Participants: Yvonne Lewis (Host), Cordell Thomas & Family
Series Code: UBR
Program Code: UBR000077
|
00:01 Want to teach your family how to wisely deal with money...
00:03 Well, stay tuned to meet the family 00:05 of Dare to Dream's host of Take it to the Bank 00:07 and hear how they do it... My name is Yvonne Lewis... 00:10 and you're watching Urban Report. 00:34 Hello and welcome to Urban Report. 00:36 Recently I had the opportunity to interview Cordell Thomas 00:39 and his lovely family on the set of 00:41 Take it to the Bank... Let's see what they have to say. 00:44 It is such a blessing for me to be here 00:48 on the set of Take it to the Bank 00:51 with our host Cordell Thomas and his 00:54 lovely family... Welcome to Urban Report 00:57 on the Take it to the Bank set. I'm glad to be here... 01:01 We're glad to be here... Now, Cordell, you have been 01:05 giving us such amazing information... 01:08 Viewer, if you have not ever watched Take it to the Bank 01:11 please tune in... 01:13 there's such great information there... 01:15 things that you can apply immediately to your life... 01:19 and Cordell has... God has given him this gift 01:22 of being able to communicate it 01:24 so well... check out Take it to the Bank... 01:27 the information there is so valuable... 01:30 So, with your family... because we had the privilege 01:34 of having your family on Take it to the Bank 01:37 this season... this upcoming season 01:39 for the viewers... tell us... 01:42 how did you decide to teach your children about money... 01:47 When I was growing up... I never had any educational money 01:53 Hmmm... I think the majority of 01:54 us as Gen Xers and whatever generation you come from 01:58 we never had an actual sit-down class on 02:01 what money is really about... it's a tool... 02:03 Hmmm... hmmm... if you use it the correct way 02:04 you can build a future that's a wonderful thriving future 02:09 that you can now give back to philanthropic efforts for God 02:13 so, I think one of the things I've learned 02:17 was in 1999... I made a six-digit income 02:22 and I spent six digits plus more... 02:24 because whenever you don't have a budget... 02:26 typically you spend everything that you've made... 02:28 plus more... people don't realize 02:31 that by just planning... you can save, you can invest, 02:33 you can plan for the future and that's when it triggered 02:37 a thought that I need to educate myself on what money is about 02:41 and also, try to leave a legacy for my kids so that 02:45 they could also live a comfortable life... 02:47 without the stress. 02:48 That's wonderful... introduce us to your 02:49 wonderful family... Certainly, my newly-wed wife 02:51 of 11 years... she's right here... Yuriam 02:54 and she's such a bright part of my life... 02:57 because she... many people don't realize 02:59 how impactful the wife is or your spouse can be 03:03 in leading out in financial affairs... 03:05 she does help with so much in reference to household finances 03:10 and she does so many things... she's amazing... 03:13 Aww, that's great... And then of course my son, Caleb 03:15 Caleb amazes me... the way he thinks... 03:18 his mindset... he recently got baptized 03:21 he's dedicated himself to Christ Amen... 03:23 and we're so privileged to have him as a part of our household 03:27 he amazes me every day... and this beautiful young lady 03:30 at the end.. her name is Yulissa such a beautiful girl.. 03:33 I remember the day she was born... 03:35 and now she is 7 years old and doing so many, different, 03:39 wonderful things... as a blessing 03:41 to other individuals... so they are learning as we 03:44 move forward and amazingly so... while we were here... 03:47 my wife was actually helping out with a cooking show 03:50 with the Latino Network... Yes... 03:51 and I was sitting at home watching the kids... 03:54 she emulates... her mom... she went around vacuuming, 03:58 cleaning, moving our feet to do certain things 04:01 I was amazed and so proud not that... 04:04 that's her legitimate role, but she sees her mom 04:08 working certain roles at home and she takes on 04:11 that responsibility... so kids will follow you... 04:14 Yes... they will follow your lead 04:15 and as long as you tell them and teach them... 04:17 they'll do the right thing... 04:18 That is very, very true... they will follow your lead 04:21 and how important it is... to have a family 04:26 that's working together... a family in which 04:30 Christ is at the center... and then... 04:32 you're teaching your children how to deal with money, 04:36 how to apply... these things in a practical way 04:40 and that is so important... I understand that 04:43 because you mentioned it to me before 04:45 that you are homeschooling the children Yuriam 04:48 Yes... explain how you teach them 04:52 about money... when you're teaching... 