November 18, 2025 • 43 mins
Money lessons are for the whole family. What if your kids could learn
biblical principles of generosity, contentment, and stewardship through the
power of storytelling? On the next Faith & Finance Live, Dr. Shane Enete
joins Rob West to share a creative new resource that helps parents
connect faith and finance in ways kids can truly understand. Then, it’s on to
your calls. That’s Faith and Finance Live—biblical wisdom for your financial
journey, weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:10):
Money lessons aren't just for adults. They're for the whole family. Hi,
I'm Rob West. What if your kids could learn biblical
principles of generosity, contentment, and stewardship through the power of storytelling? Today,
Doctor Shane Enid joins us to share a creative new
resource that helps parents connect faith and finance in ways
kids can truly understand. And then it's on to your
(00:33):
calls at 800 525 7000. That's 800 525 7000. This
is faith and finance. Live. Biblical wisdom for your financial journey. Well,
it's always a treat to welcome back Doctor Shane Annett.
He's an associate professor of finance at Biola University, where
(00:54):
he founded Biola's Financial Planning program. Additionally, he's the creator
of the Money Storybook Bible Podcast, which helps parents connect
faith and finance through the power of storytelling. Shane, it's
always a pleasure to have you on the program.
S2 (01:09):
Yeah, it's so fun to be here. Thanks so much, Shane.
S1 (01:11):
I love this idea. Reading beautifully retold Bible stories about
money to your own kids. So why don't you take
us back? What inspired you to start the Money Storybook
Bible podcast?
S2 (01:23):
So, you know, I get asked a lot about how, um,
you know, is there a resource for teaching kids about money?
And so I was thinking through it, trying to figure out, um,
you know, how I can kind of communicate, uh, lessons
about money. And then I just it kind of dawned
on me that the Bible is already done, that, you know,
the Bible, it's the second most discussed topic, and the
(01:44):
Bible is made for all ages. And it's, you know,
largely story based. And so I was like, well, I'd
tell stories to my kids every night. Uh, what if
I just told Bible stories? And I kind of fleshed
it out a bit so they could, uh, get engaged
and see themselves in the story and also teach them
about money.
S1 (02:03):
Yeah, I love that. And when parents listen to these stories,
what's the key lesson, Shane, you hope they take away
about helping their kids learn biblical money habits?
S2 (02:12):
You know, there are so many. But I'd say that's,
you know, stewardship. This idea of having money is just
one huge opportunity to express our love for Jesus, you know?
And so when we share, you know, in sharing is caring.
We're actually just loving on Jesus and we're loving on
each other. And so I want them to see that
money is an opportunity. And then I also want them
(02:34):
to see the wisdom, you know, of learning about saving
and and having some self-control so that you don't spend
too much. And also the dangers of debts and the
dangers of discontentment and seeing wealth as more important than Jesus.
S1 (02:49):
Hmm. Give us a sense of what the podcast sounds
like you're reading to your kids, but there's also an
interactive element. So how does all that come together?
S2 (02:57):
Yeah. You know, um, so my kids are there, and
I asked them some icebreaker questions that relate to the
story that we're going to read. And so, you know,
they might be a would you rather or what's your favorite?
And so the kids respond. And then I read the story.
And then I ask them questions about the story to
gauge their level of understanding. And then we do an activity.
(03:19):
Either I just introduce the activity and we can do
it over the air, or I just say, here's the activity.
We're going to do it later.
S1 (03:25):
Mhm. Yeah I love that. I'd love to hear how
kids are responding to these stories. What kinds of things
do they say or do that show. The lessons are
really connecting.
S2 (03:34):
You know I'll answer that with my kids. Um, it
was just real special for me. You know, we were
brainstorming together about, um, activities, and I have a story
about Ecclesiastes and King Solomon, and I kind of make
them a little bit silly. Um, he's eating too many dates,
and he's getting full, and he's also kind of giving
his proverbs about money as he's trying to teach the kids,
(03:57):
and then he's getting distracted because of all the hardship
of wealth. And, um, and then I asked them, after
the story is done, I said, all right, there's two worlds.
You have a world where you're rich like Solomon, and
I have them go through what they buy, you know?
And sage, my daughter would wants to buy all of target,
you know, and, uh, and then, you know, a whole
(04:18):
stable of horses. And Silas would want to have Disneyland.
And so I walked through the lifestyle of that. And
then I say, well, in this world, you don't know Jesus.
And then, uh, in world B, you, uh, everything's the same,
and you just love on Jesus. And I asked them,
which world would you rather be in? And I expected
a little more of a consultation, a little more of
(04:39):
a thinking, but both of them just very animatedly said,
you know, we want the world with Jesus, you know? And, um,
and so that was just a real special moment where
I felt like that's what I want to teach them,
you know, more than just budgeting or debt, uh, management.
I want to teach them that Jesus is everything and
money is an opportunity to love him.
S1 (04:59):
That is so powerful. Well, folks, we're talking with Doctor
Shane Ina today. He's the creator of the Money Storybook
Bible podcast. And when we come back, we'll actually share
a few clips from the series. So you're not going
to want to miss this. I can't think of a
more important topic. How do we communicate the heart of
God related to money to our kids? This is faith
(05:21):
in finance. Live. Don't go anywhere. We're just getting started.
Thanks for joining us today on Faith and Finance Live.
You know, helping kids handle money is a part of
(05:41):
helping them follow Christ. We all want to raise generous kids.
And what if you could do that through the power
of story? Well, today we're privileged to have back with
us a regular contributor on this program, doctor Shane innit.
He's associate professor of finance at Biola University. He's also
the creator of the Money Storybook Bible podcast, which helps
(06:03):
parents connect faith and finance through the power of storytelling.
All right, Shane, I want to dive in to a
clip from an episode based on acts 16. I know
it's titled Purple Snail Robes. So in this creative retelling,
Lydia offers to sell everything, give her wealth to Paul,
(06:24):
and travel with him to share the gospel. But Paul
helps her see that her business itself can be a
way to honor God. Let's take a listen.
S2 (06:33):
Paul sat down and thought for a while. Then he
prayed quietly, asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom. After a
moment he stood up and looked kindly at Lydia. Lydia,
he said, it's a wonderful thing that you want to
give everything for Jesus. But not everyone is called to
leave their home. Sometimes God wants us to serve him
(06:54):
right where we are. Lydia's smile faded just a little.
But I want to tell people about Jesus, too, she
said softly. Paul nodded. And you will. I believe God
wants you to share the good news through your purple
cloth business. You're amazing at running your business and blessing
others with your beautiful robes. When you love others, share
(07:16):
what you have and do your work with skill and kindness.
You're showing people who Jesus is. Suddenly, Lydia's eyes lit up.
She jumped up and gave Paul a big bear hug
like she would her older brother. I get it. Everything
I have belongs to God. He's calling me to use
my business and my home to help bring his kingdom
(07:36):
to life. That means making beautiful robes with skill and care,
but also sharing my food and my home with others
who are in need. Then Lydia paused and looked very serious. Paul,
she said, I want to be your sponsor. My home
is your home. My money is your money. My business
(07:56):
is your business. We're family now, and it all belongs
to God anyway. Paul and his friends cheered with joy.
Then Paul raised his hands and gave a special blessing
over Lydia and her household. May the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you and everyone
in your home and business.
S1 (08:17):
Mm. Shane, that story of Lydia is so powerful. Boy,
it just really captures generosity and the beauty of using
what we have for God's glory. I'd love for you
just to reflect on that a bit and share your
heart for our listeners.
S2 (08:33):
Yeah. You know this story. Um, I really was thinking
of John Reinhardt and the gospel patrons. Yeah. And he
really just brought about an awareness that every gospel movement
has a gospel patron. And so when I, you know,
was thinking about different characters in the Bible, different stories. Lydia,
to me was, you know, one of the first gospel
patrons that's mentioned. And yes, and then I also really liked,
(08:56):
as I learned more about Lydia, uh, that you have
to smash snails to create purple robes and any kind
of little, little bit like that is really fun for
me with kids because it's just a, you know, I
feel like I want to always add random little things
that are really visual that are really fun for kids
to think about. So the combination of, uh, of purple snails, uh, and, um,
(09:20):
and this idea of a gospel patron and this idea that, um, yeah,
that Lydia was just this neat example that we can
all learn from in today's world.
S1 (09:29):
Um, powerful. All right, let's move to another story. This
one is based on John 19, titled £75 of Spices.
And it, of course, tells the story of Joseph of
Arimathea and Nicodemus, overheard by Nicodemus young daughter Abigail, and
beautifully illustrates how generosity can be both courageous and costly.
(09:50):
Let's listen.
S2 (09:51):
Joseph spoke first. Jesus of Nazareth was greater than any
man who ever lived. We must honor him. I can't
bear the thought of him being thrown into a criminal's grave.
Joseph took a deep breath. I will give him my
tomb I just purchased. Nicodemus eyes widened. Joseph's tomb was
brand new hand-carved tomb in the rock near the city.
