DAY 13 & 14

So you wanna be a rock star? Only if it gave me the opportunity to make a few extra bucks. Maybe this could be my part time job?

Day 13 was difficult for me. I am finding that I am fully in withdrawal mode...anxious, tired, a wee bit depressed. Withdrawals from anything, I am finding is something to think about.

Everything is permissible but not everything is profitable. That I agree with, and when something has a hold on your life and you can't live without it, then there comes a time when we need to slow down and self evaluate.
Maybe God is saying...what things in your life, do you think you "need" when in reality, I want you do come to me...to give you peace, and joy and contentment. AH...contentment! We are to be content (or at peace) in all things...and I think more so, what I am realizing is that through all things, we are to be at peace, regardless of our circumstances. Even though things are falling a part all over, where is our peace, and contentment, knowing that God is ultimately in control and good...all the time. If we view him as the perfect Father, that would give us a sense of peace.

Yet, on Day 13, I did not feel at total peace. I have not arrived at that point.
I can say it in my head, but in my heart, not yet! I worry about this bill, that bill, the fact that the car we drive is needing repair, and do we have the extra funds at the moment to fix it...nope! The fact is, this is causing me to seek God, rather than seek Man...and the ways of culture. To ask for Wisdom and understanding and revelation...in regards to finances and budgeting and seeking to walk out of debt.

Some people would say, we have far less debt than others, and yet to us...it is too much, hard to deal with and rather daunting. Maybe it's because we do not make what other people make in terms of salary!! I make far less than others I know, at this age, and yes, this is a decision I made to work in Ministry...to be a full time Missionary. I still make far more than what others make in other countries, and have to remember that the cost of living is different here, than in other areas.

So what do we do? How do we practically do this? We watch every penny...and be cheerful givers. Givers of time, resources and yes, even our $. When I begin to hoard and think...in terms of poverty, I will cut off what God wants to do in blessing others, as well as ourselves.

I have read that while you are getting out of debt, don't tithe or give to charity! For me, I am called to give my first fruits back to God. To be disciplined in that. I am called to even test God in this. I am reminded that my security it not here, rather in my eternal resting place.

I'm trying hard to be a leader here in our home, to take up the courage to press into an area of our life that needs help. Being obedient in all things...especially finances is important and I am realizing this...is an area that we need to work on.

I could blame people...specifically where I have been ripped off financially, which has been part of the problem...but I realize that I need to continually lay that down, because I am also to blame. I need to take responsibility for foolish spending, keeping my head in the sand, rather than take initiative and make some good decisions.

Doing this right now, is good. It is causing us to learn and grow as a couple. To communicate, to share our dreams and hopes for the future. To watch what we do in all areas of our life. To see if anything stands between us and God. Is there anything in our life that we think we need for comfort when in reality, we really don't?

My mind is always on...how do we as a community help others, get on board with debt free living...how do we help each other out...when financial crisis hits? Do we just look at those in need and say "well, if they wouldn't have been so careless, or irresponsible..." Do you get my point? Do we judge rather than help...are we then being just like a Pharisee? Do we always have to wait and make people "learn from their mistakes" or "be more responsible" before we lend a hand or help?

This is beginning to feel bigger than just getting out of debt...bigger than just my wife and I being "more responsible" and it is more about the bigger picture of community, specifically a Christian community, which should be on the cutting edge, rather than sitting back...watching people suffer, it is about social justice, and intervention...and taking stands for the poor, oppressed, sick, orphans, widows, immigrants, prostitutes, homeless...and the list goes on...

So maybe Day 13 isn't as hard as I think it is in my human selfish brain. Maybe Day 13 is about growing up, knowing my place in the world and seeing how I, as a man who says I love God, who says Jesus is my brother, my savior, does life differently, because people are hearing my words, watching how I live...and are looking to see how my words line up to my actions.

Day 14...is actually today...and this words above are penned or typed on Day 14, so lets just say that they are words for yesterday and today.

I have no knew insight for today...other than what is typed above.

My only thought is...keep reading, keep pressing in, keep giving helpful suggestions, but don't let it stop with just suggestions...help someone out today. Give radically...Give cheerfully...Give expecting NOTHING in return...

Peace...

