Book Review: Going Deep By Gordon MacDonald

Going Deep: Becoming A Person of Influence
By Gordon MacDonald

I ordered Going Deep: Becoming A Person of Influence back in January and admittedly it has taken me this long to read it, not because it was a bad book but because it's been a very stressful year.  It was very much a book written for pastors and church leaders.  Too many churches are content with reaching people where they and then letting them stay there.  My pastor has says, "God loves you where you are, but He loves you too much to leave you there."  This book is the story of a pastor that wanted to take his church deeper.  He had a passion for seeing lives changed and had a vision to train up leaders to do that.  What do you think churches in America would look like if they are started living like they really believe what they are teaching?

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: The Love and Respect Experience

I just started reading The Love & Respect Experience A Husband Friendly Devotional that Wives Truly Love by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.  I chose this book because Steve and I were looking for a devotional that we can go through together.  This sounded like a good one because I have heard good reviews of this authors other books and I have heard him speak.  The devotional is designed that you can do it together each daily or one each week.  Because of our busy schedule, we chose every Sunday.  Each devotional (there are 52) is just a few pages long and begins with Scripture and includes a personal example followed by suggestions for prayer and action.


Each devotion focused on how men and women think differently about different topics.  My biggest disappointment was that I hoping that it would go a little deeper and be more of a Bible study.  It seems perfect for a couple that is struggling with communication in their marriage or if a couple wants a simple devotional.  It is nice that it gives us a chance to relax on Sunday evening after a busy week, read the devotional for that week and then discuss what we read.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Your 100 Day Prayer

I am currently reading Your 100 Day Prayer: The Transforming Power of Actively Waiting on God by John I. Snyder.  I am on day 15 of the 100 day journey.  The premise of the book is that you pick one thing to pray about and then focus on that one thing for 100 days.  Not only do I think this book helped me get in the habit of praying every day, but it also has helped me focus on what to pray for.  For me, sometimes I find it hard to pray for myself because I feel that either I'm selfish to focus on myself or that I'm unworthy for God to answer something for me.  It's a process, but I am learning to break free from both of those opinions.  I am looking forward to continuing the journey of self discovery and watching God works is ways I have never seen before.  I'm excited to see what He is going to teach me through this journey.  We have some big changes coming into our lives in the next few years and it feels good to know that God is in control.  For each day there is a short devotion beginning with scripture and a guide to prepare you how to pray, so it forces me to go a little deeper than I might go on my own.  You can also jot notes and track the progress each day. 

"Go to God humbly and ask him to reveal the secret places of worry and anxiety that surround you and your need."

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

BookSneeze

I signed up for this website to see what it was about.  It's a website that sends bloggers free books, then you have to write a review of the book of 200 words of more once you have read it.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love free stuff.  I just requested my first book and I am really excited for it to show up.  This should be fun.  Maybe this will get me back in the habit of reading more.

Currently Reading: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I just finished reading the book A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  I loved this movie when I was growing up.  My sister and I used to watch it over and over.  Shirley Temple was so cute with her little blond girls and I just loved the story.  Well, if you have seen the movie but you haven't read the book there are spoilers ahead.  So if you plan on reading the book, which I totally recommend, I would stop reading now.  I will try not to give too much away though.  Most of the movie and the characters follow along with the book pretty nicely, but there is one major plot point that is totally different in the book.  Just for the record, I loved the book and I don't understand why they felt it necessary to change it.  A Little Princess is a story of a girl who, even though she went through the worst of times, she never lost sight of the important things in the life.  It's the opposite of the rags to riches story.  She had great wealth but never let it go to head and then she lost in all and regained it again.

