New Study Shows Americans are Not Prepared for Retirement – And I Know Why
Posted on September 12, 2018 in Money by Nathan Cherry
If you have less than $5,000 saved for retirement, you should be worried.
A new report from Northwestern Mutual indicates that nearly 1 out of 3 Americans has less than $5,000 saved for retirement. That’s a shocking statistic. How is it that in the “lan of opportunity” people are woefully unprepared for one of the most difficult seasons of life?
Saving for retirement isn’t a trick. It isn’t something “savvy” investors do and everyone else dreams about. Saving for retirement is as easy as having a dollar amount or percentage withheld from your paycheck each pay period; then having those fund deposited into your employer retirement account (typically a 401(k), 403(b), 457, or TSP if you are a government employee).
With saving made increasingly easier for employees, why are so many so far behind? Continue reading…
The Best Way to Be More Productive – Stop Eating!
Posted on September 6, 2018 in Money by Nathan Cherry
Our ability to be productive is the key to our success.
Productivity is one of the greatest strengths the American worker holds. The ability to be more productive each day is how we earn our income, advance in our career, and live the life we desire to live. It goes without saying that productivity is essential.
What you might not know is that your productivity could be suffering due to something very unexpected: eating.
By now you’ve likely heard about intermittent fasting. It’s become a hot topic in the world of physical health. Studies indicate that intermittent fasting can help with high-blood pressure, reduce the risk of some cancers, and help with diabetes. These and many other health benefits from intermittent fasting are being studied and hold hope for people suffering from numerous ailments.
What you might not know is that intermittent fasting can also benefit your mental health and boost your productivity. Fasting deprives our bodies (and minds) of food. While this may sound like a bad thing, it could be a very good thing. When we are hungry, our brain begins to operate at a high level to figure out where to find food. Working in “starvation mode” for a little while can produce a tremendous boost to our productivity. Continue reading…
Why the New Lawsuit Against a Cake Maker Should Terrify You
Posted on September 4, 2018 in Public Policy, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
The case of Jack Phillips has been concerning since the beginning. The fact that he was sued and forced to pay fines, undergo special inspections on his business, and endure “sensitivity training” to make sure he knew how horrible of a person he was for not baking that cake is ridiculous.
It’s more than ridiculous. It sounds like something out of a communist country.
However, the new lawsuit filed against Jack is not concerning, it’s terrifying.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that Jack cannot be targeted for his faith, the government in Colorado is targeting Jack for his faith. The Colorado government has decided that Jack simply should not be allowed to do business. It appears that the government has made up its mind that people of faith, people that want to live and do business according to their sincerely held beliefs, don’t belong in the pubic space.
This rogue government is now manufacturing ways to go after Jack and his business. Their actions are indicative of a political landscape in which tolerance has been thrown out the window. Here’s the story. Continue reading…
A New Movement Threatens Democrats in Mid-Term Elections – and Beyond.
Posted on August 29, 2018 in Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
#WalkAway.
That’s the simple slogan threatening to upend the much hoped for “blue wave” during the mid-term elections this year. A new campaign aimed at encouraging people to #WalkAway from the Democratic party is seeing online success as more people vow to vote Republican in the upcoming elections.
Perhaps most surprising is that millennials between the ages of 18-34 are leading the charge in this viral campaign.
There’s a general impression that younger generations are more liberal than older ones. We assume that a majority of millennials support abortion, same-sex marriage, socialism, and plastic straw bans. But if the #WalkAway movement is any indicator of where millennials stand, liberal and their pet policies should be very worried.
A new report shows that white millennials are divided in their support of Republicans and Democrats as the mid-term elections approach: Continue reading…
Are You Sure You Want Christians to “Be More Like Jesus”?
Posted on August 22, 2018 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
The demand for Christians to “be more like Jesus” continues. But the people making this demand don’t know Jesus and are often making this demand of people who are, in fact, being just like Jesus.
Our culture has a “judge not” blind spot. We love this simple instruction given by Jesus. This is, according to society, the true test of whether a person is really being like Jesus or not. If you “judge” another person, you fail the test. So the goal is to be as much like Jesus as possible by not judging anyone. Ever. For any reason.
But is that really the measure of Christ-likeness?
The people who say Jesus would “bake the cake” sure think so. They believe that Jesus would absolutely bake a cake celebrating a same-sex wedding. It is, they say, a way to “show the love of Jesus” to the homosexual couple. To refuse to bake the cake is to judge the homosexuals and is wrong, they would argue, because Jesus would never judge anyone like that.
First, let’s make sure we understand what Jesus meant by “judge not,” in this often misused Scripture. Continue reading…
The “Economic Stimulus” Most Americans are Overlooking
Posted on August 21, 2018 in Money by Nathan Cherry
There’s a very simple “economic stimulus” being overlooked by nearly every American household.
Economic growth is a hot topic today. America is in the midst of one of the largest periods of economic expansion in history. Concerted efforts to keep the expansion going are being discussed in the halls of Congress and in every state house in the country. But what if one of the easiest ways to stimulate the economy doesn’t need the approval of the President or a single politician?
