PCC Scroll: Editor’s Corner

Filling the Void

I recently spent many, many, many, many hours listening to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King) on Audible. There is so much detail in the extraordinary world Tolkien created, and I have only just brushed the surface.

I have now begun the huge task of digging deeper into Tolkien’s world by listening to The Silmarillion. It is my first time tackling this epic tale. There is a lot to absorb, and it will take multiple readings to fully take it all in. I am early in the book, but one word I keep hearing is void. The word void can be defined as, “a completely empty space.” In the Tolkien world, the Void is the uninhabited space outside of time and creation. In certain context, it refers to the state of not being.

Knowing Tolkien’s religious background, it is not hard to notice certain spiritual themes. There is an ongoing battle between good and evil. There are characters who start off shaky or lose their course who find redemption in the end. There are characters whose pride and ambition lead them to destruction. In listening to The Silmarillion, one can’t help but think about the book of Genesis and the creation of the world. There was a void, and God filled it.

Since Genesis, the created have become creators by molding material provided by the Creator. Fueled with strong imaginations, we have come a long way from the rudimentary tools found in museums worldwide. Countless inventions have been envisioned and eventually perfected, prototype after prototype. We have created boats to sail on the sea. We have created planes to fly in the air. We have made life-saving discoveries in medicine. Our imagination, it would seem, has no limit.

It was this desire to create that got Melkor, a character from The Silmarillion, in trouble, and it can sometimes get us in trouble. While God gave us dominion over the earth, we have always struggled with dominion over ourselves. If there is a void, it is in our nature to try to fill it, sometimes with unintended consequences.

We have 24 hours in a day and most of that time outside of sleep is spent doing something. We work. We spend time with loved ones. We watch television or read. We exercise. We eat. We do; we do; and we do. But, in all of our doing, how many of us are focused on doing our passion or what we were created to do?

We not only fill time with activities. We also find ways to fill our emotional spaces. When we are sad, we shop, eat, or mope. When we are angry, we lash out at the world around us. We can also fill the void with empty sex, illicit drugs, excessive alcohol, and other coping mechanisms that are unproductive and unhealthy.

In relationships, when we sense uncertainty, we can fill voids with (mostly unvalidated) internal narratives. For example, we create a story when we think someone is upset with us. The story becomes reality in our minds, yet we never take the time to challenge or validate it.

When we attempt to fill voids, we fill them with everything but the thing that will fill it: walking in our God-given purpose. We are made to create. We are born with purpose and the gifts and talents to bring it to life. It is when we are out of alignment with our purpose and call that we begin to fill the void with unproductive and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

In this new year, ask yourself what you are filling your void with. Make sure they are things that bring you closer to God and fulfilling your purpose and calling in this life. Don’t give in to fear. When given the choice to be a creator or a critic, choose to create. You were created to create, so get to it!

PCC Scroll Your Money Matters

Starting Points: Where do you start?

When I was in college, certain events would cause a friend to sadly shake his head and say, “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” It is a quote that is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin. It basically means that, if we do not plan, we are setting ourselves up to fail. On the flip side, if we plan, then we are setting ourselves up to succeed.

Our financial success is a great example where this motto plays out. Although we are at the beginning of the year, I will not lecture you about goals and resolutions around budgeting, saving, investing, and getting out of debt. I will advise you to take this opportunity to take the pulse of your financial situation and will sprinkle those words in this article.

A few years back, Sister Mei-Li wrote an amazing article about “Starting with the End in Mind.” She called it backward planning—starting with the end goal and working backward to develop a plan. Some common examples of backward planning are college funds, retirement accounts, and estate planning.

Habit 2 of Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is to “Begin with the end in mind.” He encourages people to envision what they want in the future, so they can plan and work toward it. Covey recommends thinking (long and hard) before acting. Ask yourself, “If I do this, will it lead to my goals or delay my goals?”

