I know I’m not the smartest guy out here but usually I can hang on enough mentally to keep pace and think ahead even (as we can think multiple times faster than someone speaks). Yet Dr. Tacket comes across as a humble yet viscous intelectual in so many fields of study I can actually feel myself being left behind in my thoughts as he speaks at times. From history, politics, scripture, philosophy, anthropology, theology, sociology, to pick yourology (not to be confused with urology). I think I have found my new intelectual hero in Dr. Del Tacket.

My mental man crush aside here on the good doctor, this course seems to be able to take me as far down the truth rabbit hole as I’m willing to go. Like most, I suppose, I enjoy learning about some topics more than others. History, specifically the details surrounding the founding of this country, biblical history, biographies, science, and statistics quite easily fascinate me and take little effort on my part to immerse myself into. Even philosophy, sociology, politics, and the study of man and God, can most usually be tantilizing as well. Memorizing, algebra, and continuing education courses, in my opinion, the world could do a great deal less of. But back to this course, The Truth Project, appears to be a world in and of itself. I’m thrilled and thankful to the creators of the course. It’s been refreshing and energizing to travel through the tours I’ve gone through so far and I am genuinely giddy about the tours to come.

Today the idea of “truth” itself is somehow controversial. It’s one thing to agree or disagree on a specific idea, data, or some other thing, but to question if truth exists is puzzling to me. Maybe it has to do with the reality that, as truth does exist, and it is right, then the opposite of truth exists as well…namely deception, lies, and being wrong. Perhaps this alone makes the truth pill too large for some to swallow therefore clinging to some notion of relativism. Why? Well, if I claim there is no objective truth, then I can do whatever the expletive I want and it’s good because there is no right and wrong, there just is or isn’t. Quick question, doesn’t the statement “There is no truth!”, imply a claim of truth?.

Regardless, the first tour begins with what Dr. Del Tackett calls Veritology or the study of truth. That word, Veritology, is interesting itself, as you’ve likely never heard the word before. It does not exist. Go ahead and look it up right here dictionary.com, it’s not there. No word describing or defining the study of truth!? Thank you Dr. Del Tackett for remedying this for us all. Clearly our need for studying truth is objectively desperate, single handedly, by there being a lack of a word for the respective study itself.

Dr. Tackett is emphatic on the purpose of his creating the Truth Project. Although there is a Herculean amount of knowledge He stresses the intent is transformation. Transformation is unavoidable in the presence of God. And this is his most sincere desire for each of us who dare the journey into his Truth Project. We are reminded over and over again by Dr. Tackett that as we seek His presence, His characteristics, yes, even His face our hope and expectation is the renewing of our minds as a means to the end of transformation. Clinical knowledge is great and we need it but the real treasure here is never being the same again.

Nuggey, Small Fry & Stellan 1st time bowling from Jennifer McKinney on Vimeo.

Believe it or not they all bowled a full 10 frame game. Nuggey’s score is legitimate, that is, I did not help him. Small Fry and Stellan got an initial push assistance by dad once in a while. I mean I like to think I have patience…but apparently not that much patience this time. Seriously, sometimes I wondered if the ball had enough inertia to knock a single pin down. Turns out, every time it did, but I was reluctant to wait and see on a number of rolls. Therefore the help. Tell ya what guys, next time it’s all you, both so we can know what your real scores are AND so dad can sharpen up on simply enjoying an experience for what it is. Ok then. Hey, did you see Stellan pick up that six pound bowling ball? I’m certain some of my strength insecurities have just subsided. My new two year old is a stallion!

This is a mysterious thing to me. After all, if someone claims to NOT be a hypocrite…well, wouldn’t that be the most incriminating form of hypocrisy? We are all liars. The collective whole of us are less than our individual ideals. Our morals do not match our ethics, whether we are believers or not. I commonly get these two confused or even use them synonymously, but they are definitely not synonymous. Morals refer to “doing” where ethics refer to what we believe we “ought to” be doing.

