Closed for Weather - iMoney: The "It" Factor

With snow and ice making the roads and parking lots unsafe and causing us to have to cancel our morning worship service, I thought I would take the time to write out today's sermon. I hope that we can use this to continue to draw closer to Christ Jesus our Lord as we spend the morning in rest. We're currently in the series "iLife: Embracing Life By God's Design"and our focus this week is still in the area of money and stewardship.

iMoney: Embracing God's Design For Your Finances: The "IT" Factor

What is the "IT" factor?

As we continue to look at God's design for our lives and we desire to live infused by the power of the Holy Spirit, we must continue to examine our thoughts, actions, and attitudes according to the teaching of scripture. As we specifically continue to look at our finances this week, I want to draw your attention to an area that should captivate the heart and attitude of all believers.

This "IT" factor is Generosity.

The word generous means: 1. showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected. 2. showing kindness toward others. 3. larger or more plentiful than is usual or necessary.

If we are truly going to be good stewards (managers) of the resources that God has intrusted to us than we need to have a willingness to give generously to others as we seek to be Christ's ambassadors in this world.

Go ahead and open your Bible to 1 Timothy 6:17-19

 ^"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

First Paul tells Timothy "Command those who are rich..." for many of us we instantly think this doesn't apply to me, after all, I'm not a wealthy executive or a billionaire like Bill Gates. However, we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss this command. Look at these 2014 statistics. (I did round the numbers to make it simpler.)
World wide the average per capita income is nearly $10,000.
Keep in mind that there are many countries where people live on less than $2 a day.
In the US the average per capita income is just above $45,500.
Using these nice rounded figures, the average US income is 455% higher that the average world income. So I think it is easy enough to say "You are the rich people of the world."

Not only are we rich on the world scale, we who are Christ followers are spiritually rich. Therefore, this command is for us.

God's plan is for us to put our hope in God, not in possessions, or money, or anything else. God alone is our source of hope and provision. God wants us "to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

God has a plan for our generosity.

Turn to  2 Corinthians 9:6-15

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously^.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever.”

  Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"

In this passage Paul is writing about the collection that the Christians at Corinth are sending to feed the starving people in Jerusalem. This is in reference to an offering above what is being collected to meet local needs. He is encouraging them to give and think generously. Paul is saying that if you have to be compelled to give to those in need that it really isn't giving. After all God loves a cheerful giver. God desires His people to want to give to meet needs. To demonstrate their love through providing God's resources to demonstrate the beauty of God's kingdom.  Here he quotes Psalm 112:9 as a prophesy of God's generous people who bring Him glory, praise, and honor for there selflessness. 

 So let's examine ourselves:
Three Reasons People Give 

#1 We give to receive something.
This type of giving is a giving that is motivated by selfishness. This type of giving isn't motivated by God's love, mercy, and grace. Though the Bible does make mention of the rewards of giving generously, that shouldn't be our motivation. Remember what 1 Corinthians 13 says, "Love is not self seeking." 

This type of giving isn't encouraged in scripture. Philippians 2:3 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition. Don't let greed be the measure of you giving, let love motivate you.

#2 We give out obedience. There are various reasons we give out of obedience. These can be good or bad, so this calls for self-examination. Some people give out of obedience because they desire to love, honor, and respect God. Others give because they are afraid of some consequence for disobedience. 

Obedience giving is often a good place to start. It often shows a desire to draw closer to God. However we need to be careful that obedience giving doesn't make us prideful or arrogant. Some have began to see themselves as a great spiritual giant because of the obedience to God's commands, in this we can become very Pharisaical in our devotion to God. (Look at how holy I am!!!!!!)

Obedience giving generally only deals tithing but can proceed into generosity when we desire to follow commands to give generously like in 1 Timothy 6. 

Turn to Leviticus 27:30-32

 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.  Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord."

or Malachi 3:6-12

 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.  Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings.  You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.  “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty."

