The Journey of the Inland Empire

Love Potion to defend decisive lead in sports series.

2008-07-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

Riverside, CA—It was an intense soccer match Saturday at Hunter Park as Love Potion #1’s (LP) team captain, Barton Thrasher, went head-to-head with veteran Summer Sports player, Cristina Candelaria, of the Warriors of Love (WOL). To heighten the drama of the game the soccer field was shortened to a 30 yard square. At one point Shawn Candelaria, acting LP goalie, threw the ball to score a goal from his post, a play which was immediately and unanimously deemed illegal. LP didn’t look worried as they took the lead early on in the game. But WOL came up from behind in the second half to close the point gap, in what looked then like anyone’s game. It was 5-5, With two minutes left to play. The pace was quickening as many attempts by the WOL to score were thwarted. Finally, with 7 seconds on the clock, LP scored the final goal to win the game 6-5. All was not lost for the WOL as pregnant and perseverant team captain, Marla Arnold, led her team to once again garner sportsmanship and teamwork points.

SOCCER SCORE… LP: 100; WOL: 25 +25 = 50.

CURRENT STANDINGS after two events... LP: 250; WOL: 100.

Tonight (7/18) Love Potion fights to protect their lead in a dangerous game of Dodgeball at FUEL. Any young adult is welcome to join a team. Dinner starts at 6pm. Fuel starts at 7pm. See Sports.TowardTruth.com for more all the latest Summer Sports Series news.

Love Potion leads Warriors 150 to 50

2008-07-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Love Potion #1 (LP) beat Warriors of Love (WOL), 7-6, in overtime Friday, as the Journey officially kicked off Summer Sports Series IV with Pass, Catch and Shoot. LP also got bonus points for picking their name first and for good sportsmanship because they brought drinks for everyone at half time. WOL also got bonus points for sportsmanship and teamwork. Unfortunately, for all their teamwork, they could not get the ball in the basket for the first half. But their passing game almost paid off when they came from behind to tie the game at the end of the second half.

Current Standings after one event...
LP: 100 + 25 +25 = 150
WOL: 25 + 25 = 50

Tonight the Warriors compete to take back their pride in Soccer competition. Any young adult is welcome to join a team. Meet at Centerpoint at 5pm to caravan to Hunter Park. See Sports.TowardTruth.com for more details.

The Journey Update

2008-07-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoyed your holiday! As for us, we had an amazing time camping in beautiful San Jacinto State Park. First the bad news… we were down two stoves with one to go and we couldn’t get that one to work either. But not to be defeated, we were able to put the pot and pan we had on a grill directly over the campfire. The food took a little longer to cook, but it was delicious and we were certainly not underfed. Then, as we began “Fuel in the Forest” all our flying beetle friends decided to join us, distracting us to the point of cutting our time of singing short.

But the good news is… We had great times of reflection and discussion both nights, being challenged in our ideas of what it means to love one another and getting opportunities to put that love into practice throughout our time together.

Especially memorable and rewarding was our 6.6 mile hike through Deer Springs Trail up to Suicide Rock. For some of us it was a cakewalk. But for others of us (including me) it was an exercise in pushing our bodies to their utter limits. There were slips, bug bites, blisters and moments of self-doubt. But with encouragement and perseverance we pushed through together. And it was all worth it. Though the trail itself was beautiful, the view from the rock was amazing! We ate lunch at the top with both a sense of accomplishment and a thirst for ice cold water.

That hike was just the beginning of a full month of teamwork and determination as we embark on The Journey’s SUMMER SPORTS SERIES IV. Every Friday and Saturday in July two teams will compete to be this year’s Ultimate Journey Champions. You can join a team at any time and will remain on that team throughout the series.

This Friday’s competition is basketball with a twist—Pass, Catch & Shoot—a fun game for athletes of any skill level. Just show up for Fuel at 7pm (dinner’s at 6pm) and we’ll get you on a team. And remember, there will be childcare for those who need it.

On Saturday, get in on the action as our two teams run, kick, and defend their goal in Soccer. Just meet us at Centerpoint at 5pm to follow us to Hunter Park.

For a schedule of this year’s events, directions to Hunter Park, or pictures of Summer Sports Series III, go to Sports.TowardTruth.com.

Hope the camping trip went well.

2008-07-10T00:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know who all went, and I haven't heard back from everyone, but from the ones I did talk to, I heard that it was a wonderful experience. I'm sorry that Rex and I missed it, but we had several very good reasons:

1) We were helping our friends Matt and Bridget move into their new apartment. We had to move everything from Ontario to San Bernardino. I helped on Friday, and Rex helped out both Friday and Saturday. We rested on Sunday. :-)

2) Rex doesn't like camping. He does not enjoy sleeping in a tent, in a sleeping bag, and not being able to shower, or use a normal toilet. (I heard about the "No Facilities" at the camp. Was there at least an outhouse, or some kind of indoor toilet?)

