Advance the Church Conference

There is a terrific conference being held on April 26 - 28th in Durham, NC. Here is the link for the conference.

ADVANCE THE CHURCH

"YOU CANNOT MULTIPLY WEALTH BY DIVIDING IT"

This quotation is part of a longer sermon by Dr. Rogers' from 1984 in a larger series titled God’s Way to Health, Wealth and Wisdom and it also appears as a passage in Dr. Rogers' 1996 work Ten Secrets for a Successful Family complaining that "by and large our young people do not know either the importance or the value of honest labor"

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the industrious out of it. You don't multiply wealth by dividing it. Government cannot give anything to anybody that it doesn't first take from somebody else. Whenever somebody receives something without working for it, somebody else has to work for it without receiving. The worst thing that can happen to a nation is for half of the people to get the idea they don't have to work because somebody else will work for them, and the other half to get the idea that it does no good to work because they don't get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

How true is this ... even more today as we read articles about how 47% of people don't pay any taxes at all.

What does the Bible have to say about redistribution of wealth? I would encourage you to read an excellent article at one of my favorite Christian financial websites: Redistribution of Wealth in the Bible.

Obamacare, TRICARE & Military Healthcare

A week or so ago, I emailed our area's congressman, Randy Forbes concerning the Healthcare bill and how it will affect Tricare and military medicine for retired veterans. There is a lot of information and mis-information out there but felt that Congressman Forbes would have the answer. I am posting his reply below:

Thank you for voicing your concern about the implications of health care reform legislation on TRICARE coverage. On March 21, 2010, I joined 211 Democrats and Republicans in the House in voting against the health care bill (H.R. 3590). Unfortunately, H.R. 3590 passed the House and became law, while another bill (H.R. 4872) that made changes to the signed health care reform bill was later passed by the House, also without my support, and Senate.

The day before the final vote on the health care bill in the House, I voted in support of an emergency measure, the TRICARE Affirmation Act (H.R. 4887), to prevent TRICARE programs from being negatively affected by health care reform legislation. H.R. 4887 passed the House unanimously and is awaiting action in the Senate, where it will have to be passed there before the President can sign it into law.

I believe the 9.2 million Americans that make up our military personnel, retirees, and their families deserve to enjoy the health care coverage and protection they have earned and come to expect. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, you may be assured that I will continue to pay very close attention to this issue. I will not waiver in my commitment to preserving access to quality care for our nation's military personnel and their dependents.

Over the course of the last year I had conversations with thousands of people across the Fourth Congressional District. Through these letters, emails, and conversations the vast majority of my constituents agree that while Congress must eliminate discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions and make insurance more accessible and affordable, this bill is not the way to do it.

Specifically, physician organizations representing 500,000 physicians across the country and in the Fourth Congressional District expressed strong opposition to the legislation. Seniors expressed concern that the bill would take more than half a trillion dollars out of a Medicare system that will be bankrupt by 2017. Cash-strapped states are uncertain of the effects of an expansion of Medicaid when they have already had to lay off school teachers and law enforcement officers. Furthermore, individuals and small businesses are wary of how they will hire new employees when we are faced with half a trillion dollars in new taxes at a time when unemployment is at 10%. While I support expanding health care insurance coverage, this cannot be done at an unacceptable price to our seniors, local governments, and small business owners.


In addition, the way this bill became law demonstrates why so many Americans are frustrated with government. The process lacked transparency and accountability as the bill was crafted behind closed doors. Members were denied the right to offer other proposals that would improve our health care system at a lower cost. The bill included backroom deals to secure last-minute votes at the expense of taxpayers and relied upon a hijacked budget reconciliation process that was originally designed to make it easier to cut federal spending. This was not the way to overhaul health care, which accounts for a sixth of our Nation's economy.


I will continue to do everything I can to fight to protect the doctor-patient relationship, reform the way Washington works, and create a legacy for our children and grandchildren that does not include a burdensome national debt.

For more information, check out the TRICARE website in regards to the Healthcare Bill.

Government Spending - Need A Laugh?

I saw this video this morning and started my day with a smile. Thanks Tim Hawkins!

Healthcare Reform Time Line

I won't even begin to say that I understand the healthcare bill and it's implications for the future. But I did run across this timeline and thought I would share it with my readers.


Infographic by HealthInsuranceProviders.com: Compare health insurance options from many different providers!


Thanks to Health Insurance Provider website for this timeline.