Many will read these passages and in obedience they give. Scripture does encourage us to be obedient to God in all things.

#3 We give in response or sacrificially.
This type of giving isn't based out of selfishness or fear, it is a generosity that is motivated by our awe for the magnitude of God's love. When a Christian begins to grasp the overwhelming, life transforming truth of the Gospel - how Christ Jesus, who made everything, owns everything, maintains everything, and provides everything, forsook the glory He rightfully deserved to be made a little lower than the angels and was born as a mere human sacrificed His life for me. 

While I was still God's enemy, Jesus died for me. When I was naked, wretched, and poor He loved me, clothed me, cleansed me, healed me, and set me free. This is motivation! If He can give His all, how can I do less. I need to be generous as He is generous. I need to be more like Him. I am responding to his love, so tell me, how much is too much for my Jesus?

One of my favorite passages on generosity is found in Mark 12:41-45.

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”"

Here we see an amazing demonstration of sacrificial giving. This woman wants to bless God. She doesn't have extra money to pull out of savings so she gives God her everything. Jesus said she put it all in---all she had to live on. And He praises this. This is the faith response He has been looking for. 

This woman is trusting God in every way. She may just go home and die of starvation. She may live the rest of her life in abundance. The Bible doesn't say. But Jesus declared that her act of generosity was greater than all the others. Her gift was greater than all the rich people before her because it required unwavering trust in God.

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Paul praises the Christians of Macedonia because their poverty welled up in great generosity. 

This is the way of God! This is the way of a Holy Spirit infused follower of Christ.

The "IT" factor - GENEROSITY

It aligns our hearts, minds, and attitudes toward God. 

God desires all of you. This after this is the greatest commandment: To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Sometimes I feel weak

Sometimes I feel weak.

OK I feel weak most of the time.

This may sound like a bad thing but the truth is; this is a great place to be. As a: church planter/pastor, as a husband, as a father, as a friend, as a man of God, I constantly have to face my short comings. I must daily accept that I can't seem to live up to my expectations of myself. I am too selfish, too stubborn, too angry, too self-critical or too self-righteous to be the man I want to be (to be the man God wants me to be.)

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul, shares about his weakness. He talks about a thorn in his side that keeps him humble. He tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:8 that he prayed three times for God to remove this thorn. (I don't know about a thorn but I seem to be covered with a thorn bush. I also have prayed more times than I can count for God to remove these thorns.)

Paul goes one and tells us that God responded, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

In my weakness there is grace, in  my weakness there is power, in my weakness there is HOPE. It is in my weakness that I understand the depth of my sin. It is here that I see the great mercy of a perfect, holy God that chooses to love me, to save me, to sustain me. It is only through His love that I can find victory. 

Like Paul, I will boast in my weakness. Not because I am proud of my shortcomings but because it is in my shortcomings that I most clearly see God at work in my life. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10c


 

Needed rest

All too often I find myself struggling in this life. I find that I allow busyness, stress and frustration to overwhelm me. When this happens I start to close myself off from the world. Now don't get me wrong, I am not hiding away where I can't be seen. I start hiding in public. I am living life but I refuse to let anyone in. This may be one of the most destructive patterns in my life and if I am honest about it, I have been here a lot lately.

During times like this life gets harder, not easier. I get angry, or depressed, or cold and even when I don't mean to I become mean. I answer simple questions with harshness. It is at these times that I feel like the Psalmist who says, "My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest." (Psalm 22:2) 

In the midst of my struggles I am reminded of a powerful truth: the Gospel. The good news that tells me how an all-powerful, all-loving, and holy God loves a worm like me. Proverbs 25:25 says, "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." 

Sometimes I need good news. 

One day, while teaching, Jesus extended an invitation to people like me, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) This is good news! This is what I need. A God that will give me rest. A peace that is beyond circumstances. This rest is only found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory and praise forever!     

