Saving for the future – an ancient, universal principal

We live in an incredible age of immediate gratification! When we want something, it is likely we can get it almost immediately. The lighting and temperature of our home may be controlled from an app on our phone…even if we are far away. Last week, the driver’s side window of my convertible suddenly stopped dropping whenever the door was opened (a characteristic of convertible automobiles). Rather than […]

2020-07-20T15:34:05+00:00July 20th, 2020|

Want to change your mood? Change what is on your screen!

One useful step in changing your current mood and outlook is, “Change what is on your screen.” It can be done!

Seconds prior to joining yesterday’s church service, my watch buzzed on my wrist. A quick glance showed my “Weekly Screen Time Report” was available. My mind briefly pondered how life has changed over the past years, amazed that a watch could now report how I spent time […]

2020-07-13T18:03:44+00:00July 13th, 2020|

Calming the seas in periods of uncertainty

2020 has been one of the most unpredictable years in many generations, and there is more uncertainty ahead. Will public schools open in the fall? How will parents deal with children staying at home and learning online when their work situations are hanging in the balance? Will the COVID-19 virus continue unabated or will it begin to diminish? Will the people of the USA reach herd immunity? […]

2020-07-09T14:07:30+00:00July 9th, 2020|

A few ideas to make your day, your life, or your retirement better

Headed into the Monday of the first full week of July, we have found some impressive headlines in the news. Here are a sample. “This ONE change could undermine the retirement security of millions of Americans.” “This ONE thing could help more workers retire with money.” “This ONE decision can change your 401K.” “ONE foolproof way to create retirement income for the rest of your life.” “This […]

2020-07-06T14:54:18+00:00July 6th, 2020|

Principles to remember when the road ahead is rough

2020 has presented a wealth of rough roads to traverse! So, what else is new? We are not being flippant about the issues we face. We need to remember the same financial, emotional, and racial issues have been before us for many years. The difference this year is the precise situations and circumstances have heightened our emotions and affected our response.

Though being a Baby Boomer is sometimes […]

2020-06-22T14:56:02+00:00June 22nd, 2020|

When the darkness deepens – step into the light!

Just one week ago, we posted on the confusion of our times, “Decisions based solely upon headlines will send our heads spinning!” To be honest, this headline may have been a gross understatement. Since then, we have seen friends posting on social media about “going away for a while.” During more than one conversation we have heard, “I want to put my head in the sand.”

The sentiment […]

2020-06-18T13:57:18+00:00June 18th, 2020|

Two additional sources of confusion during 2020

Following an email exchange with a group of leaders yesterday, one member responded, “We need to reboot 2020, this version has a virus.” This year to date has been filled with optimism, pessimism, confusion, frustration, grief, racial tension, racial reconciliation, lament, and more. From a highly contagious virus, to an economic shutdown, to horrific losses of life, to peaceful protests, to riots accompanied by property destruction and […]

2020-06-03T15:08:58+00:00June 3rd, 2020|

Avoiding a derailment of our financial future

Thankfully, train derailments are not a part of daily life. Those considered minor result in destruction of property, disruption of the operation of the railroad and the schedules of a vast number of people. Major derailments may be catastrophic. The three top causes of derailments are negligence, human error, and reckless actions of pedestrians and drivers. The top three causes of train wrecks/derailments are all based in […]

2020-06-01T14:21:32+00:00June 1st, 2020|

It is time for prayers of lament, with all their emotion!

Lament, there is an entire book in the Old Testament devoted to it. The Psalms are replete with it. The actual number is open to interpretation and debate, but it is safe to say that 1/3 of the Psalms are songs of individual lament or songs of sorrow for the nation of Israel. Christina Fox recently wrote in the Ligonier Ministries blog, “Lamenting is an art […]

2020-05-27T23:04:39+00:00May 27th, 2020|

Changing Your Future – Principles that May Be Helpful

Aspirations…hopes…dreams…passions we want to pursue….

We all have them, or at least we all have had them at some point in time. There is not a child that enters the world who does not have an imagination. Children can easily play in the world of make believe. We have all dreamed of hitting the game winning home run, being the catcher to throw out a key runner trying […]

2020-05-20T14:31:26+00:00May 20th, 2020|