3) Rex's mom needed us, to take her to run some errands. It's only fair, since she's been loaning us her car for the last several months, until she has her last (hopefully) eye surgery, and her eye heals well enough for her to drive.

4) Last but not least, for those of you who don't know: Rex and I are having a baby! We are expecting our little bundle of joy on January 22, 2009! Of course, since it's my first pregnancy, there's even less guarantees on the due date, then there would normally be. We are so happy, and we're glad to share this experience with everyone in The Journey, and as of next year, we will have a new addition to the Journey family: Baby "Peanut" Arnold! (It's only a nickname, we are not actually going to name our baby "Peanut"!)

Hope everyone is well, and I will see some of you on Friday, at Fuel. We missed everyone last Friday, so we're glad Fuel is back at church! :-)

Yard Sale!

2008-07-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

Where do I begin? It has been a whirlwind month!

With our one-year lease up July 1, Cristina and I had been thinking about whether we should sign on for another year or look for a new place. We visited a few houses for rent but nothing was worth moving from our apartment which we both really loved. But then, one month ago, we got word through my brother that his complex had an opening for a 1-bedroom apartment. Our name had been on the waiting list for a 2-bedroom since last summer. And a few months ago they called us with a vacancy, but we were still in our lease, so we couldn’t accept. So we put on name at the bottom of the list. But now this 1-bedroom opened up. We had to move on it right away. So we thought about it and prayed about it.

The night before we had to decide, I went for a walk and went through the 5 ways of making a good decision that we had talked about at Fuel last year. Was it God honoring? Well, it meant fewer, or smaller, gatherings for The Journey. But it also meant more money with which to be more generous than we could before. Was it Spirit-led? This was not the product of our own effort. It was totally a God thing. We had gone asking, seeking and knocking. But God presented this door in His perfect timing, without us even seeking it out. Was it wise? By moving into this smaller but quite comfortable apartment, we would be saving $500 every month; that’s $6,000 a year! That meant we could be debt-free sooner, build up a more substantial savings for unexpected expenses, have the money to make future necessary purchases like new cars, and invest more for the future, all making us better prepared for any possible future editions to our family. Was it well-advised? Having such little time, I decided I only had time to seek Cristina’s advice (and not also the usual list of trusted friends). And in her separate personal considerations, she thought it would be a good move. So, lastly, with everything pointing toward moving, and being in agreement, we mustered up the courage to call and accept the offer to move in.

We started moving in on the 21st, packing and moving about one room at a time. Then we had all the big stuff out by the 28th. Yesterday, we finally got the last of our stuff and cleaned up the place. Today, I turn in the keys to our old place.

It’s amazing how God has blessed us. He hasn’t given us more pay. But He has given us more money. By leading us to this new apartment, it’s like we got a $500/month raise! God is good!

And we will be busy for about another month as we try to unpack 1600 square feet of stuff into 950 square feet of space. I have two words for you: yard sale.

You can work at Stater Bros.

2008-07-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

I hear that Stater Bros. will be accepting applications for both checker and janitor tomorrow (7/8) at 7am. Dress in business attire. Be there early. The store is located at 1786 E Lugonia Ave in Redlands.

Need a Job

2008-06-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Education jobs
For those without degrees there are a number of classified positions for which they would qualify
http://www.edjoin.org/advancedSearch.aspx

California Jobs
http://www.caljobs.ca.gov/

City of Colton Jobs
http://www.ci.colton.ca.us/hr/

City of Fontana Jobs
http://www.fontana.org/main/hr_risk/hr_main.htm

City of Grand Terrace
http://www.cityofgrandterrace.org/jobs.asp

City of Highland
http://www.ci.highland.ca.us/employment.htm

City of Loma Linda Jobs
http://www.lomalinda-ca.gov/asp/Site/Departments/Administration/HumanResources/JobOpportunities/index.asp

City of Redlands Jobs
http://www.ci.redlands.ca.us/manager/personnel.htm

City of Rialto
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/rialto/default.cfm

City of Riverside Jobs
https://cityjobs.riversideca.gov/hr/

City of Yucaipa
http://www.yucaipa.org/employmentOpportunities/index.php

Government Jobs
http://www.govjobs.com/

Riverside Community College
https://jobs.rcc.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1214678372871

Riverside County Jobs
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/riverside/default.cfm

San Bernardino County Jobs
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/sanbernardino/default.cfm

San Bernardino Valley College (including Crafton)
https://www.sbccdjobs.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1214678270322

University of California at Riverside Jobs
http://humanresources.ucr.edu/jobs/

UCR library jobs
http://library.ucr.edu/employment/

University of Loma Linda Jobs
http://llu.edu/hrm/

University of Redlands
http://www.redlands.edu/x2701.xml

Time is running out!

