Is it the best of times or the worst of times Well it all depends on if you're trying to buy or sell a house It really is a matter of perspective Home values remain sky-high and are likely to continue rising in the foreseeable future How you view that depends on which side of the transaction you're on Navigating the Current Housing Market Tips for First-Time Home BuyersIt may be the worst of times if you're a first-time home buyer Home values have never been higher thanks to the continued high cost of building materials inflation and low inventory [... more]

Since the beginning of time God's design for humanity has always been to be a giant family spread throughout the earth So what happened Because of the power of sin in our world families are broken children become orphans and many feel alone and isolated as if they don't belong Dr Albert Reyes with Buckner International joins us today to share a hopeful message about God's design for his family Dr Albert Reyes is the author of Never Alone The Power of Family to Inspire Hope and Hope Now Peace Healing and Justice When the Kingdom Comes Near He serves [... more]

You've been a careful steward working hard saving your money and spending wisely Now what Being able to live comfortably and afford the things you need seems like a worthy goal Today we'll look at having a surplus from a biblical perspective Celebrating Financial FaithfulnessMaybe we don't do this enough speak directly to the faithful listeners who already follow God's principles in their finances You've been living with integrity and making wise choices with your money for years Well we're talking to you today First of all well done Financial faithfulness is a big deal It takes sacrifice commitment and [... more]

Americans have an average of four credit cards each But do you really need that many And is it wise to keep accounts open that you don rsquo t use On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will explain that cancelling credit card accounts you don rsquo t use is a good idea if you do it properly nbsp Then he rsquo ll answer your questions on different financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Americans have an average of four credit cards Do you really need that many And how many is enough Too often we hang on to credit cards we no longer use providing an unnecessary invitation to identity thieves to run up charges in our names Canceling them is a good idea if done correctly The Risks of Holding Unused Credit CardsMany of us hang on to credit cards we no longer use but this can invite identity thieves to run up charges in your name Canceling unused cards is a good idea but it needs to be done correctly Let's [... more]

When it comes to work ethic there's nobody we like better aside from Jesus of course than the woman described in Proverbs We don't know her name but her actions and attitudes are worth studying and imitating no matter what kind of work you do A Biblical Work Ethic From Proverbs First a note about Proverbs It's part of the wisdom literature found in the Old Testament We refer to Proverbs a lot since there are many nuggets of financial truth there Proverbs is the final chapter and the description of the woman of noble character is written as a [... more]

WHAT DOES BIBLICAL HOSPITALITY LOOK LIKE IN TODAY'S CULTURE Sharon reflects on the biblical instruction to show hospitality emphasizing its relevance beyond traditional notions of entertaining Hospitality is an act of generosity and kindness extending warmth and generosity to both guests and strangers alike This understanding encourages us to reconsider hospitality as acting as God's ambassadors Hospitality transcends formal dining and embraces the simple generous reception of others It's an expression of generosity serving as a means to fulfill our role as ambassadors for Christ Personal experiences underscore the profound impact hospitality can have during challenging times illustrating its power [... more]

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AND ESTATE PLANNINGProverbs highlights the importance of acting with knowledge in all aspects of life including the preparation for inevitable events like death This preparation involves legal financial and personal readiness to ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are cared for IMPORTANCE OF UPDATED WILLS AND DIRECTIVESHaving updated wills is critical to ensure your wishes are followed after your death with legal powers of attorney and health care directives being equally important An estate attorney is necessary to prepare these documents representing an essential investment in your family's future well-being PREPARING FOR YOUR [... more]

FINANCIAL ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTUNDERSTANDING THE HEART'S ROLE IN FINANCIAL ATTITUDES Financial attitudes reflect one's spiritual health as wrong attitudes towards money and possessions stem from the heart mirroring a broader spiritual condition Jesus identified the root of evil thoughts including greed and envy as originating from the heart Mark - highlighting the spiritual battle within THE BATTLE AGAINST SINThe struggle with sinful attitudes like envy pride and greed is common even among devout believers like the Apostle Paul who shared his own struggles in Romans - Overcoming these attitudes requires divine intervention as Paul acknowledges deliverance through Jesus Christ CULTIVATING RIGHT [... more]

