Proverbs 28:22 “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him. “ The man described in this proverb has two overlapping issues: he is stingy and he hastens after wealth. Although he is racing toward poverty, he is oblivious to it. Issue One: He is stingy, a word synonymous with selfishness and self-centeredness. We have all done business with this man: even when he gives you service, the odor of artificiality permeates the... Read more
Good Debt I confess at the outset that the phrase “good debt” sounds like an oxymoron to me. Because I view “debt” with great negativity, attaching the word “good” to it doesn’t quite resonate. I also confess that I am not sure that I can be absolutely objective in answering the “good debt” issue because “good” and “debt” are subjective terms. Good to one person might not be so good to another. And debt is viewed as desirable by some... Read more
Contrary to what some believe, the phrase “wealthy Christian” is not an oxymoron. Wealth and Godliness are not necessarily contradictory terms – it all depends on the motives. Building wealth for the wrong reasons does not produce Godliness but the right reasons will. Let’s dig deeper. Five Wrong Reasons For Building Wealth 1. Advice from an “expert” I know a couple who started buying houses because some financial guru told them there is a great future in real estate. The... Read more
One of the latest waves in churches is to have online tithing. It makes sense when you think about how the online payment processing industry has grown in the last few years. People are more comfortable putting their credit and debit card information on payment sites and it becomes a normal part of every day life. Why wouldn’t a church want to get into this arena? If it makes it easier for church members to give tithes online, it seems... Read more
John Wesley and His Money Decisions John Wesley (June 28, 1703 – March 2, 1791) was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian who, along with his brother Charles, is largely credited with founding the Methodist movement. He was also a man who taught – and lived – some financial principles which continue to challenge us today. Wesley was — and is — known for these three principles: Gain all you can. Save all you can. Give all you... Read more
Oftentimes when I talk about budgeting I hear responses like these: “I get worn out trying to track every dollar.” “It just didn’t work.” “I’m not a numbers cruncher.” “Budgets are just too complicated.” Sound familiar? These are just some of the reasons why we have struggled with budgeting over the years. We would diligently write the numbers on a yellow lined pad, but we just couldn’t make them work in real life. Using a budgeting spreadsheet was always helpful... Read more
Creating a Financial Policy Some friends recently dropped by “to talk”. Once the iced tea was served and the four of us were comfortably seated around the dining room table, I turned to Dave (fictional name) and asked, “So tell me. What’s going on?” Dave said, “You know we have been on the waiting list to move into that rental complex. We have some good news…our name is at the top of the list. We met with the property manager... Read more
Redefining Retirement The traditional view of retirement — working for the same company your entire career and then retiring to draw a lifetime pension — is a thing of the past. Yes, some government workers continue to retire with paid pension plans, but as states and municipalities continue to fight for survival, these pension plans will also be phased out. To add to the angst, Social Security is scheduled to run out of money within the next 25 years. The... Read more
Healthy Boundaries Do you set boundaries? The principle of establishing healthy boundaries is one that has given me the courage to say “no” when yes is the wrong answer. Hopefully, this message will impact your life like it has mine! Marti had begun to see a pattern in her life. In her words, “When someone needs four hours with me, I can’t say no. But when I need someone for ten minutes, I can’t ask for help. Is there a... Read more
Breathing Spiritually and Financially Hyperventilation is defined as over breathing. Hypoventilation is the opposite: under breathing. The first will result in abnormally low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. The second will result in too much carbon dioxide in the blood. Normal breathing maintains the perfect balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood, resulting in good health and energy levels. My hunch is that far too many of us either over breathe or under breathe in our... Read more
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