incremental thought - Latest Comments

Re: Musings of a Debtor–Part 2

ashbylane — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:03:21 -0000

"Death by 1000 cuts" is a great way to describe it. Consumer credit 'cuts' come with just enough 'numbing' that it's hard to connect the dots between actions and consequences over time.

Re: Musings of a Debtor–Part 2

Steve Betz — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:36:49 -0000

You make a great point about the difference between credit debt and "useful" debt -- mortgages and business loans and such. I am staggered every time I think about how much we'd pay on our house (if we did all 30y, which is unlikely), but with tax credits and such (plus last year's re-fi), we're doing better than if we were renting in this market.

I remember paying off those last credit card bills in the 90s. What a relief. Now, if I forget to pay a bill on time and occasionally get an interest charge, I get so mad. But I remember what it was like thinking, I'll just get this (dinner, video game, clothes, whatever) on credit. It won't be that much. Death by 1000 cuts.

Re: Musings of a Debtor–part 1

Sooz — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:01:45 -0000

Great Post! There is such strength in vulnerability. Your path is a common one in our "stuff" driven culture, yet so few are willing to share the truth about it. You guys are fighters - I have seen that with my own eyes. Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for being real. And thank you for staying committed to each other and a better way of living.

Re: Musings of a Debtor–part 1

ashbylane — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 02:36:17 -0000

Thanks Steve! You might be the one person that actually still reads my blog - I'm honored. More than ever, I get the volatility of the job market now - unfortunately it took some hard experience to learn that. Suffice it to say I definitely relate to what you're talking about wrt cost/benefit/risk awareness.

Re: Musings of a Debtor–part 1

Steve Betz — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:36:56 -0000

I think it's a great post.

I can remember the feeling I had after I paid off the grad school and post-doc debt. Hallelujah! We've done pretty well -- I think mostly because the biotech industry teaches you pretty quickly that fortunes (your company's and yours) can change in an instant. When I lost my job in 2009, we needed a pretty big lifestyle reset. Nothing super-drastic, but we've become much more cost/benefit/risk aware in the past couple of years -- and I'm going to do everything I can to keep that attitude, even if we do get to be "flush" again.

Re: Constructive Discontent

Anonmymouse192 — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:42:38 -0000

THIS IS SO GOOD.

Re: Random Musings

Steve Betz — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:57:08 -0000

Excellent musings! Having lived at least half a continent away for any of my HS reunions, I never went to any, though the wave that swept through Facebook a year or two ago as even the luddites in "my" generation picked it up was like one. Fortunately, you can block people after they "hey, what have you been up to" exchange.

The interesting thing about Netflix is that there business plan has ALWAYS been streaming content -- even when capacity and bandwidth issues made that seem like a pipedream. I read a great interview with their founder about it. Early on Blockbuster had a chance to buy them for <$100 MM and passed on it thinking they were crazy. Who's laughing now?

Re: of rogues, jedi and growing up

stevebetz — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:02:40 -0000

Yeah -- I was always the good kid, so I identified with Luke more too -- and always saw Han as the "bad-boy" that always got the girl. Of course, over time those images -- both of myself and the fictional heroes -- has greyed somewhat, but I think that's what life it for.

I do agree that the Dad McFly's ability to rise to the occasion is one of the enduring scenes from that flick -- a good call!

Re: When life gives you class vi rapids…

Jim Cowart — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:13:36 -0000

Steve - I'm trying to work in time for reflection on so many levels - even problem solving at work. I saw a great video recently <a href="http:// (http://bit.ly/mOCZpW)" target="_blank"> <a href="http://(http://bit.ly/mOCZpW)" target="_blank">(http://bit.ly/mOCZpW) by the creator of a recent language called Clojure - in which he challenges his audience (of guys like me) "When was the last time spent an hour thinking about a problem? Or a day? Or week?" I've been making the habit at work to step away from the desk, go to whiteboard and *think* through things. It's really paid off. Now I hope that I can translate that to other areas of life! You give me too much credit on WWF. Clearly my prowess is only noticeable because of all the training that your defeats foisted upon me. :-)

Re: of rogues, jedi and growing up

Stephanie — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 09:05:19 -0000

Greta post and eloquently written! Insight into the heart of you!

Re: When life gives you class vi rapids…

stevebetz — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:06:59 -0000

It's hard to think of time-for-reflection as one of life's necessities, but it can get pretty brutal to find yourself at the end of calendar where all you feel like you've been doing is bouncing from one thing to another.

