Details

Published: 26 October 2013

It took a while but I have become a cheerful giver. Even though I knew that God loves a cheerful giver I had a hard time letting go of money. I like money, I like what I can buy with money and the more I give away the less I have for me…until I think about the true perspective; that what I give away I never really lose! When I learned that giving is one of the means of putting treasure in Heaven, giving really became a no-brainer. What I buy right now is junk compared to what I will have in 10,000 years! The encouragement to long range investing that Jesus gave us in the Sermon on the Mount is pure genius. We should save some money for retirement but what about after that? We’re going to be alive for a very long time so we should all have a long, long, long range investment plan. But, in spite of my cheerfulness about giving, I still have questions. For example, when is what I call “stewardship” really a convenient way for me to be selfish? And, when is “giving sacrificially” really a presumptuous act whereby I tempt God? Like almost everything in life, “there is a ditch on both sides of the road.” It troubles me some to ponder these things. I wish there were a few more guidelines in the Word but it is a complex world and all of our circumstances are different…God has been gracious to not give us a manual for this. It does seem to me to be a general principle from the time of Abraham that giving at least a tenth of our income is an appropriate starting point. God is quite generous when I think about it. It is all His in the first place and to only ask for a tenth is quite gracious. I’m so thankful that I have parents who taught us to give and that God gave me a wife with the gift of giving. Their example and practice have been life-giving. I still have questions but at least I am more cheerful and I know God loves that. I also know that whatever I give I really keep for the long term and I am looking forward to the dividends in the life to come. Are you all ready for the Money Sermon? Are you ready to invest in Missions? Are you growing in cheerfulness as a giver? Will you have any dividends in the life to come? Let’s do this!

Details

Published: 17 October 2013

It’s my blog so I’m going to take some liberties today…rather than focus on my Sunday sermon I want to give thanks to God for saving Jim Scofield and Ray Byrne. They probably didn’t know each other very well here at church but they joined each other in Heaven within the past five days. Jim graduated Sunday morning on his way to church and Ray graduated Thursday morning after a long battle with cancer. Both of these guys were manly men. They used chainsaws, guns and tools. They were both “handy-men.” They both were faithful to one woman their whole lives (prayers for Pat and Glenna respectively are appreciated). I served alongside both of them, prayed with both of them, listened to stories from both of them and heard from both of them how Jesus made a difference in their lives. With all due respect, neither one of them were “perfect”. That is really not the point is it? They both knew the Perfect Savior, Jesus Christ. They both wanted to serve Him and they made a difference in their world. They both believed that God is mighty to save and that He hears and answers prayer. They both loved the church, the Word and God’s people. I wonder as I reflect on their lives who will step up and take their places. No one can replace them as individuals, they were unique men and God really “broke the mold” after He made them J. They mattered to a lot of people, they mattered to me. I will miss them both. Admittedly I haven’t seen Ray for months, he had been home bound but every week when I printed my sermon notes I made an extra copy for Ray. I have been doing that for years so he could read a long while I preached; since he was bound at home Walt would take the notes and help Ray fill in the blanks. Jim and Ray mattered to a lot of people but thankfully they mattered to Jesus, He loved them so much He died for them, rose from the grave and drew them to Himself. What a time they must be having right now. I am thankful for this hope and looking forward to seeing them along with many others that have impacted my life and gone on ahead. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Thank you Heavenly Father for the hope that we have through Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. To You alone be the glory both now and forever, Amen!