FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE BIRTH OF ISAAC

 At the time when the promise of descendants was made to Abraham, he and his wife Sarah were childless.  So God's promise strained their credulity to the limit.  How could they have a stream of descendants if they did not have even one?

Then the years passed.

Abraham turned to God at one point and complained that the heir to his estate would be Eliezer of Damascus.  But the Lord assured him that his heir would be his own son coming from his own body [Genesis 15:1-4].  And Abraham believed God.

Next, Sarah had the bright idea that she would give her Egyptian maidservant Hagar to Abraham as his concubine.  "Perhaps I can build a family through her," she said.  Abraham agreed, Hagar conceived, and Ishmael was born.  But Sarah became jealous, and it was obvious that Ishmael was not the promised child [16:1-6].

Fourteen years after the promise - they got it right, after the cynicism of laughter.  Isaac was born and the elderly couple took joy in counting his fingers and toes.

We are created in His image.  He gave us minds and creativity.  Most of the time, that's a blessing.  However, sometimes, we use our minds to try to fill in gaps that are better left to God and His timing.

When in debt, Debbie and I tried consolidation loans to resolve our problems.  It increased our debt!  We also tried raising our level of income;  that was before we learned that 'Expenditure rises to meet income!'  Increasing our income never helped reduce our debt.  Our ideas were creative, but never solved our problems.

I have a strong tendency to suggest ways for God to answer my prayers.  How audacious!  Who am I?  He is the Lord and Creator of the universe!  He needs my puny input?  I DON'T THINK SO!  Yet, I persist in this wasted effort.  

Oh God,

I trust You!  

I trust You to oversee and direct my life to Your greatest advantage!

I trust You to watch over, guide and protect me and mine with the utmost care and attention!

Help me to stop trying to solve my problems and simply bring them to YOU!

Amen.

[These thoughts triggered by an article, "The Birth of Isaac" Week 5:  The Patriarchs - From Creation to Christ]

DECLARE WAR ON DEBT

Every year around this time I like to post something on this topic because SO MANY people struggle with debt issues.

At an earlier time in our lives, Debbie and I struggled with enormous debt.  It drove chronic depression in me for years!  I was personally convinced that we would NEVER be out of debt!  I dreaded retirement because I knew it would be horrible!

Then, God (and a few friends He directed our way) awakened me to new truth based on His Word!  I acquired new teachers to help me grow in knowledge:  Larry Burkett, Dave Ramsay, along with a couple of wise men that God brought to my side.  Eventually, we entered into a planned process to eliminate our debt.  It took about nine years and we completed the process while we lived in New Middletown, Ohio.  The completion of this process is what allowed us to go to China for three years!
 
Two years ago, we deliberated obtaining a Capital One card to take advantage of the cash-back perk.  We had been taught by our instructors to 'declare war on debt'!  Taking on a credit card did not fit in with the plan we had set in motion.  However, we had maintained no debt for nearly ten years and the benefits seemed worthy.

At first, we charged everything on this card in order to qualify for the promised bonus and to maximize our 'cash-back' incentive.  However, after two months we morphed into just using the card for major purchases.  [Charging everything was just too scary for us!]  We've done fine and have appreciated the benefit of hundreds of dollars returned to us!

We've enjoyed owning two brand new cars during our marriage:  a 1974 Mustang II, and a 1979 Ford Fairmont.  Other than that, we've driven used vehicles.  Currently, we own a 2003 Toyota Camry (which was given to us when we returned home from China), a 2005 Toyota Camry (which I purchased in January to be my Lyft car), and a 2008 Ford F-250 (to pull our 2001 Forrester 5th-wheel camper).  :-)

Having older vehicles suits me fine, however, occasionally they call for repairs.  This fall was one of those times!  All three vehicles made trips to Schultz's garage for repairs and maintenance.  Actually, each of the Camry's had to go twice!  We wound up charging over $2,000 on our Capital One card!  Uh-oh!  We were in debt again - for the first time in years!