2008-06-25T17:11:00.001-07:00

Journeyers, time is running out!

YOU CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE FOR ONE MORE WEEK! Gather all you cans and plastic bottles and bring them to Fuel this Friday! We will redeem them and give the money to Tunde & Friends Ministries. This is the last week we are collecting cans. Please rinse them out before you bring them in. OR, if you want to redeem them yourself and bring in the money, that’s fine too. For more information go to BeTheDifference.TowardTruth.com.

FOURTH OF JULY FUN IN THE FOREST! We need your money in by this Sunday! That’s $30 for two nights, or $25 if you need to come home by Saturday. You can pay Kevin tonight at Thru the Bible, or Shawn on Friday or Sunday. The details are as follows…
· 2 nights camping at Mt. San Jacinto State Park (showers & bathrooms available; you bring your own camping equipment).
· Friday, July 4, 1pm, through Sunday, July 6, 1pm.
· 5 meals, FUEL in the forest, Summer Sports Series, hiking & more!
· All for only $30. THAT'S TEN DOLLARS A DAY!!! (and it INCLUDES GAS!!!). Payment in full secures your spot.
· All money must be in on or before June 29.
· If you have to be back early: We are only allowed 2 vehicles for every 8 people. So as long as you ride up with 2-3 other people who need to be back early, you can ride back together too. And if you HAVE TO leave on Saturday, I will knock $5 off your camping price, which means you'll only have to pay $25.
· Have any questions? shawn@towardtruth.com

THERE IS NO FUEL ON FOURTH OF JULY. Due to the camping trip & holiday, there will be no Fuel on July 4. We will be back on July 11. For more information, check out Fuel.TowardTruth.com.

See you on the journey!
Shawn

4th of July Weekend Camping Trip

2008-06-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

THERE'S ONLY TWO WEEKS UNTIL SUMMER EXCURSION!

- 2 nights camping at Mt. San Jacinto State Park (showers & bathrooms available; you bring your own camping equipment).

- Friday, July 4, 1pm, through Sunday, July 6, 1pm.

- 5 meals, FUEL in the forest, Summer Sports Series, hiking & more!

- All for only $30. THAT'S TEN DOLLARS A DAY!!! (and it INCLUDES GAS!!!). Payment in full secures your spot.

- All money must be in on or before June 29.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE BACK EARLY?

We are only allowed 2 vehicles for every 8 people. So as long as you ride up with at least two other people who need to be back early, you can ride back together too. And if you HAVE TO leave on Saturday, I will knock $5 off your camping price, which means you'll only have to pay $25.

YOU CAN PAY BY JUNE 29.

- $30 for Friday through Saturday OR $25 if you have to come back early.

- Bring your money to me (Shawn) at Fuel on Friday or Remix Sunday evening (I'm the bass player).

- Or give the money to your small group leader--Adda or Ellie on Tuesday, or Kevin on Wednesday--and they can get the money to me.

EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

shawn@towardtruth.com

Join us in Judges

2008-06-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

We have now begun our fifth book in the Storyline Challenge: Judges. If you'd like to read along with us, here is a schedule.

Monday, June 16 - Judges 1
Tuesday, June 17 - Judges 2
Wednesday, June 18 - Judges 3
Thursday, June 19 - Judges 4
Friday, June 20 - Judges 5
...and so on...

If you are just joining us, the Storyline Challenge is a committment to developing a habit of reading the Bible by reading just one chapter a day through 13 books of the Bible that tell the story of the Bible from Creation to the Church.

The Storyline Books will introduce you to the major people, events, and ideas of the Old and New Testaments without giving you an overwhelming amount to read. And as you read you’ll gain a better understanding of the other books because you’ll know where they fit into the story.

If you get a late start, don’t worry, catch up when you can.

And don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day (or more). Just start again the next day. The main purpose is not to stick to a schedule, but to develop a regular habit of reading the Bible, which will spark growth in all areas of your life!

Don't put it off any longer. Start today!

To get the most out of your personal Bible reading, it is helpful to have a study Bible. Check out five great picks at Bible.TowardTruth.com.

FUEL Goes to Africa Tonight

2008-06-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

One of our own, Nathan Womack, is going on a missions trip to Africa this summer. Come out to support him as he shares about what his team will be doing on behalf of Christ tonight at FUEL. FUEL happens at 495 N La Cadena Drive in Colton at 7pm. See you there!

