Money. . . What IS It Really All About? - Throwback Thursday

Okay! You got me! It's not Thursday. As a matter of fact, this won't even post on Wednesday. It will post on Tuesday. Forgive me. It's been a super busy past few days. I meant to post something, though, that is amazing similar to this. Hopefully tomorrow you will be able to read that post. Until then, please thoughtfully and prayerfully read this post. As I was reading again just this evening, it struck me as to how life has a habit of going around and around in circles. It almost seems like someone else wrote this post for me to read today. It's funny how a post that I wrote many years ago could speak to me and minister to me today. I pray it speaks to you also. If it does, please leave me a comment.

Money...What IS it really all about?
Mood:  not sure
Topic: The Purple Files

I've been thinking about money lately. I think about it off and on, but this bout began the other day. I was driving to a neighboring town to take one of my kids to therapy when I passed a pet grooming business. It got me to thinking about all of the people who actually take their pets and spend 20, 30, 50, perhaps hundreds of dollars a year. For what? For someone to comb their pets fur and put pretty bows in it? Now, we could go on and on about the benefits of having a pet and how therapeutic they are, etc. I am not against having a pet. We have a cat and a dog ourselves. But is that really the best use of our money? A use that would be glorifying to God?
 

Perhaps it's because we work with low income families and support kids through Compassion International. I have seen what it's like to live with little money here in the United States and I've read about and corresponded with children who have next to nothing in life. But, I've never seen or experienced extreme poverty before. My wife and I were talking about this just today. She made the comment that perhaps one of the reason God sends us on mission's trips is to jolt us back into reality when we get back. To make us realize what is really important in life.
A blogging acquaintance of mine, Kristen, from We are THAT Family has experienced just that. A few months ago Kristen was on the blogging team that went to Kenya with Compassion International to write about what they saw and post it on their blogs. You can read their amazing posts by clicking here. I could never verbalize it in the excellent way that Kristen did, but her Kenya trip had a profound impact on her. She came back a totally different person. So much so that her husband commented that he wasn't sure that he knew her anymore. To which Kristen commented back that she wasn't sure she even knew herself. Things just seemed so empty when she got back...so odd.

On her trip Kristen experienced traveling through one of the worst slums in the world. So bad was this slum that they had to split up into groups of three or four and have a personal body guard. They were told not to stare and to refrain from taking pictures while traveling on foot to get to the Compassion project in the middle of the slum. One lady, a professional photographer did take pictures however. She took them from her hip from under a jacket. Those photographs are amazing to look at but disgusting as well. You can find them by clicking on the posts of the bloggers that traveled through this filth called Mathare Valley. Read more of Kristen's story appropriately titled "Today, I Went to Hell" by clicking here.

Kristen had experienced extreme poverty. This isn't the government housing area that Sarah and I work in, or the one in your town...this is EXTREME POVERTY! When she got home Kristen felt lost. She made the comment that she wanted to sell everything and live in her garage. She struggled with coming to terms with what she had seen in Kenya and what she came home to in America. She is still dealing with this and it has had a profound impact on how she and her family now live. I encourage you to click here and go to her blog to see what she and her family are doing now. It's amazing.

The stories that these bloggers told really had an impact on me. Since experiencing the poverty in Kenya through their blogs, I've been contemplating money a lot. I've been contemplating a lot of things a lot. And, no, it's not my depression this time. As some of you know, I've suffered from depression in the past. This time, however, it's God. God has been talking to me lately. I mean really talking to me. About a lot of things. This is just one of them. The other day I posted about another. I'll post more of my thoughts on this and other things that God is revealing to me in the future as well.
Money is just one thing that God has been dealing with me on. Don't get me wrong. I don't begrudge people that have money. Many great Christian people have had money. It's what people do with their money that frustrates me. It's what I do with my money that frustrates me.

I Timothy 6:10 says:

For the love of money is the root of all evil...
 

Notice it doesn't say that "Money is the root of all evil". It's not money that is evil, it's what you do with your money. Are you frivolous with what God has given you? A dear friend of ours who tragically died in an auto accident used to say "Hold on to things loosely". Don't allow things to get in the way of what is right and what is true in life. Contrary to what some people think, money cannot buy you happiness. In fact, most of the time it is just the opposite. Hold on to what you have loosely. Use your money and your talents to help others. Use them for the Lord.
 

