tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77450512326515237522011-07-30T22:58:59.162-05:00Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-69091267878072173072009-11-21T00:23:00.000-06:002009-11-21T00:23:00.525-06:00

As another year comes to a close, its healthy for us to look back over the past twelve months and ask, “Are we on mission? Have we been doing the things that God has called us to as a church family?” While numbers are not the most reliable indicators of success in ministry, they do help us to see if we are involved in things that are in line with the mission and vision God has given us. Let’s

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-58832416082919673692009-11-20T00:21:00.000-06:002009-11-20T00:21:00.369-06:00

1. Do I need to use a contribution envelope? If your contribution is less than $250, you need to use an envelope if you want a tax statement at the end of the year. Checks for $250 or more are posted even if they are not in an envelope per IRS regulations. When using the envelopes, you only need to write the amount on the outside of the envelope. 2. Can I contribute online? Yes. You can

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-52314813409758496662009-11-19T00:20:00.000-06:002009-11-19T00:20:00.332-06:00

About 3,500 years ago, Moses asked a simple question – “Why me?” Why indeed? Moses’ question was actually in response to God’s directive – go back to Egypt, confront the ruler of the most powerful nation on earth, and lead the Israelites out of slavery and into a life of uncertainty in a wilderness desert. Thus, Moses asked his famous “why me” question in Exodus 3:11. Putting myself in his shoes,

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-45789379500446712982009-11-18T00:18:00.000-06:002009-11-18T00:18:00.549-06:00

Okay – you say to yourself – I accept that I am duty-bound as a Christian to give of my time and my money. I’ve heard the Parable of the Talents, and I get it – it’s about me. I get it about stewardship. But – you say to yourself – I have one lingering question. The leaders of Pleasant Ridge have asked me to be a good steward. Here’s my question – are they? And how do I know that?That’s a fair

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-66243062434482601342009-11-17T00:15:00.000-06:002009-11-17T00:17:00.979-06:00

We have a lot of misperceptions about giving. For instance, we tend to think of giving as limited to money. We tend to measure effective giving by the amount. We tend to emphasize giving to organizations. We tend to look at giving as a spending decision.The problem with each of these misperceptions is that none of them captures Jesus’ concept of generosity. For Jesus, generosity was a

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-71630770093614086092009-11-10T21:30:00.000-06:002009-11-10T21:32:50.118-06:00

At this time of year, businesses start working on their budgets for next year. Families start thinking about the possibilities that will come with the new year. It is no different for the church. We must develop a budget and a plan for the next year.You might prefer to call it a “spending plan” rather than a budget. The first thing that must be determined with any spending plan is how much

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-90704579430839499082009-07-20T12:02:00.000-05:002009-07-20T12:05:22.984-05:00

Several months ago, the Mission Support Team approached me to teach what was loosely defined as a “summer missions class”. Over several conversations, this idea morphed into what became the SHINE series, which will explore how God calls us to live lives that shine. As Christians, we are to be light. We are to do good. We are to love others. We are to be different. We are to be like Christ.

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-56779765306835249202009-07-19T14:39:00.000-05:002009-07-19T16:52:53.565-05:00

The biblical principles of personal finance are straightforward. Neglect of them helped get the world into this mess, and it is even easier to ignore them when hysteria strikes. Read the full article:Today's Financial Crisis: Where Do We Go From Here?by A. Peter Galling

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-4862287987076951942009-07-15T10:40:00.000-05:002009-07-15T10:45:17.186-05:00

I am persuaded that the Bible teaches a form of Christian capitalism—responsibility associated with wealth. It does not promote the possession of money for the sake of money, but instead encourages us to use money for the sake of the kingdom.A Biblical view of wealth involves having an eternal perspective. Read full article: Biblical View of Wealth - Hank Hanegraaff

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-80072380505716721222009-07-01T17:29:00.000-05:002009-07-01T17:33:21.919-05:00

Money and music are just as spiritual as praying and reading your Bible, at least they should be. The problem is that many of us have unknowingly smuggled gnosticism into our faith. We have divided the Creator from the Redeemer. We worship God for and with the intangibles of prayer, singing, meditation, counseling, praying, and service, but refuse to worship him with the tangibles of money, music

