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Faith and FinancesEndgame Tim: They say that all good things must come to an end. We hope and pray that the Faith and Finances Podcast has been “good” to you, that the Christ-focused financial teaching has blessed and encouraged you. Troy: In 1965, The Byrd's (can't these guys spell?) popularized the message of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 in their hyper-creatively titled song, "Turn! Turn! Turn!". The message is one of seasons—beginnings and endings. For every beginning, the Bible teaches us that there must also be an ending. That truth brings us to the fin...2019-12-2722 min
Faith and FinancesThe Simple Rules of Loans, Credit, and Debt How often are the words of the Apostle Paul, "Owe no man anything" applied to literally every form of loan, mortgage, and debt? In This Episode, We Look At: Romans 13:8 in its proper context Types of debt to avoid Manageable, acceptable debt Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter...2019-12-2036 min
Faith and FinancesHaving Financial Integrity [Replay] I talk with my family frequently about the quality of food (or junk) that we put in our bodies. Yet there are times when I would see an amazing-looking dessert (just Google "Monster shakes") and all of a sudden I'm now telling my family how awesome this thing looks and that we ought to try it! That is not integrity! The healthy talk is somewhat recent in my life, but the junk food temptations stem from decades of bad habits. In This Episode, We Look At: Deep seeded bad h...2019-12-1338 min
Faith and FinancesPractically Loving Others As Christ-followers, we are commanded to love others (see Matthew 22:37-40). That's a tall order. How much do we love ourselves? In This Episode, We Look At: Love in action: With neighbors- demonstrate Christ-likeness. With our enemies. With family and the body of Christ. Improve Your Faith and Finances: As Christ loved us unconditionally so are we to love others-unconditionally. Demonstrate that love, and also give, as giving is an act of love Share Your Tho...2019-11-2939 min
Faith and Finances3 Keys to Joyful Christmas Shopping We all see the ads and the Hallmark movies this time of year. We see happy, joyful people shopping for their loved ones and enjoying bountiful Christmas dinners. In reality, do we display such joy and happiness in the marketplace while shopping for our loved ones? Why not? In This Episode, We Look At: Three keys to a joyful Christmas shopping season. First: Determine to keep your family's focus on the meaning of Christmas. If the primary focus is the buying and giving of gifts, you're doing it wrong. S...2019-11-2233 min
Faith and Finances5 Money Personalities—An Interview With The Money Couple We would like you to meet Scott and Bethany Palmer, also known as The Money Couple. Scott and Bethany focus their decades of financial planning experience on helping couples strengthen their marriages and stop fights about money. In This Episode, We Look At: Both spouses have their own unique money language and personality. You've heard of 5 Love Languages, but it’s the money language that causes most arguments and contention in a marriage. In this interview, Scott and Bethany help us to not only identify our own money personalities, but...2019-11-1544 min
Faith and FinancesGetting Your Financial House in Order Today, your Smartphone probably knows you better than you know yourself. Simply let the device look into your eyes and in seconds, you have access to all of your financial accounts, e-mail, and everything personal you could imagine. But, how well does it know your spouse? Specifically, if you were taken out of this world, would your spouse know how to access crucial financial accounts, insurance policies, and other vital information? I'm not simply talking about what is on your phone. Would your surviving spouse know who to call, how to access money...2019-11-0837 minFaith and FinancesA Camel and the Eye of a Needle "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Mark 10:25 Why did Jesus say that? Are riches bad? Are rich people condemned? In This Episode, We Look At: Because the Bible gives so many warnings against the dangers of riches, some other misunderstandings have been perpetuated in the Christian community. One is that being wealthy is inherently sinful, or that only sinful people become wealthy. (R.C. Sproul) The rich w...2019-10-2526 min
Faith and FinancesCounterintuitive Abundance "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 We've heard many opinions and interpretations of this verse. If we think that this verse means that Jesus wants us to have an abundance of money to spend on ourselves, and live large with an abundance of possessions, we are heading toward misery. In This Episode, We Look At: What an abundant life is not. It cannot be the accumulation of money and things, as Jesus warned, "Take heed, and b...2019-10-1826 min
Faith and FinancesWho Are "The Poor"? Jesus said, "For ye have the poor always with you." Matthew 26:11a There are amazing promises to those who consider the poor. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing" Psalm 41:1-3 In This Episode, We Look At: Here we s...2019-10-1136 min
Faith and FinancesHSAs as an Additional Retirement Tool Many are familiar with the tax-saving benefits of owning and contributing to an HSA. Today we will look at a feature that allows it to work as an additional source for future income. In This Episode, We Look At: Contributions are tax-deductible. Funds in the account have the opportunity for growth through choosing mutual funds. Potential tax-free income. Under current laws, you can submit a receipt and invoice for a medical expense that you paid in the past, and be reimbursed from HAS funds tax-free. This means you can s...2019-09-2734 min
Faith and FinancesWhat Moves Should Christians Make During a Recession? We hear a lot of talk about a coming recession. The 24/7 news cycle would have you to worry and panic (I think that's one of their goals). There is no need. So, what's a Christian to do, to prepare for a recession? In This Episode, We Look At: First. What is a recession? It is a natural part of the business cycle. Economies expand and they also contract. When an economy contracts the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) decreases. When this occurs for two consecutive quarters (six months) a...2019-09-2033 min
Faith and FinancesSet Your Affection on Things Above We are distracted people. There is everything from minor distractions (the doorbell rings) to major distractions (insert favorite social media platform here.) In truth, the enemy, Satan, is expertly skilled at distracting us. You see, if we are distracted, mentally, emotionally, or physically, we will easily forget our true calling - reaching the Lost and impacting this world for eternity. In This Episode, We Look At: When we live with a worldview of life, our affections are set here, on earth, and our efforts not only seem empty but bring emptiness.2019-09-0639 min
