TLC Newsletter

Finances Matter

Welcome! This column will be co-authored by Gene Gorton and Nathan Koster. The goal of this column is to provide general education and advice regarding financial issues that many of us face on a daily basis. A few broad examples of potential topics are:

Investing (I'm getting 5% on bank CD's, hooray!)
Planning for the future (I'll be fine, I'm paying into Social Security.)
Budgets & Financial Statements (Eww, I think I will pass on those.)
Financial Discipline (That's when you make your wallet sit in the corner for time-out, right?)
Stewardship (Isn't my money enough?)

It is our intent that this column will be easily read and understood, while still conveying ideas that are foundational to a healthy, happy, and biblical financial position. Sometimes we will draw upon other authors or authorities on finances, for instance, Larry Burkett. If you have a question about a specific area of finances, would like more information about a certain topic, or would even like to suggest other financial subjects to explore, please let us know. As with this newsletter at large, the financial column is for you, and if we are not writing about what you are interested in, then all our pretty words aren't of much value, so give us feedback. NK

Swap Talents, Skills, Gifts

In this space we would like to encourage you to list items you have that you would like to not have, items you need, services you could provide, services you need – how you could serve other family members. For instance:

Teresa Ondracek has a red metal bunk bed stored in her garage for anyone willing to pick it up. She could use a furnace for a single wide mobile home. Teresa would also like to thank the family member that provided curtains for her home, greatly impacting the heat and comfort level this winter.
Nathan Koster is looking for a reliable but cheap means to haul building materials. Probably an old beater truck, preferably under $500.
Kim Gorton is a source for fresh medjool dates. The last shipment was really tasty. She and Larry Lee are also a source for Scrip Cards from various retailers. If you shop these stores anyway, use scrip and help support OCS.
Linda Hamerly has a nine drawer dresser stored in her garage looking for a home. She thanks those who have made it possible for her to use her wood stove this winter.

Have you read an outstanding spiritual book? Are you willing to write a commending summary? Do you know of an upcoming event in our community that your church family should consider attending? Have you found a solution to a parenting problem or have a question that you are willing to share? Contributions can be anonymous in publication under proper circumstances. No one needs to know who asked for solutions. The idea is to exchange helpful information, not feed the gristmill. You can see we have space for ministries' news, spiritual book/tape reviews, finance helps, a health message and recipe, parenting tips, news on small groups, Sabbath schools, non-adult activities, whatever the interests and activities of our church family. We need your willingness to share by contributing to the newsletter. What kind of information would you find worth reading? This is your spiritual family and your newsletter. Now is the time for input of what you want it to be. If you are content to continue with our current level of communication, that is very likely to happen. Otherwise, I look forward to hearing from you.