In the book, Captain Crew is not a soldier, but an investor.  He brings Sarah to the school, so he can go back to India and invest in a diamond mine with a friend.  The diamond mine, or so he thought, had no diamonds in it.  Captain Crew is so grief-stricken over losing his fortune that he dies of brain fever.  After hearing of her father's death, Miss Minchin keeps Sarah as a servant and a teacher for the younger kids.  Even though she is dealing with hard times, she still views herself as a princess and treats everyone, even "beggar children" with great kindness. Well it turns out the friend that lost all her father's money comes back and regains the fortune and finds diamonds in them mine, but it's too late Captain Crew is dead.  The friend becomes very heart sick at the lost his friend and begins to look for Sarah.  With Sarah's great kindness and the fact that he is searching for young child, she attracts the attention of the Indian gentlemen that has moved in next door.  Sarah is drawn to the new neighbor because she was born in India and he reminds her of home.  The Indian gentleman's servant showers the Sarah and her fellow servant, Becky, with secret gifts in their room.  He feels that if he helps Sarah then maybe he won't feel so bad about his friend's missing child.  This man is Sarah's father's friend but they don't know it yet.  Through the course of events Sarah meets the Indian gentlemen in person and it is discovered that Sarah is the little girl he has been looking for.  Sarah leaves the cold attic she had been living in under Miss Minchin's care and goes to live with her father's dear friend and she brings Becky with her as her servant/assistant.  Sarah again has wealth because she now owns half of a diamond mine and regains her status as a "princess", even though in her heart she always was one.  It has a great happy ending and I loved how it all worked out.  It seemed to flow very nicely and all the characters were well developed.  The ending of the book is not as "Hollywood" as the movie, but it's true to Sarah's character.

In the movie, after Sarah finds out that her father is presumed dead she is made into a servant for Miss Minchin.  An Indian man moves next store and Sarah befriends him.  He showers her with secret gifts.  The man feels sorry for Sarah and says he will help her find her father if he is still alive.  Sarah runs away to the veteran's hospital certain that her father is still alive and finds her father in a dark room and even the Queen makes an appearance in the movie.  The movie has a "happy ending", but I don't think the book had a sad ending.  Sarah is greatful and happy at the end of the book with her new friends.

I grew up on this movie and I always loved it, but in my opinion the book was 100 times better and a must-read.  I don't understand why they changed the character of her father.  Maybe they thought that having a soldier has a father was more romantic for the movie, then her father being an investor.  Maybe they thought the happy ending of her father still being alive was better than the happy ending of his friend coming to find her.

Is There Other Life Out There?



This is the Core of the Milky Way

 Is there really life out there somewhere?  I'm reading a book right now called, "Is Mars Inhabitable" and it got me thinking.  Could there be life on another planet out there somewhere?  We serve an almighty God with infinite power and wisdom.  Do you ever wonder if He created another solar system just like ours billions of light years away that we haven't discovered yet with planets just like ours and with people just like us?  I wonder if they have the same hopes and dreams that we have?  I wonder if they have turned their back on God like we have so many times.  I wonder if God is weeping for His children and calling them back to Him too?  I wonder if they are looking up to the heavens and wondering if there is other life out there.  I wonder...

When I was in Junior High, I thought it would be fun to be an Astronomer or an Astronaut.  I loved science and the beauty of the night sky was always breath taking to me.  I thought it would be really cool to go into space and witness the majesty of God's creation.  Obviously, life took me in other directions, but I still love to be still with nature.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day."  Genesis 1:1-5

Vacation Fun!

Last week, I took a few vacation days.  I realized a few weeks ago that I don't have many real crafty skills.  I love to scrapbook but that's really all I'm really confident with.  My Grandma was in town this week for my brother's fiance's shower, so I decided that I would ask her to teach to me how to do something.  She gave me some private lessons on blanket making on Wednesday.  Crotcheting is a lot harder than it looks.  Wednesday night was my brother's fiance's Bridal Shower.  That was pretty fun.  Eleven days and counting and little brother will be married.

On Thursday and Friday, I drove back over to my parents house for another crotcheting lesson and some more practice.  I started my project but I'm not far on it yet.  I had all day to work on it and practice some more.  It's pretty exciting that I'm actually creating something. I hope it turns out really good.  Thursday and Friday night, I had to work at Sears.

Saturday and Sunday, Steve and I requested off from Sears because we were going to go camping with his brother but those plans fell through.  Steve found out this week that one of friends from back in Lima passed away last week, so on Saturday we drove three hours to Lima and spent a few hours there and then drove three hours back home.  We did stop at the Elkhart County fair on the way home, so that was fun. 

On Sunday since we had the day off, we went to church then we went to Potato Creek for some relaxation.  We went Paddle Boating on the lake for about an hour and a half.  It was so peaceful just relaxing out on the lake.  I had forgotten how much I loved Potato Creek.  It was Steve's first time there. I think he enjoyed the experience.  I love that Sears has been giving me Sundays off lately.  Having Sundays off gives us an actual day off from both jobs, so we have time to do fun things like go to the fair or go boating at Potato Creek.  It's also a good day to destress from the week and catch up on cleaning the house.

