SensibleSteward

Follow SensibleSteward on Twitter

Scott — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:20:00 GMT

We are now on Twitter. If you are a Twitter user, you can find us at twitter.com/SensibleSteward.

Also, we plan to redesign the site soon, so our blog may be relocating to a subdomain. Stay tuned...

Recommended Song - "Lose My Soul"

Scott — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:18:00 GMT

Here is a video clip of one of my favorite songs right now, based upon Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:36 ("What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?")

It is performed by tobyMac, Kirk Franklin, and Mandisa and is called "Lose My Soul". The song helps us remember that we should not focus on material things but should instead focus on God and eternal matters.

Are your priorities in order? Do you associate your identity with your occupation, or with being a child of God?

I hope you enjoy the song.

AmEx Paying Some Customers to Leave

Scott — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:01:00 GMT

Normally, credit card companies do everything they can to get consumers to sign up for their products, become addicted to spending money that we don't have, and pay them extraordinary amounts of interest.

However, with the credit crisis looming on bank balance sheets and increasing levels of late payments and defaults on credit card balances, American Express has decided to reverse course.

Now, they are offering an incentive to selected borrowers who pay off what they owe to American Express and cancel their cards. The company offered to pay invited customers who cancel between March 1st and April 30th a stipend of $300.

Clearly, this is not a program that is being rolled out because AmEx suddenly cares about your financial well-being and wants to help you manage your money better. It is a way to incent customers who have large outstanding balances to move those balances elsewhere, so that American Express looks better to outside investors.

Of course, we should pay off our balances and stop using our credit cards as part of our money management discipline. Now, we have an unusual partner in our corner as well.

What Are Americans Willing to Live Without?

Scott — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:16:00 GMT

With the current financial situation in mind, many folks are looking to cut back on unnecessary expenses. Have you ever wondered where Americans draw the line between a want and a necessity? Are we on the right track?

A recent National Retail Federation survey gave some clues as to where we are quick to make sacrifices and where we are not.

For instance, high on the expendable list were luxury handbags, satellite radio, high end cosmetics and maid service.

In contrast, on the untouchable list were such items as internet, cell phone, and cable TV. The good news is that the respondents appeared to make a clear distinction between a basic level of service in these categories and an upgraded set of services. The premium tier of service tended to be classified as expendable item, even if the basic level of service was not.

Of the respondents, over 60% had reported that they had already started to cut back on unnecessary items. The items that were high on the list of expenses that had already been reduced were restaurant expenses, entertainment, some apparel purchases, and travel.

The bad news for many people in church leadership is that charitable contributions were seen as expendable by 67% of the survey participants.

To see the full set of survey results, you can visit the National Retail Federation website to learn more.

Dave Ramsey Announces Town Hall for Hope

Scott — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:57:00 GMT

Dave Ramsey recently announced a Town Hall for Hope program, where folks can watch a free 90 minute program on Thursday, April 23 at 8 PM ET.

At this event, Dave will discuss what's happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we're going. Plus, Dave will answer questions live throughout the event.

There are hundreds of locations across the country that have already signed up to host the program.

To find out more about the program, you can visit the event's website at TownHallForHope.com.

Government Refinance Program for Responsible Borrowers Begins Soon

Scott — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:41:00 GMT

There has been quite a bit of debate in the financial press recently about all of the government programs being attempted to try to restart the economy.

Meanwhile, there is continuing evidence that our personal balance sheets are being devastated by the housing crisis. For instance, First American CoreLogic recently announced that more than 8.3 million U.S. mortgage holders owed more on their loans in the fourth quarter than their property was worth. Furthermore, an additional 2.2 million borrowers will be underwater if home prices decline another 5 percent, and households with negative equity or near it account for a quarter of all mortgage holders.

In addition, the Case-Shiller home price report was recently released and showed nearly a 30% drop in home values since the peak. Furthermore, the composite index of nationwide home prices has dropped for 30 consecutive months. To read the press release, click here.

One of the more controversial government programs was the "Home Affordable Modification" program, where people who are late or at risk of becoming late on their mortgage payments would have the opportunity to rework their mortgages to stay in their current homes.