04:55 Well, just daily life... like electricity 04:58 or running the water, they think that it's free 05:03 that it just comes with the house... then I tell them, 05:06 "No, we have to make a monthly payment 05:08 and so the more the water is on the more we have to pay... 05:12 the more electricity, TV, or whatever you have on... 05:16 the more we have to pay... " and so they get that concept 05:21 and sometimes they tell dad, "Dad, you left the light on... " 05:25 or "Daddy you're running the water... 05:28 you're brushing your teeth" 05:29 Yeah... so, those things like that, 05:32 we go to the store... we try to get the big deal... 05:36 and Caleb... he looks at prices and the first thing he does is 05:41 like, "Oh no, that's too expensive mommy... 05:43 let's look for something a little bit more cheaper... 05:48 so, that's how he's learning and Yulissa too... 05:53 Yulissa is... she loves to sing, and so, she sings since morning 06:00 until evening... and she also plays a great part in learning 06:06 how to save money... when she has money... 06:09 and I say, "Can you lend me one dollar... " 06:11 she like, "Are you going to pay me back?" 06:14 "Make sure you pay me back... " 06:17 but they are good with their money... 06:20 they do give offering and tithe whenever they earn money 06:24 Hmmm... hmmm... and that's a very 06:27 important thing... we make sure to teach them 06:31 which I didn't realize until Caleb had earned... 06:35 hardly earned a 100 dollars and he was really happy 06:39 with selling his water bottles. 06:41 Caleb, I'm going to hit you up for a loan... 06:43 He's looking a little nervous... he's like, "I don't think so... 06:48 I don't know about that... " Caleb, tell us about that... 06:51 you earned some money... Yeah, I earned some money 06:55 to go to Europe and then I used some of that money 07:00 to do the tithe and offering... Wonderful... now was your trip 07:05 to Europe... was that a vacation with your 07:08 family or what was that? Just to have fun... 07:10 Okay, all right... very nice... so you earned some money 07:16 to go on a trip... now Viewer... this is another 07:20 important point and one of the things that I noticed 07:23 about a lot of kids now-a-days is that 07:26 there's no real understanding of the importance of earning 07:30 the money... a lot of times, you know, 07:32 kids will say, "Could I have some money to do this or that?" 07:36 but you... are making your children earn their money 07:42 so that they understand the value of work... 07:44 and they understand the value of money... 07:47 How did you feel, Caleb, about.. like what was it like 07:50 having to earn that money for your trip? 07:53 Did it feel good? Yeah... 07:55 Yeah... why... why do you think it felt good 07:57 because... some people who need it... they can use it... 08:02 so I was happy to give it to them... 08:07 Oh, so you gave some money to people too? 08:10 Yes... Caleb, so not only are you 08:14 learning to work for money, but you're also learning 08:18 the importance of giving... did your dad tell you anything 08:24 about how important it is to give? 08:26 Yes... What did he tell you? 08:28 He told me that whenever you give to God... 08:32 you get more blessings back... Oh... I love it... 08:37 that is great and that's so true that's so true... 08:42 we're going to come back to your earning potential 08:45 and all that... because I want to talk more about... 08:49 what you want to do in life but I also want to talk 08:52 to Yulissa and find out about you with money... 08:56 How are you with money... Yulissa? 08:57 I make bracelets... Oh... 09:04 and I make money too... 09:09 and give offering... 09:14 you give offering... that's awesome... 09:19 I love that... it's so important to give an offering... 09:23 because when we give back, God just blesses us... 09:30 what made you decide to incorporate the money 09:38 into their curriculum... instead of just like... you know 09:42 doing it kind of... haphazardly? 09:45 I think that one of the main issues 09:48 that we as parents are concerned about 09:51 is what the media is actually doing... 09:53 that's... you know... we don't have television 09:55 in our home... we allow them to watch 3ABN... 09:58 we allow them to watch controlled programs 10:00 but we understand that they change when they watch 10:05 what the media wants them to watch... 