Unexpected

Sometimes things happen that are way outside our control. For example, one week ago today, a man was killed in the apartment right behind mine and one of the bullets came through my dining room wall and into another wall. There was nothing I could have done to prevent this from happening. I can't even imagine the odds and I even tried to look them up. One of the police officers even told me that there hadn't been a gun fired in our apartment complex for 10 years and that one was an accidental discharge.
 

  Since last Monday I have been reflecting on all the ways that night could have went wrong. What if my wife would have went grocery shopping? Would one of us been standing in the bullets path putting food in the pantry? What if my daughter wouldn't have struggled about what to say during family devotion time? What if the bullet went through the wall at a different angle? Would one of my children had been hit? What if that second wall wouldn't have been load-bearing? Would the bullet have went through into my daughters bed?
So many details, and I have no control over any of them.

This event has served as a great reminder to me that life is short and no one is guaranteed tomorrow. What if one of those uncontrollable, unexpected things happened to you. Are you ready?

In Luke 12, Jesus tells this story about a man who's farm was very productive. It was so productive that the man didn't have room to store it all. The man then made the decision that he would tear down his existing barn and build a bigger one so he could store all his crops. Then he would take it easy for the next few years.

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’" Vs. 20 NLT

This man was so caught up in himself that he missed what was important. He wasn't focused on God or people just himself and God announced that the unexpected had come. 

My friends, this could very well be the last blog I ever write, it could be the last blog you ever read. With that in mind I want to take this chance to share with you the greatest news the world has ever known. "God Loves You!"

God loves you so much more than you will ever know. You see in our selfish ways we have turned our backs on God. We have lived to fill our selfish desires and as a result we have separated ourselves from God. This selfishness in our life is called sin and the result of sin is eternal separation from God in hell. This is the second death. 

Because of God's nature, His holiness, His righteousness, and His goodness He can't even look upon sin. But because of His love, His mercy, His grace, and His compassion , He sent His Son Jesus to die, to pay the price of our sin. And anyone who believes in Him can receive the free gift of salvation and eternal life that follows.

I hope and pray you will consider what I have shared. If you would like to know more or ask questions, just let me know.




  

A Thought

It seems that every time I set out to write on here I just get frustrated. There are so many different things that I long to say but the words just never come out right.
So tonight I want to set out to do something different. I'm not going to deal with a passage of scripture. I just want to share my heart. I hope that you will read this and find some encouragement.

If you don't know by now, I am planting a church in Miamisburg, OH. It is called LifePoint Community Church and it is amazing to see what God is doing. But life as a church planter can be frustrating yet very rewarding. I get frustrated because everyday I am faced with my inadequacies to preform the tasks necessary to start a new church. At the same time I am rewarded in seeing God work in ways that are far beyond my understanding to fulfill His purpose in me.

I am excited about this year. 2013 will be a big year for LifePoint and for my family. I have set out a challenge that we live this year as if it is the last year Christ gives, then I asked the staggering question, "what will that look like if we live it out?"

As I think about this question, I have to ask God to show me what needs to change but not just on the surface.  Sure, I could put on a show and saw look at all the things I am doing but that would miss the point. Do I want Jesus to return and find me putting on a show? Do I want Him to see me going through all the motions that people define as my role as a pastor? or Do I want to be transformed as I surrender areas of my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

Please Lord let me surrender to you!

I don't want it to be about me at all. I need Jesus to take charge. I have a lot of things in me that I don't want in me. Why do I get so easily angered over little things? Why do I beat myself up every time I make a mistake? Why do I shut down mentally and emotionally when my wife needs me to talk? Why do I feel so alone sometimes?

The answer is simple. I get distracted. Rather than focusing on Christ I start focusing on self, circumstances, or others. I try to take control rather that pick up my cross and die so that Christ might live in me.

This year for me is about learning to surrender more than ever before. It is about learning to trust God with the big picture and the details. It is about learning to see myself and others through the eyes of the Gospel. It is about being faithful with what God has given me and praising Him in all circumstances.