(10:14):
It was worth almost ten years of wages. About a
half $1 million in today's money. Are you sure? Nicodemus asked. Yes,
Joseph said without hesitation. What is the point of wealth,
if not to be generous like God, and express my
love of God in a generous way? Jesus had so
much love for all of us. I want to now
respond by loving him back with my tomb. He needs
(10:37):
a tomb fit for a king and I will give
it to him. Nicodemus was silent for a moment. Then
he stood up, determination in his eyes. I want to
help too. What do you have in mind? Joseph asked
with curiosity. Nicodemus responded, a king's burial requires spices, myrrh
and aloes to wrap the body. The more spices, the
(10:57):
greater the honor. I will buy £75 of burial spices.
It was Joseph's turn to open his eyes in shock. £75?
Joseph gasped, knowing this would be at least two years
of wages. Nicodemus smiled. Should it be more? As they
discussed the details of what to do next, suddenly a
(11:18):
small voice interrupted them. I want to help. Two startled,
both men looked up and saw little Abigail standing bravely
before them. Nicodemus sighed and shook his head. That's very kind, daughter,
but everything has been arranged, he said, not really paying
attention to her. Then he and Joseph turned back to
their discussion. But Abigail wasn't giving up so easily. She
(11:41):
stepped forward, holding her most prized possession. Her favorite blue necklace.
I want to help, too, she repeated, her voice steady
and strong. Nicodemus stopped. He looked at the necklace, then
at his daughter. This was the first time he had
seen her take it off. It was her most treasured
thing in the whole world. Slowly, he knelt down beside her. Abby,
(12:07):
are you sure? Abigail nodded. Yes. I'm sure. A king
should have a beautiful necklace. I once saw Caesar wear
a necklace. And isn't Jesus greater than Caesar? Joseph and
Nicodemus exchanged a look. Then, with great care, Nicodemus took
the necklace from Abigail's hands. With love and respect, they
(12:29):
carried out their plan to give Jesus a king's burial. Hmm.
S1 (12:34):
Wow. Another powerful story. All right, Shane. Take us into
this one. Why this particular story?
S2 (12:40):
You know, I first caught wind. Of how much £75
of spices were from a colleague here at Biola. Doctor
Janine hanger. Yeah. She, uh, she studies the embodied nature
of Jesus and, um, writes about engaging our senses. And
she had done some dissertation work on this idea of
how much spices are involved. And it's far greater than
(13:01):
anyone who's ever been buried. And and so that just
captures my imagination, you know, uh, that that detail is
in the Bible. Yeah. And you also think about how
Joseph and Nicodemus were likely friends and the combination of
the just huge, um, gratuitous generosity of the tomb and
the spices together and then, you know, and add a
(13:23):
child being generous alongside the adults. And that really creates
kind of a fun dynamic. And I don't know everything
about the story of Jesus and the story of the Bible,
like the way God tells stories. I just want, um,
I want to retell the stories, and I want to
retell them in a way that children can enjoy. That
kind of provides some extra little details that they can
(13:46):
grasp onto, and then makes the stories come alive regarding
their faith and regarding what how they think about money.
S1 (13:54):
Shane, this is powerful folks. Go to whole heart finances.
Com there's a free activity book that pairs with the podcast,
complete with badges and a certificate of completion. Each badge
connects to a money topic like giving, saving, or contentment.
It's all there. Whole heart. Finances. Com. Shane, thanks for
being here.
S2 (14:13):
Thanks so much for having me.
S1 (14:15):
That's Shane Enid, associate professor of finance at Biola University. Again,
you can learn more about the Money Storybook Bible podcast
at Whole Heart Finances. Com we'll be right back.
S3 (14:37):
The opinions offered during this program represent the personal or
professional opinions of the participants, given for informational purposes only.
Any information provided is not intended to replace advice from
a financial, medical, legal, or other professional who understands your
specific situation.
S1 (15:00):
Well, that was fun talking with my friend Doctor Shane
Inet from Biola University about helping kids to see God's
Word come to life in this area of financial stewardship
might be a new idea. Money, the Bible come to
life in amazing stories. Well, it's all there. We've just
got to expose our kids to it. Because, you know,
when it comes to helping our kids understand God's heart
(15:23):
as it relates to money, its purpose, what is it?
What is its role in our life? Is it a
good thing or a bad thing? Well, it's a good
gift from God, but there are some dangers there, and
we need to be financially literate. Good news is there's
wisdom in the Bible principles we can pull out, but
at the end of the day, more is caught than
taught in terms of how we transfer God's heart in
(15:45):
this area of money management to our kids. And so,
you know, a lot of the way your, uh, you
handle money today comes from how money was handled growing up.
You know, they say research says, uh, you know, even
by the age of nine, some of those habits are
instilled in us. Part of that is our temperament, our
wiring from God. But a part of that is what
(16:05):
we experience. What was money like growing up? What was
modeled for us. And, uh, you know, we need to
be really thoughtful and intentional about that. But clear. We
need to be clearly, we need to be exposing them
to God's Word as well. So in addition to modeling,
we talk about it. We take them into Scripture, but
we also deal with it practically as well. You know,
there is really nothing better than allowing our kids to
(16:30):
be involved in some of that decision making process as
a learning opportunity. You know, we did that with our
kids when they were much younger. One month. We said,
all right, kids, we're turning our eating over, eating out
budget over to you all this month. And they're like,
wait a minute, what does that mean? Well, you're going
to sit around the kitchen table. Mom and I are
going to leave. Here's the number that represents the eating
(16:51):
out portion of our budget. You guys get to figure
out how it's going to be allocated. And it was
hilarious to kind of overhear them negotiating with one another.
And one of them wanted hibachi at one point during
the month. And so, you know, the other was willing
to to put lunch on the table, you know, lunch
after church on the table as well. We can give
that up if we do this. And, you know, they
(17:13):
had to wrestle through the reality of limited resources and
being able to balance, you know, desires and asking how
much things cost versus, you know, how much eating at
home costs. And it was just really, uh, fascinating to
watch the experience. But, you know, that's the kind of
thing that, you know, as a practical exercise that can
help them appreciate ultimately what it means to manage money
(17:36):
God's way. Well, let's turn the corner and tackle whatever's
on your mind today. If you have a financial question,
we're going to begin taking those here in just a moment.
That number to call is 800 525 7000. Again it's
800 525 7000. In just a moment we'll be headed
to Miami. But first in the news today. The 2025
housing market remains slow as high prices and limited inventory
(18:01):
keep supply tight. Although there are signs of movement, mortgage
applications are rising. The Nar, the National Association of Realtors,
expects a 14% increase in home sales in 2026. As
buyers grow tired of waiting, they've been sitting on the
sidelines for far too long. If 30 year mortgage rates
(18:21):
slip below 6%, and that's a big if, many expect
activity to accelerate. New construction, especially in the South and southwest,
may also provide relief even as affordability challenges persist, and
retirees increasingly choose to live near their grandchildren, often in
the South as well in those warmer climates. First time
(18:43):
homebuyers still face tough conditions, and some renters may stay
put as rents ease. You know, at the end of
the day, Scripture doesn't assign virtue to renting or buying.
What matters is faithful stewardship. Making decisions based on your circumstances,
driven by your values, not pressure or comparison. If renting
helps you stay within your means and continue to give generously, well,
(19:06):
it's a wise choice if buying provides stability and preserve
preserving financial freedom that can allow you to honor God,
well that's great. You know, the goal is margin, generosity.
Trust in him, living within our means with contentment. Uh,
there's nothing wrong with renting or buying. It's just we
don't want you to get overextended. So that rule of thumb, 20%
(19:29):
is a down payment. No more than 30% of your
take home pay toward principal interest, taxes and insurance, your
mortgage payment. If you do that, and I realize it's
not easy, that's going to ensure you have something left
for everything else. All right. Let's dive into your questions today.
That number 800 525 7000. We'll go to Miami. Mary Lou,
go ahead.
S4 (19:50):
Yes, Rob, thank you for your, um, program. Um, last
time I you some a caller asked about the I
bond series, and you mentioned that I we we could
convert them to electronically by creating an account. I did
the account, but I don't know how to convert it.
What do I need to do? There was not an
(20:12):
instruction on the website to say, hey, after you. This
is how you add those certificate bonds into the portal.
S1 (20:23):
Yeah. So you open the account at Treasurydirect gov correct.
S4 (20:27):
Yes I did.
S1 (20:28):
Okay. Yeah. And then they have something called the Smart
Exchange to convert paper bonds. So that's what you're going
to want to look for. You don't upload scans or
images of the bonds. Instead you fill out. It's called
a bond conversion form. And it's right there at Treasurydirect.
You could even search for it at Treasurydirect gov. But
(20:49):
that will generate a bond conversion manifest and registration list
for you based on the bonds you type in. So
when you get that bond conversion form through the Smart Exchange,
you'll type in the the numbers of the bonds. And
they're right there on the paper bonds that will generate
the manifest and the registration list. And then you mail
(21:11):
the paper bonds to the Treasury. Uh, they don't convert
them electronically until they receive the physical certificates. And that's
often where people get stuck. They try to upload the images,
but the system doesn't accept that. Once they verify them,
then they'll deposit the it the electronic versions into the
(21:32):
account that you've created? Um, and you'll get all of
those details. See, what you're looking for is the smart exchange.