10:07 they will tell you on television 10:09 many of these companies will say, 10:11 "We can manipulate the way that you act... 10:13 we can get you to buy what we want you to buy... " 10:16 it's a game... so as we limit their exposure to what's 10:19 actually out there... in the real world... 10:20 we're find that they're beginning to understand 10:24 a little bit more... of how they can control their destiny 10:27 by doing other things... and of course 10:29 when you teach that God's way is to give... 10:33 and it's through that giving that you receive the blessings 10:37 that changes your perspective about going out... 10:41 and buying things... one of my major support 10:44 mechanisms is Caleb... when I'm out shopping, 10:48 "No, daddy, we don't have that in our budget... 10:51 that's too expensive... maybe we can find it elsewhere" 10:55 So, Caleb knows about a budget. He understands and he puts it 10:58 very clear that, you know, if we say something that's not 11:02 as accurate as we think it's supposed to be... 11:04 he will come back and tell us, "No, no, no... that's not the 11:06 way it's supposed to be... let's plan for this 11:08 and let's prepare so that we can better do the right thing and 11:11 use the money the way we're supposed to... " 11:13 That is so, so... great... do you know what you want 11:16 to be when you grow up Caleb? Yeah... 11:18 What? A Paleontologist... 11:20 Oh... ho... ho... ho... some people can't even say that 11:23 let alone... study that... that's awesome... 11:26 tell us what a Paleontologist does... 11:28 Well, they go places and look for bones 11:31 and then they give it to a museum... 11:33 Awesome... 11:35 so we earn some money that way... 11:37 Okay... I like it... I like it What about you, Yulissa? 11:43 I want to be... a doctor... Oh, do you know what kind yet? 11:50 A nurse... Okay, so you want to be a nurse 11:55 and kind of a doctor... so maybe you could be 11:57 a Doctor of Nursing... you know they have that... 11:59 so you could do that... maybe... that's wonderful... 12:02 so you want to kind of take care of sick people... 12:04 Yes... That's nice... that's very nice 12:09 you know, to me, one of the things that I love to see 12:14 are children who are really being parented... 12:19 taught... and parented... not just kind of... 12:22 sent out there to kind of do their own thing... 12:26 what a blessing that is... how have you found 12:29 that people receive... what you're doing with your family? 12:34 There's a variety of different perspectives... 12:38 I think, for the majority of those that observe what we do, 12:42 I think they support it very well... 12:45 some think... it's not traditional... 12:48 you're aware of this right... because, 12:50 "You don't let your children watch... TV... 12:53 isn't that.. aren't they limited 12:57 aren't they missing something in life?" 12:59 Now, my wife gets more of that than I do... 13:02 but you still get that feedback that it's part of what 13:05 growing up is... Hmmm... 13:07 and I think that the Bible has a different approach 13:10 than what traditional approaches are... so we find there is 13:14 some negative feedback but for the most part, they say, 13:18 "Wow, you're spending a lot of time with your kids and that's 13:21 that's very, very important... we find... that statistics show 13:25 we do some life skills training for families... 13:28 in the Los Angeles area and one of the things I tell them is 13:31 a father... there's a project "Fatherhood" 13:33 we say that fathers are so very important 13:36 to the daughter's growth... Hmmm... Hmmm... 13:38 they need to see how a gentleman should act... 13:41 so, my daughter and I have this interesting joke that 13:46 "If you see a gentleman writhing in a car with 13:49 the windows down and the music blaring... 13:52 and it's this type of music... 13:53 what do you do?" "Close your ears... " 13:58 "Close your ears... don't look, don't be a part of that... 14:02 that's not an individual that emulates what daddy thinks 14:06 is right for a young lady... so, we talk about it... 14:10 it's an active conversation and so that she knows now... 14:13 as a part of... that she develops and grows 14:16 we hope that sticks with her... for a long time... 14:18 Daddy dates... they go on daddy dates... 14:21 Yeah... Oh! that's awesome... you know, one of the things 14:26 that I'm seeing in that... as you watch the news and 14:29 you listen to all the statistics we know that fatherlessness 14:34 is a huge issue especially in the 14:37 African American Community, it's a huge issue and 14:40 the role of the mother is critical... it's so important... 