Category: Uncategorized
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Of Lent and Ukraine
Today countless Christians will receive ashes on their foreheads to remind them that from dust they came and to dust they will return. For the next 40 days spiritual exercises will be observed throughout the Christian community. Prayer, Fasting and Alms Giving. A trinity to draw us closer to the Trinity. If I ever needed
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Lessons from a Gas Fired Boiler
As I write this, my 40-year-old gas fired boiler is being replaced with a high efficiency boiler that also replaces my 50-gallon hot water tank. Mass Save and the gas company offered a great rebate deal and a zero-interest loan to pay for the upgrade. The old boiler was working fine, but everything has a
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$57 Billion
It is curious that while we live within a capitalist economic system, most public schools offer no courses in economics and personal finance. It could be true that ignorance is bliss in politics and sausage making, but in finance, it is deadly. When you do not know how wealth is created you could be led
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It Makes a World of Difference
Sometimes you hear a phrase, and it sticks with you. My wife Carol commented on the meaning of it “makes a world of difference” and it got me thinking. I could not find the origin, but I suspect it came from a Baby Boomer. My generation stands on the shoulders of the GI generation, the
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In-Vestments
In one way or another I have been in the investment field for 38 years. I remember well the October 1987 crash, the recession in the early nineties, the 2002 dot.com crash, and the wonderful 2008-9 melt down. Yet there were many years on the upside. Exuberant years – the market is “different” this time
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Too Little, Too Late
The idiom “too little, too late,” is thought to have originated in the military, e.g. the battle was lost because too few troops arrived too late. During the pandemic, in many parts of the world, too few medical resources arrived too late. I remember hearing that India did not have enough oxygen. Not being prepared
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Abundant Scarcity
Sometimes it seems like we live in an oxymoron world. The Covid pandemic has highlighted the fragile nature of all those things held as dependable and constant. For those who worry about the future of their church there is bleak hope. The unknown, if not the questionable future of our church, produces tightfisted generosity. The
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Of Letters and Preambles
For me, except for the occasional thank you note and a “Christmas letter” or two, receiving a handwritten letter is becoming increasingly uncommon. Odd really, because nowadays so many people would rather text than talk. When I was dating, writing letters, and sending notes was natural. I actually looked forward to the mail arriving, and
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Strategic Generosity
Making a gift of stock or mutual funds now, locks in the gains and maximizes a gift to your church. The advantage is not having to pay any capital gains tax on the gift of stock. The 2021 stock market returns are in the double digits, with many portfolios up over 20%! These excellent returns
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The Work of Advent
The Advent season began last Sunday. The liturgist read Psalm 25. It began with the words: “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” The soul which was breathed into me by God I lift up to God as an offering of myself. My mortal human self lifts up to God my immortal soul.