Maybe one of you highfalutin or romantic types can answer this for me...
Sooo while looking for "conflict-free" diamond(s) I ran into something called the "Kimberly Process" which is supposed to insure that diamonds are not the proverbial "blood diamonds". Some websites make a grand show of saying their diamonds are "conflict-free" and others make no mention of it. Some websites say quietly that all their diamonds are "conflict-free", but then make provisions for you to shop strictly for those.
And then I came across a jeweler who had information regarding the Kimberly Process, and that claimed that 98% of all diamonds coming into the US since 2003 are now these Kimberly diamonds.
So duh, I'm confused. Are all (or 98%) of diamonds I'd come across "conflict-free"? Are some retailers inflating their prices and ego by claiming they strictly sell these social justice minded diamonds?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thought provoking...
"Anyone wanting to proclaim the glory of Christ to the ends of the earth must consider not only how to declare the gospel verbally but also how to demonstrate the gospel visibly in a world where so many are urgently hungry. If I am going to address urgent spiritual need by sharing the gospel of Christ or building up the body of Christ around the world, then I cannot overlook dire physical need in the process."
-From Radical by David Platt
-From Radical by David Platt
Lyrics of the day...
In "honor" of "Black Friday", here are some powerful lyrics from Johnny Cash...
Man in Black
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.
Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that every thing's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Til things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
Man in Black
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.
Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that every thing's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Til things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
Video of the day...
Here's a little something special for you on this Thanksgiving day.
One of my new favorite bands, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.
Enjoy.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Advent Conspiracy...
So, Christmas is right around the corner. In 33 days to be exact. It isn't a surprise that it was coming, it happens every year, and the Christmas end caps at the local stores start having "Christmas" stuff starting in what seems to be in September. What are you doing to prepare for Christmas this year: Working on your haggling skills? Taking MMA classes so you can defend yourself from rabid shoppers? Or are you slowing down and remembering what Christmas is truly about?
I'm really looking forward to this Christmas. I'll be meeting my girlfriend's extended family, and she's going to show me her old stomping grounds in the StL. For many years I've been unable to be home for Christmas, because of my current job, and at one point there my military service. It would be a lie to say that "being apart from my family during the holidays has been easy." Regardless of the many years living away from them, being apart on holidays hasn't gotten any easier. It is this family oriented time of year that reminds me how blessed I am, and points me toward the Christmas that has been obscured by over-indulgence and consumerism.
Christmas is the story of family and Christ's incarnation...
"The Incarnation, (in Christian theology) the union of divine nature and human nature in the person of Jesus; assumption of human form by the son of God."
We're all familiar with the Christmas story. But let's look at the dynamics for a second. Christ came to earth in a particularly chaotic time. A time when the brutal Roman government ruled most of the known world. Christ came not as an adult man, but as a fragile infant. He did all the baby things, to include, pooping on himself. He had to learn to speak. The Creator was taken care of by his own creation. It doesn't get more humble than that.
Gifts are wonderful, getting them and receiving them; but how have we allowed Christ's story - the basis for Christmas, to be swallowed up by credit card debt and tinsel? How does people being trampled to death on "Black Friday" reflect the grand story of the Incarnation?
Here a couple of years ago I heard about the folks at Advent Conspiracy who were challenging us to review how we treat Christmas. They encouraged us to GIVE PRESENCE instead of PRESENTS. Check out their website and check your heart in the process. A-C has helped me change my focus. I have been more mindful of "the reason for the season", and this has led me away from consumerism to genuine acts of charity. (*See the end of this post for more information.)
"... like the presents under the Christmas tree: the ones which came from Woolworth's may be just as rejoiced over as the more expensive ones, and best of all are those which are handmade and which may have cost love, rather than money."
-Madeleine L'Engle
"He who lives only to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies."
-Tertullian
-Tertullian
Is your heart and mind focused on the next big Christmas sale
or the Christ of Christmas???