So we all possess this quality that each of us seems to love to hate, yet we are all too often eager to point out to each other that someone else possesses this quality. The pointing out part can be personal confrontation, gossip, or cowardly attacks launched online by anonymous individuals with courage to spare apparently, in addition to other forms I imagine. Regardless, how silly is this that we point out in others what we ourselves have?

Credibility. Nearly a universally cherished virtue. So those who strive to gain or maintain credibility, are their efforts in vain? Of course not. Simply because someone trips over a hurdle shouldn’t in itself disqualify them from turning back and yelling out to others, “Hey, watch out for that hurdle!” For not yelling back after tripping would at best make the person unthoughtful and at worst possibly heartless. I mean, for the sake of comparison, I offer the example that in some fields, having made mistakes is quite advantageous. Experience. The result of being better at something afforded in large part by the gained knowledge of what NOT to do, principally because you’ve already made those mistakes. In fact, in today’s competitive market, ask a recent college graduate how NOT having experience is working out for them in their search for employment.

It seems currently our culture values showing our best face to everyone, which isn’t all a bad thing. I’m glad you wear deodorant, and you’re thrilled that I change my socks. I’m writing more directly about the uber exaggerated efforts of our society to encourage its people to be seen as…well, as something they are not. This phenomenon is actually more closely aligned to the definition of hypocrisy than the way in which we commonly use it (see first two paragraphs).

Here is the definition courtesy dictionary.com:
noun
1.
a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
2.
a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, esp. one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

My aim here is this: as Christians, it seems we are simple prey for those who would strike at the heart of our faith: truth. Why? Because we claim A LOT. Our leader claimed to be “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. With the most gentle heart of our Savior, Jesus Himself said things like, “there is no way to the Father but through me,” excluding every other world view, philosophy, idea, tradition, and way of life as a means to Heaven. As Christians we are to be Christ followers. Christ was, as we can all agree, without fault. He was who He claimed to be, and He lived what He believed. He was, is and will be faithful and obedient to His Father. I am not obedient. I am not faithful.

I have this dual nature that is scoffed at. I have the worst case of bipolar syndrome known to man. And it’s not just in my head…it’s in my heart. This dual nature is at the core of me. I’m trapped. For now. In large part, this is why I make such easy prey in terms of being called out as a hypocrite. If I can be displayed to be a fugaise, what is my likely reaction? I can’t answer for you but for me it’s fear. Fear of being pointing out as a coward. Fear of being seen by others as weak and unable to live out what I believe, both by other Christians and unbelievers alike. I dread the thought of what others would say about me, what they are thinking…gosh, what I’ll be remembered as.

How do I resolve this? Do I try harder to refrain from sinning? In short yea, but I would do well to remember that my obedience to Him is a natural result of my gratitude for what He has done for me. It is in considering how He loves me, not so much as in trying with my own merits and willpower to resist the evil nature that resides within me. Should I keep tighter lips about my ideals, so as to not over expose my true beliefs so that when I do display hypocrisy, it will be less conspicuous? I think not. Although this seems a commonplace choice in our culture. Perhaps I should edit my ideals to more closely match my actions? Uh, no. Or maybe I throw open who I am, not so much to disarm those who would oppose the world view I cling to (although it very much has this affect), but to have an honesty to myself, my God, my family and my community of faith.

We must agree that in the absence of honesty and truth with ourselves, we have precious little ability for personal development and growth. Maybe we all share very similar struggles and we are all acting like we are not struggling, you know because struggling displays weakness. Maybe that’s one of the reasons Christians are vulnerable. Vulnerable to the quick dismissal of our ideals by non believers, via being labeled hypocrites. Even politicians know it’s better to be proactive in communicating dirt when it’s bound to be leaked. Not vulnerable as in being willing to feel hurts for the sake of others. Being a hypocrite doesn’t have to mean disparagement. But for so long I thought one equaled the other. Simple logic says everyone is a hypocrite. This must mean then that whoever is doing the labeling, the finger pointing, the whistle blowing, the bellowing and whining is ever the soul who knows no better than to sling accusations of the very thing that the poor soul who slings is himself guilty of. Unreal. I mean genuinely, WHAT!? Yet many of us buy this assumptive garbage…by the expletive ton.