What will this year be for you?

I pray that God will help you see what you could be if you gave Him the control.

 ...and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then... ~ Ephesians 6:13b-14a

We are at war. I'm not talking about a war fought with physical weapons on an open battlefield or in a deep jungle in some remote location in the world. The war rages in ourselves.  We are the battle ground.

God knows we don't have what it takes to win this war. We are weak, we are afraid, and we don't always want the victory. This is the beauty in this passage in Ephesians. God is supplying everything we need to win the battle. Jesus won the war on the cross and He will win the battle that rages in you. All we have to do is let Him win.

Paul told the Ephesians, "After you have done everything, to stand." After you have done everything in your power, and you can't stand anymore, "Stand firm then..." Now stand in God's power. In His armor. In His might.

In Psalm 46:10 we read these words, " “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

May God give you victory today. 

Time to let it go

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ~Matthew 9:5

So often the church is focused on meeting the physical needs of people that we forget the true message of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn't heal people physically just to heal people. He performed miracles to show that He had the ability to forgive sin.

As Christ followers we are called to forgive others. Jesus didn't just give us the ability to forgive but He commanded us to do so. 

I don't know what burden you are carrying  today, but it is time to set it down. It is time to let it go. It is a time for Forgiveness.

You Can Do It

 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ~Philippians 4:13

Sometimes in life we come across people who push our every nerve. We want do whatever it takes to get away from these people. Sometimes we just want to be mean to them.
BUT God tells us to love these people.

One time, early in His earthly ministry, Jesus came upon a man named Levi. Levi was a tax collector. In those days it was the tax collector himself that decided the fees that they would charge. Most tax collectors at the time charged  people 100% increase or more on their taxes, sometimes as much as a 400% increase.

To say the least, this didn't endear them to the people. Yet, when Jesus sees Levi, He doesn't yell out rude comments, He doesn't ignore Levi, He simply calls out, "Follow Me."  Jesus saw the man Levi could be in Christ and not just the man sitting at the table.

Later that day we find Jesus at Levi's home having a meal. The religious leaders are complaining because a good and godly man wouldn't be around 'these kind' of people.

 "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ~Mark 2:17

How can I have this kind of attitude toward those that society calls unlovable? What if we could learn to love the worst that mankind has to offer? I'm not saying we should accept sin or say sin is okay, but rather embrace the sinner as a fellow image bearer of God who desperately needs the grace and mercy of the cross. (Just like you and me.)

I can do this. And so can you. Through Jesus we can have the strength to love the unlovable, touch the untouchable, reach the unreachable. I can do ALL THINGS through HIM. Will you give Jesus control today? 

While you still have today

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ~James 4:14

One day while Jesus is teaching He tells this story about this farmer. This farmers crops are growing with great abundance. When the harvest comes he quickly realizes that his barn isn't big enough to store all his crops.

This farmer comes up with a plan to build a new and bigger barn so he can store up all his stuff and then he plans on taking it easy for a few years. God then shows up and tells this farmer that he is a fool, because God is demanding the man's life that very night.

In our lives we tend to live like we have an everlasting string of tomorrows, but the truth is all we have is now. This moment. God can call our lives to account at this very moment.

The problem is we want to put things off till another day. We say things like, "I'll get right with God when I am older." "One of these I'll start giving to help those in need."

When we procrastinate about spiritual things, we become fools. God told James that our lives are but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. We have right now, this moment to get right with God through Jesus Christ. Today is the day of your salvation. You may not have another chance.

Thomas Jefferson once said, " Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

This is never more true than accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. So act now while you still have today, because no one is promised tomorrow.

Help in our time of need

 ^"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." ~Hebrews 4:16

When battling with sin I often feel isolated and alone. I want so desperately to win this battle. Yet at the same time there is this part of me that wants to give in. There is this beast that rages within. It wants to drag me as far away from God as it can.

