Nooma - "You"

Before we get to the Nooma video that we discussed on Wednesday - don't forget about the pot luck on Sunday! 2/8/09 12:15 Room 101.

Okay, since that is out of the way, let's discuss the Nooma video "You" that we watched on Wednesday night. This was the first time I had ever viewed this Nooma and it made my head hurt. It really tackled some big topics... Let's go to the quotes!

"These first Christians believed that Jesus' resurrection had implications for the entire universe. Their tradition had taught them that the world was broken and desperately in need of repair and at some point in the future, God was going to put it all back together. For them, this future restoration had nothing to do with leaving this world; it was all about restoration, the renewing and reclaiming of this world..."

Do you believe this? How do we restore and reclaim the brokenness of this world? How do you do it?

Another good quote:

"These first Christians believed very passionately that the world was not made better through military power or political coercion. This gospel they were living had nothing to do with using political force to FORCE people to live according to their laws. For them, this gospel was about serving the world, especially those on the underside of the Empire. For them, it was about serving, not ruling."

This gets my motor going! Do people view you as a servant, or are you more of a ruler? How can we better serve those around us? Of course, I immediately start thinking about the poor, the needy, the disabled...but I am challenged to serve the short tempered, the egotistical, the wife who gloats in victories over me (wait, is that too personal?)... You get the point. Conversions to Christianity will happen little by little in some cases. Rev Kev's quote comes to life - You are the only Bible some people will read...

Last one...

"We all fall short and that's the beautiful part. Broken, flawed, vulnerable people like you and me are invited to be the hands and feet of Jesus who loves us exactly as we are, and yet, loves us way too much to let us stay that way..."

Beautiful.

Now for the mandatory scripture.

"And all of those who believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing with them all, as anyone might have need." Acts 2: 44-45

Iowa Chops!

TNT traveled to the Wells Fargo Arena (aka the Meat Locker) for some hockey action on Friday, January 30th. We saw a game between the Iowa Chops and the Peoria Rivermen. The Chops are the minor league affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. (Things I didn't know until today.) They were also doing a "Pack the Meat Locker" promotion and were trying to lure fans in with $5 of Wendy's vouchers. (It worked for us!) Sadly, only 8,300 fans showed up and they fell short of the 8,900 goal.

On to the hockey game. Have you ever heard the expression "We went to a fight and a hockey game broke out"? Well, that's kind of what the game felt like on Friday. The second period saw 4 major penalties dished out for fighting and two players had to leave the game due to rather large cuts over their eyes sustained in the fights. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the fights as much as anyone, however, I couldn't help but feel like they were a little bit forced on this evening. It's like the marketing group went down to the players and said "We have a large crowd tonight... Put on a good show... People aren't coming here for the hockey action..." Between the fights and the cheerleaders (The Baby Backs) wearing about as much clothing as some of the new born babies in the Pella area, I was a little disappointed in the ol' Iowa Chops. (I didn't even mention the hot tub next to the arena with the Grandview students in their two piece swim suits that made their way to the Jumbotron more than a couple times...) It was pretty obvious what kind of fans they were appealing to, and how they wanted to keep them coming back.

It was kind of sad because overall, the hockey game was actually really good! Iowa overcame a 3-1 deficit, and tied it in the third period...sending it to overtime. Neither team was able to do anything in overtime, so it went to a shootout, with the Rivermen winning 3-1. I am pretty sure I could have goal tended about as well as the Iowa Goalie did in the shootout... :)

I pondered all of these things late into the night...all while enjoying $5.05 of Wendy's entrees. Hmmm... Wendy's....

Financial Learning Experience!

TNT had the opportunity to travel down to Ottumwa on Wednesday, January 28th and listen to Joseph Sangel talk about everyone's favorite topic...MONEY! Joseph was what I like to call "high energy" and made what could be a very dry, some what boring topic more exciting. First, I am going to promote his website www.joesangl.com. It is wildly popular. Under the "Tools" link there are a bunch of useful ideas, excel spreadsheets and links that can help you start savings today.

The core principles of financial freedom...
1. There is power in working together. (Either with your spouse, or with friends...accoutability)
2. Avoid the debt trap! (Where is it written that you have to have a car payment?)
3. Develop a plan for your life - This creates the reason for you to plan your finances.
4. Have FUN managing your money! (Budget for fun!)

Another good quotes from Joe... "A written budget is different from a written budget that is followed!"

There were a lot of good ideas given by Joe and I guess I took away a couple ideas...
1. Shop your insurances. Life, car, home and any thing else... You should shop these at least every two years. Joe gave the example of the "Lending Tree" commercials - so when Insurance companies compete... YOU WIN! On Joe's website, under the "Tools" link, you can go to "Next steps and click insurance. http://nextsteps.iwasbrokenowimnot.com/insurancemain/ Here you can scroll down and get different life, car and home insurance quotes... When Insurance companies compete you win!
2. The debt snowball. Say you have 5 debt payments every month... When you pay one of them off, apply that payment to the next smallest payment and pay that off. And so on... This works better with a picture, but instead of paying off one credit card and then taking that $50 a month you were paying and upgrading your cell phone, apply that $50 towards credit card #2. Or car payment #3... You will not miss the $50...
3. Have at least $2500 in an emergency fund. Joe made the good point that money problems are terrible and they make every other problem worse. Say you don't have an emergency fund and suddenly your furnance breaks down. Now, you got a furnance problem...and a money problem.

