My Best Financial Decisions

Financial Insight by Chris Bunton

First, I want to say that I am not wealthy. At least I do not see myself as such. I am not a financial expert.

But I currently do not live pay check to pay check barely scraping by like I used to, and like millions of people currently do. I am not one accident away from homelessness.

So I want to give you some tips on what I did to get a little bit ahead.

I had made a lot of bad choices in my life that left me utterly broke, in debt and homeless. I had nothing. And I mean nothing.

But, I had God who I believe helped guide me through. That’s the first thing to settle. Because often times our physical situation is caused by, or the result of something spiritual. When we turn our minds toward the spiritual. The things of this world grow increasingly less important, and our finances will reflect that. Our behaviors and desires change and we spend less money, or spend it on things that are beneficial instead of waste. 

God led me to a job. It was a simple custodial job; nothing fancy. But I worked hard and humbled myself. Without an income you cannot succeed. You need money coming in.

Next, I started studying finances. I read books and listened to tapes, and admitted to myself that I was ignorant on these subjects, and was very surprised that my public school education did not prepare me for real life. I could figure out pi. But not how to live? (This is a different subject. Let’s stay on course.)

Through my readings I learned two of the most important things that have helped me so far. First, I worked to get out of debt. And to avoid debt. I might not look flashy. But, I have what I need, and a lot of what I want. Thank God.

The second thing comes from a book called “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason

Now this book taught several things but what I want to focus on is the concept of “pay yourself first.”

The book basically said, why should you pay everyone else first? Why should you kill yourself to give everyone else money, while you scrape by at the end of the month?

This struck me. And I adopted it.

The practical application for it was to take 10% of every pay check and put it in savings first.

I started doing this, even though I had bills and debt. Even though I took 10% out for tithe as well.

I cut back on my needs, and my greeds. And what I found was that I did not miss the money.

After years of doing this I can say that I put more than 10% aside today.

I also have a nice chunk set aside that I can use for emergency. Or to make a needed purchase, or help a friend or family member, or even to take a trip and enjoy life.

After my debts were all paid off and I continue to pay myself and God first, I have been blessed.

Again, I am not rich. But, I have what I need, and I can now focus on building real wealth.

Many folks are just like me. They want to get ahead but can’t. They read the books or listen to the podcasts and just can’t do it. They cannot reach that first rung of the ladder, to even begin to start climbing.

So, try what I did.

1. Settle spiritual things.

2. Get an income, no matter how small

3. Give to God and others. When you give, it comes back. Even the experts agree.

4. Study finances. Do what you can. Some advice is too far ahead. But when you save, you can eventually get there.

5. Work to get out of debt. Pay off the smallest debt first, and go from there.

6. Cut your need and greed. Figure out what you need and cut the rest.

7. Pay yourself first. Put some in savings every pay day and leave it alone. Let it grow. Then make wise decisions. You gotta have this money to start getting ahead.

I’m not saying don’t pay your bills. I’m talking about priority. When you pay yourself first you will be able to eventually pay those bills and enjoy life.

Why should all those rich companies get your money before you do? 

How do you think they got rich?

Probably because suckers like us threw money at them while we wallowed in poverty and debt. (There is good debt and bad debt. Learn the difference. Then, you’ll know what to avoid.)

(If you are hounded by bill collectors, learn the laws. Collectors often benefit from regular people being ignorant of the laws, being scared of getting into trouble, and having a desire to do the right thing. Knowledge is power. Collectors don’t care about you. They will lie to you and make you think you are powerless.)

Pay yourself first. Be determined to save it. This doesn’t mean you don’t pay bills. It just means you pay the most important bill first….YOU.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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Up Every Morn

A Dodoitsu Poem by Chris Bunton

Up every morning to work;
Slaving away for the bills.
Just to take care of the home
I spend no time in.

Working every day, all day;
For that American dream.
Paying my taxes to watch;
them sent over seas.

Struggling to make ends meet;
doing the things we should do.
Following the petty rules;
that leaders ignore.

Up again to slave away,
for those who simply use you.
Find a way to make it good,
and have peace within.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

I Didn’t Destroy the World

Environmental Poem by Chris Bunton

I didn’t destroy the world.
So why am I to blame?

Am I a chemist creating plastics?
Am I a corporation spreading them wide?

Am I an inventor creating engines?
Am I a corporation making billions?

Am I cutting down the forests?
Am I building million dollar homes?

Am I a politician handing grants to my buddies?
Am I a scientist going where the money leads?

