Heart/Head
How Much Would It Take To Feel Rich?
Monday, August 9th, 2010
CNNMoney.com recently posed that question among a random sample of people and financial advisors. Most people based their answer on an overarching objective of having enough money so that they would not have to work. Individuals said that would require anywhere from a couple thousand dollars a month to a billion dollars. Advisors put the ... [Read more]
Is an iPad a Luxury or Necessity?
Monday, August 9th, 2010
An Internet connection. An annual vacation. The financial freedom to shop for birthdays and other special occasions. Are these essentials or luxuries? For many of today’s baby boomers, they are essentials. According to a survey conducted by MainStay Investments and reported by MarketWatch, 84 percent of boomers consider an Internet connection a necessity, 66 percent ... [Read more]
Still Stressed About Debt
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Americans are paying down their debt, but that hasn’t eased their stress. Some 46 percent of American adults say they are stressed about their debts, according to a new Associated Press-GfK survey. That’s about the same as last year. Those feeling the most stress are women, married couples, people age 30-44, and the poor. Key ... [Read more]
Is Bankruptcy Ever Okay for a Christian?
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
With many people still struggling to find work, bankruptcy filings continue to grow. More than 500,000 people have filed so far this year, according to the National Bankruptcy Research Center. That’s up 17 percent from last year at this time. While bankruptcy’s stigma has weakened in recent years, it is still an especially troubling topic ... [Read more]
The Master(’s) Principle
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
In the late 1960s Stanford University researchers conducted an experiment among hundreds of four-year-olds. One at a time, the children were brought into a room and told they could eat one treat such as a marshmallow right away, or if they could wait until the researcher returned from a brief errand, they could then have ... [Read more]
Managing Money by the Book: Financial Love and Respect
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
With 20 years of ministry experience, a PhD in family studies, a Master’s of Divinity degree, and a Master’s degree in communication, Emerson Eggerichs was a knowledgeable, experienced, and effective pastor. But one day, while rereading a passage of scripture he had preached on many times, he discovered what he calls “the key to any ... [Read more]
Managing Money By The Book – “Much Obliged”
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
Writer Fulton Oursler had vivid memories of an old woman named Anna who helped care for him as a child. When she sat down to eat she would say, “Much obliged, dear Lord, for my vittles.” Oursler wondered why she thanked God since she would get the food regardless of whether she gave thanks or ... [Read more]
Managing Money by the Book – A Wild Ride
Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Just before takeoff, the pilot warned us to expect a bumpy ride. Some bad weather had recently moved through the area and our flight path would have us following the storm system. Few of us were prepared for the ride that followed. I’m not normally a nervous flyer, but this flight left me clinging to ... [Read more]
The Warmth of Winter
Monday, January 18th, 2010
As another Chicago winter stretches on, I’ve been longing for spring. And isn’t that how it is whenever we go through a wintry financial season? We can’t wait for a better one to begin. In my mid 20’s, I inherited $60,000 from an uncle. I used the money to create my dream job, a newsletter ... [Read more]
May It Be
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
I love the start of a new year. It’s a chance to begin again, to set fresh goals and make new plans for the months ahead. As we make plans for 2010, whether financial or other types, let’s make sure that our plans are God’s plans. We can do so only by listening for his ... [Read more]
A Lesson from Tiger’s Tale
Friday, December 4th, 2009
What Went Wrong? I’m not usually much of a celebrity gawker. But I have to admit that I have been completely drawn in to the sad story of Tiger Woods’ “transgressions.” Golf is my favorite sport and I have spent many a Sunday afternoon watching Tiger achieve yet another impressive victory. He is unlike any ... [Read more]
Rethinking the Net Worth Statement
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.” – Proverbs 27:23 I’m going to go way out on a limb and guess that you may not have any sheep or cattle to look after. But you probably do have investments, a home, a car, and other stuff. All ... [Read more]
One Simple Word
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Do you find it more difficult to feel thankful this year? Even if you still have your job, you probably know someone who has lost his or hers. Or have the tough times made you more aware of and thankful for some of life’s simple gifts? We have felt the pain of financial loss this ... [Read more]
What I Believe
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
I am very excited about the launch of this new web site and blog. Switching from the eNewsletters I’ve been writing for the past three years to a blog will allow for more of a two-way dialogue with readers and will free me to write about more money-related topics. Since this marks the beginning of ... [Read more]
The Blessing Box
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1 This month many of us will gather with family and friends for a Thanksgiving meal of turkey and stuffing. In many homes it’s a tradition to go around the table and have each person mention something for which they ... [Read more]
Christmas Sanity
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
December is right around the corner, and if you don’t plan ahead one of the most meaningful holidays could easily turn into one of the most stressful and costly times of year. Fortunately, lots of holiday-smart articles are filling the blogosphere these days, offering good reminders like the importance of setting and sticking to a ... [Read more]
The Wisdom of Waiting
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently before him.”
