The Importance of Life Insurance

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One of the worst things I have witnessed in recent weeks is a family that had a member pass unexpectedly.  There was no insurance, no will, no trust, and no money for the burial.  And to make matters worse, the surviving family didn’t have enough money to pay for funeral expenses.  So the grieving family is left with having to raise or borrow the money in the midst of dealing with all the emotions and stress of losing a loved one.  This scenario is so very sad, but it is all too common.  It is a horrible situation and I truly feel for anyone going through it.  Although this is not a pleasant topic, it must be discussed.
 
Have you ever considered what would happen to the people that depend on you if the unthinkable were to happen?  Where would they live?  How would they survive without your income?  This can be a sobering thought; it is all too real.  Life insurance is meant to ease the financial burden of a loss of income due to death, illness, or even an accident.  In the case of someone getting hurt and losing their ability to work, somehow, the bills must be paid. And life insurance helps to bridge those gaps. 
 
Basically, there are three types of life insurance policies.  There is term life, whole life, and universal life, and it is extremely important to know the difference.   Term life policies have a face value (how much it is worth in dollars) and offer protection for a particular time or term.  For example, a term life policy may have a $200,000 value face value for 20 years.  So, if the insured person were to die within the term, the beneficiary (person receiving the money) would inherit $200,000.  After the policy term expires, if the insurance is not renewed, the insured person no longer has life insurance.  Whole life policies are also a face value, but they don’t have an expiration date.  As long as insurance premiums (or bills) are paid, a person has insurance.  Universal life insurance has a face value, and also doesn’t expire although it has may more options.  There can be all kinds of “features” such as savings plans, and investments included into a policy.
 
So which insurance is the best for you?  I recommend term life insurance.  Why?  Term life insurance is much cheaper.  It offers you “more bang for your buck”.  With term life, the insurance is only responsible for paying out money within the designated term.  Whole life is more expensive because, the insurance company, again as long as the premiums are paid, will have to pay out money at some time.  Universal life is expensive because it also doesn’t expire and has options.  You pay for the option of having savings plans and investment opportunities within a life insurance policy.  I recommend keeping your insurance separate from your investments.  Let your insurance be only insurance.
 
How much life insurance should I get?  I would recommend 10-12 times your annual salary.  I know that seems like a lot of money, but consider the following.  If a husband making $40,000 a year, has a life insurance policy of $200,000, if he were to pass, his income would be replaced for about 5 years.  What about year 6?  Now what if the same husband has an insurance policy for $500,000? Upon his death, if that money is invested and does just average (around 7%), that husband’s income can be replaced for 30 years! 
 
In Isaiah 38, God told King Hezekiah, he was going to die soon and to “get his affairs in order.”  Do you know when you are going to die?  Of course not!  That is why you need to get life insurance now!  If God told Hezekiah to do it, surely he wants you to be prepared for your home-going.  So do the right thing and spare your loved ones any unnecessary stress.   If you don’t have life insurance, get some!  If you already have life insurance, review your policy and make sure it is what you want and need.  May peace be with you all, God bless! 

Getting the Mind of Christ

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2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
 
Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
 
Some of the greatest battles we will ever fight take place in our minds. There is a daily warfare against the mind of the believer. There is a saying that suggests feelings follow thoughts. If the enemy can send your thought life into turmoil, your feelings generally follow too. 
 
God’s thoughts towards us according to Jeremiah 29:11, are for peace and not evil. So if His thoughts about us are productive ours should be too. We let the mind of Christ be in us by daily submitting ourselves to God. God here I am, all that I have and even all that I am not, but I ask you to take the lead. We also do so by recognizing the thoughts that are contrary to the Word and will of God.
 
What does it mean to cast down imaginations? It is to violently evict them from our spirit. It is to replace them with a truth found in the Word of God. When the enemy would suggest defeat, you decree that if God is for you who can be against you. If the enemy suggests failure, you decree that you can do all things because Christ is your strength.
 
