The average American family gives between 2% and 3% to charity. Not bad, but not necessarily great either. As a Pastor, there is a story in the Old Testament that amazes me in regards to giving. The story is found in Exodus chapter 36.

Moses and the Israelite leaders are preparing to build the tabernacle. They have asked the people to give of their time, skills, and money to complete the project. Part way through, the men working on the project came to Moses and said: “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.” So Moses had to issue a command for people to stop working and giving to the project. In the text it says that “the people were restrained from bringing any more.”

The people were so excited, so happy, they gave more than enough.  I think we are missing that today.  There is such joy and happiness in giving, in seeing a charitable work come to completion. And we miss out on that joy when we give so little, especially when we have been blessed with so much.

Arthur C. Brooks, a professor at Syracuse University, did a study a few years ago on happiness. In his research he noted that although money itself does not necessarily bring happiness, giving it away does! And it was shown in the study that in essence, the more people give, the happier they become!

So I guess the question becomes, how happy do you want to be? How much are you willing to give away to others?

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As an Administrative Pastor, I have the opportunity to meet with couples to do “Financial Counseling.” Usually the couples wait to late to come and see me – they are usually in debt, have negative cash flow, and are getting behind in payments. But what really surprises me is that when these couples come in, they are not in agreement on anything financial!

Usually one is dragging the other in to see me. One wants to save and pay down debt, the other wants to refinance something, get another job, and keep spending. In other words, they are not on the same page at all. They are divided.

In Mark chapter 3, Jesus responds to an accusation made against him in part by saying “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

You cannot have success, any success, if you are not in agreement. These couples that I meet with will not find “financial success”  until they end their divisions and become united in their financial focus.

Are you and your house united financially? Are you divided? What can you do to have everyone together and focused financially? This is the probably the most important financial step you can take.

Hi there - could you help spread the word about A Penny Saved? We rely on word of mouth to get new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would truly appreciate it. Sunday Thought 95 is a post from: A Penny Saved, the best darn personal finance blog around.

My computer was finally up and running on Saturday after having crashed earlier last week. Fortunately it was just a hard drive – we were able to save all the information. But it was a good reminder why I take the time to back up everything important!

On Saturday night I starting feeling ill, and throughout Saturday night and through Sunday evening I was sick with a fever. I didn’t even get out of bed on Sunday until after 3:00 p.m. Yuck.  Then my wife started having bad coughing spells so we had to take her to the doctor. She is doing better now but it was pretty rough.

So obviously blogging has been light, okay, nonexistent! And that will continue through next week – we are going on vacation! I don’t think I have needed a vacation so badly in a long time. We are going to my parents cottage. The weekend will be a family reunion, and then we will just chill for a few days. I am really looking forward to some down time before the busyness of the Fall kicks in.

Speaking of Fall, it’s less than a month before I begin leading a Dave Ramsey Seminar at our church! As I said, I will give updates weekly on what I think of his seminar.

Have a great week!

Hi there - could you help spread the word about A Penny Saved? We rely on word of mouth to get new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would truly appreciate it. What a week! is a post from: A Penny Saved, the best darn personal finance blog around.

Sometimes we think are efforts are just not enough.  They just seem so small. In the book of Mark, chapter 4, there is the parable of the Mustard Seed. Jesus is trying to help us understand the kingdom of God and he compares it to a mustard seed:

“It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

The kingdom of God started out very small, and yet it became large. Our efforts, although maybe small in our eyes, can also grow. A little can go a long way! Just keep plugging away, keep working, and do not give up. And someday, your little may turn out to be a lot!

Hi there - could you help spread the word about A Penny Saved? We rely on word of mouth to get new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would truly appreciate it. Sunday Thought 95 is a post from: A Penny Saved, the best darn personal finance blog around.

The other week I received a call from a local Funeral Director asking me if I would perform a funeral for a family that did not have a pastor. I agreed and met with one of the family to work out the service details.

The funeral was for an older person who did not have children, and was only married for a short time before they died. The person had a will, but it was written before they were married. Also, shortly before they died, they changed  executors of the estate. Talk about setting up fireworks for when you pass away! Part of the family was mad because they switched executors. Part of the family was mad that the person married. Then there was confusion because the will was outdated because they had gotten married. So some of the family was scrambling to make sure they “got what was coming to them”.

When I did the funeral, some of the family stayed outside until right before the service started – they didn’t want to speak or see the other part of the family! Fortunately there was no fighting at the funeral, but it was tense. It saddened me that the individuals were more concerned about the estate than about the deceased.

This was a reminder to me and now to you – make sure your will is up to date! And choose your executor wisely. Also it was a reminder to me that if there is something I definitely want to give to someone, if I can give it while I am still alive that is the best – then I know that they will get it!  A final thought that I had was that I want to live in such a way that my family and friends will miss me and not just wish for my money.

Hi there - could you help spread the word about A Penny Saved? We rely on word of mouth to get new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would truly appreciate it. A Funeral to Remember – and a Reminder to update your Will! is a post from: A Penny Saved, the best darn personal finance blog around.

