one degree

When the Bible talks about debt, it’s rarely about interest rates or payment schedules. It’s almost always about something deeper.

In this episode, we explore what Scripture actually teaches about borrowing and lending through three recurring themes: presumption, power dynamics, and posture.

We walk through Proverbs’ strong warnings against guaranteeing someone else’s debt, unpack why predatory lending is ultimately a misuse of power, and wrestle with the surprising truth that Scripture does affirm lending—but only when it flows from generosity, mercy, and trust rather than control.

This is the upside-down economy of the Kingdom. An invitation to steward money in a way that reflects the heart of a God who is kind, merciful, and generous—even to the ungrateful.

The One Degree Podcast is brought to you by Openhanded Wealth, LLC, a registered investment adviser in Holly Springs, GA, serving Christian families and small business owners. This content is educational only and should not be taken as financial, tax, or legal advice.

“whatever gifts I have received from God, may I use them to serve others, as a faithful steward of God’s varied grace." — 1 Peter 4: 10

If you’re self-employed, in sales, or running a small business, you know the budgeting struggle is real. But inconsistent income doesn’t mean you’re off the hook — it just means you need a smarter plan.

Nick shares a four-part framework inspired by YNAB (You Need a Budget) and shaped by real-world experience:

1. Only budget dollars you have — no guessing games.
2. Prioritize spending by what matters most (including giving and saving).
3. Break big, rare expenses into monthly habits.
4. Build a buffer during your "hill" months to survive the valleys.

This episode is packed with practical help, biblical stewardship, and avocado jokes. (Seriously.)

In this episode, Nick reflects on the final chapters of Practicing the King’s Economy and how the Bible’s vision of rest is radically different from our hustle culture. He shares five real-world reasons why rest feels impossible — including the “reentry tax,” productivity identity, and the sheer effort it takes to prepare.

We explore:

• Why biblical rest requires intentionality and community
• The psychological hurdles that keep us “too busy”
• What the Year of Jubilee might teach modern business owners
• How rest can become a regular, life-giving rhythm — not just a reward for burnout

Today, I'm excited to share insights from my recent conversation with Marcus Schaller on his podcast, Attract Your Ideal Clients. Marcus and I dove deep into the concept of selling as an act of generosity. From rethinking sales not as a pushy transaction but as a service to others, to Marcus' profound idea: 'Selling is an act of generosity.' Join me as I unpack how this perspective shift is helping me and could help you too. We'll also discuss crafting clear messages about the problems you solve and why not every conversation should be a sales pitch. Let's shift our mindset and embrace sales as a form of stewardship and genuine connection.

Discover the VIM framework—Vision, Intention, and Means—and how it can drive meaningful changes in your finances, business, and life. Learn actionable steps to break inertia and make lasting improvements.

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Oh what life lessons can we learn from AirPods? Great question. Turns out we can learn something about loss aversion, decision-making, and gratitude. In this episode, we unpack the behavioral bias that shapes how we manage money, investments, and life's choices—and how small mindset shifts can lead to peace and intentionality.

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Explore the biblical and practical considerations of retirement planning as a Christian. Is saving for retirement wise or does it show a lack of trust in God? Dive into balanced insights rooted in scripture and practical advice.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I can't believe it. The one degree podcast just had its 500th listen! Thank you for making it possible!

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

As Christians, we often associate wealth with happiness and fulfillment. However, the Bible teaches us that true life can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Continuing with the theme of "fruit" as the blessings God gives us, today we discuss the frank reality that fruit is really heavy. And why "more" is not always good for us.

Not all seed bears fruit. And not all fruit matures. Today we consider reasons our "fruit" (blessings, financial health, relationships, talents, skills, work plans, etc.) may be stifled in its growth.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Plan for disruptions. Make room for mistakes. Add "mini crisis" to your daily to-do list and every day it *doesn't* happen you'll get an hour back in your day!

