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Do you have a generosity gene?

In the end, being generous is an affirmation of hope in the future.   Mark V. Ewert, The Generosity Path: Finding the Richness in Giving Is there a generosity gene? While some people are born generous, for most of us giving is an acquired trait.  Either we had parents who showed us by example the importance of helping others less fortunate, or we had to discover the joy of   [Read More …]

Giving thanks when times are tough

“The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts.”     Marcus Aurelius Thanksgiving may be very tough this year unless we make this holiday a time for truly Giving Thanks. As I sat down to write this I found myself thinking about a time in my life when giving thanks for anything was very difficult.  Our 16-year-old son was dying, his medical bills were fast approaching   [Read More …]

Growing food and seeking justice

How a Baltimore pastor is organizing Black farmers and Black churches for food security and freedom Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III is the senior pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore, Md. He joined the Faith & Money Network’s 2017 “Trip of Perspective” to Haiti to make cross-cultural connections between faith and money. In this story, Brown shares how a garden he planted on his   [Read More …]

Wanted for America: The Gift of Healing

 Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Rainer Maria Rilke   How can all of us from every walk of life and every state in this great nation heal the great divide that is tearing us apart, and how can we learn to appreciate each other’s point of view and love each other despite our differences? When answers seem to be non-existent,   [Read More …]

Giving Circles – Giving Ripples

“It made a difference to this one . . .” I do not know who first told the story of the little boy who was throwing starfish stranded on the sand back into the ocean.  What I remember is that when he was asked what difference did it make when he couldn’t help all of them, he picked one up, threw it back into the water and said, “It made a difference to this one.” And so it is that our   [Read More …]

Social investing: Putting your money where your values are

When Christians discuss financial stewardship, the conversations usually focus on questions of giving:  How much should we give and where should we give it? As important as these questions are, they generally address our assets only up to the 10% tithe. What about the other 90%? Does God’s claim on all that we are, and all that we have, require that we at least look at how we might put   [Read More …]

Make Your Vote Your Gift to America

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”    Edmund Burke Never in the history of America has each person’s vote been so important.  And never before have we had a President who is doing everything he can to discourage voting.   Which means if we are to survive as a democracy it is up to each of us to vote and do everything we can to encourage our   [Read More …]

Prayer – a Gift to God . . . and Yourself

“Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.  Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.  The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”   Matthew 6:6 – The Message Whether we have a little or a lot, it’s easy to believe that sharing our financial resources is the only way we can give to God, but   [Read More …]

Anti-racist personal finance: 5 ways to fight racism with your money choices

Since racial justice movements mobilized across the country this summer, several Faith and Money Network members have asked, “How can I use my financial resources in a more anti-racist way?” Sara Loving of Better Banking Options has been answering that question all summer and shares her experience with Faith and Money Network.  As a young white person, I believe white people in this   [Read More …]