Oct 21, 2019
What You'll Hear:
- John was raised in a big family in a Christian household, he went through confirmation class and that is when he became a Christian
- 30 years later, John had a reawakening when a friend of his asked him to join him in a Bible Study called Foundations, that was the springboard for him to live out his faith on a day-to-day basis
- John's first job was working on a farm with his brothers, but his first real job was pumping gas at an old fashioned gas station, he learned a lot about interaction and serving others and helping solve problems
- John spent 22 yrs as a financial planner, starting out on the insurance side. He loved the ability to come alongside people and helping them explore what can be a confusing and challenging topic
- "Money was really a window into people's world...often it would lead to other conversations"
- "Money's that golden thread that weaves through almost every facet of our lives in one way or another"
- "Most of us know what the Bible says about money...they even sort of know how to do it..." but they struggle with fear of the future, greed, and regrets of the past, as well as beliefs and behaviors
- "A lot of guys have trouble letting go of past, poor choices"
- "Sometimes we might make a decision on a job based on the income, rather than what we're going to be excited about when we get up every day"
- John Piper said "Money is
the universal barrier to God"
- John wrote a book "He Spends, She Spends: Why God Wants You to Live For Free", as he says "I wrote a Why-To Book"
- "The wise learn from experience, the very wise learn from the experience of others"-unknown
- "I became really enamored with the idea of having a business coach"
- "We're either green and growing, or we're ripe and rotting"
- Charlotte Leadership Forum (CLF) is a 2 year program for couples, started by 3 businessman, about being a Christian leader in your home, in your business, and in the community
- Halftime is a book Bob Buford wrote that a pastor put in John's hands and said "I read a book and it made me think of you". It's about moving from success to significance
- One of John's friends asked John if he had ever thought of his occupation as a ministry
- John got involved with National Christian Foundation and he closed his practice and started an NCF in Charlotte in 2012
- "Look around, see what God is doing and get on board" - Henry Blackaby
- "A lot of people have financial strategies, rarely do they have giving strategies"
- If you want to be a part of mentoring group or brain trust, you don't have to spend a lot of money
- Find someone you respect and approach them, then form a group and go through a book
- Figure out what you're looking for, pray about it, and take a step
- Living out your faith through your work for John means clarity, unity, and alignment
- One important verse for John is Jeremiah 33:3
- "There is so much about God and truth that is discoverable on a day-by-day basis, if we will just take the time to call, and ask and look"
- Go to www.JohnPutnam.com and www.NCFGiving.com