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It all started with a phone call.  My son, Joel, was working on an English essay during his freshman year in college.  “Dad,” he said, “I’m thinking of an idea and I wanted you to help me.”  His idea was to take the concepts of investing from the financial world and to apply them to other areas of our lives.  “I’m calling it LifeVesting.”

“Sounds interesting,” I said.

“I just need to know what the other areas are,” he went on.  So we talked about several ways to approach his idea, then talked about how to apply investment principles to them.  This was really engaging for me, because I had been involved in investment and financial services for a brief period of my life, and had been involved in some facet of ministry for more than 25 years.  We talked about risks and rewards, about seeking a return in various areas of our lives, and how “profit” isn’t a dirty word.  But mostly we talked about relationships – with God, with others, and with ourselves.  Joel decided to focus on those three, calling them GodVesting, OtherVesting, and SelfVesting.

What started as a (very successful!) English paper has become an ongoing dialogue between my son and me, between the Lord and me, and among other key people in my life.  I’d like to invite you to join in the dialogue, too.

We live in a world of consumers – not just of goods and services in the economy, but of lives as well.  Here’s the really tricky part – you only get one life.  With all its promise and peril, your life comes complete with a totally unmatched set of realities, rewards, and raw deals, of opportunities and obstacles, of friends and fiends.  And did I mention, choices?  An endless array of choices.  Some seem insignificant and mundane, others stressful and ominous.  But every one creating a set of consequences.

LifeVesting is about taking charge of your choices, and becoming intentional about your desired consequences.  It’s about shifting your focus from the moment to the ages, without having to sacrifice every bit of short-term happiness to make it happen.

LifeVesting is about your future, and how to shape it.

LifeVesting is about your eternity, and how to impact it.

LifeVesting is about your relationships, and how to enhance them.

LifeVesting is about your dreams, and how to experience them.

LifeVesting is about your legacy, and how to leave it.

LifeVesting is about your influence, and how to multiply it.

LifeVesting is about your freedom, and how to walk in it.

LifeVesting is about Jesus, and how to receive from Him.

LifeVesting is about you, and how you can live – really live – a life of abundance.

How to Use this Blog

Think of this as a down payment.  It’s designed to be an idea generator.  Your idea generator.  What you read and the way you apply it becomes an investment in your life and legacy.  Goose-steppers, groupies, and clones need not apply.

This site is the beginning of the dialogue of ideas, not the final word on anything.  If the only thing you do is read it and move on to the next site, you will have missed the point.  That would be like reading about how to navigate around the Walt Disney World complex in Orlando, but never actually going to the Magic Kingdom.  Think of the ideas that follow as a field guide.  Each contains general principles, life experiences, some feelings for good measure, a daily challenge or two, and lots of stories.  This book contains truth that can literally change your life and destiny – but only if you do something with it.

I’ve been blessed to have a few “adventures of a lifetime.”  I hope you have, too.  But I’m at a point in my (still young!) life where I’m ready for my lifetime to be the adventure.  Not just for my consumption, but for a generation to come.  And for the honor of the One who calls us to the greatest adventure of all – the adventure of cheating the grave and living forever.  I want to be a LifeVestor.  Let’s do it together.

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Jan October 20, 2009 at 7:13 pm

LiveVesting! What a great idea!
I tried to subscribed to “LifeVesting” via E-mail. I was not able to get the subscribe button to actually allow me to suscribe!
Could you please put me on your e-mail list?
BTW I found out about you because I am regular reader of Wisdom Journal.
God Bless!
Jan

Martin December 10, 2009 at 6:33 am

Loved the thoughts about the angels over Bethlehem – very thought provoking and wiull be used in my sermon this weekend!

David Harkins August 12, 2010 at 8:06 pm

Your sermons are awesome. I tried to print some of them but have not been able. It seems you would want to have them all printed and every time someone used them in ministry [not sales ..that is stealing] your reward would be multiplied many times over!!!!! God Bless You, David

Jackie Schlesier March 17, 2011 at 6:42 pm

I just tripped over your blog. I really enjoy reading your posts.

Katie November 6, 2012 at 6:56 pm

Greetings Fellow Blogger, I am writing from Canberra, Australia. Thanks so much for the great post. It helped me a lot with my college domestic science essay 🙂

alison king December 5, 2013 at 2:09 pm

I am reading the twelve pathways to Christmas and juist loving it and want to know when it will be printed in book form so that I can order it for friends and family?

Todd Wesbrook August 1, 2015 at 7:28 am

I just found your website and love it. Thanks.

Cindy Metcalfe December 26, 2016 at 6:52 am

Just setting up my Website having a difficult beginning and seeking solace, found your Blog! – awesome. A Field Guide so sought after now found. Many Thanks. A far better understanding of relationship to God, to Others, to Spirit, to Self and the world the drama takes place in. God Bless

Linda Turner September 22, 2017 at 1:27 pm

Wow! Andy you are a gift. Life Vesting is a great way to repackage and present the Gospel.

David Beckham November 20, 2018 at 3:29 am

Your article is very or very helpful to me! thank you. Wishing you every success in your life!
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