These are both great reminders. When I saw the topic “Starting Points,” my first thought was that creating a financial plan is the first step. From there, future financial decisions should be made based on the desired endgame. It is something I did this fall. I looked at my life (all areas) and wrote how my life looked right now and how I wanted it to look in the future. A big part of the process was thinking (long and hard) about what success looked like for me. From there, I created a vision board. In terms of finances, I had to determine what financial stability and security looked like for me.

Ask yourself where you want to see yourself financially in one year, five years, ten years, and so on. Create a list of all your financial goals. As you are thinking, the goals will begin to fall into short-term goals (within a few months or years) and long-term goals.

Possible Short-Term Goals

· Create an emergency fund: For example, save $1,200 in a year by saving $100 each month.

· Pay off credit card: In the meantime, try not to use your credit card(s).

· Travel fund: Yes; there are some “fun” things beyond necessities.

· Down payment for a car: Save 10% to 20% of price.

Possible Long-Term Goals

· Retirement fund: Some recommend 15% of your gross salary every year. Start where you can and build up.

· Home down payment: This could be anywhere from 5% to 20%.

· Pay off mortgage early: Pay extra toward your principal each month.

Education Fund: Investigate a tax-advantaged 529 Plan.

Building a financial plan is not a one-time event. It is a living plan that can change quickly with life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, death, new job, etc. It’s hard to balance with so many competing needs, but, if you have certain things in place like savings and emergency funds, it does make it easier.

Make sure your plan is something you can commit to and then make sure your financial moves support the life you are trying to create. Create a vision board of where you want to see yourself and consider the steps needed to bring them to light. Whether your goal is for one year from now or 20 years from now, it starts with planning today. Plan so you don’t fail.

Editor’s Corner—Hearing the Voice of God

Many years ago, I was talking to a woman who had been following God for decades. I remember her saying that she seeks God’s input in everything, even for small items like what to wear each day, which I found a little odd.

Hearing the voice of God is such an interesting topic to me. In our humanity, we are very capable of convincing ourselves that whatever we want and desire is the will of God. When it comes down to it, some of my choices are made from gut instinct followed by me asking permission later. I am not sure if this is necessarily a bad thing, but the theme of this newsletter does make me mindful of thinking before leaping.

Something happened recently that reminded me of the importance of slowing down to hear the voice of God. I have an older car (circa 2001), and the car is starting to show its age. There are certain parts of the car that wear down because of use and other parts because of time. I went to get what was supposed to be a routine repair. The mechanic recommended some other services, and the quote made me wonder if it was time to buy a new car.

I do research for a living, so I quickly sprang into research mode. I looked up the value of my car for trade in and private sell. I also investigated certified used cars, and I found three that were reasonably priced, had good gas mileage, were available, and still under warranty.

Quite frankly, buying a new car is not something I was planning on doing for another few years, but my more reactive side was ready to turn my old car in that very day. I bought the car from a friend, who had said she would buy the car from me if I ever decided to sell it.

I am so glad the Spirit led me to call her. From that conversation, I was able to find a company to get a second quote. I was also able to point out some of the cost differences to my mechanic based on average prices found online. The mechanic came back with another quote, and I was also able to get a better understanding of what was crucial and what could wait. The second quote I received was much lower because it only addressed the part (of the part) that needed to be repaired.

This experience is a reminder of a few things.

· One. When you feel like God has you on a path, do not to get detoured when interruptions or distractions pop up.

· Two. Seek trusted wise counsel before you act.

· Three. Don’t make decisions on the cuff. Stepping back to think through options helps you make sounder choices.

· Four. Sometimes a second opinion is needed. The Bible asks us whose report will we believe. When life happens, it is often easy to lose sight of the promises of God because of what our natural eyes see.

· Five. Know what costs you are willing and able to bear.

There is a meme I see quite a bit that says, “God answers requests in three ways: Yes, No, and Wait.” The “No” is because God gives you something better. The “Wait” (or “not yet”) is because something better is coming.

As life happens, I intend to fully seek the voice of God in all things. Little things. Big things. Now I might not get to the level of asking God about what to wear, but I will be more mindful of seeking God’s will instead of asking for God to meet me wherever I find myself.