What separates us, or what should, is love. So I’ll acknowledge my hypocrisy. I’ll embrace it to the tune of naming it as a part of me to the core…for now, until that day when He (the imperishable) wraps Himself around me (the perishable). And I’ll leave that nature back here with nature to perish once and for all.

Hold on a minute before you dial 911 for us and let me explain. My wife’s vehicle is an 8 passenger 4 door car. The MSC enter/exit through the passenger rear door. Stellan and Nuggey sit in the back, however Big Mac’s seat (the one immediately there when opening the passenger rear door) must be folded down for the other two before getting in/out. Big Mac’s task, one that he proudly refers to as “my job,” includes removing his booster seat and folding the horizontal section of the seat upward and flipping the vertical part of the seat down. BTW rarely does anyone dare to assist or moreover actually do Big Mac’s “job” for him, lest an ear full come in your general direction. This has been designated HIS job and yea, he takes it personal.

Now generally, my wife is able to park her car in the garage, therefore Big Mac’s seat is placed (tossed, dropped, heaved…) somewhere in relatively close proximity to the car, ready for the next time of travel. This general norm has now been interrupted as someone has thought it a good idea to pursue several projects, yea, at the same time, in said garage. A small camper converted into an ice house makes its home in the garage. There is a work space for a constantly in need of repair 4 wheeler and a corner devoted to getting heat into the garage, with tools designated for each project laid about closely, so progress can begin seamlessly where left off. It’s that man kinda organization that doesn’t seem to make sense to the causal (female) observer, but it works…sometimes.

My wife parks outside nowadays. And sometimes (please don’t tell Big Mac), especially when mom and MSC return home later than usual from an outing, someone will help Big Mac with his “job” to expedite things. This time that bozo put the booster on top of the car. This clown hasn’t made himself available for comments despite my request.

So my wife gets in her car to meet us at Subway the other day, per my request. She’s probably concerned about backing out of the driveway with the 6′x12′ trailer still attached to it, as some proactive and diligently thoughtful male made sure to burden her with. Again no word from this guy…typical.

And here’s Momma McK driving along and she glimpses something airborne. She watches her mirrors to see where it lands…but sees nothing. After figuring that whatever it was likely landed into the trailer behind her, she journeys on. And when she arrives at her destination this is the damage.

Could this be an endorsement oportunity from the manufacturer of this booster seat?

Untitled from Jennifer McKinney on Vimeo.

Now I just need to remember to get the Flip ready the next time we get the Wasabi peas out, that’s Prime Time.

He’s, he’s, he’s… from Jennifer McKinney on Vimeo.

When blame is removed from the equation, blame being essentially an evasive maneuver in side stepping ownership, the ever important variable of visibility returns to an otherwise cluttered line of sight. Trial lawyers, sometimes affectionately called “trip and fall lawyers” (trip and fall is actually an itemized line of practice as evidenced on many firm’s websites!), specialize in demonstrating blame and pointing out the “fault” of others, however real or ridiculous the complaint may be. They do this in an attempt to reconcile the “wrong” through financial compensation. As if money was the end all right maker. You may be familiar with some of the more publicized rulings and settlements. Lawyers, please forgive me. If it makes you feel any better, I knock on doors for a living, and we peddlers get a pretty harsh rap, too.