The Journey Update

2008-06-12T16:42:00.001-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen of The Journey…

Congratulations to all our graduates out there on your excellent achievement! You did it! And to those of you who have yet to finish the race, you CAN do it. It IS worth the effort. Don’t lose heart; don’t give up. Press on toward the goal as you trust in the Lord at every step for the strength and guidance you need. But for now… Enjoy the summer! I have three suggestions on how you can.

First, get ready for THE JOURNEY’S SUMMER EXCURSION, Friday, July 4, 1pm, through Sunday, July 6, 1pm.

2 nights camping at Mt. San Jacinto State Park (showers & bathrooms available; bring your own tents).
5 meals, FUEL in the forest, Summer Sports Series IV—Mountain Olympics, hiking & more!
All for only $30.
Space is limited. Only payment in full secures your spot, so get your money to me as soon as possible.
All money must be in on or before Sunday, June 29.
To learn more email me (shawn@towardtruth.com).

In other news, there are no longer any Journey Groups on Mondays. The men’s group is taking a summer break. The YOUNG WOMEN’S JOURNEY GROUP has moved to Tuesdays at 6pm. Join them in Rialto for a time of encouragement and discussion through the Proverbs and Parables of the Bible. For more info email Ellie (ellie@towardtruth.com).

Finally, is abortion unthinkable to you? Are you not sure where you stand on abortion? Would you like to be better equipped to defend a pro-life position? Join us for a DVD series, MAKING ABORTION UNTHINKABLE, Sunday mornings in the Student Ministries Building at 10:30 AM beginning June 15th. If you plan to attend, contact the church office (connect@centerpointcolton.com) and let them know so there will be enough materials ready.

However you enjoy your summer this year, I hope The Journey will be part of it.

Blessings,
Shawn

Medal of Honor

2008-06-04T01:03:00.000-07:00

On Monday June 2, 2008, President Bush awarded the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Ross Andrew McGinnis of the U.S. Army. The award was accepted by Ross's mom and dad, Romayne and Tom

President Bush noted, “That element of his character was to make all the difference when Ross McGinnis became a soldier in the Army. One afternoon 18 months ago, Private McGinnis was part of a humvee patrol in a neighborhood of Baghdad. From his position in the gun turret, he noticed a grenade thrown directly at the vehicle. In an instant, the grenade dropped through the gunner's hatch. He shouted a warning to the four men inside. Confined in that tiny space, the soldiers had no chance of escaping the explosion. Private McGinnis could have easily jumped from the humvee and saved himself. Instead he dropped inside, put himself against the grenade, and absorbed the blast with his own body.”

….

“No one outside this man's family can know the true weight of their loss. But in words spoken long ago, we are told how to measure the kind of devotion that Ross McGinnis showed on his last day: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080602-1.html

Read about MOH Paul Ray Smith
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200806u/medal-of-honor

Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Ross McGinnis and all Armed Forces may God bring them all home safely.

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day 2008

Today take a moment and say a prayer for our Courageous Soldiers and their families. Remember the sacrifices they have made and be thankful for their continued efforts to keep the citizens of this country and other countries free to live and safe from tyranny.

Consider giving to the Semper Fi (http://www.semperfifund.org/) fund and go read about the story of Iraq through the eyes of our Soldiers by reading The Moment of Truth in Iraq by Michael Yon.

“Today, though that moment is not yet surely gained, it remains within our grasp as long as we are true to ourselves. For it is our values that can win this war, for us and for the Iraqi people, just as betraying those values very nearly lost it.”

….

“LTC Kurilla’s soldiers relate an incident that occurred before I arrived in April 2005, when he or his guys killed an enemy one day, and the dead guy’s cell phone rang. Kurilla’s interpreter answered it. It was the dead guy’s brother. The story goes that Kurilla said through the interpreter that he was the American commander, adding, “I just killed your brother and am coming to kill you!”

Michael Yon, Moment of Truth in Iraq http://www.michaelyon-online.com/

And FYI, “Congress this week found time to honor a college basketball team, Arnold Palmer, and Frank Sinatra…but then went home for a two-week vacation without funding American troops in combat, putting even the paychecks of our soldiers in jeopardy.” Freedomswatch.org

Think about that when you vote this year.

The Journey Update

2008-05-23T00:34:00.000-07:00

We have a few special things going on this week.

START READING JOSHUA TODAY. The STORYLINE CHALLENGE begins anew today as we begin the book of Joshua. If you have been reading with us since January you will have already finished Genesis, Exodus and Numbers. If you have not yet joined us, but you want to get into the habit of reading the Bible and you want to understand it better, now is the time! Just read one chapter a day. That’s it!

