Dave Ramsey has a proposed fix for our nation's economy. Millions of people have listened and followed Dave's advice on getting out of debt and living without credit. As a result they live a peaceful financial life. They don't worry about money. Considering how the nation's economy is in a mess as a result of debt and credit, I'd think Dave's plan atleast needs some consideration.
Go check it out.
At the age of 20, John Adams wrote in his Journal on July 21, 1756 the following entry."I am resolved to rise with the sun and to study Scriptures on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, and to study some Latin author the other three mornings. Noons and nights I intend to read English authors. . . . I will rouse up my mind and fix my attention. I will stand collected within myself and think upon what I read and what I see. I will strive with all my soul to be something more than persons who have had less advantages than myself."
I've not been very disciplined in keeping a journal. Keeping tabs on my day is not something I regularly do, but often wish I had. I also write down lots of dreams and goals that will never come to fruition. If only a few were to happen, that would be fine.
David McCullough notes the following in his book John Adams, after the above entry."But the next morning he slept until seven and a one-line entry the following week read, 'A very rainy day. Dreamed away the time.'"
Perhaps I too will make a fine President one day.
This is an interview Dave did with Fox News yesterday. After you watch the video, you can get more information about Dave's take on the economy at DaveRamsey.com.
I think most people are really worried about their personal finances and not the economy. The economy talk just adds to the fears that already eat at most Americans who live paycheck to paycheck. If you are really freaked out by the economy then you would have stopped doing some of the following things in the past week (If these are a practice of yours).
Like a lot of other people, I try to keep a notepad and pen in my pocket. It took me awhile but I finally found my perfect notepad and it's not a Moleskin. I know Moleskins are trendy and a lot of people use them, but I need something more durable if it is going to bare the load of my frame sitting on it all day long.
I went through a lot of Moleskins and every time I started a new one, it would undoubtedly begin to fall apart in a week. Even when I tried to use a cover, the books were so thin, the sewing began to fall apart with the combination of a lot of sitting and some bottom moisture.
I tried a lot of other routes, but have finally landed with the small versions of the marble designed lab notebooks. They are flexible, fit in my back pocket, cheaper and more durable than Moleskins ... but only after I made one modification.
The largest problem with carrying any notepad in your pocket is the bottom moisture I spoke about earlier. Sometimes, it just gets hot sitting in an office chair all day and your notepad absorbs the problem. So, one day as I was sitting at my desk, I noticed the Dave Ramsey Window Decals that I haven't yet put on my windows. I figured they're made to withstand moisture so why not cover my notepad with them? So, I did and it is working marvelously. Here is a picture of what they look like.
I think something like this is what really happened to all the gas.
Thanks Smitty
Yesterday was a day that seemed like it would never get started and would never end. Do you know what I mean?
I started by going to the walk-in clinic to get my eye checked out. It had been bothering me all weekend. After leaving there I managed to get in a few hours of work, only most of that time was getting a lively and informative presentation from Dave. It was good, but left less time for daily work. No biggie.
I then left to get a prescription for the ulcer in my eye. Then I went to pick up my wife and head downtown to the obstetrician. Yes...we're having baby number 2 for those who don't know yet. After a couple of hours there we headed back to Grassland to pick up one of our cars. On the way out of the parking garage, a lady backed into us... no harm - no foul.
We got my wife back to the other car, she then went to get our son and I (as all good husbands do) went to the grocery store. That's when traffic stopped. There was a head on collision up a head involving 3 cars. I sat, and sat, and sat. Three ambulances came by. Two were in a rush with lights on, and the third taking it's time. I'm hoping no one was dead in the third one because it was a bad wreck.
I finally made it to the Publix at Fieldstone Farms. I did my shopping and as I was putting the last bag into the car I heard screeching tires. Instead of playing the game where you say "Wham!", I heard it happen instead. I looked up and a Blazer plowed into a Taurus, blocking the intersection.
I may be one of the few in Nashville that has not had to wait in line for gas, but I have certainly had my fair share of waiting. Today is moving forward swimmingly.
I can count about 15 blogs that I read, who have talked about the frustrations of getting gas in Nashville during the past week. Apparently, someone spread fear into the heart and souls of Music City citizens with the approach of hurricane Ike sending thousands to the gas pumps when they weren't at risk of running out. Thus, actually causing a shortage. Then as everyone ran out of gas, everyone blogged about it...right Troy?
Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allendar put together a book back in the early 80's entitled Encouragement, The Key to Caring. This was a re-read for me as I prepared to speak on the subject of encouragement last week at a congregation.
I've heard a lot of people speak on the subject of encouragement but I've not seen anyone come close to these guys on nailing the subject, particularly when it comes to using words to encourage. They do a great job of identifying the obstacles that keep people from encouraging and being encouraged. Here's are two big takeaways for me.
"Words that encourage are 1) inspired by love, and 2) directed towards fear."Then Proverbs 25:20 really stood out to me. Your attempt to encourage someone may be pointless if your attempt does not specifically address the other person's fears.
Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
What if you had to make a million dollars in 30 days?
What if you couldn't spend a dime to get started?
What if you had to do it all online?
What if the million dollars wasn't for you?
What if getting half-way there isn't good enough?
...What would you do?
Obviously, I don't expect you to share your secrets, but if you want to discuss go ahead.
Do you know people who are extremely generous? You may be one of them. There are some people that will give to others on regular occasions when the recipient didn't ask or even need what they received. Unexpected gifts are nice. I enjoy them as much as the next person. There's nothing wrong with giving like this ... or is there?
I've seen people who received these unexpected gifts turn around later and ask the same person who gave them these gifts for help with more important and serious matters. The person that did the giving all of the sudden had nothing left to give.
If you can give unexpected gifts, great! If you genuinely can't help when someone has a real need, that's ok. But, if you give now so you don't have to give later, then your gifts were no gifts at all.
Giving is a privilege and responsibility. Treat it as such.
A few weeks ago, we came across a blog post from another company who started a push up club. We then started looking around on the web and noticed there were several other companies doing the same thing. That's when four of us (Walsh, Smitty, Russell, & me) said, "It's time for Lampo to embark on financial fitness and physical fitness."
So, we started with baby steps. On 8/22/2008 we began by doing 10 push ups and adding a push up everyday. However, on Friday's we each do our push ups individually in front of others until we fail.
As of today we are up to 25 push ups for the group. Our goal is to hit 100 by the end of the year. Since today was Failure Friday, I failed at 40. The group average was 41.5.
If you're looking for camaraderie with co-workers this might be it.
Google/Blogger released a new widget for blogs. It's called "Following". I guess it is piggy backing on the Twitter terminology. Anyway, here is why I am telling you about it.
I stopped keeping a blog log a long time ago. It got really cumbersome trying to keep up with everyone's blogs, blog changes, new blogs, etc... So, I stopped. However, with Blogger's new "Following" you can essentially add yourself to a type of blog log on my blog. Here's how.
Many years ago when the television was invented, many people began thinking that our dreams were only in black and white. As the color television made its place in our lives, we quickly learned that our dreams weren't restricted to black and white. It became clear that we can dream in color.
Would you believe me if I told you that last night I had a dream in high definition? It was a great picture...really.
Dictators, athletes, politicians, neighbors, preachers, elders, teachers, bosses, cops, coaches, landlords, customers, etc... How would your world change if you said to yourself "I love that person" and stopped right there? We often say something like the following instead "I love him, but I don't like him or his ideas."
I dare say we follow up "I love you" by pointing out flaws because we're selfish. We're selfish because we don't want others to think we accept certain behaviors or ideals. Unless we state the preconditions of our love for others, we fear others may love us circumstantially as well.
Try saying the following list and mean it.
My mom use to paint boards for us to play with our Match Box cars and Hot Wheels on. I spent hours in the floor with my bucket of cars. She even painted one for a lot of our cousins, so we could put our boards together to make bigger towns to drive on. I have a lot of memories because she made her ideas come to life.
Today is her birthday. I'm sad she's no longer here. But instead of giving a gift to her, I recently took her idea and hope to give the same kinds of memories to my kids. Here's what I recently did for my little boy. It was a lot of fun to paint this.
I am thinking of doing more of these and selling them. Anybody want to buy one?
Last night at the Republican National Convention, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson said the following about Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
"And I can say without fear of contradiction that she is the only nominee in the history of either party who knows how to properly field dress a moose … with the possible exception of Teddy Roosevelt."
Mark Sanborn's latest book The Encore Effect went on sale today. If you haven't ever read one of his books, I think you will find that they inspire you to do your job better, regardless of where you work or what you do for a living. All three books will motivate you to live with a fresh look on everything you do.
You can order them on Amazon.
