Years ago, when I went through a long period of wrestling with my faith, I listened to a song by Rev. Carey Landry over and over and over. I sought my God; my God eluded me. I sought my soul; my soul I could not see. I sought my brother one day, and suddenly I found all three.* It took a long time for me to recognize the importance of that last line because I wasn’t thinking in global [Read More …]
Forgiveness: What It Is and What It Isn’t
Ironically, one of the most expensive gifts in the world doesn’t cost a cent. It is a gift we give ourselves, even though we think we are giving it to someone else. Hard won and often years in coming, it is the gift of forgiveness. Whether we recognize them as such or not, the words Jesus spoke on the cross, “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing,” are meant for you and me, [Read More …]
Is It Time to Make Changes?
While tiny houses are a small but growing trend in the United States, there are many countries where they are the norm--not by choice, perhaps, but by local custom and/or necessity caused by lack of land, building materials, and financial resources. The tiny, circular homes in this picture are typical of those found in Botswana. While the structures provide sleeping quarters and shelter from [Read More …]
The Money We Don’t Give Away
Tithing is the Biblical term that means giving away 10% of all we earn. When I referred to that during a class I was leading, one of the participants said, “You mean we get to keep 90%!?” Yes, if you want to, and you can also use much of that 90% to make a difference in the world without giving it by carefully choosing where we bank, spend, and invest. Jim Marsh Jr. says he is sleeping a [Read More …]
MONEY: A HAPPINESS GUARANTEE?
Winning it big in a lottery doesn’t guarantee happiness, regardless of the size of the jackpot. So if money can’t guarantee a state of bliss for us, what can? The two-word answer to that question seems to be: Nothing material. Happiness isn’t for sale. But you can earn it by the way you live your life. Recently our pastor told us about a study that found the key to happiness is knowing that you [Read More …]
NAVIGATING MONEY DISCUSSIONS WITH KIDS
It’s true. One of the most important things we have to do as parents is talk to our children about money. By that I mean addressing topics like how we make it and how we spend it, how much our family has in comparison to others, and why we have more or less than they do. How much our family gives away, to whom and why, how much we should save and why . . . and the list goes on. Although talking [Read More …]
Resolved: To Save a Little, Share a Little, Spend a Little
Whoever started the New Year’s Resolution tradition must have known that most resolutions would be broken sooner rather than later. Realism, I suspect, is the secret to actually making one you’ll keep, especially if it deals with money. If you feel frustrated by your financial situation and find yourself wishing you could do more, the likelihood is very high you can, if you start small. So [Read More …]
What Are You Giving Yourself for Christmas?
When was the last time you gave yourself a gift? A thank you note from our daughter for her birthday present was the incentive for tackling this topic. Our daughter Kelley is a very thoughtful, concerned woman whose most frequent request for a birthday gift is a check to one of her favorite non-profits. But this year, perhaps because it has been such a busy, intense year for her with a new job [Read More …]
INEQUALITY FOR ALL ? ? ?
Frustrating, isn’t it. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer, and there doesn’t seem to be a thing we can do about it. Or is there? Do you know how to eat an elephant? And, no, I’m not changing the subject. As strange as that may seem, it isn’t an irrelevant question. You’ve got to tackle a big task bite by bite, or to put it another way, one small slice at a time. So the question is, [Read More …]
A Different Take on Thanks-Giving
At our house Thanksgiving means more than turkey and pumpkin pie, though we like good food a lot too. Because sharing our blessings is an important part of our lives, we have made this into an occasion to help our family discover the joy of giving. We began this practice several years ago when our grandsons were in junior high and high school, and we included their parents in the ritual so all [Read More …]