All that means is deciding right now to set aside about 5 minutes every day to read your Bible. Start with Joshua chapter one today. They read chapter two tomorrow, and so on. Also, join us for FUEL tonight (7pm) and we will be talking about the book of Joshua and what to expect as you read through it.

INDIANA JONES AND THE JOURNEY MARATHON. See all four Indiana Jones adventures this Memorial Monday, May 26. Raiders of the Lost Ark starts at 10am at the Candelaria residence in Redlands. Bring $3 for lunchtime pizza. After Temple of Doom and Last Crusade we’re having a BBQ dinner (on us) and then heading off to Krikorian in Redlands for the 7pm showing of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Get your tickets now through the box office or movietickets.com.

NOTE: This means NO SMALL GROUPS this MONDAY.

THE CASE FOR CHRIST—LIVE! See the author of The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel, in person at Biola University as he tells the story of how the evidence for the truth of the gospel led him to faith in Christ. Plus, everyone gets a FREE DVD of The Case for Christ—The Film. Also speaking will be Mike Erre and J. P. Moreland. Meet at Centerpoint to carpool at 5:45pm on Tuesday, May 27. We’ll be back by 11pm.

A Formula for Financial Freedom (6 of 6)

2008-05-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

FORMULA FOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM – BUDGET WORKSHEET

GENEROSITY = GROSS – (Tithe + Tax + Thrift + Tally + Treat)

GROSS (wages + tips + allowance + gifts + etc.) = __________
TAXES = __________

NET 1 – “Take home pay” – available to spend after taxes (GROSS – TAXES) = __________

TITHE – percentage devoted to God (GROSS x .10) = __________
THRIFT/D.I.P.S – percentage set aside for a thriving future (GROSS x .10) = __________

DEBT REPAYMENT (THRIFT/4) = __________
INVESTMENT SAVINGS (THRIFT/4) = __________
PURCHASES (THRIFT/4) = __________
SAVINGS (THRIFT/4) = __________

NET 2 – Available to spend on TALLY, TREAT & GENEROSITY (NET 1 – (TITHE + DIPS)) = __________

TALLY – every dollar spent on bills and expenses during the month = __________

Housing (Rent/Mortgage + Renter’s/Homeowners Insurance) = __________
Utilities (electricity + gas + water + trash + phone + cable + internet + cell) = __________
Food (groceries + eating out) = __________
Car (payment +insurance + gas + maintenance/repairs) = __________
Health (medical/dental/vision/life insurance +prescription + co-pays + gym membership) = __________
Personal (hair care + childcare + child support +etc.) = __________
Household (laundry + household supplies + misc.) = __________
Education (tuition +fees +parking + books +lab) = __________
Debts (credit cards + student loans + etc.) = __________

NET 3 – available to spend on TREAT and GENEROSITY (NET2 –TALLY) = __________

TREAT – desired to spend on personal enjoyment = __________

Clothing = __________
Beauty (nails + etc.) = __________
Entertainment (movies + gaming + theatre + concert + etc.) = __________

GENEROSITY – available to give to others (NET3 – TREAT) = __________

Gifts (birthdays + holidays + special occasions) = __________
Charitable Giving (ministries + missions + organizations) = __________

A Formula for Financial Freedom (5 of 6)

2008-05-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the budget at a glance...

GENEROSITY = GROSS – (Tithe + Tax + Thrift + Tally + Treat)

Gross = all the money earned before taxes are taken out.

Tithe = 10% of gross income OR 10% of net income and tax refund

Tax = all federal and state income tax, social security and medicare withholdings

Thrift = 1-20% (match percentage of tithe or adjust as needed) of gross paid to D.I.P.S.

Debts = ¼ thrift goes toward paying off smallest debt first (in addition to minimum payment)

Investments = ¼ Thrift goes toward building an investment fund for 401k, mutual funds, stocks, and/or bonds.

Purchases = ¼ of the Thrift fund goes toward saving up for bigger purchases.

Savings = ¼ of the Thrift fund goes toward saving for emergencies.

Tally = the total monthly amount of money paid toward bills and expenses

Treat = money spent for personal enjoyment

Generosity = amount of money left over to be a blessing to others

“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” – John Maxell

Tomorrow, in the final installment of this series, I will be posting a worksheet to help you calculate you personal budget.

A Formula for Financial Freedom (4 of 6)

2008-05-13T12:00:00.001-07:00

Tally is the total monthly amount of money paid toward bills and expenses. This is where all our money disappears. As Proverbs 23:5 so aptly observes, “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” Again in Proverbs 22:7, we are told that, “the borrower is slave to the lender.” We have to pay our bills. But here’s the beauty of this budget. All you have to do is make minimum payments and let your DIPS accelerate your financial freedom.