It is at these times that I find myself burdened with shame and despair. I find myself trying to hide from God. It is like Adam in the Garden, I don't want God to see the nakedness of my soul.

According to Hebrews, this is the moment when God tells us to come to His throne with confidence because we have this High Priest, Jesus, who stands before God, interceding on our behalf. Jesus can sympathize with our struggles because He experienced being tempted in every way. He knows the weight of our battle, so He says come. Come and receive Mercy and Grace and help in your time of need.

Don't allow any thought, fear, or emotion keep you from His throne today.      

Grace and peace to you

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
~1 Corinthians 1:3

As we open the pages of the New Testament we might notice that most of the epistles have a verse similar to 1 Corinthians 1:3. It is a concept that repeats itself. "Grace and peace to you...."

Can you imagine a life full of Grace and Peace. A life where our day to day struggles don't get us down; where our insecurities don't paralyze us. I need this kind of grace. I need this kind of peace. I am guessing you do too.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  ~Matthew 11:28

The Creator and Savior of the Universe says, "come to me." He is calling, beckoning us to come and experience what He has to offer. He has shown us power and grace at the cross and promises a peace that surpasses all understanding. Will you come?

The unfaithful

The Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah." ~Jeremiah 3:11

I believe in God. I believe that the Bible is true. I believe that Jesus died for me. I believe that He conquered sin and death and rose again. I believe! So why don't I always live like I believe.

It is so easy to focus on the wickedness in the world and ignore the darkness in my own soul. We hear messages and read books about the unrighteous state of the unbeliever, but God told Jeremiah, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah." To put that in modern terms, "Faithless unbelievers are more righteous than unfaithful Christians."

This should be a wake up call for believers. We need to live what we believe. I am not talking about being perfect but about living a life like there is an empty tomb in Israel. Do we live expecting the return of Christ at any moment? Is our life guided by self our by the very Spirit of God living in us?

James 1:22 says, " Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

It is time to stand up and be true to what we believe. We need to repent and ask God to forgive our unfaithful attitudes, and be the men and women Jesus died for us to be.

Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” ~Psalm 46:10

If you are anything like me then you want to be the person with the answers to life's problems. I want to stop the pain of the people around me, kind of like a handy man for life. However, in all reality, I am as much part of the problem as anyone else. I am sinful, broken, and ugly to my inner most parts. 

This is why I need Jesus! 

It is through His death on the cross that God deals with all the ugliness in my life. It is through the cross of Jesus that God dealt with my sinful rebellious attitude. It is at the cross that God fixed the brokenness in me (even when I live as though I am still broken), and it is at that cross that God made me into something beautiful to Him.

I don't know all your circumstances. I don't know your hurts or your pain. What I do know is that God loves you so much that Jesus died for you, and if we would accept His free gift of salvation then we too will find our hearts crying out to us, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 

In the Hands of the Almighty

God is greater than we could ever understand. He is loving, merciful, full of grace and compassion, pure, perfect, wise, good, forgiving, encouraging, faithful, and kind. He is also righteous, holy, just, jealous, passionate, mighty and  powerful.

Often times we want God to fit into a mold that is comfortable for our lifestyle. When we are sinning we want a God of love mercy and grace. When some one hurts us we want a God who is just, mighty and powerful to pour out His wrath on our enemy. Yet He is so much more than all of this!

Unfortunately, we can't just pick the attributes of God that are convenient for us. We get all of Him all the time, and ultimately we are in His hands. The Bible teaches us that in the end it is God's word that will determine our eternity but we have to choose Him now.

 In The Potter's Hands - July 1st
 The fact is that everyone of us a broken and marred piece of clay. God desires to reshape us into something noble and useful to Him and His Kingdom.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God - July 8th
One day each of us will have to stand before the almighty and give an account for our lives. It is our life verse the Law of God. What chance do we have without someone to save us?