Luckily, God knows me. Just like He knows you. As we edge closer to a new year, hear from God before you move. It will save you from unnecessary costs down the road.

Word of the Quarter—Hearing the Voice of God

In the last issue of The Scroll, we finished the overarching theme “Discerning Truth: Learning to Recognize the Character and Word of God in a Sea of Information.” In this edition, we begin a new overarching theme: “Submitting to the Spirit of God.” In this issue, we come from the topic “Hearing the Voice of God.”

How did we get here? We are not sure if we have ever shared our process with you, but since our new overarching theme is “Submitting to the Spirit of God,” we wanted to share how we practice “Hearing the Voice of God.” The editing team has an annual retreat to plan the calendar year, which runs from October to September. Prior to the retreat, each editor is asked to reflect on what God is doing in their life and the lives of those around them. Not only what God is doing, but also what God is saying.

At the retreat, we have a conversation and develop an overarching theme. Once we have the overarching theme, we then drill down to four topics. Based on the topic, we can assign people to “Women of the Bible” and “Men of the Bible,” as well as topics for “Fit for the Kingdom” and “Your Money Matters.”

During the retreat, one editor wondered if we are prepared for what is ahead of us? Are we preparing for what is next? Are we factoring in rest and restoration, which are important for the journey ahead? With all that is going on in the world, it is important for us to stay in the fight and not become disillusioned, discouraged, or worn out. We must stay focused on our journey and remain built up. If we follow the voice of God and focus on our calling, we will impact the world. If we seek God and don’t limit ourselves or our gifts, there is so much we can do.

Another editor has been reading the book of Acts. The upper room experience was a catalyst for ministry in the world. The focus of our last couple of issues has been establishing and strengthening ourselves. Now what? It is time to turn our inner-view focus and learn what it means to be the church in sacred community as was modeled by the early church. We must ebb and flow when we allow people to journey with us, otherwise we can create harm when we share in community.

One editor asked what does the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among people look like? If we are trying to become Christ like (living out the word of God and following the example of Christ), how does that change our actions, thoughts, and attitudes? Christ spent His life in service to those marginalized in society, showed love to people around Him, put God’s will before His own, and fulfilled His purpose. Christ’s life was one of sacrifice and serving, not a life of being exalted and served. What changes do we need to make to model Him?

What is the voice of God saying to you in this season, and how will you submit to it? Often, we are moving at a fast pace, so what does it look like to slow down and be present even if it feels like an “inconvenience.” Why the word inconvenience? The Holy Spirit often interrupts our day and our agenda to bring us back to God’s will for our lives. Even when we only recognize the voice in the distance, it is what is needed to bring us back to focus on our calling.

As we prepare for what is coming, live in sacred community, and strive to become more Christ-like, let us submit to God’s Spirit and follow His voice.

Your Money Matters—Best Practices

This is an article I wrote for The Scroll, my church’s quarterly newsletter.

When it comes to financial best-practice articles, it often feels like rinse and repeat. When I research the topic, I see the same items over and over.

Budget

While we probably have a rough idea about how much we spend, it is worthwhile to track spending over the course of two months. Budgeting is important because, if followed, it can stop you from spending more than you make.

I see the 50/30/20 spending rule a lot. You spend 50% of your monthly budget on needs. Needs are expenses essential to your wellbeing. Think groceries, housing, and transportation. You spend 30% of your monthly budget on wants. Wants are things that, while nice, are not essential. Think eating out, cable, and the newest gadget. I feel wants and needs are subjective. For example, some lists include gym membership as a want because you can work out for free. However, others consider it a necessary investment for later health. You spend 20% of your monthly budget on savings or paying off debt. This is considered paying yourself. This 20% includes savings as well as investments for retirement. More on both later.

Don’t forget God in your budget. Whether tithes or free-will offering, invest in the Kingdom. I would also add the importance of giving to charities as part of your budget. During times of inflation, people cut back on charitable giving. If your budget allows, consider donating to a cause that is close to your heart. Whether a children’s hospital, foodbank, or homeless shelter, the need is great.