How about doctors and surgeons who with everything they are attempt to save lives, and in so doing, some patients live and some die? Yet these heroes are criticized with all reasonable and frivolous accusations in effort to reveal some “fault” in the surgeon’s procedure when a patient dies. This forces the greatest healers among us to practice defensive medicine. Oh, joy! Cause JUST what I want when I’m in a life and death situation is my surgeon practicing defensive medicine. Turns out, studies reveal a nearly 100% death rate for homo sapiens. So unless you’re Elijah of the OT or thinking God’s got a bead on you for the same thing, it’s an overwhelming probability that the expiration of your physical body is in the deck of your life’s cards. In fact, each breath you draw, every lub dub of your ticker, brings you exactly that much closer to the moment of your physical demise. I’m so fluffy today, can’t you feel it?

Can we all just agree that each of us pursue good things the wrong way more frequently than we’d prefer? Charitableness is a good thing. Is it still a good thing when my option to do so is removed from me and I’m forced to do it? Equality is good. Though if you earn an A in class and I earn an F, for the sake of equality should we split the difference and both settle on a C? Rights are a good thing. How about when rights are stretched or confused with privileges, are they still good?

Not all of us have kids. Although, if you’re a property owner, you pay property taxes. If I could show you the pie chart of the property taxes you paid last year and their allocation, you may be surprised to learn that the largest piece of that pie went to funding your local public schools. That’s right, regardless of if you’re using the system or not. And no disrespect to our teachers, my wife was one for years, and many in our communities recognize that many of their efforts are tremendous, but the system is still broken.

One of the things that has made this country the single most envied land mass on the planet for over the last two centuries is that you can actually keep (and do with what you want) the reward of your labor. Perhaps the lesser thought of conclusion of this fact is that individuals are also the sole recipients of the entire continuum of their successes and/or failures. And if you don’t think this is “right” then I’m flummoxed as to why you continue to live here. Seriously, wouldn’t you be happier living your life in a country that is already established in avoiding personal responsibility? You wouldn’t have to go through all the effort in attempting to change this one. Perhaps consider changing citizenship and live the life you’d be most content in there. I’d much prefer that to the alternative of the dismantling of our beloved country.

But that’s the point isn’t it? Those that would have the foundational truths that bore our country dismantled, and have to that preserved, likely aren’t going anywhere. I contend that the real problem lies in the rest of us. We need not wish that those who don’t share our values become weaker or mysteriously leave. Rather we must become stronger. Our military men and women fight to keep us safe from other countries’ invading and imposing their way of life on us. And we civilians would do well to think of ourselves as soldiers, too. Obviously a different kind of soldier, yet still, soldiers fighting to preserve that which was fought so ferociously for to begin with.

If we are not willing to do that which will preserve the freedoms that were paid for with such a bloody price, then truly we think those sacrifices in vain. We need to be men and women of action. Getting involved. Keeping elected officials accountable. Learning which candidates views best represent ours, furthering their likelihood for election, and voting. We need to speak out loud to our circles of influence clearly communicating what our values are. Regardless of if it’s politically correct or consistent with the current winds of popular thought. We need to fill the seats in our local government bodies. Be it at a school board, municipal, county, state or federal level.

The idea of personal responsibility is core to the American experience. Many of our fathers and mothers bled outright and bled in many figurative ways to ensure that we, their kids, could keep the rewards of their successes. Personal responsibility is central to being American, always has been and always will be. I’m so attached to the concept that I think if you disagree, then you’re not an American where it counts. You’re not an American simply because you were born here, although that helps with the paperwork and details. I believe that being an American is an idea; it’s an attitude, a spirit and way of life. The American spirit flickers in every corner of the globe in the hearts of people who do not hold an official American citizenship. It flows through veins in the blood of lovers of freedom all over the world.