Sinners in the Hands of a Merciful God - July 15th
What happens when we deserve God's wrath but He desires to show mercy. How does God remain true to His character in the face of our sin? How do we bow ourselves to the mercy of God?

Children in the Hands of a Loving Father - July 22nd
Through Jesus we don't just receive forgiveness for our sins but we become children of God. God loves us as children just as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us where we are. How will we react to the Father's love as He molds us into the people He created us to be?

Open My Eyes

Sometimes I recall those trips to the laundry mat as a kid. The sounds of the coin-feed washers and dryers, the unmistakable sent of bleach combined with all the various scents of laundry soap and fabric softener. I remember the rolling baskets that would squeak and wobble as you pushed your clothes from the washer to the dryer or the dryer to the folding table.

But, what I remember most about those trip is the little white wooden shack that sat outside, over by the old IGA. It wasn't much more than a box; a door on one end and a window in the front. At the window stood an old blind man (I wish I knew his name). As I got close to the shack  my brother and I would always be greeted, "Hi, young men, how are you this fine day?" After exchanging greetings and talking this man would reach out the window and hand us a pack of Peanut M&M's.

This man stood in this box day after day selling candy candy, but as I look back I remember that we would by candy from him when we went to the grocery store but he never charged us on those laundry trips.

Years later I saw this old blind man again in a little restraint. He sat at the counter and ate his two eggs and toast and drank his cup of coffee. He then pulled out his wallet and asked the waitress what  denomination of bill he pulled out. She told him it was a $5 He handed it to her. As she went and got his change he turned to me holding another bill and asked, "young man what bill is this?"

"A $20, sir." I replied.  He smiled. He turned around set it on the counter got up and left without his change.

This man knew what it was to give with a cheerful heart. It didn't mater if it was a pack of M&M's for a young boy or generous tip  waitress, he always gave with a smile. Yet, I never knew his name.

In 2 Corinthians 9:7 it says, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

So often when it comes to giving our Tithes and Offerings we have this attitude of "This is what I have to do" or "Well here goes more of my money" or one of the 50 thousand other thoughts that pass through our minds other than "Thank You! Lord"

At Paul's time the temple had to containers to receive gifts from people. The first one was to receive each persons Tithe (the part of their income required by Jewish law) the second was a free-will offering. It is in regard to this free-will offering that the attitudes are being called into question. Not what you are expected to give but what you are giving over and beyond that. This is the giving Jesus is talking about when he points out the woman who gave everything she had. (Mark 12:41-44)

Lord my we be able to see like this. My our eyes be open to the spirit of giving with gladness in our hearts.

The Beast Within

Sometimes I feel like a queasy messed up combination of the wolf-man and the Incredible Hulk. There I am going along just fine and then something happens and this beast within me rages to get out. First my blood starts pumping, my eyes begin to narrow, everything starts looking red, my skin turns green, I grow twice my normal size, then comes the beastly grow from somewhere deep within that I can't explain, and then I since the fear of my pray.

Well OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration but I think we can all relate. In one form or another we can sympathize with Bruce Banner when he says, "You won't like me when I'm angry."

Today was one of those days. Everything was going well and then... (The clouds cleared from over the full moon) I was ready to break someone or something. I wanted to yell and scream and let the rage have it's way. At this moment I wanted to let people know exactly what I thought and how I felt and I didn't care what anyone thought about it, but I didn't.

Why? Why not just let the beast out? Isn't it better to deal with those feelings rather than hold them in?

One of my favorite books in the Bible is James. James is blunt a straight to the point, so as we look at the subject of anger I want to start there. In James 1:19-21 it says, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

Though the Bible never calls anger a sin it does give some strong warnings about controlling our anger. One reason is because controlled anger can bring about some very positive changes in the world around us while uncontrolled anger can be very destructive. James says that a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires. I believe that this is because our anger is usually rooted in selfishness.

Today I could have let my anger burn and created a nasty argument, point fingers, and tore down someone because of a mistake they made or I could remain calm and set a precedence of dealing with conflicts in the future as well as setting an example for my children and anyone else that might be watching.