IMPACT OF COVID ON HOUSING MARKET AND RENT VS BUY DEBATEThere's no question that we're still feeling the impact of the COVID pandemic The COVID pandemic significantly disrupted the housing market increasing home prices and rental rates making it challenging for first-time home buyers Also during that time rental rates also skyrocketed In the age-old debate rent vs buy things have shifted CURRENT HOUSING MARKET CONDITIONS Skyhigh mortgage payments On average new mortgage payments are now higher than apartment rents the largest gap in years according to CBRE Low first-time home buyer activity Only of buyers were first-timers in the [... more]

The Senate releases an immigration bill Sunday night Speaker Johnson says the Senate bill is DOA New York City's robotic police officers are taken off the street New York is giving illegal immigrants prepaid credit cards Dexter Taylor AKA Carbon Mike joins us to discuss his A case and getting raided by New York Dana shares her spat with George Santos over the weekend with her town's mayor and a paid Cameo Rep Chip Roy joins us to discuss the latest details in the border bill and why Republicans should vote no Please visit our great sponsors Black Rifle Coffeehttps [... more]

Tim Macready is head of Global Multi-Asset Investing with BrightLight an EverSource Wealth Advisors Team HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN AND A LEADER IN THE FAITH-BASED INVESTING MOVEMENT Tim grew up on the mission field and returned to Australia for studies initially working with pension plans His desire to do something meaningful led him to a faith-based pension fund in Sydney For years he has explored what it means to be a faithful steward of God's resources now working with pension funds investment advisors and families at the intersection of faith and investing CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN [... more]

Inflation reared its ugly head two years ago causing many to dip into savings or slide into debt mdash both of which are unsustainable So what rsquo s the answer On the next Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will explain if you've run up higher balances on your credit cards it might be time for a budget overhaul Then he rsquo ll answer your questions on various financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Inflation reared its ugly head two years ago causing many to dip into savings or slide into debt mdash both of which are unsustainable So what rsquo s the answer On the next Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will explain if you've run up higher balances on your credit cards it might be time for a budget overhaul Then he rsquo ll answer your questions on various financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

INFLATION FELL There's something you need to understand about the inflation numbers you hear in the news such as Inflation fell to last month on an annualized basis Some folks think that means prices went down but it really only means that the rate of price increases has gone down INFLATION'S PERMANENT PRICE INCREASES A decrease in inflation rate means slower price increase not price reduction Even if inflation drops to zero the high prices from past inflation remain WAGE GROWTH NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION A significant portion of workers report their wages haven't kept up with inflation leading [... more]

GOD'S WORD ON PAYING DEBTS Proverbs emphasizes the importance of paying back debts on time Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it DEFINING GOOD CREDIT SCORES FICO scores range from to with a good score between and A very good score is between and and excellent is to Higher credit scores result in better interest rate offers from lenders IMPACT OF CREDIT SCORE ON LOANS AND INTEREST RATES A higher credit score can significantly reduce interest rates on mortgages personal loans and credit cards Example Raising a [... more]

The following is an encore presentation from April is just hours away and it's one of our favorite months of the year That's because April is Financial Literacy Month This event began some two decades ago to raise awareness about the critical need for financial literacy It's just as important as learning to read and write We'll talk about that on Faith and Finance It's not quite April yet but we want to give you a head start on gaining financial literacy It's important because if you don't know how to set up a budget handle credit cards responsibly or [... more]