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-62324265119595274262009-06-15T01:25:00.000-05:002009-06-15T01:35:54.451-05:00

“O you of little faith!” (Luke 12:28).In preparation for our latest bible study series on stewardship, the Lord has challenged my thought process on the subject of money, possessions etc. As I began to think, pray and consider what I might have to offer for the spreading of Jesus’ kingdom, I was tempted to be afraid. What if I’m sacrificing my future? What if I’m giving away my security? What if

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-25290587631672732392009-06-09T00:51:00.000-05:002009-06-09T00:53:51.855-05:00

There’s no doubt that it’s a tough economy out there. And it probably won’t get much better for a year or so. If you’re fortunate enough to still have your job, you may find that your 1% pay raise doesn’t go far. And unless your last name is “Bank” or “Motors”, you probably won’t be offered a federal bailout. So how do you get by in a tough economy – sell the house? Sell the car? Sell the kids?

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-3843625644472906492009-06-05T19:51:00.000-05:002009-06-05T20:10:23.764-05:00

In the fifth century AD, a monk named Benedict looked at the rampant materialism in the Church, among Christians, and throughout his Roman culture, and he concluded that “nothing is so inconsistent with the life of any Christian as overindulgence.” To help prevent this tendency toward overindulgence, he established strict rules of fasting for the monks in his order. While we may disagree with

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-87190663108319817052009-05-29T18:21:00.000-05:002009-05-29T18:27:15.353-05:00

...or how to finance the summer activities!Allowances have long been something our children think is a “right.” It is good for kids to have a set sum of cash to manage regularly. It is the first step in learning to handle finances as an adult. They get to make choices, budget, and determine the difference between needs and wants.However, instead of just giving allowances, many parents like to

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-17205239005240468092009-05-05T21:55:00.000-05:002009-05-05T22:00:49.067-05:00

Here is a great blog by a PR member, Jennifer. It shows some awesome local deals that can help us all save a few bucks every day/week/month. Take advantage of the deals she posts! It all adds up!!!http://becentsible.blogspot.com/

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-29289952593706703542009-04-22T12:08:00.000-05:002009-04-22T12:12:44.905-05:00

Interesting article on the Stewardship of our Planet:For almost 40 years, advocates of Earth Day have called on people to celebrate environmental progress and to protect our planet. To this goal, Christians can say a hearty "Amen, but...""Amen," because we should certainly strive to preserve, protect and sustain our earthly home. Such good intentions fit well with the biblical call to exercise

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-30361685218946348242009-02-01T17:51:00.000-06:002009-02-24T05:55:04.251-06:00

When pressed to identify the one resource they never seem to have enough of, most people will say it is time. Even though we all have the same number of days and hours in a week (7 and 168, respectively), some of us never seem to have time to do the things we would like to do. Even worse, many of us struggle with finding time to serve God and others. How we can change that? Here are some

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-67261210214236321442009-01-01T17:47:00.000-06:002009-02-24T05:50:19.781-06:00

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b In 2009 our Stewardship Ministry will be offering One Life, a new Wednesday evening small-group series. This series is designed to help PRCC members discover and activate their God-ordained life purpose, learn to manage God’s resources around that purpose and live generously. One Life will consist of four classes offered

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-91184394438915417662008-12-10T17:36:00.001-06:002009-02-24T05:38:59.968-06:00

Christmas is right around the corner. Aagghh, Christmas! I just lost nine zillion dollars in the stock market. I don’t want to talk about Christmas! Well, all the more reason to do so. Can we talk? We all love Christmas; we just don’t love paying for it. So let’s look at some practical – and, I believe, spiritually correct – suggestions for how to survive and even enjoy Christmas in a bad

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-4609921426858189172008-11-01T17:42:00.000-05:002009-02-24T05:46:29.479-06:00

In Matthew 22, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar. He answered, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Luckily, in the United States of America, we get the power to vote on how much is actually Caesar's. We also have a responsibility to make sure our government is a good steward of what we are required to pay.Since 1935, our government has had

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-46397380370944370332008-11-01T05:56:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:39:42.217-06:00