- Psalm 37:7 Have you ever seen an advertisement that included these words: “Think about it for a while before making a decision to buy this item”? Or, “Sleep on it and come back when you’re good and ready to make a wise decision.” Of course ... [Read more]
The Heart of Simple Living
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
“I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple — in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world ... [Read more]
Choosing What to Take In
Saturday, August 1st, 2009
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8 Right after our five-year-old watches a DVD, he’s often eager to act out whatever he saw. If there was singing on the DVD, he ... [Read more]
Sleeping Well During the Recession
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
If you’ve been losing sleep over your finances, you’re not alone. According to a new survey, more than two-thirds of people say money issues are keeping them up at night. As reported on the Walletpop blog, more than one-fifth of respondents blamed credit card debt for the dark circles under their eyes. A prime cause ... [Read more]
Thriving After the Recession
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
While a lot of people are still deeply impacted by the recession, a number of post-recession articles are starting to emerge, including one from US News & World Report that suggested 10 ways to “thrive” after the recession. It described the new “evolved consumer” who “shops with more discipline and focuses on buying products with ... [Read more]
Heroic Money Management
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 During what would be my father’s final year of life, I wrote him a letter. His health was declining rapidly, and he was ... [Read more]
Best Advice Ever
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Fortune magazine and CNN.com recently asked several famous people about the best words of wisdom they ever received. For Tiger Woods, it was his father’s advice when Tiger was just 6 or 7 to keep things simple – to pick a spot on the golf course where he wanted to hit the ball and focus ... [Read more]
Who’s On Your Board of Directors?
Monday, June 1st, 2009
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22 My friend, Brad, calls it their annual “Dixie Fraley talk.” Once a year, he and his wife, Nancy, meet with their personal board of directors, which includes their CPA, attorney, and financial planner. Brad and Nancy reveal their balance sheet, ... [Read more]
Recession Lessons
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
The recession is reshaping our financial attitudes and behaviors, and the changes may just stick. An article in Money magazine made that assertion using both anecdotal evidence and the results from several national surveys. The story cited a recent MetLife survey in which nearly 50 percent of respondents said they “already had all the possessions ... [Read more]
Home Improvement
Friday, May 1st, 2009
“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” – Psalm 119:16 In the mid 1990s, Kevin Bauman began photographing abandoned houses in his hometown of Detroit. It was a creative outlet, a way to express his amazement and concern that “a once great city could find itself in such great distress.” Viewing ... [Read more]
Easing the Financial Pain
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Just about everyone is feeling the pain of our troubled economy. The extreme manifestations make headlines – suicides and murders that are somehow tied to financial problems. For most people, there’s just a nagging sense of financial anxiety. An ABC News article mentioned a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web site dedicated ... [Read more]
Nobody’s Fool
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
“Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?” – Proverbs 17:16 No one wants to be thought of as a fool – not on April first, not at any time. The Bible uses that strong term only a handful of times in regard to ... [Read more]
How Serious Are You?
Monday, March 2nd, 2009
“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’—when you now have it with you” – Proverbs 3:27-28 When Hal and Dee were in their mid-fifties, they found themselves with $50,000 of credit card ... [Read more]
Fear, Anger, and a Ray of Hope
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
Our tattered economy has a lot of people feeling fearful, angry, and surprisingly, okay. These mixed findings come from a new survey by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation, which found that nearly 75 percent of U.S. adults are scared about the way things are going in our country. About the same number are angry. Those ... [Read more]
Of Calories and Cash
Monday, February 9th, 2009
There are a number of parallels between the worlds of nutrition and finance. On the negative side, people tend to describe a budget in the same terms they use to describe a diet – it’s something one goes on, as in, “Poor Brian, he’s on a budget.” However, as was pointed out in a New ... [Read more]
The Power of Gratitude
Monday, February 2nd, 2009
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Every day of our lives, we are the unwitting recipients of countless messages designed to foster ... [Read more]
What’s On Your “To-Be” List?