However, did you know that there is also a program available for responsible borrowers where you may be able to do a streamlined (i.e. lower cost) refinance, even if there is not a large amount of equity in your home? The qualifications for the program are as follows :

1) you must be the owner of a one-to-four unit home
2) you must have a loan guaranteed by FNMA or FHLMC
3) you must be current on your home loan payments over the last 12 months
4) your loan must be no more than 105% of the value of your home

To find out more about whether or not you qualify, you can contact your mortgage servicer. There are also additional details about the program at the Making Home Affordable website. If you're not sure if your loan is guaranteed by FNMA or FHLMC, there are tools available on this website to allow you to find out whether or not you meet that part of the qualifications by entering your home address.

Many lenders are going to start refinancing borrowers under this new program in April, so you may want to find out soon whether or not you qualify.

Furthermore, mortgage rates are approaching levels in the 4% - 5% range, so you may be able to save some money on your mortgage payment in the very near future.

Hillary Clinton and Proverbs 22:7

Scott — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:38:00 GMT

On whom does the success of the recent stimulus plan rest? No, it's not anyone here in the United States. Sure, our collective activity to go out, earn a living, spend wisely, save, and invest for the future, etc. will have some influence. We need to move past our fear and keep doing the right things for our long-term financial well-being. However, the answer is that the actions of the Chinese government will have a very large impact on the ultimate outcome.

For this reason, there is a story on Bloomberg News today that Hillary Clinton has been begging the Chinese government to keep buying U.S. Treasuries so that interest rates will stay low here. China is currently the largest holder of U.S. debt, buying almost $700 billion in the past year. There is much fear that the Chinese will look elsewhere to invest their vast savings, as U.S. Treasuries yielding next to nothing are not the best investments in the world right now for long-term growth. If the Chinese do pull the plug on further investments in U.S. Treasuries, then interest rates will need to rise here, as higher yields on those bonds will be required to lure new buyers.

So, this is a very visible example of the wisdom of Proverbs 22:7, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." This is why I am very concerned about the future of the country. We are now in a position where we have to beg our political enemies to continue to fund our lifestyle. This is not a trend that can possibly end well.

Dave Ramsey 2009 Plasty Awards

Scott — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:34:00 GMT

The Plasty Awards were handed out this week on the Dave Ramsey show on the Fox Business channel. This awards show highlights the most creative videos of people destroying their credit cards that were sent into Dave Ramsey studios over the past year. There are always some great clips as part of the program. To see some of the videos, you can visit this page on FoxBusiness.com. Also, check your local listings, as a repeat of the program may be available over the weekend.

Chicago Tea Party and the Power of Being Passionate

Scott — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:30:00 GMT

By now, many of you have probably seen the video clip from CNBC where Rick Santelli urges hard-working Americans to revolt against Obama's mortgage assistance bailout plan. If not, you can view the video from CNBC here.

This article is not about the merits of his argument, although I happen to agree that government needs to get out of the way at this point since they are making the problem worse than better. There is a lot of money on the sidelines that is too afraid to make a move because of fears of a massive bank nationalization plan. As a result, the stock market keeps going down every day until somebody announces a plan that actually might work or the government decides to stop meddling.

The point of this post is that if you do your job with passion, eventually your work will get noticed and you will enjoy success. The one of the key reasons that this rant has become so popular is the passion with which it was delivered. If it was delivered in a monotone way without any conviction, would anyone have really paid attention?

Similarly, are you being passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others? In Revelation 3:15-16, the church at Laodicea was warned about being lukewarm, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

As a result of the 2008 Catalyst Conference, I found a series of sermons presented by Craig Groeschel from Lifechurch.tv entitled "Practical Atheist" that really hits home with respect to this topic. The main point of the series is the question of whether or not you are acting as if God does not exist. To view the series via streaming video, click here.

Are you comfortable in your job or in your ministry at your church? Or are you stepping out of your comfort zone and making a difference in people's lives? Let's find a way to live with passion so that people will take note of how we are living. Or perhaps we'd rather risk that God finds us lukewarm and wants to spit us out?