Am I poisoning the sea with my leaks?
Am I passing laws to make you submit?

Am I working my corporate job today?
Am I getting a pension from the government job I quit yesterday?

Am I turning a blind eye to reports on my desk?
Am I doctoring safety tests for my friends?

Am I smiling on the TV screen?
Am I paid to lie about it all?

I Am just a lowly worker scraping to get by.
I Am just one voice trying to change it all.

So, why am I being blamed?
Why am I the one who must hang?

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Where Do Poems Come From?

Creative Thoughts by Chris Bunton

I cannot speak for all poets. I can only speak for me.

My poems come from inspiration. Or from Spirit. Or flows from within. It’s hard to tell. But it just comes.

Sometimes I can turn on the spigot, but not totally control what comes out. Other times it leaps into my mind fully formed or mostly so.

I do not like rules. But sometimes I will twist a concept into the shape of a poetry form.

But if I have to work too hard at it, then it’s a drag. I don’t try to use big words. I want the feeling and the idea to flow, not bog the reader down with trying to look up the meaning of a word.

Ideas leap to the mind like a fire that must be contained and used or it will be lost.

And that’s pretty much where my poems come from. Some event or idea sparks a feeling or begins the flow and I put it down and then tweak it later.

I no longer carry a notebook. I just email my poems or ideas or articles to myself. 

When I get a tingle of inspiration, I open my email and start writing an email to myself  then hit send when it’s done.

It works quit well. It creates a record and saves trees. It also keeps me from needing to carry a notebook and pen in my pocket.

I’m actually using that method right now as I write this. It’s an email to myself. Then I’ll flesh it out later on my computer at home.

When I write free form it just flows. But when I write forms, I just decide what form to use, then the words come or the concept comes and I shape it.

Forms are more work. I’m not a big fan of rhyming unless it’s natural or less than perfect. I think rhyming is fake sometimes. The highly educated people would say that it is “Contrived”.

So for me the rhymes must be real or come from inspiration, not by work. Course, that’s not always possible. Sometimes you gotta stick the right word in there even if it’s not by nature. It’s like a sidewalk through a garden.

Poetry is spirit and feeling. It can convey a concept quickly or on another level because it follows its own rules or a form which does not impede the truth of the feeling or spirit.

Poetry is art. You are painting a picture with words. My favorite art is Impressionism. I like how it’s a painting of a thing. But it’s not exactly the thing. But you know what the thing is. 

Poetry to me, is like that. It’s a feeling or concept or idea which is put down in words, in such a way that it’s like the thing but not exactly the thing. And the reader knows it, but can’t argue with it, because it’s not the thing. It’s naked truth in a word salad, that makes sense. 

That’s why poets and prophets are sometimes hated. Like clowns, they fill a weird place with seers and shamans. 

The poet says, “It’s mine! I don’t care what you think. Take it and go, or don’t. But, it is what it is. This is me, and us.”

Poetry to me is about writing. I have to write. I’m called to write. I’m compelled to write. I have a burden to write. Sometimes, it comes out as a story. Sometimes it’s an article. Sometimes it’s a lesson and sometimes it has to come out as a poem.

Sometimes, nothing else will fill the bill but a poem flowing free.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photo by the Poet.

Stomach Pain Healed

by Chris Bunton

I am not a doctor, but I will tell you about my experience with Apple Cider Vinegar. I fully believe that it, along with dietary changes, and faith healing from God, has cured my stomach. I no longer have any stomach issues at all. No more waking up in the middle of the night with pain. No more acid reflux. No more gastritis. No more ulcers. No more acid reducer pills. I’m just healed.
    

My entire life I have had gastrointestinal issues. As a matter of fact, my entire family has had them, and many have died from colon cancer. I often had verps; burps that brought up acid. I would wake up in the night in agony and go to the E.R. for a G.I cocktail. I’ve had the colonoscopies, and the upper G.I.’s . I have taken all the pills, the acid reducers, and gone through a run of antibiotics to kill the H. Pylori bacteria. This is how I lived my life; many of you have done the same.
    

One day, I was reading about the long term side effects of acid reducing pills. This was before the ingredients of Zantac were shown to cause cancer. I had already started to live a healthy lifestyle, and was avoiding all chemicals. I desperately wanted to get all man-made pharmaceuticals out of my life. So I prayed about it, which is what I often do. 
    

