Money is NOT the root of all evil

Money is NOT the root of all evil.  Instead of declaring war on the rich, that is, those who have succeeded and are flourishing, lets declare war on poverty.  Poverty is a good deal closer to the root of all evil.  I will never understand people who are opposed to prosperity.  How is having influence, means, and greater abilities bad?  Don't we all want to be able to met our needs and have some left over to generously give to people and causes we believe in?  We should lift up as hero's those who have brought talent together in such a way that it has resulted in a fortune.  We should imitate people who have been creative, insightful, and inventive instead of marginalizing them.  Personally, I think poverty is what we should look down on and work toward eliminating.  Not having enough should be seen as a tragedy not some sort of perverted victory in life.

Money is what pays the mechanic to fix your car.  Money is what pays the teacher to instruct your kids.  Money is what is given in exchange for that new appliance, or gizmo, or roof.  Money is simply a means of exchange.  It represent value and people are will to give something in exchange for it.  Personally, I would like to have more money because more money will allow me to buy what I need, save for my future, and give to places that I think need it.

I don't see money as evil.  I see it as a wonderful tool.

How I did with my 2012 goals

Looking over my written goals for 2012, I would say I had mixed success.  Most of my completed goals were in the Personal Development and Spiritual categories.  Most of my uncompleted goals were in the Career and Financial categories.  Not meeting my goals in the Career and Financial categories disappoints me.  It is hard to see that once again. I feel bad because that has been a reacquiring shortfall for my whole life.  I set what I think are big goals for those areas.  Big enough that if I reached half of them, I would be well on my way.  But I don't even reach half.  The other problem with not getting some big wins with career and finance is that so many of the other goals I have are tied to these two goals.  They are down stream and dependent on some money flow in order to take place.  Like paying off my house.  I need to have a large income to knock that out.

I don't know what else to do.  I set big goals.  I review my goals.  I attain many goals in some areas of my life but miss big in other areas of my life.  Why can't I win in career and finance?  What big change of mind and heart needs to occur?  How do I even get started?  Why are others able to achieve so much in these areas?

In one way I look back on 2012 and I see that much was accomplished.  Yet I also see many good, worthy goals that were left undone.  I now look to 2013 with hope and with great expectations.

Heavy snow December 2012

This past weekend we again had a major snow fall.  Not too many days ago we had our first large snow storm so I am surprised that we are getting hit again so quickly.  The first snow fall resulted in schools and businesses being closed.  Unfortunately, the temperatures dropped rapidly and the streets and pavements were never completely cleared.  As a result, we had icy bumps on our pathways.  Now we are having our second snow storm of the season.  I was not expecting this one to be so long or to have so much accumulation.  The first snow fall was heavy and wet.  This second snow fall has been light and fluffy.  It is definitely easier to shovel.

I have told myself that I no longer want to complain about the weather.  There is a lot to be thankful for when we get rain and snow but there is also not a lot that can be done about the weather.  So why complain about it?

These snow storms have changed the outdoors into a classic winter landscape.  It is very picturesque.  The ground is completely covered in white.  The trees are heavy with snow.

CS Lewis quote on what to write about

"Write about what really interests you, whether it is real things or imaginary things, and nothing else."  This quote from CS Lewis hit me and challenged me.  As you may know I am struggling with this blog.  It does not seem to have a purpose or direction except to share who I am.  I would like to find a topic to focus on and write at length about it.  Yet, I am not finding that idea.  My thoughts for the new year are to cut back on my daily posts and take them down to three times per week.  I hope by doing so I can raise my quality and remove a little stress of getting that post out there each day.  But what really interests me?  Well, my faith, success, nature, relationships, learning.  I have thought about blogging about improving one's life.  That is sort of general but it could be enough of a focus that it could get me started.  As of right now, I have no definite plans.

Reviewing my counselors

There was a blog post I read recently that came out of the blue and really got me to wondering.  The author was quoting from Isaiah 30 where the Lord rebukes the people of God for finding counsel in the world and not from Him.  The post motivated me to pray and to consider who I listen to and take advice from.  Even if advice is good and upright, it may not be the advice I need to hear at this time of my life.  I take a lot of advise.  I read blogs and books and listen to radio and podcasts.  Yet, is it helping me?  Well, I have been going backward the last year or so.  When is all this advice, these seeds of goodness, going to spring up and bear fruit?  It is that time of year to look at my counselors and make some hard decisions.

I have gotten rid of the blogs Free Money Finance and Seth Godin's blog.  FMF came to me through Chuck Bently.  FMF is a believer but I don't like how people on his blog make very good money and yet are in debt and living in homes above their means.  FMF also posts a lot on earning cash back from credit cards and I have come to a point where I don't want to put my time into going through those hoops.  I am also putting aside Seth Godin because he is all about marketing and business.  People think he is brilliant and I have been stimulated by his writings.  Yet I am not at a place where I can benefit from his thoughts.

I have decided to unsubscribe from Dave Ramsey's Entreleadership and MacWorld's podcast.  I love Dave and he has some great material.  However, I am not an entrepreneur.  I want freedom and I want to lead well when I get a chance.  But again, he is talking to the business owner which I am not.  I am putting aside MacWorld's podcast because they go in depth about technology that I am not choosing to buy right now.  I will always enjoy Apple products but I don't need to know ever in and out.

I am hoping that now that I have dropped these blogs and podcasts that I will free up time for something better.  Something that will benefit me where I am right now.  Even more, I hope to hear from the Lord.  My life is really His life.  He created me and He paid dearly for my salvation.  I need to listen to Him more than ever and obey.