Over the past couple of years I've partnered with Living Water International via their partnership with Advent Conspiracy. I've matched donations made to Living Water... If you're interested in giving please shoot me an email: tim.kippel@gmail.com
Saturday, November 20, 2010
YIKES, budgeting...
How to get on a budget is easy, I can point you to some helpful websites and say, “There you go!” So maybe the question isn’t “How?” but “Why?” Maybe this “Why” comes to your attention when you start getting overdraft notices in the mail or your inbox. Or maybe you finally get around to looking at your accounts and say, “Where the hell did all my money go?!” It could even be that you feel strapped even though you make more money than all of your friends. For me it was a combination of all these things that pushed me to taking a harder look at budgeting.
Not only does taxes eat up our hard earned money, but wasteful spending is also to blame. I’ve been one of those types that makes spontaneous purchases. Like that gal Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite is trying to sell Tupperware too, and lures her into the purchase by saying he’d throw in the wooden schooner; I too go, “I want that!” What would help me is to make a list of those things that I want, and sitting on it for awhile just to see if my feelings change. I’m not talking about the essentials like groceries, but those big ticket items, or even small ticket items but ones that I can truly live without. Want vs. Need.
Taking control of your spending takes discipline. Something that I’m not quite “there” with just yet. And if you’re married, living on a budget isn’t something that only one of you has to do - you must truly work as a team to make it work.
Just like being disciplined to a (good) workout regimen will yield results, so will budgeting. And much like physical fitness, budgeting is also trying. Knowing where you spend your money, and having a plan for spending money brings with it peace. Yes even if you have to turn down a fun weekend trip with friends because “It’s just not in the budget.”
So TAKE CONTROL of your finances before they take control of you.
Are you living to work or working to live?
Here are some resources:
Dustin Kensrue - "Pistol"
Today is Andrea and I's 6th month (dating) anniversary. Everyday I love her more, and I feel more complete. When I say "complete", that doesn't mean that I haven't had fears, insecurities, or that we haven't had tough conversations. What I'm saying is, we are growing together. And it is in this growing process where our flaws come to light and we choose to continue loving. I feel I understand Christ's love for us all the more through Andrea's love for me. That isn't to say that I worship her in His place, but things like "unconditional love" which used to be merely great ideas or Biblical callings - are coming to life.
I still may not know how to describe knowing that she's "the one". But feeling completely loved, unconditionally loved, free to be me, satisfied, complete, in awe, respected, affirmed, and closer to the Lord definitely help me know.
If you have about 45 minutes free to listen to a sermon PODCAST from Andrea and I's church in Denver. It is a beautiful message about love and marriage.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Thought provoking...
"The greater the radius of light, the wider the perimeter of darkness."
-Madeleine L'Engle
The brighter we "burn" the more we will feel that we're surrounded by darkness.
Let's continue to speak the truth in love! Let's live without hesitation! And let's not give up hope, no matter how dark the days!
-Madeleine L'Engle
The brighter we "burn" the more we will feel that we're surrounded by darkness.
Let's continue to speak the truth in love! Let's live without hesitation! And let's not give up hope, no matter how dark the days!
Quote of the day...
"And then there is time in which to be, simply be, that time in which God quietly tells us who we are and who he wants us to be. It is then that God can take our emptiness and fill it up with what he wants, and drain away the business with which we inevitably get involved in the dailiness of human living."
-Madeleine L'Engle
-Madeleine L'Engle
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Help-Portrait...
If you're interested in serving here in Colorado Springs
please email: megan.e.berry@gmail.com
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The root of all evil...
Money is the root of all evil. Did you know that the actual Biblical reference is often misquoted? Apostle Paul isn't saying that money itself is the root of evil, but the misplaced love of it is. I can be cautious about how I view money, and use money, but all in all money is a big factor in my life let alone any one's life.