Many freedoms are human rights by birth, as deemed by God and sane men. But they are better not thought of that way. Freedoms, although rights, are better thought of as responsibilities because that’s when they become powerful. Freedom is hands but when freedoms are married to responsibility they become heavy UFC hands that knock guys out by the intimidation factor of merely exposing them. And in the book I read, you can’t be free without acknowledging the beauty and necessity of personal responsibility. Just to try to is un-American. If you believe you can keep the results of your successes but avoid the consequences of your failures, well, I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, but you’re wrong. Brian Tracy says “to the degree that you take responsibility is to the exact degree which you have control”. No, go ahead, try and argue that one and see where you end up. Turns out that fella knows a thing or two about personal development so ya may as well save yourself some face and concede this one.

Life is inherently risky. Each of us assumes these risks by continuing to exist as a resident on this planet. I struggle to understand the current attempts by some to eliminate risk at the expense of seemingly everything else. Risk creates opportunity, excitement, creativity, what Ashton Kutcher calls thrash, and is an essential and inevitably unavoidable variable in the equation of life. I should write life and death, as to experience one is to experience the other…eventually. Paul suggests that we get use to the idea of dying, in fact, to do it everyday. Huh.

After all, if I’m not responsible for me, who is? You? Despite what some may think, owning personal responsibility is empowering. It’s commonly said, and so true I believe, that all it takes for the powers of evil to prevail is for enough good people to do nothing. Freedom is perpetually one generation away from extinction.

My parents and perhaps your moms and dads, were part of what’s known as the greatest generation. I don’t speak German (which is a beautiful language, my wife is fluent) and I don’t live in a country where Jews and Russians are an endangered people because, in large part, our parents and grandparents were men and women of action. They held some values in higher regard than self preservation. That staggers me when I consider it. I can attribute many of the current freedoms I enjoy to their sacrifices. Not as the originators of those freedoms but the nearest perpetuators of those freedoms. I’m grateful. And I have a renewed sense of responsibility to perpetuate this uncommon earthly heritage as an inheritance to my kids when they enter the world as adults.

Their fight was on the literal real-deal battlefield against the ideologies of very misguided men. Our fight’s battlefield looks different. And therefore, it appears that the battles are less urgent or even unnecessary. Our weapons are of making the voices of our values asserted loudly, consistently, and clearly over the opposition of cynicism, mediocrity, silence, inaction, complacency and any other un-American spirit.

Political activism offers a slew of opportunity to assert our values. How many letters, emails, phone calls, financial contributions, neighborly discussions about candidates have I had/made since becoming an adult? How many rallies have I attended, doors have I knocked on in effort to further the election of a candidate whose values represent mine? My grandpa was fond of saying “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”, then once in awhile he’d add, “If it squeaks too much sometimes it gets replaced.” When I’m old, I’m determined to have an arsenal of one-liners for my grandkids to enjoy long after I’m gone like I’m able to do with his sayings.

Michelle Bachman is my Congressional Rep right here in Minnesota. She is one of, if not the hardest working individual in Washington right now. She doesn’t care if her reputation is smeared by those who would have it. She’s focused on perpetuating freedom to her kids and constituents. She’s got a bulls eye on her back, so much so that speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly declared Bachman numbero uno on her hit list to knock out of Congress this next election. More money is being raised and directed to eliminate this heroess of freedoms than any other member in Washington and I haven’t sent but an email of encouragement or thanks her way. Well no more. She will be my representation in Congress after this next election. And I’m gonna help make sure that happens.

When my, like the The Police lyrics say, eloquence escapes me and/or I refuse to suffer in communicating and expressing my values, I’ll probably eventually end up humming one of their other tunes that goes “a do do do a da da da” cause nothing will matter. If we can’t agree that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control are universal values, than what can we agree on? These are the fruits of the Spirit, folks. They don’t happen without the Spirit of God…not possible. The world can’t produce peace without God. Isn’t that so clear to see throughout history and societies past? I’m fine with separation of church and state. Doesn’t change that this road leads to the destination of a church state, ie Kingdom of God. I’m not seeking a Pastor in Chief on this side of eternity. I recognize that I’m not home yet. And I won’t stop striving to maintain and improve this temporary dwelling place, this foster home for my descendants.