And and then that will give you the bond conversion
form that will generate the necessary information. So if you
don't see that just do a search for it. Smart
exchange at Treasurydirect gov. Mary Lou I hope that helps.
(21:54):
Thanks for your call. We'll be right back on faith
and finance live. Stick around. Thanks for joining us today
on Faith and Finance Live I'm Rob West. We're taking
your calls and questions today. We've got some lines open.
(22:17):
We'd love to hear from you at 800 525 7000.
Again that number 800 525 7000. You can call right now.
Let's go to Tennessee. Kaylee, how can I help?
S5 (22:29):
Yes. Um, thank you for taking my call. I appreciate
that very much. I have a family member that, um.
I just spoke to him. Um, he has been. He's
been sued by his credit card company. He's got about
$12,000 in credit card debt. Uh, he thought that his
(22:50):
wife was supposed to pay this credit card off, and
she didn't, uh, she's taken out several in his name,
and he didn't realize it. And he's afraid he's going
to lose his house or his credit. It's really messed
up his credit score and everything. And he's very worried
(23:11):
because they're taking him to court and he doesn't know
what to do. They first they told him that he
had six months to pay it off. They're garnishing his
check now. I mean, he had 12 months. Now he
only has six months to pay it off. Is there
any any advice that you have that I could give
to him?
S1 (23:31):
Well, I'm so sorry to hear about this. Kaylee, I
know that's weighing on him. Uh, you said this was
opened without his knowledge. Uh, is it in her name only?
And are they still married?
S6 (23:42):
No.
S5 (23:42):
It's in his name? Yes. They are married. Mhm.
S1 (23:46):
Okay. Did she, uh, put his name on there fraudulently
or how did that work?
S5 (23:53):
I believe so.
S1 (23:55):
Okay.
S6 (23:55):
Um, yeah. Okay.
S1 (23:58):
And go ahead.
S5 (24:01):
Okay. Um, I he well, he he knew he had
the debt because they, they took out a loan to, uh,
pay off all of their credit cards, but that one
didn't get paid off. So I guess he was unaware
of that particular credit card, but he thought that, um,
(24:23):
everything got paid off, but that one did not.
S6 (24:26):
Okay, so he knew.
S1 (24:28):
His name was on the card. He just didn't realize
there was still money owed on it. Or she's continued
to to charge without his knowledge.
S5 (24:36):
Yes, she has charged things without his knowledge. Um, but
I just don't know what can you.
S6 (24:46):
What is he.
S5 (24:47):
If he was to file, like, uh, a bankruptcy or
something like that, would that would with it being, uh,
with them garnishing his check or with them having, um,
going to court already is that way past that or.
S1 (25:08):
Yeah. Well, I mean, bankruptcy is an option, especially because
wage garnishment is already happening, but it's a decision to
make carefully. So he really needs some some legal counsel
on this. Um, you know, bankruptcy immediately stops garnishment literally
the same day, You know, the moment he files, the
court will issue generally an automatic stay which forces the
(25:31):
creditor to stop the wage garnishment. And that could give
him some breathing room. Debt. Credit card debt is dischargeable. Uh,
in a chapter seven bankruptcy. Um, you know, and so
that can be an option for protection. Uh, but again,
he needs legal advice to kind of walk through this.
I think, uh, you know, you want to respond to
(25:53):
the lawsuit immediately and, and see if there's an option.
I mean, does he have the ability, if they were to,
to offer a settlement, does he have the ability, uh,
to to take care of this?
S5 (26:08):
Well, his wife is trying to take care of this
right now, and she's keeping him in the dark about
a lot of things, but it's in his name, so.
S6 (26:16):
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Are they separated or are they.
S5 (26:20):
No, they are not. But they have separate bank accounts,
and she's not sharing her money with him, and.
S6 (26:29):
Very well, it's.
S1 (26:30):
Yeah. It's not her money. It's it's their money. And
this has gotten real really quick with him having wage garnishments. So,
you know, the fact that their income is now jeopardized
because of, uh, her keeping him in the dark, I
think is just putting a spotlight on this, how problematic
this is. And this is far more than just a
money issue. This is really an issue that they need
(26:52):
to explore with some, some help. I would say, uh,
to get to, you know, the underlying root causes of
what's going on here in terms of the breakdown in
the marriage and the potential deception. Uh, worst. Um, but
I think in the meantime, you know, that's going to
take some time to work out. They're both going to
have to be willing to get some help. I think
(27:13):
they're probably going to need some some marriage counseling. But
I think in the meantime, because this is now affecting
his wages, um, you know, he's going to need to
get some legal advice right away just to know what
are his options. Have somebody help him, you know, reach
out to the creditor. She's going to have to come
clean about what's going on here and provide the necessary information, uh,
(27:34):
so they can just, you know, pay the bills and, and,
you know, stay current now that his income is being jeopardized. Um,
has that gotten her attention at all? The fact that
that his wages are now being garnished?
S5 (27:48):
No, it really has not. And that's what seems to
be so frustrating. Um, she doesn't I don't know that
she really cares if they lose their house or whatever. Uh,
she would. I think she would like to move anyway
because she doesn't like the house. But, um, how how
(28:12):
do they go about legal advice when they can't even
afford to pay their bills? That's what I'm concerned. How
do you do that or What? What happens there?
S1 (28:23):
Yeah. Um. Well, uh, yeah, there's just so many issues here. Um,
I think, uh, you know, in terms of the legal counsel, um,
you know, he if she won't cooperate and they're falling behind, um,
you know, really, I think he doesn't need to try
to navigate this alone so he he could look for.
(28:45):
I mean, he may have to contact Legal Aid Society.
He could, um, you know, look for maybe he contacts
his church to find out if there's any bankruptcy attorneys
in the church who would at least just consult with him. Um,
you know, he could go even, you know, the to
the the bar association there in the county and, you know,
meet with somebody for a flat fee. Um, but essentially, uh,
(29:08):
you know, he's going to need to reach out to
the creditor, let them know the situation here. And, you know,
let's just pray that the Lord will give him wisdom
as he tries to locate somebody who could at least,
you know, help him take the next few steps to
determine how do we deal with this situation where his
(29:28):
his wife is hiding things from him and, you know,
is willing to take them down a path that is
is not going to end well in terms of potentially
losing the house and not being able to pay the bills.
It sounds like, as a tactic to manipulate an outcome
related to this home or some other thing. I mean,
there's there's so many issues underneath the surface here that
(29:49):
need to be dealt with. Um, you know, and if
the marriage is financially unsafe, then he needs to do
what he has to do to protect the house and
his wages and his own credit. And if she refuses
to cooperate and is endangering their stability, then I think
while we work through some some resolution, which is not
(30:10):
going to be quick, you know, he's going to need
to separate his finances the best he can, um, just
to protect himself in terms of being able to, to
just live and and cover his bills. So I think
I would reach out to his church, find out if
there's an attorney there that he could consult with, uh,
that might offer a free consultation. He probably also needs
(30:31):
to reach out to Legal Aid just to see if
there's any pro bono attorneys. But he needs some legal
guidance here. I think that really is the next step.
I'm going to ask our faith and finance community to
be praying for you and your son as he navigates this,
and just ask the Lord to give him wisdom and
intervene in this situation in a miraculous way. And, uh,
God can bring restoration. Um, but let's, uh, let's see
(30:55):
if we can get him some, some wise counsel. In
the meantime, thanks for your call. We'll be right back.
I'm so glad you're with us today on Faith and
Finance live. I'm Rob West. We're taking your calls and
questions today. That number to get in on the conversation today.
(31:15):
800 525 7000. Again, that's 800 525 7000. You can
call right now. Well, it's national collection week for Operation
Christmas Child. That's right. It's that time of year. If
you're like me, you want to do it every year.
We love doing it whenever we do. But there have
been years in the past where November comes and goes
(31:38):
and we're thinking, oh, we missed the Operation Christmas child opportunity. Well,
this is the chance for you to get in and
not miss it this year. Uh, it's a great time
to go ahead and fill your shoe box and then
drop it off. And that's going to spread the hope
and the love of Christ with children around the world.
So to get all of the details, including packing tips
(32:01):
and drop off site information, just head to Moody Radio
org and click the Operation Christmas Child banner again. It's
National Collection Week now through the 24th of November. Don't delay,
you're going to miss your chance. But if you head
to Moody Radio.com or click the OC banner, you will
get all of the necessary information for Operation Christmas Child.
(32:24):
We love it. I know you will too. All right,
let's head back to the phones. By the way, if
you have a financial question today, we've got room for
perhaps one more phone call. In addition to those that
are holding, call 800 525 7000. Uh, Marian, thank you
for calling. Go ahead.
S7 (32:41):
My son, who is 62 years afternoon. Good afternoon, Mr. Roberts.
