Final Class Numbers

Well, we had our second week of class this past Sunday and the final count is...52 families! Or right at about 100 people (a "family" is an individual, couple, or couple with their high school/young adult children). We think that about 400 or 500 people attend our church, so that's about 1/4 or 1/5 of the church! We've heard a lot of great feedback already and people seem to be enjoying it. One guy told me that he and his wife have discussed finances more in the past week than they have their entire married life (I'm sure he was joking though...I hope). Another guy told Sonja that he's actually even eating better because of the class! He said when he started thinking about being responsible with money that he started to look at other areas of his life, too. So, the class is off and running and we're totally excited to see what will happen with it. In related news, we have exactly 1 month left (2 pay periods) before we are credit card debt free! We'll still have the student loans and the house, but that will be it. I still can't believe that we're almost there. Yeah for FPU!

Our New Friend George

I'll make a long story short - tonight Sonja and I bought a George Foreman grill. Best investment ever (well, hopefully - it might be a little early to make that call). But, it certainly did produce some great steaks (thanks to a recommendation by Heidi at QFC). And Sonja made seasoned red potatoes that were amazing! Paired with some Henry Weinhard's root beer, bread and salad. Yum!

Tomorrow night we're thinking chicken.

UPDATE (10:00pm 3/20)
Chicken was very, very good. Tomorrow night we're going to get some Alaska Halibut we have in the freezer and try that!

Who's Your Daddy?

Not sure if you've heard all the latest buzz about them finding Jesus' family tomb. I guess there was a special on Discovery recently about it (for those that still have those shiny contraptions with pictures inside called TVs). I guess it was produced by James Cameron (Mr. Titanic) and was made pretty well...kind of like a movie. Wasn't there another movie recently that pretended to be historically accurate and was just full of a bunch of fiction? But I digress...

I didn't see the special or even hear about it until I listened to Stand to Reason's weekly podcast where Greg Koukl had Gary Habermas on the show talking about the tomb and the Discovery special. Koukl is an apologetics guy (really practical stuff) and Habermas is one of the world's foremost experts on the Resurrection of Jesus (and also an apologetics guy). You should download the mp3 (or podcast it) if you have heard about this and have questions about it - or if your co-workers are talking about it.

Touché

We were getting low on gas (gas light was indeed on), but we only had a few minutes so I just put $5 worth in. Later when we were driving I told Sonja that only with today's gas prices and in today's economy can we put $5 worth of gas in and STILL have the gas light be on. Sonja then remarked (as we sipped our Starbucks) that only in today's economy can we pay twice as much for coffee as we did to put gas in the car. Touché.

An Observation

I learned something today...had an epiphany you might say. You know how when you walk into a Teriyaki restaurant they usually have their menu up on the wall with bright pictures and prices? And usually there is a white board with "today's special" (that often never changes).

Well, today I learned that when you walk into a Teriyaki restaurant and neither of these features are there, you're likely in an expensive Teriyaki restaurant and they don't want to put the prices in plain sight because people could see them from the door and make a run for it before they were already well inside and committed. Sure, it was served on a fancy plate, but I was just looking for some $5 rice and chicken. Lesson learned.

Not Blockbuster!

So, I just called to cancel another credit card (cheers!). When the guy asked why, I told him we were cleaning up our credit cards and closing them out. He asked which cards we were keeping (obviously wanting to talk me into his being one of them). I told him none of them. Getting rid of all of them. His response? "Well, then you won't be able to open an account at Blockbuster without a credit card." Oh the horror!!! Nooooooooooooooo!!! Not Blockbuster! Please, don't take that away from me. I'll stay in financial bondage and be in constant temptation to use debt...just don't take away my Blockbuster!

Seriously? Is that what they're trained to use to try to retain customers? I told him I bet Blockbuster would let me rent a movie if I had money. And that if being able to rent at Blockbuster was the one benefit I had by keeping a credit card, then I guess I could do without Blockbuster. He then went on to tell me I couldn't rent a car without a credit card. I told him you can rent a car without a credit card. He firmly declared that you can't. Whatever...just close the account.

This is what we're up against people. These companies have just been feeding us lies and we've been buying into it. No more.

I feel like going and renting a car today with my DEBIT card just out of spite. Anyone want to go for a drive?

More numbers.

So yesterday after church we had another orientation video for the class. 12 more families signed up (that we know of) and a few more are thinking about it! That brings our count to 38 families (counting Sonja and I)! We are so excited! People seemed really interested and a number of them have heard the Dave Ramsey show on AM630 KCIS already.

Class starts next Sunday...yeah!