Write About Now

My years in California prevented me from developing geographical snobbery, that condition in which you assume your city/county/state has the corner on all things progressive and everywhere else is a barren wasteland. It’s a hobby along that coast; one California megachurch pastor (CMCP) actually told me Willowcreek grew to its current ginormity because “there’s nothing else to do out there. What’s in Illinois, yaks?” Yep, buddy, their church is just way bigger than yours because Chicago’s boring.

So I anticipated my first-ever visit to Nebraska with an open mind. However, already today I have….

–been called “doll” by two different men, each my age or younger.

–driven 17 minutes on a country road without seeing another car (I clocked it).

–spent three hours in a building Mapquest doesn’t have a record of.

–held a meeting in which one of the other participants sat across from me and knit a sweater.

And I don’t want to be negative, but let’s just say that if CMCP’s theory had any merit, the churches out here would make Southeast look like a small group.

Fortunately I am here on a good mission. I work part-time for Financial Planning Ministry, an organization that creates living trusts which allow couples and individuals to plan their estates, choose medical conservators, and name guardians for minor children. Unlike wills, living trusts avoid probate completely and free thousands of those dollars for gifts to family and ministry. And unlike wills or trusts prepared by an attorney, FPM offers a living trust at no cost; we simply ask each family to consider a gift out of their estate—when they’ve passed away and won’t care!—to one of our sponsors. More than 50 Christian churches and parachurches sponsor FPM and make its ministry possible.

So Christian families practice good stewardship with their lifetime accumulation of assets, Christian ministries receive a portion of those funds, and FPM offers a valuable service free of charge. It’s a great business model and a great organization, one I’m even willing to brave Nebraska for. Cornhuskers, I’ll be here all week—holler if you want to learn more about living trusts, practice condescending nicknames, or teach me to knit.