Trent Ruble's Blog: The Other Way It Is , page 11

Upside Down and Under Water

The basic advice when it comes to financial well-being is to say, "Don't spend more than you make." But... this is America. It's no wonder our country is in such financial difficulty. Americans are so used to living life on credit (myself included) that it doesn't even shock us, as it should, when the government does the same thing. We demand instant gratification which transcends our entire culture. It's like a pyramid scheme that will eventually catch up with us.

In 2006, the United States Census Bureau determined that there were nearly 1.5 billion credit cards in use in America (The New York Times, February 23, 2009). The current average credit card debt per household with credit card debt is $15,799 (creditcards.com). On top of this is all our other debt, such as pay day loans, consolidation loans, home equity loans, student loans, and on and on.

So, here's what we do; not that I'm an expert or that this is the only way to do it. This is just what has been working well for us. We're like most of you in that we have a home mortgage, auto loans and credit card debt and we pay at least our minimum monthly payments. Whenever we have extra money, such as a tax refund, we put the money on our debt and we do it in a certain order. The debt with the least value and/or most interest gets paid first. In our case it's credit card debt because it has the highest interest rate and, once it's paid off, there will be nothing of value that can be liquidated. Next are our cars as they will depreciate even though they will have some value (more on cars later). Last is our mortgage as it has a low interest rate and the value of our home appreciates (under normal conditions). In addition, interest paid on mortgage debt is tax deductible.

For some of you the order of the debt you pay will differ. If you have a pay day loan, that will likely be the first that should be paid. And, if at all possible, avoid obtaining these loans in the first place as the interest rates are extremely high. A student loan usually has a low interest rate and, therefore, could be paid off later rather than sooner.

One big expense almost all of us have that could be managed better is our cars. This is where I've lost a lot of money. To begin with, don't buy a new car unless you're wealthy. It is simply never going to be a wise choice as the mark-up is tremendous and so is the depreciation. Getting a car even one year old saves thousands. And, even when you buy a used car, the best choice is to buy from a private seller. Dealers have to buy cars at wholesale or less and sell them at retail or higher in order to make money. In every instance, without exception, they will try to give you less for your trade-in than it's worth and sell you their car for more than it's worth. So, if you have the time, sell your car privately and buy your next one the same way.

When it comes to savings, I recommend keeping the amount of savings low until all your debt is paid. Let's say you have an extra $100. If you save it you may be lucky enough to get 2% interest resulting in $2 in interest paid to you every year. At the same time you are paying at least 8% on your credit card debt. If you paid the $100 on your outstanding credit card balance instead of saving it, you would save $8 in interest per year, or $6 more than you would have made had you saved it (there's a racket in there somewhere).

In addition to all this, don't forget to tithe. I believe that God has protected me and my family, even when we were reckless with our finances, and I believe it's because of faithful tithing. How much should you tithe? The Old Testament indicates that 10% should be given (Deuteronomy 14:22,23) while the New Testament tells us to give what we have decided in our hearts to give and to be cheerful about it (2 Corinthians 9:7).

What in God's Name?

Have you ever thought about the words many people use to emphasize whatever it is they're trying to say? They don't say, "For Buddha's sake!", when they're frustrated, or "Baal damn it!", when they're super ticked-off, although that'd be funny. We all know that when we really want emphasis, only the real God's name will do; as in, "OMG!" Or, at least, a characteristic of God, as in "That's bloody well right!" or "Holy Toledo!"

I was going to boldly begin this post with "G-d d-mn it!", spelled out completely, followed by "J.C., Trent, have you lost your mind?", just to get everyone's attention. It would have nicely demonstrated the power of the name of God. But, my wise wife, Tami, vetoed the idea saying it was not respectful.

I think the great power in God's name is one of the evidences of God. Jesus addressed this power when He said, "Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me." (John 17:11 NIV1984). There are several instances in the Bible in which this power is properly invoked. One such instance occurred after a beggar asked Simon Peter for money. Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (The man) jumped to his feet and began to walk. (Acts 3:6 and 8 NIV). Another instance was when Paul, who was annoyed with a demon-possessed fortune teller, said, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her (Acts 16:18 NIV1984).

It's human nature for us to want to concentrate on how much God loves us, which He certainly does. But, we must also remember the great power of God when we talk to Him, or about Him, and show Him the respect He deserves. And, we must not try to borrow that power to further our own selfish causes.

Global Warmer

OK, it's true. I produce more than my fair share of carbon emissions so I guess I'm a global warmer. But, do those emissions really contribute to climate change? I'm not a scientist so anything I say on the subject carries little weight. But, I must say, I'm just not convinced. I realize that global warming is a real phenomenon, I just don't believe it's being caused by human activity.