Thank you for taking my call. Yes, ma'am. Sorry, I
forgot my man. I'm so anxious. My son, who is 62,
a very severe diabetic. He's having severe financial problems. I've
helped all I can and tell the truth. I'm now 90.
I cannot, I'm not able. So I was I recommended
(33:02):
reverse mortgage to him. He don't want to hear it.
He thinks it's no good. And he believes his wife
will be left homeless. And so I'm asking, is there
any any thing you could send him or he will
listen to you, I'm sure, because he listens to you all.
Almost every day. Um, the only thing you could. I
have heard you mention that reverse mode is not the
(33:25):
thing it was before. Is that the case? Then how
would he. How would I suggest him to go about it?
S1 (33:30):
Yeah, well, I think the question is. I mean, these
aren't for everyone, but in a certain situations, they can
be a wonderful financial planning tool. So I think the
first question is, uh, you know, what is the concern
or the objection? I mean, first of all, when you
do a reverse mortgage, you retain full rights to the home.
The lender has a lien on the home, just as
if you had a forward mortgage. But you get to
(33:53):
keep all the equity. It's just that when you pass
away and your spouse or you move out, uh, then
at that point it has to be sold and whatever
the balance is gets paid. And whatever's left goes to
your estate to be distributed to your heirs or to charity,
which is just like with with a With a forward mortgage. Um,
(34:13):
in terms of being able to stay in the home, uh,
for a spouse after the other spouse passes away. Well,
what would happen is you're both listed on the loan
as a co-borrower. So both spouses have full rights to
stay in the home for life, just like you would.
No payments are required. They're always optional. The only requirement
(34:34):
is that you continue to pay the taxes and the insurance,
which you'd have to do anyway, and nobody can ever
be forced out of the home. And then again upon,
you know, both spouses passing away or moving out of
the home permanently, then the, uh, whatever that balance is
would have to be paid. The payments are always optional.
You can get it as a line of credit. You
(34:54):
can get it as a monthly income stream. The key
is you have to be at least 62 years old. Uh,
and if there's two borrowers, a married couple, at least
one has to be 62. And and then you have
to have at least 50% equity in the home. Um,
and the more equity you have, the more you can receive.
(35:14):
It's got to be your primary residence again. You have
to maintain the home, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, HOA maintenance costs. Um, but,
you know, it can be a great tool. So I
think the question is kind of what are his concerns?
And is he operating under a false pretense because reverse
mortgages from a couple of decades ago were an entirely
(35:37):
different product that I would have never recommended. But, uh,
you know, they're nonrecourse debt and they can be very
effective for people in this fourth quarter of life where,
you know, they don't have the savings, they're potentially still
have a mortgage. And that's, you know, their biggest expense
and causing them a real strain financially, or they just
(35:58):
need to be able to tap into some funds, you know,
for those extra things, because they're living right up to
the edge on Social Security in a very small retirement account.
And if you want to stay in your home, it
can be a game changer to really take that pressure off. So, um,
I'd be happy to send you Marianne, a book that
explains all of this. You know, maybe that's the the
(36:20):
best next step for your son.
S7 (36:22):
Yes. Eight two. Oh, can you take the address or.
S1 (36:27):
Yeah. Not over the radio. I'm going to have you
hold the line. My producer is going to pick it
up and get your information, and we'll send it out
to you. Okay?
S7 (36:33):
God bless you, sir. Thank you very much.
S1 (36:35):
All right. Lord bless you as well. Thanks for calling.
Let's go to a Florida. Hi, Byron. Go ahead.
S8 (36:41):
Hi, Rob. I've learned a ton from your show over
the years, and I got an easy question for you.
S1 (36:47):
Okay. Thank you for that, by the way. And I'm
delighted you called.
S8 (36:52):
Yes. Thank you. My wife and I both recently turned 64.
We're both employed by the same Christian school, and we
have an eight year old. So I know that we're
looking at going on to Medicare, but we we're locked
into a family plan which our school pays most of
the premiums. So it's not expensive for us, but we
(37:13):
know we need to do the Medicare I guess.
S6 (37:16):
Mhm.
S1 (37:17):
Yes. Okay. Yeah a couple of thoughts here. Number one
is uh, you know the good news is you can
do both. So you can enroll in Medicare at 65
and keep your child on your employer plan. Uh, a
lot of times people think if you move to Medicare,
the whole family plan disappears. It doesn't. So here's how
it works. You go on Medicare Part A, usually free
(37:39):
and part B if you choose, your son stays on
the employer family plan under your coverage. And as long
as you continue working and stay attached to the employer
plan as an as an employee, the child can stay
on it. Now, because you're still working and you have
employer coverage, you don't have to take Medicare Part B yet.
(38:00):
If the employee employer insurance is good and it sounds
like it is, you could delay that and avoid paying
that monthly premium until later. What most people do in
this situation is they take part A at 65, which
is free, and it's secondary coverage. They delay part B
until they stop working or lose the employer plan and
(38:22):
then keep the the child on the employer plan the
entire time. And that avoids the penalties.
S8 (38:29):
Fantastic.
S6 (38:30):
Yeah.
S8 (38:31):
That's what I was hoping to hear. Thank you so much.
S6 (38:33):
Okay.
S1 (38:33):
You're welcome. Thanks for calling. And thanks for your kind
remarks about the program. I'm thrilled that you've found some
value in it. Lord bless you. Uh, let's see quickly to, uh,
Ray in Florida. Ray. Go ahead.
S8 (38:45):
Hey.
S9 (38:46):
Enjoy the show. I was wondering if you have any
kind of curriculums for small group. I know you have
in the past because I've used them years and years
and years ago.
S6 (38:56):
Yeah, yeah, it's.
S1 (38:59):
A great question, Ray. Our team's thinking a lot more
about that lately. Um, you know, a couple of things
I would suggest. So the the most recent studies we've
come out with, uh, first, the study on the parable
of the rich fool called Rich Toward God. And then
our new study on the book of Ecclesiastes, um, called
wisdom Over Wealth. A lot of small groups are using those.
(39:20):
There's questions in there. It's built not only for individual study,
but for small groups. You'll find those at Faith. Com.
We're also really thinking through a larger church strategy as
we roll out the new Faith fi app next year. Um,
there'll be you know, what we're hearing from a lot
of churches is, number one, they want to go deeper
into Scripture. Uh, number two, they really want to think
(39:43):
not just about the financial literacy. What are the, you know,
saving 3 to 6 months and building a budget and
investing for the future. Those those are great, but what
they're wanting is really more spiritual formation around what does
it look like to live as a wise steward according
to God's word? And so, uh, we're going to build
some of that into the faith by app, where you'll
(40:04):
be able to pick a study, do some learning at
home as you watch the videos and read the material
and then come together, you know, maybe two or 3
or 4 times as a small group, you know, maybe
once a week for a month or every, you know,
two weeks over a couple of months and then talk
about what you've been studying. And that gives you kind
(40:25):
of the rhythm of, I do a little bit of
home on my own where I can be a, you know,
a little more introspective. And then I come together with
a group and talk about it. So, um, I would
say today, those two studies we've got rich toward God and,
and wisdom over wealth would be great. And what's coming
is a more robust solution that has both a a
digital and an in-person experience.
S9 (40:48):
Okay. Wisdom over wealth.
S6 (40:51):
Yeah.
S1 (40:52):
And, uh, rich toward God. Either of those studies, when
you go to faith fi com and click store, you'll
see it right there in front of you.
S9 (41:00):
All right. Thank you sir.
S1 (41:02):
All right. Lord bless you. Ray, thanks for calling today. Uh, Sharon, I'm. Unfortunately,
I'm out of time, so I will not be able
to get to your question, but let's see if our
team can get you scheduled to be first up tomorrow.
I would love to be able to chat with you
and hear your question and and give you some counsel. Sharon,
thanks for calling today. Stay right there, folks. That's going
to do it for us. Hey, let me mention here
(41:22):
as we head toward the end of the program and
as the end of the year is right around the corner,
this is a really important time for us to hear
from you. We're headed toward a goal between now and
December 31st of $175,000. And the good news is, we've
got some really generous friends that are going to match
the entire thing. Now, I just checked before the show
(41:45):
here today and, um, you know, we're sitting at about
$46,000 that has already been given toward the 175,000, uh,
to take us to the end of the year here
at Faith VI. And so, uh, a little more than, well,
a little less than 130,000 to go here in the
next six weeks. So if you'd consider a gift, perhaps
(42:06):
you've found real value in the program. Maybe you listen regularly,
or you've been able to apply a principle that you've heard,
or you've taken away an idea that's impacted you and
your stewardship journey. We'd love for you to join us
and partner with us as you give generously to the ministry.
Every gift of any amount will ensure you get my
new devotional, Our Ultimate Treasure. When it comes out in January,
(42:29):
every gift will be doubled and you'll help us reach
more people with this message of wise stewardship. We've got
some incredible resources coming out next year, including the new
brand new Faith V app. It's going to be amazing.
I can't wait to put it in your hands. A
lot more to come on that in the days ahead.
