A Better Option Than 401 K

Ever since I received my undergraduate degree I began seriously thinking about my future and how I would fulfill desires in the world of work and what it all means. With this comes the preparation or at least some forethought into the day that I would be a husband, father, and one day retire and hope to leave an inheritance for my kids. Over the past 3 to 4 years I have been in this struggle to begin setting up a path for success and to be responsible in preparing for financial stability throughout the rest of my life. I began to study successful people as well as follow the formulas for successful investors with Dave Ramsey and Warren Buffett. I even studied the Christian principles of money laid out in a Crown Financial class. I have believed that preparing for retirement is a need. And, one that has been waying on me while also knowing that America is in every aspect in a state of financial ruin. There is not a place that I can turn to that I can sense a real awareness of how to be responsible with money, time, and effort and at the same time be open to the Lord's leading. Typically it seems to be people grasping and living out one aspect of these things but not all of them collectively. Without fully embracing all of these at the same time I see a sense of increased pride and control in other areas. I not only speak of others, but I speak of myself as well. This has frustrated me to no end.

The Bible continually puts work in a positive light, something that is good. Before sin, in our perfection, Adam was told to tend the garden, Gen. 2:15. Then after sin entered into the picture work became much harder as explained in Gen. 3:17-19. But, I believe the Bible still points toward work as being a good thing as evidenced in Prov. 6:6-11, 2 Thess. 3:10, and Colossians 3:23, to name a few. In my search for security in my retirement I have realized it is a false sense of security. I need to plan for the future, but in a much different way than what I am being told by the financial advisors. I am not turning my back from the methods that we as Americans have used to earn money such as stocks, investments, and entrepreneurial endeavors. But, I am turning my back on the idea that I am storing up treasures for my retirement or for my family in the future. I still have a focus and an understanding of this responsibility. But, by holding money away and relying on riding the waves of a financially unstable economy is not an option. We as Americans are not able to rely on a system that breeds success as it once did simply by following the system. I believe this is a good thing though because it allows all of our culture to re-evaluate where we have placed our trust and requires us to place our fears in other sources for hope. I believe this is why we have seen people desperately clinging to pleasures, politics, or other "drugs" that hold us captive. I have also been fearing the future and the failures of going with the flow.

Over the past few months I have decided that the time is now and that waiting is not an option anymore. Jesus demands my efforts now. And now I seek to turn from seeking the world's direction of fitting into the mold. This has made things a bit challenging in the get go but I know that I am able to build something that I can truly be proud of because God is at work. I'm reminded of a picture of this in simple terms like when a child goes to the doctor to receive a shot of medicine. I have been tensing up and making the shot much more painful. Now, being aware of the need for this medicine I have relaxed, loosened the muscles, and am allowing the medicine to enter my body which allows a much better experience altogether. In the same way, humbling and being ready for God to move, not preparing for my 401k when I forsee the trouble to come has liberated my soul.

And I will take pride in the fact that God has called us to work and that it is a good thing. And I will not be looking for a pay check as the source of gain for my future as God time and time again provides for his children just as the birds of the air. I will look for opportunity to serve and a sense of purpose that is at the center of my being, that I may be used in the greatest means possible, working for a higher calling, not for a retirement of sitting idly by and watching after accomplishing a tower with a flimsy foundation.

