Devotional

ONLY Jesus

We live in a western culture that has promoted diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), to a point of distortion and detriment.  This woke ideology has even penetrated the church to where many are now afraid to proclaim Jesus as the ONLY way to God, for fear of offending others or being viewed as anti-‘inclusive’. 

It's time we regain our boldness as Christ followers and proclaim the Truth.  Remember, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).  There is ONLY one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ His Son.  This is as plain as day within this scripture that I was recently reminded of:

We deceive ourselves and others when we wiggle to accept anything else and shy away from proclaiming this absolute truth.

Jesus also made this very clear when He said: 

I encourage you to take a stand for your Savior.  It will liberate your soul and those around you.  You have knowledge of the true God.  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the courage to proclaim ONLY Jesus within your circle of family, friends and coworkers.  

An exclusive faith in ONLY Jesus is truly the most inclusive for all mankind, and the ONLY way to God.

Financial Update

A Home Buyer's Wish Come True

As of a few months ago, the U.S. housing market has swung decisively in favor of buyers.

Redfin’s April data reveals a historic gap: approximately 1.9 million sellers versus 1.5 million buyers, meaning nearly 500,000 more sellers—a 33.7% variance—the highest on record since 2013. 

Home buyers are getting exactly what they have been asking for, for years now - but the conditions still aren’t 100% “perfect”. 

Mortgage rates are still hovering in the mid-6% range, and high fees elsewhere, like property taxes and maintenance costs, continue to limit affordability, even as listings climb. 

Sellers, on the other hand, especially in regions such as the South and West, are responding with price cuts, incentives or, in some cases, delisting. 

In July, the national inventory stood at 1.55 million homes, representing a near 5-month supply, with inventory up nearly 16% year-over-year. 

Active listings have been rising for 21 straight months, a sign of growing choice for buyers, even if prices remain historically high in many areas.

While the imbalance resembles early warning signs of past downturns, today’s fundamentals differ from the pre-2008 crisis.

In 2008, the housing bubble burst amid skyrocketing defaults, collapsing home prices, and an oversupply of distressed properties—especially from subprime borrowers. 

Today, stricter lending standards, stronger homeowner equity, and a lack of speculative buying suggest the current imbalance is not poised to trigger a similar crash. 

Moreover, there is no flood of foreclosures threatening to overwhelm the system, and much of the increased inventory reflects more listings—not distressed assets.

Thus, while buyers enjoy greater leverage now, the structural stability of the market is markedly better than during the meltdown of 2008.

What Lies Ahead: Signals to Watch

Price Trajectory — Continued price declines, especially if coupled with mortgage rate relief, could spur sales—but smaller drops may gradually rebalance the market.

Sales Activity — July saw a modest increase in existing home sales, rising 2% to about 4.01 million units annually, indicating tentative buyer momentum.

Mortgage Rates — If Fed easing leads to lower long-term rates, affordability may improve—but sustained high rates could stall recovery.

Seller Behavior — Delistings have surged—up 35% year-to-date—as equity-rich sellers hold out for better offers, trimming supply and potentially propping up prices.

Regional Divergence — Markets like Phoenix and Philadelphia show more pronounced shifts—buyers gaining power, long listing times, and higher delisting rates. 

We’ve entered into rare territory where the housing supply is far outpacing demand, igniting even more speculation into the possible future condition for the market - but remember, no one knows exactly what will happen next, and instead of guessing, having a plan is one of the best things you can do.

The lesson from history is clear—housing markets, like economies, are strongest when built on solid foundations. Matthew 7:24 reminds us that wise builders anchor their homes on rock, not shifting sands.  Similarly, we need to put our trust in God and not the housing market.

In the same way, the current real estate cycle challenges buyers, sellers, and policymakers alike, to focus on enduring stability rather than short-term swings, ensuring resilience through whatever storms may come.

Health Nuggets

Sugar Season Approaching 

An article caught my attention on social media and thought it was worth a mention. 

Cancer cells thrive on sugar, especially refined sugar, and sweetened beverages; and it increases the risk of endometrial cancer, not to mention dementia, glaucoma, cavities, insomnia and diabetes.

We are coming up to the holiday ‘feasts’ season with candies, pies/cakes, cookies, sweetened beverages, wines, etc., and we end the year with one last booze and food feast.

Other alternatives to refined sugar are honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, Stevia, fruit purées, molasses, natural fruits, just to name a few.  Switching from refined sugar to these alternatives means gaining nutritional value (like antioxidants, vitamins, or minerals), less risk of blood sugar spikes, and often improved digestive health due to fiber and phytochemicals. 

Many of these choices are suitable for baking, beverages, and topping foods, allowing for easy substitution depending on personal health goals and taste preferences.

Seek God’s direction for all things in your life, and enjoy what He provides in moderation.

Enjoy the holidays ——IN GOOD HEALTH!

Note: Health Nuggets are opinions and not medical advice.

Tech Update

Considering A Home Solar System?

My Experience

A door-to-door solicitor enticed me into meeting with his solar sales representative.  I was surprised the next day he showed up with a detailed proposal for my home, taking into account our home's roof size, orientation, angles, tree shading, etc., all courtesy of satellite imaging and data analytics.  After a few hours of reviewing the proposed solution, it was not enticing for our home, but let's look at some key considerations if you've been thinking about it.

Green or Home Value Investment Pitch

The green case for home solar is a belief that you’re doing some environmental good, so you should feel good about your contribution.  In the case pitched to me, which certainly was location and house based, I could save only 15% of my total electric utility cost, but it required a substantial up front investment with about a 15-20 year ROI.  This was not a pitch I could justify. 

The other pitch was that the $25-40K investment required for a home solar system would increase the value of my home.  You could make an argument for this, but you need to trade off other interior remodeling alternatives, like a new kitchen and bathrooms, which add more visible value for resale.

Key Factors to Consider

Battery storage - I was shocked to learn that the solution offered did not include battery storage and backup, which was an add on option, and nearly doubled the cost.  Without this you can only generate electricity and use it during sunny days, and are out of luck when there is a power outage.  

Local utility net metering -  Net metering is where your local power utility ‘buys’ or credits you for excess power you feed into the grid in excess of what you need and use.  This is a great benefit, but make sure to check your specific utility provider as some limit or cap how much credit you would get.

Durability and coverage - Typical home solar systems are designed for a 25-30 year lifespan, so make sure to check the warranty period.  Also consider the fact that solar panels are exposed to the elements, including hail, and make sure your insurance coverages them.  The system quality, warranty, and track record are important factors to consider when choosing a system which may not be the cheapest one you first find.  

Technology variations - Solar panel efficiency is measured in terms of the percent of sunlight converted to electricity and is typically between 13-22%.  Technology from the solar panels, inverters and battery storage vary and are constantly improving, so do your research and invest wisely.  

Government Subsidies - The U.S. government has been providing a solar tax credit for up to 30% of the installation cost of systems, but this is being phased out at the end of 2025, as the current administration is looking to spend wisely.  I would argue that there isn’t a viable case for home solar without this tax payer funded subsidy.  You should also look into possible state level credits based on where you live.

If you are considering a home solar system, I hope this helps in your planning.

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