SensibleSteward Named One of Top 20 Christian Financial Websites

Scott — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:16:00 GMT

We recently learned that Bob from ChristianPF.com named our site one of the best 20 Christian financial websites, in the blog category. Thanks go out to Bob and anyone who recommended us for thinking of this site when building the list.

We hope to continue to improve our service to all of our audience in the days and months to come.

To read the article and read the full list, click here.

Churches : How Are You Responding to the Financial Crisis?

Scott — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:43:00 GMT

Churches - are you reaching out to help people in their time of need? This is a time where we need to spend less time preaching about tithing and other matters of "the law" and spend more time reaching people. I'm not saying that there is not a time and place to educate on these important matters. However, this is not the right time of emphasis, as a rapidly increasing number of folks are doing all they can to make ends meet due to job losses, pressures from an increasing debt burden, a drop in income, etc. If we meet the needs of our congregation and those in the communities around us, the giving will happen, as people will be committed to their churches in ways that they never have been previously.

For instance, do you have a financial education program in place? Do you have a financial counseling ministry? Do you have a well-defined benevolence program? Are people being helped? How much of your church budget is going toward meeting people's needs?

This is likely the most profound time of financial need that our congregations will ever see. Are we responding with the hands and feet of Jesus, or are we just being a big mouth?

If You're In A Personal Financial Crisis

Scott — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:32:00 GMT

If you or someone that you know is in a personal financial crisis, our thoughts and our prayers go out to you. Here are some tips :

1) Stay calm; God & your family and friends still love you. You still have value as a child of God.
2) Take care of basic necessities first – food, clothing, shelter (including utilities) and transportation. Prioritize your remaining expenses, so that the important things are taken care of first.
3) Don’t live in denial and hide from your creditors; communicate with them and negotiate a plan. If you show that you have a plan, it will likely buy you some additional time
4) Never give a debt collector direct access to your checking or savings account; they will wipe out your account and cause all kinds of problems for you
5) Debt collectors are not your friends; do not give them too much information or else they may use it against you later
6) Keep learning…read, listen to audio programs, learn from websites, etc.
7) Seek Godly counsel
• Proverbs 15:22, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.“
• Proverbs 19:20-21, "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails“
8) If there’s someone in your church that you trust on financial matters, seek that person out
9) Pray

Not Easily Broken

Scott — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:28:00 GMT

My wife and I recently went out to the movies on a date night. We were not sure what to watch, but we were intrigued by the description of a movie called "Not Easily Broken". What we found was a realistic snapshot of the difficulties that a married couple can face over the years and how we should remain committed to our spouses.

The premise is rooted in Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV), "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. "

The movie is based upon a book of the same name by T.D. Jakes.

Although the movie did not receive a large amount of publicity, it was very well done and we highly recommend the film.

Please note that the movie was not your typical sanitized Christian film, as it is rated PG-13.

Key stars include Morris Chestnut, Tarah P Henson, Kevin Hart, Jenifer Lewis, Maeve Quinlan, Eddie Cibrian, and Wood Harris. There is also a brief appearance from T.D. Jakes as well.

To find out more, click here to visit the official site for the movie, where you can view a trailer, find out show times, etc.

Gift Card Resale Sites - New Way to Save Money

Scott — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:27:00 GMT

Want to be able to buy things from your favorite store at a discount?

Here's a new way to do so, without waiting for a coupon or sale to come around : gift card resale sites.

One rising trend of late is the purchase of gift cards for Christmas and other special events, instead of giving cash or items that may end up at a white elephant exchange. However, with the current financial crisis, some folks really need the cash now for necessities. Thus, a series of gift card resale sites have emerged to facilitate the process.

The clearing price for the exchanges depends on supply and demand, so the size of the discount available for those willing to purchase the cards depends upon the popularity of the store and how many gift cards are available for sale.

Of course, one way to buy gift cards from someone else would be to use eBay or Craigslist, but you would likely need to sift your way through a bunch of listings that may or may not be relevant. In contrast, these gift card sites appear to be an efficient way to transact.

In scanning one of these sites, PlasticJungle.com, discounts seemed to go up to 40%, which is a substantial savings off of face value. Other gift card exchange sites include : CardAvenue, GiftCardBuyback, and GiftCardRescue.

The Best Jobs in the United States - Are One of These Suited for You?

