The Emerging Scholars Network released this article: Advice to Christian Scholars. Even if you aren’t in the university environment, I think you can find benefit in the advice given here. I’m really looking forward to reading God on the Quad, which I picked up at our university’s library (for 6 months’ check-out)!

Brett McKay has made another awesome post at The Art of Manliness: Manliness: The Baby and the Bathwater.

Listening to “Your Money, Your Questions” on Fox Business Network – 3 hours of financial advice! Looks like today will be pretty bleak, so it’s a good day to be inside working. Eventually will be heading out to take care of errands, etc. Brrr!

The Simple Dollar shares ideas on 24 Ways to Save Money Today.

I have to include all of the update from Paul Meinsen, who works for the Capitol Commission in Jefferson City, MO:

“Dear Friends of Capitol Commission Missouri,

An except from the December 9 Bible Study in the Capitol.

Think about this:

The almighty Elohim, the majestic God of the universe whose name is Yahweh, created the universe and all that is in it, including the pinnacle of creation: mankind. He created everything knowing that mankind will disobey the one command that He gave them. He created everything knowing that man will get worse and worse in their rebellion towards Him–

· they murder, rape, and pillage each other;

· they boast and brag and live as though they are the center of the universe;

· they lie, cheat and steal for their own selfish reasons;

· they do not care about the Creator;

· they hate Him;

· they credit their own ideas about their origin;

· they worship other images, including themselves;

· they blame Him for the bad things that happen to them;

· and many of them fake some type of allegiance to Him.

And knowing all of this beforehand, Yahweh set a plan in order. He chose a man, Abraham, out of a pagan society. Yahweh set him apart from the others and promised that his family would be the one family that blesses the earth. Abraham’s family finally grew over the generations to be a nation, but it became a nation in slavery. Yahweh gloriously delivered Abraham’s family from Egypt and settled them into a land He promised to Abraham’s family many years earlier.

Instead of being eternally grateful, this nation, Israel, began to live in the way that the people of the land before them lived. They broke the laws and commands that God had given to them. They worshipped the foreign idols, even to the point of sacrificing their own children. In spite of these things, Yahweh God continued to work His plan. He disciplined His children and had them carried away by invading armies. But He always promised and provided a remnant to carry on with His plan.

His plan would eventually come to a point in history where a young unmarried lady would have a baby even though she had not been with any man. This baby would be born in a lowly stable area in a little town called Bethlehem. This baby would be called ‘Immanuel’; which means ‘God with us.’ This baby would be God in the flesh. He came down as a man so that He may save man. His name was Jesus.

How would He save man by being a man? Yahweh saved man by permitting men to kill Jesus. He, who is holy, all-powerful, compassionate, and love gave His Son to be killed by unholy, powerless, selfish, hateful men. And by doing this, He saved them. He then confirmed the whole transaction by raising His dead Son back to life on the third day after His death.

Doesn’t this whole thing sound rather bizarre and absurd? But it is the absurdity that makes it all so glorious and shows us the greatness of God. The absurdity makes the grace amazing.

Please remember: The more you know God, as He has revealed Himself in Scripture, the more absurd and crazy this story sounds. And the more you understand yourself from the standpoint of the Scriptures, the more this story sounds glorious. My prayer is that your Christmas season will be filled with joy, and praise and worship towards God; may it be filled with awe and fear and reverence.

‘God became flesh and dwelt among us’–how absurd, yet how glorious.”

Check out this post from the Art of Manliness: Lesson in Manliness: Jimmy Stewart. Now watching one of the best movies in the last 10 years: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

I think I’ll finally watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or something similar this holiday season! Check out Classic Cinema Online for several classic movies courtesy of the Library of Congress Motion Picture Archive.

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/10/31/three-retirement-questions-for-people-in-their-twenties/ – In your early or even mid-twenties? Planning to raise a family? It might be time to start funding your retirement, assuming that you have your emergency fund taken care of…

http://www.ridiculouslyextraordinary.com/15-minutes-clean-clothes-anywhere-in-the-world/ – A guide to cleaning your clothes anywhere in the world. I think I might invest in some of these items to take overseas with me. Can’t pack too lightly!

http://zenhabits.net/2009/10/the-beginners-guide-to-minimalist-travel/ – A guest post talking about packing light – to the extreme. Again, could be a great use for traveling overseas this summer.

http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Clothesline-in-Tan/dp/B001L19H0G/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1260233534&sr=1-16 – Portable clothesline? What a deal! I love to hang up clothes because I hate running the dryer so much. I also feel like my clothes last longer when I air-dry them. This item might be a purchase I make really, really soon.

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/17/18-things-a-new-homeowner-should-do-immediately-to-save-money/

Listening to Obama’s speech at West Point announcing the launch of 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. I’ll let commenters comment. I feel worn down by politics right now.

Did find a great article on Money Help for Christians: What are the characteristics of the poor, middle class, and wealthy?

Before I head back to the grading / answering e-mails grind…

The Art of Manliness posted “Advice to my Son” from J. Peter Meinke. Check it out.

A wholesome article from Money Help for Christians: How to Avoid the Restaurant to Save Money.

A lengthy, but excellent lecture on how Christians can change the culture of the university. http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/how-can-we-change-the-university

http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/2009/10/how-saving-for-tomorrow-improves-the-quality-of-life-today.html