My Grandma lent us the book The Shack this week and I loved it.  The imagery in just made the pictures jump out of the book.  It starts with such a heart-breaking story, but it ends as a story of hope.  Even in our deepest hurts when we are angry with God it does not mean that God has left us.  God does not cause hurts, but sometimes he uses them.

"Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person's throat......Forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established.........Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation.........Forgiveness does not excuse anything.........You may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely. And then one day you will pray for his wholeness......"

— William P. Young (The Shack)

My Reading Goal: 10 Down, 2 More to Go

I had a goal this year to read one non-fiction books a month, for a total of 12 books, because I heard the average millionaire reads one non-fiction book a month.  I just finished my tenth book, so that means I have one month to read the last two.  I'm not sure what books I'm going to read yet.  This was much harder then I though, probably harder than it should have been. 

Proverbs 18:15 (New International Version)

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

Here is a summary of the books I read so far:

1. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
2. Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey
3. Who Moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson
4. Bridges Out of Poverty by Phil DeVol
5. Rhinoceros Success by Scott Alexander
6. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley
7. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Richard Kiyosaki
8. Your First Two Years of Youth Ministry by Doug Fields
1. This was actually the second time I read this book.  I loved it again this time too.  This book is full of little tokins of wisdom.  I recommend it for anyone working with kids, not just in Youth Ministry.
1. "God is much more concerned by your being than your doing."
2. "Failure to see the difference between loving God and loving others can result in a ministry-focused life rather than a God-focused life."
3. "Faithfullness to the first commandment (loving God) results in obedience to the second (loving others).
4. Accountability: "Be courageous enough to invite a friend to lovingly ask you about your consistency, your desire, and the quality of your times with God."
5. "God doesn't need you to be a spiritual giant to lead students toward maturity."  God is mostly concerned for your heart.  As you walk on the journey and grow closer to Jesus, drag some students to follow you along the way.
6. When students start to follow you, it is very important that you are leading them in the right direction though.  Students will follow where you go more than they will ever listen to what you say.  It may feel like a burden, but it's actually a calling.
7. (1 Corinthians 11:1)  Students are like sponges. They soak up everything you say and do.
8. "Student leadership can allow them to use their skills of God's kingdom, interact with full-time ministers, and open their eyes to a unique way of spending their vocational lives."
9. "Effective students leaders advance the church, reach more people, grow in their spiritual journeys, and relieve adult leaders of some of the work load."
10. "Student leaders will challenge you with their readiness to serve, inspire you with their faith, and convict you with their pure motives...Invite them to serve, and be with them when they face trials in the future." "Most teenagers are dying for an adult to believe in them."
    
9. The 21 Irrefuttable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
1. The ideas in this book are pretty simple.  This is a must-read for anyone that is a leader or plans to become one.
1. "Character makes trust possible. And trust makes leadership possible. That is the Law of Solid Ground."
2. "People listen not necessarily because of the truth being communicated in the message, but because of their respect for the speaker."
3. "Champions don't become champions in the ring - they are merely recognized there."
4. "The Law of Sacrifice says you have to give up to go up."
5. "When the right leader and the right time come together, incredible things happen."
   
10. QBQ: The Question Behind the Question by John Miller
1. "What to really ask yourself to eliminate blame, complaining, and procrastination."  This is a book was a really huge smack in the face.  This is probably the place in my life that I struggle the most.  The lack of personal accountability is a problem. No organization or person can achieve goals or compete in the marketplace without personal accountability.
1. "Stress is a choice...Yes bad things happen: The economy sours, our business struggles, the stock market tumbles, jobs are lost, people around us don't follow through, deadlines are missed, projects fail, good people leave. But still stress is a choice...we choose are response." We choose to become angry.  We choose to worry.
2. Blame questions solve nothing. "They create fear, destroy creativity, and build walls."  Instead of brainstorming and working together to get things done, we "blamestorm" and accomplish nothing.
3. "Ownership: A committment of the head, heart, and hands to fix the problem and never again affix the blame."
4. "Managers don't change people. They can coach, counsel, teach, and guide, but no one changes another person. Change only comes from inside, as a result of decisions made by the individual."
5. No matter our role, someone is watching and emulating our behavior. "Modeling is the most powerful of all teachers."
6. Taking action may seem risky, but doing nothing can be an an even bigger risk. "Action, even when it leads to mistakes, brings learning and growth. Inaction brings stagnation and atrophy."
7. "Humility is the cornerstone of leadership."