14:45 but the absence of the father... is also so very important and 14:50 so very impactful... and so, we find that, 14:53 at the root of many of these sociological issues that we have 14:58 these anti-social issues... that we find... 15:01 is fatherlessness... and so, 15:04 whenever I see a family 15:07 that's intact... that is doing things for God... 15:10 that's teaching children... their children the ways of God 15:16 that's so important... and it's so heartwarming for me 15:20 I'm so thankful for families like yours... 15:22 that, you know... because the Bible says, 15:25 "Train up a child in the way he should go... 15:26 and when he is old... he will not depart from it. " 15:28 So you're placing that foundation now... 15:31 and that is critical... what kinds of things 15:34 do you want your children to take with them 15:37 into adulthood... not just about money... 15:40 but... just in general... 15:41 what lessons are you feeling that you need to give them? 15:44 Well, we want... I want my kids... 15:47 our major goal is to make it to heaven... 15:51 Hmmm... and that's our priority... 15:54 and to teach other people about Christ... 15:57 sometimes... the other day my son was crying... 16:02 and I said, "Why are you crying?" 16:03 and he's like... "Jesus is coming soon... 16:06 and not a lot of people know about him... 16:09 and I want everybody to be with me in heaven... " 16:12 and so... that's our major goal because... 16:17 it doesn't matter that you be a doctor or a paleontologist, 16:20 and not make it to heaven... that will be very sad... 16:23 so our major goal is... heaven to meet our Jesus and Lord... 16:28 Oh, yes, Amen, that's beautiful, that is beautiful... 16:32 we'd like to say that she has three kids... I'm one of them... 16:34 Right... it's amazing how she is able to manage me 16:40 in such a wonderful and easy-going way... 16:43 You remember... when... I bought that CD player 16:46 and tried to hook it up without you... seeing it... 16:49 you remember that? Tell us the story... 16:51 tell us the story... That was quite interesting 16:52 I went out... it was an outing I went to pick up something 16:55 at the retail store and there was this great deal... 16:58 it was a DVD player... I still remember... 17:01 it's a DVD Player... we still have it... right? 17:04 and I saw it... it was on sale, 17:07 it was a great price but, you know, 17:09 I hadn't discussed with her about making this purchase... 17:13 So you discuss... with your spouse... 17:16 before you make a purchase... or make your purchase... 17:18 I think it's important to do that... 17:20 it's important to share with her... what's going on... 17:23 so that she's aware of what we're trying to accomplish 17:26 is... our goals from a financial standpoint... 17:28 but... I remember bringing 17:31 it home and leaving it in the car because 17:33 I needed the right moment to sneak it in 17:34 so she didn't see... Whoa... 17:38 Yeah... I'm being... frank with you 17:39 I did that and a lot of people 17:43 don't realize that... divorce 17:46 and a lot of other issues 17:48 stress issues are related to financial issues... 17:50 especially... if the couple doesn't communicate... 17:52 in that situation... she said, 17:54 "Did we agree to buy that CD player?" 17:58 you know... and she called me out 17:59 All of a sudden... I felt like the child... 18:01 because I'm trying to figure out an excuse 18:03 "Well, it was on sale... " well, all it took was 18:06 to pick up the phone and call and discuss... 18:09 and it was humorous as I look at it because 18:11 I was then the child... 18:13 trying to figure a way out 18:14 of this acquisition and rationalize why 18:17 I bought this DVD player... which we really didn't need 18:21 at the time... did we... it was just on sale... 18:23 So, let me ask you guys something... 18:26 just so that we can know... so, how do you... 18:29 because, of course, we know that divorce 18:32 is often at the top of the list 18:35 money issues... at the top of the list... 18:38 so, how do you negotiate through that... 18:41 do you guys sit down and work a budget out every month... 18:45 or do you just... have a set... how do you work it out? 18:48 We talk at length about budgeting... 18:52 we talk at length about money... as we work this non-profit... 18:56 I think we work it as a team... she's a wonderful translator 18:59 she's working along with me in the bilingual community 19:03 as well as different non-profits that we contract with 19:06 so, the numbers game comes up, the thing that I love about her 19:11 is that she's very modest... she's very humble... 