Author: Erick Neuman
Have you ever stopped to consider the potential “future value” of the money you spend today? If you were to save it rather than spend it, what would it be worth in, say, 20 years? For example, let’s say you spend $8 each workday for lunch on the job. What if you decided to fast just once a week and save that $8 rather than spend it? Over 20 years, you would accumulate about $8,300. Not bad. But if you were to invest that $8 a week in a Roth IRA earning 6%, your small weekly investment would grow to . . . (drum…
In an age where social media prevails in almost all aspects of our lives, singer and songwriter Cade Thompson is determined to use it in a positive way to connect with those who listen to his music, and beyond. Even at 19 years old, Cade already gives off a confident sense of self, rooted in a deep faith that began in childhood and was nourished by family and his local church. His love for Jesus springs out of every note and lyric in his music. In celebration of his recent record deal, Cade is inviting people to create the official…
From the families of small business owners to wealthy executives, a lot of families are facing anxiety over a declining investment market, have been laid off of work, or are even facing the closing of a business. It’s tough everywhere for families. We need sound financial advice. Sift through the sea of articles online and you’ll find expert advice from budgeting to eliminating credit card debt. That advice is important. Take measures to protect your family’s economic wellbeing. Now, I’m not an economist or an accountant. I’m a Pastor. My concern is for heart of God and the soul of the family.…
When Karen and Scott got married, Karen had nearly $50,000 of non-mortgage debt. Scott, who was a Chicago firefighter at the time, jokingly referred to it as “a reverse dowry.” Several years before meeting Scott, Karen had been through the breakup of a relationship she thought was headed toward marriage. “I decided that if I’m not getting married, at least I’m going to have a nice apartment. I can remember standing at the counter of a furniture store unrepentantly handing over my credit card. I thought, ‘I deserve this couch; I’m going to get it.’ It didn’t bother me one…
Like so many other people, contemporary Christian band Manic Drive has experienced a year filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. In January, band leaders Shawn and Michael Cavallo’s mother passed away. Soon thereafter, Shawn and his wife welcomed their first child into the world. Then, when the coronavirus pandemic struck, the Canadian bred brothers were literally just about to embark on a much-anticipated spring tour. All of this, on the heels of a career defining 2019 that saw them impact audiences in 44 cities on the highly-popular Winter Jam tour. Rather than just shut everything…
So here we are. Stuc- I mean, blessed being home with the fruit of our loins all the merry day. Even the best, most patient of mothers find themselves feeling extra angst and exhaustion, not having anywhere to go, or to socialize with during quarantine. Here are some helpful tips to get us through. All to be exercised with a constant stream of prayer, and high end caffeine, of course. Create delusional time blocks for activities. It can be mind-numbingly boring sitting on the ground playing toy trains or dolls with your two-year old with literally no end in sight,…
What does success in your job look like? Is it advancing in your career to higher positions? Is it earning more money? Is it making a difference in the world? Would God ever call you to something knowing that your efforts would fail? I’ve often found these questions to be interesting thoughts to ponder. God called Moses to stand up to Pharaoh, but then hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he wouldn’t give in until enduring the various plagues. Ultimately, I think most of us would consider Moses’ “career” successful—though he definitely had his ups and downs along the way. I’ve…
2020 has been a year of peaks and valleys for Jordan Feliz. Riding high from the release of 2018’s Future, the California native expected to roll into 2020 with the release of a new collection of songs and to get back out on the road. But then the coronavirus pandemic hit and everything … stopped. Instead of sharing his music with adoring audiences near and far, Feliz found himself homebound and unemployed. Despite the feelings of uncertainty that have come so naturally due to COVID-19, he dove into the songwriting process harder than ever. The end result is a new collection…
A Christian summer camp in Colorado is suing over a gender policy it says could shut it down. Camp IdRaHaJe in Bailey, Colorado, is asking a court to allow it to follow its sincerely held religious beliefs and separate campers by sex and not gender identity, The Denver Post reported. The camp, which has been licensed in Colorado since 1995 and derives its name from the song “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” has operated for decades, dating back to 1948, and hosts thousands of children in its week-long program every summer. The issue centers on state regulations governing gender, with the camp…
Being home with our beloved (or anyone) all day, every day can feel un-natural, no matter how deep our God-given love runs. Suddenly there’s no outside entertainment, no friends to socialize with, no activities to share, and the list goes on. Whether you’re newly-married, a veteran couple, or somewhere in between, being homebound daily forces some unexpected relational adjustments and calls for major creativity in the romance department. Here’s a few to try. Have Delusional Date Nights It may feel ridiculous meeting your husband (collared shirt and cologne, a must) at 8 p.m. in the candle-lit dining room every Saturday…