Faith Based Investing

Signs point to a rebound

As this recession emerged, many economists felt that it would only fade away when the sector where it all began healed itself. It was in late 2006 when the U.S. real estate bubble began to pop, setting off a chain reaction of shocks that hurt homeowners, lenders, and the entire U.S. economy.
Three years later, we have new hope in the real estate sector – and the numbers to support it.

Existing home sales rose 7.2% in July

This was not only the largest monthly gain ever recorded, but the fourth consecutive monthly gain. As the National Association of Realtors noted, the last time residential resales increased for four straight months was in June 2004. Additionally, the number of existing home sales in July 2009 was greater than a year earlier – and that hasn’t happened since November 2005. Click here to read more »

I love David Crowder Band – they’re one of my favorite bands. They have a new album coming out next month and to promote it put this hilarious video together, This is a good piece of viral marketing:

CLICK HERE or watch down below

How many times do we talk the talk but don’t walk the walk?

Actions speak louder than words!  Are we living any different than the rest of the world?

This video is a must-watch!

Happy Independence Day!
The fourth of July is one of my favorite Holidays … and not just because it usually means a fun-filled barbeque with family!

Independence Day is important to me, because it reminds me to step back each year and take account of the freedoms I enjoy – and to remember how important they are. We all seem to take our freedoms for grated from time to time, myself included. But as I look at the headlines from around the world, I’m reminded just how amazing our independence is.

Adlai Stevenson described it beautifully …

“America is much more than a geographical fact.

It is a political and moral fact – the first community

in which men set out in principle to institutionalize

freedom, responsible government, and human equality.”

As we remember the importance of our freedom and celebrate our independence, I hope you and yours enjoy a very happy and safe fourth of July!  God Bless you and God Bless the USA.

My best to you,

Jay Peroni, CFP

“How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money. Money mistakes can be corrected, but time is gone forever.” ~ David Norris

In a world that tugs us in every which direction, that slowly drains our time, steals our emotions, and leaves us for dead, how do we make heads or tails of all our goals. Most people get overwhelmed with the burden of choosing among:

* Biblical values

* Worldly values

* Personal values and belief systems

* Family member values

* Society’s goals

How in the world do we balance?

In most cases you cannot combine these beliefs because they often contradict one another. For example most worldly investment, estate planning, and retirement planning advice contradict biblical principles. It becomes extremely important when you are prioritizing goals that you have input from someone who is able to assist you in making complex decisions.

Often a qualified Christian financial planner can provide you with an independent, unbiased assessment of your financial goals as well as specific strategies to work toward those goals. He or she will also help you rank and decipher which goals are most realistic and achievable. Your priorities will decide the level of balance, where you need to adjust, as well as where you need to shift focus.

Priorities

A woman parked her brand-new Lexus in front of her office, ready to show it off to her colleagues. As she got out, a truck passed too close and completely tore off the door on the driver’s side. The woman immediately grabbed her cell phone, dialed 911, and within minutes a policeman pulled up.

Before the officer had a chance to ask any questions, the woman started screaming hysterically. Her Lexus, which she had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined and would never be the same, no matter what the body shop did to it.

When the woman finally wound down from her ranting and raving, the officer shook his head in disgust and disbelief. ”I can’t believe how materialistic you women are,” he said.  “You are so focused on your possessions that you don’t notice anything else.” “How can you say such a thing?” asked the woman. The cop replied, “Don’t you know that your left arm is missing from the elbow down? It must have been torn off when the truck hit you.” “Oh my gosh!” screamed the woman. “Where’s my tennis bracelet?”

So where are your priorities?

“Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. He killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.” - 2 Samuel 23:20-21

I just finished a great book by Mark Batterson, entitled, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day – How to survive and thrive when opportunity roars.  Ever felt like a book was written just for you?  Well, this is one such book.  I am about to take the biggest leap of faith in my 35 years here on earth.  This book revved me up mentality and helped get my attitude in check. When you need some encouragement, hope, and perspective, God’s Word stands alone, but In a Pit gave me another shot of adrenaline.