19:15 and I don't know how to... I don't know if I can do that 19:18 but in our conversations and in the activities we do... 19:22 you see her wisdom and her brilliance 19:25 so she talks at length about how she shops 19:28 where she goes for her groceries how she saves funds 19:31 from that standpoint... which creates additional 19:34 forms of cash flow that we can put elsewhere in our family... 19:38 she finds... a place... a location to find gas... 19:41 or fuel for the vehicles at 10 cents less per gallon 19:45 and that's a wonderful way of helping the bottom line... 19:49 especially as you run a non-profit 19:50 and try to maintain the integrity of the Organization. 19:53 You know, it's so great to see couples 19:56 working together... because many times 19:59 people are working against each other... so to speak... 20:02 and so it's such a blessing... okay, so I have to ask you... 20:06 because I love these stories and I know our viewers do too... 20:09 How did you guys meet? 20:10 Wow... 20:14 that was a 20:16 wonderful experience... I won her heart... 20:18 I have to admit that... 20:20 Well, come on... I love it... I met her in the Church... 20:22 her smile got me... 20:24 she was sitting in a pew 20:25 and she had this beautiful smile 20:27 which she has... right... there it is... 20:29 I can look into those beautiful eyes.. 20:31 I had to overcome... you know... 20:33 I did actually ask a pastor... 20:34 I said, "Is it okay if I pursue this young lady... " 20:37 and he said, "Well, if she's not married... so go ahead... " 20:41 and that's... you know... I started sending her notes 20:45 and talking to her but it wasn't until... 20:48 she was actually living for a short amount of time 20:52 in Guatemala that I had my first 1,000 dollar phone bill... 20:57 Wow! Yes, it was one that... 21:00 I was committed... I really was... 21:03 I loved talking to her... we'd sit and talk about... 21:05 "Hey, guess what... we may be far apart... 21:06 but we're under the same moon, and those kinds of things... 21:10 Oh, romantic stuff... Yeah... 21:11 Now at this point... when you were here 21:13 and she was in Guatemala... how long into the relationship 21:16 was this... well, not too much of a 21:19 relationship because she was still actually... 21:21 before she went... she was actually seeing 21:23 someone else... Oh! 21:24 So, the opportunity was there 21:26 as she was there... to call... talk to her... 21:28 to develop a friendship and that was really nice... 21:30 then as she came back... we were able to talk 21:33 and develop a relationship from that standpoint... 21:35 she says that I won her heart when we were in San Diego 21:39 at the Park... remember that? She had sprained her ankle 21:43 and I carried her on our walk... 21:45 I carried her on our walk... and I tied her shoes 21:47 when she wasn't able to reach down and do it... 21:49 I don't remember that... 21:51 but she remembers the romance that... shoe-tying... 21:55 that's a valuable thing... tie their shoes... 21:58 He opened the door for me in the car... 22:01 and he still does... so... So the things that he did 22:06 to get you... he continues to do, to keep you 22:08 Well he doesn't really tie my shoes anymore 22:11 unless I need it... but 22:14 but he still opens the door for me and 22:16 he still goes out of his way for me to be happy... 22:20 That is so great... do you set goals... 22:24 as a couple besides the goals that you have for your children 22:29 do you set personal goals for the two of you? 22:32 Yes... You do? 22:34 It's through her... that I have a very close 22:37 relationship with Christ... Tell us more about that... 22:40 I was a very proud 22:43 and egotistical person... 22:44 early on in life... correct? just be honest... 22:47 I may have had a problem... She does not want to say 22:50 anything bless her heart... I'm going to counter that... 22:52 I was... I was that type of person... 22:54 Were you? But she is a prayerful 22:56 young lady... she prays... she has a wonderful 22:58 support network... my mother-in-law is amazing 23:00 the only problem that I have is that... 23:02 I have not yet learned Spanish... 23:04 so I have that hovering over my head 23:06 the kids are bilingual and Cordell just hasn't figured out 23:09 how to learn the language completely yet... 23:12 But, we have a wonderful support network... 23:14 and her prayer... as in her prayer life... is amazing... 23:17 our Program together has lent 23:20 many opportunities 23:22 to win souls to Christ... we have, as an example, 23:24 we have a music program... we have acquired... 23:27 some keyboards from a major organ producer... 23:29 we have a Six-Keyboard Lab in the Church... 23:32 up in front... in the choir loft... 23:34 where we teach Christian music... 