Category: Finances

My life as of late has been a crazy mixture of stuff I never anticipated…

my life

In the last 6 months my life has become a weird mixture of stuff I never anticipated…

  • self employed (always liked the idea, but never thought it would happen)
  • NOT working in pastoral ministry (which I thought I’d be doing until Jesus returns)
  • engaged in all kinds of business activities (which never interested me before)
  • and about to become a grandpa (which I never imagined would be the case at 46 years of age).

But it’s amazing how changes like these can hit you out of the blue, and the LORD gives the grace to roll with it all. He’s kept me focused on Him throughout and actually eager to be engaged with Him in the process.

It’s been quite a ride.

My main life-lesson through it all has been this:

God is in control – so relax.

It’s amazing how little I’ve worried, felt stressed, or been in a place where I’m anxious about the future.

It’s all glory to Him really, and I’m a bit amazed by it (OK, a LOT amazed by it).

A cool thing to go along with it is that my wife has been in the same place too!

Thank You LORD, for Your faithfulness and presence.

 

 

Join the Christian Family Economics Mastermind!

family economics

I’ve been working on a family economics related website lately, which is…

  • A community
  • for believers in Christ
  • a brainstorming environment
  • an experience sharing experience
  • a resource for small or home based business
  • family oriented
  • aimed at being Acts 2 and Acts 4 in a business sense
  • an opportunity to develop relationships and possible partnerships
  • exploring how families can work together to produce multiple streams of income

If you’d like to check it out, there’s an introductory video explaining exactly what family economics is… how it works… why it’s important… and what you can do to become a part of this growing, but age-old movement.

Personally, it seems like a no-brainer to me. The entire family working together toward greater ends than any one of them might have… and all for the good of them all.

Check it out at www.cfemastermind.com (Christian Family Economy Mastermind).

 

Prosperity Gospel and Lottery may claim the same victims

Studies and statistics (here, here, here, and here) continue to show that it is those in the lowest economic percentiles who consistently spend their income on state sponsored lottery games.

I wonder if that same dynamic is at work in those who follow the “prosperity gospel” hawked by so many today?

Think about it:

  • Why would someone who is already successful in their job/career be attracted to the prosperity gospel?  It can’t give them anything they haven’t already gotten for themselves.
  • It only makes sense that those who truly have “felt” financial or health issues would be attracted to the “pie in the sky” promises of a theology that makes God their ultimate benefactor.

I’d love to see some research on this…

Theologically speaking…

The prosperity gospel is virtually the same as the lottery – a gamble, based on nothing that is theologically sound.  It’s the snake-oil salesman all over again.  Only this time he wears a $1000 suit.

God is not about our comfort… He’s about His glory, demonstrated through our holiness.  And getting us to holiness, typically doesn’t include dollar signs.

What do you think?  Are the same people victims of both?

Books from the PF Journal..

Christian job-haters… an oxymoron?

Do you love your job?  Do you hate your job?  Are you someplace in between the two?

How are Christians supposed to view the love-hate relationship we sometimes have with our employment (we love the paycheck, but may hate the work & dynamics of the place)?  Is it simply the curse of Genesis 3 being life-d out in OUR lives?  Or does God have a better, greater purpose?

Someone who has impacted my life is Steve Farrar – author and Pastor who challenged me early on in my marriage life, to great effect!  I found this article by him that is worth its weight in gold – and it has to do with these very questions!

Ways to glorify God in your workplace

Do you have trouble figuring out how the 9 to 5 (or 8 to 5, or swing shift, or whatever) of your workday is supposed to bring glory to God?

You are not alone.

John Piper has given a good list of things to keep in mind to help us glorify God in the workplace…

Dependence. Go to work utterly dependent on God (Proverbs 3:5-6; John 15:5). Without him you can’t breathe, move, think, feel, or talk. Not to mention be spiritually influential. Get up in the morning and let God know your desperation for him. Pray for help.

Integrity. Be absolutely and meticulously honest and trustworthy on the job. Be on time. Give a full day’s work. “Thou shalt not steal.” More people rob their employers by being slackers than by filching the petty cash.

Skill. Get good at what you do. God has given you not only the grace of integrity but the gift of skills. Treasure that gift and be a good steward of those skills. This growth in skill is built on dependence and integrity.

Corporate shaping. As you have influence and opportunity, shape the ethos of the workplace so that the structures and policies and expectations and aims move toward accordance with Christ.

Impact. Aim to help your company have an impact that is life-enhancing without being soul-destroying. Some industries have an impact that is destructive (e.g., porn, gambling, abortion, marketing scams, etc). But many can be helped to turn toward impact that is life-giving without being soul-ruining. As you have opportunity, work toward that.

Communication. Work places are webs of relationships. Relationships are possible through communication. Weave your Christian worldview into the normal communications of life. Don’t hide your light under a basket. Put it on the stand. Winsomely. Naturally. Joyfully. Let those who love their salvation say continually, Great is the Lord! (Psalm 40:16)

Love. Serve others. Be the one who volunteers first to go get the pizza. To drive the van. To organize the picnic. Take an interest in others at work. Be known as the one who cares not just about the light-hearted weekend tales, but the burdens of heavy and painful Monday mornings. Love your workmates, and point them to the great Burden Bearer.

Money. Work is where you make (and spend) money. It is all God’s, not yours. You are a trustee. Turn your earning into the overflow of generosity in how you steward God’s money. Don’t work to earn to have. Work to earn to have to give and to invest in Christ-exalting ventures. Make your money speak of Christ as your supreme Treasure.

Thanks. Always give thanks to God for life and health and work and Jesus. Be a thankful person at work. Don’t be among the complainers. Let your thankfulness to God overflow in a humble spirit of gratitude to others. Be known as the hope-filled, humble, thankful one at work.