You're either in, or you're out.

Jeff Lampl

This Friday, 7:00 pm
CLC Aud
Childcare provided
Bring a dessert to share
For Newlyweds, those married 50+ years
and ALL in between!!

Wed 7:00 pm - Room 220
Sat 10:00 am - Room 220

If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the lord.
So, whether we live or die,
we belong to the Lord.
Romans 14:8 (NIV)

Randy Frazee writes in THINK, ACT, BELIEVE LIKE JESUS, that in the Middle Ages soldiers would choose to be baptized with their right arm out of the water.   The meaning was clear.  With their right arm they could wield the sword, while the rest of their body could be fully committed to the Lord.  Frazee then comments that many Christians do something similar to day.   We keep our right hands - holding our wallets, checkbooks and credit cards -  out of the water, saying to God, ‘you have all of me, except my money’.

But baptism means what Romans 14:8 tells us.   Accepting my baptism means taking the “red pill”.   Accepting my baptism means the I no longer belong to myself, rather all of me, my time time, talents and treasure, belongs to God, no holding back. 

Of the 38 parables Jesus told, 16 of them have to do with handling our possessions.   288 verses in the New Testament, one out of every 10, have to do with money.   Over 2,000 verses in the entire bible talk about personal resources compared with about 500 on prayer and fewer than hat on faith.   As Frazee points out, we cannot conclude that Jesus’ heart was focused on money, rather that he knew ours would be.  “Jesus teaching continually directs us toward using all of our possessions-  including our money and possessions – to love God and to love others”

As you approach tax season an excellent spiritual discipline would be for you to look carefully, contemplatively and prayerfully at your charitable giving.  

What percentage of your income (start with gross, not net) is given specifically to love God and love others?   What percentage goes to God’s ministry through your local church and then do you see your giving increasing to God’s purposes beyond your giving to the local Body of Christ?  Talk to God about that.  Ask him to help you.   If your spending and debt are in wrong places attend the Ditching Debt class this Wednesday evening or this Saturday morning

Lord, please help me to be honest with myself.  Help me to see through my defenses, my self-rationalizations, my always wanting, wanting, wanting.   Lord, I confess that all of what I have is yours.   Make me a worthy steward of it all.   In the Name of Jesus Christ who gave His all.  Amen”