Oh, take me back to the simple days of "Little House on the Prairie". Sure, Ma & Pa worked hard, struggled to keep food on the table, and used an outhouse. And, yes, they didn't have hot showers. But they had something most of us only dream of. They had time, community, peace and quiet. They weren't bombarded with spam, phone solicitations, reality TV shows and junk mail. They weren't racing through fast food restaurants on their way to yet another meaningless meeting. They weren't concerned much about their retirement investments or how they would pay for their children's college education. They didn't have to spend hours each month paying bills and tending to all their broken stuff. I figure that I spend most of my day dealing with things that didn't even exist 100 years ago. I often find myself longing for a simpler life.

Over the past ten years, my wife and I have seen our circumstances change drastically. Poor financial decisions have taken their toll. Like many one income, middle class families, we are struggling from month to month, seeming to never get ahead. It's like trying to go up a down escalator. There's no time to rest. Day in and day out...it's relentless. The candle burns from both ends. Lack of sleep, poor diet, and high stress all take their toll. There seems to be little hope.

As a Christian, I am called to use my God-given time, talents and treasures to serve others. I am blessed to be a blessing. And yet I find myself too busy and too broke to reach out or even care about those around me. I am torn between a heavenly call and an earthly reality. There is an inner battle raging between who I am and who Christ calls me to be. I struggle daily with my own sinfulness, pride and ego.

In my own personal journey, I have read many great books about a variety of topics in regards to Christian living. I have spent time in God's word. These coupled with my personal brokenness has led me to launch a new ministry website. FreedUp2Serve.com is all about encouraging Christian stewardship. My hope is that others can be inspired, informed, and given practical tools for the journey toward better stewardship. You will find resources to help you make the most out of your God-given time, talents, and treasures.

If you have been a lousy steward like me, don't lose hope. God is not done with us yet. We are all a work in progress.