Even so, the practice of conservation (reduce, reuse, recycle) and the development of alternative fuels are imperative. These ideas make sense for several obvious reasons, not the least of which is financial. When we use less by reducing our consumption, reusing what we have, and recycling our trash, we save money (I'm all for saving money!) and that makes an immediate impact on the quality of life for our families.

Of course, when we practice these principles, we save energy and resources for later use and that benefits everyone. Little things like turning the water off when you're brushing your teeth or turning the lights off when not in use will really add up when we all do it.

Another practice that will provide an immediate financial impact is recycling. For example, the current price paid for aluminum cans is about $.60 per pound. A pound is about 30 cans making them worth about two cents each. I usually get between $15 and $20 for 45 gallons of crushed cans. Free money! And, again, this practice benefits everyone as it causes our resources to last longer.

Equally important is the development and use of alternative energy sources. This would allow us as a nation to be energy independent and keep more money in our struggling economy where it is desperately needed. In addition, we would send less money to foreign lands where it frequently lands in the hands of our enemies, the terrorists. Osama bin Laden's family's $5 billion fortune may have been made in the construction industry (the Economist, May 07, 2011), but their Saudi customers were almost certainly made wealthy by our oil dependence.

Regardless of what's causing global warming, the practice of conservation and the development of alternative energy are win-win ideas that need your support.

Killing Our Future

My wife knows me best and knows what concerns me most. And, based on what she's read in my blog, she says I'm holding back. It's true and it's partly because I know that there are many, many women who have had an abortion and some, likely including many close friends or family members, will be hurt by what I say. It's truly not my intention to cause you further hurt and pain. What's happened cannot be changed. I can only hope that you may consider these things when making any future decision regarding your unborn children.

In addition, abortion is a thoroughly discussed topic about which everyone already has a well polarized opinion. Speaking to either side is like talking to the wall. Even so, I'll hold back no longer.

Today marks the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion in America. It is the issue that defines us as a society for, if we will destroy our own children, what will we do to our neighbor? The right and wrong of this issue seems so obvious that I was shocked when, as a child, I learned that these procedures were legal and that real mothers would do such things to their own babies. I am so glad my mother chose to give me life.

Even so, I must point out a few logical reasons I'm pro-life. I'll start by stating my own belief: The intentional killing of another person is wrong in every situation except in cases of self-defense (or the defense of another), in defense of our nation, and in cases of capital punishment. In the case of a pregnant woman, there is no situation in which she can claim self-defense against her own child.

Of course you may conclude that this is just my opinion and it has nothing to do with you. Well, it isn't just my opinion and it could have everything to do with you. In Leviticus 20:3-5 Moses told us that God will "set his face against" people for sacrificing their children and demanded that the community put those to death who do so. I fear there will come a time when the Lord will bring our nation to justice for this evil. You may not believe this but God doesn't act based on your belief.

Many people say they are against abortion but make an exception for rape or when the life of the mother is in danger. These are terrible situations to be sure. But, to them I say; whatever has happened, it isn't the baby's fault so why would you think you have the right to take that child's life?

Others will say that human life doesn't begin at conception so it's OK to abort a "fetus" until a certain point in the pregnancy. Again it seems obvious that life begins at conception but, even if it doesn't, how do you know when it does? And, are you willing to risk murder if you're wrong?

Still others say that, if abortion weren't "safe and legal," pregnant women would resort to "back alley" abortions, thus subjecting themselves to an extremely dangerous procedure. First, I would suggest that the willingness of people to commit crimes should not be reason enough to legalize the offense. If that were the case, even homicide would be legal. Second, even if these "back alley" abortions were to take place, there would still be far fewer than the hundreds of thousands of abortions being performed every year as it is now.

The good news is that half the women entering an abortion clinic are still hoping for an alternative (according to a survey by David Reardon, as reported by WORLD Magazine, January 2012). But they likely won't be provided with alternatives by the clinics whose profits come from abortions. The clinics are more than biased toward abortions. They even promote teenage sexual behavior in order to create more unwanted pregnancies thus creating more demand for abortions (as reported by former abortion provider Carol Everett in Public Education Against America, by Marlin Maddoux). The fact is there are more than 3,000 abortions in America every day. In other parts of the world, especially in China and India, the numbers are staggeringly higher. These are human beings! It would seem that any right thinking person, Christian or not, would be outraged by this. If this is the case, even if you're for a woman's "right" to choose, please help end this slaughter.