Lord, although you haven't given my family much, thank you for what you have given us. Thank you for providing for all of our needs. Lord, please help us to "hold on to things loosely" as Betsy used to say. Help us to use what you have given us to further your kingdom. Not just the money that you give us, but everything that you give us. Out talents, our home, our ministry, our time, everything, Lord. Help us to use it for your glory. In your name I pray. Amen 
 

The following is a video of a group of Mathare children singing at the compassion project. Below the video are the lyrics.

Kenyan Song in Mathare from Ryan Detzel on Vimeo.
 

Adhi e dala malo
Am going home on high

Dala gi yesu Ruodha
The home of Christ my Lord

Dala mar auma
The home of splendour

Tinga malo adhi anee dala
Lift me up, so I may see my home

Neuru achako achako wuoth madhi ka wuonwa
I have began, began this journey to the father

Gimaneno ndalo mabiro piny ni rumo
I realise that this world is soon ending

Neuru achako achako wuoth ma dhi ka wuonwa
See I have began this journey to the father

Gimaneno ndalo mabiro piny dong’ gunda
I realize this world will soon be uninhabited

Adhi e dala malo
Am going home on high

Dala gi yesu Ruodha


The home of Christ my Lord

Dala mar auma
The home of splendour

Tinga malo adhi anee dala
Lift me up, so I may see my home

Tinga malo tinga
Lift me up lift me

Tinga malo tinga
Lift me up lift me

Tinga malo tinga
Lift me up lift me

Tera adhi anee dala
Take me to see home

Wach ni awinjo
I hear this message

Wach no aneno komaka gi wuoro
This message feels me with awe

Omaka gi wuoro
Feels me with awe

Gimaneno ndalo mabiro piny ni rumo
I perceive this world is ending soon

Wach ni awinjo
I hear this message

Wach ni aneno komaka gi wuoro
This message feels me with awe

Gimaneno ndalo mabiro piny dong’ gunda
I realize this world will soon be uninhabited

Courtesy of Compassion International: http://blog.compassion.com/mathare-community-outreach-talent/#ixzz0vQ9FmI4Q

 

 

Kenyan Song in Mathare from Ryan Detzel on Vimeo.


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Throwback Thursday - Fruit Leather - So Easy a Caveman. . .I Mean a Kid Can Do It!

I had this scheduled to post tomorrow and was working on something else for today when I was called away to some ministry things. So, I am you are getting my "Throwback Thursday" post on Wednesday! Enjoy!



I was thinking about Fruit Leather the other day so I looked up this old Angelfire blog post and thought I would share it this week. It was originally published on January 23, 2011. We love home made Fruit Leather. However, even more fun than resurrecting this recipe was seeing Joshua from four years ago! I even kept the horrible orange color. What was I thinking? Anyway, have fun and let me know what you think of the recipe.


What do you get when you add applesauce, unsweetened koolaid and sugar? Fruit Leather! Well, you have to dehydrate it first. Here's the deal.
My friend, Brenda, left a comment after yesterday's post saying she knew the answer and, since she was the one who gave me the recipe, then I'm pretty sure she's correct. So, here's the official Brenda Emmett fruit leather recipe:

• 32 oz of applesauce
• one packet of unsweetened koolaid mix
• one quarter of a cup of sugar (adjust to your taste)

Mix all ingredients together and pour on to dehydrator trays covered with plastic wrap. We were out of plastic wrap so I cut up a couple of gallon freezer bags and placed them on my trays and they worked perfectly. You can set your dehydrator at any temperature, but if you put it on high keep an eye on it. I put ours on low and leave it running all night long. In the morning we have delicious fruit leather. It's really so easy that our 10 year old, Joshua, could almost do it by himself. Here's proof!

Pour 32oz of applesauce in a bowl!

 

Pour in one packet of unsweetened Koolaid ~ this time we chose lemon lime.

 

Pour in about one quarter cup of sugar ~ a little more or a little less depending on your taste.

 

Mix well.

 

Pour onto dehydrator trays covered with plastic wrap,  spread evenly and dehydrate.

 

Here's Joshua with some grape fruit leather that we fixed a couple of days ago. We have also fixed orange. We'll make a batch and store it in plastic sandwich bags to be munched on for a healthy snack.