Thoughts on the church, marketing, and a need for You

My heart is heavy for the church today. That we don't know how to discern the difference between the Holy Spirit and a good marketing push. That we are so inundated with marketing and so used to being sold with no ability to critically discern that we don't know a phony from the real thing. Case in point, we read Martin Luther before we read the Gospel. We listen to good pastors before we go directly to the Word for His truth. There are so many other examples of this in common society but I will be quickly condemned for my observations rather than judged objectively...or people will run away from the discussion all together. But if we run away, we continue in our folly. We don't even understand how to judge a person's actions whether he be in the faith or not, all in the name of tolerance. We know how to give encouragement but balk at the need to take or give reproof in a Godly fashion. God save me, save us. Forgive us. Let us discern the good from the bad, have the decency to shut up long enough for God to reveal the answers. Help us to tell others to buzz off when they try to convince us to do something when we haven't had the opportunity to discern your call on our lives or even where to begin in submitting to your Spirit. That we would feast on your Word so that we can know your heart and not just read it and then apply it without even really attempting to hear from You or understand what it says. Please help me to take my eyes off myself, stop trying to be in control of everything, and allow me to lie prostrate before you with no other motive than just because You are Holy. And let it change me, and change those around me, so that we might be fit for your service.

Thankful for Christ's Sacrifice

I am so very thankful for Christ's sacrifice. Thankful that I have believed through faith, placing my confidence in Christ. As a result there is significance, relevance, and value to my life. As the world continues to move further into moral decline, I am thankful for my family who has been honest and open in guiding me in what they knew was right. I am equally thankful how God has guided me to where I am today. I can have hope and confidence in the one who is molding and shaping me into His fashion.

Why can't we believe God when he says in Heb. 12:10-11 that "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

I have been seeking discipline in my life and left desperate to find answers that can promote true and lasting change in my own heart and mind. I thank God for the truth that he reveals to me in His timing. Through my failures and my sin, Christ is revealed and is provided as the answer for true and lasting change. Phil 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

For Those Sleepless Nights

Most nights I get to sleep just fine, but then I wake up in the middle of the night and my mind starts reeling with ideas or other thoughts. I often have to get up and write down what I'm thinking otherwise I won't be able to clear my mind to go back to sleep. This happens more and more the older I get, I'm guessing as my responsibilities get bigger.

So, I have a tip for you on those sleepless nights. Once you write out your notes to clear your mind as best you can, then try to sleep again and this time "choose" the image that you're going to meditate on. For me, one thought leads to another...and then I'm off thinking again. So, a high school friend told me once to think about the color black. Sometimes I even imagine a black crayon drawing black on the wall of my mind. Yeah, it's weird, but don't knock it til you try it. I don't know why that does it for me, but sleep comes shortly after...

What do you do to help you sleep when you can't...besides taking pills? :)

Is Excessive Government Regulation Different from State Ownership?

I have a strong liking for Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve Chairman under Reagan, both Bush's, and Clinton's terms. In addition to being sound in his financial policy he is also a music enthusiast who studied at Julliard. And, since being a financial/political expert and having musical prowess are both aspiring characteristics in my eyes and not so common, I am a fan.

In his biography, The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World, Alan made some remarkable comments in regard to China's policies that I believe are important for the U.S. current situation.

"Socialists in the West, adjusting to the failure of Marxist economics, have redefined socialism to no longer require that all the means of production be owned by the state. Some simply advocate government regulation rather than state ownership to foster societal well-being."

But also, according to, Mr. Greenspan, the Chinese government suggested that "the system [referring to the Communist Party] holds together because each official is beholden to the person directly above him. This is the source of political power. This is how the Party governs. However if market pricing is substituted for any level of the pyramid, political control is lost."

Then Alan notes, "You cannot have both market pricing and political control. One precludes the other." And, I would suggest, that even though China is now a republic, it is yet to be seen if they can give up the concept of indebtedness to the political power hierarchy.

And as Alan suggests referring to Marxist policies that "the cheer of new affluence rapidly fades and, with time, becomes the base from which additional, even higher, expectations evolve." When installing new government regulations, I would ask the Western Socialists, how is overwhelming government regulations any different from state ownership? And, how can one guarantee that there will not be a need for more? They can't. There WILL be a need for more...more dependency.

Contradictions or Keys to Life: Safe or Good, Simple or Easy?

Contradictory statements or keys to a successful and fulfilled life?

1) It's takes work to grow and doing nothing doesn't mean you stay the same, it means you deteriorate.