In hard economic times, it is hard to give our earnings to church and charitable causes. It seems illogical to give when we see ourselves as needy and struggling. The decision to give is an act of faith. Over and over Jesus spoke to us and told us in effect “Trust me, I’ve got you covered.” (e.g. Matt 7:7-11, Luke 12:22-32).Giving or “offering” to God goes back to the beginning of the human

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-89765991740749210652008-07-14T20:51:00.000-05:002009-02-24T20:54:15.521-06:00

If you’re anything like me, the subject of estate planning is not exactly pleasant. It’s a subject that forces us to think about our own mortality and how our death will affect those we love. God has entrusted to us everything we hold, however, and our estate documents (wills, trust instruments, letters of instructions, etc.) will effectively distribute His resources. Accordingly, estate

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-81267499506628038352008-07-10T20:48:00.000-05:002009-02-24T20:51:11.061-06:00

Have you spent your tax rebate yet? What about the check from the gas drilling company? If not, here are some great ideas. Just because the government wants to increase consumer spending doesn’t mean that is the best use for your rebate or gas lease money. Pay Off Debt - If you carry a balance on any credit cards or have any other consumer debt, pay that down as much as possible. It will be

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-13340141595402363172008-07-01T20:45:00.000-05:002009-02-24T20:48:10.709-06:00

BOOK REVIEW - ½ Price Living: Secrets to Living Well on One Income“If I could afford to stay home with my kids, I would.” This is how 89% of working moms responded in a survey financial expert Ellie Kay cites in her book, ½ Price Living: Secrets to Living Well on One Income. In response to this sentiment, Kay wrote this book to give families facts and tips that will help working moms who want to

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-48411938361527527672008-06-24T20:42:00.000-05:002009-02-24T20:45:18.114-06:00

A few weeks ago, Western Hills Church of Christ in Temple, Texas took a different approach to generosity. While studying Luke 10 and the story of the Good Samaritan, the church was challenged to “Go and Do Likewise”.In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells us a story about a man that recognized the needs of another and went out of his way to help him. At some expense of his time, money, and possessions;

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-64126315365296567142008-06-14T20:37:00.000-05:002009-05-29T18:27:51.772-05:00

The Greek philosopher Socrates once said: "If a man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it." It is true that one can tell a great deal about a person based on how he uses the money he is given. As Christians, how we employ our money says a lot about our relationship with God and our spiritual maturity.In Mathew Chapter 25, Jesus presents the parable

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-4095492654848579562008-03-24T21:04:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:06:03.323-06:00

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus tells us that we are to be “salt” and “light” so God will be praised for the good things we do, and one of the best ways for us to let our light shine is to give generously to those in need. We can do this by becoming involved with a ministry that serves those in need, and provide the ministry with both financial support and volunteer time (giving of time and money will

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-28042970621718070422008-02-23T21:02:00.000-06:002009-02-24T21:04:40.133-06:00

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Growing up, I was blessed to have a family with the financial discipline to

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-72806115256552167372008-01-13T21:01:00.000-06:002009-02-24T21:02:54.199-06:00

Ever thought about how much extra those cable channels cost you? Imagine if every month you paid for just the basic cable service and gave up the extra cable channels. Imagine you saved that money instead .The difference between basic cable (about $20 per month) and premium cable (about $75 per month) would save you $540 by the end of the year! If you invested this at 10% for 20 years you

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-31631934062103147002007-12-15T21:00:00.000-06:002009-02-24T21:01:41.383-06:00

There are a lot of strategies you can use to make the best use of your resources and avoid going into debt this Christmas. Here are a few ideas.1. Create a spending plan – How much can you really afford to spend this year? Then allocate how much of that amount will be spent on each person and charity. Don’t forget the unexpected expenses such as parties, decorations and extra trips to the

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-32060881336978439402007-12-10T20:56:00.000-06:002009-02-24T21:00:29.565-06:00

With Christmas fast approaching, it is a great time to help your children develop an idea about the meaning of Christmas; giving with a joyful heart.  So many of us head into the holidays expecting new gifts and exciting presents, yet we forget about the many people who have virtually nothing.This month I have been teaching the children in my kindergarten class that Thanksgiving is not just about

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-83215464011364812512007-11-01T20:54:00.000-05:002009-02-24T20:56:51.854-06:00