Monday, January 5th, 2009
“My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” – Proverbs 7:1-3 The start of a new year always gets me thinking of ... [Read more]
Irrational Money Moves
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
Some of the most interesting (and odd!) research about money comes from behavioral economists and psychologists. As noted in a recent Economist article, one study found that diners tend to spend more in a restaurant named “Cafe 97″ than one named “Cafe 17.” Another study looked the behavior of people who carry a balance on ... [Read more]
The Light of the World
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” – Luke 2:16-18 When the ... [Read more]
Penny Wise and Artichoke Foolish
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Like many of us, a grocery shopper named Jill is paying more attention to the cost of food these days. So, as described in a New York Times article, when one store’s price on cauliflower seemed too high, she went to another store, and then another. Finally, she found a good price, only to discover ... [Read more]
Never Forget Who You Are
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. – ... [Read more]
Learning From Marketers’ Playbooks
Friday, October 24th, 2008
Some of the best insights about shopping smart come from marketers. The trick is to learn their strategies for separating us from our money, and then play defense. That was the focus of a great post on the Get Rich Slowly blog, which reviewed the book, “Why We Buy.” For example, retailers do what they ... [Read more]
Controlling What We Can Control
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
Eight in ten Americans feel stressed about money, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. Nearly 60 percent of respondents say they are concerned about job stability, while 50 percent say they are increasingly concerned about their ability to provide for their family’s basic needs. How are people responding to the stress brought ... [Read more]
Why We Feel So Bad
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, nearly 60 percent of Americans believe a depression is “somewhat likely” (38 percent) or “very likely” (21 percent). However, the CNNMoney.com article that reported on the findings noted that economists “generally don’t believe another depression is likely.” If “irrational exuberance” helped drive the market up, “loss aversion” may ... [Read more]
Anchors in the Storm
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” – Isaiah 40:7 (Note: I was going to conclude our five-part series on getting out of debt this month. However, with the current state of the economy I thought we could all use a refresher on the timeless biblical principles ... [Read more]
Calming The Anxiety
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
Not surprisingly, a growing number of people are feeling some economic anxiety. According to Yakelovich, a market research firm, the percentage of Americans feeling high or severe financial anxiety has jumped from 33 percent in January of this year to 61 percent in June. Of course, that 61 percent figure was tallied well before the ... [Read more]
Staying the Course
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power ... [Read more]
The Debt Fix
Friday, August 1st, 2008
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” – Romans 12:12 For the last couple of months we’ve been going over a step-by-step plan for getting out of debt and staying out of debt forever. If you have debt, you probably didn’t get into it overnight. Getting out of debt won’t be an ... [Read more]
Yes, You CAN Get Out of Debt
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’” – Matthew 5:37 “Yes” is one of the most powerful words in our vocabulary. I’m not talking about the easy yes spoken to a waiter offering us dessert. I’m talking about the yes of commitment. It’s the yes spoken on an altar – “To have ... [Read more]
Paid in Full
Monday, June 2nd, 2008
“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” – 1 Corinthians 7:23 On a recent retreat I had the privilege of serving communion. Over and over, I looked a brother or sister in Christ in the eye and said, “This represents the body and blood of Jesus, broken and shed for ... [Read more]
Remembering Who You Are
Thursday, May 1st, 2008
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27 Some people cry while watching love stories. I cried while watching a horse story. Seabiscuit is the true story of a Depression-era racehorse that, along with its owner, trainer, and ... [Read more]
TGI…M?
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” – Colossians 3:23 More than half of all U.S. workers are dissatisfied with their jobs. That’s the conclusion of a recent Conference Board survey. And which aspect of their work do you think people are most unhappy ... [Read more]
The Warmth of Winter
Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. – Ecclesiastes 3:1 As another Chicago winter stretches on, I’ve been longing for spring. And isn’t that how it is whenever we go through a wintry financial season? We can’t wait for a better one to begin. In my mid 20’s, ... [Read more]
It All Comes Down to This
Friday, February 1st, 2008
“No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:3 (MSG) If February had a theme, it would be, of course, love. Sure, Valentine’s Day has become a bit commercial, with everything from cakes to multi-carat diamonds available in the shape of a heart, but ... [Read more]
Happy Choices
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
Harvard Psychologist Daniel Gilbert was asked by the Washington Post for some suggestions on making choices that’ll make us happier in 2008. Gilbert said one mistake people often make is overestimating the negative impact of a bad decision, and that keeps us playing it safe. Got a dream? His advice is to go for it. ... [Read more]
Saving Advice From Those Who Know
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
Consumer Reports recently asked its retired readers what they wish they had done differently in preparing for their later years. Their biggest regrets had to do with their saving habits. Some 35 percent wish they had started saving earlier (only 15 percent started in their 20′s) and 30 percent wish they had saved more each ... [Read more]