Hopefully, things this coming year will settle out to a little more even keel. Clearly, your WWF prowess is showing you have a few neurons to spare... ;)

Re: When life gives you class vi rapids…

Stephanie Cowart — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:36:26 -0000

This is a great post! Great summation of the past year. Can't believe it has been almost a year since we moved! Don't fear, camping and other fun stuff ARE in your future!! I will help you make that happen!!

Re: Gratitude

Jim Cowart — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 20:08:39 -0000

Seth - thanks for the kind words! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply....life has been dense and busy (next thing I know, months have flown by and I haven't blogged a bit!).

Re: Gratitude

Seth Miller — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:40:38 -0000

Randomly stumbled upon your blog. Rarely do I see a writer today with your talent...especially with many of the same convictions and beliefs as I. Just want to let you know I appreciate your work.

Re: Gratitude

Cori — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:20:24 -0000

Good post. I always try and keep in mind the "grand scheme of things." I can usually stop my pity parties in their tracks with that!

Re: Gratitude

@kylechowning — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:09:46 -0000

What a great post Jim. Given that we both have or are going through some significant transitions which bring different and pressing pressures, this is a great perspective about....well, perspective.

Again, congrats on your new job and that amazing machine called a Mac Book Pro!

Re: Protected: Why I Can’t Vote For Obama, Part 1

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Re: In Which I Gain Some Fatherly Perspective…

janie — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:26:35 -0000

[this is good] What else can I say?

Re: In Which I Gain Some Fatherly Perspective…

Jim Cowart, Sr — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:46:29 -0000

Jim,
Great article son. I am moved beyond tears with what you wrote. I cannot tell you how much this means to me. You have shown me that you can put hurt aside and understand that parents are really kids at heart with responsibilities. Sometimes things don't work out in relationships but that does not mean we did not love you kids with all our hearts and have always wanted to see you have the chances in life the Good Lord provides. Sure, your Mom and I made mistakes as parents but we have always tried to be good parents whether married or divorced. The best legacy we can have is for you to understand that and you clearly do. I know you will pass that understanding along to your kids as well. We all need to learn from mistakes and take a better path into the future. I think we have all done that. Thanks for making my day. Love Dad

Re: In Which I Gain Some Fatherly Perspective…

Brenda Kent — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:09:12 -0000

Good article Jim. As you grow older you become more wise, hopefully. There is no way of going back and changing anything but you can move forward in forgiveness and seeking to understand things that have happened and truly try to make the best of them and I believe that you have done that. Sadly we learn from mistakes but praise the Lord that we can learn from them to make things better. Love, Mom

Re: In Which I Gain Some Fatherly Perspective…

Brenda Kent — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:09:12 -0000

Re: From Community to Cult

Jim Cowart — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:25:32 -0000

Shawn - your wisdom is deeply appreciated. What a great translation of 2 Cor. 1:24! Thanks for the links as well, definitely going to check them out.

Re: From Community to Cult

Jim Cowart — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:24:14 -0000

Thanks so much for the comment Jason - well written, as always! "There's such a danger in living bits & pieces of the Bible" - great way to phrase that! Paul warned that if we didn't have love, we're no better than a 'clanging cymbal'. I've seen churches hurt many believers because they stopped making the effort to live out a Biblically-based life in LOVE.

Re: From Community to Cult

@shawnrstewart — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:46:12 -0000

Well put Jim.

Spiritual abuse in the church also plays out when the leadership of a local church is elevated to a point where any hint of 'mutual submission' (Eph 5:21) completely disappears. This is most often supported by a distortion of submission to those in authority (Hebrews 13:17). What is left is a micro papacy, where people are fundamentally taught to not think for themselves, but to allow the group or the leaders to think for them. This is of course a reversal of a foundational principle of the reformation.

This system also produces as a by product, suspicion and arrogance toward those not in the group which of course is the opposite of love (1 Cor. 13) and flies in the face of Paul's teaching in 2 Cor. 1:24 "But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm." (NLT)

A verse that come to mind to support your point about disagreement is James 3:17 which discusses wisdom from above being peaceable, gentle and willing to yield. Another verse that speaks to disagreement and choosing to separate from those in disagreement: Romans 12:18 which emphasizes "as far as IT DEPENDS ON YOU to live at peace with everyone. And finally Ephesians 4:1-6.

I offer a couple links as resources for identifying spiritual abuse in a church or group system:

1. 10 rules of a toxic faith system: http://bit.ly/a7d9gz
2. Have I been the victim of spiritual abuse (self quiz): http://bit.ly/byEXF8

Thanks Jim for writing this post.

Re: From Community to Cult

Brian S — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:08:35 -0000

Superb writing, Jim.