Live • Give • Grow

Carved in Faith

The Artist: After coming home from his job as a project manager for IBM, kissing his wife, Edie, and greeting their three children, Walter Hoff often picked up a piece of wood and whittled away. He would work on a carving for months—sometimes years—before he deemed it complete. In retirement, he spent even more time refining each detail.

The Work: Hoff's carvings, made in various kinds of wood, often started as a mental picture based on a Bible story. Whether depicting Samson in the temple or Daniel in the lion's den, Hoff took his cues from Scripture. "As he read the Bible stories, he would be inspired to depict them in wood; it was a testimony of his faith," recalls Edie, now 82, a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member living in North Carolina.

The Legacy: From the time he started carving in the late 1940s until his death in 2007, Hoff created about 60 works, most of which center on Biblical themes. Though Hoff showed his collection in churches and to special interest groups over the years, most of it remains lovingly displayed by Edie in the couple's home.

What's Your Legacy?
Artist Walter Hoff left behind an artistic treasure. Learn how you also can leave something behind for others.

Is Your Computer Obsolete?
Think twice before you trash it—many communities have made it illegal to throw computers in the garbage, since they can leak harmful chemicals into landfills. Here are three ways to dispose of your computer more responsibly.

Resell: Want to make a little money on your old keyboards, mice and monitors? Click over to eBay's Rethink Initiative PC Selling Zone, where you can get a free appraisal before you list your computer.

Reuse: If your computer is in good shape and relatively new (no 10-year-old dinosaurs, please!), charities like the National Cristina Foundation will take it off your hands and donate it to a person who needs one. Goodwill agencies also refurbish old computers and sell them to raise money for job training and career programs.

Recycle: If your computer cannot be sold or donated, look into recycling it. Many city governments dispose of unwanted electronics as part of curbside recycling pickup. Check out www.epa.gov for additional resources for choosing a certified electronics recycler.

Find links to electronics reselling and recycling organizations, plus the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's tips on eCycling.

Erasing Your Hard Drive
"Identity theft from recycled, donated and resold PCs is becoming commonplace," says Jason Dale, desktop services supervisor for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Why? Many people don't know how to correctly erase personal information such as banking records from their computer's hard drive. Before you get rid of your computer, read on:

I emptied my recycle bin and formatted my hard drive. Isn't my computer clean? Neither emptying the recycle bin (a.k.a. trash) nor formatting your hard drive will wipe your computer clean of personal information. These methods may hide your information from view, but that "deleted" data is easily accessible to those who know where to find it.

So, how do I truly erase personal information on my computer? You need to use something called disk-wiping software. There are many options out there, so do some research online to find the best one for your needs. If you're dealing with highly sensitive work data, for example, you'll want different software than someone who is simply erasing old e-mails from a home computer. Read more information.

Protect Your Identity: 3 Easy Ways
In 2006, nearly 240,000 Americans reported they'd been victims of identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—and that's only those who reported the crime. Your best bet for keeping your personal information safe? The FTC offers these tips:

At Home: Mail safely. Send outgoing mail containing checks or account information from a secure mailbox, such as those outside the post office. Don't put it in the mailbox at home. If you're going to be out of town and unable to pick up your mail, request a vacation hold by stopping at your post office or going to www.usps.gov

When Traveling: Lighten your wallet. Don't carry your Social Security card with you, and bring only one or two credit cards along for the trip.

Online: Shop securely by using a credit card (not a debit card) when shopping online. It's easier to work with your credit card company to dispute an erroneous charge than to replace funds that have been wrongfully withdrawn from your bank account.

Now What?
If your identity is stolen, there are things you need to do right away. Find links to the FTC's identity theft site or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) for tips on whom to call, what to cancel and how to thwart other identity-theft attempts. You also can file a report online with the FTC to start restoring your good name.

Simpler Holidays
Spending less this year might mean more to those you love.

To-Do: Sending your Christmas letters on colored, festive paper. Estimated cost for 50 letters including paper and envelopes ($20), postage ($21) and printer ink ($30): $71
Alternative: Copy and paste your Christmas letter into the body of an e-mail or send a formatted document as an attachment. You can even attach a family photo taken with your own digital camera. Estimated cost: $0

To-Do: Arriving at each holiday party with a floral bouquet ($20) or an equivalent hostess gift. Estimated cost for five parties: $100
Alternative: Etiquette guru Miss Manners says a hostess gift is not required. Instead, she recommends sending a sincere, handwritten note after a holiday party expressing your delight at being included. Estimated cost including thank-you cards ($10) and postage ($2.10): $12.10

To-Do: Preparing a holiday feast for loved ones. Estimated cost: Sky's the Limit
Alternative: Read "Eat, Save and Be Merry" for tips on how to cut costs (and calories) this year.

Bonus Idea: Amid the holiday hubbub, it can be easy to overlook special people. Flip open your calendar today and assign one name for every day in November. When each day rolls around, send the appropriate person a quick note by e-mail or give that person a call just to say, "thanks for being you." Estimated gain: Priceless