Just go to faith. Faith. Com slash give big thanks
(42:50):
to my team today. Faith and finance live partnership between
Moody Radio and Faith V. We will see you tomorrow.
God bless you.
Money lessons aren't just for adults. They're for the whole family. Hi,
I'm Rob West. What if your kids could learn biblical
principles of generosity, contentment, and stewardship through the power of storytelling? Today,
Doctor Shane Enid joins us to share a creative new
resource that helps parents connect faith and finance in ways
kids can truly understand. And then it's on to your
(00:33):
calls at 800 525 7000. That's 800 525 7000. This
is faith and finance. Live. Biblical wisdom for your financial journey. Well,
it's always a treat to welcome back Doctor Shane Annett.
He's an associate professor of finance at Biola University, where
(00:54):
he founded Biola's Financial Planning program. Additionally, he's the creator
of the Money Storybook Bible Podcast, which helps parents connect
faith and finance through the power of storytelling. Shane, it's
always a pleasure to have you on the program.
S2 (01:09):
Yeah, it's so fun to be here. Thanks so much, Shane.
S1 (01:11):
I love this idea. Reading beautifully retold Bible stories about
money to your own kids. So why don't you take
us back? What inspired you to start the Money Storybook
Bible podcast?
S2 (01:23):
So, you know, I get asked a lot about how, um,
you know, is there a resource for teaching kids about money?
And so I was thinking through it, trying to figure out, um,
you know, how I can kind of communicate, uh, lessons
about money. And then I just it kind of dawned
on me that the Bible is already done, that, you know,
the Bible, it's the second most discussed topic, and the
(01:44):
Bible is made for all ages. And it's, you know,
largely story based. And so I was like, well, I'd
tell stories to my kids every night. Uh, what if
I just told Bible stories? And I kind of fleshed
it out a bit so they could, uh, get engaged
and see themselves in the story and also teach them
about money.
S1 (02:03):
Yeah, I love that. And when parents listen to these stories,
what's the key lesson, Shane, you hope they take away
about helping their kids learn biblical money habits?
S2 (02:12):
You know, there are so many. But I'd say that's,
you know, stewardship. This idea of having money is just
one huge opportunity to express our love for Jesus, you know?
And so when we share, you know, in sharing is caring.
We're actually just loving on Jesus and we're loving on
each other. And so I want them to see that
money is an opportunity. And then I also want them
(02:34):
to see the wisdom, you know, of learning about saving
and and having some self-control so that you don't spend
too much. And also the dangers of debts and the
dangers of discontentment and seeing wealth as more important than Jesus.
S1 (02:49):
Hmm. Give us a sense of what the podcast sounds
like you're reading to your kids, but there's also an
interactive element. So how does all that come together?
S2 (02:57):
Yeah. You know, um, so my kids are there, and
I asked them some icebreaker questions that relate to the
story that we're going to read. And so, you know,
they might be a would you rather or what's your favorite?
And so the kids respond. And then I read the story.
And then I ask them questions about the story to
gauge their level of understanding. And then we do an activity.
(03:19):
Either I just introduce the activity and we can do
it over the air, or I just say, here's the activity.
We're going to do it later.
S1 (03:25):
Mhm. Yeah I love that. I'd love to hear how
kids are responding to these stories. What kinds of things
do they say or do that show. The lessons are
really connecting.
S2 (03:34):
You know I'll answer that with my kids. Um, it
was just real special for me. You know, we were
brainstorming together about, um, activities, and I have a story
about Ecclesiastes and King Solomon, and I kind of make
them a little bit silly. Um, he's eating too many dates,
and he's getting full, and he's also kind of giving
his proverbs about money as he's trying to teach the kids,
(03:57):
and then he's getting distracted because of all the hardship
of wealth. And, um, and then I asked them, after
the story is done, I said, all right, there's two worlds.
You have a world where you're rich like Solomon, and
I have them go through what they buy, you know?
And sage, my daughter would wants to buy all of target,
you know, and, uh, and then, you know, a whole
(04:18):
stable of horses. And Silas would want to have Disneyland.
And so I walked through the lifestyle of that. And
then I say, well, in this world, you don't know Jesus.
And then, uh, in world B, you, uh, everything's the same,
and you just love on Jesus. And I asked them,
which world would you rather be in? And I expected
a little more of a consultation, a little more of
(04:39):
a thinking, but both of them just very animatedly said,
you know, we want the world with Jesus, you know? And, um,
and so that was just a real special moment where
I felt like that's what I want to teach them,
you know, more than just budgeting or debt, uh, management.
I want to teach them that Jesus is everything and
money is an opportunity to love him.
S1 (04:59):
That is so powerful. Well, folks, we're talking with Doctor
Shane Ina today. He's the creator of the Money Storybook
Bible podcast. And when we come back, we'll actually share
a few clips from the series. So you're not going
to want to miss this. I can't think of a
more important topic. How do we communicate the heart of
God related to money to our kids? This is faith
(05:21):
in finance. Live. Don't go anywhere. We're just getting started.
Thanks for joining us today on Faith and Finance Live.
You know, helping kids handle money is a part of
(05:41):
helping them follow Christ. We all want to raise generous kids.
And what if you could do that through the power
of story? Well, today we're privileged to have back with
us a regular contributor on this program, doctor Shane innit.
He's associate professor of finance at Biola University. He's also
the creator of the Money Storybook Bible podcast, which helps
(06:03):
parents connect faith and finance through the power of storytelling.
All right, Shane, I want to dive in to a
clip from an episode based on acts 16. I know
it's titled Purple Snail Robes. So in this creative retelling,
Lydia offers to sell everything, give her wealth to Paul,
(06:24):
and travel with him to share the gospel. But Paul
helps her see that her business itself can be a
way to honor God. Let's take a listen.
S2 (06:33):
Paul sat down and thought for a while. Then he
prayed quietly, asking the Holy Spirit for wisdom. After a
moment he stood up and looked kindly at Lydia. Lydia,
he said, it's a wonderful thing that you want to
give everything for Jesus. But not everyone is called to
leave their home. Sometimes God wants us to serve him
(06:54):
right where we are. Lydia's smile faded just a little.
But I want to tell people about Jesus, too, she
said softly. Paul nodded. And you will. I believe God
wants you to share the good news through your purple
cloth business. You're amazing at running your business and blessing
others with your beautiful robes. When you love others, share
(07:16):
what you have and do your work with skill and kindness.
You're showing people who Jesus is. Suddenly, Lydia's eyes lit up.
She jumped up and gave Paul a big bear hug
like she would her older brother. I get it. Everything
I have belongs to God. He's calling me to use
my business and my home to help bring his kingdom
(07:36):
to life. That means making beautiful robes with skill and care,
but also sharing my food and my home with others
who are in need. Then Lydia paused and looked very serious. Paul,
she said, I want to be your sponsor. My home
is your home. My money is your money. My business
(07:56):
is your business. We're family now, and it all belongs
to God anyway. Paul and his friends cheered with joy.
Then Paul raised his hands and gave a special blessing
over Lydia and her household. May the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you and everyone
in your home and business.
S1 (08:17):
Mm. Shane, that story of Lydia is so powerful. Boy,
it just really captures generosity and the beauty of using
what we have for God's glory. I'd love for you
just to reflect on that a bit and share your
heart for our listeners.
S2 (08:33):
Yeah. You know this story. Um, I really was thinking
of John Reinhardt and the gospel patrons. Yeah. And he
really just brought about an awareness that every gospel movement
has a gospel patron. And so when I, you know,
was thinking about different characters in the Bible, different stories. Lydia,
to me was, you know, one of the first gospel
patrons that's mentioned. And yes, and then I also really liked,
(08:56):
as I learned more about Lydia, uh, that you have
to smash snails to create purple robes and any kind
of little, little bit like that is really fun for
me with kids because it's just a, you know, I
feel like I want to always add random little things
that are really visual that are really fun for kids
to think about. So the combination of, uh, of purple snails, uh, and, um,
(09:20):
and this idea of a gospel patron and this idea that, um, yeah,
that Lydia was just this neat example that we can
all learn from in today's world.
S1 (09:29):
Um, powerful. All right, let's move to another story. This
one is based on John 19, titled £75 of Spices.
And it, of course, tells the story of Joseph of
Arimathea and Nicodemus, overheard by Nicodemus young daughter Abigail, and
beautifully illustrates how generosity can be both courageous and costly.
(09:50):
Let's listen.
S2 (09:51):
Joseph spoke first. Jesus of Nazareth was greater than any
man who ever lived. We must honor him. I can't
bear the thought of him being thrown into a criminal's grave.
Joseph took a deep breath. I will give him my
tomb I just purchased. Nicodemus eyes widened. Joseph's tomb was
brand new hand-carved tomb in the rock near the city.
