I was recently asked the question: “Should I tithe on an inheritance that I receive?” My first thought (and in hindsight I wish I had verbalized it) was that I was pleased that the person didn’t ask: “Do I have to tithe on my inheritance?” That showed that they were coming at the question with the right heart. In considering my answer, it might help the reader to understand … [Read more...] about Tithing on your inheritance
Finances
Hiring a financial planner
Let’s not sugar-coat it. Money is important to all of us, even though many of us don’t necessarily want to admit it. Even the least worldly of us wants a dry bed, a roof over our heads and our daily bread. And that takes money. In today’s world, it’s even more complicated. Navigating through the maze that is comprised of mortgages, insurance, pensions, RRSPs, TFSAs, … [Read more...] about Hiring a financial planner
Protecting yourself from cyber criminals
A couple of months ago, I talked about the signs to watch out for in order to protect your money from financial swindlers. This month, I want to talk about protecting yourself from cyber criminals who commonly use elicit means to defraud or to blackmail individuals. This article has been written in collaboration with my son, Ben Machel. Unlike cyber attacks against … [Read more...] about Protecting yourself from cyber criminals
It’s okay to spend money on ourselves
It’s so easy as Christians to always feel like we’re never doing enough. Put simply - it’s okay to spend money on ourselves. It’s okay to buy art or enjoy a restaurant meal or to grow flowers rather than vegetables. We don’t have to give it all away, or feel guilty about spending some of it on ourselves. I love John Wesley. His insights and wisdom continue to be valued even … [Read more...] about It’s okay to spend money on ourselves
Recognize all of the warning signs of investment fraud
Recently, the BC Securities Commission (BCSC) released the statement that “fewer than half of British Columbians recognize all of the warning signs of investment fraud.” What’s particularly scary about the report is that, contrary to what you might think, as church-goers we are typically at greater risk of falling prey to fraud than the general public. First, … [Read more...] about Recognize all of the warning signs of investment fraud