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Published: 27 October 2018

It’s amazing to me that God doesn’t demand more of His money.  Whatever we have is from Him.  We are managers or stewards (to use the Bible word) of His stuff.  The Psalmist wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything that is in it…”  Because it all belongs to Him, He could demand more of it.  I know that since He is God, He doesn’t need money.  It’s not like He has to buy groceries or pay rent.  He doesn’t have “bills to pay.”  But, since He is God and we are His people, He could, by Divine right, ask for more than He does.  Tithing is disputed by many under the idea that “It’s an Old Testament thing.”  Diane and I tithe and have for our whole married life, (except for about a month when I thought I knew better ).  We have found it quite delightful to give beyond our tithe and watch how God cares for us.  He is faithful.  There are many investment options for the believer.  That’s what they are…giving is actually an investment that pays both short and long term dividends.   When we invest in God’s work in the world we are joining Him in partnership.  Missions is a great example of how this works.  When we give to missions, we become partners with those who receive those funds.  Paul wrote that this financial partnership brings fruit to our account and Jesus said we make friends for eternity!  Next weekend we’ll be getting a dividend report from Kelly and Sherri Fath.  I hope you’ll join us for lunch on Friday, Seminars on Saturday and our regular services on Sunday.  If you’d like to sign up or you have questions about these opportunities, please contact our Missions Task Force by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Published: 19 October 2018

Since October is Pastor Appreciation Month, MCC hosts an Annual Luncheon to say thanks to the area pastors.  It was cancelled this month because the Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists bullied the College into cancelling.  The MACRA viewed this appreciation as a public institution’s promotion of religion.  In other words, we’re the bad guys.  The clergy and the churches we represent are seen as a threat to the world around us.  And, in my opinion, we should be viewed that way.  The fact is, the world is upside down and under the reign of Jesus, we’d like to set it right side up!  We have another King!  His name is Jesus the Christ and He does not tolerate idolatry and self-rule.  He died on the cross and rose from the dead to deliver us from those evils.  His Kingdom is among us and it is a threat to the autonomy this world craves.  I don’t blame MCC for cancelling, no one wants to face legal battles over a lunch meeting!  What would be worse, is if the church was viewed as benign.  “Somebody” out there believes we are a threat to “life as we know it” and they are right.  We are.  We’d like to see the people of Montcalm County flourish and live life as it was intended to be lived but life will never be right without allegiance to the one true King.  So, yes MACRA, we’re a threat and we’ll be a threat to a godless, autonomous culture as long as God gives us breath.  By the grace of God and using the tools of the Word of God and prayer, we’ll continue.  And, we pray you’ll see the goodness of God in the land of the living and find out how marvelous it would be to live under His gracious reign.  We have room for you!