Art Rainer is a regular contributor here at Faith and Finance and the author of several books including The Marriage Challenge A Finance Guide for Married Couples WHAT ARE SOME WARNING SIGNS THAT INDICATE A COUPLE MAY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MONEY Frequent heated arguments about money are a major red flag It's concerning if discussions about budgeting spending debt or giving lead to intense disagreements Financial infidelity is another critical issue This includes hiding purchases maintaining secret bank accounts or credit cards or exceeding spending limits without informing the spouse Using money as a weapon in the relationship is a [... more]

Randy Alcorn is the author of over books on Christian Living and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries WHY IS MATERIALISM A CHALLENGE ESPECIALLY IN AMERICA Materialism is a significant challenge especially in America because it acts like a false god or idol as identified by Jesus This idolatry of materialism is often overlooked in our culture Accumulating possessions leads to being in orbit around our wealth even for Christians striving to honor God Materialism likened to a false god 'mammon' exerts a powerful hold over people's lives The accumulation of possessions creates a gravitational pull making us [... more]

You've been sitting on the sidelines waiting to buy a home until the market improves And normally November through February are the slowest months of the year for home sales So will it be a buyer's market again this winter On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will welcome Dale Vermillion to give us his take on the housing market and what we can expect in the coming months Then Rob will answer your financial questions See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Perfect Storm for Debt With Neile SimonA perfect storm may be coming that could make this Christmas shopping season difficult for folks with student loan debt Neile Simon joins us today with the details today on Faith and Finance Neile Simon is a Certified Credit Counselor with Christian Credit Counselors an underwriter of this program Neile has been following events that affect consumer debt and she's here today with another report CONSUMER DEBT AND ITS IMPACTS Neile explains the resumption of student loan payments in October after a three-year forbearance highlighting the collective federal student loan debt at trillion affecting [... more]

Brad Guffey is Chief Medical Director at Family Legacy Missions International where he specializes in treating infectious diseases Family Legacy is the ministry changing the lives of around orphans in Zambia They do that through a -part program helping children grow academically physically emotionally and spiritually The physical and healthcare services that Family Legacy provides to Zambian children have grown tremendously in the last years Emphasis on pragmatism and efficiency in their approach Belief in being faithful in small tasks Acknowledgment of God's significant impact on their work and the lives of many children Transformation from starting in a tent [... more]

THE TROUBLING NUMBERSFor the first time credit card debt has surpassed trillion and is now at trillion In the second quarter alone it shot up billion or Now compare these numbers to the overall household debt which spiked by trillion since the end of before the pandemic Household debt includes credit card debt mortgages student loans and car notes And credit card debt is now almost of the average household debt That is very concerning when you think about how expensive a car or a home is People are really drowning in debt because of these higher interest rates and [... more]

Okay it's time for some true confessions about your giving Has your electronic donation at church every Sunday become a bit automatic Or perhaps you're struggling financially right now so you've reduced your giving and you're feeling a bit guilty Then again perhaps decisions about how much and where to give are causing tension in your marriage so you end up dreading those conversations There are so many ways our generosity can become stale and un-joyful If that's the case for you it's time for a renewed perspective and we're going to help you with that BIBLICAL GENEROSITYLet's begin by [... more]

James and Come now you who say 'We will go into such and such a town and trade and make a profit' yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring A lot of folks are feeling uneasy about the future How many more interest rate hikes can the economy take before sliding into recession And what about the rollercoaster stock market Well if you don't know what the future holds it just means you should prepare and set certain priorities for managing your money We'll share some of them now Not all will apply to you but there's probably [... more]

Okay it's time for some true confessions about your giving Has your electronic donation at church every Sunday become a bit automatic Or perhaps you're struggling financially right now so you've reduced your giving and you're feeling a bit guilty Then again perhaps decisions about how much and where to give are causing tension in your marriage so you end up dreading those conversations There are so many ways our generosity can become stale and un-joyful If that's the case for you it's time for a renewed perspective and we're going to help you with that BIBLICAL GENEROSITYLet's begin by [... more]