The state I call home is quickly becoming more well known as the state of 10,000 laws rather than the state of 10,000 lakes. I’m putting the finishing touches on this post after wrapping up a continuing education course for my contractor’s license. Plenty of this post was written during the class. The instructor of the class announced a new law and asked if anyone in the room was qualified; not one hand went up. There are around 200 guys in this room and not one of them was considered “legally operating” after April 22nd. This as a result of some new laws that were thrown at our industry, which will become effective then, and not a one of us in the room met the new law’s requirements. There are about 14,500 licensed contractors here in Minnesota and likely far less than 10% will operate legally by the end of this calendar year.

When we allow government to be responsible for what we as individuals should be responsible for, then government will grow proportionally in power. A government will fear its people or the people will fear their government. And this, like a flower which is either blooming or withering, is highly dynamic…not static. Always moving in one direction or the other. Human nature is insatiable in its quest for power. And like begets like, as nearly nothing else, in regards to the quest for power. Power breeds the desire for more power and it just gets hungrier as it devours.

Which is the America you know? A government fearing it’s people or a people fearing it’s government? Which is the one you want? Responsibility equals control and with control you can exert power. What is the implication when our government is the fastest growing sector in our current economy? Stop for just a second and consider that last question. Each responsibility the government assumes, that should be the individuals, empowers government more. It’s important to remember that in this country government can’t take responsibility, which eventually is power, unless we the people allow them to. We allow them to by electing them. A government official’s number one priority, above all else (aside from a very limited number of actual statesmen and stateswomen who place their values above even their political career) is to get reelected. So they’d better do what the people want. This of course assumes that we, the people, hold them accountable. Otherwise, the greatest governmental process ever conceived in the history of man is, well, worthless.

Did you get that message in the bottle or did you miss every little thing I said? Forgive me, Police fans; I couldn’t help myself.

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

Proverbs 11:24 “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”

Proverbs 28:22 “A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.”

Am I understanding this correctly, then if I desire more I am required to give more? Seems inconsistent with the laws of the universe. Thinking back to when I was a kid playing toys, I remember I’d want all the Legos, because then I could build bigger stuff. And then you wouldn’t have as much! So I’d try and take some from you when you weren’t looking, or if I was bigger than you, I’d just grab them, hoarding as much as I could. This kind of behavior may make logical sense when one is dealing with a limited amount of resources. But it turns out our God is not a God of limited resources.

1 Chronicles 29:11&12 “Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the ruler of all mankind. Your hand controls power and might; and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength.”

Maybe you’d prefer to take someone else’s word for it rather than God’s. Perhaps He does not maintain the credibility, in your mind, sufficient to convince your will. You know what they say, “someone convinced against their will…is of the same opinion still!”. How about Paul Zane Pilzer? Arguably the single most credible economist alive today, Mr. Pilzer speaks of the wealth formula W=PT (wealth equals physical resources multiplied by technology). Since all physical resources are God’s and He is incapable of being surprised (He knows everything, including all about technology), God is able to do whatever He pleases. Yes, He even proves faithful in out-giving your generosity.

I’ve been told that I’m a great starter and a lousy finisher. This comment came from someone with an authority, reputation, and position to accurately chastise me this way. Certainly, with regard to my personal financial decisions, I’ve established a record of maturity roughly equivalent to that of a zygote. I went from never surpassing the 25K/yr income mark to making many times that amount in twelve months time. I even maintained that pace for several years. The principle that spending more than you make will get you into debts turns out to be true whether one is earning 25k or 125K. I now find myself learning the humbling basics of financial freedom. I say humbling because I feel like I should have learned this by now. Thankfully, usually I’m not too easily embarrassed; I’m determined to trudge through this humbling process.