Faith and FinancesIt's Your Move We all have needs. God even designed our lives to bring us to dependence on Him. This dependence is voluntary, He does not force of to depend on Him. Do you desire to be closer to God? Did you know that in Scripture we are taught that we are to make the first move, draw near to God, then God moves, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) In This Episode, We Look At: In money matters we have need for: Food, shelter, and clothing. Our first move i...2019-08-3037 min
Faith and FinancesBig Picture Planning in Your 20s Today's twenty-somethings have many tools and technologies available to them that did not exist a generation ago. They also face different challenges than were faced twenty years ago. In This Episode, We Look At: The importance of trusting and depending on God. Learning to honor the Lord in your finances. Developing the habit of paying yourself with each paycheck. Continue learning. Obtain low-cost life insurance to cover the risk of a lost income (if married.) Share Your Thoughts: If yo...2019-08-2326 min
Faith and FinancesPreparing for the "What If's?" How much of our lives do we leave up to God? How much of life is our responsible. This is an intriguing question and we tackle this subject in today's episode. In This Episode, We Look At: We know that we are to trust God and depend on Him, completely. We also know that it is not God's plan for His children to worry or fret. What then would be considered our part in planning and preparing for surprise events in life? We find in Scripture that w...2019-08-1632 min
Faith and Finances401(k)s Explained 401(k)s are not perfect, but they do provide a way for workers to begin their investing journey toward retirement. They can be complex and many books have been written about 401(k)s. In today's episode, we are going to simplify it for you. In This Episode, We Look At: What, exactly, is a 401(k)? It is an employer-sponsored retirement plan and by "employer-sponsored" we do not mean that it is completely funded by the employer. This is a program through you can contribute a set portion of your earned income i...2019-08-0932 min
Faith and FinancesAn Interview with Bob Lotich Bob Lotich started SeedTime (formerly ChristianPF) in 2007 with a passion to help fellow believers learn how to manage their money wisely. His personal mission (and the SeedTime mission) is to make, save, grow, and give money to benefit others. In This Episode, We Look At: Bob's vision and success in paying off debt in order to fund God's kingdom. Bob has a "radical" plan to increase his giving to match his age, as a percentage. Not only has he done this (with God's help and, he's in his thirties) but he a...2019-08-0240 min
Faith and FinancesPlan to Achieve More Great things can happen, with a plan. How often do we simply hope that our finances will improve, but lack a clear action plan? In This Episode, We Look At: The fallout from not having a financial plan. The various levels of plans. Creating a plan at the income level: Career progression, furthering education. Creating a plan for today's cash flow: Do you have a savings goal? How will you reach that goal? Do you have debt to eliminate? Create and commit to a plan t...2019-07-2635 min
Faith and FinancesInterview with Kevin Folger Kevin Folger was the second of only two pastors in Cleveland Baptist Church's 60+ year history. This year, rather than retiring (which many men in their sixties do), he is transitioning to another ministry. Pastor Folger also prepared for such a time by planning for and preparing the pastor who would succeed him at Cleveland Baptist. In This Episode, We Look At: An uncommon but needed practice in ministry, succession planning. How God burdened Kevin's heart early on for people in Asia. What Kevin is now doing in t...2019-07-1933 min
Faith and FinancesHow to Avoid These Five Money Mistakes When you were growing up, you may have been encouraged to "learn from your mistakes." There is certainly wisdom there, but when it comes to money, there are mistakes you do not want to learn from - you want to avoid them. In This Episode, We Look At: Some money mistakes can be so devastating that there is no recovery, or they may require years to recover from. Today we review five money mistakes that others have made and that you can avoid. Using funds from your 401(k) for today's e...2019-07-1246 min
Faith and FinancesInterview with Niranjan Sundararaj Niranjan Sundararaj recently retired after working nearly 27 years for American Express International. He has an incredible story of God's grace, mercy and guidance in his life, that is sure to encourage you. From being severely injured in a terrorist's bomb blast in Sri Lanka to taking his family to live in Sydney, Australia, and now at a time when others would retire, Niranjan is just getting warmed up, spear-heading a massive effort to reach the Lost in the 10/40 window. In This Episode, We Look At: God's hand on Niranjan's l...2019-07-0550 min
Faith and FinancesWhen Others Get Rich The culture we live in equates being rich with happiness and fulfillment. Michael Norton is a Harvard Business School professor who has studied the connections between happiness and wealth. In This Episode, We Look At: Mr. Norton says the research regularly points to two central questions that people ask themselves when determining whether they are satisfied with something in their life: Am I doing better than I was before? and, Am I doing better than other people? If you and I, as Christians, look to money and wealth for f...2019-06-2835 min
Faith and FinancesInterview with Dean Miller—When God Relocates a Pastor Dean Miller is a pastor, a sought after Youth preacher, and evangelist. Dean had pastored Central Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, MI, for thirteen years, then God brought change in Dean’s life and ministry. This type of change makes people nervous. It makes other pastors nervous. In This Episode, We Look At: How Dean responded to a prompting from God on his heart. How would he know it was really God’s will to leave his current church and pastor a new church? How would his current congregation respond? I bel...2019-06-2151 minFaith and FinancesBuilding Balance The Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. has exhibit rooms that are built slightly off-center, the floors slope a tad, and the walls are not “plumb.” The intended effect is to make the visitor feel a little disoriented, to give just a hint as to how the Jews felt being taken from their homes and herded into a strange place. Feeling off-balance isn’t pleasant, we crave balance in most areas of our life. In This Episode, We Look At: We often find ourselves out of balance in our finances...2019-06-1432 minFaith and FinancesThe Role of Struggles We all experience struggles of some nature. Sometimes they are physical, sometimes, spiritual, and of course, financial. In This Episode, We Look At: Struggles are part of life. Some struggles are self-inflicted. A struggle is