Budget Your Money… Free Yourself to Give, Save and Spend with Joy

Do ANY of the following sound appealing?
  • Having the freedom to give more!
  • Being able to spend without worry!
  • Having the ability to save more!
  • Having less stress!

Another question…

Which word best describes a budget?

A. Limits
B. Freedom

This post is being written to myself as much as anyone. Having a budget is not always fun and can seem limiting… at first, but once the budget is there (the fast part) and the habits are formed (the slow part), a budget is incredibly freeing! This is true for anyone, not matter their income (though some may notice the benefits more than others.

What about the rich?

The question you may be thinking is “What about the very rich? They don’t need a budget. They never run out of money.”

Since most people don’t consider themselves to be very rich, though if you are reading this in the U.S., you are in the richest 5% of the world, I will only address this briefly. While the rich may be able to spend and give without much worry (though they do worry), having a reasonable budget would free them to have the joy of giving more, even much more, instead of needing a large buffer to make sure they don’t spend too much. A budget, even setting self imposed spending limits also creates the fun of working towards something. I heard an interesting “fact” (I did look into it enough to be convinced it is true, but don’t know the exact statistics), that many pro-athletes end up filing for bankruptcy after they retire since they have gotten into social groups and a lifestyle of high spending and those lifestyle habits continue when the income is no longer there to match it.

So how about the rest of us?

Click here for a copy of our budget (cleared of our details) for you to use.
(Note: This budget has many different items listed. You likely won’t use all of them. We have combined the lists from several budget plans and added some of our own to have as complete of a list as possible, but you still may need to add more depending on how you spend your money.)
 
Example Budget (Quickly done, so the numbers may not seem reasonable)
—
Other Budgeting Help
  • Dave Ramsey (www.daveramsey.com) has great info about budgeting, getting rid of debt, etc.

Welcome to 3rd Culture Living

As Elyse’s husband and the tech guy behind the site, I welcome you to 3rd Culture Living. My wife has a more meaningful welcome here. :)

We are excited to launch the blog for each other, for our children, and for anyone else who may want to join us in journey of “3rd Culture Living”. More posts and topics will be coming as we live intentionally and see where life leads and the lessons it will bring.

Welcome to the journey!

What you see now gives an idea of “What is 3rd Culture Living“, the reasons for “Why this site” and “Who we are” so you can have an idea of what to expect. You can read all the posts below (on the home screen), read my wife’s welcome for an intro to the site, or click on some of the tabs above (which still have limited content at this point).

Thank you for joining us at the beginning of this new journey. We look forward to growing together!

Blessings,
Rob

First Birthday Party, First Blog Post!

Happy Birthday, Isaiah Tiancheng Goll! 高天成，生日快乐！

Mama and Baba (Daddy in Chinese) have been working hard to get this blog running so we can start writing and leave a “simple abundant legacy“. What a joy that our first post after we are done with the blog construction pages is to celebrate our 2nd son’s first birthday!

His birthday this year has fallen on a Monday, free zoo day, also the first day my husband is done with Monday classes for the semester! With the beautiful weather, we can’t think about a better way to celebrate Isaiah’s birthday but to a zoo visit!  To make the event merrier, grandparents also joined us! Yeah for grandparents living nearby!!

Let’s get to know our little buddy a little more:

10 fun facts about Isaiah:

  1. “Happy Feet, Isaiah!” Since he was born, he likes to move his feet and toes. At first I thought it was a baby thing, then I realized it is an “Isaiah” thing. Not sure how long this is going to last but we surely enjoy watching his movement.
  2. Adores his big brother, Elijah. He is watching and interested in what his brother is doing and where he is going.
  3. Loves music. As soon as music starts, so does his rocking.
  4. Born at home on Mother’s Day in 2014.
  5. “In Christ Alone” is Isaiah’s bedtime hymn.
  6. Loves people and would rather happily play with people even when naps/meals are missed.
  7. Blocks are not to build but to throw, the further the better.
  8. Two bottom teeth like to chew a lot of real food, especially food from mama’s bowl.
  9. Uses a lot of clicks in his speech (a great potential to learn African languages with clicks).
  10. Loves sitting position the best as he discovered all the potentials by being super flexible.

Isaiah’s 5 Major Events 

  1. He watched us gutting the house so patiently and joyfully.
  2. Two road trips: Chicago, Memphis. Lost some hair in the back while laying in the car seat, but did amazingly well with the trip.
  3. Attended BSF infant program.
  4. Got to be with Gonggong (mama’s dad from China) for six weeks.
  5. Attended Sunday services with us as a family.

5 Things Isaiah didn’t do for the first year: 

  1. No fancy themed birthday party.
  2. No sick visit for the first year.
  3. No hair cut.
  4. No baby story time at the library but attended pre-school programs with his big brother instead.
  5. No walking, which worked out great with the house construction going on.

Quiz: Should a fresh egg float or sink?

Answer: The Bad Egg will Rise Up and Shell Itself

Elijah and I learned an egg-citing new trick from Elyse today: How to find an old egg (before it’s too late!)