Our small group has agreed to navigate the Crown financial study. It’s a ten week course that is fairly front end loaded with homework. There is a big accountability factor among members of the group in this study, which can lead one to avoid the course entirely or simply drop out as it seems a bit much to take on with the rest of life. Maybe this is where being a great starter is actually a benefit. I’ve started and haven’t quit. Hmmm, that seldom happens, but I’ll take it. Anyway, I’ve had finances on the brain lately.

Do a lot of the decisions in your life seems as though they are very closely connected to finances? It’s the feeling I get (about me…not necessarily you) that most decisions are connected. Previous to this Crown course, I basically believed that my faithfulness in giving, tithing and presenting offerings at church was truly my only spiritual financial responsibility. And if I was doing that, well then hey, what else better could I possibly be doing spiritually with His money? (I used to say my money, but the course teaches its participants to replace the personal pronouns with His.) As fact would have it, I was 1/8th right about this. I’ve learned there are actually eight ways in which I can grow spiritually concerning money:

work (hard)
debt (avoid)
save (regularly)
children (train)
give (generously)
spend (wisely)
invest (steadily)
honest (completely)

Is there any wonder why I had such a challenge in keeping my financial house in order? Well, my answer is that by practicing three of the eight (and practicing even those inconsistently,I might add), I really didn’t stand much of a chance. I guess as the saying goes, recognition and acknowledgment are half the battle.

Without question, my financial literacy is my responsibility. As undeniably true as this is, it occurs to me that during my thirteen years of education only one class, economics, even attempted to provide me with the necessary tools to increase my money smarts. So I checked some stats on high school grads and their financial literacy, just because I was interested to see where I was on the curve by statistical comparison. By utilizing the traditional grading scale 100-90%=A, 89-80%=B and so on, we as parents and educators are but a percentage point away from an “F” by some statistics and by others outright failing our children and students:

Jump$tart is an organization with a mission of improving youth and young adult money smarts. They test high school seniors at their financial literacy. In 1998, high school seniors correctly answered only 48.3 percent of the questions given on a specific money smarts test.

In 1997, Lewis Mandell designed a personal-finance exam that was administered to more than 1,500 high school seniors nationwide. Students were asked basic personal-finance questions regarding money management, saving and investing, and spending and credit. Overall, students answered just 57.3 percent of the 31 multiple-choice questions correctly. More shocking is the fact that only 10.2 percent of the students scored a “C” or better on the exam.

From late 2005 through early 2006, Jump$tart surveyed nearly 5,800 twelfth graders in 37 states. On average, students answered 52.4 percent of the exam questions correctly. The score demonstrates a slight, but not statistically significant, increase over the 2004 survey’s average score of 52.3 percent.

In the little bit of research I did on the topic of youth and financial literacy, I found that there proved to be overwhelming evidence that our young adults are not prepared to responsibly handle their own money once they begin earning it. And perhaps the most startling truth is that poor money managing skills will sink people’s financial ship regardless of how successful they are, ie. how much money they earn. I find it odd that we spend so much time, money and effort into educating our kids how to obtain work, perform in their work and truly become successful in their fields yet simultaneously neglect them when it comes to helping them construct a healthy financial foundation.

It seems I’m not the only one with some weak or missing spokes in my financial wheel. My experiences with such a bumpy financial ride were in large part the result of my not even knowing how to fix the darn wheel, you know, to recognize which spokes to work on. I’m learning now that it’s not just about working hard or giving regularly or for that matter focusing on only one of the individual aspects. The secret is for me to focus on each of the aspects.

So now that I know what am I going to do about it?

Untitled from Jennifer McKinney on Vimeo.

By the way, since we live in this neighborhood now is that reason enough to pick up this new hobby? For example, our neighbors kids were able to ride their mini bikes around 3-4 years old. Time will tell. Anyways, here are the big boys doing it right.

“Wow!, that was fast.” from Jennifer McKinney on Vimeo.