MISSIONS: GO...TELL...GIVE...PRAY

“The mission of the church is missions.”

Oswald J. Smith

 
This past May, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, a young married missionary couple from the U.S., alone with Jude Montis, the local director of Missions in Haiti Inc were all fatally shot by gangs in northern Port-au-Prince after leaving a youth group activity at church. Davy and Natalie joined Missions in Haiti, as missionaries after they were married in 2022. They loved Haiti and its people and ultimately gave everything for them. They reached countless lives and were selfless and full of love and devotion to the people of Haiti.
  It’s estimated that there are 100,000 Christians martyred every year. The history of the Church from the days of the Apostles is one overflowing with blood and sacrifice as men and women have left the safety of their homes and native lands to share the gospel on the fields of the world and paid the ultimate price to advance Christ’s Kingdom.
  Though Jesus commanded Christ-followers to go to the far ends of the world with the gospel, for the most part that’s neglected in the contemporary church. For example, the northern part of Yemen has 8 million people. That’s twice the population of the entire state of Kentucky.   Do you know how many believers there are out of those 8 million people? 20 or 30. There are more believers in a small group of most churches than in all of northern Yemen.
  Over 2 billion people in the world today are classified as unreached, which means more than “unsaved” but that the gospel is simply not accessible to them. Over 6,000 people groups with over 2 billion people in them are not yet reached with the gospel. 
  What is the right perspective to have in supporting missions? The Bibles teaches that every Christ-follower is called to be a missionary whether we serve in missions at home or abroad. We all are called to go throughout the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). Yet, most believers don’t even pray for missionaries or lost people groups. For example, we are rightly angered at the evil some Muslims do, yet rarely pray for the coming to Christ of some 1.7 billion Muslims in the world.
  Then, we must remember that God has chosen to do the work of missions through the financial support of faithful saints. When God sent His Son to do the work of missions on the earth, He chose to provide for Him through the faithful financial support of others. Luke 8:3 says: “Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
  The Lord Jesus was provided for through the faithful support of others and specifically through women, who had a low standing in that society. When God sent Elijah to Sidon, he commanded a widow to provide for him there (1 Kings 17:9). When God called for Nehemiah to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem, God gave him favor with the Persian king to pay for it (Nehemiah 2). The Apostle Paul was supported by the Philippians who were extremely poor as seen in 2 Corinthians 8:1-2: “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” Yet today it can sometimes take years for a missionary to raise the support needed to go to a foreign field. As Chuck Colson wrote, “When the church fails to break the [cultural] barrier, both sides lose. Those who need the gospel message of hope and the reality of love, don’t get it, and the isolated church keeps evangelizing the same people over and over until its only mission finally is to entertain itself.”
  Too often we can be so focused on the American Church, that we forget that the mission is the fields of the world. It’s astounding what God can do with just one Christ-follower committed to serving Him. For example, Peter Cameron Scott founded what is now known as the Africa Inland Mission near the end of the 19^th century. Few organizations have done more to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ on the African continent in the last century than AIM. A Washington Post article from 2015 says, “Over the past 100 years, Christians grew from less than 10% of Africa’s population to its nearly 500 million today. One out of four Christians in the world presently is in Africa, and the Pew Research Center estimates that will grow to 40 percent by 2030.” This incredible transformation on the African continent can be traced in a large part to Peter Cameron Scott and the Africa Inland Mission.
  But Peter Cameron Scott almost completely gave up his mission to spread the gospel across Africa before it even got going. He first went as a missionary to Africa as a young man but got Malaria and had to return to Britain to recover. In his second attempt, he brought his brother John with him to Africa. But John quickly became ill and died. Peter Cameron Scott buried his brother all alone in Africa and renewed his commitment to preach the gospel in Africa. Unfortunately, he became ill again and left Africa again. It seemed his dream was as good as dead. He might never return to Africa.
  However, when Peter Cameron Scott was recovering in London, he visited Westminster Abbey and visited the final resting place of David Livingstone, a pioneer missionary to Africa. And on Livingstone’s grave was written one verse…only one verse. When Peter Cameron Scott read that verse, the Lord gave him the courage, confidence, and resolve that he needed to return to Africa, preach the gospel there until his death, and found the Africa Inland Mission. “And I have other sheep who are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16). This verse had the power to fuel Peter Cameron Scott for a lifetime of frontier mission and it has the power to fuel us for a lifetime of global impact for the sake of the gospel.
  The idea of this verse is: Jesus’ worldwide mission, and your part in it, will succeed. That’s why Peter Cameron Scott went to Africa a third time and stayed until his death. That’s why we give our money, our prayers, our time, and our lives to Jesus’ worldwide saving purpose. Because Jesus’ worldwide mission, and your part in it, will succeed. And wouldn’t it be exciting if the Lord called someone from our church family to serve Him on the fields of the world?