Kenny

Day 12

So...today, I feel a bit exposed to the world. Paula shared that "do we have to tell people where we are at financially?" I answered, that we need to be honest and open and in a format that will hold us accountable.
Maybe, we should make a movie? You know like Jon and Kate + 8...this one would be Kenny and Paula + debt.

I feel exposed, and a bit overwhelmed. I should see the glass half full...not empty. That we can get out of debt sooner than later.

I was given a few suggestions:

websites...
www.thriftyfun.com (I found it pretty busy...too much info all over the place)
www.gailvazoxlade.com (she has some good info, I recommend this site. She clearly looks at things from a secular stand, but gives good advice to rid oneself of debt, and gives good advice on investing and what is good and what is bad).

Cut up credit cards...we have them out of our wallets...put away.
Pay cash...we use interact...but will look at switching over to rid ourselves of even the interact card.

Someone suggested a home-stay person from University. That would be great, but until we can afford to renovate and have another bathroom, and room for them, it is highly unlikely that we can do this. Ideally we have the space (basement room, but is has only one window...we'd want another one put in, and also, a bathroom in the basement). So that doesn't help us much, unless we have someone we know stay with us and pay rent for a while.

So that option is really not so good, though we would love to do that.

Today, it's just one of those days of reality, hitting home. That we are in a wee bit of a mess, and need to get out of it.

We are doing okay in terms of extra spending. This is kind of like fasting. I realize that I have shopped to give me comfort, even if it is just something for the house, or extra food, we don't need...it's about comfort, rather than about need. So it is now looking at our needs, rather than our comfort so to speak. We need to realize our comfort comes from God, who in turn gives us peace.

I need to trust God...to put this in His hands...and trust him...with everything.
It just sometimes sounds too good to be true.

Kenny

Day 11

Welcome to our project of Debt Elimination. It began this year, as we talked with a couple on the 30th of December. We have been praying about reducing...and eliminating our debt as we feel called as good Stewards to do that. So what will this entail for us as a couple, and in the future, a family?

1st. Get a grip...an understanding...of what our debt looks like.
So we do the figures...and folks, it doesn't look good.
We have a mortgage which is doable...yet, for 40 years? Not so good!
We have credit card, bank line of credit debt, student loan debt, which we
brought into the marriage (some of it).

Total debt: (drum roll please)

Mortgage: 132,000
Credit C: 17,000
St Loan : 3,000
RBC Bank: 5,000
RBC Bank: 1,700

Total 158,000

We are looking to decrease our debt this year by taking drastic measures. It kinda goes contrary to what most people in our culture would put up with, but what we need to do, is not keep up with the Jones, nor do we want to do what Culture impresses on us to do. (Overspend!!!)

So what is our game plan?

1. No eating out at restaurants for a year.
2. No impulse buying. This means no going to a store on impulse..."to browse" (for a year)
3. No trips for a year (vacations that is...unless we can do free day trips, or stay with friends, and not eat out)
4. No buying name brands
5. Budget food for home
6. No concerts, or entertainment that costs for a year (we will happily exchange DVD's with friends, or find free concerts).
7. Watch each penny that leaves the home (bank). This means tracking each expense for a year...to see where our money goes.
8. Tithe...continue to give 10% our first fruits, plus, give over an above to others. Be that with our material goods, food, or $. Be generous givers.
9. Pray...and continue to ask God for provision to pay off debt.
10. No "buying" gifts for 2009. That means...creativity...!
11. Walk more, park the car. Especially in spring, summer and fall.
12. No reno's until we can afford it.
13. Cancel cable (which we did last year)
14. Grow our own vegetables (bigger garden) and can more food at harvest time.
(maybe have a canning party)

So far, that's our list.
As you can see...we will be having a rather creative 2009. We invite others to join us in our creative efforts to pay off debt. We are thinking of having an art show, in house, invite people to come and enjoy simple yet great food, and buy some art.
Enjoy some spoken word, fine music. This will probably happen when it gets a bit nicer out, so we maybe looking at spring.

We have to be extra vigilant when it comes to summer, as Paula is unemployed, she would love to do more writing. She has one writing gig at the moment (one article a month) and so she is looking to increase that.

I stumbled upon a blog by a Pastor in the States, who's desire to start getting people out of debt got him to write this blog article...

Saturday, August 25, 2007
Pray for "The Debt Elimination Project"

Have you heard of the Debt Elimination Project (DEP)? It's really quite an interesting project.

