Monthly Archive for October, 2009

Last Sunday night’s message:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QQbq4czfNc  

In the beginning when God created the human race, God planned for us to be generous. God fashioned us with the willingness to give—to God and to others. This plan is part of our composition, our DNA. We truly have the need to be generous. Yet there are 2 “voices,” Adam Hamilton explains in his book, “Enough,” that do battle against our God-given desire toward generosity, These voices persuade us to keep or stockpile what we have.

The 1^st voice is the voice of fear telling us, “If you give, there may not be enough left over for you.” I used to listen to this voice a lot. But fear, along with a misplaced idea about the true foundation of our security, keeps us from being generous and leads us to stockpile what we have. Yet the reality is that hoarding offers us no genuine protection on this earth.

The 2^nd voice is the voice of self-gratification, which tells us, “If you give, you won’t have enough money to buy the stuff you need to make you happy.” We add it all up and recognize that with 10% of our income, we could get a new car or a larger home—or whatever else we may be ogling and drooling over. But there comes a point when a growing amount of possessions produces a diminishing return of pleasure and fulfillment. 

But there’s hope for us! We can listen to the voice of truth instead. You see, as the Holy Spirit of God continues to work in our lives, we will start to think less about ourselves and more about others. We will start to notice the needs of others and question, “If I don’t do something, who will?”

Then we will experience real joy as this change takes place within us. We will discover that we will get more joy in doing things for other people and for God than we ever did in doing things for ourselves. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “You’re far happier giving than getting.” (Acts 20: 35) In the very act of losing our lives, we find life, just as Jesus said, “Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.” (Matthew 16:25) So the Bible teaches us that that we’re to help others and give to those in need and when we do, we’re blessed. The Bible also teaches that we’re to return part of our income to God.

A contribution presented to God was called a tithe and it was equal to one-tenth or 10% of a person’s flocks or crops or income back when the Old Testament was written. For the most part Christians agree today that it’s still a fine guideline for our lives and one that’s satisfying to God. We give our tithes to New Day to do God’s work through us, the body of Christ and New Day is accountable for those gifts. We’re responsible for praying to figure out how God wants these funds to be used. Yet even though we believe the tithe is a good guide, it’s a challenge. Let’s take a look at a video that drives this point home.

DVD Clip: Tithing and the Ten Apples 

Have you ever heard God say to you, “You know, you would really honor me if you acknowledged that this apple is mine. Then you would give it to me freely—not because somebody made you feel guilty, but just because you love me.” A weird and wonderful thing happens when we give our 1^st apple to God. We’re not tempted to eat it, because it’s not there! And with God’s help through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, one way or another, we discover a way to make the other 9 apples meet our needs.

Those of us who are blessed with more than enough apples to meet our needs should arrive at a place where we’re able to say, “I have more apples than I can use. I’m going to give away this apple to the poor. And maybe I can give away another apple to an organization that’s doing God’s work and changing the world.” This is when we start to identify with what Jesus said, “Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!” OR put another way, “To whom much is given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)

Our tithes and our offerings that are over and above our tithes, are a concrete symbol of our yearning to live completely for God. They’re an expression of thanks, love, and honor. Our contributions make it obvious that we place God 1^st in our lives. They’re an investment in God’s work through New Day.

I have no doubt that your donations are satisfying and pleasing to God, because they’re not financial transactions or business deals. Your offerings are a way of saying, “God, I’m returning to you a fraction of what I have and what I’ve earned to thank you and to let you know that I love you. I trust you’ll use this somehow, God, to make a difference in the human race.”

A really great thing about our generosity to God and others is that it not only touches God and others, but it also changes us. Don’t forget: we were created with the need to be generous. When we’re not generous in giving of what we have, it’s not just a financial dilemma we’re dealing with, but a spiritual dilemma as well.

It’s as if we’ve become financially and spiritually constipated, according to Adam Hamilton. His words, not mine, although it makes sense to me. You see, we keep taking in, but we’re not giving out. And after a while, it becomes uncomfortable and causes us pain.

At times we don’t even realize what’s happening to us. We’re taking in, but it’s not fulfilling and pleasing and satisfying because we were not meant to always take in and never give anything back. All input and no output.

Over time this leads us to become self-centered, money-consumed, joyless persons. That’s what a life of financial and spiritual constipation looks like: joylessness and unhappiness. But we were created by God for something more. We were made to discover joy through simplicity AND generosity.

Adam ends the last chapter of his book with this story. He wrote, “Jeff Hanson is a 15 year old student at the Kansas School for the Blind. He is visually impaired as the result of an optic nerve tumor caused by a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis. Thanks to chemotherapy and other treatments, he is doing well. With his glasses, he can now see the big ‘E’ on the top of the eye chart.”

