Faith Based Investing

“It takes as much time and energy to wish as it does to plan” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“You may delay but time will not” – Benjamin Franklin

Often people say they have “decided” to change.  They have very good intentions and actually wish they would change.   The problem: status quo.   It is so easy to continue doing what we are doing.  It is comfortable.   To step out into uncharted waters and fail, this frightens many to stay on the same path.   Now what started out as good intentions turns into a game of procrastination.  The difference between “deciding” and “doing” is like night and day.  The deciding part is the first 10%; the doing is the other 90 percent.

If you have decided to make a financial change in your life: work on a spending plan, seek the help of a financial planner, spend more time learning about finances, go out and do it.  Don’t just talk about it.  Actions speak louder than words.  Get started today.

David came into my office, looking to make a financial change.  He had neglected his investment portfolio for the last several years and was afraid to commit to change.  He had been burned by the last market downturn and could not bring himself to get “back on the horse”.   Though he had “decided” several times to make a change, he became overwhelmed with analysis paralysis.   This is a phenomenon where you shuffle paper after paper and exhaustively research something so that you have so much information you don’t even know where to begin.   You become disoriented and confused.   This is exactly what happened to David.  Finally, David made a decision to change.  He set his plan in motion by going to visit several financial planners.  He again became confused by the “many” choices.  Each planner had a different recommended course of action.   Everything was recommended from annuities to stocks to mutual funds. David again became overwhelmed and decided to remain status quo.

When David came to see me in November of 2005, he had already lost three good years in the stock market.   We came up with the perfect plan to incorporate his faith, his fears, and his behaviors.   It was going to take some work, but we had our game plan.  The only problem now was getting David to follow through.  After month after month of procrastination, David finally did what he needed to do to set the plan in motion. This was a full 10 months after we first met!  Sometimes our fears and past mistakes, limit our progress.  Like the deer in the headlights, either move or you will be run over.   You have the opportunity today to follow through on something.  Don’t let another day pass you by.  Go out and make the changes you have been thinking about.  Go out and God will direct your steps.

Here are a few great passages from Proverbs:

Proverbs 16:3

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:9

In his heart a man plans his course, but the lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Where is a financial area that you know needs changing but you have neglected to change?

What are three financial things that you will accomplish over the next month?

What area of your financial life could you use the most help?  Why?

BREAKING NEWS

I wanted you to be the first to know that I will appear as a guest on the Mornings with Lorri & Larry Radio Show on Monday July 28^th from 6:23am- 6:50am EST. On the show I will be discussing my upcoming book The Faith-Based Millionaire and other current financial topics. This is a division of FamilyNet Television & Radio. The show is nationally syndicated. Mornings airs from 6-9 am Eastern on Sirius Satellite 161. If you’re up that early call in with your questions:

The Listener Toll-Free Number During Show: 1-877-FAMNET1

If you are unable to tune in, the show will be available via web the following day and I will post the show to my site as soon as I have the audio.

For more information go to:

www.FamilyNetRadio.com

Blessings,

Jay

I saw this online and could not resist passing it along.   For people who say marriage should extend beyond a man and a woman:  Where do we draw the line?   For those who are fighting the cultural battle to protect families, those standing for what they believe in, and those who want to protect God’s Word, here is a little humor to start the week.  It would be more humorous, if it didn’t ring so true…

San Francisco

( A scene at City Hall in San Francisco )

“Next.”

“Good morning. We want to apply for a marriage license.”

“Names?”

“Tim and Jim Jones.”

“Jones? Are you related? I see a resemblance.”

“Yes, we’re brothers.”

“Brothers? You can’t get married.”

“Why not? Aren’t you giving marriage licenses to same gender couples?”

“Yes, thousands. But we haven’t had any siblings. That’s incest!”

“Incest?” No, we are not gay.”

“Not gay? Then why do you want to get married?”

“For the financial benefits, of course. And we do love each other.

Besides, we don’t have any other prospects.”

“But we’re issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples who’ve been denied equal protection under the law. If you are not gay, you can get married to a woman.”

“Wait a minute. A gay man has the same right to marry a woman as I have. But just because I’m straight doesn’t mean I want to marry a woman. I want to marry Jim.”

“And I want to marry Tim, Are you going to discriminate against us just because we are not gay?”

“All right, all right. I’ll give you your license. Next.”

“Hi. We are here to get married.”

“Names?”

“John Smith, Jane James, Robert Green, and June Johnson.”

“Who wants to marry whom?”

“We all want to marry each other.”

“But there are four of you!”

“That’s right. You see, we’re all bisexual. I love Jane and Robert, Jane loves me and June, June loves Robert and Jane, and Robert loves June and me. All of us getting married together is the only way that we can express our sexual preferences in a marital relationship.”

“But we’ve only been granting licenses to gay and lesbian couples.”

“So you’re discriminating against bisexuals!”

“No, it’s just that, well, the traditional idea of marriage is that it’s

just for couples.”

“Since when are you standing on tradition?”

“Well, I mean, you have to draw the line somewhere.”

“Who says? There’s no logical reason to limit marriage to couples. The more the better. Besides, we demand our rights! The mayor says the constitution guarantees equal protection under the law. Give us a marriage license!”

“All right, all right. Next.”

“Hello, I’d like a marriage license.”

“In what names?”

“David Deets.”