Reach Into Your Wallet and Smile

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

"The key to learning how to be a cheerful giver begins with acknowledgment that God is the owner of all the stuff you have. You, on the other hand, are the caretaker of God's treasure. Getting your heart around this truth can be a real test, especially since the world at large preaches loudly and often that you are only as significant as the stuff you own. If you feel a compulsion to give that's born out of guilt or a sense of duty, your heart may not be ready. Do you give because of your love for God? Your concern for others? When your heart is right, giving is easy."

"Things to Do"

1. Ask God to give you a heart for giving.
2. Review your budget and consider what it would take to give to God off the top.
3. Read the story of the widow's mite in Luke 21:1-4 and examine what that story implies about how you ought to give.
4. Invite a Christian friend to discuss what it means to be a caretaker of your belongings rather than an owner.
5. List 5 ways you can give back to God in addition to monetary giving.
6. Choose one thing you can do without and determine to give the money to God instead.

(Taken from the book, Checklist for Life)

Malachi 3:10 (NIV) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Liberty University Files Lawsuit Against the Government Takeover of Healthcare

I saw this article today and wanted to post it here as well. Here is an excerpt:

Jerry Falwell Jr. is Chancellor and CEO of Liberty University (LU), the largest Christian university in the world, with more than 58,000 students in its residence and online programs. LU employs over 5,100 people and is self-insured, offering quality health insurance and health savings accounts to its employees. Since it is self-insured, LU will be forced to pay a fee for each covered "life" (employees, spouses and dependents), and face many other burdensome, costly, and unnecessary regulations. LU is also concerned that the government takeover of the student loan industry, included in the reconciliation bill, will negatively impact its students.

Maybe with all the lawsuits going on, the heathcare bill will be tied up in the courts forever.

Follow Up on Giving Away the Church Offering

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about Sonlight Church giving away an offering to the congregation. Since then, 41 stories have been posted on our website about people who have been blessed by the give-away. Even more stories have been emailed to the church or cards placed in the offering, telling us awesome stories.

I have to admit, as the "finance guy" for Sonlight, I struggle from time to time with faith and stewardship. I look for a balance in managing what God has already provided His church (stewardship) and what He is going to provide in the future (faith). As I mentioned in the first post, the church had already missed a Sunday of offering and now we were getting ready to skip a second one. Watching the bills pile up on my desk ... shuffling them around, wondering how we could even make payroll. During this time, I prayed more then ever for the church's finances .... and God, as always, provided above and beyond what I could have imagined.

While I don't want to steal all of Hershel's facts for this Sunday, since the 28th of Feb. (our Give-Away Sunday), we have collected over $42,000 in undesignated funds, almost $7000 more then usual for that time frame. All of this occurring during a building campaign as well. We are hearing stories of families stepping up and starting to tithe, lives being changed, people learning .... and living "crazy love" for God. I was blown away last Friday when I added up and saw that the leadership of the church had pledged $430,000 towards the Revolution Campaign. And yes, I did add it up, not once, not twice, but three times to be sure I was right. As I have shared with some of you, there were many times the staff was discouraged during this campaign; but goes to show that God is in control, that He overcomes our inadequacies, and provides for His people.

Luke 18:27 - "What is impossible for people, is possible with God."

My Apology to all the Dave Ramsey Fans but ....

there are times when using a credit card may just be better ... at least safer, then using a debit card. A recent article in Yahoo Finance lists 10 Places Not to Use Your Debit Card. Click on the link for the article and more information but here is a summary and some thoughts about the article.

1. Online

"You don't use a debit card online," says Susan Tiffany, director of consumer periodicals for the Credit Union National Association. Since the debit card links directly to a checking account, "you have potential vulnerability there," she says. Phone orders also fall into this category.

Most of what I order online, I use a credit card. I do have a debit card from Paypal I use occasionally but since it doubles as a credit card and is not tied to a specific bank account, I have some protection.


2. Big-Ticket Items

With a big ticket item, a credit card is safer, says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. A credit card offers dispute rights if something goes wrong with the merchandise or the purchase, she says. "With a debit card, you have fewer protections," she says.

What is the best way to purchase a big ticket item? Pay cash ... it gives you power to bargain and avoids running up a credit card that might be hard to pay off.

3. Deposit Required

When Peter Garuccio recently rented some home improvement equipment at a big-box store, it required a sizable deposit. "This is where you want to use a credit card instead of a debit," says Garuccio, spokesman for the national trade group American Bankers Association.

That way, the store has its security deposit, and you still have access to all of the money in your bank account. With any luck, you'll never actually have to part with a dollar.

