Inheritance is accidental

"Inheritance is accidental."  This is a quote from a poetry reading I recently watched where a college girl speaks of traits she has picked up from her mother that she knows are not healthy but are so ingrained in her she cannot help herself.
Often when I hear the term inheritance I get irritated and sometimes downright angry.  It seems to me that most people don't understand what inheritance should be.  The idea that "inheritance is accidental" or the Porsche driving down the road with the bumper sticker that says "I am spending my kids inheritance"!  You are missing the point people!  Inheritance is about leaving the world a better place than you came into by passing a legacy of wealth onto your children, be that wealth monetary or in character (preferably the latter).
My dad is a collector and I am interested in getting many of the things in his collections when he passes.  However, my dad has other plans.  He has always told me that when he dies he wants all of his stuff to go to auction and all the proceeds to go to charity.  That really frustrated me when I was young because I have always loved stuff (of course that is the root of the problem he is trying to solve).  I understand now that what he is saying is that he doesn't want to be remembered because he was successful and made lots of money, he wants to be remembered because he made a positive difference in the lives of others and he raised 3 children who all have Godly character and strive to make a positive difference in the lives of others.  I really hope that he was just saying he is going to sell all his stuff in order to teach me that lesson and because I learned it I get to have some of the stuff, but if not I have received the inheritance he intended to pass along and I will sell his stuff and give the proceeds away joyfully.
I have picked up a lot of "traits" from my father, and some of them are unintentional, but for the most part my fathers inheritance is purposeful, not accidental.  I think it is important to make a concerted effort to make our actions purposeful and think about all the things we say and do with the understanding that there are little ones watching and they will become who we are and if we train them right they will take our inheritance and make it increase.
Another thing that strikes me is the inheritance we receive should be something we have to invest in.  It is rare that you see a third generation millionaire.  The second generation is rarely invested in the financial inheritance they receive and thus it has no real value to them and they spend it frivolously until it is all gone leaving their children with nothing.  Does something you don't have any investment in really have any value to you?  It is a common idea that you should not "give" a car to a teenager because they wont appreciate it and it will not be taken care of and probably be wrecked, but if they have to work for it they will want to take care of it because it has value to them.  I am not sure in today's society where trades are not passed from father to son how to practically work out children investing into tangible inheritance.  This makes it so much more important to make sure that you pass along an inheritance of character.
the concept here is being intentional about the things we pass along to the next generation and the things we receive from past generations.  Find people who you admire look at their lives and figure out why you admire them and purposefully make those behaviours yours.  Take a good hard look at your life and find the things that you don't want your children to be and stop them, but don't stop there, talk with your children about your shortcomings.  If they know about the behaviors you have that are negative it will help them avoid them and don't worry about crushing your children's view of their perfect dad, they will respect you more for it when they are older and it will open doors to talk about their problems when they are young.

Boycotting

"So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."  Luke 15:3-7

It seems in today's society christians don't think this way anymore, instead we seem to say "stupid ******* sheep, let the wolves have you I am tired of this ****, I have more important things to do, I am better than you, get him God send the wolves!"
We aren't helping anyone when we boycott. By all means support the people who believe the way you do, but if you turn your back on others you have destroyed your witness and you will never be able to reach them for Christ and worse yet you have turned them away from christians (and no I didn't forget to capitalize the C, I just don't think we deserve a capitol letter, but that's another rant) so now it will be harder for any of us to reach them.
I think if Jesus would have come to earth today you would find him at Starbucks and Disney world, not because he likes to waste money, but because there is where you will find the people he came for. I doubt he would set foot in a mega church either unless it was to turn over some tables and bring discipline to those who call themselves His.

potato soup

I had a first this weekend.  I made a potato soup and I didn't have any thing critical to say about it, it was really good.  The funny thing is that I didn't have some of the main ingredients so I improvised and it turned out great.
I really love to cook, it has been some time sense I have been able to do so with moving and living in my in laws basement and such, and now that we are settled we are still working on restocking ingredients.  The biggest issue I have with cooking (or so my wife would say) it that I am really critical when I cook.  I am always saying "it would be better if I had" or "next time I should".  And I am always asking people how it is not to get compliments but to get criticism.  I think the thing people don't understand is this is what I like the most about cooking.  I don't just want to make stuff, I want to create and make it better.  There is always room for improvement, I think even great chefs would agree.  I am not saying something is bad when I say "it would be better if..." I am just saying it might be better if I did something different, or added a little something.  And I don't really cook for me so if you think it would be better if I did something different, or added something, or didn't add something, TELL ME!!! I want to make it better, for you!

That's all I have to say about that.  Next - ham and beans, or maybe chicken chili.  I think I need a lime...

Does it add value? If not it must go!

So I have been thinking a lot about self sufficiency, and keeping a house.  In my kitchen I have a rule for appliances  unless it cannot be replaced by some other device everything must multitask.  Single use items just waste space in my opinion.  Likewise I have been thinking of other things in and around the house.

Lets start with pets, an untrained dog kept as a companion is, in my opinion, worthless.  Don't get me wrong, I love dogs and really enjoy the companionship you can get from them, but lets make them useful!  Things dogs can be good at - protection, hunting, herding of other animals (and sometimes children), trained properly a larger dog can pull a cart, just think of it this way all dogs should be service animals.  I really have no use for small dogs except in the rare occasion when I am hunting a predator and I need bait.  Of course all that said there is a place for dogs merely as companions, I have seen small dogs greatly improve the quality of life for elderly and or infirmed individuals just by being there.  I also believe that dogs used to help children in reading programs where their sole function is to sit and listen to kids read is a great use.  Of course, I consider both of these functions service oriented even though it is companionship, and they should be well trained for both roles.  I won't even get into cats and what a waste of money I think they are, although they do make for good target practice.

Other animals are good to consider too.  Dogs and cats aren't the only animals that can add value and quality of life to a home, although for people living in town thinking of "farm animals" as pets isn't normally considered.  It should be though.  Some communities have laws that won't allow animals other than dogs and cats kept as pets, but many places don't.  I simply don't understand why more homes don't keep a couple of chickens or dairy goats in their backyard.  My rule is if it produces it can stay, if it is there because someone liked it and it isn't or won't be a productive part of the family it must go.  We are talking about getting a couple of dairy goats, and when people heard we wanted goats it was suggested we get fainting goats.  Why in the world would I want a fainting goat?  The process they go through when they "faint" seems to me to be very traumatic and to put them through that for your amusement is just inhumane.  And what do they produce?  They aren't good milkers, they aren't bulky like a meat goat, so you are asking me to get another useless pet.  I don't think so.  Lets get a goat that can put some food on the table, or 3 or 4.  You may not realize this but goats don't really require a lot of space, and even though they can be a little work they add a lot of value to your family.

Okay, last but certainly not least, lets talk about house plants.  Who doesn't like a few plants around the house?  Plants clean the air, produce oxygen, and make the house look better.  But why stop there, if you are going to have a houseplant why not get one that provides food for your family as well.  How cool would it be if you could grow potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, celery, peppers, and who knows what else in your living room improving the quality of the air in your house and feeding the family at the same time.

Call me greedy and selfish, but my philosophy here is if I put time and energy into something I want a return on my investment, and just making things pretty doesn't cut it.  It should look good and give returns.