Recently I've been reading articles on the Get Rich Slowly Blog, which has me thinking more rationally about my spending and more importantly, my savings. Personal finances have been one of the biggest stressors for me over the years. I returned the first vehicle I ever bought because I couldn't afford it, and wanted to dodge the repo hit against my credit. And last year I finally killed $24,000 in credit card debt.
More and more I realize that spontaneous decision making, or at a minimum, un-weighed decision making on my part has led to tough times and unneeded stress. Last year I refinanced my house. Something that you all should look into if you're a home "owner". Thankfully this has allowed me to save about $200 a month. But you know what? I still spend way too much on my house each month. Having a house, even a refinanced one eats up about 40% of my pay.
Just yesterday morning I sat down to review my spending and budget. When you're in love, and looking toward the future you start evaluating your finances. Ring. Wedding. Honeymoon. (Kids.)... Well I look everything over, run some simple math calculations and I think, "HOLY HELL I'm screwed!" It is never a good feeling to see the -$XXX.
I quickly make a mental list of things I could readily sell. Yes, selling my body briefly crossed my mind, but it's not an option that my wonderful girlfriend would be ok with.
Sooo... I've modified my car insurance premiums in order to save some money. A whopping like $6 a month or something savings. I just didn't see where I could trim or even be more responsible. Another cut to my budget I made was to stop investing in my Roth IRA. This isn't the wisest when you think in terms of compound interest, and also when I'm making like 20% interest. I seriously did not know what to do.
Why am I sharing all this with you? Well first of all, because this is what the The Transparency Campaign is all about. Openness. I'd much rather have you read about my indiscretions than have your own.
Recently I've been reading articles on the Get Rich Slowly Blog, which has me thinking more rationally about my spending and more importantly, my savings. Personal finances have been one of the biggest stressors for me over the years. I returned the first vehicle I ever bought because I couldn't afford it, and wanted to dodge the repo hit against my credit. And last year I finally killed $24,000 in credit card debt.
More and more I realize that spontaneous decision making, or at a minimum, un-weighed decision making on my part has led to tough times and unneeded stress. Last year I refinanced my house. Something that you all should look into if you're a home "owner". Thankfully this has allowed me to save about $200 a month. But you know what? I still spend way too much on my house each month. Having a house, even a refinanced one eats up about 40% of my pay.
Just yesterday morning I sat down to review my spending and budget. When you're in love, and looking toward the future you start evaluating your finances. Ring. Wedding. Honeymoon. (Kids.)... Well I look everything over, run some simple math calculations and I think, "HOLY HELL I'm screwed!" It is never a good feeling to see the -$XXX.
I quickly make a mental list of things I could readily sell. Yes, selling my body briefly crossed my mind, but it's not an option that my wonderful girlfriend would be ok with.
Sooo... I've modified my car insurance premiums in order to save some money. A whopping like $6 a month or something savings. I just didn't see where I could trim or even be more responsible. Another cut to my budget I made was to stop investing in my Roth IRA. This isn't the wisest when you think in terms of compound interest, and also when I'm making like 20% interest. I seriously did not know what to do.
Why am I sharing all this with you? Well first of all, because this is what the The Transparency Campaign is all about. Openness. I'd much rather have you read about my indiscretions than have your own.
Here are some things that I've been learning over the years, and even since yesterday:
- Don't spend more than you make. Simple rule. But one that's often difficult to follow.
- Don't rely on credit cards.
- Only spend on credit cards if you have a budget and a game plan to pay off the balance or purchase in a timely manner, if not monthly.
- Buying a house is a BIG deal. Know what you're getting into.
- Don't buy a house because you're emotionally attached to it. But buy it because it'll work well within your budget, and with your lifestyle. Mortgage and utilities payments will suck up a ton of your resources.
Don't leave home without it!Leave home without it. "It" being your credit card(s). If you don't have them with you, you'll find it near impossible to spend money that you shouldn't. And if your debit card gets you into trouble, leave that at home too.- Eating at home can be so much cheaper than eating out. And, it can be just as rewarding if you invite some friends over.