Book 7: Rich Dad, Poor Dad

I just finished reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. I must say that I was a bit disapointed in it. It came highly recommended. For the most part, I liked the book. He compared his real dad, who he called Poor Dad, to his friend's dad, who he called Rich Dad. His Poor Dad was highly educated and had a government job and his Rich Dad was uneducated and was self-Employed.

My main dislike of the book is that he seemed to discount the value of education. To me, it seemed like he didn't see the value of education and he thought the only way to be successful was the own your own business. His plan seemed like a get-rich-quick plan, but hardly works for most people. According to the other books I have read this year, I have learned that financial success takes time, effort, and a "crock pot" mentality. Wealth building takes time.

He tells the story about how he made all his money in Real Estate. Real Estate is a really great investment, but it does come with risks. He said he took a $500 weekend seminar and learned how to flip Spec Houses. It's a good idea but it doesn't always work and to suggest that it does, is wrong. Houses don't always go up in value. Sometimes markets bubbles burst and if you have a bunch of debt piled in Spec houses, you will get foreclosed on (ie. Our House). The man who owned our house watched the weekend seminar, drank the kool-aid, and bought a bunch of rentals and now my dad's bank owns most of them. If you want to invest in Real Estate pay cash for it.

"Studies show that 100% of the foreclosures happen on homes with a Mortgage." - Dave Ramsey

He did have some good points where he says too many people let their money control their lives. That they go through life working for money and never really making it, instead of letting their money work for them.

"Many great financial problems are caused by going along with the crowd and trying to keep up with the Jones." (If you remember the information from The Millionaire Next Door most of the "Jones" are broke.)

Roberts doesn't like to pay taxes...and I don't think I know anyone that does. He made some interesting observations about them though. At one time, Americans were anti-taxes. It wasnt until 1913 that an Income tax became permanent in America. Before that the only taxes collected were temporary to pay for wars.

"It is the idea of Robin Hood, or taking from the rich to give to the poor that has caused the most pain for the poor and the middle class. The reason the middle class is so heavily taxes is because of the Robin Hood ideal. The real reality is that the rich are not taxed. It's the middle class who pays for the poor, especially the educated upper-income middle class...The idea of taxes was made popular, and accepted by the majority, by telling the poor and the middle class that taxes were created only to punish the rich...Although it was intended to punish the rich, in reality it would up punishing the very people who voted for it, the poor and middle class."

Book 6: The Millionaire Next Door

I loved this book. I love statistics and numbers and this book is just full of them.
The Millionaire Next Door was written by Thomas Stanley and William Danko in 1996. They began studying how people became wealthy. They started by surveying upscale neighborhoods and soon realized something odd. Many people who live in expensive houses do not actually have much wealth. Then they discovered many people that do have a great deal of wealth did not live in the upscale neighborhoods. When most people try to picture people of great wealth, they often picture expensive large house, new luxury vehicles, large flashy jewelry, and such. What they discovered in their 20 year long survey is people with great wealth most often do not fit that picture. Also, they discovered that most of the people that were wealthy did not inherit wealth or have flashy high degrees. Wealth is rarely gained through Lottery, in sports, or from a TV show. Wealth was more often the result of hard work, perseverance, planning, and self-discipline.

Usually the wealthy person is a business owner who has lived in the same town his whole life. He is married once and remained married. There kids are educated. He lives in upper middle class or middle class neighborhood next to people with a fraction of his wealth. Most of the time the neighbors have no idea their neighbors are wealthy.

• 80% of American Millionaires are first generation rich.
• About half the wives do not work. Of the wives that work, the number 1 occupation is teacher.
• 97% are homeowners living in houses with the average value of $320,000.
• They wear inexpensive suits and American made cars. Only a minority drive the current-model-year car. Only a minority ever lease a vehicle.
• As a group, they believe education is very important.
• About 2/3 work between 45-55 hours per week.

During the investigation, they discovered seven things that were common among those successful millionaires.

1. They live below their means.
2. They allocate their time, energy, and money efficiently, in ways conductive to building wealth.
3. They believe that financial independence in more important than displaying high social status.
4. Their parents did not provide them with economic outpatient care.
   
   

   They are generally frugal when it comes to their own consumption, but not nearly as frugal when it comes to gifts for their children and grandchildren. Children of the wealthy are not guaranteed to be as success as their parents. They often conclude that children could not maintain a middle class lifestyle without help from them. Giving those gifts often creates more spending, not saving because the recipients start to depend on it and budget their lifestyle accordingly. Not all economic help is harmful, but it must be done after the children are already responsible and do not NEED the money. It is only then that they will use the money to prosper.