My wife had to back to the hospital for three days last week for testing. She has been nauseous ever since her surgery at the beginning of June. Then last week she started to get pains in her side and cold sweats. After conferring with our family doctor it was off to the hospital.

After a battery of tests, they don’t have an answer, which was disappointing. On the bright side, she is in very good health except for the nausea. The doctors have scheduled two more tests for next week (outpatient). Hopefully they can find something and that it is not serious and that can be addressed.

Because of the uncertainty of her health right now, we made a big decision. We have decided not to Home School next year. We will be putting our girls in public school. Although this is disappointing for us, it will be the best for my wife and for the girls – in fact the girls are very excited! I wonder how long that will last! The elementary school they will be going to  is highly recommended and we have talked to parents who are very pleased with the school, so that is good. We will be talking to the school officials soon, and hopefully give the girls a tour in the next few weeks.

As a side note, financially, this will free up some funds in our budget to put towards the medical expenses which will be helpful. We will take it a month at a time and see how my wife and the girls are doing.

Hi there - could you help spread the word about A Penny Saved? We rely on word of mouth to get new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would truly appreciate it. Another Hospital Stay and a Decision is a post from: A Penny Saved, the best darn personal finance blog around.

Rest. This is something that as I get older I cherish more and more!  And since my hospital stay a few weeks ago I really need it. In Exodus 34, Moses is called to carve out two new tablets of stone (the first ones were broken by Moses) with the ten commandments. So Moses chisels out two new stone tablets like the first, then goes up on the mountain as instructed by God. When there, God goes over the commandments again, with some commentary.

When he gets to the Sabbath, God says “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.” As I thought about this it struck me – plowing and harvest time are the two busiest times of the year for the farmer. Living in Amish country, I see the farmers out in the field from dawn to dusk. Six days a week – but never on Sunday.  No matter how busy, the Amish rest on Sunday.

I need to do the same. Six days I can work and make money. But I need to rest one day a week, no matter how busy I think I am. My mind and my body need the refreshment. A good prescription for burnout is to never take a break. It’s not good for you, your family, or your workplace. We are never too busy to not take time out to rest. In the long run, we will get more done and be more effective if we do.

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Would you quit a lucrative job to join a fledgling nonprofit organization? In Mark chapter 2:14-17 we read the story of Levi (also called Matthew). Levi is sitting in his tax booth doing his job. In those days being a tax collector meant two things: you were despised, and you were relatively wealthy. You see, you were to collect a certain amount for Rome, and anything above that was your pay – and it could be quite lucrative. And just like today, but only more so, you were hated.

So here is Levi doing his job, and Jesus passes by and says to him “Follow Me!”. And he drops everything and follows! That is so amazing to me. He gave up his career, his wealth, to join a ragtag group of men, with no means of regular income. But in giving up financial security, he gained so much more. He gained a family, a calling / mission, and he went from gouging people financially to helping people spiritually. I believed he gained much more than he lost. But it meant taking a risk.

What about us? Are we willing to take a risk for something more important than money?

Hi there - could you help spread the word about A Penny Saved? We rely on word of mouth to get new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would truly appreciate it. Sunday Thought 93 is a post from: A Penny Saved, the best darn personal finance blog around.

Last week at this time I was in a hospital bed, hooked up to IV’s, waiting for the doctors to do a procedure to remove a gallstone. This morning I am hugging my children and waiting to go to church. What a difference a week makes! What a difference good health makes!

When I was lying in the hospital bed, I was not so worried about stocks, retirement, emergency funds (well maybe a little on that one!) and other financial matters. I was concerned about my health, or lack thereof. I was concerned about my family. I spent time praying. In other words I was focused on the things that really mattered in life. It’s a shame that it took something so drastic to refocus my thinking.

I like the verse in 3 John 1:2 where John prays this simple prayer for some fellow believers:  Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. He prays for their spiritual condition, he prays for their health, and he prays for their financial condition–and he wants them to prosper in all three areas of their life. I too want us to prosper financially, but not at the expense of the other two. May we all prosper – in health, in our soul, and in our finances.

Hi there - could you help spread the word about A Penny Saved? We rely on word of mouth to get new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would truly appreciate it. Sunday Thought 92 is a post from: A Penny Saved, the best darn personal finance blog around.

Happy Anniversary Honey!  Proverbs 18:22 - He who finds a wife finds a good thing  And obtains favor from the LORD.  There are some things money can’t buy, and a good wife – a great wife! – is one of them. I’ve seen several men pulled down by their “not so great” wives – both emotionally, and financially. Whereas a poor wife will drag you down, a good wife will lift you up. 

It has been 23 great years with a great woman! I can’t believe how they have flown by. Thanks Honey for being there for me and making this journey in life a wonderful trip. Here’s to the next 23!

Hi there - could you help spread the word about A Penny Saved? We rely on word of mouth to get new readers. If you would send someone a link, email, or even mention it to your friends, I would truly appreciate it. Sunday Thought 91 is a post from: A Penny Saved, the best darn personal finance blog around.