My prayer for you is that as you begin to recognize when your mind is being attacked, that you would arm yourselves with the Word of God. We are victorious with the mind of Christ.
Pastor Clinton House

2016 Holiday Schedule

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holiday-schedule-2016

Fruits for the Body

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Fall is here; there are beautiful colors shining through the s-u-n by the S-o-n! The sun/Son allows us to grow naturally as well as spiritually.

The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance…(Gal 5:22-23) shows our spiritual growth and eating the fruits of the land shows our natural growth. Both fruits are good for you.

Below are some fall fruits that will help you naturally grow in your journey towards wellness.

1. Grapes (red/purple) – help thriving blood vessels, helps with inflammation & stress.

2. Apples (red delicious/green) – good source of fiber, which can improve regularity and help with weight loss. Apples are also associated with the decrease of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and asthma.

3. Beets (red/yellow) – can be used in so many ways: soups, shredded in salads; it is high in antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C.

4. Squash – can be substituted in various pastas; it is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals.

5. Pumpkins – rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorus and pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of fiber, protein and vitamin A. Eat up and don’t overload on the pumpkin pie!

Wellness Isn’t a Destination. It’s a Journey. Have a blessed fall in Jesus 🙂

 

Consumer Protection: Tips for Buying a New Car

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Buying a used car can be a stressful experience; however, there are some things you should do before purchasing a used vehicle to ensure you do not increase your stress later on.  First, check the history of the vehicle by employing the recommendations below:

  1. Check for safety recalls. Here’s where to check, on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. Just enter in the VIN. If not repaired, don’t buy;
  2. Check Carfax and Autocheck. While the information does not purport to be complete, these sites are an additional tool. If major damage /frame damage / deployed air bags/odometer discrepancy show up, don’t buy;
  3. Get the car thoroughly inspected by a qualified independent auto tech and body shop of your own choosing, before agreeing to anything;
  4. Take the car for a test drive before agreeing to anything; and
  5. Make sure you understand the documents you are signing.  What is the total cost of the car?  What are the monthly payments and what are the extra charges by the dealer?  Have you shopped around for the best price and terms?

You will regret it if you do not take these minimal steps!!!

Second, know what your rights are regarding purchasing a used vehicle.  Before a used car dealer may sell a car with 75,000 miles or more, the dealer must conduct a reasonably thorough inspection of the vehicle’s engine and “drivetrain”. The dealer must disclose to you in writing any defects which were discovered or should have been discovered during the inspection. The “drivetrain” of the vehicle includes the transmission, drive shaft, torque converter, differential, universal joint, constant velocity joint, and all other systems components that transfer power from the engine to the wheels.  If the dealer does not inspect and disclose defects of a vehicle with an odometer reading exceeding 75,000 miles it is safest not to buy. You may report the dealer’s failure to the Enforcement Division of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety. DMV has the power to fine the dealer up to $2,500 and to make the dealer provide warranties on all future car sales after three substantiated complaints.

The dealer also has a general common law duty to exercise reasonable care in inspecting vehicles offered for sale for the purpose of detecting defects that would make the vehicles dangerous. If you discover that you were sold an unsafe rebuilt wreck which the dealer did not disclose to you, contact an attorney.

The dealer would also violate the law if it represented to you that the car was of a particular quality if the dealer knows, or should have known, that it was of another quality. Also, a dealer cannot make a false representation in a car sale or lease transaction.  If you suffer any damages as a result of the dealer’s failure to inspect and/or disclose defects you may sue as a victim of consumer fraud to recover your damages. If your claim is less than $10,000, you may file a Small Claims action.  Otherwise, I would again recommend contacting an attorney.  The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada provides free classes in representing yourself in Small Claims court, or self-help packets upon request.

Last, to file a complaint, there are various entities you can call. Those entities are Better Business Bureau, Consumer Protection Division and DMV Compliance & Enforcement.

