What do UFC Fights, Yoda and New Year’s resolutions have in common? Has Jason totally lost it? Where can this be going and why is this in a blog about faith and finances?

We are designed to be RELATIONAL beings. Yes ….  that means putting down the smart phone (unless you are reading this on your smartphone……alone) and not just corresponding with one another; actual real live communication. What’s the difference between the two words? Body language, tone of voice and all those other cues you can’t see on a two dimensional screen. (Yes, FaceTime / video conferencing is on a two dimensional screen and it counts as communication not correspondence).  God gave us different skill sets so we would need one another:

1Peter 4:30 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

As 2017 approaches, I would like you to think about your goals under the frameworks of Mentorship. Yes, that age old practice called Mentorship. Mentorship: that’s all about being relational. You know, mentor and mentee, teacher and student. Yoda to Skywalker, Mr. Miagi to Daniel Son. I want you to think back in your life to the best coaching or work relationships and at the heart was a mentorship experience. Frank Shamrock, famous UFC Mixed Martial Arts fella has a simple philosophy that I suggest is a great model for mentorship: Plus, Minus, Equals

Plus is pairing up with someone who has better skills than you; so that you are encouraged to progress and be humbled knowing you don’t know what you don’t know.

Minus is pairing up with someone who has less skill than you; so that you are encouraged to try to bring up your mentee and figure out how to teach them. To teach is to learn twice.

Equals is paring up with someone who is at the same level than you; so that you stay on task and keep progressing forward.

This is all about stewardship of PEOPLE!!!! We are not just to steward our money, but our relationships. How is your relationship with your wife, husband, significant other, kids, co-workers, and boss? Who cares about money if the most important people in your life don’t want to be with you? Do you want relationships to be deeper, better, more fulfilling? Sure, then make sure you focus through the ultimate Mentor the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Isaiah 11:2 “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

So, as you go out into the world for 2017 focus on your relationship with the Holy Spirit, so that you can be guided in all your other relationships whether a Plus, Minus or equals.

Your Financial Obi One Kenob,

Just Jason