Example, our physical bodies. We work hard to get fit and we get sick and lose everything we worked for in a matter of days or possibly hours. Or, we do nothing at all and we actually grow more out of shape.

This is the same with our mental capacity. Staying the same does not equal being equally smart, it means you are growing more stupid.

2) Specifically when God speaks sometimes we are required to believe before we understand.

I'm NOT talking about not studying before a test because we "believe" the answer will be revealed to us in our osmosis. I AM talking about believing in what the God of the universe tells to his children, the authority figure that DOES have all the answers even when we fight with our limited ability to understand why. Not that we don't seek to understand why, but that we accept the answer from the ultimate authority. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me", Jn. 10:27.

3) God is not safe but he is good.

C.S. Lewis made this statement in his Chronicles of Narnia books in regard to the king Asland. In the same way God knows what's best for us, and that isn't always that we are happy, but that Christ is glorified in us and that we continue to grow humble and submitted to Him. Read the book of Job. And then read Rom 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

4) Most things in life are not easy, but they are simple.

Spoken by a friend, Dana Barfield, in regard to how you define what you are providing for your customers when starting a new business. His Article. I believe this applies to more aspects than just defining your business proposition. Believing in God and having faith in Him is easy but is not simple. Sin's presence on the earth and our fight between the control of one or the other over our thoughts and actions is a constant struggle for us when God makes it clear to us how we should live.

Finally, strive to come to grips with God's authority in your life. Believe in him, hope in something of real value. Struggle to know Him more fully.

Do This ONE thing to Save Money in 2010

I recommend ONE thing for everyone in the new year. It is the GREATEST opportunity that ANYONE has to save money. The solution: Track your expenses.

Stop telling yourself that you will save money or start thinking about retirement when you make more money. Remember God’s principle, Luke 16:11 (NASB) "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?" In the same way, if you are not wise with what you have, how can you expect to be wise with more?

You CANNOT control the amount of money that you make. You CAN control the amount that you spend. Tracking your expenses is the main key to saving money, no if’s ands or buts about it. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. You must be honest with yourself first and foremost.

I’ve cleaned up my 2009 files and started 2010 in tracking my expenses.

This is my process.

First, create a monthly budget and estimate your expenses. Start an excel sheet and along the top make a horizontal column and write in your estimated budget categories (ie. income/taxes/giving/food/rent/savings/investments/debts etc. anything that you spend money on).

Underneath each category make another horizontal column and write the estimated $ budget amount that you’ve determined for that month.

Then, on the left make a vertical column for each day of the month. Print separate sheets for each month and keep it in close quarters. SIDE NOTE: This isn’t something you need to print next to the front door so people can see it when they come in. Keep it private, maybe next to your bed. I put mine on a bulletin board and it hides behind a tv so it isn’t standing out.

To Do: Determine your best way to record expenses.

What I do: Every night before I go to bed I recall everything I bought that day and write it on the date corresponding to the budget category.

This will allow you to keep tabs on where your money is going and how much you estimate that you spend. Once you do this for a couple of months, you should look at Crowne Financial’s estimated spending plan [here] and determine, based on your living situation, if your estimated budget categories are reasonable by calculating your own percentages and comparing.

Keeping an eye on where your money is going is THE GREATEST WAY TO SAVE MONEY. It is also the greatest way to be able to BUY WHATEVER YOU WANT. If you know you want to buy something that is expensive but of great value to you, you can prepare and plan for it by cutting your expenses in other categories for months or possibly years depending on how big the purchase. Then you can go and buy it with cash. Yeah, I know, this takes self control.

If you need a kickstart in saving money, I would suggest Dave Ramsey’s "Total Money Makeover". But, even more than that, because I am a Christian, I like to take into account what God has to say about money. You can join a Crowne Financial Class and to get some accountability with a small group and a coach to learn God's principles and apply invaluable money management principles to your life. [Click here] to learn more.