not necessarily an indication of God's punishment for sin. Many struggles are Father-filtered with the purpose of strengthening our faith and dependence on God. Even children can learn and grow through struggles. Though it may be difficult, there are some struggles which we should allow our children to work through (age appropriate, o...2019-06-0735 minFaith and FinancesMultiply—Varying Gifts, Varying Abilities In Jesus’ parable of the talents, one servant receives five talents, a second receives two talents, and the third servant receives one talent. Why did each receive a different amount of wealth? In This Episode, We Look At: Today, we see that God has provided Christians with varying amounts of money for the purpose of occupying until he returns. The key wording in this passage is “…according to their several ability.” Everyone has their own level of faithfulness with God’s resources. We see in Scripture that this who ar...2019-05-3134 minFaith and Finances"Multiply" Chapter One Review A storyline from the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) guides the reader. Here you have two faithful servants who double their lord's wealth, and one who hides the money. What were these servants' views on ownership? In This Episode, We Look At: Whose wealth did they manage and multiply? In verse 14 the Bible says "… and delivered unto them his goods." They knew that, while they were in physical possession of riches, the wealth actually belonged to their lord. The financial resources we have, in a practical sense, is...2019-05-2429 minFaith and FinancesIntroducing Tim’s new book—“Multiply” Why write a book on the subject of investing, when there are already so many others? Christians still experience stress, fear, worry, and confusion over the matter of planning for their future, and yet the Bible has so much to teach. "Multiply" teaches those principles and guides you in today's applications. In This Episode, We Look At: Most of us are not planning adequately for the future, for varying reasons. An estimated twenty-one million American workers say that they are counting on depending on social security for their retirement n...2019-05-1734 minFaith and Finances155: Why is Money Such a Big Deal? Where does money come from and why do we value it so much? In This Episode, We Look At: Money is one thing can so quickly turn the Christian’s heart away from the Lord and into idolatry. (I am not saying money is bad). Since antiquity there has always been some sort of money (something of value exchanged for something else of value). The more you have the more stuff you can obtain. How money is viewed. Our view of money can be very subjective and oft...2019-05-1031 minFaith and FinancesBible Steps—Avoiding Consumer Debt As Christians we need to remain diligent and guard our hearts against the constant push of how we ought to live and be entertained. In This Episode, We Look At: Self-inflicted consumer debt. We take out a loan or use the credit card to get something now, that we cannot afford, and worry about paying for it later. Is the verse, “Owe no man anything” to be taken literally? We’ll tackle that on today’s episode. Resources and Links: Multiply: What the Bible Teaches About Sav...2019-05-0328 minFaith and FinancesYou Have More Than You Think. You'll Need More Than You Think If you are listening to this Podcast in a developed country, you likely own a Smart phone which costs somewhere between $300 and $900. Whether you paid for it in full, put it on a credit card, or had the cell company add the balance to your monthly bill, it was important to you and you may a way to obtain the phone. The same applies to our cars, computers, and other things that are a priority to us; we find a away to obtain. In This Episode, We Look At: I...2019-04-2632 minFaith and Finances152: Limiting God Time and time again in Scripture we see Jesus' disciples limiting the power of God in their lives through their doubt or disbelief. Peter cast one net instead of two, as Jesus instructed. And again, when told to come out and walk on the water. If his disciples, who were physically with Jesus for over three years, had times of doubt and uncertainty, we can be assured that we will also. In This Episode, We Look At: We are a people in complete need of God. He is the One who p...2019-04-1927 minFaith and Finances151: Playing the Market vs Owning the Market Like the sights and sounds of a Vegas casino, the investing world is full of "sights and sounds", luring the investor to play. In This Episode, We Look At: Some approaches to investing can be considered speculating, or gambling, with your money. Single stock picking. Attempting to time the market. Even choosing a mutual fund based on the reported past performance. In this episode we also look at the benefits and applications of diversification in your investing experience. Jack Bogle said, "Instead of trying to find a n...2019-04-1233 minFaith and Finances150: Bible Steps—You Can Live Within Your Means In your adult years have you ever resisted advice that was good for you? We could respond with “You can’t tell me what what to do!” Hearing that we ought to live within our means can generate that same resistance. If we are honest with ourselves, we lean toward living how we want to live. In This Episode, We Look At: Most Americans live beyond their means, as measured by consumer debt held by the average household. There is not safety in these numbers. Debt means using s...2019-04-0533 minFaith and Finances149: Building a Counterfeit Kingdom We work, often full-time, to earn money. We struggle sometimes to meet today’s financial demands, set some money aside in savings, while trying to squeeze in some dollars for the future. In This Episode, We Look At: We are bombarded with materialism. We are prone to worry, stress, and hoard. The very kingdom we spend time, energy, and resources to build will ultimately and literally pass away. It will be burn and God will replace it with a new, perfect earth. Resources and Links: 2019-03-2929 minFaith and FinancesMeasuring Financial Success If we were to sit down and, as a Registered Investment Advisor Representative, I were to measure your financial success or shortcomings, I would compare your assets versus your liabilities. If your assets exceeded your liabilities, we may agree that you are doing well. If we are not careful our pursuits of financial success could easily turn our hearts inward—toward self, and away from God. In This Episode, We Look At: There is a difference between being wise and honoring God. It may seem wise to put years of...2019-03-2230 minFaith and FinancesThis One Thing has the greatest impact on your finances What is the most impactful element in your finances, whether negative or positive? We submit that it is your ability to earn money In This Episode, We Look At: A wage-earner making $13 an hour is not destined to be imprisoned in that hourly rate forever. What are your aspirations? How do you view employment? Some of the largest companies that are household