First, I believe faith healing is not just laying on of hands, but it is also listening to God as he guides your health. It was God who opened my eyes to the side effects of acid reducer pills long before it was announced, it was God who led me to make dietary changes, and it was God, who helped me to find a book on fasting by a man named Paul Bragg. Bragg is a naturopathic doctor who has written many fabulous books, and sells healthy organic products, including the Apple Cider Vinegar, that he swears by. It’s called Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, with the Mother. It’s organic, raw, and unfiltered. This is not the same stuff you see on the shelf. It must be raw and unfiltered. It must have “The Mother”.
    

I usually roll things around in my head for a while before I do them, waiting on God, unless I have a clear direction. He will open doors and guide us. I was walking through the mall when I was led to go into the GNC store, where a bottle of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar practically jumped out at me. So, I bought it. I have been using it ever since.
    

I purchase Bragg’s ACV. I do not get paid by them. You can buy whatever you want. But, I trust Bragg’s. The company has a desire to heal and help people. They live the lifestyle. The bottles have the instructions for using the product, along with other info. They can be purchased at Wal-mart, when they aren’t sold out, GNC, and Co-ops or other organic whole foods stores.
    

This is what I do. I mix 2 tsp of the ACV, to an 8 ounce glass of distilled or purified water, and drink it 3 times a day; Once at waking, once mid-morning, and once at mid afternoon. Yes, sometimes I skip doses, or take at different times if my life requires it. This drink has a wham to it. So, be ready.  But, I have gotten used to it. Sometimes I will add real honey, 100% maple syrup, stevia, agave, or real molasses to the drink to cut down on the wang.

(Do not do what some folks try to do. They will take shots of the stuff straight. or take the pills, or they will use regular old filtered and distilled Apple Cider Vinegar, or some other product. Do not do that. Do it exactly as stated here and on the bottle. Use the right product, and tough it out. Hopefully you will see results.)
    

Now, I am trying to consume nothing but organic, God-made items. So, everything I have mentioned here is all organic. It’s all as close to nature as possible. Even the distilled water is organic. Distilled water is how nature purifies water through evaporation and rain. Yes, the organic label does not guarantee perfection. It can be side stepped. But, that’s why you buy products you trust from places you trust.
    

I can also tell you that ACV has many other reported benefits. It’s full of Potassium, with every good thing that comes from it. The ACV is also an excellent natural detox, it normalizes blood pressure, and fights diabetes, according to Bragg’s books on the subject. I have faith that these things are true, even though I’m not a doctor and cannot prove it.
    
But, I can tell you my stomach is healed, and I feel great. I feel healthy which I believe is from the detoxing effects, and the other reported properties of the Vinegar. I will continue to use it.  It has not harmed me, and I have been doing it now for over 8 years.

I would also like to say something about alternative healing, and alternative healers. First, you must understand that there is an effort to discredit alternative health. There’s a lot of money involved.

There’s also a lot of fear. People are afraid of getting tricked. They are afraid of trusting someone who lied about their past, or are getting rich off of questionable healing methods.

But, understand that your doctor could have a shady past, and the methods your doctor uses could be proven to be bad for you down the road. There is no guarantee. We are trusting a piece of paper and an industry that might not be as great as we think it is.

Alternative healing takes time, and works best as a preventative. Modern pharmaceuticals can often heal a problem in a few days, that would take natural healing methods a few weeks or months. But, what about the side effects, and the cost?

I had a back problem. I went to the doctor and got the usual stuff. A prescription for muscle relaxers, and some tests. It never really fixed my back, and the muscle relaxers knocked me out.

But, God brought me to a place where I had to sleep for a period of time on a hard surface. After a while, I started noticing that I had no back pain. So, now I sleep on firmer surfaces, and do a regular ritual of stretching and yoga type exercises, and have had minimal back problems since. That is natural healing verses modern healing.

I do not need to be concerned that sleeping on a firm surface will destroy my liver or give me cancer down the road like drugs would. It’s natural.

It might be necessary to use a modern method to get an ailment under control. There might be conditions that require a medicine that cannot be found in nature. But, I would encourage you to try to incorporate natural healing into everything, and to change your lifestyle to promote healing and health on a regular basis.

Also, include faith healing. What is that? Well, it’s prayer, and speaking the promises of God loud to yourself and trusting them. It’s about standing on it. Jesus told the man who could not walk to “Take up his mat and walk”. He did it and was healed because he believed enough to go forward. What if the man had said, “I cannot rise up and walk. I’m handicapped” He would have stayed that way.

