Faith & Finance

Student loan forgiveness is much in the news these days. It’s on. It’s off. It’s on again, maybe. What’s the lesson here?  The lesson is this: Avoiding student loan debt is much easier than getting out of it. It just takes discipline. We’ll talk about that with Dr. Art Rainer today.  Dr. Art Rainer is the founder of the Institute for Christian Financial Health and Christian Money Solutions . He is...

“​​Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” - Matthew 6:26 God has promised to provide, and He is ever faithful. Knowing that is one thing; believing and living by it is another. Taylor Standridge and Chad Clark join us today to launch a brand new tool to help you overcome financial...

All your relationships—with your spouse, family, and friends—are important but temporary. Your only eternal relationship is with God. The bonds of family and friends help us thrive in this world, but they pale in comparison to the significance of our relationship with the Lord. Today, I’ll share some practical ways you can draw closer to God. Connecting Faith and Finances: Why Your Relationship wi...

You’ve probably heard it said that “anything worth doing is worth doing well.” Today, we’ll find out why working hard at something can pay big dividends—spiritually and financially. The Secret to Success: Discipline in Every Area of Life What does it take to succeed? If you ask any successful person, they’ll likely tell you that success doesn’t happen by accident—it requires hard work, preparation...

You’ve saved up your downpayment and found the perfect house to buy. But have you considered closing costs? They’re really the first big expense you’ll have with home ownership. Which can you negotiate, and which are set in stone? The Hidden Costs of Homebuying: What You Need to Know About Closing Costs Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but amidst the thrill of owning your first house, it’s...

A recent survey shows that most parents think they should teach their kids financial literacy; the good news is that many are actually doing it. Still, other parents may not know how to teach their kids financial responsibility. Ron Blue joins us today to discuss how he and his wife, Judy, did it. Ron Blue is the co-founder of Kingdom Advisors and the author of many books on biblical finance, incl...

“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” - Romans 6:6 Being born again in Christ changes a person. We’re given a new nature that fights against our old, corrupt nature. Sometimes, the evidence of this is in the area of finances. Straight ahead—a journey to faithful stewardship. Bobby...

18th Century preacher John Wesley said, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." That’s how Christians can respond to God's generous and faithful love. Specifically, Jesus called his followers to do good to the poor , and we’ll talk about what that looks lik...

Owning rental property is like ordering a pizza with anchovies. It’s not for everybody. There’s no question that renting a property can be a lucrative investment, but it’s certainly not a passive investment like owning stock. Owning rental property is attractive for many, but it’s not a perfect fit for everyone. Just like not everyone enjoys anchovies, not everyone has the temperament or resources...

More stress doesn’t always equal a higher salary, and if you bring home the stress along with the salary, is it really worth it? If that describes you, maybe it’s time to re-think the purpose of your work.  Some statistics claim that 54% of American employees are happy with their jobs, while others claim that 83% are suffering from work-related stress. A Different Question: Why Are You Working? Wh...

Thanks to insurance, we don’t very often have bank, savings and loans, or credit union “runs” anymore. Aaron Caid is with us today to discuss how that came about. Aaron Caid is the Chief Marketing Officer at Christian Community Credit Union , an underwriter of Faith & Finance .  The Role of FDIC in Banking Stability When we think about bank runs, we often think of the Great Depression. Thankfully,...

1 John 2:15 contains a command and a warning for Christians:  “ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” You have a choice—to be worldly or Kingdom-minded with your finances. But beware—God’s way is definitely counter-cultural . What Does Your Money Say About Your Values? In today’s world, many people are inclined to fit in...

The world is becoming more complex every day. Technology solves problems and creates new ones. How do you keep up? Among so many other things today, maybe you’ve noticed that managing your finances is increasingly complicated and involves more than balancing a checkbook. Sharon Epps joins us today with some much-needed advice—the 5 Ds of a Financial Reset. Sharon Epps is the president of Kingdom A...

From hats in the hall closet…to bats in the belfry, we can help you save money on the basics . Today, we’ll offer you a few common-sense strategies for saving money on three basic necessities: clothing , utilities, and home maintenance . Saving on Clothing When it comes to clothing, it’s easy to get tempted by sales or the latest trends. This is especially true if you have kids, especially teenage...

Psychologist and educator Fitzhugh Dodson wrote, “Without goals and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” Of course, goals don’t amount to much unless you have a plan to reach them. That planning should involve more than building your net worth. Ron Anderson joins us today to discuss life planning— what is it, how to do it, and why you should. Ron Anderso...

Most of today’s renters say they’d like to buy a home, but a clear majority think they’ll never be able to afford it. It’s certainly gotten more difficult to buy a house these days, with soaring home values and interest rates. But certainly not impossible—especially if you’re prepared. Renting Is Not Throwing Money Away One of the most common myths in the housing market is that renting is equivale...

“Concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” - Matthew 24:36-37 Jesus made it quite clear that no one on earth knows the day or hour of His return. Yet, we’re to live as if He’s coming back tomorrow. Does that mean we don’t need to plan for the future? Matt Bell w...

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” - Philippians 2:4 We tend to think of that verse as a prescription for giving to help the poor and needy and that’s good. But is there an application that involves investing? Stella Tai joins us today to talk about how your investing can have a positive impact in the world. Stella Tai is Manager of Stewardsh...

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10 Our good works are not for our sake but for God’s sake, to give Him glory. Investing gives us a powerful way to do that. Today, we’ll talk with Dr. Finny Kuruvilla about investing to change the world. Dr. Finny Kuruvilla is the Co-Chief Investment Offic...

When you want pithy quotes, check out social media. When you want words of truth , look to the Bible. But be careful not to get those two mixed up. Some familiar sayings may sound like Bible verses, but they’re really not. Today, we’ll find out why so many old saws really don’t cut wood. "God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle" Of all the Bible verses that aren’t actually in the Bible, here’s...

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” That familiar verse from Psalm 37 begs the question: “What are the desires of my heart?” We may be so interested in getting what we desire that we forget the other side of the equation—delighting in the Lord. Today, we’ll talk about desires—and how they can either direct us or distract us. The Nature of Desire Think ab...

The dictionary says integrity is “being honest and having strong moral principles.” God’s Word says, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity…Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” Are you living with integrity in your financial dealings? Understanding Integrity Integrity isn't just about honesty; it also means strength and dependability. When we say a bridge has integrity, we me...

Getting a college degree can substantially increase your lifetime earnings, but even better is getting someone else to pay for it. I’m talking about scholarships, of course. Every year, public and private institutions dole out about $8 billion in scholarships. Are you getting any of it? I’ll talk about how you can. The Rising Cost of College No question about it: college is expensive. The College...

If you’re drowning in debt and someone offers a lifeline, make sure it’s not really an anchor. You have a few different options for paying off debt, but they are definitely not all equal. You have debt settlement, debt consolidation, and debt management. Neile Simon joins us today to explain the difference. Neile Simon is a Certified Credit Counselor with Christian Credit Counselors (CCC) , an und...

The poet Ogden Nash once wrote, “Some debts are fun when you are acquiring them, but none are fun when you set about retiring them.” One thing’s for sure: getting into debt is much easier than getting out of debt, so the more you know about debt and credit, the better off you’ll be. Author Dr. Shane Enete joins us again today to discuss his take on that double-edged sword. Dr. Shane Enete is an As...