Tithers vs. Stewards

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To their error, some believe the two terms, tithers and stewards are synonymous.  I have heard people use these two terms interchangeably, and to someone who is not familiar with the two, it can be pretty confusing.   But in fact the two are quite different.  Good stewards are tithers, but tithers are not necessarily good stewards.  Let me explain.

The word “tithe” literally means a tenth.  It is one-tenth, or 10%, of what you earn.  In biblical times, the economic system was more of a barter or trading system and the money was not always coins or money as we know it today.  Sometimes produce such as grain and wheat or even livestock, like goats and lambs, were used as a medium of exchange, but in our economic system and market place we use currency.  Please, don’t try to pay your debts with a goat; it might not go well.  But anyways, the tithe is a biblical concept that has its origin before the law was every given by God to Moses (Gen. 14:20, Gen. 25:22 vs. Ex. 20-31).  Indeed, Christ died to redeem us from our sins which is made evident to us by the law (Rom. 4:15, Rom. 7:8-11), but since tithing is not a law, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ does not nullify or sidestep the principle of tithing.  In fact, if anything, it re-enforces the notion because Christ is the first fruit (tithes) that was sacrificed to purify the church (Rom. 11:16, 1 Cor. 15:23).  So as New Testament believes we are to give our tithes to the church as directed (Mal. 3:10, Matt. 23:23).  Our tithe is not ours!  It is God’s (Mal. 3:8) and we are to return to Him what is rightfully His (Mal. 3:10-12)!

Now, a steward is an official appointed to supervise arrangements or keep order.  In other words, a steward is an overseer or a manager of someone else’s affairs.  God loves stewards because a steward they own nothing and all they have belong to their master.  Did you know Adam was the first steward mentioned in the bible?  If you don’t believe me, just look at his job description (Genesis 2:5 & 2:15).  And we being descendants of Adam have the same charge as stewards (Matt. 25:21).

So is it better to be a tither or a steward?  Consider the following.  A tither is blessed because they do not rob God; they give God His 10%. But, what about the other 90%?  What happens to it?  Is it wasted?  One can be a tither and still live paycheck to paycheck! But a good steward watches over all their entrusted money with great care and spends it wisely.  In essence, a good steward gives it all to God; they give God 100% of it!  No, a good steward does not give 100% of their money to the church, although a good steward does give tithes and offerings.  The 90% that remains in the good steward’s possession is not wasted, but it is used to please God and to live a life that is pleasing to God.  What does this look like practically?  A good steward saves (Prov. 21:20), stays away from debt (Prov. 22:7), and gives to the poor (Prov. 19:17).  Good stewards also take care of their responsibilities (1 Tim. 5:8); prepare for the future (Prov. 13:22, 1 Cor. 16:2); spend wisely (Luke 14:28-30); and understand investing (Ecc. 11).  I don’t know about you, but I aim to be a good steward; not just a tither.

Lift Up Your Eyes

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Genesis 22:13-14

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

The story of Abraham being challenged to offer up his son to God is one of the great examples of faith in the Bible. God instructed him to take his only son, the one that he greatly loved, and offer him up for a sacrifice. We jump in the story where God’s answer shows up. As he was getting ready to offer his son, the angel of the Lord showed up and calls his name. Abraham lifted up his eyes and found his solution.

Abraham names that place Jehovah Jireh. That name means The Lord Will Provide. Those words stood out to me, Abraham lifted up his eyes. I thought about how many times I have faced real need. It was looking me in the eyes. Exercising faith will require you to overlook your problems and look up to God.

When we focus on the problems, sometimes solutions can seem impossible to find. The answer today is in God. If you will lift your eyes to Him, you will find that Jehovah Jireh, your provider will show up. You will not go without. There isn’t anything too hard for God. Everything you need is in Him.

Lift up your eyes!

Pastor Clinton House