(10:14):
It was worth almost ten years of wages. About a
half $1 million in today's money. Are you sure? Nicodemus asked. Yes,
Joseph said without hesitation. What is the point of wealth,
if not to be generous like God, and express my
love of God in a generous way? Jesus had so
much love for all of us. I want to now
respond by loving him back with my tomb. He needs
(10:37):
a tomb fit for a king and I will give
it to him. Nicodemus was silent for a moment. Then
he stood up, determination in his eyes. I want to
help too. What do you have in mind? Joseph asked
with curiosity. Nicodemus responded, a king's burial requires spices, myrrh
and aloes to wrap the body. The more spices, the
(10:57):
greater the honor. I will buy £75 of burial spices.
It was Joseph's turn to open his eyes in shock. £75?
Joseph gasped, knowing this would be at least two years
of wages. Nicodemus smiled. Should it be more? As they
discussed the details of what to do next, suddenly a
(11:18):
small voice interrupted them. I want to help. Two startled,
both men looked up and saw little Abigail standing bravely
before them. Nicodemus sighed and shook his head. That's very kind, daughter,
but everything has been arranged, he said, not really paying
attention to her. Then he and Joseph turned back to
their discussion. But Abigail wasn't giving up so easily. She
(11:41):
stepped forward, holding her most prized possession. Her favorite blue necklace.
I want to help, too, she repeated, her voice steady
and strong. Nicodemus stopped. He looked at the necklace, then
at his daughter. This was the first time he had
seen her take it off. It was her most treasured
thing in the whole world. Slowly, he knelt down beside her. Abby,
(12:07):
are you sure? Abigail nodded. Yes. I'm sure. A king
should have a beautiful necklace. I once saw Caesar wear
a necklace. And isn't Jesus greater than Caesar? Joseph and
Nicodemus exchanged a look. Then, with great care, Nicodemus took
the necklace from Abigail's hands. With love and respect, they
(12:29):
carried out their plan to give Jesus a king's burial. Hmm.
S1 (12:34):
Wow. Another powerful story. All right, Shane. Take us into
this one. Why this particular story?
S2 (12:40):
You know, I first caught wind. Of how much £75
of spices were from a colleague here at Biola. Doctor
Janine hanger. Yeah. She, uh, she studies the embodied nature
of Jesus and, um, writes about engaging our senses. And
she had done some dissertation work on this idea of
how much spices are involved. And it's far greater than
(13:01):
anyone who's ever been buried. And and so that just
captures my imagination, you know, uh, that that detail is
in the Bible. Yeah. And you also think about how
Joseph and Nicodemus were likely friends and the combination of
the just huge, um, gratuitous generosity of the tomb and
the spices together and then, you know, and add a
(13:23):
child being generous alongside the adults. And that really creates
kind of a fun dynamic. And I don't know everything
about the story of Jesus and the story of the Bible,
like the way God tells stories. I just want, um,
I want to retell the stories, and I want to
retell them in a way that children can enjoy. That
kind of provides some extra little details that they can
(13:46):
grasp onto, and then makes the stories come alive regarding
their faith and regarding what how they think about money.
S1 (13:54):
Shane, this is powerful folks. Go to whole heart finances.
Com there's a free activity book that pairs with the podcast,
complete with badges and a certificate of completion. Each badge
connects to a money topic like giving, saving, or contentment.
It's all there. Whole heart. Finances. Com. Shane, thanks for
being here.
S2 (14:13):
Thanks so much for having me.
S1 (14:15):
That's Shane Enid, associate professor of finance at Biola University. Again,
you can learn more about the Money Storybook Bible podcast
at Whole Heart Finances. Com we'll be right back.
S3 (14:37):
The opinions offered during this program represent the personal or
professional opinions of the participants, given for informational purposes only.
Any information provided is not intended to replace advice from
a financial, medical, legal, or other professional who understands your
specific situation.
S1 (15:00):
Well, that was fun talking with my friend Doctor Shane
Inet from Biola University about helping kids to see God's
Word come to life in this area of financial stewardship
might be a new idea. Money, the Bible come to
life in amazing stories. Well, it's all there. We've just
got to expose our kids to it. Because, you know,
when it comes to helping our kids understand God's heart
(15:23):
as it relates to money, its purpose, what is it?
What is its role in our life? Is it a
good thing or a bad thing? Well, it's a good
gift from God, but there are some dangers there, and
we need to be financially literate. Good news is there's
wisdom in the Bible principles we can pull out, but
at the end of the day, more is caught than
taught in terms of how we transfer God's heart in
(15:45):
this area of money management to our kids. And so,
you know, a lot of the way your, uh, you
handle money today comes from how money was handled growing up.
You know, they say research says, uh, you know, even
by the age of nine, some of those habits are
instilled in us. Part of that is our temperament, our
wiring from God. But a part of that is what
(16:05):
we experience. What was money like growing up? What was
modeled for us. And, uh, you know, we need to
be really thoughtful and intentional about that. But clear. We
need to be clearly, we need to be exposing them
to God's Word as well. So in addition to modeling,
we talk about it. We take them into Scripture, but
we also deal with it practically as well. You know,
there is really nothing better than allowing our kids to
(16:30):
be involved in some of that decision making process as
a learning opportunity. You know, we did that with our
kids when they were much younger. One month. We said,
all right, kids, we're turning our eating over, eating out
budget over to you all this month. And they're like,
wait a minute, what does that mean? Well, you're going
to sit around the kitchen table. Mom and I are
going to leave. Here's the number that represents the eating
(16:51):
out portion of our budget. You guys get to figure
out how it's going to be allocated. And it was
hilarious to kind of overhear them negotiating with one another.
And one of them wanted hibachi at one point during
the month. And so, you know, the other was willing
to to put lunch on the table, you know, lunch
after church on the table as well. We can give
that up if we do this. And, you know, they
(17:13):
had to wrestle through the reality of limited resources and
being able to balance, you know, desires and asking how
much things cost versus, you know, how much eating at
home costs. And it was just really, uh, fascinating to
watch the experience. But, you know, that's the kind of
thing that, you know, as a practical exercise that can
help them appreciate ultimately what it means to manage money
(17:36):
God's way. Well, let's turn the corner and tackle whatever's
on your mind today. If you have a financial question,
we're going to begin taking those here in just a moment.
That number to call is 800 525 7000. Again it's
800 525 7000. In just a moment we'll be headed
to Miami. But first in the news today. The 2025
housing market remains slow as high prices and limited inventory
(18:01):
keep supply tight. Although there are signs of movement, mortgage
applications are rising. The Nar, the National Association of Realtors,
expects a 14% increase in home sales in 2026. As
buyers grow tired of waiting, they've been sitting on the
sidelines for far too long. If 30 year mortgage rates
(18:21):
slip below 6%, and that's a big if, many expect
activity to accelerate. New construction, especially in the South and southwest,
may also provide relief even as affordability challenges persist, and
retirees increasingly choose to live near their grandchildren, often in
the South as well in those warmer climates. First time
(18:43):
homebuyers still face tough conditions, and some renters may stay
put as rents ease. You know, at the end of
the day, Scripture doesn't assign virtue to renting or buying.
What matters is faithful stewardship. Making decisions based on your circumstances,
driven by your values, not pressure or comparison. If renting
helps you stay within your means and continue to give generously, well,
(19:06):
it's a wise choice if buying provides stability and preserve
preserving financial freedom that can allow you to honor God,
well that's great. You know, the goal is margin, generosity.
Trust in him, living within our means with contentment. Uh,
there's nothing wrong with renting or buying. It's just we
don't want you to get overextended. So that rule of thumb, 20%
(19:29):
is a down payment. No more than 30% of your
take home pay toward principal interest, taxes and insurance, your
mortgage payment. If you do that, and I realize it's
not easy, that's going to ensure you have something left
for everything else. All right. Let's dive into your questions today.
That number 800 525 7000. We'll go to Miami. Mary Lou,
go ahead.
S4 (19:50):
Yes, Rob, thank you for your, um, program. Um, last
time I you some a caller asked about the I
bond series, and you mentioned that I we we could
convert them to electronically by creating an account. I did
the account, but I don't know how to convert it.
What do I need to do? There was not an
(20:12):
instruction on the website to say, hey, after you. This
is how you add those certificate bonds into the portal.
S1 (20:23):
Yeah. So you open the account at Treasurydirect gov correct.
S4 (20:27):
Yes I did.
S1 (20:28):
Okay. Yeah. And then they have something called the Smart
Exchange to convert paper bonds. So that's what you're going
to want to look for. You don't upload scans or
images of the bonds. Instead you fill out. It's called
a bond conversion form. And it's right there at Treasurydirect.
You could even search for it at Treasurydirect gov. But
(20:49):
that will generate a bond conversion manifest and registration list
for you based on the bonds you type in. So
when you get that bond conversion form through the Smart Exchange,
you'll type in the the numbers of the bonds. And
they're right there on the paper bonds that will generate
the manifest and the registration list. And then you mail
(21:11):
the paper bonds to the Treasury. Uh, they don't convert
them electronically until they receive the physical certificates. And that's
often where people get stuck. They try to upload the images,
but the system doesn't accept that. Once they verify them,
then they'll deposit the it the electronic versions into the
(21:32):
account that you've created? Um, and you'll get all of
those details. See, what you're looking for is the smart exchange.