May It Be
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008
“For nothing is impossible with God.” – Luke 1:37 I love the start of a new year. It’s a chance to begin again, to set fresh goals and make new plans for the months ahead. As we make plans for 2008, whether financial or other types, let’s make sure that our plans are God’s plans. ... [Read more]
The Heart of the Matter
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007
“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:10-11 In his book, “The Progress Paradox,” writer Gregg Easterbrook tells an extraordinary story of forgiveness. Amy Biehl, an idealistic ... [Read more]
The Heart of a Giver
Thursday, November 1st, 2007
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38 It’s tricky business teaching about giving these days. Preachers of the prosperity gospel are packing their ... [Read more]
“The Best of Things”
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007
“Be joyful in hope.” –Romans 12:12a In the movie, The Shawshank Redemption, prisoner Andy Dufresne demonstrates the power of hope. Wrongly convicted for the murder of his wife, his hope that the truth would one day come out sustains him. When the truth finally does come out, but a corrupt warden refuses to acknowledge it, Andy ... [Read more]
The Best Offense is a Good Defense
Monday, September 3rd, 2007
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” – Ephesians 6:14a In Brave New World, Aldus Huxley’s 1932 novel that envisions the extent to which consumerism could go, people are conditioned from birth to accept predetermined roles. Using “sleep teaching,” speakers underneath babies’ pillows repeatedly broadcast quiet suggestions designed to shape ... [Read more]
Lessons from the Mulch Pile
Wednesday, August 1st, 2007
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4 Have you ever walked through your neighborhood on a spring day and looked inside other people’s garages? Don’t the contents look familiar? Don’t they look remarkably similar to the contents of your own garage? ... [Read more]
Independence Day
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31b-32 My wife and I once lived in a home with cracks in its foundation. Every time it rained I got a knot in my stomach because I knew ... [Read more]
Privileged Money Management
Thursday, May 3rd, 2007
“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” – 2 Corinthians 8:3-4 According to American Express, “Membership has its privileges.” Its copyrighted phrase is designed to ... [Read more]
The Wisdom and Foolishness of Saving Money
Monday, April 2nd, 2007
“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” – Proverbs 21:20 Three times during several recent financial workshops with college students I was asked a surprising and refreshing question: Does saving money reflect a lack of faith in God’s provision? It was ... [Read more]
A Wild Ride
Thursday, March 1st, 2007
“’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said.” – Matthew 4:19 Just before takeoff, the pilot warned us to expect a bumpy ride. Some bad weather had recently moved through the area and our flight path would have us following the storm system. Few of us were prepared for the ride that followed. I’m not normally a nervous ... [Read more]
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Thursday, February 1st, 2007
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” – 1 John 3:1a Valentine’s Day is a good reminder to celebrate the people we love. It’s also a good reminder to celebrate the One who came up with the idea of love in the first ... [Read more]
Make No Little Plans
Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 As a Chicagoan, I’ve long been drawn to a quote attributed to Daniel Burnham, the visionary city planner who designed Chicago’s beautiful lakefront in the early 1900’s. He said, “Make ... [Read more]
Completing Our Gift List
Friday, December 1st, 2006
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
- Matthew 25:40 This time of year the news is full of stories about shopping. How much will people spend on holiday gifts? Nearly $800 per person, according to the National Retail Federation. What ... [Read more]
Only One Thing Is Needed
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She ... [Read more]
Living With Urgency
Sunday, October 1st, 2006
“Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” – Job 14:5 Next month will mark the two-year anniversary of my father’s death. The following month will mark the three-year anniversary of my mother’s death. Maybe it’s the experience of losing my parents so recently ... [Read more]
Labor Pains
Friday, September 1st, 2006
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.” – Proverbs 23:4 The many Biblical warnings related to wealth do not mean that the Bible discourages hard work. To the contrary, we’re told that we are to work with all our heart (Colossians 3:23) and that those who do not ... [Read more]
“Much Obliged”
Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Writer Fulton Oursler had vivid memories of an old woman named Anna who helped care for him as a child. When she sat down to eat she would say, “Much obliged, dear Lord, for my vittles.” ... [Read more]
Sharing the Journey
Saturday, July 1st, 2006
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Are you facing a challenging situation? Are you trying to accomplish a difficult goal? ... [Read more]
Money: Let’s Just Be Friends
Thursday, June 1st, 2006
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
– 1 Timothy 6:10 This may be the single most misquoted verse in the entire bible. Many people think it says, “Money is the root of ... [Read more]
One in Marriage, One in Money
Monday, May 1st, 2006
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” – Ephesians 5:21 When we were dating and for the first few weeks of our engagement, my wife and I hardly ever had disagreements. Then we went to register for wedding gifts. We had little idea how dissimilar our tastes were. Talking with a good friend ... [Read more]