Now, I confess, we have reserves that we could have used to liquidate that debt, but we are VERY cautious about dipping into that pool!  After using what was left from our 'emergency fund', we still owed a sizeable amount on our Capital One account!

So far, we have managed to make sacrificial payments on the account that have prevented us from paying any finance charges.

To further advance our cause, I have been Lyft-driving almost every day for the last two weeks.  Two days this week, I was on-the-road for over eleven hours!  As a result, we now have sufficient funds to pay off the card and (once again) eliminate our debt!  Woo Hoo!  PTL!

Debt has phenomenal power to rob you of your joy and destroy your life!  We must declare war on debt!  Don't use 'charge cards' this Christmas!  Better yet - don't overspend!  Your children won't remember the things you bought them, but they WILL remember the time you spent with them!  Do family projects.  Bake cookies and decorate them!  Play games.  Take walks.  Have snow-ball battles!  Build snowmen!  Watch movies!  Play video-games together.  Read books together!  Talk while sharing a meal!  Put a puzzle together!  Make home-made Christmas decorations!  String popcorn!  Play 'Hide-n-Seek'.

If you're in the process of paying off your debts - STICK WITH IT!  You will feel so much satisfaction and freedom when you've reached your goal!  Don't sacrifice your tithe to pay off your debts!  Honor God and He'll honor you!

LIKE MOM AND DAD

My Mom and Dad were frugal!  Although all four names that define my heritage (Haire, Archer, Walton and Powell) are of English derivation, I’m convinced there had to be some Scottish blood in there somewhere. 😉

At times, their frugality bothered me when I was growing up. I stated in another blog that I was 13 before I ever ate at a restarant. I wore lots of hand-me-down clothing.  There was a really cool guy at church, who was closer to my sister Bev's age, who used to point that out to the kids at church:  “Look, I told my mom to give my clothes to the Salvation Army, but it looks like she gave them to Harold Haire instead (followed by much laughter, of course)!

As a lifelong homemaker she was committed to saving money in any way possible.  She saved books of S&H Green stamps and redeemed them for our family's benefit.  She also clipped coupons and then watched for double and triple coupon days at various grocery stores!  She pinched a penny as well as anyone!  😊  Did I mention that she took me into Picway Self-Serve Shoe Mart to buy my shoes?

When I was a young teen, they went from old, canvas tent camping to the purchase of an off-brand, used, hard-top camper. They were so proud of it!  It was very small and shaped like the old Scottie campers.  They joined a camper’s club called “The Happy Wanderers” and enjoyed many wonderful weekends with couples who had MUCH BIGGER AND NICER campers. But my folks pulled in with pride and had as much (or more) fun than anyone!

When I was in high school, they bought a Shasta trailer that was newer and a bit larger. They were SO EXCITED!! By then, I was driving and didn’t camp much with them.   During this season of life they lost the cabin they had used for years at the Tri State Camp in East Liverpool. No problem;  they simply lived in their campers (on the same site that Charlie and Laurie Mahosky presently use).  🙂

They had each been raised through the Great Depression. As a result, they had cultivated a phenomenal capacity for being content with what they had. I can only imagine their joy in 1957, when they moved from Beaver Falls into a brand new home in New Brighton!  I was four-and-a-half years old. They paid $11,000!!  They lived in that house until thy died (Mom in 1981, and Dad in 1992).

Although at times I was embarrassed, I always knew that they had a quality that I also wanted to have. In addition, they practiced extreme generosity toward the church and missions!  And somehow, Dad always managed to squirrel away some money to give Mom when ‘Dollar Days’ came in Beaver Falls. 😉

I inadvertently hurt my Dad shortly after we were married. We had come home from Kentucky where  I was attending Asbury Seminary. I was working as a part time unloader at UPS and the union had been on strike seeking increased pay for part time workers. I excitedly told Dad that I would be making $4.70/hour upon my return to work (an exceptional pay for part time work in 1974).  I was disappointed that he didn’t seem to share my joy.  Before leaving, I brought it up again and asked him why he wasn’t excited about my raise. He responded:  “Son, I’ve worked for Townsend Company for forty-seven years (pause), and I’ve never made $4.70 an hour”.

