Most people refer to southern half of the U.S. as the Bible Belt. Why is that?
Webster explains it as an "area whose inhabitants are believed to hold uncritical allegiance to the literal accuracy of the Bible; broadly : an area characterized by ardent religious fundamentalism". How much sense does that make? If we actually held an uncritical allegience to the Bible then we would probably be more effective. However, webster isn't fully aware of what's really going on down here.
My personal definition of the bible belt is much different. Maybe that's because I'm part of it. Understand that when I say these things, I'm pointing out the things that I've seen take place in my own life. I'm not just pointing out the faults of others.
For me, the bible belt can be something like a treadmill. A long piece of rubber attached to two wheelys that is continually moving, but going nowhere. You can get on a treadmill and run the distance from Mississippi to Tennessee but you'll never get there. You can build the biggest muscles and have the greatest endurace, but you're still going nowhere. You're stuck on a machine in the middle of your living room. Going nowhere and affecting no one.
Living in south Mississippi, it's easy to get caught up in the cycle. You go to church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Attend the occasional Bible study, try to be nice to people and pay your taxes. Everyone at church is your family, they're your best friends. You hang out with them on the weekends and throw each other birthday parties. You're content and you're life is seemingly happy. But what about everyone else?
Living in the bible belt has spoiled us. We assume that everyone knows about God and we spend our days wrapped up in our own lives. But everyone doesn't know. Everyone knows about church. They know about tithes and they know about hypocrites. But they don't know about God. They don't know about His love, His mercy and his unending grace.
We've been brainwashed to a point where the endless cycle has become our lives. But that's so far from the truth. Imagine if we stopped looking inward and started showing others the love of Christ. Not just to the people we go to church with and work with. Those outside of our comfort zone and our circle of friends.
The task may seem challenging, but taking the first step is the hardest part. Just one simple act of kindness to a complete stranger will change everything about you. It takes boldness and it takes love, but it's what you were called for. Life may seem wonderful but you'll never experience it to its fullest until you step off the treadmill.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tax Season
Some things in life just don’t make sense. Spending your entire tax refund on new shoes is one of those things.
Tax season is a time when the poor get rich and the rich get poor. Those who’ve never been able to save money are given a check for thousands of dollars and have no idea what to do with it. The logical thing would be to pay off some debt, put some in savings and then put a little in the pocket for thrills. However, the most common reaction is “cash it”.
Then what happens? In three days the money is gone and all you have to show for it is some newly polished nails and a fuller closet. The cycle starts all over again with scraping pennies and paying bills. How do we break it?
A wise person once told me that people who struggle will most always struggle because they refuse to change. An overused definition of the word “idiocracy” is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting results. It’s not the amount of money you have that makes the difference. It’s how you let it affect you.
I'm no financial advisor but common sense can offer you great advice. First, tithe on what you recieve. If your 10% offering wasn't deducted out of your net pay, you owe God some money. Second, look over all of your debt. If you're behind on something, bring it current. If you're paying anything ahead, work on the one with the highest interest rate, not the lowest principle. Third, catch up on any maintenence you've been putting off. (Fix the railing on the front porch, new tires on the car, etc.) Fourth, go buy yourself something nice, something practical. Maybe a new outfit or a new pair of shoes. Treat yourself for all the hard work you've done this year. Take your spouse out to a nice dinner. Lastly, divide up whats left. Put the majority in savings and a little in checking. But don't put the checking deposit in your registry. Keep it as a cushion and leave it there. It will help you out with any over drafts in the long haul.
Follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to an easier year. It may not seem as enjoyable as splurging it all on a new car that you can't afford but you'll thank me in June when your neighboor's lexus is getting repossessed.
Tax season is a time when the poor get rich and the rich get poor. Those who’ve never been able to save money are given a check for thousands of dollars and have no idea what to do with it. The logical thing would be to pay off some debt, put some in savings and then put a little in the pocket for thrills. However, the most common reaction is “cash it”.
Then what happens? In three days the money is gone and all you have to show for it is some newly polished nails and a fuller closet. The cycle starts all over again with scraping pennies and paying bills. How do we break it?
A wise person once told me that people who struggle will most always struggle because they refuse to change. An overused definition of the word “idiocracy” is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting results. It’s not the amount of money you have that makes the difference. It’s how you let it affect you.
I'm no financial advisor but common sense can offer you great advice. First, tithe on what you recieve. If your 10% offering wasn't deducted out of your net pay, you owe God some money. Second, look over all of your debt. If you're behind on something, bring it current. If you're paying anything ahead, work on the one with the highest interest rate, not the lowest principle. Third, catch up on any maintenence you've been putting off. (Fix the railing on the front porch, new tires on the car, etc.) Fourth, go buy yourself something nice, something practical. Maybe a new outfit or a new pair of shoes. Treat yourself for all the hard work you've done this year. Take your spouse out to a nice dinner. Lastly, divide up whats left. Put the majority in savings and a little in checking. But don't put the checking deposit in your registry. Keep it as a cushion and leave it there. It will help you out with any over drafts in the long haul.
Follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to an easier year. It may not seem as enjoyable as splurging it all on a new car that you can't afford but you'll thank me in June when your neighboor's lexus is getting repossessed.
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