RENT OR BUY It used to be almost universally true that at least in the short term it was cheaper to rent a home than to buy one But that's not necessarily the case today Aimee says some markets are seeing a staggering increase in rent Limited supply is one of the factors that has driven up both rental and purchase prices in recent years She says Part of it is the fact that there's a continually rising number of what they call new home creations which are new people needing to buy homes And the pace of building is [... more]

BACK-TO-SCHOOL TAX HOLIDAYSNow obviously you want to make the most of your back-to-school money and that starts with knowing everything you can about sales tax holidays in your state Deadlines really matter and it seems like every state has set up different tax holiday periods In many cases these are set up as weekend events but not always Some may start on Friday and end on Saturday so you've got to know exactly when your tax holiday starts and stops In states with a sales tax this could mean saving anywhere from - right off the bat Okay so now [... more]

What You'll Need To RetireFolks always ask us How much will I need to retire And the answer is It depends One important piece of the retirement puzzle is How much are you willing and able to cut from your budget We'll talk about that today on Faith and Finance Many of the expenses associated with work go away when you retire Because of this many experts say you'll generally only need - of your working income when you retire The problem is many studies show the average retirement budget is only about of working income So if you're working [... more]

PRINCIPLES OF STEWARDSHIPOWNERSHIP The first principle we must understand about stewardship is ownership God owns everything And Scripture is very clear about this Psalm and reads The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof the world and those who dwell therein for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers And in Deuteronomy Behold to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens the earth with all that is in it And finally Psalm For every beast of the forest is mine the cattle on a thousand hills Now that we've [... more]

Credit cards are a powerful convenience that can make your life easier or a lot more difficult depending on how you use them On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will talk about essential practices for having a credit card Then he'll answer your questions on different financial topics See omny fm listener for privacy information [... more]

Credit cards can be a great tool mdash but they also carry some hidden costs that you should know about and try to avoid On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will talk about the hidden costs of credit cards and share some ways you can avoid them Then Rob will answer some calls on various financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

By planning and saving for things you know you're going to need or want in the future you can avoid taking out loans or going into debt with your credit cards On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will explain how taking certain steps can make saving for major purchases a lot easier Then he'll answer your calls and financial questions See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Americans have an average of four credit cards each But do you really need that many And is it wise to keep accounts open that you don't use On today's Faith amp Finance Live host Rob West will explain that cancelling credit card accounts you don't use is a good idea if you do it properly Then he'll answer your questions on different financial topics See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

As a new year gets underway many people feel motivated to do things like lose weight and cut back on social media But something else you should consider is getting out of debt On today's Faith amp Finance Live Rob West will share some practical ideas for turning your new year's resolution to reduce your debt into genuine progress toward that goal Then he'll answer your calls on various financial topics See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Inflation is bad enough for folks living on a budget who have some money to spare but it rsquo s devastating for those relying on credit cards to scrape by each month On today's MoneyWise Live Rob West will talk with Neile Simon about the effect inflation has on debt and what to do about it Then Rob will answer your calls on various financial topics nbsp See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Fewer things put more strain on a marriage than debt Whether its unpaid credit cards overdue mortgage payments or student loans there's a lot of pressure in owing other people money It's an overwhelming feeling In this program Chip wraps up his series Keeping Love Alive Volume by finishing his talk on marriage and finances Don't miss how to dig out of debt and have a more peaceful home [... more]

There haven't been many bright spots in the COVID pandemic but tightening requirements for home equity lines of credit or HELOCs may have been one of them But now these lines of credit seem to be making a comeback On today's MoneyWise Live Rob West will explain how a HELOC works and whether or not it's a good option Then he'll answer your calls and questions on a variety of financial topics See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

Did you know that two thirds of smartphone users have at least one budgeting app They've discovered how easy it is to keep tabs on their money from anywhere On today's MoneyWise Live host Rob West will talk with Chad Clark about how to make your life easier by choosing the right budgeting app Then Rob will take your calls on various financial questions from a biblical perspective See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