And and then that will give you the bond conversion
form that will generate the necessary information. So if you
don't see that just do a search for it. Smart
exchange at Treasurydirect gov. Mary Lou I hope that helps.
(21:54):
Thanks for your call. We'll be right back on faith
and finance live. Stick around. Thanks for joining us today
on Faith and Finance Live I'm Rob West. We're taking
your calls and questions today. We've got some lines open.
(22:17):
We'd love to hear from you at 800 525 7000.
Again that number 800 525 7000. You can call right now.
Let's go to Tennessee. Kaylee, how can I help?
S5 (22:29):
Yes. Um, thank you for taking my call. I appreciate
that very much. I have a family member that, um.
I just spoke to him. Um, he has been. He's
been sued by his credit card company. He's got about
$12,000 in credit card debt. Uh, he thought that his
(22:50):
wife was supposed to pay this credit card off, and
she didn't, uh, she's taken out several in his name,
and he didn't realize it. And he's afraid he's going
to lose his house or his credit. It's really messed
up his credit score and everything. And he's very worried
(23:11):
because they're taking him to court and he doesn't know
what to do. They first they told him that he
had six months to pay it off. They're garnishing his
check now. I mean, he had 12 months. Now he
only has six months to pay it off. Is there
any any advice that you have that I could give
to him?
S1 (23:31):
Well, I'm so sorry to hear about this. Kaylee, I
know that's weighing on him. Uh, you said this was
opened without his knowledge. Uh, is it in her name only?
And are they still married?
S6 (23:42):
No.
S5 (23:42):
It's in his name? Yes. They are married. Mhm.
S1 (23:46):
Okay. Did she, uh, put his name on there fraudulently
or how did that work?
S5 (23:53):
I believe so.
S1 (23:55):
Okay.
S6 (23:55):
Um, yeah. Okay.
S1 (23:58):
And go ahead.
S5 (24:01):
Okay. Um, I he well, he he knew he had
the debt because they, they took out a loan to, uh,
pay off all of their credit cards, but that one
didn't get paid off. So I guess he was unaware
of that particular credit card, but he thought that, um,
(24:23):
everything got paid off, but that one did not.
S6 (24:26):
Okay, so he knew.
S1 (24:28):
His name was on the card. He just didn't realize
there was still money owed on it. Or she's continued
to to charge without his knowledge.
S5 (24:36):
Yes, she has charged things without his knowledge. Um, but
I just don't know what can you.
S6 (24:46):
What is he.
S5 (24:47):
If he was to file, like, uh, a bankruptcy or
something like that, would that would with it being, uh,
with them garnishing his check or with them having, um,
going to court already is that way past that or.
S1 (25:08):
Yeah. Well, I mean, bankruptcy is an option, especially because
wage garnishment is already happening, but it's a decision to
make carefully. So he really needs some some legal counsel
on this. Um, you know, bankruptcy immediately stops garnishment literally
the same day, You know, the moment he files, the
court will issue generally an automatic stay which forces the
(25:31):
creditor to stop the wage garnishment. And that could give
him some breathing room. Debt. Credit card debt is dischargeable. Uh,
in a chapter seven bankruptcy. Um, you know, and so
that can be an option for protection. Uh, but again,
he needs legal advice to kind of walk through this.
I think, uh, you know, you want to respond to
(25:53):
the lawsuit immediately and, and see if there's an option.
I mean, does he have the ability, if they were to,
to offer a settlement, does he have the ability, uh,
to to take care of this?
S5 (26:08):
Well, his wife is trying to take care of this
right now, and she's keeping him in the dark about
a lot of things, but it's in his name, so.
S6 (26:16):
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Are they separated or are they.
S5 (26:20):
No, they are not. But they have separate bank accounts,
and she's not sharing her money with him, and.
S6 (26:29):
Very well, it's.
S1 (26:30):
Yeah. It's not her money. It's it's their money. And
this has gotten real really quick with him having wage garnishments. So,
you know, the fact that their income is now jeopardized
because of, uh, her keeping him in the dark, I
think is just putting a spotlight on this, how problematic
this is. And this is far more than just a
money issue. This is really an issue that they need
(26:52):
to explore with some, some help. I would say, uh,
to get to, you know, the underlying root causes of
what's going on here in terms of the breakdown in
the marriage and the potential deception. Uh, worst. Um, but
I think in the meantime, you know, that's going to
take some time to work out. They're both going to
have to be willing to get some help. I think
(27:13):
they're probably going to need some some marriage counseling. But
I think in the meantime, because this is now affecting
his wages, um, you know, he's going to need to
get some legal advice right away just to know what
are his options. Have somebody help him, you know, reach
out to the creditor. She's going to have to come
clean about what's going on here and provide the necessary information, uh,
(27:34):
so they can just, you know, pay the bills and, and,
you know, stay current now that his income is being jeopardized. Um,
has that gotten her attention at all? The fact that
that his wages are now being garnished?
S5 (27:48):
No, it really has not. And that's what seems to
be so frustrating. Um, she doesn't I don't know that
she really cares if they lose their house or whatever. Uh,
she would. I think she would like to move anyway
because she doesn't like the house. But, um, how how
(28:12):
do they go about legal advice when they can't even
afford to pay their bills? That's what I'm concerned. How
do you do that or What? What happens there?
S1 (28:23):
Yeah. Um. Well, uh, yeah, there's just so many issues here. Um,
I think, uh, you know, in terms of the legal counsel, um,
you know, he if she won't cooperate and they're falling behind, um,
you know, really, I think he doesn't need to try
to navigate this alone so he he could look for.
(28:45):
I mean, he may have to contact Legal Aid Society.
He could, um, you know, look for maybe he contacts
his church to find out if there's any bankruptcy attorneys
in the church who would at least just consult with him. Um,
you know, he could go even, you know, the to
the the bar association there in the county and, you know,
meet with somebody for a flat fee. Um, but essentially, uh,
(29:08):
you know, he's going to need to reach out to
the creditor, let them know the situation here. And, you know,
let's just pray that the Lord will give him wisdom
as he tries to locate somebody who could at least,
you know, help him take the next few steps to
determine how do we deal with this situation where his
(29:28):
his wife is hiding things from him and, you know,
is willing to take them down a path that is
is not going to end well in terms of potentially
losing the house and not being able to pay the bills.
It sounds like, as a tactic to manipulate an outcome
related to this home or some other thing. I mean,
there's there's so many issues underneath the surface here that
(29:49):
need to be dealt with. Um, you know, and if
the marriage is financially unsafe, then he needs to do
what he has to do to protect the house and
his wages and his own credit. And if she refuses
to cooperate and is endangering their stability, then I think
while we work through some some resolution, which is not
(30:10):
going to be quick, you know, he's going to need
to separate his finances the best he can, um, just
to protect himself in terms of being able to, to
just live and and cover his bills. So I think
I would reach out to his church, find out if
there's an attorney there that he could consult with, uh,
that might offer a free consultation. He probably also needs
(30:31):
to reach out to Legal Aid just to see if
there's any pro bono attorneys. But he needs some legal
guidance here. I think that really is the next step.
I'm going to ask our faith and finance community to
be praying for you and your son as he navigates this,
and just ask the Lord to give him wisdom and
intervene in this situation in a miraculous way. And, uh,
God can bring restoration. Um, but let's, uh, let's see
(30:55):
if we can get him some, some wise counsel. In
the meantime, thanks for your call. We'll be right back.
I'm so glad you're with us today on Faith and
Finance live. I'm Rob West. We're taking your calls and
questions today. That number to get in on the conversation today.
(31:15):
800 525 7000. Again, that's 800 525 7000. You can
call right now. Well, it's national collection week for Operation
Christmas Child. That's right. It's that time of year. If
you're like me, you want to do it every year.
We love doing it whenever we do. But there have
been years in the past where November comes and goes
(31:38):
and we're thinking, oh, we missed the Operation Christmas child opportunity. Well,
this is the chance for you to get in and
not miss it this year. Uh, it's a great time
to go ahead and fill your shoe box and then
drop it off. And that's going to spread the hope
and the love of Christ with children around the world.
So to get all of the details, including packing tips
(32:01):
and drop off site information, just head to Moody Radio
org and click the Operation Christmas Child banner again. It's
National Collection Week now through the 24th of November. Don't delay,
you're going to miss your chance. But if you head
to Moody Radio.com or click the OC banner, you will
get all of the necessary information for Operation Christmas Child.
(32:24):
We love it. I know you will too. All right,
let's head back to the phones. By the way, if
you have a financial question today, we've got room for
perhaps one more phone call. In addition to those that
are holding, call 800 525 7000. Uh, Marian, thank you
for calling. Go ahead.
S7 (32:41):
My son, who is 62 years afternoon. Good afternoon, Mr. Roberts.
Thank you for taking my call. Yes, ma'am. Sorry, I
forgot my man. I'm so anxious. My son, who is 62,
a very severe diabetic. He's having severe financial problems. I've
helped all I can and tell the truth. I'm now 90.
