Is it now time to start thinking green?  Is the latest oil spill going to change public sentiment away from oil to renewable resources?  Will it lead us to make changes in the way we think and do things?  Will this be better for everyone?  I have some interesting thoughts on this as I am sure you do.

Last night I watched a fascinating talk by Chef Dan Barber.  Please check it out at http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/05/17/barber.fish.farming/

Maybe it is BETTER for us all?

Thoughts?

GREEN LIVING CAN SAVE YOUR FAMILY $7,000 PER YEAR

New Book Offers 85 Ways to Save Money, Get Healthy and Protect Your Future

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Launching on April 1, Green, American Style: Becoming Earth-Friendly and Reaping the Benefits (978-0-8010-1334-8, $14.99, April 2010) by Anna M. Clark is the first book to address the hidden reasons why Americans aren’t going green - while offering common-sense advice to appeal to people of every political persuasion. 

Whether you call yourself conservative or liberal, a soccer mom or CEO, a teacher or a student, most can agree that our paychecks are pinched and we want to do right by our children. In Green, American Style, Clark offers 85 practical ways to draw the benefits of living a ‘green’ lifestyle. Many of these ideas cost no money and are behavioral changes that can help us save money, protect our families, bolstering our communities, and model leadership for our children. 

 “It’s about gaining more money, time, opportunity, health and well-being,” says Clark. She makes a special appeal to women, as they are responsible for 80% of the buying decisions in their households.“We need to preserve the health and future of our kids. People have no idea that what they don’t know can hurt them. The principles and ideas in my book can help parents protect their children from the toxins in our food, air and water.” But make no mistake, this is also about fun. “I’ve included chapters on green games, green home remodeling, green grocery shopping – even sustainable wines and eco-chic clothes. I want people to enjoy themselves while making a difference!” The author provides some free suggestions from her book life in a series of videos on her website. 

Green, American Style contains fresh content from personal interviews with green luminaries ranging from clean-energy billionaire T. Boone Pickens to healthy-living author and philanthropist Deirdre Imus. This book’s uniquely American perspective speaks into readers’ own paradigms, taking into account the largely conservative values of much of this country, its democratic and capitalistic history, its emphasis on family and its resistance to reining in. It is more than a list of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. It’s a movement that accounts for the diverse perspectives of business, faith, and lifestyle, recognizing the economic, physical, and spiritual benefits of sustainable living.

Anna M. Clark is president of EarthPeople and an author on topics of sustainability and leadership. Clark and her family live in Dallas in one of Texas’ first residences to earn a Platinum LEED-certified rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ at every level with books that are relevant, intelligent and engaging. The focus of Baker Books is the church and discerning lay Christians who want to stimulate their thinking. For more information, please visit www.bakerbooks.com.

I have told many of my friends and colleagues that everyone needs a secondary source of income.  Even with 2 income households I constantly hear of families still struggling.

I am often amazed at the tremendous cost of food, utilities and my children’s activities.  Before long this really adds up.

This coupled with the ever present concern of layoffs everyone NEEDS to have a secondary (or in this case) a third source of income.

My rule is do something you love and the money will come.

Look, decide and execute

How can you be better prepared for Christmas this year?

If you have not been adding to your Christmas account at work or saving on your own, this is the time to really buckle down.  You do not want to be the one who is still paying for Christmas gifts half way into the new year.

Even taking that small step now will make the holidays much less stressful.

Never hesitate to negotiate on a price and hit the Christmas Sales Hard!

A friend of mine has installed solar panels on his house.  He lives in Louisiana and between the government and the state he is paying virtually nothing.

That is the type of thing that makes you go mmmm.

I get the benefit and it is supsidized by others —- why didn’t I think of that.  LOL

Are lawn service companies worth it?

I was out cutting the lawn today and started to think how $25.00 to have someone else cut and edge my lawn is really a pretty good deal.

Now, that I am back in the a/c I start to think - is it really that big of a deal?

How our minds play games with us. 

The cost of kid’s lunches at school are reasononable unless they use a-la-carte.

A lunch tray at my son’s school is less than $3.00 but when he visits the a-la-carte line it can run over $8.00.

We have had the talk and this year it will be lunches brought from home or the tray lunches.

ABSOLUTELY!

My wife and kids sprung for a zoo membership, local waterpark membership and make thorough use of a “Bowl a Free Game Every Weekday” all summer from our local school district.

The zoo is then free, including parking.  The waterpark is then free as well.

Now, the bowling does not include shoes but once we bought a $20.00 pair of bowling shoes for each of them we are good. 

So, the answer is YES!

So, if demand is way down (even for summer driving) why does the cost of gas keep going up?

Maybe is is getting about time for me to look at the 2010 Toyota Prius.  This is the first car I know of with an “available solar roof”

Now, you have to admit tht is pretty cool.

Have you ever done the math behind what that nice dinner out at Ruth’s Chris Seakhouse costs every week or even that daily stop at McDonald’s for a biscuit and a coffee?

Whether a regular meal at the more expensive place or a daily snack at one of the fast food chains - you will still be out more than you think.

Why not learn to cook - it is not that hard - heck, I can even do it.