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Don't think of a P&L forecast as a spreadsheet - it's a map! So use it like one!

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Is further, faster, & higher really always the best approach to your life and business? Spoiler alert: no. (But you probably already knew that.) In today's episode, I consider the value of root systems and the invitation of Jesus to embrace slow growth.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Amazon Prime's "A Million Miles Away" tells the story of José Hernandez (migrant farmer turned astronaut) and his father's 5-ingredient recipe for life success. Today we consider ingredient #5: when you think you're done, you probably have to work harder.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Amazon Prime's "A Million Miles Away" tells the story of José Hernandez (migrant farmer turned astronaut) and his father's 5-ingredient recipe for life success. Today we consider ingredient #4: if you don't know how, learn.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Amazon Prime's "A Million Miles Away" tells the story of José Hernandez (migrant farmer turned astronaut) and his father's 5-ingredient recipe for life success. Today we consider ingredient #3: build your roadmap.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Our conversation around the story of José Hernandez (migrant farmer turned astronaut) continues as we consider ingredient #2 - know where you stand and how far you have left to go.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

The story of José Hernandez is a riveting and inspiring tale of a young, migrant farmworker, raised on the fields of California, who grows up to become a NASA crew member aboard space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-128. His incredible success grew out of the simple, 5-ingredient recipe his father gave him as a kid. The first ingredient is simply to know your goal.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

You just heard that your friend is taking the trip of a lifetime ✈️ or planning a move you've only ever dreamed of. Your gut reaction is, "I'd love to do that ...someday." But have you ever wondered what it might take to really do it? (I have!) I want to invite you to take the first micro-step to turn that wish into a plan: put it on the calendar. 📅

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

If you haven't ridden a bike since childhood, you need to. Sometimes our inner child needs to come out and teach our grown-up self some things about what it means to "trust the bike" or, more appropriately, "trust the process (and that's usually where God is)".

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

We all feel so much when it comes to money. But what do we do with the "bad" feelings - with our regrets? How do you handle your financial mistakes? And what do they say about you? Maybe ...not as much as you think.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

We are all constantly in a hurry. I mean when was the last time you really brushed your teeth for a full 2 minutes? This constant inner urge to "hurry up" wreaks havoc on our hearts, souls, bodies ...and budgets. So is there any way out of this cycle?

Today we consider making a small change in our pace of life and how it can improve our physical, spiritual, and financial health. Tune in to learn more.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

I have a confession. I'm in this relationship where I constantly feel fear, confusion, & anger. And they don't seem to care at all! I feel stuck. I need them and they don't need me. What should I do?

Oh yeah ... I'm talking about money.

Today we consider making a small change in the way we think about our relationship with money. What is "money" anyway? Tune in to find out.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Self-talk. There's a lot of noise out there about this practice. Is there really something to the things we tell ourselves?...

Psalm 15:2 talks about the man who "speaks truth in his heart".

Today we consider making a small change in the way we think about our inner dialogue.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

If you've been around the financial services industry, you've likely noticed that most of us have a bunch of letters behind our names (especially "CFP®").

But...

1. what's a real financial planner?

2. what do they do?

3. do I need one?

Tune in to find out!

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

"Arrival" ... "Success" ... how do you define these?

In today's episode, we discuss how and why we ...just don't ever feel like we've "arrived" and how fragile our happiness will be when it's tied to that metric.

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

Do tiny decisions really matter? Do 1º directional changes make a difference?

👉🏼 yes 👈🏼

In today's episode, we discuss how our lives are built on the quality of our decisions - big and small - and how change really isn't as hard as it seems.

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I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

one degree | small choices over time = big change

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

one degree | small choices over time = big change

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!

One Degree is a simple podcast. It's my thoughts as I journey through life, attempting to align my stewardship of the resources entrusted to my care with the heart of God. Welcome to episode 1!

I'd love to meet you, hear your story, and learn from your experiences too. So reach out!