In Ephesians 4 Paul tells us, "In your anger do not sin" (vs. 26) Even though it would be great if we could purge our lives of anger, Paul acknowledges that anger is an emotion that we are going to have to deal with at points in our life. What Paul really cares about is what out reaction is when we are angry. Why must we control our anger? Because if we don't we give the Devil a foothold in our lives. (vs 27)

The Devil would like nothing more then to have you blow your top and destroy the opportunities that you have to show others the love, mercy, grace, and peace that can only be found in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is instructing us through the pages of scripture to be people of self-control not controlled by the whims of some emotional response.

In Proverbs 29:11 we are told, "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." The fact is that no matter what we are facing or feeling at the moment we will accomplish much more with a calm, cool, and collected discussion than we will by yelling and screaming at someone. (Though it doesn't always seem this way. We are looking at a bigger picture here) In the end we will earn far more respect by remaining level headed then by raging out with our feelings.

Remember the advice from Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

What is the end result that we are looking for? Do we desire to make the situation better or worse?

I have a friend that constantly fights to control his anger. He will blow his top and then quickly apologize. I remember one day hearing him tell someone that he was sorry for the way he responded and told them that would be praying for them. On this day I remember him being asked, "If your God is so great where was he when you were mad?" My friend just hung his head in shame.

Lord God, please give me the ability to have self-control when I am angry. Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to forgive so that your righteousness may reign in me. I know I am weak and I can't do this alone. Forgive me and guild me, in Jesus Name.
Amen!

Hell is Real (But I Hate to Admit It)

This is my first time writing a review of a book. The reason I chose this book to be my first is because the author Brian Jones was my very first mentor on my journey to serve God in the ministry.

Brain begins the book by sharing about his past. He shares about a time when he, as a pastor, didn't believe in hell. This is a story I haven't just heard but I also remember. I remember when Brian came before our church and asked for forgiveness and asked if we would allow him to remain as our pastor. This moment shaped me forever as a man of God. This moment taught me that God's word must be absolute for me as a pastor.

As the book continues Brian digs into what the Bible teaches about hell and why it is so important for Christians to believe what the Bible says. He goes into the reasons why we don't believe and the reasons why people don't believe in hell and looks at the reasons why those who do believe in hell don't respond it the apocalyptic urgency the a biblical understanding of God and hell should produce in us.

This book spoke deep into my heart, convicting me of my lack of urgency in leading people to Christ. I already had to repent 3 or 4 times before I got to the place in the book that Brian suggests that we repent.

What really makes this book a must read is the fact that Brian doesn't leave his readers with great knowledge and no application. Brian spends time helping his readers become effective at leading their unsaved friends to Christ. His advice is insightful and based on his real life experiences.

I highly recommend getting this book. It will challenge you to draw closer to God and encourage you to be able to share your faith with confidence knowing that God is in control.

One more step

I must say I enjoy running (most of the time). The fact is that I am slow, overweight, and often lack the self motivation to get out and do it. But when I do, I find this rhythm in my step, this peace in my soul, though this usually doesn't kick in until after my legs and lungs stop burning.

As I am running, my mind is drawn towards my creator, towards the intricate way that He put my body together. I am often amazed to find that my body is far more capable than my mind would like to believe. This is a lesson I first learned while at boot camp. I was in the delayed entry program for a year where we trained to run a mile and a half in 13 minutes. (I know this is slow for you big time runners out there. But for someone who was never a runner this was pushing it.

Our first day of PT (Physical Training) at Paris Island we had to run 1.5 in 13 minutes. I had myself so trained to do this that I ran it in 12 minutes 49 seconds. I had this down. On our second day of PT they told us we were going to do a formation run of 2 miles in 13 minutes and 30 second. Now if your mind works like mine (which may not be a good thing) you are thinking how in the world can you expect to run a half mile in 30 seconds. The real kicker is that this is the difference between 8 minute 40 second mile and a 6 minute and 45 second mile. Not only is this a faster running speed but we had to maintain this speed for a greater distance.