names started in a garage. Moving on up (the corporate ladder) Doug Mcmillon worked his way up from entry level employee t...2019-03-1528 minFaith and FinancesThe Biblical Strengths of Capitalism There is an unsettling interest in socialism rising in our country, and at an alarming rate. Recent election results should serve as an eye-opener for sleepy voters. In This Episode, We Look At: While Capitalism is not found in Scripture, most of its tenants are. Property rights. Rule of law. Just weights (fair business practice) Capitalism has built in checks-and-balances. Profit is not bad, profit is good. Job creation Resources and Links: Godonomics—Chad Hovind Mon...2019-03-0834 minFaith and Finances145: Your Finances will not be perfect, but God's principles are! The good news is, there is a ton of resources available to help us with our personal finances. The bad news is, there is a ton of resources available to help us with our personal finances! It is very easy to get overwhelmed in our financial pursuits. Some put undo pressure on themselves to be like others, or to reach certain levels of financial success, and always finding themselves just short of those goals. In This Episode, We Look At: The downside of expectations. When expectations are no...2019-03-0131 minFaith and Finances144: Bible Steps—Giving's role in your personal finances Continuing our series on Bible Steps: Receiving God's Financial Promises and Peace, we've look at Dependence on God alone, Faithfully laboring, Saving a portion, and today we discuss the next step; Giving. In This Episode, We Look At: Giving is a vivid reminder that it is all about God, not about us. He does not exist for us, we exist for Him. The Purpose for Giving: It is to further the cause of Christ through; Worshipping in giving (Acts 10:1-4), Supporting Missionaries who bring the Gospel here a...2019-02-2243 minFaith and Finances143: Are You Prepared for a Financial Dry Spell? Government shut-downs, layoffs, and market crash; oh my! Could you survive, financially, if you missed on paycheck? Two paychecks? Could you meet your required financial obligations for one month? Two months? In This Episode, We Look At: Fewer than 60% of American households say they are putting away money for an emergency. It is estimated that 10% of households fell behind in their bills last year. Do a drill—a financial drill. Kids participate in fire and earthquake drills at school. Why not run through a money drill. ...2019-02-1530 minFaith and Finances142: Bible Steps—Save a Portion of all Income We have no problem spending. Americans spend 90% of their income. We are not so great at savings, but it does not have to be so in your family finances. In This Episode, We Look At: Why Save? The Bible teaches us that it is wise (Proverbs 21:20) and, practically speaking, expenses come up as well as God-appointed opportunities and when we are not saving we miss out on those opportunities, and are tempted to take on debt for expenses we cannot afford. When to save? With every paycheck, c...2019-02-0836 minFaith and Finances141: Getting Past the Obstacles to Investing There are many statistics measuring the savings and investing successes and short-comings of Americans. But you are not a statistic and you do not have to compare yourself with the Average American Joe. In This Episode, We Look At: You should ask yourself a couple of questions regarding your finances: "Am I on pace to replace my income at retirement (or, such a time when I can no longer work?)" "What are the obstacles holding me back from preparing for my financial future?" In today's episode, we w...2019-02-0132 minFaith and Finances140: Can Money Buy Happiness? People seek fulfillment. Those without Christ seek to find fulfillment in everyway imaginable, and even beyond our imagination. In This Episode, We Look At: Christians are drawn (tempted) to seek fulfillment outside of Christ as well. On average, Christians retain the same amount of debt as non-followers of Christ. The divorce rate among Christians and non-Christians is about the same. What do these have in common? Money and the pursuit of happiness. Resources and Links: Psalm 4:7 Thou ha...2019-01-2524 minFaith and Finances139: Income and Identity Health enthusiasts may say "You are what you eat." In the area of finances, are we "What we earn?" I someone who earns $200,000 somehow better than someone who earns less? In This Episode, We Look At: Comparison and discontentment are the problem. Though the world may measure you by income, we are not what we earn. Net worth vs. true worth. Resources and Links: 1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain Share Your Thoughts: If...2019-01-1829 minFaith and Finances138: Bible Steps—Faithfully Labor God has designed us for work. Not good news for younger folks with zero motivation (hang in there parents, it should get better). Outside of the paycheck we may not view work as pleasant activity, but God sees it differently. This is Step Two in Bible Steps: Receiving God's Financial Promises and Peace. In This Episode, We Look At: From the very beginning, we see God's directive that we are to work that we may eat (Genesis 1:28) When we work, we are doing our part and God is pleased (P...2019-01-1126 minFaith and Finances136: Breaking Out of the Self-Defeating Financial Cycle Many people feel like they just can't get to where they want to be in their finances: There never seems to be enough money to meet needs and wants; emergencies keep popping up—depleting the savings; then there's that mountain of debt. How did we get here? How do we get out? In This Episode, We Look At: It's necessary to acknowledge that money is an instrument that can easily, and immediately, be used to satisfy pleasures for the moment. Identify the financial temptations in your life. 2018-12-2830 minFaith and Finances135: The Christmas Episode! Not a lot of meat and potatoes here today, folks. Troy and I share "stories of Christmases long long ago…" And of course, we tie it all up in a nice "Avoid consumerism!" bow. Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter 2018-12-2128 minFaith and Finances134: How much to give versus how much to keep? Some people struggle with guilt, "Should I be giving more?" Some people resist, "I want to give, but my family has needs and wants." Many genuinely desire to know, How much should I give? In This Episode, We Look At: Know the extremes: Not giving (hoarding/trusting money) and giving with no thought nor prayer. Guidelines according to Scripture. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Giving is very individualized. How much to keep? It is wise to save a portion of all that you earn, and i...2018-12-1438 minFaith and Finances133: Anti-Productivity In work, business, and even ministry, there is often a personal drive to maximize productivity and achievements, in our own timeline and with our own strength and ability. This will always hinder us from reaching full potential. In This Episode, We Look At: When more becomes less. (John 15:4) When less is more. (John 15:5) Improve Your Faith and Finances: Through Christ we can do more with less, by His strength and ability—not our own. Share Your Thoughts: If yo...2018-12-0723 minFaith and Finances132: Preparing for Christmas In my household, my wife insisted that Christmas music would not be played until after Thanksgiving. Now, a full week after Thanksgiving—Christmas is in full effect! Before things get too crazy, we wanted to provide some practical biblical suggestions as you prepare for Christmas this year. In This Episode, We Look At: Keep the purpose for this season a priority in your family. Speak often of the priceless gift of Jesus; at meals, while shopping, while driving the kids to school. Prayerfully plan ahead for gift giv...2018-11-3027 minFaith and Finances131: Our Ways vs God's Ways The Bible is chock-full of accounts where individuals have insisted on their instead of following God's ways. Cain presented his offerings his way. Abrahm protected himself and Sarai in Egypt his way, by lying. Jacob obtained the birthright his way by deceiving his father. King Saul proceeded with the required offering before battle—his way, and that lead ultimatley to his demise and loss of the kingdom. Are we much different in our approach to solving issues in our lives? In This Episode, We Look At...2018-11-2434 minFaith and Finances130: Honoring the Lord at Thanksgiving As we prepare to gather with friends and family in observation of America's holiday, Thanksgiving, there are several ways in which we can show gratitude for Christ to the world around us. In This Episode, We Look At: Giving thanks. We can audibly thank God for His goodness, and anything and everything He has done for you—while in public. Look for opportunities to genuinely express "I thank God for that!" or "God is good!" These sincere expressions often lead to further conversation with those who are lost. Expressions of...2018-11-1632 minFaith and Finances129: What are you living for? We are not asking "Why are you living?" rather, "What purpose drives you?" In This Episode, We Look At: Behind every purpose (or goal) there is a value. So, for those driven to live for the moment, the value behind that drive may be pleasure. Those who seek one accomplishment after another may have respect, recognition, or honor as their value. With all the hours we trade to earn money, it may seem that we are living for money, but that is not necessarily our value. Those who live f...2018-11-0933 minFaith and Finances128: Are Inheritances Biblical? Is there an implied obligation that parents are to save up and leave their children an inheritance? Are we bad parents if we do not leave an inheritance? What about the verse in Scripture that says a good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children? In This Episode, We Look At: Saving or not saving for your children is a personal value. Solomon warned against leaving an inheritance. We'll talk about some "Do's and Don’ts" for those wishing to help out the kiddies. Proverbs 13:22 is oft...2018-11-0232 minFaith and Finances127: Accumulating Wealth Quietly Wealth is not always observed. The reality is that many Americans are quietly saving and accumulating wealth. You'll not see them living in the priciest houses in the neighborhood, nor driving the newest luxury car. Paycheck after paycheck they are willing to forgo the temporary pleasure that spending can provide, choosing rather to pay their "future selves." In This Episode, We Look At: Accumulating wealth does happen quickly, which is a challenge as many of us today are conditioned to see and receive immediate rewards. Time and diligence are key. 2018-10-2633 minFaith and Finances126: Expect the Unexpected The timing belt needs to be replaced in your car, you get a speeding ticket, someone in your family needs a PT scan not covered by your health insurance. We've all been there; the unexpected bills! Life can hit with expenses that nearly knock the wind out of us. One sad statistic is that most American households could not handle an unexpected expense of $400. You do not have to be part of this statistic. In This Episode, We Look At: How to plan for the unexpected. First, ac...2018-10-1939 minFaith and Finances125: Wisdom Over Wealth Our lives are driven by many pursuits. There are career pursuits, financial pursuits, relational, physical and even status pursuits. How common is it to list "seek wisdom" at the first action item on one's daily planner? In This Episode, We Look At: The Bible promises that those who pursue wisdom find life and obtain favor from the Lord. "Life" and "favor" can be easily overlooked, as we tell ourselves I have eternal life and I have favor of the Lord because of Christ, but we may be missing some key truths.2018-10-1234 minFaith and Finances124: Personal Finances and God’s Will "What is God's will for my life?" is a common question among Christians. That is a wonderful question to ask, as well as a spiritual goal to pursue. God has three wills for every person: Salvation (2 Peter 3:9), Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3), and to be Spirit-filled (Ephesians 5:17-18). If we are saved but not sanctified, we are not in God's will. If we are saved and sanctified, but not living Spirit-filled, we are not in God's will. While this is helpful to know, you may be thinking, What does this have to do with money? 2018-10-0530 minFaith and Finances123: What About Student Loans? I get asked regularly about students loans. Usually, the question is "What can I do about these loans?" The percentage of college graduates who carry student loan debt is staggering, ranging from 66% to 88%, depending on the type of college or university they attended. The debt balances range from $23K to $160K, with the average in 2017 being $39K. In This Episode, We Look At: The tough love answer to this question (which is Biblical truth) is to pay it. A "vow" has been paid, defer not to pay it (Ecc. 5:5) I...2018-09-2833 min
Faith and Finances122: The Absentee Ambassador "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are familiar with the term, ambassador, but do we know the implications of truly living as an ambassador? In This Episode, We Look At: What is an ambassador? Definition: an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country We live in a foreign country (this brief life on earth), but we will not r...2018-09-2136 min
Faith and Finances118: Christians and Government: An Interview with Glenn Mosher Glenn Mosher has been a Presidential speech writer, Congressional aide, Capital Fundraiser, English Instructor, and Public Speaker who gained credibility and practiced integrity without ever losing humility or humor. He has raised over $75 million advocating for non-profit clients and designed programs of marketing excellence for companies and small businesses. In This Episode, We Look At: Glenn's early years with Ronald Reagan Glenn's assistance and guiding Tim when he started a Bible Study on his High School campus and the School Board told him that he cannot have a Bible Study on ca...2018-08-2440 min