 

There you have it. Our fruit leather recipe. Thanks Brenda! If you don't have a dehydrator, you can put it on a cookie sheet, place it in your oven on low with the door cracked open a bit. Try it! I'll bet you'll like it!

Today is a Sad Day

Attention! If you are seeing this, you are on the New Blog!

Below is the last post that I published on my old Angelfire Blog. I wanted to share the change with you, here on my new blog, so that you all could help me celebrate the big changeover!

Yes, today is the last day  that I'm going to post daily on my old Angelfire Families Again blog. It really has been a good blog. It is served me well since I first started blogging  way back  in October of 2008. I remember the first couple of months that I blogged.  I had just been through a very trying time in my life and in my ministry. I was searching for something that would serve as an outlet for me. I noticed that an online friend of mine had taken up blogging. At that time she was using Angelfire. Blogging had intrigued me for a couple of years.  I really didn't know a whole lot about it, how to start a blog, or what to write. But, I needed an outlet and blogging seemed to fit. So, since the only blogging platform than I knew about was Angelfire,  I signed up and started a blog. Back then there really weren't many blog designs that would fit men but, when I saw the refrigerator design, it reminded me of a ride at Disney World, The Carousel of Progress. The man of the house always seemed to be in the kitchen. His living room had been taken over by family members watching  TV and he had no place to go. So, he ended up in the there. The kitchen always seemed to be the place where my family gathered as well and, since my blog was going to be called Families Again, the kitchen seemed to be the perfect place for me as well.

I'll miss the old green refrigerator. It has served me well for over three years. But, just as kitchen appliances need to be updated,  so did my blog. The Angelfire platform is hopelessly outdated  and I really need to do more with my blog that Angelfire could provide.  So, after inquiring  about other blog platforms, I decided to make the switch to blogger/blogspot and start a new Families Again blog.. I'd experimented with blogger//blogspot before and really enjoyed it so the switch wasn't that hard to make. This past month and a half I've spent  designing and changing things over to my new blog.. As much as I'll miss Angelfire, I have really enjoyed working on my new blog and I really like the look. I think it will serve me well  in the months and years to come. Oh, I'm sure, from time to time, I'll revisit my old Angelfire Families Again  blog and may post something new, but those times will be few and far between.. From now on all of my main posts will be on my new Families Again blog.. If you haven't visited my new Families Again blog all you have to do is click here or on any one of the highlighted links above.  If any of you have been so kind as to add five blog to your favorites don't forget to visit the new blog save that one to your favorites  and delete the old Angelfire address. You can also follow my new blog using  GFC (Google Friend Connect), NetworkedBlogs, or other popular blog following devices. All choices are found in the right-hand column of my new blog.

Thank you, my readers, for all of the joy that you've given me these past three years. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas, and I'm praying that we all have a blessed 2012. I have many great plans for my new blog in the coming year  I hope that you will all be part of it.

Until Tomorrow,

Tim

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Another Test!

Okay, I've just made another change and I am testing my feed. Please forgive me for any inconvenience. I'm excited about switching blogs, but all of this extra maintenance type stuff is driving me up the wall!

The Countdown Is About To Start!

The countdown to the big changeover is about to begin. Get ready!

Okay, I know this is another lame excuse for a post. But, I'm working on a review for a really good product that I will post soon, but after midnight, so it wouldn't count for today's post. Besides, I really am going to start the countdown soon, and I really do want you to get ready! Thanks for stopping by my new blog. If you haven't liked my facebook page or followed me on Google Friend Connect or NetworkedBlogs, then please head on over to the right hand column and like of follow me.

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This is a test...this is only a test!

This is a test...this is only a test...for the next sixty seconds I am going to be testing my blog to see if my NetworkedBlogs post from this site is going to the right place. I repeat...this is only a test.

Well, okay, it's going to take more than sixty seconds and it really isn't a test but I had to say something in this post. Please bear with me while I make the big changeover.

Attention All of My Followers - Please Read - Exciting News - I Think :-/

At least I hope it's exciting news. I've been switching over to my new Families Again blogger blog - http://familiesagain.blogspot.com/ and my task this week is to switch over all of my Google Friend Connect and NetworkedBlog followers. I don't want to lose any followers you are the lifeblood of my blog. I need your help. If you are a Google Friend Connect and/or NetWorkedBlog follower please read the following updates.

