|
FINANCIAL PEACE
Firstly, let me say there are two things that make me instantly suspicious - people who sound like fundamentalist preachers and 'prosperity' creeds that try and persuade people that somehow having lots of money is God's way of blessing us!
I tell you this to assure you that when my executive director, Dr Trent Haines came to me at church and suggested that we run David Ramsay's Financial Peace University I went a little pale and began marshalling arguments against it! I was especially appalled that the materials pack cost $92!
I would however like to publicly state that I was completely wrong about both Dave Ramsay (though I doubt we agree with each other about much in a religious sense!) and very wrong about tying his 'Financial Peace University' to crackpot 'prosperity doctrines'. I also think the $92 is good value having now received my package and losing track of just how many resources are in it.
I had been looking for a few months for a way our church could be of solid practical help to people in the present dog's breakfast that is the world economy, and think the basic common sense in the Financial Peace course could be a great help to many many people.
Firstly, as an LGBT centered church we guarantee there are no unwholesome religious influences that come with it, and from a practical point of view we make no money out of it whatsoever - but as a member of the first Financial Peace class we are holding here at The Big Easy MCC I am astonished at how basic and yet how life changing it all is!
My finances have always existed in a 'cloud of unknowing' - a sort of magic place where either there is or is not sufficient for needs, and consequently I was horrified to discover just how much was frittered away invisibly every month with nothing to show for it whatsoever. Mr. Ramsay uses a rather good phrase to describe the position of most Americans financially - 'they have too much month left at the end of their money'. In the class we are taught the basics of the financial products industry, and how the vast majority of credit is heavily stacked against the consumer - the various traps used to ensnare folk with 'interest free periods' that then revert to very high interest rates, and the real effect on repayment of only a couple of interest point! We are taught how to effectively pay down and eradicate debt, to build first a safety fund, and then start to save (yes, save) instead of banging everything on credit.
I am not a stupid person (well, not entirely) yet if I, the child of wealthy parents - one a successful business owner, can have existed in a perpetual pickle over finances, and lost endless nights sleep over it then I cannot be alone. I felt after the first class with Trent (Dr Haines) that I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Thankfully Leon and I are not mired in debt, we were just systemless, but having a system we suddenly see all sorts of possibilities I thought out of our reach! For me this is very exciting. Who knew that doing the sort of common sense things that my grandmother used to do (including, would you believe, such museum pieces as putting bill money in envelopes and saving for a rainy day!) would change my outlook so much. I feel a huge sense of relief at just doing a budget that proves to me that I can live quite comfortably within my means (with some adjustments), and still save. It is also vital to do all this in a group - it is very much like weight watchers, it is peer support and peer expectations that keep you on the straight and narrow, not just sheer will power!
Anyway, I have gushed sufficiently over my new found financial wizardry, and assure you that after we complete this first 'internal' course, we will be offering a much larger group more widely in the community (probably in a couple of months). If anyone wants to register interest, or find out more then email me (revcrawshaw@bigeasymcc.com) or telephone the church office and leave your details for Dr Haines on 504 298 5131. I am now going to finish off the budget with Leon - wish me luck!
|
|
___________________________________________________ |
|
Wednesday March 11th at 7.00pm Experiencing God and Book Study ('This Present Darkness') group begin, full details and sign up sheets available at church or email the pastor.
Continuing Tuesday March 10th at 6.30pm Financial Peace University* (a major pastoral tool being offered through the church to help get a grip on those finances and break free of cycles of debt and overspend)
*We are offering this solely as a service and practical help to our members and those in the wider community, we make no money out of it!
___________________________________________________
|
|
|
|
CHOIR REHEARSALS!!!! Choir rehearsal is on Thursday, and we need you for some great new projects!! If for any reason you are unable to make rehearsal, always ring Ken on 504 638 6178 |