I would agree here and as you will see below with hotels, etc. they can and usually will "freeze" a certain amount of money on a debit card, often for days after you done using the service.

4. Restaurants

"To me, it's dangerous," says Gary Foreman, editor of the frugality minded Web site The Dollar Stretcher. "You have so many people around. Anecdotally, the cases that I'm hearing of credit or debit information being stolen, as often as not, it's in a restaurant," he says.

The danger: Restaurants are one of the few places where you have to let cards leave your sight when you use them. But others think that avoiding such situations is not workable.

5. You're a New Customer

Online or in the real world, if you're a first-time customer in a store, skip the debit card the first couple of times you buy, says Breyault.

That way, you get a feel for how the business is run, how you're treated and the quality of the merchandise before you hand over a card that links to your checking account.

I am wondering why you would shop in a store that you feel that uncomfortable in anyway. Again, I think using cash as a first time customer would be the way to go. You can still get a feel for the business without the hassle of using credit or debit cards

6. Buy Now, Take Delivery Later

Buying now but taking delivery days or weeks from now? A credit card offers dispute rights that a debit card typically does not.

As with anything, take the time to know what your credit card and debit card can do for you ... what kind of protection they offer. How many of us really know what our credit/debit cards can do for us?

7. Recurring Payments

We've all heard the urban legend about the gym that won't stop billing an ex-member's credit card. Now imagine the charges aren't going onto your card, but instead coming right out of your bank account.

Another reason not to use the debit card for recurring charges: your own memory and math skills. Forget to deduct that automatic bill payment from your checkbook one month, and you could either face fees or embarrassment (depending on whether you've opted to allow overdrafting or not).

Recurring payments are hard to do with cash though it can be done. A credit card is a good idea for recurring charges but as with any credit card, you want to be paying it off every month.

8. Future Travel

Book your travel with a check card, and "they debit it immediately," says Foley. So if you're buying travel that you won't use for six months or making a reservation for a few weeks from now, you'll be out the money immediately.

Some travel agencies will let you reserve your trip with a credit card and then pay for it with a debit card closer to the actual trip.

9. Gas Stations and Hotels

This one depends on the individual business. Some gas stations and hotels will place holds to cover customers who may leave without settling the entire bill. That means that even though you only bought $10 in gas, you could have a temporary bank hold for $50 to $100. (I have never heard of that ... has that happened to anyone).

Ditto hotels, where there are sometimes holds or deposits in the hundreds to make sure you don't run up a long distance bill, empty the mini bar or trash the room. It can be problematic if you're using a debit card and have just enough in the account to cover what you need.

Most hotels and rental car agencies have signs explaining the amount they will hold and for what time frame. If you are using a debit card at a hotel, gas station or car rental place and you don't see that information, ask someone.

10. Checkouts or ATMs That Look 'Off'

Criminals are getting better with skimmers and planting them in places you'd never suspect -- like ATM machines on bank property.

So take a good look at the machine or card reader the next time you use an ATM or self-check lane. Does the machine fit together well or does something look off, different or like it doesn't quite belong? Make sure it doesn't look like it's been tampered with.

I have seen this one the local news so it is happening out there. Next time you go to your normal ATM machine, look at it carefully and see what it looks like now .... it may save you at a later time.


Bottom Line: If you can pay cash, that is the BEST way to go. If you use a debit card exclusively, just beware of the challenges you might face when you use it. I use a debit card only when I have to put in my PIN to use it. I can't condemn credit cards since I use one myself ... but my wife and I pay ours off every month and have for almost 25 years now.

FANTASY BASEBALL DRAFT NIGHT

I have participated in football fantasy leagues in the past and always enjoyed them; even winning the championship in my second year. This year, I was invited by Dan Gifford to join a fantasy baseball league. Tonight was the draft and, as you can see from my picture, I was ready with a multitude of notes, rankings and so on. I decided to base a lot of my choices on a stat called OPS which is a combination of on base percentage and slugging percentage. Here is my team after the draft:



Catcher - Victor Martinez
1B - Joey Vitto
2nd - Dan Uggla
3rd - Alex Rodriguez
SS - Jason Bartlett
LF - Adam Lind
CF - Nate McLouth
RF - Alex Rios

INF - Nick Johnson
OF - Franklin Gutierrez

Bench:
Everth Cabrera
Orlando Cabrera
AJ Pierzynski
Jeff Francoeur
Austin Jackson

I have a weak outfield as I concentrated too much on an infield. One thing I didn't like was the 2 minutes to decide who to choose. But, it was fun overall; my son joined me and helped me track players. We will see how I do.