But, he was content.

Like my Dad, I’ve never made big money either. I realize now that I probably would have been better off financially if I had stayed in the Pittsburgh Conference. Superintendents where I served didn’t advocate for pastor’s salaries while Pittsburgh Conference leaders (particularly Superintendent Jim Jobes) did!

Add to that the fact that my Dad and Mom did not deliberately pass on their wisdom about finances,  and Debbie and I were set up for trouble. Before too many years of marriage passed, we were in debt. Growing our family, low wages, financing two masters degrees and unwise financial management eventually led to chronic depression for me and a distinct lack of joy accompanied by a constant burden of stress due to our debt.

However, God intervened in our lives and used some instrumental people to set in motion a long-term plan to enable us to eliminate our substantial debt!  PTL!!!  Today, we own our home and our vehicles and have no debt!  Thanks be to God. And, like my parents, we are able to be generous with the church and missions (as well as others).

All these thoughts are triggered as I sit looking out over Pymatuning Lake! Debbie and I are here trying out our new camper!  After 45 years of camping in tents and pop-up campers, we have recently purchased a used 5th-wheel camper (2002)and a used Ford F-250 (2008) to pull it. We own them both!  😊  We’re pretty excited about it!

I guess, after all these years, a little of Mom and Dad did rub off!

Once Upon A Time...

With all the wild spending that takes place during these weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I thought I'd share part of our journey.

My parents were excellent money managers!  My Dad never made big wages working at Townsend Company.  I remember coming home from Kentucky about a year after we were married.  Excitedly, I told my Dad that UPS had settled their strike and I would be making $4.70 and hour as a result (part-time - unloading trucks).  He didn't express much joy regarding my good news, so I later questioned him about it. It was then that he told me that he had never made $4.70 an hour.  I was humbled.

Unfortunately, my parents never sat down and talked about their finances with me.  They modeled a frugal lifestyle and were content with what they had!  However, the instruction of how to manage money was never really discussed.

In our first year of marriage, we received a credit card in the mail!  It was exciting!  We had a $500 limit! So we used it!  That began our sad story. More credit cards arrived in those early years of our marriage. Seminary bills stacked up.  Then children started coming.  When I began my full-time ministry at the Jeannette Free Methodist Church, I received $100 per week. We easily qualified for WIC.

You know the story from there:

• cars
• repairs
• taxes
• clothes
• Christmas
• vacations
• finishing my MDiv at Pittsburgh Theological
• going on for a MA Counseling
• etc., etc. ad infinitum

At one point, I added up the facts.  We were over $60,000 in debt - without a house!  Financial stress was a daily reality!  I was juggling payments to try to keep everyone happy.  It drove a chronic depression in my life!  I faced the inevitable reality:  we would never get out of debt!  Several indicated that we were prime candidates for filing bankruptcy, however, we never considered that a viable option. 

I began to pray about the problem for the first time.  As a result of my prayers, God brought three men to my side.  

Pete Muschweck was the Oakland FMC treasurer.  He had a lot of wisdom regarding finances from his business experience.  He began to counsel me.

Ron Kelly was a parishoner at Oakland who freely shared his biblical wisdom with me.  For the first time in my life, I realized that God had a LOT to say about finances.  Ron helped me to grow in understanding these principles and applying them in my life!

Larry Burkett was a radio teacher (in Heaven now).  I began listening to his show every day!  I bought some of his materials and began to use them to plan our finances.

Later, we attended Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University to reinforce the principles we already knew!  