Faith and Finances117: Ellie Kay Interview Rewind We are pleased to share with you a previously aired interview with Ellie Kay, America's Family Financial Expert. What do you do when you get married and then discover that your new spouse in debt to the tune of $40,000? Today we'll hear from Bob and Ellie Kay and learn how they addressed this serious issue, how they paid off this debt in only two and half years, strengthened their marriage in the process, and built the foundation to put several children through college—while remaining debt free! In This Epis...2018-08-1739 min
Faith and Finances100: Today We Celebrate our 100th! We are as giddy as grade-schoolers on the first day of summer! We want to thank you for making our 100th episode possible. In This Episode, We Look At: To celebrate this occasion, we invited the whole Faith and Finances Podcast team to join us behind the mics and share their thoughts. Joining us today: A vocal cameo from the Amazing Steve Stewart—we love you brother! The "Voice" of the Faith and Finances Podcast into/outro and "up for sainthood" as the wife of Troy—Katrina Barri...2018-04-2045 min
Faith and Finances094: Perspective from the Philippines I had the privilege of serving and speaking during the Spiritual Leadership Conference-Asia Feb 27 through March in Manila, Philippines. In This Episode, We Look At: The purpose of the Conference; to share the need for sending laborers into the 10-40 window to reach the Lost. The reason for the place of the Conference; churches in the Philippines proportionately send more missionaries to the 10-40 than American churches. The product of the Conference; nearly 1,000 souls accepted Christ in Manila, 1,400 national pastors attended to be encouraged, challenged and equipped, and nearly 100 i...2018-03-0938 min
Faith and Finances093: The Parable of the Talents Jesus used parables to teach spiritual truths, using terms and elements of life that people can easily relate to. This parable is one of sixteen parables that are related to money. While we see that money is involved, it is not the heart of the parable. In This Episode, We Look At: An employer (lord) leaves for a long journey; this is a picture of our Savior who has ascended into Heaven and will return again. He entrusts his employees (stewards) with his wealth while he is away; God c...2018-03-0235 min
Faith and Finances092: Stepping Over Dollars Many times our attempts to be efficient and save money actually costs us a lot more, in money and time. In This Episode, We Look At: Paying for a gym membership for our health and fitness goals, while buying food that is contrary to our goals. Being overly concerned over mortgage interest while paying double-digits on credit card balances. Not delegating, and "doing-it-yourself." Resources and Links: E-Myth Revisited, by Michael Gerber Share Your Thoughts: If you have a q...2018-02-2339 min
Faith and Finances091: Avoiding Financial Mistakes Financial mistakes can be very costly. While our parents most likely encouraged us to learn from our mistakes, it's even better to learn from the mistakes of others. In This Episode, We Look At: Identifying, ahead of time, some potential financial mistakes. Learn the often long-term consequences of those mistakes. How to avoid them altogether. A few we look at: "I'll save and invest later." Tapping into the 401(k) for today's expenses. A lesson from the king of regrets, S...2018-02-1641 min
Faith and Finances090: Present and future rewards Our tendency is to focus on today's pleasures, blessings, and rewards. And we have our own definitions of the rewards we desire. In This Episode, We Look At: God often rewards us today with increased opportunities; newly opened doors to serve, the privilege of new responsibilities, and even new friendships and enriched relationships. (Mark 10:29-31) Throughout Scripture, God directs our attention to the eternal. God's definition of a reward so much better, yet counter-intuitive, than our definition. Resources and Link...2018-02-0936 min
Faith and Finances089: Personal finance God's way—recorded live Today's episode was recorded at Moses Lake Baptist Church during a Faith and Finances Conference In This Episode, We Look At: The incredible benefits of being purchased possessions of a holy, gracious God. Our part in God's financial plan. What financial stewardship look like today. Resources and Links: Moses Lake Baptist Church Information on Tim's public teaching Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share you...2018-02-0245 min
Faith and Finances087: A Biblical Review of Today's Retirement What does Retirement look like today? Are we stressing to have everything ready by age 65? In This Episode, We Look At: While we do not find retirement in the New Testament (the Levities in the OT were required to retire at age 50), there are certainly principles that help us with that issue today. The importance of preserving your ability to earn an income today, and today. We look at the value of your unique experiences and skill sets. The possibility of continuing the work you e...2018-01-1936 min
Faith and Finances086: On Offerings How do offerings fit into the Christian's life? Is there a command? In This Episode, We Look At: Giving demonstrates Christ's lordship in our lives. Giving doesn't empty me of resources, it transfers my resources from earth to heaven. Christians give generously, God does not exist for me, I exist for Him. "God's money has a higher purpose than my affluence" - Randy Alcorn Christians Give regularly. 1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay b...2018-01-1248 min
Faith and Finances084 A Biblical Take on Bitcoin There has certainly been an evolution of how we conduct commerce. It appears the majority of financial transactions today are paperless—just numbers transferring dollars. But how do we answer the question, "Should we invest in BitCoin?" In This Episode, We Look At: Speculating versus prudent investing Biblical wisdom to consider before rolling the dice with Bitcoin. “Hot investments” of the recent past and the fallout that followed. When anything is increasing in value at rates that seem mathematically impossible, it's time to be skeptical. When yo...2017-12-2937 min
Faith and Finances083: It's a Wonderful Financial Life We must admit that It's a Wonderful Life is a must-see family favorite for the Christmas season. In today's episode we decide to have fun in picking out the many financial lessons that can be gleaned from this 1946 award-winning classic. In This Episode, We Look At: The main character's family business The compassionate capitalism demonstrated by the family business The Scrooge archetype—Mr. Potter What does insolvency mean for a bank? What is a "run on the banks"? How much have things changed 71 years later? Why don't banks hold onto our money? Wher...2017-12-2247 min