I know people have trusted and tried and failed but try again. I know people have believed and it has not worked, and they have rejected it. But, how many times has the doctor failed? But, people still keep going back…

Again, I am not a doctor. I am just telling you what has worked for me.

(Update: I wrote this 11 years ago. It is 90% correct even today. But, I have somethings to say. Braggs Company has changed hands over the years. But I still think they maintain the quality. I would also like to note, that my stomach issue is kept under control by the ACV. If I go a few days without my regimen I will start to experience some problems. But, simply taking an over the counter med. or returning to the ACV will clear it up. It still has not harmed me. I had a doctor question how vinegar which is an acid can help solve an acid problem in the stomach. I do not have an answer for that. maybe its faith, or maybe there’s an ingredient that is in it that helps. All I know is that it has helped me.)

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Night Breeze

Spooky Poem by Chris Bunton

Cool night breeze.
Frogs chirping,
sounds no one sees.
Crickets strumming.
A dog warning.

That long train,
whistle far away.
Is it gonna rain?
Shadows sway
Phantoms play.

Mosquitoes hide,
from the wind,
Waiting to feed.
Long ago thoughts,
invade the mind.

The Banshee calls.
Did someone die,
down the hall?
Mystery lurks outside
behind the pines.

The light goes out.
The powers gone.
The neighbor’s shout
“What is going on?”
The storm looms strong.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

There is a Feeling

Spirit Poem by Chris Bunton

There is a feeling.
I don’t know what it is.
It’s on the outside of me
A feeling of joy and peace
I cannot seem to place.

It’s like a memory 
Of a distant time
But oh so near
I can sometimes feel
It’s fleeting warmth.

It’s like another life
A place I long to be
Perhaps it’s my dream life
The life I see in the night
As I drift in sleep.

Maybe it’s the real life
The life I could have had
If I hadn’t ruined my own
With fear, booze, and rage.
Maybe it’s that life.

It could be the smell
Of what heavens going to be
A paradise designed for me
A perfect place of joy
Where I ever shall be.

Maybe it’s a parallel world
Where there’s a thousand
Versions of me.
And one of them actually
Got it right.

Maybe it’s a past life,
As some would have us believe.
I’m not sure about that,
But, God can do whatever
He pleases.

I just know that it comes.
This feeling of a better place.
A better time somewhere else.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public


Consumed

Health Poetry By Chris Bunton


I remember in poverty,
eating ramen noodles,
daily.

Beans and Weenies.
Meatless sauce
spaghetti.

Rice, Rice, Rice,
without any real
spice.

Bologna Sandwiches.
Hamburger Helper
mixes.

Fried Spam,
and all kinds of meat,
canned.

Hot Dogs on a stick,
burnt to a
crisp.

Catfish from the creek,
yellow belly
meat.

Milwaukee’s Best.
Another broken
promise.

The cheapest smokes.
Always gotta have
those.

Colon cancer, Rectal cancer,
lungs and
brain.

A hole too deep,
at least six
feet.

Same old hole,
no matter where you
grow.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogspot: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Sub-Division

By Chris Bunton

I sit on a hill overlooking an old strip cut lake, and I puke.

I am sick at the sight of houses filling the ground of what used to be forest.

I am sick at the thought of a wood torn down; to make way for men of means.

I am sick of seeing acres bulldozed to please people who have no soul.

Why leave town,
just to come down,
to the woods, and
Bulldoze a place,
to create,
another stinking town?
Just another town,
with more rules to flee?

I ran that wood as a child.
I knew every tree by name.
The birds sang and the wind spoke,
where the campfire roared.

The imagination soared,
and the spirit knew life,
in that sea of trees, no more.

Dead from this hill top.
That place where nature thrived,
animals lived,
and spirits whispered into the mind.

The deep woods of longing,
where cavemen and dragons roamed,
and bad boys hid.

A home to memory, and love;
to promises lost, and dreams now dead. That flickering forest,
gone for now.

Until things change,
and there appears that longed for world,
with the children of God restored.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

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Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

All The Trees

Nature Poem by Chris Bunton

(An English Quintain)

All the trees I knew are gone.
Removed by fear and greed.
No longer to sing a song,
As wind blows through their leaves.
Never again to drop a seed.

The trees of our childhood delight
Where I carved her name, like we’d never part.
Where we camped under at night,
or cried with a broken heart.
Where plans were made for a new start.

The old tree house broke into bits.
The tree where you fell and split your head.
Where long gone grandpa cut a switch,
Under which we gathered, and she said,
“I Do”. And followed where ever he led.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public