Author: Erick Neuman

Kevin Malone is best known for his days as a Major League general manager.  He spent time with many organizations but truly left his mark on the game by leading the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1994 through 2001. Things were going well but like so many hard-charging executives, Kevin was neglecting one of the most important areas of his life: his family.  His son Shawn took notice of this.  Driven by loneliness and his father’s frequent absences, Shawn ventured down a very dark road, one that would nearly kill him.  Sadly, there was nothing his high-profile father…

Have you ever made a decision you regretted later?  Maybe you decided to do something that would offer a moment of pleasure, but the end result wasn’t so pleasant. For example, have you ever been thirsty, and instead of reaching for a bottle of water, you chose a soda or coffee, or even a milkshake?  Or have you ever been hungry, but instead of getting a healthy meal, you chose fast food? We all know what the better choices are. However, we sometimes accept less than the best and pay for it later. It seems like we live in a…

Christina and I have counseled couples in crisis, couples in premarital times, couples who’d grown distant, and everything in between. Over these past twenty years of marriage and ministry, we’ve realized that with all the hurts of life, for marriage to last, the marriage relationship must be a healing place.   Here are 4 ways to increase the sacred vitality of your marriage as a healing place. 1. Cast off worldly illusions. If twenty years of marriage has taught me anything it is that the most beautiful fairy tale romance isn’t found in romance novels or in even the best…

Dear Dave, What percentage of our income should we save for our kids’ education? We know you recommend setting aside 15 percent for retirement, but do you have a similar rule that applies to paying for college? – Andrew Dear Andrew, I don’t really have a rule, or percentage, for how much you should save toward a college fund. If you’re following the Baby Steps, I recommend getting 15 percent of your income going toward retirement before saving for college. After you’ve got your retirement savings rolling, put what you can, based on your own unique situation, toward college funding. …

Have you ever met a person where after conversing with them briefly you say to yourself, this guy or girl is wise beyond their years?  Singer/songwriter Cade Thompson is one of those people.  Just 20 years old, the South Dakota native has made a splash recently with the release of his latest single, “New Normal”, a heartfelt cry for his generation. Burdened by the increasing spate of school shootings across our land, it is his prayer to see young people rid themselves of fear as they face a highly uncertain future. I recently spoke to Cade about the significance of…

The United States of America honors those who defend it and have even died for it. But even before it was a nation, soldiers were gathering to take up the cause of the American colonies against their British overlords. They would be led by men, though, whose first business wasn’t war, but prayer. Feeling the lash of British oppression, these men all colonial representatives met at Philadelphia’s Carpenters’ Hall in 1774.    “When the colonialists were beginning to worry about all the problems happening with the British assault on their liberties, they came to Philadelphia,” said Philadelphia historian Dr. Peter…

There was never a figure more polarizing in music history than Aretha Franklin.  Rising from deep gospel roots, the legendary singer dubbed “The Queen of Soul” was equal parts sinner and saint.  Known for such seismic musical offerings as “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Chain of Fools”, and of course “Respect”, the 18-time Grammy Award winner commanded the music world for several decades despite a dark undercurrent that seemed to permeate her life Compelling and heartbreaking at times, Franklin is the subject of a new biopic opening in theaters this weekend called Respect.  Starring the mesmerizing Jennifer…

PROBLEM-SOLVING Dr. Don Colbert is known for helping people live healthy lifestyles. As a medical doctor who has treated over 50,000 patients, he says the answers to people’s ailments are almost always linked to what they eat. Growing up, Colbert’s father began showing signs of dementia in his mid 50s. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his 60s and it progressed into severe Alzheimer’s. He lived in a nursing home for over 10 years before he died at 80.  His mother, who worked in a bank full-time until she was 82, started developing dementia and her cognitive function continued to…

My nearly fifteen-year-old son’s learning to drive is unnerving my peace of mind. “Dad,” he said to me from behind the steering wheel, “You’re actually really terrified, aren’t you?” It must have been my stomping the invisible break petal on the passenger-side floorboard that gave it away! We all look forward to monumental moments in our lives. We don’t all think carefully or biblically about how we are going to get through them when they come. We look forward to their high school graduation but are as worried for their safety as they head off to college as we were…

Chuck Bentley is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, the largest Christian financial ministry in the world, founded by the late Larry Burkett. He is the host of a daily radio broadcast, My MoneyLife, featured on more than 1,000 Christian Music and Talk stations in the U.S., and author of his most recent book, Money Problems, Marriage Solutions. I recently spoke with Chuck about his advice for managing our money during difficult financial times. Why is it important to follow God’s principles for stewardship in life, whether during an emergency or not? I think there are two reasons to follow God’s principles, whether…