I have switched...at least I think I have switched...all of my Google Friend Connect followers over to my new blog. This should be the first post that you should actually get from the new Blogspot blog. I am sending this same post to both blogs. Could a few of you please comment on whatever blog you got this on to let me know it worked or didn't work? If you got it on both for some reason, please mention that as well. Thank you so much!

 

I have not switched over my NetworkedBlog followers yet but will in the next couple of days - hopefully tonight. You all know (or maybe you don't) that I have taken the challenge to post every day for a year again. If, all of a sudden, you stop getting my posts through NetworkedBlogs, or if you continue to get my posts from my angelfire blog (the one with the green refrigerator background), please let me know. For that matter, if everything works out - and I hope it does - and you begin to get the posts from the new Blogspot blog (tan background with new family picture at the top) then please let me know.

Thank you all so much for your help. I'm really excited about switching blogs. I really think my new blog looks a lot better. If you haven't checked out the blogspot blog, here is the address - http://familiesagain.blogspot.com/ . Let me know what you think.

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Toydle! Another Great Christmas Gift! And We're Giving Three Away for Free!

So, what is this wonderful product that I've been talking about for the past couple of days?

It's called a Toydle Toy Fort.

Have your child(ren) ever draped blankets over the couches and chairs and crawled under them?

Have they ever tried to build a fortress out of limbs or left over wood around your home?

Have they ever build these structures only them have them fall apart.or have to be taken down soon after it was built?

Or, worse yet, has your child ever gotten hurt because of faulty or just plain "not made for fort building" materials?

Well, never fear, Toydle Toy Forts are here!

Toydle Toy Forts is the invention of Robert Brownfield. Robert had brought home a toy for his son Ike and five minutes after he presented the toy to his son, it had met it's fate in a heap on the driveway concrete. Rob had already been making quality products with the company of which he was president. After some thought he realized that he could build better, long lasting, more durable toys than what was on the market today, so he began his own company - Toydle. One of the first products he produced was the Toydle Toy Fort. And better yet, it's completely manufactured in American! Take a look at one of the ingenious forts that was build using one of Toydle's Toy Fort kits.

All you do is throw some blankets or tarps over the top and - voila - you have a sturdy fort that can be played in, taken down, and put together again in whatever creative design your child wants. To see a video of a Toydle Toy Fort being put together, just click here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above to get to the Toydle website. The forts come in two different sizes. The regular Toydle Toy Fort sells for $149 and the Big Toydle Fort sells for $229.99. Each comes with specially cut, sturdy, tubes, hand made connector blocks, clips and a handy dandy carry bag. Better yet, everything is unconditionally guaranteed! The Toydle website says that they will replace anything even if a block was left out in the rain of a tube breaks because a child tried to do a pull-up on it - it's guaranteed!

But wait! After you head to the Toydle website, head over to the TOS Homeschool Crew blog because the TOS Homeschool Crew is giving away THREE of the BIG Toydle Forts. The Crew blog has all of the details, just click here. I'll be checking back to see who wins. It would be really neat if one of my readers is able to put one of these neat forts under the tree for Christmas.

NOTE: The above mentioned contest is open to residents of the United States ONLY. TOS Staff and TOS Crew Members (and their families) are not eligible to enter this contest.

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It's Coming! Be Afraid! Be Very Afraid!

Be very afraid! It's coming and it's coming soon! What's coming?

The big change over!

In just a few weeks I will officially be changing over from my angelfire blog to this blog. You can begin following this page if you would like, but I hope to be able to switch over all of my Google Friend Connect and NetworkedBlog friends automatically over from my other blog. So, if you are already following my other blog, don't worry about switching yet.

For right now, most of my posts and reviews will still be on my angelfire blog - http://tink38570.angelfire.com/familiesagain/. I'll post a little here, and maybe even double post a few things on both blogs. Keep watching. They'll be a big countdown leading up to the big switch. Thanks for understanding during all of the switching over.

Tim

I'm here! But I have no idea what I'm doing!

Yep, this is my very first blogger post! Hopefully I will get used to blogger soon. It doesn't seem too difficult! We'll see. Not sure whether or not I'm going to totally let go of my other angelfire blog, but we will see. If you would like to view it, just click here. What I do know is that I am going to begin posting a lot here as well, so get ready for a bumpy ride!