Faith and Finances082: How to have a memorable Christmas Long after the toys and gifts are broken or forgotten, our families will remember the Christmas experience. In This Episode, We Look At: Several ideas to create a memorable Christmas season including: Go to church: What better place to be on Christmas Eve than in the house of the Lord, celebrating the birth of our Savior? Involve your children in bringing a gift to Jesus—whatever is on their heart. Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mot...2017-12-1537 min
Faith and Finances081: “I’m not greedy!” TV shows like "American Greed" draw us in with curiosity and then feed our focus on other people's greed. "It's someone else's struggle or sin, not mine." It's funny how easily we can measure how much is too much for others, but can't seem to find that "too much" point for ourselves. Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness. Research conducted by Pew Research found that 57% of those Americans surveyed believed that Americans are greedy. In This Episode, We Look At: 2017-12-0844 min
Faith and Finances080: Success Confusion What is success? Searching that on Google brings up 949 million hits making it a pretty popular subject! The World is very preoccupied with success. But how is success measured? Have you ever felt the pressure of not "arriving" yet? Or, perhaps you are not in the career that could be paying you the most? "What if I was meant to be in marketing instead of working for UPS?" Let's be real, that kind of pressure can be debilitating—if we let it. In This Episode, We Look At: T...2017-12-0139 min
Faith and Finances079: Fun with Financial Literacy Today we decided to provide a financial quiz. We'll ask the questions, give you some time to choose your answer, then we'll discuss what we believe the answers to be. Give yourself $5 for every question you answer correctly (Put it in savings—you'll be glad you did!) In This Episode, We Look At: Your current income doubles by the year 2032 and the prices of goods and services doubles as well, how much will your 2032 income allow you to buy? A. Less than today B. Don’t know C. Mo...2017-11-2433 min
Faith and Finances078: The Key to God's Promises Let's face it, we are human and we want all of God's promises. "Take care of all my needs and wants, protect me and my family, advance my career…" Some may think, “I’m a child of the King—so I should be living like a king!” 1 Corinthians 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. Paul Chappell recently wrote: The idea that a Christian will only...2017-11-1735 min
Faith and Finances077: Is Your Home an Investment? There is a lot of talk on the subject of renting vs buying. While counselling and advising couples, I often hear them say something like, "We can't wait to get a house. We are just throwing money away renting a place!" and "Besides, a home purchase is an investment." Is this true? In This Episode, We Look At: "Is your home an investment?" Definition (Investopedia): investment A)An investment is an asset or item that is purchased with the hope that it will generate income or...2017-11-1033 min
Faith and Finances074: Have you forgotten who you are?How often do we resign, throw up our hands, and say, "I can't fix my marriage", "I can't get on top of my finances", or "I can't quit lusting"? It seems our first response is "I." "I can't"…and that is true. We cannot do anything good on our own. (Romans 7:18) I submit that our focus is way off and the Devil loves it. He constantly reminds us of our failures, sin, mistakes, and incompetence. He is wrong. In This Episode, We Look At: The Power within us How of...2017-10-2032 min
Faith and Finances069: The Big Deal About Little Things A popular little book has the title, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!" While there is certainly truth to that—don't make a mountain out of mole hill, don't major in the minors… we also challenge you not to miss the little things that can change lives! In This Episode, We Look At: The Tongue James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! What a difference a kind word can make in someone else's life! H...2017-09-1531 min
Faith and Finances066: A look at moral investing People often ask me if a Christian investor can be broadly diversified and avoid immoral companies? In This Episode, We Look At: What factors would be utilized to determine whether a company is immoral or not Do they sell alcohol? Do they sell pornography or Rated R movies? Do they support Planned Parenthood? Do they financially promote lifestyles that God says are sinful? Do they directly or indirectly financially support human trafficking? Investment products aimed at screening company stocks based on m...2017-08-2525 min
Faith and Finances065: Self-Control, the Unpopular Success Factor The most overlooked aspect of financial health has little to do with having the right strategy, having more income, or being excellent at math. Many writers don't want to talk about it because it doesn't sell books. We are talking about self-control. In This Episode, We Look At: Money is an area where many lack self-control In his book, Behavioral Finance & Wealth Management, Michael Pompian states that The Saving Decision "…reflects an individual’s relative preferences over present versus future consumption." In other words, "Do I want to bu...2017-08-1839 min
Faith and Finances063: Faith and Finances–The Unconventional Episode The internet, developing science, and our own personal experience have turned our thinking upside down in so many areas. In This Episode, We Look At: We turn conventional beliefs on their ear, from cars to food; from fitness to finances. Is sodium bad for your health? Does it cause heart disease? (We are not doctors, but we share some recent research). Does a longer workout at the Gym equal greater health benefits? Should we be prepared to retire by age 65? Should we strive for the b...2017-08-0437 min
Faith and Finances062: Glorifying God Through Employment The average American will easily work over 100,000 hours during the course of their working years. This is a huge portion of our lives. It should not be solely for a paycheck. In This Episode, We Look At: God thinks bigger! "We must do wordly jobs, but if we do them with sanctified minds, they become offerings to God" - A.W. Tozer God is our supervisor and rewarder. A Christian does not merely work for an earthly employer. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to th...2017-07-2832 min
Faith and Finances060: Unexpected Advice—An Interview with Veteran Missionary Bryan Stensaas Dr. Bryan Stensaas is a Vietnam veteran, church planter, has an accredited Ph.D. in education, and is a former radio host and college instructor—but most of us know him as a Veteran Missionary to Uganda. We had the privilege of sitting down with Bro Stensaas and speak with him about some of his experiences in the field and what God has taught he and his wife, Cheri, in their 32 years of serving as Missionaries. In This Episode, We Look At: From the Gulf of Tonkin, to the plateau in Uga...2017-07-1458 min