We used the common 'debt snowball' approach.  Our snowball at first was $20.  As we payed off a debt, the amount of that payment was added to our 'snowball' and applied to the next debt on our "knock-off list". It gradually grew - very slow at first.  By the end of the process it had grown to $700.  Our last debt fell in several months due to this extra-large payment boost!  

Our goal had been to eliminate our debt in seven years.  It actually took us eleven (the extra four years is a story for another time).  

I cannot express the joy that we experienced!  This was something that I had considered impossible!  I had surrendered to the fact that we would never be out of debt!  But, with the help of friends and the wisdom of God's Word - WE MADE IT!  

Debt is our enemy!  As counseled by our teachers, we declared WAR on debt! We planned and sacrificed to achieve our goal!  HALLELUJAH!  

And guess what?

If we did it - anyone can do it!  Ha ha ha ha - isn't that good news?  

Today, we enjoy a freedom that we did not know when we were younger.  We can do things that we couldn't do then.  We practice generosity regularly and have discovered the true joy of giving!  I am no longer driven to depression by our finances,  

If you're reading this and you're where we used to be - TAKE HOPE!  

Pay the small fee and sign-up for Financial Peace University.  It's actually fun!  It's a short term commitment that's always available somewhere - usually at churches.  Contact Crown Financial Ministries (the organization that Larry Burkett founded).  Get their resources and apply them.  Both of these organizations believe that the majority of families can be debt-free in seven years!  GET STARTED!

PS  -  I always lamented the poor example that we were for our children. However, thanks be to God, He seems to have used the situation to wake them up to the hardships that come with debt.  To the best of my knowledge, our kids are practicing good financial management!  Woo Hoo!  And thanks be to God!  

DON'T GO INTO DEBT!

Why do I say this to you?  Because I've been there and done that, and I've suffered the pain of that process!  I'd LOVE to help you avoid that pain.

Christmas, more than any other time of year, tempts us to spend money we don't have.  We want to be generous.  People are going to give us gifts and we want to reciprocate.  We want people to think well of us.  We don't want them to know that our finances are in horrible shape.

As a result, we short-circuit and start spending on credit.  We block out thoughts about the consequences of our actions.  We satisfy our immediate desires and refuse to allow ourselves to think of the impact this will have on us in January.

Not a good scenario...

If you're on-the-verge of this kind of behavior - STOP!!!!

Don't do it!  Don't set yourself back financially.  Don't set yourself up for misery and depression in the New Year!  Exercise restraint! 

Here are some alternative things you can do to keep your finances from getting worse:

• Let people you usually exchange gifts with know that you're exercising restraint this year because you're trying to restore balance to your finances.  If they really love you, they'll be impressed and understand.
• Write letters instead of giving gifts!  People love to read nice things about themselves!  Write your friends a note telling them everything you appreciate about them.  They'll read it over and over again!
• Use your talents, be creative!  Debbie and I had friends in Maryland named Forrest and Eileen Grauel.  They called and asked if they could stop by.  Upon their arrival, they set up a tape deck and started some music playing.  Forrest sang us a lovely Christmas song;  then they verbally expressed their gratitude and told us what they appreciated about us.  Then they packed up and left!  And we were so blessed! 
• Give away your treasure!  We all have things of value that we keep clinging to.  Give something valuable away!  Include a note telling the person how much this has meant to you over the years.  Write:  "Instead of going out and spending money on something meaningless, I've decided to give you something that actually means a great deal to me."
• Make something!  Give the gift of home-made cookies!  Or something knitted or crocheted.  Carry in a meal!  Put together a photo book of memories or a collage of pictures.  Make a handcraft! 
• Use your skill to do something nice for someone.  If you have mechanical skills, give them a coupon for a free brake job or a detailing job.  Give them a coupon for a home-made meal at your house!  Offer to repair something that you know is broken. 

All of these gifts will be far more appreciated than something you would go out and spend a lot of money on! 

The best gift you could give a lot of your family and friends is the gift of time and attention! 

Just do yourself a favor and DON'T GO INTO DEBT!