There was a gentleman who had a heart's desire to help pay off the debt of a single woman in his church who had been struggling from year to year. So much prayer had happened for her by the congregation but nothing seemed to change in her finances.

This man who was one of those who prayed for the lady but he was just frustrated as he continued to observe her financial life. He soon discovered that she was in debt because she just couldn't get her debt down because she could only pay the minimum payments on high interest rate credit cards and loans. Nothing ever seemed to change even though she was doing what she could.

The story goes on to say that the man decided that he would take things into his own hands. He decided to do something. He made it his purpose to help this lady pay off her debt. He was able to give her $30 a month. What he asked her to do was to make sure she sent the $30 as extra payment toward the principal on her highest interest credit card.

After a few months of giving $30 the man just felt like he was only helping her scratch the surface toward getting out of debt. He thought to himself, only if there were a few other people who could give a little like I'm doing. He started sharing what he was doing with a few of his close friends and they caught the vision. Five of his friends decided to do exactly what he was doing and started giving the lady $30 a month each. Now she was receiving $180 to put towards the principal of her highest interest credit card.

Long story short, the concept began to spread like wild fire. The gentleman who started the project soon had 34 people who were giving between $15 and $50 a month to help this one lady. In less than a year the lady had all her debt paid off and she was overjoyed.

Here's the clincher. After the lady had her debt paid off she said, how can I help somebody pay their debt off? She said this in the middle of the group of the 34 people who had just helped her pay off her debt. There were several people in the group who were in debt so the group chose one from among themselves and started the process over.

Now imagine this. This new person didn't receive $30 a month. They received over $1,200 a month and had their debt paid off in five months.

The group continued to grow and they continued to choose different people in the group to help pay off their debt. Some people were getting their debt paid off in less than three months. One person even got a $16,000 debt paid off on the spot!

The Debt Elimination Project got it's name based merely on what now over 700 people were committed to doing. They base their purpose for helping others get out of debt on Matthew 7:12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them..."

When I heard of this project I committed to help a person I know get out of debt. I'm now in the process of talking to a few of my friends to help them get out of debt.

I'm actually seriously thinking about taking this to another level. I'm thinking about starting an official Debt Elimination Project in our church. We have plenty of single women, widows and certainly families who are in debt who desperately want to be financially free.

What you've just read is just a story I wrote to capture your attention. The gentleman in the story is me. The story is a vision of what I believe the Lord has shown me to help people in my congregation get out of debt and stay out. The other reason I wrote this story is to solicit your prayer as I pursue God's plan to help one person at a time get out of debt. I truly believe it's a whole lot easier for one person to get out of debt if 200 people are helping them.
A debt free church is a church that can be used to to it's full potential.
Stay blessed,

Ced Reynolds

So this is one of the things on our hearts, to begin a project like this. As people have commented, they have asked...very logistic questions. One of them is this "how do you suppose to get people on board?" My probably answer is "Not sure!" We will definitely be praying about this...seeking God to stir the hearts of people. We definitely believe that living Debt free can free up our community to GIVE MORE, SERVE MORE and be more AVAILABLE to do missions or support missionaries here and abroad.
It means that those getting involved may have to change their lifestyle a wee bit. That is going to be the more challenging question. Can people really change from thinking of a rather individual mentality to a community mentality. That what I buy or do will and can affect my neighbor!!

So there you have it...we are in day 11 so far and things are going okay.
We are feeling like we are going through withdrawal symptoms to over spending, but we know that we can do it. We are looking to do a daily blog at how we feel, and how things are going. Our failures, our successes, and acts of God, radical provision that we cannot explain.
Just this morning, an answer came, when I was looking at our bank account and low and behold, we had more than I thought (Paula's vacation pay over Christmas unexpectedly arrived). So we praised God, tithed, and then had a friend over for a meal. It was good. We believe this to be an answer to prayer for provision.
I think that I probably spent more on groceries than I should have...and that is something we will have to be creative about. Making a weekly menu list and sticking to it. Making our own lunches, and coffee, as opposed to buying coffee out!! I am looking at decreasing my coffee intake anyway, and drink more water.
We also hope to be more physically active, read more books and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Come journey with us.
tomorrow is Day 12.

Kenny and Paula