World Vision and Why We Grieve For the Children

by Trevin Wax

"World Vision has announced that its American branch will adjust its employee code of conduct to allow same-sex couples who are legally “married.”

Hoping to keep the evangelical organization out of debates over same-sex marriage, president Richard Stearns adjusted the employee code of conduct to sexuality within the confines of “marriage” whether between man and man or woman and woman. In other words, while declaring to not take a position on redefining marriage, his organization has redefined it.

Some observers are elated.

Evangelicals are shocked.

Many are outraged.

No matter what you think about this decision, I hope you feel a sense of grief… for the children. This is a story of deep and lasting significance, because there are children’s lives at stake in how we respond . . .."

To read more click HERE.

The Silence of Christ Our Substitute and the Misuse of Our Tongue

by Justin Taylor

James 3 warns us about the misuse of our tongue. James begins in v. 1 by saying that not many of us should be teachers, because we will be judged with greater strictness. His first illustration of our common “stumbling” (v. 2) is our “small member,” the tongue (v. 5). Like a small flame that can lead to a great forest first (v. 5), so the tongue can set ablaze the whole of our life (v. 6). It is untameable, restless, and full of deadly poison (vv. 7-8). The same tongue can bless God and cure those in the image of God (vv. 9-10). As James says, “My brothers, these things out not to be so” (v. 10).


How do we apply the misuse of our tongue to the redeeming power of the gospel?  To read more click HERE!

Buy Now, Pay Big Time Later

Buy Now, Pay Big Time Later [1]

11

March

2014

Brent and Darlene really enjoy their "toys" and their lifestyle. In the last few years, they bought themselves a big screen TV, a stereo system, two expensive new vehicles, a ski boat and took a tropical vacation, mostly on credit. They also used their credit cards to pay for numerous restaurant meals, theatre tickets, hockey games and other expensive outside entertainment. It wasn't long before they were carrying a balance from month to month. The credit charges and payments quickly became a burden.

They received their quarterly RRSP statements and were pleased to see that, thanks to their regular monthly contributions, they had accumulated a tidy sum. But because they felt crushed by their credit card debt they considered cashing in their RRSPs to pay it off.

To see if this made sense, they made the following calculations:

• $642 monthly for five years is needed just to pay off their present $25,000 of credit card debt, assuming no new purchases. The interest rate on it is 18.5%, so $13,520 of their total payments goes entirely to interest. Any further purchases on their card accumulate interest charges as soon as they are added to the bill. They don't intend to run up their credit card bills any further.
• Moving their debt to a low-interest credit card can cut their rate to about 10.5% and then their payment for five years would be $537 per month. The total interest over the five years would then be $7,220, but this card has a $29 annual fee, which brings the five-year total cost to $7,365.
• Consolidating their debts with a 5.25% bank loan requires only $474 monthly for five years. This reduces their total interest cost to just $3,320 and keeps their tax-sheltered RRSP funds intact.
  
  
• The RRSP alternative is the most expensive, because to net $25,000 after taxes from it, they have to withdraw about $45,000. They would then lose out on the tax-sheltered growth of their money. Assuming 7% compounded annually, their present $45,000 grows to about $244,000 in 25 years. That could then provide income of about $14,000 a year for the next 25 years. And this assumes no further contributions!

Excessive debt is the biggest stumbling block between most people and their financial success. It is difficult to avoid spending excessively when hundreds of billions of dollars are spent annually on clever advertising designed to persuade us to blow our hard earned money on things we don't really need to impress people we don't really like.

Brent and Darlene had their eyes opened to the enormous cost of their spending and debt habits. They have cut up their credit cards and save more money regularly to pay for future major purchases with cash. And they have also reduced their restaurant meals and outside entertainment. Their plan is to go from living beyond their means to living below their means so they can accumulate more money for their future with less stress.

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1.  http://www.rpfinancial.ca/print/e-newsletter/2014/2014-03/article-3.htm

The Ten Commitments of Self-Leadership - Steve Stroope

arch 5, 2014

Much of what I have learned about self-leadership, I began learning in earnest many years ago when I participated in a mentoring experience led by Bob Shank called “The Master’s Program.” I was part of a group that met for three years, four times a year, for a one-day intensive. In these meetings Bob focused our attention on the need for consistent growth in ten critical areas of life.

We were challenged over the three-year journey to assess our current reality in light of God’s Word and to make specific, incremental changes, or create holy habits, that would move us toward Christ’s ideal.

Many times we overestimate what we can change in a short period of time and underestimate what we could accomplish applying right habits over the long haul. In looking at the ten realms of self-leadership listed below, the key question becomes: To what single area might you give special attention in the next three-to-four months and what specific holy habit might you adopt that would make personal growth more likely?

1. Spiritual Fitness

What does spiritual fitness look like? In John 15:8, Jesus said it is the Father’s desire that we “produce much fruit” and so prove to be His disciples. The word fruit in the Bible is used in a couple of ways. First, “fruit” is used to describe the very character of Christ. The second way in which “fruit” is used is to describe both physical and spiritual reproduction (see Gen. 9:1, Rom. 1:13, and 1 Cor. 16:15). So, two simple questions get to the heart of spiritual fitness:

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