   According to the survey, Millionaire parents all too often weaken the weak. All too often parents are more willing to give large sums to money to their underachieving children. For example, lets suppose a couple has two children. One is a college graduate; very successful with handling money, with a full time job and the other child is a High school graduate, living at home, with no income. The parents desire to give a gift of 20,000 to their children. Do they divide is down the middle and give both 10,000? No. According to the survey, most parents in this situation would give the underachiever 15,000 because they feel this child needs the money more and give the successful child only 5,000. These well-meaning parents feel like they are helping the underachieving child, but in reality, according to the survey, the actually cripple the child further by making them more reliant on outside assistance. This can also cause conflict and jealousy because the high achievers will start to resent the gifts.

5. Their adult children are economically self-sufficient.
6. They are proficient in targeting market opportunities.
7. They chose the right occupation.

Being frugal is corner stone to wealth building. Often when you see people spending big money on television (like celebrities and sports players), those people may have a large income but most have little investments and little wealth. They spend all they have. They may technically me Millionaires but when compared to other people in their income range, they are actually very poor.

Rules for Affluent Parents and Productive Children
The affluent who have successful adult children gave them these guidelines on how they raised their children.
1. Never tell your children that parent’s are wealthy.

Children that grow up in wealthy families that have high consumption tend to want to maintain that level of spending even after the move out. All too often though they do not have the income to support their lifestyle, so they have to rely on parent’s assistance and credit.

2. No matter how wealthy you are, teach your children discipline and frugality.
3. Assure that your children won’t realize you’re affluent until after they have established a mature, disciplined, and adult lifestyles and profession.
4. Minimize discussions of the items that each child and grandchild will inherit or receive as gifts.
a. Because you may forget what you said…and they probably will not.
5. Never give cash or other significant gifts to your adult children as a part of a negotiation strategy.
6. Stay out of your adult children’s family matters
7. Don’t try to compete with your children
8. Always remember that you children are individuals.
9. Emphasize achievements no matter how small.

Teach children to achieve not just consume. Earning money just so you can spend
it should not be your ultimate goal. People are not impressed by what you own,
but by what you’ve accomplished.

10. Tell your children that there are a lot things more valuable them money.

Currently Reading: Rhinoceros Success by Scott Alexander

While on vacation, I had some time to relax and read. I finished number 5 of my goal of 12 non-fiction books in a year. I know I need to start reading a little faster. Dave Ramsey requires all of his employees to read four different books; The Total Money Makeover, Who Moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson, Rhinoceros Success by Scott Alexander, and QBQ - The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller. I also started my next book on the way home, The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley. I will blog about it when I finish it.

I already read the first two that Dave requires and when I was looking through Steve’s cousin Meredith books in the room we were staying in, she had Rhinoceros Success. So I grabbed the book off the shelf and started reading it. It was really good reading material to bring with me on the hour and half train ride to New York City. I hadn't planned to read those 4 books first but I guess it's sorted happened that way so far. The only one I have left it QBQ, which i own but haven't read yet.


Rhinoceros Success by Scott Alexander
In this world, there are cows and then there are rhinos. The cows graze in the pasture with the other cows, unwilling to take a chance at success, thinking that success only comes to those who are lucky, or that they just aren't cut out to be successful. Many live out their lives in fear, thinking they can never accomplish anything, so they never try.

The rhinos, on the other hand, take charge. Focused and unafraid, thick-skinned and unstoppable, they take massive action toward accomplishing their dreams and goals. They understand that success is there for the taking, if only one brings to bear the right training, mindset and work ethic.

It was a really short fun book, about 200 pages. The basic premise of the book was to be a “go-getter.” Don’t just let life happen to you, but happen to it. I know I have trouble with that sometimes. I know I have skills, but sometimes I am afraid to step out of my comfort zone because I am too afraid that I will fail. Fear of failure is probably one of my biggest weaknesses.

Currently Reading: Bridges Out of Poverty by Phil DeVol

Hello again! I am currently on book 3 of my goal. My goal is to read one Non-Fiction book a month. Dave Ramsey says, "If you want to be skinny, study skinny people. If you want to be rich, do what lots of rich people do, not what some myth-sayer says to do." Apparently rich people read, on average, one non-fiction book a month, so I thought I would try it.

This book has a lot of things packed in it. I might have to summarize each chapter separately just to unpack all of it.