You've decided to begin the process of paying off your credit cards and other debt So how do you determine the best way to begin On today's MoneyWise Live Rob West will talk about two great options for eliminating debt and he'll explain which of them might be a better choice for you Then Rob will answer your calls on various financial topics See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

For more than years having a good credit score was the only way to get a credit card Now there's a movement to put credit cards in the hands of folks who have no credit score at all On today's MoneyWise Live host Rob West will talk about a government initiative to make credit available more broadly Then Rob will answer various financial questions from a biblical perspective See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

With the increased use of plastic to complete transactions these days it rsquo s now easier than ever to develop the bad habit of over using your credit cards On the next MoneyWise Live host Rob West will share that just like with any bad habit or hang up there rsquo s a way to wean yourself off of your addiction to plastic Then he rsquo ll answer questions on various financial topics That rsquo s MoneyWise Live mdash where biblical wisdom meets today rsquo s finances weekdays at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]

Credit cards can be handy tools when used for items that fit within your budget and when you pay off their balance every month But at times you may need to cancel a card So how do you do that while minimizing the impact on your credit score On the next MoneyWise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore have the answer to that question Then they rsquo ll take some calls and questions on several different financial topics Join us to hear how to cancel a credit card on the next MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm Central on [... more]

The loss of income during the pandemic has forced many Americans to max out their credit cards And even as the COVID crisis will start to lessen this credit crisis may take years to overcome On the next MoneyWise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore talk with Neile Simon of Christian Credit Counselors about a way to speed up your financial recovery Then it rsquo s your calls and questions on the financial matters you rsquo d like to discuss Overcoming the COVID credit crisis on the next MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio nbsp [... more]

Applying faith to investing can lead to questions like mdash should investing for Christians look different than it does for the world Or how do we reconcile our faith convictions with our need to grow our money On the next MoneyWise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore welcome Jason Myhre of Eventide to answer those questions and more Big questions about faith-based investing on the next MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]

Is your credit a bit sketchy Or maybe you don rsquo t trust yourself with the temptations of a regular credit card Then a secured credit card may be just the ticket to help you stay out of debt and improve your credit score along the way On the next nbsp MoneyWise nbsp Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore share how this option might be your best solution It rsquo s all about secured credit cards on the next nbsp MoneyWise nbsp Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]

The pandemic has forced us to practice six feet of social distancing for almost everything But what about the times when we need to use our credit cards and cash On the next nbsp MoneyWise nbsp Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore explain how our efforts to avoid germs have boosted the popularity of digital transactions We rsquo ll talk about digital wallets on the next nbsp MoneyWise nbsp Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio nbsp [... more]

Virtual reality has entered the world of credit card transactions and a virtual number may already be linked to your accounts But as with any new tool that comes along we need to consider the positives and negatives related to its use On the next Moneywise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore tell you how this new tool might affect your purchases The pros and cons of virtual credit cards on the next MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]

Misusing your credit cards is one of the easiest ways to create financial turmoil in your life And mishandling them can quickly put you in debt and trash your credit score along the way nbsp On the next Moneywise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore explain just how that happens We rsquo ll talk about credit card mistakes on the next MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]

For many people debit cards have replaced checks or credit cards Despite their ease of use debit cards pose several risks that can impact your bank account balance credit score or even identity fraud On the next MoneyWise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore discuss the dangers of debit cards Listen here before you swipe on MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]

It rsquo s important to be able to separate truth from myth when it comes to credit cards And what you don rsquo t know about them could get you in financial hot water someday On the next MoneyWise Live hosts Rob West and Steve Moore explain how myths lead many people to sign up for credit cards for the wrong reasons Debunking the myths about credits cards on MoneyWise Live at pm Eastern pm Central on Moody Radio [... more]