Abrahams Wallet

What does it look like to lead your family during a quarantine? In this episode we walk through specific tactics that you can use in each of the 5 capitals: spiritual, relational, physical, intellectual and financial.

In our second emergency podcast of the past 4 days, we're coming to you with some tips on how to navigate your likely and unplanned transition from not-homeschooler to homeschool family. Steven has been at this for a while and has some great tips to share from what has worked in his family!

We had to do it guys - instead of waiting until next Wednesday, we wanted to provide some financial insights into what is happening right now and then give you some actionable tips. Whether you have millions of dollars invested or nothing, we've got some steps that you can take to shore up your family's strength in an uncertain time like this one.

In this podcast, Steven sat down with his parents, who have been through multiple life-changing financial disasters, and talked with them about how they responded. You WILL be better equipped to trust the LORD and deal with unexpected bad news after listening to this episode!

This week we have a chat between Mark Douglass and Steven Manuel on Terrence Malik's film, A Hidden Life. We have so few examples right now of men who truly stand up for right even when they are standing all alone. Heck, most folks who wish to stand up for something can pretty quickly assemble a few hundred like minded standers on Twitter or something. But a movie recently came out that gave us a fantasic example of what it looks like to be willing to play the oppositional role, while submitting wholeheartedly to Jesus. Before you blast into this episode, first go watch the trailer if you've not seen this movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJXmdY4lVR0 And after you enjoy this episode, head over to The Viceroy Project for more good stuff from Mark Douglass and his crew.

We are just closing the books on an annual family tradition in which we spend as little money as possible through the month of February. LoDoFeb, as it’s been dubbed, is our rhythm of intentionally saying no. (And, heck, it can be yours, too. Matter of fact, we recommend it. You can have LoDoMar or LoDoNov for all I care, but you’re going to have to deal with more than 28 days of it if you do. Sorry.) As with any form of asceticism, I’m always a bit relieved when it’s over (because I can get back to my indulgent, freewheeling lifestyle), but while I’m inside it, I’m always thinking about it and reflective of its benefits.

A quick BlogPod this week in which Mark will kick you some good books that were read in the past year or so, and also encourage you to get into a habit of reading things that don't appear on your computer screen. For those interested, find links to the books right here: The Household and War For the Cosmos, by C.R. Wiley Gospel Patrons, by John Rinehart Endurance, by Alfred Lansing The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell Into Africa, by Martin Dugard I am a Field, by Jeff Davenport

What does it mean to be a multigenerational team on mission? Jeremy Pryor, author of Family Revision, joins Steven to talk about his own fatherhood journey, how our culture has created a counter-narrative to the Biblical ideal of fatherhood and how you can start realigning your own family rhythms and goals with a classical understanding of family. This is one of the best episodes we've had - learn more about what Jeremy is up to at https://familyteams.com/.

I can make you hundreds of dollars in one month by telling you what to NOT do.  You will end that month having eaten well, having fun, and at more peace than when you started.  Don’t think I can?  I can.

Do you remember the good ol’ days when a man who wanted to wander with his nether sexual parts had to leave his abode, physically walk into a seedy part of town, enter a building known by everyone to be a house of ill repute, and THEN and ONLY THEN dive into the dark arts? No? I don’t either… But up until recently (let’s say the past 80 years or so, out of the millennia of human existence), there were effectively NO options for having your illicit fancies tickled (or tickling your fancy… or whatever you call that thing) that didn’t require you to at least risk public exposure. Those days are gone, and we are going to talk about the implications for your household. Read up here: https://abrahamswallet.com/2018/09/26/smartphones-and-porn/

Mark and Steven want YOU to join us for Lo Do Feb - the month in which we suck in our financial waistbelts and see just how little we can spend. Whether you use the proceeds to enjoy a little family generosity or to kill off some toxic debts, the month will be good for you. Check out some of the blog posts here, here and here.

Steven and Mark sit down to chat through a couple of articles that we wrote on technology and the value of sometimes being bored. As we're trying a new format here, we'd love your feedback. You'll notice that we had a technical issue mid-pod that forced Steven to the phone lines, but we think you'll get good stuff none the less. Please let us know what you think! Articles we discuss: Alright, let's talk about smartphones And: Give Boredom a Chance

We made boys! Kinda how you felt when you sat down for the 32nd session of Netflixing and finally finished The Irishman, we're at the end of our insurance series. In this double whammy, we discuss disability insurance, umbrella policies and provide you with the cautionary tale of Arsenio the Alpaca. Don't be like Arsenio - finish strong and tune in for our parting shot on insurance.

Live from the Aronoff Theatre, and then Live from Steven's treehouse! This week is a longer chat that Steven and his buddy Paul Nichols had about one of our favorite books around these parts - The Benedict Option.

Join Steven in the coffee shop this week as he lets you in on a little secret: God is preeminent over all things, at all times.  Even if you deny Him this and temporarily steal His glory, He will eventually be proven right and you will be disappointingly corrected. As first and preeminent, He demands the first part of ANY and EVERYTHING to either be sacrificed or redeemed.  The first part matters An Awful Lot To Him. Sponsor link: www.outpostadvisors.net

Join us for an instructional Q&A with mild mannered reporter Jimmy Olsen. First off, permanent insurance – which includes products like whole life insurance and universal life insurance – combines savings and investment with insurance coverage. If you’re already unsure that you’re going to make it to the end of this article, then you can just jot down our thesis statement right here: We believe that investing and insurance are both important and good, but it rarely makes sense to combine the two objectives. Head over to www.outpostadvisors.net if you want to talk in depth about your own decision process as you navigate complex financial issues!

Operating out of a position of fear will cause you to make stupid decisions when it comes to your money, your family or pretty much any other arena in your life. In this episode Steven and I discuss how we've seen fear stop guys (including ourselves) from making wise moves.

When It comes to life insurance, you most likely fall into one of two camps.  Either you’re all jumbled up in your brain about coverage amount, policy types, term vs. whole life, where to title your policy, etc. OR you have no questions at all about insurance and are just now considering that you might need to purchase some. (“Didn’t my employer say I get free life insurance at work? I’m sure that’ll be enough…?”)  In this episode we'll explore four key questions on life insurance and hopefully give you a starting point for how to think about your own needs in this area!

Gents, it’s time we broached a subject that I KNOW impacts all your lives. You’ve either worried about it, scoffed about it, or perhaps given in to it to a degree that concerns you. Because, for faith-guided missiles like us, these waters are murky, and it’s unclear if playing ball is wise or faithless. You know what I’m talking about because it’s in the title. We talkin ‘bout INSURANCE. Giveaway Alert! Send your insurance questions to mark@abrahamswallet.com and one lucky inquisitor will receive a copy of Jeff Davenport's new book - I am a Field.

Jeff Davenport is a longtime friend of everyone over here at Abraham's Wallet, and he's just published his first book - I am a Field. In this episode, Jeff dives into some of the insights from his book - particularly how small, daily obedience and work adds up to big change. You're going to love it, and it's going to make you want to read the whole book, which you can buy using this link right here! For more from Jeff, check him out at www.jeffdav.com If you're really dying to read some of that third chair trombone funny stuff, I'd point you in this direction (not going to lie - the pre-2008 stuff is the real gold): https://3rdchairtrombone.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/02/presidential_sp.html