- Free activities are fun. Go for a hike, a bike ride, or dive into a book.
- Save money! Start saving when you don't make much money. Don't take on the attitude of "when I make more money I'll start saving." Start early, and as raises come along bump up your contributions.
- Savings accounts might be ok for short-term savings for a goal you have in mind, but are NOT ok for long term savings.
- Don't let fads and or peer pressure force you into buying things you don't need. If your phone works, and you have internet at home and work, there is no need for a "smart" phone and an extra $60 monthly fee for internet.
- Keep tabs on where your money is going.
- Renegotiate your credit card interest rate(s) annually.
- Find cheaper ways to do things. Whether activities or products. Did you know that white vinegar can be used as an inexpensive household cleaner and even fabric softener?
Use your money wisely!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Retro post...
May 25th, 2002 - Livejournal
"I haven't had a girlfriend in 2 years 5 months, that sucks, it is like all the doors are closed. I know God has someone who is going to be sooooo RAD for me. but it is really hard to wait. Who knows, she might pop up tomorrow, or next year. Dang is it difficult to hold out and not just find any skank wandering by."
This was written almost 8 years to the day of my first date with the love of my life, Andrea. She has been such a blessing to me and I feel I understand God's love for us all the more because of our relationship.
If you read this Andrea, I love you! I am looking forward to many adventures, and a life of love - with you.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Quote of the day...
"We must dare to love in a world that does not know how to love."
-Unknown French Priest
-Unknown French Priest
Retro post...
May 13th, 2002 - Livejournal
Well, God, if I live a few years on this earth and have to give up “comfort” it’s ok. And if I can’t get to always feel like I’m in charge or even that I know what I’m doing, I’m ok. And if I get persecuted for being who you call me to be, and people get downright nasty, it’s ok. And if I never get to live out the “American Dream” and have an impeccable wife, an impeccable house, an impeccable minivan, and impeccable kids, I’m ok. And if I don’t just “settle down” and “enjoy life”, it’s ok. And if I spend my whole life in weird shadows in unglamorous places and never really get recognized, it’s ok. If I don’t do the traditional “ministry” and fit into a typical position, it’s ok.
But God, please be with me. Please be behind me and in me and through me. Let me at least know that you are guiding me, and that you will see me through. When men fail me, and they will, I want you God. May I run to you and into your arms and throw myself at you day in and day out. May you really be my solace, my strength, my strong tower and my comforter, my guide, my Lord, my love, my joy.
God, when it’s all said and done and my life has been poured out unto completion – may you be glorified! May it be a sweet smelling offering to you and may you say “well done good and faithful servant. Now come and enter my rest.” This is my prayer.
-Author unknown
Well, God, if I live a few years on this earth and have to give up “comfort” it’s ok. And if I can’t get to always feel like I’m in charge or even that I know what I’m doing, I’m ok. And if I get persecuted for being who you call me to be, and people get downright nasty, it’s ok. And if I never get to live out the “American Dream” and have an impeccable wife, an impeccable house, an impeccable minivan, and impeccable kids, I’m ok. And if I don’t just “settle down” and “enjoy life”, it’s ok. And if I spend my whole life in weird shadows in unglamorous places and never really get recognized, it’s ok. If I don’t do the traditional “ministry” and fit into a typical position, it’s ok.
But God, please be with me. Please be behind me and in me and through me. Let me at least know that you are guiding me, and that you will see me through. When men fail me, and they will, I want you God. May I run to you and into your arms and throw myself at you day in and day out. May you really be my solace, my strength, my strong tower and my comforter, my guide, my Lord, my love, my joy.
God, when it’s all said and done and my life has been poured out unto completion – may you be glorified! May it be a sweet smelling offering to you and may you say “well done good and faithful servant. Now come and enter my rest.” This is my prayer.
-Author unknown
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