Faith and Finances057: The average American is creating wealth for others I believe we start our adult lives with the erroneous and dangerous belief that revolving debt—and the interest payments that go along with it—are normal and acceptable. In This Episode, We Look At: The average American pays a significant amount of interest every month; profiting a lender and not themselves. They do it for the privilege of having something now and paying for it later. The average interest paid in car loans is $895 per year ($74 per month) according to a recent Experian survey. The average interest paid on cre...2017-06-2340 min
Faith and Finances055: Embracing Money Technology Our lives are surrounded by technology. It is at play in every aspect our lives, and yet some have not harnessed technology to improve their finances. It's the Twenty-first Century—come on in, the water's fine! In This Episode, We Look At: Here are some tools we can utilize to improve our finances from the moment we receive a paycheck. Pay Day: Set up Direct Deposit if you have not yet Tithe/Offerings: If your church offers online giving it gets your financial gift to the church qui...2017-06-0938 min
Faith and Finances053: Rebuilding from past financial mistakes I'm no fan of learning by making mistakes, but there is value in learning not to repeat that same mistake. It's easy to remind ourselves of past money mistakes and convince ourselves that we are still that person who failed—so why try? In This Episode, We Look At: You can turn things around and improve your financial health For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:But the wicked shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 24:16 Change your thinking ("I'm a spe...2017-05-2639 min
Faith and Finances052: Are You a Thief? How easy is it for us to accept our own dishonesty? In This Episode, We Look At: Do we embellish our tax returns or expense reports? Company time—If we are texting, making personal phone calls, or just chillin', while being paid, then we are stealing from our employer. Entertainment—We do not view ourselves as pirates. Have you found ways to watch movies without needing to buy or rent them? Do we download free music that has not been offered as free from the owner...2017-05-1932 min
Faith and Finances051: Does Growing Wealth Mean That We Don't Trust God? The just shall live by faith. This truth is stated four times in Scripture. We also know that "without faith it is impossible to please God." Do we then demonstrate faithlessness if we accumulate savings and invest? In This Episode, We Look At: In many areas of our lives we tend to lean on faith and ignore action We have a tendency to think that God will take care of us when considering our future financial needs. That is true to an extent; (Matthew 6:33) but, wh...2017-05-1229 min
Faith and Finances043: Special Edition—Tim Preaches "The Heart of the Matter" at Ambassador Baptist Church in Fresno, CA In this episode, we'll join Tim as he teaches one of several sessions in his Faith and Finances Series. In This Episode, We Look At: Why are there so many verses in Scripture on the subject of money? The majority are aimed at our heart. Our actions come from our beliefs. Our beliefs come from our hearts. If we desire to improve our Faith and Finances, we need to address what we believe about money. Who is the true Owner, what does stewardship mean, and, what does stewardship look l...2017-03-1743 min
Faith and Finances041: Biblical Investing—What Keeps Us From Action? Matthew 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. While most of us would hesitate to align our thinking with the unfaithful steward, there are still many hindrances that we allow to keep us from saving and investing for the future. In This Episode, We Look At: Obstacles that keep us from investing: Time Time seems to be the most prominent deterrent. I don’t have spare time to try and learn about investing; there are more import...2017-03-0334 min
Faith and Finances038: Together as One–In Finances Ah, marriage! It's that moment when two hearts become one and each one instantly understands the other and agree on all matters… Now back to reality. In This Episode, We Look At: We all have our individual beliefs Destructive Beliefs lead to: Stress, shame, guilt, fear, pain, selfishness, worry, doubt, suffering; potential sins such as covetousness, greed and idolatry. Healthy Beliefs lead to: Love, joy, peace, energy, passion, fun, accomplishments Paying the personal price There is a personal price we pay when we do...2017-02-1032 min
Faith and Finances031: 'Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas Tim and Troy take liberty in this episode to read to you, our beloved listener, the classic poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Since Troy is from New Orleans, he has to add a Cajun flavor to this iconic tome. In This Episode We Look At: Cajun Troy reading Louisiana's beloved, "Cajun Night Before Christmas" in a Cajun accent. Tim rescues this classic piece of literature with an English interpretation! Today's Resources and Links: Cajun Night Before Christmas - word...2016-12-2310 min
Faith and Finances018: Financial Strength Training Many of us start out our adult lives in financial reactive mode. Needing their own place to live, many young adults will naturally rent a place, bringing with it a slew of new bills: electricity, gas, water, internet, groceries. It is easy to understand how we can get to the point where it feels like we are working just to pay bills. For many it may feel as if money controls us, instead of us controlling our money. The good news is that we can turn this around. We can get to the...2016-09-2337 minFaith and Finances000: Introduction Welcome, and thank you for choosing to listen to the Faith and Finances Podcast. You will hear Christ-focused financial teaching, addressing each financial topic from the viewpoint of, "What does the Bible teach about this?" In This Episode We Look At: A brief background of Tim Rosen and his teaching ministry A brief background of Troy Barrilleaux The vision of the Faith and Finances weekly Podcast Today's Resources and Links: www.TimRosen.org Faith and Finances [Affiliate Link] One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Faith and Finances: Join us each week as...2016-06-0707 min
Catching the Coin020: Tim's Story- From 2 Turntables and a Microphone to Author, International Speaker, and Trusted Financial Coach
Tim Rosen is the author of two books, Against The Grain- Avoiding the Financial Pitfalls of Conventional Wisdom, and Faith and Finances- Eternal Promises for Today's Resources.
He is also an International Speaker whose main focus is to coach individuals in prudent investing - helping them avoid gambling, speculation, and destructive investor behavior.
Today we get to hear about Tim's personal journey; from retail management to coaching investors and overseeing $23 Million in assets.
Today's Resources and Links:
Against The Grain- Avoiding the Financial Pitfalls of Conventional Wisdom [Affiliate Li...2015-11-1841 min