Life

Financial Goals: Are you in the 3%?

Robert Audet
1 Aug 2012
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The first step of the financial planning process is finished. You have figured out where you are financially by calculating your net worth and summarizing your cash flow. These reports have identified some obvious problems, financial strengths and some action steps to take. So what do you do next? It has been said that a man without a plan is like a ship without a rudder – he will end up somewhere, but probably not where he intended. That brings us to the second step of the financial planning process – the “where you want to go” question – setting […]

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Natural Health Tips for Tight Times

Dr. Jeff Hazim
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We know it is too expensive to get sick, but is it too expensive to stay well? Healthcare expenses continue to absorb a larger and larger percentage of our budget, and financial times are already difficult enough. Costs are rocketing out of control, and even though the Supreme Court has put a period on the argument about who will be required to buy health insurance, the controversy over healthcare remains. With more and more people looking to cut corners, the question prevails: how can you stay healthy on a tight budget? Does living a healthy lifestyle cost too much? When […]

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Want To Be A Good Christian?

Lori Harding
3 Jul 2012
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I have had a few conversations recently with friends and co-workers on the subject of mentoring and discipleship.  Quite honestly, those two words make me a bit nervous.  Frankly, they conjure up images of two people sitting at a table, one with a Bible staring intently into the face of the person without the Bible. The all-knowing mentor proceeds to tell the unsuspecting disciple all the things necessary for living the Christian life. Have you experienced this for yourself on one side or the other?  I have, and I cringe when I recall the uncomfortable and ridiculous task of mentoring […]

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Who’s Really Training Your Children?

Dr. Jeff Hazim
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Should the Lord tarry, this time in history might come to be known by future generations as “The Darker Ages.” Especially over the last 50 years, there has been an ever-increasing influence of the antichrist spirit in our society as evidenced by how the majority of our prevailing institutions posture themselves against God. These “vain philosophies” are an amalgamation of the “politically correct” positions of the educational system, the healthcare (disease care) and food industries, the liberal news media, the government and the entertainment industry. All of these institutions have adopted anti-God worldviews, and scripture warns us against yoking ourselves […]

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You Are Being Trained for Greatness

Cory Nickols
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Have you or someone you know ever considered becoming a doctor, whether it be in medicine, dentistry, teaching or some other field of study? What is one thing all of these disciplines have in common? Each one requires an enormous amount of time and energy in school learning, growing and being trained to become an expert in the desired vocation. Those who have completed this journey have invested eight to 12 years or more in preparation – now that is serious dedication! In the same way, God prepares us for service in His kingdom through extensive training. He takes us […]

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How Does Your Cash Flow?

Robert Audet
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Last month’s article dealt with step one in determining where you are financially. You learned that calculating your net worth/balance sheet (what you own minus what you owe) was the starting point in developing a biblically-based financial plan. This month you will become familiar with step two, which is calculating your summary of cash flow/income statement (what’s coming in minus what’s going out). This starting point will identify any obvious problems, financial strengths and some immediate steps that can be taken (i.e. spending less than you make). If the statement of net worth is like a snap shot, then the […]

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Love Says “No”

Bob Barnes
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Much of life is about balance – finding a balance between work and play or maintaining a balanced budget. In the “Parenting on Purpose” process, nothing is more important than the balance between relationship and discipline. The right disciplinary program gives a child the ability to eventually discipline himself. A right parent-child relationship gives the child the secure foundation to learn the motivation to say no, and even learn to seek balance in his own life. A positive relationship also makes the child feel secure even when he hears no from his parents. Discipline without relationship teaches a child to […]

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Can You Defend Your Faith?

Justin Young
2 Jul 2012
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Have you ever felt ill-equipped when discussing your Christian faith with a skeptic, atheist or follower of another religion? Do you spend time actually studying why you believe what you believe, or do you settle for taking someone else’s word for it? While Christianity is absolutely a walk of faith, being a Christian does not require you to check your brain at the door. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. In 1 Peter 3:14-15 (ESV), the Bible says,“Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make […]

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Thinking About Online Dating?

Annie Quinnell
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Commentary It was the fall of 2006; the ink had just dried on my divorce papers when a friend first introduced the idea of online dating to me. I had been married for what seemed like a lifetime, so this was a novel idea to me. Married people are married, so they have no idea what is happening in the world of single people. As I began to crawl out from under my married rock, I decided to do my own research on the recent phenomenon of online dating. I found multiple options. There are free online dating sites, like […]

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Food Labels: Friend or Foe?

Crystal Durham
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What is the one thing on a food product that is most commonly ignored or misinterpreted? It would be the food label or, more specifically, the nutrition facts. Often times, you glance at it to “check” how many calories you would consume or how much sodium is in an item, but do you really understand what you are reading? The food label in this example has eight servings per container and a single serving is ½ cup (approximately 82 grams). In order to make food more appealing, food companies may lower the serving size so that all the information applies […]

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