I could ramble on (oops too late), but this was a good night and we got dinner and we got to listen to a speaker for $10 per family...but at the end of the night, Marty Schmidt and the Bridge said they were so serious about us saving money, they were going to refund the $10 we paid! It was beautiful! Much rejoicing was had...

"Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow..." Proverbs 13:11

Spoonful of Sugar to Can Held Down

Last night at TNT we played Telephone Pictionary. In case you haven't played, it's a combination of that telephone game you played when you were a kid and pictionary. (I give credit to Jake for this genius game.) For those of you who missed it, we got a stack of 13 papers (because that's how many people played) and we had to write a saying on the top paper. Mine was "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." You give the stack of papers to the person to your right and they have to illustrate your saying in 30 seconds. Then you had the picture to the next person to your right and they have to put down the saying that they think the picture is.

Mine was going really well until it got to Kelli and Jaime. Everyone did great until them. Then all of the sudden "spoonful of sugar" became "can held down." (Kelli and Jaime know I love them and I don't blame them for completely ruining spoonful of sugar) How does this happen? How can we be going so well and in one fell swoop, total change in understanding.

This morning I am reading this book called "It." About churches and ministries and people who have "it." I have enjoyed this book until this morning. Now, "it" has birthed a holy discontentment in me. I long for my life to engage with "it." How do you get "it"? I don't know. Even the author doesn't know but you know when you've got "it" and when you don't.

I pray for us as TNT that we will get "it." "It" doesn't happen all at once. Sometimes "it" takes time. And sometimes "it" surprises us. This morning it seems to me like I live in a dark hole and I am about to see some new light. Ever wonder if we are REALLY making a difference in what we do? What is the ONE thing that I can do and do well that would REALLY make a difference? Today, I don't know what "it" is. But, Lord willing, if I search, I will find "it." It may take losing my life to find "it" but "it" is worth that.

Here we go!

TNT is ready to go! After a couple of weeks off, we will be meeting on Wednesday, January 14th at 6:30 p.m. We will catch up on everyone's Christmas/New Year's, eat some pizza and play a couple games. We will order the pizza after everyone is there... Again, we meet in room 101 next to the coffee bar at Third Church in Pella, Iowa.

The next few weeks look like this...
Wednesday, January 21st 6:30 p.m. - Truth Project - Government. (One day after the President's inauguration (can I buy a vowel?), we will review an hour long video from the Truth Project. Discussion to follow.) Dinner is on your own.

Wednesday, January 28th 5 p.m. - NOTE THE TIME CHANGE! We are pumped about this week as we will be going down to Ottumwa to listen to Jeff Sangl give a Debt Free Seminar. Learn how to handle your money and benefit the Kingdom. Cost of the seminar and a dinner is $10. (BUT DO NOT let the $10 get in the way of you going! Really. Let us know if the $10 is a problem and we will handle it...)

Friday, January 30th 5 p.m.-ish - Iowa Chops Hockey Game. (Hmmmmm... Chops...Aurrgghhh) Cost will be between $10-15... We haven't nailed down all the details, but you can count on some hockey action at Wells Fargo for sure!

Wednesday, February 4th - 6:30 p.m - Nooma Video

Sunday, February 8th - Potluck after church. 12:30 p.m. More details to come.

Wednesday, February 11th - 6:30 p.m. - Nooma Video

What's up next!

TNT will be taking the next couple weeks off to celebrate the Christmas season. We hope and pray that you have safe and happy holidays!

A couple items of note. We will start back up on Wednesday, January 14th at 6:30 at Third church, room 101. We will be watching Nooma videos and studying scripture for the next semester. We are excited to get to know each other more and get to know and understand God and His plan for our lives.

We also have some social events in the works for the next couple of months. We will be traveling to the big city of Des Moines to watch the Iowa Chops in some exciting hockey action at Wells Fargo Arena. We may even work in some ice skating of our own at scenic Brenton Skating Plaza...the only outdoor skating arena in Iowa! We will keep you all posted on our plans.

Finally, we rejoice with Kyle and Sheila Punt on the birth of their new born baby boy! Caleb Jay was born on December 15th at 7:50 a.m. He weighed 8 lbs and 5 oz. Both mother and baby are doing very well! We actually got to visit the Punts in the hospital on Wednesday as we were caroling. The little guy is cute! We were able to snap the picture and let me tell you, he is every bit as cute as the picture show. Just precious!

Merry Christmas to you all and we will see you in January!

TNT Update!

Hey guys and gals! Just a quick update before you start your weekend. Three things!

1. No TNT this week on Wednesday (11/26/08). Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday!
2. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 3^rd, at 6:30 p.m. We will be reviewing the first part of a video series entitled “The Truth Project.” I have no idea what this is about, either I spaced off when we talked about it, or they are keeping me in the dark…either is a distinct possibility. (But if you are curious, google it…and believe the hype!)
3. On Wednesday, December 10, we will be reviewing a NOOMA video, discussing how it applies to our lives and opening up the last 30 minutes for you all to give us some feedback. What do you like? What do you NOT like? What would you want to see changed?
4. I lied about only three things in this post. (And you fell for it!)
5. On Wednesday, December 17, we will be going caroling in the community. We did this a couple years ago and it was a big hit! Basically we just go around to different places, singing and passing out cookies. So on 12/17/08, please bring at least a dozen homemade cookies to pass out. And your beautiful voices.

Thanks everyone and again, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! If you have ANY questions, please let me know. Again, we meet at Third Church in Room 101 at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. (By the coffee bar..) Everyone is welcome! Later!