also seen the reverse.

His plan is always in action.

Some may disagree. To those, I pray that you'll soon see how God's Grace is always present.

Coram Deo...

Well, a little long overdue. Sorry.

I want to make sure to post at least once a week, hopefully more.

I've been debating on letting out a certain type of news, for fear that it may come back to bite me.

Eh, it's no big deal really.

I've had to make a lifestyle change and give up on one of my dreams, because of some news I got in mid-December.

It turns out that I'm no longer to eat any wheat products, more specifically gluten.

I've been diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

I guess the "disease" part sounds bad. But really, I just need to not ingest gluten, as it's become a poison to my body. The only real inconvenience it causes is that my choices are drastically reduced, if not eliminated, when we eat out.

Eh, oh well, I'll deal with it.

The bigger deal is that I've had to give up on one of my loves, craft beer, and one of my dreams, brewing my own beer. Wheat products are the major ingredients in beer. Yes, there's gluten-free beer, which is made from sorghum rice. But it tastes nothing like beer, more like hard cider. So, I'll lump it in with the hard ciders, rather than beer.

Really, it's more of an emotional thing. Because it was relatively easy to give up.

So, here's to a gluten-free life. A lot more foods need to be made from scratch at home, as well.

However, this is especially a treat, since my wife is an awesome cook!

Open the Gates...

Within the past 90 days, we've already paid off 3 credit cards (at least) and are well on our way to the others.

We also drive two paid-for cars. They aren't the prettiest things. But they get us where we need to go. Yes, there is money in repairs. But one relatively major repair is as much as a (generally accepted) "normal" monthly car payment. I'm sorry, but heated seats and a cd changer just don't add up to a $20,000 premium.

Thankfully, both of us are on the same page with this.

We will overcome our past wrecklessness and use The Lord's gifts for his glory.

Open the gates...

"The rich rules over the poor, 

      And the borrower is servant to the lender."

Proverbs 22:7 (NKJV)

I thought about leaving out the beginning of that verse, as it could be taken out of context by the Occupy Wall Street crowd (with whom I don't agree).

Actually, if you were to ponder on the latter part of the verse, one would find that most people's economic troubles come from DEBT. If people didn't leverage themselves up to their eyes, the accumulated interest could be paid to themselves.

It is possible to live debt free - and that is our goal.

Our finances were a mess. They were all over the place.

Mostly existing in some nebulous, unseen blob somewhere outside of our sight.

It wasn't outside of our reach though.

But it seemed easier to just let things happen and panic during the last few days of the pay period.

There were times when we discussed  getting things in order. But it was such a daunting task.

But we got over it. It took us 5 years. But, we're over it.

We tell our money where to go and it feels great!

Open the gates...

I'm thankful that my growth is unhindered.

Milestones are great things and provide guideposts to the journey.

But, they don't necessarily have to serve as stage-gates, opening only when one is allowed to pass.

Open the gates...

I refuse to be a product of the system.

Potential is what you make of it.

That is all.

Open the gates...

(OK, now that is all)

I recognize that transparency is an admirable quality.

I think there are different kinds, not levels, though.

Actions, reactions, spoken words.

All relay a message.

We are in the heart of season where many are overly vocal.

Emotions run rampant and often smear logic to kingdom come.

Arguments abound.

But hearing one particular message more than another, does not mean that the vocal majority is necessarily right.

In an argument, one may make more valid points about a bad ethical decision than one arguing for a good one.

The bad one may even get in the last word.

Some, and I may venture - many, may think that person may have won the argument.

"Winning" doesn't mean that you're right though...

God made us with emotions.

They can enrich our experiences to extreme measures.

But they can also contaminate things - interactions with others, physical reactions, thoughts, etc.

Wisdom and patience are such blessings.

Coram Deo...