“Jeff is a gifted young man. He bakes and paints, sells his creations, and donates the money to the Children’s Tumor Foundation (www.jeffreyowenhanson.com). So far he has given over $15,000 to this foundation. He also gives of his time to bless others in service. In the fall of 2005, when he was receiving chemotherapy, Jeff was granted a wish by the Make a Wish Foundation. His wish was to meet Elton John. When Elton announced that he was coming to town for a concert, Make a Wish contacted Jeff to say that he would get to meet Elton backstage before the concert. The day arrived, and Elton met Jeff backstage before the show. Elton was gracious and generous with his time. Jeff told Elton his story and gave him a package of note cards with his paintings on the fronts. Then, before saying good-bye, Jeff reached in his pocket and pulled out a check for $1,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.”

Adam wrote, “Jeff Hanson, 12 years old at the time, gave a thousand dollar check to Elton John. My guess is that Elton was virtually speechless. Elton had wanted to bless Jeff, but now he was the one who was being blessed. No doubt he was touched and perhaps changed in some way by Jeff’s generosity. So he asked the photographer to capture the moment with a picture. A week later the Children’s Tumor Foundation called Jeff to tell him they had just received a $5,000 check in the mail from Elton John in honor of Jeff.”

“But there’s more to the story. Before Elton and Jeff’s visit was over on the day of the concert, Elton asked Jeff if he had ever been to Dubai. When Jeff said no, Elton invited to fly Jeff and his parents to Dubai for an all-expenses-paid stay while he was in concert there. He explained that he wanted to hear more about Jeff’s work.”

“Even at his young age, Jeff Hanson understands what life is really about. Though he could feel sorry for himself, he has chosen to focus his attention on helping others. In the process, others have been changed. Other people have become more generous. Jeff’s generosity has returned to be a blessing to him.”

Jesus said, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:38) God said back in the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament of the Bible, to “Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. (Malachi 3:10)

Do we get it? Are we ready to trust God? To believe these promises and take God at his word? Are we able to trust that when we choose to live for others and to give generously of what God has given to us, we’ll not only bless others, but we will experience the abundant blessings that come from living for God? Will we be defined by the same generosity that Jesus revealed when he gave everything for us?  

The Lord’s Supper

Let’s pray the prayer of contentment together:  Gracious God, help us to be grateful for what we have, to remember that we don’t need most of what we want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

“To try and fail is at least to learn. To fail to try is to suffer the loss of what might have been.”
– Benjamin Franklin, statesman

Last Sunday night’s message:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtnE_e1LylY

Let’s begin by using our imaginations tonight, OK? It may not be pleasant, but I want you to just imagine that a wildfire or hurricane or some kind of natural disaster is about to hit your home. You have 10 minutes to grab what you can and then take off. What would you take with you?  

Natural disasters remind us that everything in this world is temporary. I mean, if your things are taken away by bankruptcy or stolen by thieves or blown away by a twister or burned in a fire, keep in mind that material “stuff” is only temporary. When I’m not on this earth anymore, most of my belongings will be out-of-date, tattered, or basically of no value to anyone else—either taken to a thrift store or thrown in the garbage, like Adam Hamilton said in the video we watched earlier. You could say the same of some of my things while I am still on this earth I suppose. But this is the reason I can wholeheartedly agree with Jesus and say, “Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” Luke 12:15

James Mackintosh, a great Scottish thinker and politician of the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, said, “It is right to be contented with what we have, but never with what we are.” He’s saying it’s a helpful motivator to be discontent with our moral fiber, our spiritual life, our search for holiness, our longing for justice, and our capacity to love. These are areas in which we should keep on growing and improving, for it’s God’s intention for us to become more tomorrow than we are today.

We’re destined to hunger to know God more, to develop a deeper prayer life, to chase after justice and devotion to God with mounting passion, to love others more, and to grow in grace and forgiveness and character and understanding with each new day. The hitch is that we seem to lean toward being content with our current participation in pursuing justice on this earth. We are inclined to be content with our level of righteousness right now—sometimes even being self-righteous and smug about it.

We’re apt to be content with how much we love others. We likely are content with our current relationship with God. We have a tendency to be content with how often we read the Bible and pray. The point is that we seem to be satisfied with those things that in the big scheme of things DO warrant more or our time and our consideration.

Paul, a famous follower of Jesus, was an outstanding model of contentment. He wrote “I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.” Philippians 4: 11-12

Paul wrote these words as he was rotting in a prison cell in Rome waiting for news of whether or not he would be executed. Can you just imagine that? Paul was lowered through a hole in the floor and dropped into a cavernous, damp pit. That’s where he sat when he wrote these words in his letter to the Philippians, which is known as his letter of joy.

Adam Hamilton in his book “Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity” which this message series is based on, mentions 4 keys to cultivating contentment. Here’s the secret recipe that Paul discovered.

1.     Remember that it could be worse.

This is basically the practice of looking on the bright side or finding the silver lining. It’s recognizing that no matter what we may not like about a thing or person or situation, we can always uncover something good to focus on if we will just decide to do so.

2.     Ask yourself, “How long will this make me happy?”

Have you ever thought you just HAD to have something and found out soon after that it wasn’t that entertaining after all? It’s usually a good idea to “try” before you buy if at all possible. Maybe even rent the car of your dreams for a weekend—or that vacation home—or borrow someone else’s new thingamajig and see what you think. THEN decide if you still want to buy it or not. It’s incredible how often we change our minds when we “try” before we buy and stop to ask ourselves, “How long will this make me happy?”

