Whatcha Reading?

I thought it would be interesting to know what people were reading and if the book is worth passing on. When we are not being inspired by a friend, pastor or the like we may be reading a good book. A book is often a free pass into seeing someones soul. What cant always be said can often be written.
Blake

Money Magazine-- very basic but I learn a little every time
Kiplingers-- same as Money
Fortune Magazine--same--
Millions of Pieces-- Oprahs book club-
7 Paths of the Mystic(Borysenko)-- very interesting
Expanding Love and compassion(Dahlia Lama)-- Interesting
50 People who influenced me most(Wayne Dyer)-- Very cool book. I have read about 5 of his books in the last 3 months
A poetry books by some Indian guy who won the Pullitzer back in the 70's
The Last Word and The Word After That(McClaren)-- I really enjoyed this book
A Generous Orthodoxy(McClaren)-- Must read
Common Sense(Thomas Paine)-- Must Read-short too
Aristotles Children- intersting so far
Beethoven Life and Works--book on cd was very enjoyable

Time or Money saving tips Anyone?

Do your bills online. No stamps, envelopes or wasted time. It literally takes me a few minutes to pay them all. I have redeemed hours in the last year.

Do a Cash Only Budget: You would think a budget will constrain you but it has been liberating. It also saves you time doing your bills. You dont have to spend hours reconciling your checkbook and making sure it matches your bank account. Uuuggghh!!! Again saving you time at bill paying time. A budget also balances different spending personalities in the family. It provides marital bliss(when you stick to it of course). I often have a difficult time enjoying myself when dining out or at doing something that is supposed to be fun. I am always thinking about what else I could have done with the money. When budgeted I have complete freedom within the boundaries. Julie has a little plastic coupon holder that she organizes the cash in. This is highly recommended. If you have a pile of cash it will get spent and you will have more month left than cash.

If you are on highspeed internet consider switching to an online phone company. We were on Verizon and spending around $50-$60/month with long distance. We now spend $25 with Vonage. You can even keep your existing number. They also have a referral program. You can get a free month for everyone you refer.

Financial Tips Anyone:
If you have a large family your current tax burden is lower than it will be when you retire. Start a Roth investment account which is pretaxed and not taxed when you withdraw it at retirement. You can currently put $4000 per individual(Wife-Husband) per year.
I thought it would be cool to have a spot here where we can ask questions or post a financial tip that might benefit those we know. As always be careful what you advise and what advise you take. This is not a spot to sell your products if you happen to be in the field.

Do you ever feel like you dont know who you are? Not sure what is actually truth and what is just stuff bouncing around in your head. There was a time when believing what I was told was of necessity. It satisfied me and gave me great contentment. Often those things were more truths of the community(the particular group of individuals I was with at the time). Have you ever butted heads with something that you once believed? I seem to being doing a lot of that. I often feel like I am on an island, alone and searching--longing for a companion(in the world of thoughts of course). Occasionally someone hops on your island for a moment and it feels so good. Occasionally you try to verbalize something you are going through and you can tell the other person isn't getting it. That can feel terrible. It is such a challenge to be known.
It strikes me that words can be our greatest tool in the process of discovery but also our greatest adversary when it comes to dialoguing with others. In most Christian circles I have been in there are certain unspoken rules of dialogue. Some things when "thought" just can not be said. Are there things you believe(at least at this moment) that you would not say? I would like a place where it is just dialogue, not conclusions. Where people can say the craziest things and not feel the weight of orthodoxy pressing on them. Often we are afraid of being misunderstood and so we pass through life playing the game by the unspoken rules.
As I am writing this I find it necessary to comment on the difference between the written word and the spoken word. Nobody is speaking here so there is a lot of room for speculation and misunderstanding. On that note here is a quote from Socrates warning one of his students(Phaedrus) on the disadvatages of written communcication when compared to face-to-face conversation.
"The fact is, Phaedrus, that writing invloves a similar disadvantage to painting. The productions of painting look like living beings, but if you ask them a question they maintain a solemn silence. The same holds true of written words; you might suppose that they understand what they are saying, but if you ask them what they mean by anything they simply return the same answer over and over again. Besides, once a thing is committed to writing it circulates equally among those who understand the subject and those who have no business with it; a writing cannot distinguish between suitable and unsuitable readers. And if it is ill-treated or unfairly abused it always needs its parent to come to its resuce; it is quite incapable of defending or helping itself."

"Learning is not a consequence of teaching or listening, but a consequence of thinking"

Le us think together not neccesarily alike.