Eliminate Debt

Eliminating debt is important so you can invest and save. Some debt like student loans, mortgages, and car loans are “good” debt. If you can, eliminate debt early by paying extra each month. When it comes to using your credit card, ask yourself if it is something you need urgently. Some people use their credit card throughout the month. This helps them build reward points that can be used for travel. Just be sure to pay it off each month to avoid costly interest.

Savings/Emergency Fund

Having an emergency fund is a way to stay out of or minimize debt. Set up automatic deductions to streamline the saving process. It may be a good idea to separate savings and emergency funds into different accounts. When I think of savings, I think of something I am saving for. For example, saving for a vacation or putting money aside for a big-ticket item I want to purchase. When the expense occurs, the money is already in place.

When I think of an emergency fund, I think of money set aside in case I lose my job or for an unexpected expense, such as unplanned car maintenance or appliance replacement.

Save for Retirement

A common best practice for retirement savings I hear often is 15% of your income. This may not be practical for everyone, and it is something that can be built toward. As you get your yearly increase, increase the money you have going toward this fund. Having the money automatically withdrawn is another best practice.

The future will hold unknown expenses, so plan as best as you can. For most, Social Security will not be enough to cover all expenses, so it is important to have multiple streams of income including IRAs and 401s. Discussing medical care is another topic entirely. Medicare and/or Medicaid will need supplemental insurance.

It is a good idea to think about how you want your retirement to look. Do you want to travel? If so, add that to your budget.

Plan to be debt free when you retire.

Invest in Yourself

Managing your money is all about balance, so it’s important that you treat yourself. The extent of this treat will be unique to your budget. Whatever the treat, make sure it falls within your budget.

When it comes to financial best practices, think about the life you want to live and make decisions based on that.

The Scroll – Your Money Matters

Who is Speaking into Your Life?

They say knowledge is power, but it is dangerous when the information you are gathering is incorrect. It is easy to go adrift in the sea of information at our fingertips. That is why it is important to limit who is speaking into your financial life.

We live in a society where everyone — including this writer — has a lot of opinions about a lot of things. However, if I am seeking financial advice, the last place I would start is with someone who was broke. I would start with someone who I inspire to emulate. One person that comes to mind is my coworker, Christine. We would walk downtown together after work, and we would talk about a wide range of subjects. It was through a conversation with her that I began diligently building an emergency fund.

At the beginning of the year, U.S. News & World Report published an article “Where to Find Free Professional Financial Advice.” This could be a good article to search for if you need financial advice. Be sure to vet the organizations with your own research.

The article begins with referencing the often referred to poll that says almost half of Americans would have a hard time finding the money to cover $250 in emergency expenses. High inflation has led to higher prices for food and gas, which adds more stress to people already living paycheck-to-paycheck. There are some resources we can reach out to for advice to help with money management.

Your Bank or Credit Union

Most banks and credit unions offer financial advice with their products. Their services are regulated, and chances are you may have a go-to person at your local financial institution.

Your Job

Many jobs offer 401’s or 457’s through investment companies. For example, my organization’s representative comes to the office throughout the year, and we can schedule in-person appointments with him. He is also available via phone or email to answer questions. For a small (yearly) fee, he will manage a portfolio. Also, if your employer has an employer match, take advantage of that!

Financial Advisors

Cost can be a factor, so it is important to know an advisor’s fee schedule. If you are looking for a financial planner, the Financial Planning Association has a database of planners that you can search. Word of mouth is always good. For example, I really like my advisor.

Pro-Bono Groups

There are financial professionals who provide free or low-cost services to low income, military veterans, abuse survivors, bankruptcy filers, and people who have faced major life events.

Two organizations that are shown in several articles in my research are Financial Planning Association and Savvy Ladies. The latter is geared toward women and helps with budgeting, managing debt, saving for retirement, etc. via webinars, blogs, and in-person events.

Government Programs

Local, state, and federal governments offer services to assist consumers. You must qualify (income, age, etc.) for some programs.