I cannot, I'm not able. So I was I recommended
(33:02):
reverse mortgage to him. He don't want to hear it.
He thinks it's no good. And he believes his wife
will be left homeless. And so I'm asking, is there
any any thing you could send him or he will
listen to you, I'm sure, because he listens to you all.
Almost every day. Um, the only thing you could. I
have heard you mention that reverse mode is not the
(33:25):
thing it was before. Is that the case? Then how
would he. How would I suggest him to go about it?
S1 (33:30):
Yeah, well, I think the question is. I mean, these
aren't for everyone, but in a certain situations, they can
be a wonderful financial planning tool. So I think the
first question is, uh, you know, what is the concern
or the objection? I mean, first of all, when you
do a reverse mortgage, you retain full rights to the home.
The lender has a lien on the home, just as
if you had a forward mortgage. But you get to
(33:53):
keep all the equity. It's just that when you pass
away and your spouse or you move out, uh, then
at that point it has to be sold and whatever
the balance is gets paid. And whatever's left goes to
your estate to be distributed to your heirs or to charity,
which is just like with with a With a forward mortgage. Um,
(34:13):
in terms of being able to stay in the home, uh,
for a spouse after the other spouse passes away. Well,
what would happen is you're both listed on the loan
as a co-borrower. So both spouses have full rights to
stay in the home for life, just like you would.
No payments are required. They're always optional. The only requirement
(34:34):
is that you continue to pay the taxes and the insurance,
which you'd have to do anyway, and nobody can ever
be forced out of the home. And then again upon,
you know, both spouses passing away or moving out of
the home permanently, then the, uh, whatever that balance is
would have to be paid. The payments are always optional.
You can get it as a line of credit. You
(34:54):
can get it as a monthly income stream. The key
is you have to be at least 62 years old. Uh,
and if there's two borrowers, a married couple, at least
one has to be 62. And and then you have
to have at least 50% equity in the home. Um,
and the more equity you have, the more you can receive.
(35:14):
It's got to be your primary residence again. You have
to maintain the home, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, HOA maintenance costs. Um, but,
you know, it can be a great tool. So I
think the question is kind of what are his concerns?
And is he operating under a false pretense because reverse
mortgages from a couple of decades ago were an entirely
(35:37):
different product that I would have never recommended. But, uh,
you know, they're nonrecourse debt and they can be very
effective for people in this fourth quarter of life where,
you know, they don't have the savings, they're potentially still
have a mortgage. And that's, you know, their biggest expense
and causing them a real strain financially, or they just
(35:58):
need to be able to tap into some funds, you know,
for those extra things, because they're living right up to
the edge on Social Security in a very small retirement account.
And if you want to stay in your home, it
can be a game changer to really take that pressure off. So, um,
I'd be happy to send you Marianne, a book that
explains all of this. You know, maybe that's the the
(36:20):
best next step for your son.
S7 (36:22):
Yes. Eight two. Oh, can you take the address or.
S1 (36:27):
Yeah. Not over the radio. I'm going to have you
hold the line. My producer is going to pick it
up and get your information, and we'll send it out
to you. Okay?
S7 (36:33):
God bless you, sir. Thank you very much.
S1 (36:35):
All right. Lord bless you as well. Thanks for calling.
Let's go to a Florida. Hi, Byron. Go ahead.
S8 (36:41):
Hi, Rob. I've learned a ton from your show over
the years, and I got an easy question for you.
S1 (36:47):
Okay. Thank you for that, by the way. And I'm
delighted you called.
S8 (36:52):
Yes. Thank you. My wife and I both recently turned 64.
We're both employed by the same Christian school, and we
have an eight year old. So I know that we're
looking at going on to Medicare, but we we're locked
into a family plan which our school pays most of
the premiums. So it's not expensive for us, but we
(37:13):
know we need to do the Medicare I guess.
S6 (37:16):
Mhm.
S1 (37:17):
Yes. Okay. Yeah a couple of thoughts here. Number one
is uh, you know the good news is you can
do both. So you can enroll in Medicare at 65
and keep your child on your employer plan. Uh, a
lot of times people think if you move to Medicare,
the whole family plan disappears. It doesn't. So here's how
it works. You go on Medicare Part A, usually free
(37:39):
and part B if you choose, your son stays on
the employer family plan under your coverage. And as long
as you continue working and stay attached to the employer
plan as an as an employee, the child can stay
on it. Now, because you're still working and you have
employer coverage, you don't have to take Medicare Part B yet.
(38:00):
If the employee employer insurance is good and it sounds
like it is, you could delay that and avoid paying
that monthly premium until later. What most people do in
this situation is they take part A at 65, which
is free, and it's secondary coverage. They delay part B
until they stop working or lose the employer plan and
(38:22):
then keep the the child on the employer plan the
entire time. And that avoids the penalties.
S8 (38:29):
Fantastic.
S6 (38:30):
Yeah.
S8 (38:31):
That's what I was hoping to hear. Thank you so much.
S6 (38:33):
Okay.
S1 (38:33):
You're welcome. Thanks for calling. And thanks for your kind
remarks about the program. I'm thrilled that you've found some
value in it. Lord bless you. Uh, let's see quickly to, uh,
Ray in Florida. Ray. Go ahead.
S8 (38:45):
Hey.
S9 (38:46):
Enjoy the show. I was wondering if you have any
kind of curriculums for small group. I know you have
in the past because I've used them years and years
and years ago.
S6 (38:56):
Yeah, yeah, it's.
S1 (38:59):
A great question, Ray. Our team's thinking a lot more
about that lately. Um, you know, a couple of things
I would suggest. So the the most recent studies we've
come out with, uh, first, the study on the parable
of the rich fool called Rich Toward God. And then
our new study on the book of Ecclesiastes, um, called
wisdom Over Wealth. A lot of small groups are using those.
(39:20):
There's questions in there. It's built not only for individual study,
but for small groups. You'll find those at Faith. Com.
We're also really thinking through a larger church strategy as
we roll out the new Faith fi app next year. Um,
there'll be you know, what we're hearing from a lot
of churches is, number one, they want to go deeper
into Scripture. Uh, number two, they really want to think
(39:43):
not just about the financial literacy. What are the, you know,
saving 3 to 6 months and building a budget and
investing for the future. Those those are great, but what
they're wanting is really more spiritual formation around what does
it look like to live as a wise steward according
to God's word? And so, uh, we're going to build
some of that into the faith by app, where you'll
(40:04):
be able to pick a study, do some learning at
home as you watch the videos and read the material
and then come together, you know, maybe two or 3
or 4 times as a small group, you know, maybe
once a week for a month or every, you know,
two weeks over a couple of months and then talk
about what you've been studying. And that gives you kind
(40:25):
of the rhythm of, I do a little bit of
home on my own where I can be a, you know,
a little more introspective. And then I come together with
a group and talk about it. So, um, I would
say today, those two studies we've got rich toward God and,
and wisdom over wealth would be great. And what's coming
is a more robust solution that has both a a
digital and an in-person experience.
S9 (40:48):
Okay. Wisdom over wealth.
S6 (40:51):
Yeah.
S1 (40:52):
And, uh, rich toward God. Either of those studies, when
you go to faith fi com and click store, you'll
see it right there in front of you.
S9 (41:00):
All right. Thank you sir.
S1 (41:02):
All right. Lord bless you. Ray, thanks for calling today. Uh, Sharon, I'm. Unfortunately,
I'm out of time, so I will not be able
to get to your question, but let's see if our
team can get you scheduled to be first up tomorrow.
I would love to be able to chat with you
and hear your question and and give you some counsel. Sharon,
thanks for calling today. Stay right there, folks. That's going
to do it for us. Hey, let me mention here
(41:22):
as we head toward the end of the program and
as the end of the year is right around the corner,
this is a really important time for us to hear
from you. We're headed toward a goal between now and
December 31st of $175,000. And the good news is, we've
got some really generous friends that are going to match
the entire thing. Now, I just checked before the show
(41:45):
here today and, um, you know, we're sitting at about
$46,000 that has already been given toward the 175,000, uh,
to take us to the end of the year here
at Faith VI. And so, uh, a little more than, well,
a little less than 130,000 to go here in the
next six weeks. So if you'd consider a gift, perhaps
(42:06):
you've found real value in the program. Maybe you listen regularly,
or you've been able to apply a principle that you've heard,
or you've taken away an idea that's impacted you and
your stewardship journey. We'd love for you to join us
and partner with us as you give generously to the ministry.
Every gift of any amount will ensure you get my
new devotional, Our Ultimate Treasure. When it comes out in January,
(42:29):
every gift will be doubled and you'll help us reach
more people with this message of wise stewardship. We've got
some incredible resources coming out next year, including the new
brand new Faith V app. It's going to be amazing.
I can't wait to put it in your hands. A
lot more to come on that in the days ahead.
Just go to faith. Faith. Com slash give big thanks
(42:50):
to my team today. Faith and finance live partnership between
Moody Radio and Faith V. We will see you tomorrow.
God bless you.
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