Most of you know that Jennifer and I were blessed with infertility for several years, which God used to bring Grace and Nathan into our lives. We are enthusiastic proponents of adoption, and we believe very much in open adoption (where the adoptive parents and birth parents know each other and have some degree of ongoing contact). Our lives and the lives of our kids have been richly blessed by

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-71469189861792095892007-10-10T21:16:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:21:52.364-06:00

“Life is different on the other side of the world,” could be the most obvious understatement that I could muster to describe my year living in central China. My reason for spending time in China was to teach English to university students, develop relationships with the people around me, and sow Good seeds in fertile soil. While living there, my perspective on finances, on a micro and macro

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-9632989526384662822007-08-24T21:08:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:22:32.535-06:00

As a college finance professor, I watch stock market and company events with a bit more “enthusiasm” than others. And so, I react with great regret and dismay to hear stories of top company officers hauled off to prison for their financial wrongdoings. Where did things go wrong? Were these criminals improperly trained in mainstream finance? Quite the contrary. The biggest offenders often are the

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-75845634033470503662007-08-08T21:33:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:34:26.852-06:00

Have you ever spent what seemed like hours trying to figure something out, only to have a co-worker, friend, or spouse take one look at it and immediately see the solution? So often, we get so bogged down trying to find a solution that we need someone with a fresh set of eyes to help us see what may be right in front of us.When it comes to managing our finances, we often can benefit from having

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-91793146631202174052007-07-13T21:36:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:38:46.744-06:00

The hot days of summer can lead to hours inside air conditioned malls. Not every trip to your local shopping center has to end with an empty wallet and a guilty conscience. A few tips for breaking away from bad shopping habits can help easethe financially strained and reduce those impulse purchases.1. Shop with a specific list. Knowing what you are going shopping for and stickingto your list

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-41225527929127434332007-07-07T21:07:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:08:28.623-06:00

Would you pack your lunch for half a million dollars? Most people would be willing to take a brown bag if this were the result. How can you get $500,000 by simply taking your lunch?Lets say you take your lunch 4 days per week. This way you can still eat out with your co-workers once a week. You will probably save around $20 per week (not counting the gas it takes to go to a restaurant).

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-29126756003002874682007-06-02T21:24:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:26:48.706-06:00

A disturbing trend has been developing over the last few years; vacationing on credit. Vacations are meant to be fun, stress free times away from everyday life; not a regretful trip into debt. When a vacation is taken on credit, you will be stuck months later paying for an intangible memory. Instead, plan smart for your vacation and remember it as an exciting getaway for you and your

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-90486842894421676172007-05-03T21:14:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:15:50.131-06:00

What does a faithful steward look like? In Luke 16:1-12, we read about a shrewd but dishonest manager. In this parable, Jesus teaches us three truths that describe a life of faithful stewardship.First, Jesus teaches us that we are to use our Master’s money for eternal purposes (Luke 16:9). The manager in the parable learned very quickly that he needed to make the most of his current situation

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-32041509353684395742007-04-21T21:29:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:31:52.448-06:00

Like the servants in the Parable of the Talents, our master has given us a gift. God has blessed us with everything in our life including our financial abundance. We are an incredibly rich people but are we using those blessings for good or are we digging a hole and letting it stagnate? We really are God’s money managers. Are we doing what God would want us to do with that money? The

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-28282101883866300822007-04-16T21:31:00.000-05:002009-02-24T21:32:58.549-06:00

SEVEN YEARS is the magic number Now that you have completed your 2006 tax return, you are probably wondering how long you have to keep your records. Federal returns can be audited for up to three years after filing or six years if there is underreported income. All records substantiating tax deductions should be kept at least that long. Seven years is the officially recommended time period to

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7745051232651523752.post-35034036042423295602007-03-05T21:34:00.000-06:002009-02-24T21:36:46.777-06:00

Nothing has made me more aware of my character flaws (and occasionally of my character strengths) quite like knowing that my two older children are watching what I do. Both Grace and Nathan have hit the point where they are not only watching me and Jennifer but repeating things we say or do. What an eye opener this has been!Jennifer and I want to teach our three kids how to be the people God

Calebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547957698355335254noreply@blogger.com