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Published: 23 October 2015

I don’t daydream or worry about money as much as I once did.  I have had distinct “money phases” in my life.  First, I wanted it—and spent it as fast as I earned it.  Then, I got married and worried about it—and tried to save it to no avail.  Then, I daydreamed about it—thinking about what I would do when I finally had some.  Then, God taught me to give.  It wasn’t a direct lesson from Him to me.  He used a lot of people to help me understand the good advice of Jesus about making money a servant rather than a master.  My parents, my in-laws, my wife and even my children taught me many lessons about the importance of holding “stuff” loosely.  King David reminded me that “the earth is the Lord’s and everything that is in it.”  Paul reminded me that “God loves a cheerful giver.”  Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Fellow students in college reminded me that I couldn’t afford to not tithe.  Generous people in Waterloo, IA and in Lakeland, FL and in Greenville, MI all testified to God’s gracious care and I have heard many, many stories of God’s faithfulness and present reward and care.  I really love our missions weekends now because of faith promise missions giving.  I truly believe our gifts to our missions fund have made us partners with people around the world.  Their reports are an update on our global investments.  As a church family we are investing in the people of Mexico City through the Navarrete family and November 8 we’ll hear what our friends are doing to represent our wonderful God to that vast populace.  I’m looking forward to Heaven so that I can meet people from Taiwan, Laos, Eastern Europe, Brazil, Costa Rica, South Africa and other places around the world that have been reached through our missionary partners.  Giving has not only been a great tool for eternal investments but it has liberated me from constant concern about the here and now.  My Father knows what my needs are!  Giving keeps money in its proper place and our faithful Father has always cared for us.  Diane and I have some “provision stories” of our own that are unexplainable apart from God’s good care.  I think we could probably do better in giving but we are still growing and learning and God is wonderfully patient with us.  This Sunday we’ll be looking at why giving is so reasonable, I hope and pray you think so too.

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Published: 15 October 2015

I was three in 1964 when the Righteous Brothers released that song.  It is considered one of the top 100 songs of all time by some music historians.  As you would expect, the words are sentimental drivel but the tune and the emphasis on emotion appeals to many a person who has a fixation to be loved by another human being.  Sadly, this genre of songs has no shortage of contributors.  There is a better love.  Jesus taught that the Great Commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  Let’s face it, love like that is going to require more than a feelin’.  A feelin’ is lost as easily as a sock in the washer!  Feelings come and go but there is a better way.  The way does not include eliminating emotion but it requires putting emotions in their proper place.  This will take effort and this is where the problem is rooted.  Western culture is largely characterized by laziness about the things that really matter.  We will work hard to burn fat, care for our lawns and do well in our jobs.  BUT, we often refuse to practice what is required to become people with a disposition of love.  Yes, I said practice.  If we are going to become people whose love transcends emotion we are going to have to practice the disciplines that facilitate love.   According to the apostles, there are things to put off and things to put on.  Those passages in Galatians, Ephesians and Colossians are all in the context of love.  In other words, if we are going to become loving people there are thoughts, intents and actions that are going to have to be mortified (put to death).  AND, there will be thoughts, intents and actions that will require practice.  If love has not become a disposition we will have a very hard time loving difficult people under difficult circumstances.  Anybody can love those who are lovable and love in return.  Loving those who are unlovable requires more than sunshine and blue skies.  It requires a disposition, a manner of life and a trajectory of love.  This becomes ours as we practice what God said in the power of His Spirit.  Here is my paraphrase from last Sunday of what this new disposition could look like, “the disposition of love suffers long and is kind.  Love does not envy, does not parade itself and is not puffed up.  The disposition of love is not rude, selfish or easily provoked.  When the obstacles of anger and contempt for others are being rooted out, love doesn’t think evil of others, it doesn’t keep score and rehearse history, love doesn’t rejoice when bad things happen to other people, it rejoices whenever truth flourishes even when other people are blessed.  A loving disposition endures, trusts, hopes and doesn’t give up.”  What will it take to get that disposition?  Let’s do it.