The amazing thing is I made it. (of course I was in much better shape the, and I can't reach that time now) The reason I share all of this is because God formed our bodies to do so much more than we think we can do. He has granted us the ability to push further, and work harder to accomplish thing we can only imagine.

So the real question is, what if we exercised our spiritual muscles this way. What do we do when our mind tells our faith we can't take another step?

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul writes, " ²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. ²⁷ No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. "

As I have learned while running the next step may seem like the hardest but it may be the one that teaches you that you can go one more still. I hope your faith can teach your mind that "with God all things are Possible and that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

???FREE???

Throughout my life there have been a few statements that I have heard over and over again. One of those statements is, "nothing in life is free." It is amazing how this statement has affected the world in which we live and serve.

Yesterday (Saturday, August 20, 2011) LifePoint Community Church
had its first outreach as a new church. All we did was simply give out popsicles (so named, "Project Popsicle"), for free.



It's amazing how many people don't know how to receive something for free. One man asked me three times if it was really free. We didn't even require that people learn about LifePoint, though when asked, we did share with them.

This outreach was about getting out into our community, meeting and serving the people.

We provided a cold refreshment on a warm summer evening. That was it, no strings attached. And as a result, we got to meet 100+ people right in our own community.

You may be wondering why we would chose to do our first outreach in a way that didn't draw everyones attention to our church. The reasons are simple. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't about our church. It is about God and His love as displayed through Christ Jesus. Jesus came into the world to give a free gift. He laid down His life that we may experience the blessing of a saving relationship with God the Father.

As we simply give out a cold treat...

...hearts will begin to be prepared to accept the greatest gift of all: eternal life through Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." There is nothing we can do to draw closer to God. Our salvation is a free gift of grace through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is the work of the cross that sets us free from sins penalty.


May we learn to accept that the best thing in life is free, because it cost so much.

"I AM"

Sometimes in my quiet time with God I like to reflect on a passage that I think I understand and I will ask God to move me into a deeper understanding of that passage. The other morning I woke up thinking about Moses and the burning bush. I was really drawn to Exodus 3:14.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

As I thought over this line again and again another verse came to mind. John 8:58 states, "“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

With these two passages on mind I thought back to Bible college where I was taught that God's introduction of Himself as "I AM" was a simple statement of God's eternal nature. The name "I AM" means the existing one. The one that lives from everlasting to everlasting. In college I learned that this statement was what separated the infinite from the finite.

As I was meditating on these passages I asked God what it means for Him to be the "I Am" feeling in my spirit that the simplistic view I had been taught in school was just that: too simplistic. (Though how simplistic is the concept of eternal?) As I was driving to work I began to feel a stirring in my soul. It was then that the Holy Spirit began to speak.

"I Am"

I Am goes so much deeper that just supplying an attribute of God. I Am defines who God is, in contrast to who we are. God is: our everything. He is our creator, our life, our breath, the food we need to live (the bread of life), our hopes, our dreams, our aspirations. He is the source of light, and rest. He is our comfort, our joy, our love (agape), our patience, our endurance, our strength, and our peace. God is all of this and much more.

He is a doctor for the sick, a Father for the fatherless, peace for the troubled hearted, assurance for the scared, courage for the fearful, justice for the downtrodden.

As I began to ponder the extent of who God is. (Knowing that I will never come close to rapping my mind around the depths of who God is.) I found myself in awe!

Then the Spirit spoke again and said, "but who are you?"

The fact is that the beauty of the "I Am" is who we are and can be in Him.





The truth is separated from God through sin we are nothing. We are dead. We are wicked and evil. But through the sacrifice that Jesus made on that cross we can become the very children of God, "children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:13t us embrace all we can

Let us embrace all we can be in God!