What if I said I could put $200, $300, or even $400 back into your pocket right now?
What if there is an “economic stimulus package” that needs no approval, no legislation, and no political votes to start taking effect right now? And, if you begin implementing it, your family could see thousands of dollars in savings every year. Would you be interested?
In order to begin saving money, and improve your health, all you need to do is begin intermittent fasting and a simple diet change.
About 10 years ago I made a change in my diet. I’m not a dietician, not in the medical industry, I’m just a guy that used common sense to make a lifestyle change that I hoped would help. What did I do? Continue reading…
A Word of Caution for Consumers Seeking to Borrow Money
Posted on August 16, 2018 in Money by Nathan Cherry
It’s the economy, stupid.
Those now infamous words have echoed across continents for years. In recent memory, the American economy has been the focus of much speculation as talking heads debate whether President Trump is helping or hurting it. News that the U.S. Economy hit 4.1% in growth for the second quarter of 2018 made headlines across the nation.
Proponents of the current economy are at the top of the “Market Cycle of Emotions” as investor confidence and consumer spending remain strong.
But we would do well to remember that everything that glitters is not gold.
A couple of considerations are worth noting.
First, there is a difference between the “originary” and nominal interest rate. For more on this subject you can read this helpful article. For now let’s just say that the nominal interest rate is the one talked about by media and government officials. And the “originary” interest rate is of great importance as it indicator of how much people spend and how much they save.
Basically what we are seeing right now is an artificially low interest rate environment in which banks are seeking to keep interest rates artificially low in order to continue issuing money through credit expansion. In other words people are borrowing money at greater rates and banks want to keep this trend going. Continue reading…
Miss America Could Be the Next Great Exercise in Democracy
Posted on August 15, 2018 in Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
The new direction of the Miss America Pageant has potential, including the potential to become even more irrelevant.
In recent years the Miss America Pageant has lost much of its luster. Controversies, loss of viewership, and organizational turmoil have made it somewhat irrelevant in our culture. All that could change with the new direction being led by newly appointed Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson.
It could also go very badly.
Carlson recently said that the new direction the Miss America pageant will go will be about the ideas the contestants share. She said:
“We’re no longer judging women when they come out in their chosen attire, their evening wear, whatever they choose to do. It’s going to be what comes out of their mouth that we’re interested in, when they talk about their social impact initiatives.”
This sounds like a great improvement. This sounds like something the feminist movement and social justice warriors can easily get behind. And in the age of #metoo, this sounds like a perfect alternative to a culture that demeans women through prostitution and pornography. What’s to worry about?
The cause for concern comes in what ideas are shared and, more importantly, what ideas are discouraged.
Back in 2009, Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked about her views on marriage by judge and LGBT activist Perez Hilton. Prejean responded by saying she believes marriage is intended for a man and a woman: Continue reading…
Christians Need to Think Differently About “Sexual Identity” and Equality
Posted on August 8, 2018 in Sexuality, Theology by Nathan Cherry
The cultural buzz around “sexual identity” is at euphoric levels. Everyone wants to be proud of their identity and it seems to start and end with their sexuality. The consequence is a polarized society divided over an aspect of personhood that doesn’t accurately define us.
Within this broad discussion comes the responsibility of Christians to engage the culture with what the Bible teaches around these complex issues. And while some are speaking truth, it isn’t necessarily in love. Others are misrepresenting Scripture or even teaching outright false doctrine.
Knowing that some churches are seeking to marry the biblical sexual ethic with the LGBT agenda makes a voice like Rosaria Butterfield critical. Actually, in some ways, Butterfield’s voice and message are prophetic.
Butterfield spent much of her life living as a lesbian. She fully embraced the pride of her lifestyle and sought to bring others to her point of view. It was through the kindness and hospitality of Christian friends that Butterfield came to faith in Jesus Christ and rejected her lesbian lifestyle. Butterfield realized that her identity in Christ was greater than any other and that her sin no longer defined her.
Butterfield recently wrote that any Christian should refuse to be defined by their sin: Continue reading…
Miss America Making Changes – But NFL Seems Tone Deaf
Posted on August 7, 2018 in Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
We live in a strange culture that sends opposing messages and declares each of them to be good, right, and appropriate.
In the wake of an email scandal that saw top executives and the CEO resign, the Miss America Pageant is making changes. This once heralded beauty contest that featured women in high heels and bikini’s is rebranding itself as a competition for women designed to showcase their skills and talents.
What kind of competition?
According to newly appointed Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson, it’s a competition to empower women:
“Who doesn’t want to be empowered, learn leadership skills and pay for college and be able to show the world who you are as a person from the inside of your soul. That’s what we’re judging them on now.”
Empowering women in the wake of #metoo means no more swimsuits or evening gowns, and no more judging based purely on shallow criteria such as looks. Rebranding itself as a competition rather than a beauty pageant is necessary if looks are no longer important. After all, no one watches a “beauty pageant” to see skills tests and hear analysis on geo-political affairs. Continue reading…