I still remember the moment my wife and I finally decided it was time to write our will. We had two small boys at the time, both still in car seats, and I remember looking at her and saying, “So… who do we trust to raise our kids if something happens to us?” That is not the kind of date night question you want over tacos. But it mattered then, and it matters now. Estate planning is not just for the wealthy or older people. It is not about preparing to die. It’s about preparing your people … [Read more...]
Time to hit update: Why you need a refresh
Have you ever noticed that little notification box on your computer? It pops up occasionally in the upper or lower right-hand corner, or maybe it is under a tab on the top bar. Your phone has them as well, but they are not always noticed. You may not even have to click them, but (at the least opportune time) your screen will go black or blue, turn itself off, and then turn itself back on. What you experienced is called an “update.” You may ignore it (until your compliance team or grandkids … [Read more...]
Preparing for death: A confident life (part 5)
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” This simple question people ask us at places like restaurants and stores seems simple and non-confrontational. However, we should consider asking this question more often because someday, it will be the last time we can ask. Described in Luke 16:26 is this reality, “[...] a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.” Our whole series in The Pathway on the … [Read more...]
Are you generous?
Are you a generous person? Honestly, think about it: are you generous with your time, money, energy, knowledge, and resources? Let me reframe the question: Does God think you are a generous person? This is not a guilt trip but an interesting and important question, maybe one we should ask ourselves more often. At a GenerousChurch event, Tim Keller highlights one of Jesus’s sayings, which Paul writes in Acts 20: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” We often think of this verse in … [Read more...]
Saving versus investing: A confident life, part 3
Growing up, my parents constantly reminded me to save every penny I could, as saving can get you through tough times. While I am grateful for the financial position saving put me in, I never fully understood the importance of investing. Now, I’m playing catch-up for lost time, interest, and opportunities. At first, saving and investing seem antithetical, but every wise steward recognizes the need to both save and invest. Although they go hand in hand, they serve different purposes. How … [Read more...]
Do you wish you could go back in time?
The confident life, part 2 I am on the road a lot! Sometimes, to pass the time, I will turn on the “Pure Comedy” channel on Sirius XM. One comedian, Greg Warren, shared about his poor saving and spending habits. He admitted to spending $55 on an umbrella. Then he gets miffed when his friends point out that he should have been saving in his younger years, as compounding interest is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. He remarks that he should have saved more but “can’t go back … [Read more...]
Are you confident?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Neil Franks serves as president of the Missouri Baptist Foundation. Are you a confident person? Should you be confident? How confident should you be? As someone who occasionally suffers from imposter syndrome (one who never feels quite good enough), I often sway between not having enough confidence or having too much. While a lack of confidence can overwhelm the totality of a person, I find that people have varying levels of confidence based on a particular area of … [Read more...]
I have a wonderful life
I have a wonderful life. I mean, I have a wonderful wife. I have both a wonderful wife and a wonderful life. Recently, my son gave her what may be her favorite birthday gift. What was that gift? A set of replacement headphone ear pads; you know, the squishy foam part that goes between the hard plastic electronic parts and your head? Over time, the leathery part began to flake off and lost its softness. The electronic parts still worked well, but the seal needed strengthening from years of … [Read more...]
The rock and the sponge
Have you ever encountered a circumstance where you looked at someone else’s work and wondered, “What were they thinking when they did this?” Maybe it happens when you are doing a home remodel project. You uncover a problem where the previous repairman made an interesting decision, which causes you to wonder what they were thinking. The other day, I knew I had created one of those moments for somebody in the future to investigate my doing. So, in case they ask you, let me explain. I was on … [Read more...]
Biblical boldness
Boldness. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? As lawyers are trained to say in response to any and every question, “It depends.” It depends first on what you mean by boldness. If you mean reckless engagement without regard to context, old-fashioned manners more akin to rudeness, then I think we can agree that “no” is the correct answer. However, if you think about boldness from a biblical context, there may be a more appropriate application. In Acts 4:13, the rulers, elders, scribes, and … [Read more...]
Don’t ignore the BBQ sauce
I was so proud of myself. I thought I had made it through! But as Proverbs 16:18 warns, I was only preparing myself for a fall. You see, I had made the poor decision of going into a barbeque restaurant wearing a white shirt before speaking at a church. Since I was alone, they would only seat me at the bar, which increased the difficulty level. As a “teetotaler” who is not tempted in the least by alcohol, it would not bother me to sit out at the bar, especially since I could sit in front of … [Read more...]
Choosing darkness or light?
It was dark when I spotted it. Those two little gleaming eyes reflecting the light from my headlights. I slowed down and moved the car toward the side of the road. I expected to see a possum or raccoon looking back at me, but it was much smaller, a squirrel, perhaps? Finally, my brain put all the pieces together; it was a tiny kitten on the side of the road. Our cat of 15 years passed a few months ago, and I am still not over it. “Blossom,” as we called her, helped raise our boys and was a … [Read more...]
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