This is also where you have to do a little acting. If you pretend to be rich now, and live like you can afford anything, then you will soon end up with nothing. But if you pretend to be poor now, you will eventually be able to afford anything you need (see Proverbs 13:7). So ask yourself some important questions. What unnecessary payments are you making? Where can you cut back? Learn to discern the difference between a need and a desire. For instance, you need clothes; you do not need designer brands. You need food; you do not need to frequent your favorite steak house.

The hardest part is learning discipline. For example, in order to keep our spending under control, Cristina and I give ourselves a cash allowance to spend on eating out and entertainment every two weeks. Once that cash is spent, we cannot withdraw any more money. And we absolutely may not use a debit or credit card. This has helped us to rein in our impulse spending and splurging.

Treat is the money you can spend for personal enjoyment. That is, if you have any money left over after paying God (tithe), your future (thrift) and your bills (tally), feel free to spend a little on yourself. You don’t have to feel guilty because God gives you money to enjoy. But remember any money you spend on yourself cannot be used to help others, which is your goal.

Generosity is the amount of money you have left over to be a blessing to others. You may use this for gifts for birthdays, holidays, weddings or special occasions. Or you can give to ministries that bless you (besides your church), missionaries, or other organizations you believe in. In particular, I suggest you should consider the poor (see Proverbs 14:31; 21:13; 19:17; 22:9).

When it comes down to it, budgeting takes discipline. And this may or may not be the best budget for you. You may have to tweak it here and there. But I believe everyone would benefit by considering the two G’s, the five T’s and the DIPS.

The main thing is to choose a budget and use it! Decide where every dollar you make will go before the month begins. And follow your plan. You may not get it down the first month, the second month, or even the third month. But keep at it and you will experience the pleasant peace that comes with financial freedom.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” - Hebrews 12:11

So, wherever you are on your financial journey, take the next step: budget. Do it this week!

Tomorrow, I will post a basic outline that recaps the last few posts in a quick and simple format.

A Formula for Financial Freedom (3 of 6)

2008-05-12T12:00:00.001-07:00

Thrift is 1-20% of your gross that you pay to debts, investments, purchases and savings (DIPS). It should be the second thing you do in budgeting—that is, pay toward your future. Thrift is what you do to make your money work for you. It is the pivot point of financial freedom. “Thrift” comes from the word “thrive.” And you will thrive financially if you follow this simple step based on the principle that, “whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow” (Proverbs 13:11). Ideally, setting aside 20% would be of the most benefit, which means 5% of your gross would go into each of the DIPS categories. Realistically, you may have to start small, depending on your current debt and expenses. I suggest paying at least as much to thrift as you do to tithe. Keep in mind, that the more you pay toward thrift the faster you will achieve financial freedom.

Debts is ¼ of what you set aside in thrift that goes toward paying off your smallest debt first (in addition to your minimum payments). Again in Romans 13:7-8, it says, “Give to everyone what you owe . . . if revenue, then revenue . . . Let no debt remain outstanding,”

Investments is ¼ of what you set aside in thrift that goes toward building investments, such as a 401k, mutual funds, stocks, and/or bonds and the like. Investment is a calculated risk—using a portion of your money to make money. You should seek professional advice when making investment decisions. But here is one tip from Ecclesiastes 11:2: “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” In other words, don’t put all your money in one place. What if you invest only in Starbucks, and it turns out Coffee Bean puts them out of business?

Purchases is ¼ of what you set aside in the thrift fund that goes toward saving up for bigger purchases (besides regular household necessities and living expenses). Make a list of all the things that aren’t in your monthly budget and prioritize them. Figure out how much each item on the list costs. When you have saved up enough money, buy it. If you don’t have the money yet, wait to buy it. Do not finance it!

Savings is ¼ of what you set aside in the thrift fund that goes toward saving for emergencies. Proverbs 10:15 warns, “the wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.” Life doesn’t always happen according to plan. It we don’t have a financial cushion, it could be our ruin.

Because of this, I suggest that, before you even start setting aside money in thrift (DIPS), start by devoting all of your thrift funds to savings until you have at least a $500 cushion ($1000 is better). Hopefully, this takes less than six months. After you have reached this first goal of putting away $500-$1000 in savings, you can start paying your thrift money into all four categories of the DIPS. You’ll already have at least $500 at the start; now you’re just building up your financial firewalls.

The big question will be how you keep track of your DIPS—by ledger or accounts? I personally do not have the discipline to leave my DIPS alone if the money is in my checking account with all the rest. So I have set up four accounts at two banks. At one bank we have a checking account for debts and a savings account for investments. We also have savings account for savings and checking account for purchases at another bank. All our income first goes into my main account (which I use for debts and all other expenses) from which I transfer the money online to my other accounts as needed.

