summer vacation

I must say that it has been quite a while since I last posted. So, I am taking my time on vacation as a chance to 'update' my life a bit (blog included).

I have recently come under the conviction that this is the time, more than ever, to prepare my life for the future. This conviction could not have come at a better time because my wonderful wife and I have decided that I take over the finances. But preparing for my future entails much more than our finances. I realize that as we prepare to move to Houston, upon me finishing my B.A. in the spring, this summer is the best time to engineer my life in such a way that God can accomplish what we feel he has called us to.

Kristin will be adjusting our diet to one that is (to the best of our ability) 100% organic and natural and our general health. To help her in this she will be reading
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

I will be utlizing a couple of resources to help engineer our life for not only the future, but the present, everyday aspects of our lives.

The first is
Reverse Engineering Your Life by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church, Seattle.
This lecture has been a life-change sort of thing for me. It is a very practical, gospel-centered approach that 'engineers' your life so that you work on your life instead of within it.

A few of the guiding principles of this are:
Your life is a check book and you write a check every day;
You must see the Macro before you live in the Micro;
To see the Macro you need faith and an imagination;
Count the cost in everything that you do.

I highly recommend everyone to download the audio (from the above the link if you are a pastor, or from here if you want to hear the same material, but delivered to the men of his church.

The second resource is by Ron Blue.
I appreciate this material because it is more than just Financial Management. The goal of the 10 week workbook is to provide "a framwork of financial planning that is both biblical and relevant in our society." One of the key points is to realize that you own nothing, you are simply a steward of God's property.

My prayer is that this week will be a start of a great summer in which God will show me his plans for our future and that I have the conviction to see it through.