Here is a summary of what I've learned so far from the book, as well as from working with the program. (I'm only on Chapter 1.)

Bridges Out of Povery is a program that the YWCA supports that helps bring bring women out of the cycle of generational poverty. The program is for 3 hours once a week, for 13 weeks, and helps the women gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a Middle Class environment. The YWCA also trains business leaders and managers in poverty, so they can better understand their employees and help them succeed.

Dr. Ruby Payne’s Bridges out of Poverty book brings to the forefront a major problem in America. When children grow up together in poverty it forms a bond that is almost unbreakable in them. Children begin to believe that there is no way out for them. They start to follow the example of their parents and continue the cycle of poverty with their children. Parents are finding themselves unable to support their families. Proper health care and high education are often seen as unachievable. The cycle of poverty will never end unless someone does something about it.

Poverty is defined in the book as the "extent to which an individual does with out resources." Generation Poverty is defined as having been in poverty for at least two generations. Situational Poverty is defined as a lack of resources due to a particular event, such as a death, illness, divorce, etc. Often the attitude in generational poverty is that society owes them a living. In situational poverty the attitude is often one of pride and a refusal to accept charity.

Dr. Ruby Payne’s book is a starting point where one can develop accurate models of poverty, middle class, and wealth. It is a new lens by which we can see and learn from each other. The more people know about poverty, the better chance there is to get people out of it.

There are hidden rules of class that are unspoken cues and habits of the group. Being physically able to fight or having someone else fight for you is important to survival for people in poverty. However, in middle class, being able to use words as tools to negotiate conflict is essential. Teaching people in poverty how to use words is one of the first steps the Bridge out of Poverty. Another difficulty in getting out of poverty is the ability to manage and save money. People in poverty tend to be thinking in the moment, so when they get money or other resources they spend them.

The idea of using money for security and wealth building is mainly seen in the middle and wealthy classes. Relationships are often more important then anything else for people in poverty. Relationships are seens as one of the resources they can't do without. If they come into extra money, they are more likely to give it to a friend in need, then buy something for themself. They see it as an insurance policy of sorts, because if they were ever in need, they would want the person to return the favor.

Being careful not to make assumptions about different classes is often difficult. Many people find themselves in the same class their parents were in so that is all they know about.

There is hope for those in poverty if everyone works together.

Currently Reading: Who Moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson

Who Moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson is the book I just finished. I loved it and I totally recommend it to anyone, especially going through big changes in your life right now. I don't recommend reading it when you are hungry though.

• "Cheese" is a metaphor for what you want to have in life - whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money, a possession, health, or spiritual peace of mind.
• "The Maze" is where you look for what you want - the organization you work in, or the family or community you live in.

Four characters:

• "The Mice" - Sniff (Who sniffs out change early), Scurry (Who scurries in action)
• "The Little People" - Hem (Who denies and resists change as he fears it will lead to something worse, Haw (Who learns to adapt in time when he changing leads to something better
  
• We all have one thing in common, we must all survive in changing times. The world around us is always changing.
  
• The more important your "cheese" is to you, the more you want to hold on to it.
• Sometimes fear can be good. When you are afraid things are going to get worse if you don't do something, it can prompt you into action. But it's not good if it paralizes so much that you can't do anything.
• "Movement in any direction, helps you find more "cheese."
• Haw: "He was letting go and trusting what lay ahead for him, even though he did not know exactly what it was."
• "When you move beyond your fear, you feel free."
• Imagining myself enjoying "new cheese" even before I find it, can lead me to it.
• Think about what you can gain, instead of what you are losing.
• Realizing that you are not living in fear, but instead you are taking a new direction can lead to new strength.
• Change is natural, whether you expect it or not. Change can surprise you only if you didn't expect it and weren't looking for it.
• Haw: "He had to admit that the biggest inhibitor to change lies within himself, and that nothing gets better until you change.
• Fear should be respected because sometimes it keeps you out of danger. But most fears are irrational and keep you from making the changes you need to make.

Change Happens: They keep moving the Cheese
Anticipate Change: Get ready for the Cheese to move
Monitor Change: Smell the Cheese often so you know when it is getting old
Adapt to Change Quickly: The quicker you let go of old Cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new Cheese.
Change: Move with the Cheese
Enjoy Change: Savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new Cheese
Be Ready to Change Quickly and Enjoy It Again and Again: They keep moving the Cheese

Which character are you?