Scott — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:28:00 GMT

The website JobsRated.com recently released a list of the top jobs in America today. They evaluated a series of around 200 occupations and scored them on 5 "core criteria" - Environment, Income, Outlook, Stress and Physical Demands.

The top 3 jobs are very closely related - mathematician, actuary, and statistician. Does this mean that we should all go out and become math majors? Absolutely not.

The problem with these studies is that they assume that people are all gifted in the same way. If someone is more artistically gifted than analytical, it is doubtful that becoming a mathematician would work out well for that person. If you're not blessed with math skills, you would probably end each day very drained and would not make much money over the long run.

The best job for you is a job consistent with your personality profile and passion. I happen to have a B.A. in Mathematics, but that still does not imply that these jobs are right for me.

Yes, the job descriptions are very consistent with my personality traits. However, I have found that work that is not linked to a personal passion can be very draining as well.

Thus, my recommendation is to take this and other job ranking surveys with a grain of salt. The best way to find a career that is right for you is to undergo a process of learning how God wired you and matching your gifts and abilities with a career about which you are passionate.

What Investments Do You Recommended?

Scott — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:49:00 GMT

Q:My 401(k) balance has dropped like a rock. What investments do you recommend?

A : These are difficult times in the market. The answer depends largely on your time horizon. If you have some time to wait out the current financial storm, there are some excellent opportunities out there.

We recommend looking past the valley of the current crisis situation and determining what the world will look like after the storm clouds have passed.

With this picture in mind, we think that inflation will return sooner than most people think, so investments in TIPS (Treasury Inflation Protected Securities) are undervalued. Similarly, there are some great values in municipal bonds right now, which are yielding more than U.S. Treasury bonds (which is rare).

New stock investments in high-quality companies will likely pay off handsomely over time.

Eventually, cash and U.S. Treasuries, which have outperformed other asset classes lately, will lag risk-based assets.

We would avoid U.S. Treasuries, as you are essentially giving the government a low-interest loan at these yield levels.

Do you have a question that we can answer about your finances, investments or career? Each month, we will answer questions from our readers in this segment. If you have a question, send a note to ask@sensiblesteward.com, and check back next month to see if we answer your question in our monthly newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you.

January Newsletter

Scott — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:40:00 GMT

Our January newsletter will be out by Monday, January 26th, as we took a brief break from running the website to take care of some church Treasurer duties. If you're new to the site and have not yet registered for your free copy, please sign up at our website by Sunday the 25th in order to receive our next issue.

Thanks for your patience.

Inauguration Day - Pray For Our Country

Scott — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:22:00 GMT

Inauguration Day is upon us. Regardless of your political views, it will be a historic day of transition.

The past 8 years under President Bush have seen their highs and lows, as will President Obama's term in office. Thank you President Bush for your 8 years of service. Our country is better because of your time in office.

The challenges facing Obama and our country right now are looming large - financial problems, rising nuclear states, terrorism, the list goes on and on.

Our nation needs a return to humility and prayer. God is in control. He always has been and always will be. Let us ask God for His wisdom and blessing in the days to come. Pray specifically for both Bush and Obama, as we enter a new stage in the life of our country.

God Bless America.

Merry Christmas

Scott — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:09:00 GMT

Amid all of the hustle and bustle of the season, we pray that you are able to keep the Christ in Christmas this year.

Here is a reminder of what Christmas is all about from Luke 2:1-20 (NIV),

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

One thing that strikes me about this story is the response of the shepherds. When they first heard the news, they immediately changed their plans and went to Bethlehem. They could have sent a representative to scout things out first and report back, or they could have waited for a more convenient time. But that's not what they did. According to verse 16, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph.

The second thing that is important is that they spread the word...what they had witnessed was so impressive that they could not keep it to themselves. We have been given the gift of salvation; a gift so great that we should be telling the world.

The final act of the shepherds that impresses me is found in verse 20...they glorified and praised God for all the things they had heard and seen. With all the activities that accompany Christmas - the company parties, the school programs, etc. - let's not forget to worship this Christmas season.

I pray that we all will remember the birth of Christ this year and act in a way that resembles the response of the shepherds. Merry Christmas!