  1. Take the eggs you want to cook and put them in water so that they are submerged.
  2. Do they float, or do they sink?
    1. They should sink. If they float to the surface, you may want to consider passing on that omelet.
    2. Those from the same batch that sink will likely be very easy to peel.

Disclaimer: A sinking egg may have other issues, but it is fresh.

Explanation

  • Fresh eggs have very little (if any) air in the shell.
  • As they age, air gets through the shell into the egg.
  • A floating egg indicates an old egg to the point that enough air has entered in to allow it to float.
  • The other eggs from the same batch, may not havequite enough air to float, but likely have enough to loosen the shell and make them easy to peel.
    • The easier an egg is to peel, the older it likely is.

Placed into full dependence on Christ

The thrilling, terrifying experience of being called to something where I feel totally inadequate, asked to lead others who are likely older, wiser, more experienced, with questions for which I have no answer. Yet at the same time shaking with excitement at the amazing opportunity and accountability to meet the Lord in new ways, with greater depth than I likely ever have before. The broken joy that comes in feeling absolutely inadequate within myself, with the expectation of seeing the work of the Spirit of God in me, in our group, through His word. This comes with an amazing freedom. It is not my doing or responsibility. It is the Spirit of God, working through His word, that accomplishes his will. I just have the amazing joy and privilege to come along, to experience Him work, to pray like I have never prayed before. To draw near to him. To see him, not myself, as the one who will work to change lives. I have always felt that I can do it. Now I feel the amazing joyful freedom with trembling, of being beyond myself, where only God can work.

I have been asked to join the leadership for an amazing Bible Study, which is truly focused on the Word of God. The first choice was whether to move in this direction at all. Christ gave clear leading that this was the direction to pursue. The second choice was whether to be a group leader for men or a children’s leader for a class somewhere from 1st grade through high school.

Much of my life experience points in the direction of children’s leader. It also may just be me, but I am thinking that is where the leadership was somewhat thinking I may go. I even am excited for that ministry and the ways it is leading kids not just to hear about Jesus, but to really know Him, be excited for his Word, and draw near to him. Perhaps in the future, this will be where I go, and joyfully so, though also with a tremendous sense of great responsibility and the fearful joy of knowing that the power of God is the only one who changes lives.

However, as Elyse and I had time to pray and seek the Lord in this decision for the time being, his clear leading was to move in the direction of Group Leader. For this job, I feel utterly inadequate. The men who are leaders are an amazing group of deeply Godly men. As far as I know, I will be the youngest. I have seen such godly character, deep love for the Word, wisdom, leadership, and so many other amazing characteristics in these men. I feel utterly inadequate and amazingly grateful to gain from their wisdom.

How am I going to lead the men who God places into my group who I have the privilege and responsibility to have in our study of God’s Word and in my life?

I am shaking with excitement, knowing how much this will be a time to grow in depth of relationship with Christ, in maturity, in the ability to lead a group of men, all things that are deeply on my heart, yet I am terrified all the same.

I am so grateful for the text that was presented today in a seminar before the Bible Study.

And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:3-4) 

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you… (Exodus 3:11-12)

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:10-12)

God is the one who calls. I need only to listen and obey. I don’t need to be able. I don’t need to have fluent words. I don’t need to think about me at all. To be sure, I will grow as I experience God, but it is God who does it all though his Spirit and his Word. I need to fall desperately at his feet in prayer and fasting and be ready to be humbled as I experience him work. Even if it means my complete brokenness and humiliation, that is a price to be joyfully paid to draw near in intimacy with my Lord and to see him work to draw men to himself.

I can feel a renewed excitement for life, for family and most of all for Christ and His Word bubbling up inside of me. I feel a renewed passion to be in His Word and to help to lead others to these words of life! This life is all about Christ and His kingdom!

To God be the Glory for ever and ever! Amen!

If you would like to join us on this grand adventure, talk to Elyse or I or locate a class near you!

The Good News

This page has been moved to https://3rdcultureliving.com/thegoodnews/.

Any updates will be found there.

“In the beginning God created….” Genesis 1:1

With these words, the grand story of adventure, romance, comedy, tears, life and death begins. We were created to find our deepest joy, fulfillment and purpose in knowing our Creator. Yet, there is always something getting in the way, blinding our eyes, deafening our ears and keeping us from this grand adventure.

Elyse and I put this slide show together using the words of God’s book to us as part of our own devotional study time, to highlight how God views our lives and how he has come to clear the way for us to come to him!

To view the presentation:

  1. Click on the presentation in the language you want (English or Chinese).
  2. Keep clicking on the presentation to go through the slides.

Suggestions:

  1. Click fairly quickly, otherwise the presentation may seem too long.
  2. Have some soft instrumental music playing in the background.

Click here to view “The Good News” in English!

Enjoy free books, movies, toys, events and more… Check out the Library!

Do you or your kids like to

  • read
  • watch movies or listen to music
  • play with games and toys
  • have events for all ages
  • take care of office work such as print, fax and scan
  • even do any of the preceding in a language other than English?
  • or can’t get out of the house and want to do most of the above?

and do it all for FREE?

If so, you may share, or learn to share, our love of the library.

Continue reading “Enjoy free books, movies, toys, events and more… Check out the Library!”