23:36 And what our viewers might not know... 23:38 about you Cordell is that you are an accomplished pianist 23:42 A pianist... accomplished? yes, accomplished pianist... 23:46 that's what I've heard... I enjoy the keyboards very much. 23:49 And so you set the keyboards up at the Church? 23:52 One of the innovative outreach programs... 23:54 our pastor has allowed us to do and I think the Board 23:59 is supporting it tremendously, is the opportunity to talk 24:03 to the Community... send out postcards... 24:04 let them know what's going on at our Church... 24:06 that we have a Food Bank Program that we have... 24:07 a free Music Program... and we have people 24:11 coming to the Music Program that has led to individuals 24:14 taking Bible Studies and that's where my wife takes off, 24:17 she's giving Bible Studies to several individuals 24:20 and we're find that Christ is reaching others 24:22 through her ministry... so, as we work together... 24:25 we've seen that these projects are leading 24:28 through Christ's help are leading to people 24:31 finding out more about what a Seventh Day Adventist is... 24:34 That's tremendous... so, when a community person 24:37 comes to the Church for the Music Program... 24:41 are they hearing a concert... are they getting music lessons? 24:44 They're getting music lessons and at the end 24:47 of a certain period, we provide a recital... 24:50 now, the wonderful thing is... now we've expanded 24:54 to 3 locations... we have partners 24:56 in the Community... we all came together... 24:58 we had 14 different pieces that were played 25:00 and we were able to show 25:01 but the important part is not necessarily the Music Program 25:07 what it is... is that people are now 25:10 becoming comfortable with coming to the Church facility... 25:12 And that is very important because a lot of people 25:16 don't know about Adventism so they think that we're weird 25:18 or a cult and that kind of thing Actually, yes... 25:21 Tell us... they do think that... 25:23 actually one of the ladies that one of the moms that Cordell 25:28 teaching 3 of the kids... she came and 25:31 she's studying... 25:33 she's studying Cordell... she's studying every person 25:35 there in the Church and it wasn't after a year of coming... 25:41 that she asked me to give her Bible Studies and 25:45 she started coming to Church... she was going to a different 25:47 different Church... but she found out that Sabbath 25:50 was the day of worship... so she decided that... 25:54 she was going to join the Church 25:56 and it sort of... God is so amazing because 25:59 she is a very spiritual woman... and she's bringing a lot of the 26:04 people from her Church to our Church... 26:07 So, she kind of studied you guys to see if you were legitimate 26:14 Yes... and then when she saw that 26:17 you were... now she's bringing.. she not only is coming 26:20 but she's bringing others... Yes... 26:22 Isn't that what witnessing is all about? 26:24 Isn't it... It makes you grow spiritually 26:27 and it makes you want to work more for Christ... 26:31 Yes... because you see the miracles 26:33 that the Holy Spirit... is doing in other people... 26:36 Yes... yes... that's so beautiful... 26:39 in the one minute or so that we have left... 26:41 is there anything that you would like to share 26:44 with the viewers about having 26:47 a family life that's centered in Christ? 26:50 30 seconds now... 26:51 Family life centered in Christ is a life where 26:56 both of the partners that lead out in the family are 27:01 in sync with their relationship with Christ... 27:03 I was not there at one point in time 27:06 but through her prayers... she's brought me 27:08 to a place now... that I understand 27:09 that I don't ask for things anymore... 27:11 I ask God to fill me with His Spirit 27:14 and lead me to what He wants to accomplish 27:16 and I'm blessed... to be doing this... 27:18 on Take it to the Bank... because Taking it to the Bank 27:22 will not only help someone develop their own personal 27:25 relationship with Christ... but it will also help them give 27:27 so that others can gain too... 27:29 Thank you... thank you so much 27:31 for all that you guys are doing, for the cause of Christ... 27:35 I'm so proud to know you and blessed to know you... 27:39 May God continue to bless you in your ministry... 27:42 and in your family... May God bless you too... 27:46 Wow! wasn't that good? I'm always thrilled 27:50 to see families that work... the ones that pray together 27:54 can stay together... Well, that's the end of our 27:57 Program... the time goes by so fast... 27:59 Thanks for tuning in... Join us next time... 28:01 It just wouldn't be the same without you... |
Revised 2015-02-10