Think about how you want to keep track of your thrift money, on paper of by using separate accounts. Make a goal for yourself to decide and have your system set up by the time you have your initial $500-1,000 saved up.

Who am I?

2008-05-12T00:47:00.000-07:00

After hearing Pastor Shawn's message on Friday, and seeing the video that Andre made with Potter and Jason, I had to ask myself this question: Who am I? I was no more clear about myself, than I had been before. I know who I would like to be, and I know what I would like to do with my life, but have no idea what I am supposed to be doing right now. So I asked myself these questions:
What is my purpose here on earth?
What is expected of me?
Why am I even here?
Why do I have the friends that I have?

I sat down and began wondering if I was truly being myself. I wondered if I was trying to be somebody I wasn't. I had spent so much of my life trying to fit in with different crowds, that I began to wonder if I had compromised myself. I doubted if I even knew who the real me is. Was I just wearing a mask, and playing a role? Did I spend more time trying to please others, rather than myself (or God) ? Once I finally convinced myself that I always do my best to be true to myself, and always try to honor God, I began to ask a different set of questions:
Am I identified by my parents?
Am I identified by my husband?
Am I identified by my friends?
Am I identified by my job (or whether I have one or not)?
Am I identified by my education?

I had to seriously figure out what makes me, me. After several hours of prayer and self-reflection, I've decided that I am my own person, but every aspect of my life (family, friends, church, work, school) has molded me into who I am today. If it weren't for all of those factors, I would be a completely different person. (I don't think I would have liked the other me.) This revelation led to a whole other set of questions:
Am I the best person I can be?
What can I improve about myself?
How can I continue to help others?
Can I truly make a difference in other people's lives?
Am I putting other's needs before my own?
Why was I chosen for this particular ministry?
How can I serve God better?

Unfortunately, I don't have the answers to these questions yet. I'm still in the process of figuring them out. Everyday, I learn something new about myself, and how I can benefit others. I pray to God for guidance, strength, and perseverance. Only God knows the person I will become. Everyday, He reveals to me more and more. Everything will be given to me one step at a time. He will not reveal more than I need. I may not be able to see the entire path, but I know that as long as I continue to have faith in God, I will become the person He wants me to.

The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian

2008-05-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

oIf anyone is interested next Saturday in seeing The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian I can get discount tickets from work for the Krikorian in Redlands. There is a showing at 3:35pm Saturday May 17th that Wanda, Wesley, and myself are planning on attending. I need money before friday so I can purchase the tickets from a cowoker. Tickets are $6.50. Let me know if you are interested. Laura

"I CAN!" be the difference

2008-05-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Journey is partnering with Tunde and Friends this summer, praying for them helping to support them financially.

There are many ways you can help. But one thing we are ask the entire Journey to do is bring in all the cans you can—from your household, your friends, your family, anywhere—and bring them in every Friday.

We’ll cash them in and donate the money directly to Tunde and Friends Ministries.

NOTE
- Please rinse them out before bringing them.
- Any plastic bottles with "CRV" on them are also acceptable.
- You may want to redeem them yourself and simply bring in the money.
- You could also give a tax deductable gift. Write a check to Centerpoint Church and write "Tunde and Friends" in the memo.

A MESSAGE FROM TUNDE
Yes, we are putting a group together for Nigeria this summer. I will leave after school is out around July 3 and return August 22 just before resumption of the 2008/2009 school year. We are trusting God for the grace to continue to make a difference by making friends, touching hearts and changing lives as we express the love of Christ. This year, in addition to the free medical screening we intend to intensify efforts towards disability awareness in congregations and communities, making church buildings accessible by building ramps, providing wheelchairs, etc. Reaching out to high schools and colleges with the same message, we intend to introduce the Disabled Students Services program to the colleges and universities, with the aim of easing the problems students with disabilities encounter in getting into colleges, getting around while in college and graduating from college. We are also planning on introducing the "True Love Waits" service in some church congregations. These are some of the things planned for this year.

A Formula for Financial Freedom (2 of 6)

2008-05-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

As with any great plan, we need to begin with a goal in mind. I suggest to you that the goal of budgeting is generosity. We want to be wise with our money so that we can bless others. So a good budget should lead to financial freedom—freedom from debt gives us the freedom to be generous. With that in mind, here’s what a formula for financial freedom might look like.

GENEROSITY = GROSS – (Tithe + Tax + Thrift + Tally + Treat)

Let me explain. We all know by now that money doesn’t grow on trees. The Apostle Paul’s rule was, "anyone who is unwilling to work shall not eat." Proverbs 10:4 says, “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” The only other way I know to get money is the tooth fairy, but I haven’t lost any teeth for while. So this formula is assuming you have a job, and hopefully one that is enjoyable, fulfilling and well-paying. But, really, any job will do. This budget is adjustable to any income level. So let’s take a look at ingredients of the formula.