The Casualization of America

My wife, Tami, and I are planning a trip to Europe this summer and I'm sure we'll stand out like blazing sore thumbs. Americans, including myself, have become so casual that we're now known as the Hillbillies of the developed world. It's so bad that, even when we think we're dressing up, we're casual. And our everyday wear is worse. Blue jeans and sweats are the norm but it isn't uncommon to see someone wearing their pajamas in public. However, the most hideous of all is the wearing of one's pants sagging below their buttocks exposing their underwear. Not only is this repulsive, but it really makes the wearer look ignorant. We won't be doing that in Europe or anywhere else. I'm not suggesting that we return to wearing fedoras and sport coats to see a movie. But a little common sense is necessary.

Our style of dress has been on a slow decline since the 1940s and it makes me wonder what the future holds. Could it be that soon we'll all be wearing only our under garments? And, then what? I can assure you that no one wants to see ME without clothing. Some things are better left to the imagination. Or, better yet; unimagined.

And, it isn't just the way we dress. Some of the things we talk about in public are just as unsophisticated. Foul language fills the air in almost all public places except church and topics such as someone's menstrual period or sex life are spoken of without so much as a blush. We won't be talking publicly about these things in Europe either, but we'll still stand out.

Our accent will be obvious (mine more than my wife's, so I've been told), but so will our dress. I'm going to try to dispel the "Ugly American" label, but, without changing my wardrobe, "Hillbilly" will be more difficult. Look out Europe! Here come the Indiana Hillbillies err, I mean Hoosier-Americans!

My Heroes the Martyrs

I've never been one to confront people about spiritual issues. I never liked it very well when someone did that to me and disagreed with many of them anyway. Even so, I have felt compelled to find a way to convey to people what I believe to be the absolute Truth. One reason is because it will profoundly affect their lives. Another is because Jesus gave us a directive to do just that (Matthew 28:19,20).

I like to think I've accomplished this in a non-confrontational manner by writing books containing the message of Truth in fictional stories . In this way there can be no arguing. A person can either read the books or not and they can either believe the message I've tried to relay or not. Maybe this is a cop-out.

Some people are much more bold than I am. I believe those who dedicate their lives to spreading the real Truth in this evil world are doing exactly what God wants them to do. Some brave folks take that one step further and attempt to spread the Gospel in very hostile territory and it has cost many of them their lives. These people are my heroes.

These great men and women number in the thousands, dating from the first century when all of Jesus' disciples were martyred except Judas and John. The fact that these men; first-hand witnesses of Jesus' life, were willing to die for what they believed is evidence of the Bible's Truth.

A great example of more recent heroic martyrdom is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Mr. Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis in 1945 only days before the end of World War II. His crime was his very vocal opposition to the Nazi oppression of the Church and of the Jews. He took that a step further and endorsed the Church's active resistance to the Nazis. He once publicly announced that the church must not only "bandage the victims under the wheel, but jam the spoke in the wheel itself." (David Ford, The Modern Theologians)

Another example is Wang Zhiming, killed by Chinese authorities in 1973 because of his pastoral work and his refusal to salute Chairman Mao Tse-tung's portrait (John C. England Asian Christian Theologies: Northeast Asia). A 21st century martyr is Ri Hyon Ok, a 33 year-old mother of three publicly executed in 2009 for distributing Bibles in North Korea (as reported by CBS News, July 26, 2009). There are many others, of course.

I pray that God grants me and my Christian contemporaries the courage of these great heroes. I fear we're going to need it. And, to the evil dictators of the world (I mean you President Omar Al-Bashir, Senior General Than Shwe, King Adbullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Paramount Leader Hu Jintao, Supreme Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei, President Isaias Afewerki, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, and others.)... leave our people alone. What are you afraid of anyway? Is it that you know the Truth and the power behind it? If so, then you know you can't win.

Time Goes By

As another year passed last week, I got to thinking about time. I don't know why, but I'm fascinated with time. It's so interesting to see time go by and the changes that come with it. Consider how you feel when you find an old classmate on Facebook who you haven't seen for 30 years. Their photo will instantly remind you of how much time has passed. Or, think of your children when they were small and how much they've changed, even though it seems like it was only yesterday.

It's also interesting that we give our time names and numbers like "January," "Sunday," "the 90s" or "2012," and then these names and numbers seem to take on a personality. For example, think of the word "Sunday" and then notice what comes to mind; church, football, a day off work, maybe a barbecue, etc... When I think of "1967" for example, I think of songs like "I'm a Believer" by the Monkees, or the first Chevrolet Camaro, or the Summer of Love. Thinking of 1967, or one of many other time periods, brings to mind a feeling or a mood. How is it that these semantics develop meaning?



Well, however it happens, it doesn't seem to be happening as much anymore. For example, try to think of the name of the decade between 2001 and 2010. Or, if you're familiar with cars, think of what a 2006 Chevrolet Impala looks like. You'll realize that it looks almost exactly like a 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, or a 2012. I can about guess what the 2013 model will look like. Prior to 1980 most cars looked different each year and that look contributed to the personality of the time. To me it seems that modern times are more "generic" and don't have personality like times past. Or, maybe it's just that one can only feel that personality when looking back.