3.     Develop a grateful heart.

Paul said, “Thank God no matter what happens.” A grateful heart recognizes that all of life is a gift. Contentment comes when we use more time giving thanks for what we have, than thinking about what’s absent or wrong in our lives. We can either whine or be grateful in any circumstance. Now I admit. I whine way too much, because we can focus on all the things we don’t like, which I’m not immune to doing. OR, we can look for the things we DO like, and be grateful for them. We can focus on the disappointments in life or we can give thanks for the blessings. I don’t know about you but I’m much happier when I’m focused on all the many blessings in my life, including each one of you.

4.     Ask yourself, “Where does my soul find true satisfaction?”

Our agitated hearts are made, created, to seek God out. In our Old Testament of the Bible we’re told that David cried out from the wilderness, “God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; my arms wave like banners of praise to you. I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises! If I’m sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection. Because you’ve always stood up for me, I’m free to run and play. I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post.” Now that’s true satisfaction. That’s where contentment can be found, in the arms of our creator, rescuer, and friend.

In addition to cultivating contentment in our lives, we should probably cultivate simplicity, too. Contentment and simplicity fit together like a hand in glove. Adam’s got some steps to help us with that as well. Here are 5 steps for simplifying your life.

1.     Set a goal of reducing your consumption, and choose to live below your means.

For example, when you’re buying something, look at the mid-grade as a substitute for top-of-the-line merchandise. Think a little smaller than you had planned. There are numerous ways to decrease your spending and live below what you’re bringing home in income. Do some research, share your thoughts with others, or have a brainstorming meeting with your family.

2.     Before making a purchase, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” and “Why do I want this?”

Adam Hamilton writes about a high school student in his book that said if the electronics store doesn’t have what he wants when he goes shopping, he feels compelled to walk up and down the aisles until he finds something to buy. A high school student already feels that way! Unfortunately, many of us can relate. But don’t forget about the Rule of 24 we talked about last week. Wait 24 hours before buying when you see something you think you’ve absolutely got to have. If you still feel you should buy it after waiting a full day, Adam Hamilton would say go back and get it. I might say go ahead and wait another 24 hours.

3.     Use something up before buying something new.

Choose to take better care of your furnishings, appliances, and other stuff around your house. Consider resoling your shoes. Patch up rips and tears and make repairs. Repeat to yourself, “I don’t always need to have new things.” (3 times) If you think something is truly dated, go ahead and keep it for 6 months or a year more before replacing it. And lastly, always sell or donate stuff that still works. Who knows how many TV’s and toaster ovens and refrigerators that still work have been taken to the dump. Someone COULD have used them!

4.     Plan low-cost entertainment that enriches.

Invite friends over to your house. Don’t have any friends, you say? Just look around the room. What do you call us? Have everyone bring something and then sit around and play cards or another game. (I like Apples to Apples.) Usually the simple things are the most fun. We don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun. We can just make our entertainment choices simpler.

5.     Ask yourself, “Are there major changes that would allow me to simplify my life?”

If your car’s already paid off, consider keeping it for another year or 2 before buying another one. Is there a gym or club membership you hardly ever use? Maybe that money could be spent on something carrying more weight, such as mission work, a ministry opportunity, or to help someone in your community. Ask yourself questions related to your house, belongings, work, and activities to help you name some important changes that will simplify your life.

But let me warn you. Simplifying your life requires applying self-control. The Bible says, “A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.” Proverbs 25: 28 Anyone can march right in and take whatever they please! There’s no security. Likewise, self-control is a door or window around your heart and life that protects you from yourself, from temptation from sins that are lethal. From wrong choices that at the end of the day, can devastate you.

So which tent will you live in? Discon-TENT-ment or Con-TENT-ment? You and no-one else decide which “tent” you will buy into and own. By deciding what life is about, YOU choose. If you make up your mind that “life is not defined by what you have,” then your choice in tents has been made. You’re obviously choosing contentment. Or maybe contentment is choosing you.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw37X2snzyY

Let’s pray the prayer of contentment together:  Gracious God, help us to be grateful for what we have, to remember that we don’t need most of what we want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Conversation Group: Just imagine learning practical financial strategies!

Location: Meet at the home of Nanette and Cash Thompson, 3906 Calloway Dr., Mansfield, TX 76063

Time: 7:00 PM Tuesday nights, Oct. 13-27

Focus is on wisdom and finances tonight. Adults AND youth are welcome!

Item                 Actual %                   Suggested %*            Plan for next 12 months

Housing                                                  25–35%                    ____________________

Transportation                                        10–15%                    ____________________

Charitable Gifts                                       10–12%                     ____________________

Food                                                         5–15%                      ____________________

Savings                                                     5–10%                       ____________________

Utilities                                                     5–10%                       ____________________

Medical/Health                                        5–10%                       ____________________

Debt                                                          5–10%                        ____________________

Clothing                                                   2–7%                          ____________________

Miscellaneous                                        12–23%                        ____________________

 *These percentages are adapted from Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover (Thomas Nelson, 2007).