Gross is all the money you earn before taxes are taken out. Of course, the first thing taken from your paycheck is taxes.

Tax is all federal and state income tax, social security and medicare withheld from your paycheck. You may not be happy about paying taxes, but here’s what the Bible says in Romans 13:5-7: “Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe: If you owe taxes, pay taxes. . . .”

Tithe is 10% of your gross income (OR 10% of your net income and whatever tax refund you may get). The reason for tithing is so that you can support those who devote their time to ministering to you and help those who have no one else to help them. It also reminds you that God is your ultimate provider and teaches you to honor Him in everything. We are instructed in Proverbs 3:9-10, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” So the first thing you should do in budgeting is to calculate your tithe. And the first thing you should do with your money every month is pay it.

You may be new to tithing, unsure of its value or unconvinced of its necessity. If so, it’s okay to start small. You may want to start with one percent or five percent, or however much you can. But once you get started you will likely find it easier and even exciting to increase your percentage (Try a one percent increase every 3-6 months until you get to ten percent). As for Cristina and I, we have committed to increase the percentage we give to our church by one percent every year. I am confident that when we honor God in this way, He will honor us in return.

Start this month! Sit down right now with your pay stub and calculate how much you earn every month. If you get paid a regular rate twice a month, multiply what you earn in one paycheck by 2 to get your monthly gross. If you get paid every two weeks, multiply what you earn in one paycheck by 26, then divide by 12 to figure your monthly gross. Once you know your gross, multiply that by .10 to calculate your tithe (for ten percent). If you decide to start with five percent, multiply your gross by .o5. Write you check today and take it to church with you next time you are there. Make your tithe check the first check you write every month!

A Formula for Financial Freedom (part 1 of 6)

2008-05-08T12:00:00.001-07:00

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” - Proverbs 3:13-18

Wisdom is the key to blessing, and this is especially true when it comes to money. Wisdom is worth more than worldly wealth, but wisdom is the best way to build wealth.

Wealth gained without wisdom leads to worry. You may get what you want, but you end up in debt. You live paycheck to paycheck and you’re never content. So you sell all your stuff just to pay rent.

Wealth gained through wisdom leads to peace. You work hard for your money and you’re happy with life. You have all you need and blessings besides. And you won’t lose all that you have overnight.

Wisdom is the insight and foresight to do what is right. Financial wisdom helps us understand how to manage our money so that we can be debt-free, enjoy life and help others. It helps us plan ahead so that when our car breaks down, or we get sick or lose a job it’s not a devastating crisis. So I want to share with you some advice about how to handle your money wisely through a budget I’m going to call the A Formula for Financial Freedom.

John Maxell says, “a budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” Most of my life I’ve been wondering where my money went. But over the course of the last year, in preparing for marriage and as newlyweds, Cristina and I have begun to tell our money where we want it to go.” We have not yet arrived, but we have made progress. We have had financial victories over the past year that show the process is working. Out of 5 credit cards, we have already paid off two, and will likely pay off two more by the end of the year. As far as paying for education, we have paid one student loan in full, have been making payments on the others, and been paying for my graduate school up front. I won’t owe Biola another cent once I graduate in December. So we’ve been telling our money where to go, and so far it’s working.

In the next few posts I want to outline for you the financial formula we have been following, along with a budget worksheet that I believe will help you manage your money wisely as you plan for the future.

Christian Charity

2008-05-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

“In the passage where the New Testament says that everyone must work, it gives as a reason ‘in order that he may have something to give to those in need.’ Charity – giving to the poor – is an essential part of Christian morality: in the frightening parable of the sheep and the goats it seems to be the point on which everything turns. Some people nowadays say that charity ought to be unnecessary and that instead of giving to the poor we ought to be producing a society in which there were no poor to give to. They may be quite right in saying that we ought to produce this kind of society. But if anyone thinks that, as a consequence, you can stop giving in the meantime, then he has parted company with all Christian morality. I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them. I am speaking now of ‘charities’ in the common way. Particular cases of distress among your own relatives, friends, neighbors or employees, which God, as it were, forces upon your notice, may demand much more: even to the crippling and endangering of your own position. For many of us the great obstacle to charity lies not in our luxurious living or desire for more money, but in our fear – fear of insecurity. This must often be recognized as a temptation. Sometimes our pride also hinders our charity; we are tempted to spend more that we ought on the showy forms of generosity (tipping, hospitality) and less than we ought on those who really need our help.”

-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, p.86-87.