God places us strategically in the right place at the right time.  It is when we face struggles or obstacles that we grow the most.  In the book of James, He says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perspective must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.” (James 1:1-4).

Our calling in life is often running toward risk instead of running away from it.  Yet, for most, they pray that God would take away the challenges and obstacles.  I’m not saying cancer, or losing a job, or divorce, or loss of loved one is easy.   However, often when we face our greatest struggles, God uses these times to strengthen our character and prepare us for the next phase of our journey.  We should look for opportunities in our problems and take more risks so we can be all God has called us to be.

It’s crazy for someone to chase a lion, but that is exactly what In a Pit talks about- the radical, gut checking, and intentional pursuit of chasing lions (opportunities).   Nothing is impossible with God.  Yet if you view God as small, your challenges appear bigger than they are.  But with a larger view of God and all of His possibilities, your problems and challenges are much smaller.

In The Faith-Based Investor, I talk about how faith and fear are foes – they are opposites of one another.  Many let their attitudes get in the way of success.

“I can’t do it.”

“That could never happen to me.”

“It’s too difficult.”

The call of defeat often sets in before we really ever get started. Yet Batterson, who is the Lead Pastor at National Community Church in DC, offers a challenging look at how our strength and endurance during times of fear build character and faith.  He says, “The goal of life is not the elimination of fear.  The goal is to muster the moral courage to chase lions.” He goes on to say, “Opportunities often look like insurmountable obstacles. Someday we may be grateful for the bad things as the good things, because the bad things helped prepare us for the good things.”

It is when we play it safe that it is the most risky.  We risk the opportunities and experiences God had in mind for us.  At the end of one’s life more people regret the things they didn’t do than regret the things they did.  Will you leave this earth with thousands of “what ifs” or will you chase the lions God brings into your life?  It won’t be easy, but the rewards will be well worth the struggle.   Can you name one thing worth having that was easy to obtain?

When we are faithful with little things God prepares us for the greater opportunities.  When you show courage, character, dedication, and commitment, He is ready to show you where He is leading you.  Until you get to this place, you may appear stuck.  Stuck waiting for a sign, stuck waiting for an answered prayer, stuck in the status quo.  God does not call us to be mediocre.  He wants all of His people to be successful, to prosper, and to be blessed.  Yet, He cannot bless actions or steps you never take.

In Jeremiah 29:11, the Bible says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.”   He also says, “”A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) So the big question is what lion is God calling you to chase?  If you are stuck and need some direction, I highly suggest you read In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.  It may just provide the encouragement you need.

Strengthening America

America was founded upon the biblical principles of faith, hope, and love. According to www.morallaw.org, a few ex­amples of how our faith in God has shaped the foundation of America include:

* Since at least the 1820s, the U.S. Supreme Court has opened its court sessions with the prayer of “God save the United States and this Honorable Court.”

* In God We Trust was first inscribed on U.S. coins in 1864 under President Lincoln, and in 1956 Con­gress made it the national motto of the United States.

* Congress inserted “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 in order to combat the rise of atheistic communism and reaffirm that America was “founded on a belief in God.”

* A statue of Moses holding the Ten Commandments is featured in the rotunda of the Library of Con­gress.

* When our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001, the members of Congress spontaneously sang “God Bless America” on the steps of the Capitol Building.

The Declaration of Independence holds as “self-evident” that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” When fifty-six men signed this Declaration, they knew there was risk involved, but they took comfort knowing their future was in God’s hands. The forefathers invested everything, including their personal fortunes, in the fate of America be­cause of their trust in God. How amazing is this example?

Why do so many people want us to forget that America was founded on a strong faith in God? As individual investors, this provides the clearest example of why we should want to strengthen America. Our country was built on faith in God, and to continue to prosper, we must continue to rely on our faith in God. When America replaces its foundational beliefs with secular, man-made be­liefs, the end of America as we know it will occur. If our Founding Fathers were willing to pledge their worldly pos­sessions to build America, doesn’t it make sense for us to pledge our investments to build a better America?