Put More Away

April 29, 2013

    You're not putting enough away for tomorrow.
    While our leaders in Washington are trying to get the air traffic controllers back in the towers and the airline flights back in the air, the long term issues go begging.
    Debt? Not to worry. The President, to George Stephanopoulos, last month: “We don't have an immediate crisis in terms of debt. In fact, for the next ten years, it's gonna be in a sustainable place.”
    At the personal level, people – across the age spectrum – have a nagging awareness of their own unfunded or underfunded future. Even if they want to keep working, there will come a day when they will live without a paycheck. Confidence in the security of Social Security is waning; 401(k) plans have no more certainty than the markets in which they're invested. Boring savings accounts sit with 1% earnings while the costs of health care – now government controlled – skyrocket. Feeling good yet?
    The pros in financial planning help clients do the tough math. Variables like age-at-retirement, projected lifespan, continued lifestyle expenses, future inflation: all come into consideration in finally finding “the Number:” How much will you need to amass for a comfortable, confident future?
    Let me jump past your memorial service, and into the domain where death has no place, but you do, being prepared by Jesus Himself. If making – and, acting on – plans for a couple decades of retirement makes sense… doesn't having a plan for millions of years of resurrection make sense?
    Your investments will affect your quality of life in tangible ways during your retirement season on Earth; have you considered the fact that your investments – made here, but placed in the Kingdom – will affect the quality of your life in tangible ways during your resurrection season in Heaven?
    As you manage your retirement funds, you choose between high return/high risk and low return/low risk options. As you manage your resurrection funds, the choices are even better: the Kingdom has some incredible high return/low risk options that can accelerate the accumulation of other-worldly balances that will be waiting for you in the first days following your last breath!
    Some great eternal investment advice: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain… Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19) Wealth in this world is uncertain; wealth transferred to Heaven becomes a treasure we can count on.
    Most Americans aren't prepared for their retirement; in the same way, most Christians aren't prepared for their resurrection. Those are long-term realities; may I help you with one of those?
    Every year, we use our Golf Challenge event to raise money that is dedicated to the launch of new groups of participants in The Master's Program. Through TMP, Christian leaders explore, expose and exploit their Kingdom Calling. They begin a life of enhanced Kingdom Initiative through TMP; they change the world and build God's Kingdom as a result of their discoveries in the Program.
    Every new group in TMP costs about $20,000 to launch; we hope to start 8-10 new groups this year. Our ability to continue recruiting new participants, forming new groups and opening new cities depends on the funding raised next Monday – May 6^th – in the Golf Challenge.
    I'm asking – shamelessly – for your help. The pledges this year have been slow in coming, but I'm counting on friends like you to be part of a last-week surge.  Would you click here and see the options for you to be part of this effort? Our continuing ministry depends on the results of this effort.
    Join us to be part of the winning team! We'll help you lay up some treasure in heaven!
   
Bob Shank