During tax time, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is offered by the IRS to provide free tax help to those who make $60,000 or less, have disabilities, or speak limited English. Tax Counseling for the Elderly is offered for taxpayers 60+ and specializes in retirement-related issues unique to seniors, including pensions.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development provides counseling services on housing-related topics, such as home loans, foreclosures, and eviction procedures.

Having a financial plan is important so you can be financially secure in the future. Whatever you do, be sure to do your own due diligence. Personally vet financial advisors and organizations before providing any sensitive information! Start with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

The bottom line is that you must do what is best for you in the long run. For example, I like Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps, but I also know people who don’t agree with his philosophies. What works for others may not work for you and that is okay. The key is to find out what does. If you need help, seek people who can give you wise counsel. My only advice is to not ask some one who doesn’t have “two nickels to rub together” how to become a millionaire.

The Scroll – Word of the Quarter

Most of the article was written by one of the other editors, but my two cents are included at the end :).

My Sheep Know My Voice: Rightly Dividing the Word of God

In this issue of The Scroll, we conclude the overarching theme “Discerning Truth: Learning to Recognize the Character and Word of God in a Sea of Information.” In the fall issue, we started with the subject “My Sheep Know My Voice: Your Road to Emmaus.” In the winter and spring issues, we continued with the topics “My Sheep Know My Voice: Transaction vs. Transformation: Relationship Building Beyond Routine Behavior” and “My Sheep Know My Voice: Checks and Balances (Check it Against the Word of God and the Example of Christ).” In this issue, we finish the overarching theme with the topic “My Sheep Know My Voice: Rightly Dividing the Word of God.”

When the editors were asked to share their thoughts, one shared the following:

I think that knowing the voice of God is also likened to knowing the character of God. When you develop deep familiarity and intimacy with an individual, you tend to be able to still recognize them and point their voice or body out, even in the midst of chaos. I remember being at a concert as a young adult. There had to have been 300+ people there singing and praising God together but there was such a distinctive, “Hallelujah.” I looked, and I said to the person sitting next to me, “My mother is here.” Sure enough, she was sitting in the rear of a section nearby.

In another moment, someone reported the language of a dear friend of mine that was uncharacteristic of what I know to be true about them. Without knowing the whole story, I denied that my friend said what was reported. I was confident that it was too inconsistent with my friend’s character to be true. When I checked in, I was right.

In a similar format, through reading the word of God, learning the context, and witnessing the consistent character of God throughout the Bible, we can develop a confidence in the voice and character of God in moments where is it misrepresented or mistaught. It is hard for this confidence to exist when you don’t read and study the word for yourself and instead just go by hearsay. I have learned how to distinguish the voice of the Holy Spirit in my life when what I hear consistently lines up with the character of Christ in the scriptures.

Knowing the voice of God requires proximity, intimacy, relationship, and familiarity. It requires seeking to know God better for ourselves and being open to seeing our living God in fresh and new ways through the power of the Holy Spirit. It requires intentionality. It requires us to lean in when we hear Christ calling us to draw near to Him. It is an invitation to go deeper than religious practices and into spiritual relationships. And this knowledge continues to happen in community — not on an island. From the church of Acts to present time, where two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, He is there. So deeper knowing also comes through deeper and sacred community seeking to know God more and see God clearer, together.

In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul tells Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Timothy was raised by his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois). He was also mentored by Paul, so he had a strong foundation and solid doctrine. Even so, in his second letter to Timothy, Paul encouraged Timothy to hold fast to sound doctrine and to avoid and reject foolish conversations.

The same is true for us today. With so many voices coming at us from television, social media, and the rabbit-hole of the internet, we must be grounded in the word of God for ourselves. Our greatest defense against false teaching and doctrine is having God’s word in our heart.

As we conclude the overarching theme “Discerning Truth: Learning to Recognize the Character and Word of God in a Sea of Information,” we encourage you to know the character and word of God for yourself. Timothy could not live out his faith through his mother, grandmother, or mentor, he had to live out his faith for himself. And so must we.