Tips for saving energy
The information in this article is taken from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network of the U.S. Department of Energy. In the United States, Daylight Saving Time begins for those participating at 2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday of March. At 2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday of November, most of the U.S. reverts […]
How to Survive in a Declining Economy
Newscasts report daily that our economy is on a downward trend. People are losing their homes, highly-paid executives are losing their positions and having to settle for lower-paying jobs, food and energy costs continue to increase, and the list goes on. While these facts are true, what we are experiencing is not new. In Jeremiah […]
Finding financial freedom
While a lack of money can certainly create financial pressure, often such pressure is simply a result of attitude. If there is a right attitude toward money, freedom from financial bondage follows. God did not say that money and material things were problems; money is neither good nor bad. It is the use of money […]
How Pastors Can Train Their Congregations to Be Good Stewards
Many sermons and teaching lessons that pastors present to their congregations do not apply to everyone. For example, lessons on the depravity of alcohol or drugs or the spiritually and emotionally harmful effects of adultery could apply to only a handful of attendees. However, everybody deals with money. It is the pastors’ responsibility to help […]
Understanding Surety
With regard to finances, surety is probably the least taught and least understood principle in God’s Word. Considering the number of times the Scriptures warn against surety, its amazing to think that so few actually heed God’s cautions. The fact that so many Christians can violate a basic biblical principle about money and seem to […]
Handling Church Offering
One of the more important aspects of church financial management is establishing an appropriate method of handling offerings. There are certain Internal Revenue Service rules that must be followed regarding handling cash and acknowledging and accepting donations. Receiving the offering Offerings can be received by “passing the plate,” allowing attendees to place their offering in […]
Using credit cards for business expenses
It is common practice in today’s business world for employers to reimburse employees for business-related expenses: hotel rooms and meals while on a business trip or gasoline if the employee’s car is used for business purposes. The Problem As in personal finances, credit cards can wreak havoc with business expenses. Sometimes the employee uses […]
Responsibilities of the church board
Although the authority and responsibilities of church boards are as diverse as the churches they serve, there are some responsibilities that should be consistent and typical for all church boards. These are establishing policy, financial reporting, compensation review, and budget approval. Establishing policy One of the primary functions of the church board, regardless of the denomination or […]
Miscellaneous Tax Deductions for Pastors
In addition to travel and transportation expenses and housing allowance, there are other professional expenses that can be tax deductible for ministers if they are not paid for by the church or reimbursed by the church. Ministers can deduct up to $25 per donee for business gifts to any number of individuals every year. The […]
Charting a financial road map
It may seem strange, but many people don’t know if they have financial goals. Even stranger, some think they have financial goals when they really don’t. “Get rich” or “make as much as possible” don’t qualify as goals, because true goals have to be measurable at different points in time in order to be of […]
