Josh 1:5,9 | There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Over the last 3,400 years there have been only 260 years of peace. However, a time is coming when the Lord Jesus Christ will return and bring an end to all war. We will no longer have to study war; the implements of warfare will be turned into implements of agriculture. What a time that will be! From the series: The Coming Golden Age
Many moms feel like there's just no time for their creative passions. Ashlee Gadd—author, photographer and founder of Coffee and Crumbs—joins Dave and Ann Wilson to share how God led her to create in the margins of motherhood and offers hope for moms to thrive in seasons of change.
The Gospel of John is one of the most important books in the Bible for understanding who Jesus is. Its author, the Apostle John, provides a unique perspective, emphasizing the identity and deity of Jesus Christ. The first chapter of John is crucial in explaining Jesus as the divine expression of God, co-eternal with the Father, and fully God Himself. The concept of Jesus as the Word of God, both in its written form and personified in Jesus, underpins the importance of true understanding for personal salvation. Different religious groups have varied interpretations of Jesus, but the firsthand account of John offers a definitive insight into His divine nature and eternal existence.
You’ve heard the identity theft protection ads for years, but do you really need it? Today, dozens of companies sell identity theft protection, so people obviously buy it. But what exactly are they getting, and is it really worth it? Understanding Identity Theft Protection: Is It Worth It? Identity theft is a growing problem that affects millions of people every year, with schemes ranging from credit card fraud to insurance and tax fraud. With this in mind, many companies offer identity theft protection plans. But is it worth it? Let’s take a closer look at the features, their value, and whether or not you should invest in one of these plans. Before diving into the specifics, it's important to remember that fear should never dictate our financial decisions. In 2 Timothy 1: 7, Paul reminds us: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ”When considering whether to purchase an identity theft protection plan, look at the facts, pray for guidance, and make an educated decision. Typical Features of Identity Theft Protection PlansIdentity theft protection plans come with a range of features, though not every plan includes all of them. Here's a look at some common offerings: Credit Report and Score Access: Many plans provide access to your credit reports and credit score. Credit Report Monitoring: This feature alerts you to suspicious activity, such as new accounts opened in your name. Fraud Alert Setup: Plans often help you set up fraud alerts on your credit reports, making it harder for thieves to open accounts. Dark Web Monitoring: This monitors for signs that your personal information is being misused on the dark web. Fraudulent Account Dispute Assistance: Some plans assist you in disputing fraudulent charges and accounts. Social Security Number Monitoring: You'll be notified if your Social Security number is used suspiciously. Browser Protection Tools: These tools protect your personal information online and alert you to unsafe websites. Insurance Coverage: Some plans include insurance to cover costs associated with identity theft recovery, such as legal fees and lost wages. These features may sound appealing, but is it worth paying $7. 50 to $70 per month for this protection? Can You Do It Yourself? Interestingly, most of these features are things you can handle on your own: Credit Report Access: You can easily access your credit reports from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, or visit AnnualCreditReport.comfor free reports. Credit Monitoring: Monitoring your credit every six months is simple and effective. You can also set up fraud alerts directly with the credit bureaus. Disputing Fraudulent Activity: You can dispute fraudulent charges on the credit bureau websites yourself—no third-party service is required. Browser Protection: Browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge already offer safe browsing tools; you just need to enable them. There are a couple of features that are harder to manage on your own: Dark Web Monitoring: This is more challenging to do without specialized tools. Social Security Number Monitoring: While not easy to do on your own, this becomes less critical if you’re already monitoring your credit and disputing fraudulent activity. What About the Insurance? Many identity theft protection plans offer insurance to cover financial losses. However, disputing fraudulent activity directly with the credit bureaus is usually sufficient to avoid significant out-of-pocket costs. While it might take some time, handling it yourself is typically manageable. Here’s an important distinction: These plans offer identity theft protection, not identity theft prevention. They help you fix the problem after it occurs but do little to stop it in the first place. The most powerful thing you can do to prevent identity theft is to freeze your credit at all three credit bureaus. It’s free and prevents lenders from checking your credit unless you unfreeze it temporarily when applying for new credit. This simple step can prevent thieves from opening accounts in your name. Should You Buy Identity Theft Protection? Ultimately, purchasing an identity theft protection plan comes down to personal preference. If having one brings you peace of mind and helps you sleep better at night, go ahead and purchase a plan—but do your homework first. And if a free plan is offered after a data breach, don’t hesitate to accept it. By staying informed and taking simple steps on your own, you can safeguard your identity without fear. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: There are so many charities and organizations to donate to, and I'd like to find websites that can help me decide how to allocate my charitable giving. I want to make sure the organizations are using the funds responsibly. What resources can you recommend for researching and evaluating different charities? I have a question about an inherited IRA. My husband inherited two IRAs from his mom, who died in 2020. We have yet to take any distributions. I know the SECURE Act requires withdrawing the total amount within ten years. Is there an advantage to withdrawing it gradually, or is it better to just do a lump sum withdrawal at some point? My mother purchased some land a couple of years ago, with three small houses on about 3 acres. I filed a transfer-on-death (TOD) deed that I printed off the internet, and it went through. Is that a good thing to do? How does that affect my taxes when I inherit the property? I have several accounts that will require me to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) at the end of the year. How do I set it up so the RMD can be paid directly to my church as a qualified charitable contribution to avoid increasing my taxable income? Resources Mentioned: ECFA | Charity NavigatorNational Christian Foundation (NCF)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App
Is global warming true? Is the Earth our sacred Mother? Are human beings responsible for “messing up” the world? In this program, Chip considers these questions from a biblical perspective. While this issue may seem unimportant, Chip reveals that God has some pretty direct things to say about His creation and our responsibilities to care for it.