I think our current decade will be called the "teens" (even though it is not yet 2013). It's hard for me to think of our current time as the "teens" because, when I think of the "teens," I think of the time between 1911 and 1920, even though I wasn't alive then. I wonder what personality our kids and grandkids will see in these new "teens."

Words of My Wife

My insightful wife, Tami, was talking recently about some of the problems America faces. She suggested that, if and when the government can no longer take care of our people, it will be the church's responsibility to take over where families cannot. She bases this on the biblical mandate that the church care for people without families and for the poor whose families cannot support them. According to biblegateway.com, the Bible mentions the poor, including how we (the church) are to care for them, 176 times. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote many eons ago that the religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows (people without families) in their distress (James 1:27, NIV 1984).

There are some churches doing a pretty good job of this already. I witnessed a local church making Christmas a reality this season for some inner city Fort Wayne families who otherwise would have had little food and no gifts. However, there are other churches who could be doing better. There are more still who could be doing better except for the lack of necessary resources.

It seems to me that the government should encourage us to give to organizations, religious or otherwise, who take care of our needy; whether it be the poor, the elderly, the orphaned, etc... They should encourage us by allowing a tax credit for donations to these groups instead of the current deduction. I know this would be a reduction in tax revenue for our already destitute government, but it could relieve some of the financial burden the government bears as well. And, it would be a lot more effective.

Churches aren't perfect to be sure, but I for one feel much more comfortable giving money to the church than to the government. It seems that when we pay our taxes, the money goes into some abyss never to be seen again. I'm tired of feeding that black hole. (Note - I will continue feeding that black hole.)

The Polar Nightmare

In recent American elections the independent (or moderate) voting bloc has carried the most power, even though it seems there are fewer and fewer of them. They have the power because they're the ones targeted in campaigns. Conservatives have voted and will continue to vote Republican and liberals will vote Democratic. No one is going to change the minds of these voters so they will receive little attention. It will be the independents who receive the attention because they will determine the election. I'm sure many of these independent folks are well informed, but the most knowledgeable and, certainly, the most committed, are those further from the center of the extremely polarized political spectrum. They are the ones who study politics and have a strong opinion and, it seems, their vote doesn't even matter.

An example of this independent power can be found in the current campaign for President of the United States. At the moment, the candidate who appeals most to the Republicans' conservative base is not the candidate most likely to win nomination. And, it has nothing to do with the liberals. They don't generally vote in Republican primaries and, in a general election, aren't going to vote for any conservative candidate. Instead, we can thank the moderates. And, worse yet, is a side effect of this system where candidates avoid revealing their true beliefs, which might appeal to their strongest supporters, just so that they don't alienate the moderates.

Because of this crippled system (I say crippled because no one really gets what they want), Republicans will again be left with a weak candidate who, even if he does win, will be unable or unwilling to solve the problems dearest to our hearts.

In congress polarization has caused the opposite problem. The congressmen are from each of the 435 local districts and, therefore, a lot more like us; polarized. There is virtually no independent voice. No one wants to give on issues that are so important and the result is near total gridlock.

It would seem that the only form of government that would be void of this problem would be a totalitarian dictatorship. We've seen numerous examples of how that works and we know it comes with worse problems. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and no one wants that. But, someday, in the thousand year reign of Christ, we will be rightly governed. I can't wait.

Minority Rule

"Whoever has the microphone has the power," or so says an old maxim. Today, liberal Hollywood has the microphone and with it they're wielding their power like never before. They're using it to make the minority seem larger than the majority and by making the sick and perverted seem normal. And, with it, they are confusing the minds of many impressionable young people (as well as adults) into thinking that there must be something wrong with what their parents taught them. We are quickly becoming the first society in history in which the majority has voluntarily given away its power.

If there are two microphones, then academia has the other one, furthering the brain-washing process. It's a strong kid who can come home from college with his values intact after having been indoctrinated with politically correct nonsense. But, some of these strong kids are the ones who will carry truth to the masses. They must because we have failed.

When your child comes home from school and tells you he or she has learned there really is no absolute truth, and that right and wrong are situational, make sure to show them the real Truth. And, remind them that there are people hiding behind tolerance who hate them just because they're Christian, or American, or Caucasian. And, at least some of those "tolerant" people are looking for an opportunity to kill them. Of these people we shall not be tolerant.

America is a republic founded on the principles of democracy, or majority rule. Let us continue in that tradition as we stand up for what is right and teach our children to do the same.