“And the other man?”

“That’s all. I want to marry myself.”

“Marry yourself? What do you mean?”

“Well, my psychiatrist says I have a dual personality, so I want to marry the two together. Maybe I can file a joint income-tax return.”

“That does it! I quit!! You people are making a mockery of marriage!!”

Ask the typical, worn out CEO who just got back from his local work-aholic anonymous meeting.   His chapter meets once a year due to lack of time.  He makes millions a year, millions more in stock options, works 100 hours a week, and has very little time for his family (whoever is left), friends (no time), or things he or she truly enjoys (work, work, and more work).  Often priorities become one dimensional when money is used as a measure of success.  Balance is truly achieved when God is first, family is second, career is third, and your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial priorities are in order.  Money can never be a true measure of success.

A great formula involves two Cs and Two Ss:

Christ:  By putting Christ first in our lives, the pieces seem to fall into place.  When we abandon Him and try to face the world on our own, we often fail miserably. When we set our benchmark as the closeness we have to Him, nothing else compares.

Compassion:   This involves the act of helping those around us who are in less than ideal situations.  There are millions suffering from hunger, disease, depression, despair.  In a chaotic world, we are called to bring salt and light to this earth. Unselfish acts of compassion are always a victory no matter how small.

Sacrificing for others:  We often give money, yet forget the most important element, which is the giving of ourselves.  Like Christ sacrificed for others, his example shows us that every person in this world is equal.  No one person has greater importance on this earth.  We should be willing to help our brother.  To unwrap ourselves from our own lives and be on the lookout for opportunities to serve others.  I am just as guilty as the next guy.  Lord, please change my heart and attitude so that I may be more willing to sacrifice myself for your glory.  May I be an example to those that do not know you and may I be used as your vessel to do your will on this earth.   When this is prayed with honesty and sincerity, God will provide opportunities.

Significance:  We often think of significance in terms of ourselves.  How can we be significant?  What if the world was not just about you?   For some, this may be a shocking revelation.  The world is not about you.  There is something much larger, much greater.  That is fulfilling God’s purpose for you.  It may be a small or large part in the play.  Learn your lines, rehearse, and get ready you are always on the great stage of life.

Do you ever feel like your work is killing you?  In Japan, work is literally killing people.  The Japanese call it “karoshi” – death from too much work.   These types of deaths have steadily increased since the Health Ministry first recognized the phenomenon in 1987. This comes from a nation that prides itself in long extended hours.

This week, a Japanese labor bureau ruled that one of Toyota’s top car engineers died from working too many hours. The man who died was aged 45 and had been under severe pressure as the lead engineer in developing a hybrid version of Toyota’s blockbuster Camry line. In the two months up to his death, the man averaged more than 80 hours of overtime per month. He regularly worked nights and weekends and was frequently sent abroad.

Are you working too many hours?  Is your work being done in vain?  Are you working for something you believe in?  Does your life’s work reflect your values and faith?  If you are concerned with your answers to any of these questions, seek to make change.  By placing principles before profits, you can discover ways to achieve wealth and glorify God in the process. Revaluate your life today and make sure your faith is aligned with your priorities in life.  A great resource for finding your calling is Dan Miller’s “48 Days”.  You can go to www.48days.com.  Whether you are retired, gainfully employed, or seeking new opportunities you will find much value in Dan’s resources.

Happy 4th of July! It’s important to remember why we celebrate Independence Day, and how important our freedom is.

We are fortunate to live in liberty, but often we lose sight of just how valuable our freedom is. A wise man once said … Anyone who takes liberty for granted has never had it taken away from them.

The independence we enjoy today was dreamed of and fought for by our founding fathers. On this Fourth of July, please join me in remembering the brave men who fought for our freedom in the past, as well as those who continue to fight for our Country today.

“I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure

that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and

support and defend these States. Yet through all the

gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory.

I can see that the end is more than worth all the means.”

- John Adams, 1776

Wishing you and your family a joyous Independence Day!

UPDATE:

On a blog posting on 5/18, I informed you about McDonald’s proactive stance on promoting homosexuality.  They have now also refused a request to remain neutral in the culture war, choosing to continue support of the homosexual agenda. McDonald’s recently was asked in writing to do the following two things:

1) Remove McDonald’s name and logo from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Web site listing McDonald’s as a “Corporate Partner and Organization Ally” of NGLCC.

2) Remove the endorsement of NGLCC by Richard Ellis, Vice President of Communications for McDonald’s USA, from the NGLCC Web site.

The response?  McDonald’s refused both requests. They commented that they will continue to promote diversity.  McDonald’s donated $20,000 to NGLCC in exchange for membership in the NGLCC and a seat on the group’s board of directors. The NGLCC lobbies Congress on a wide range of issues including the promotion of homosexual marriage aka “counterfeit marriage”.

What should you do?  If this enrages you like it should, boycott their company stock and don’t eat their food. This issue is not about hiring homosexuals, or homosexuals eating at McDonald’s, or how homosexual employees are treated. It is about the corporate proactive stance McDonald’s is taking by putting their full weight behind promoting homosexuality.

If you are unsure if you own McDonald’s stock in your portfolio, email me and I can do an analysis for you.   You may not only own McDonald’s but other companies whose values contradict your own.  Take the time to discover where you’re investing and integrate your faith into your financial plan.