Can we help you spiritually? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

 

Truly Helping the Poor

 

“We don’t have to have deep pockets or be rich to help the needy, the poor and the hungry, we need to have a heart.” Kevin Dcruz 

Did you hear the recent generosity story of New York Knicks’ 7-foot center, Mitchell Robinson? Butch Stockton was Robinson’s high school basketball coach. Butch’s wife, Dawn, recently died at the age of 70 after a battle with metastatic cancer. The Stocktons had been married for 31 years.
  According to the news article this NBA star, Mitchell Robinson, visited Dawn every day when she was in the hospital. Then, after her death he invited his former coach to move in with him. Robinson told him, “Coach, no reason to stay down here in Louisiana. You come to New York with me and enjoy yourself and get your mind back straight because you know how much you loved your wife.” I love stories like that!
  Christmas is the season of giving. The Lord Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Yet who and where do we give? We want to give wisely. There’s a world of difference between helping and enabling.
  Personally, I struggle with what to do when a homeless person asks me for money. A good friend who knows a lot about helping the homeless shared that the best thing to give is a granola bar. If they’re an addict, it’s not easily swapped for drugs. A granola bar is nutritious and easily stored.
  Then, because we have some locals who are virtually homeless and spend lots of time in the elements (most have mental health issues), I keep gift cards for fast food restaurants in my car to give away so that they can go someplace warm and get something to eat. Caring for the poor isn’t easy yet doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let me suggest some considerations.
  Begin with who you know, often that’s in the church, and move out from there. The Bible teaches that caring first starts with those suffering in our own families. If you have a relative who is a single parent or someone elderly with limited means or disabled, that’s a place to start. It doesn’t have to be money. For a single parent, babysitting or watching a child so they can shop or get a break can be huge. It might be simple house or car repairs. When you’re financially tight, you let things go. You can’t afford the repairs, but little repairs, if ignored, can turn into big ones.
  One of my greatest joys at Christmas was when Jane learned of a need and then gave money in my name to meet that need instead of buying me a Christmas gift. I’ll be honest, I can be as materialistic as anyone else yet there’s nothing that I really need. Giving always does a lot for my heart!
  Love and giving starts within our local church families. The early church, motivated by their love of Christ and the grace that God had shown them, lived an open-handed lifestyle, sharing with each other (Acts 2:44-45).
  Give to organizations that you know will use your gifts to help the poor, not for overhead.  Locally, I appreciate Love, Inc. and they’re part of our church’s budget. The Salvation Army seeks to directly touch the lives of the impoverished. There are others like reputable inner city rescue missions that are making a difference.
  So, do a little research before you give to a charity organization. The top executives at some charities earn over $1 million a year. Avoid giving to organizations where a major portion of their budget goes to administration or marketing, yet funds trickle down to those with real needs.
  Support government programs that help the disenfranchised. Speaking up for those who often have no one speaking for them can make a big difference. Many government programs have a good intention yet are not fully thought out and ultimately hurt the ones that they’re supposed to help.
  For example, 2024 marks the 60^th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson's launch of the War on Poverty. Since then, the taxpayers have spent $23 trillion on Johnson’s war. Adjusted for inflation, that's some three times the cost of all our wars since the American Revolution.
  Visit an urban area and it’s very apparent, we’re losing the “war.” Poverty is a very complex issue with complicated answers that require wisdom and courage on the part of elected officials. Sadly, most of them seem to be more concerned about being re-elected than doing what is best or right.
  Let me point out a popular cause that illustrates this. Most people have not thought through the long-term implications, particularly for the poor, of the eradication of fossil fuel vehicles. At the 2022 World Economic Forum leaders flew in on over 300 private jets. The carbon dioxide emissions from those flights were equal to 350,000 gasoline-powered cars on the road for the same weeklong period. Elites with jets and limousines shamelessly propose laws for others that have a limited effect on their own lifestyle.
  It’s growing more difficult for someone with limited means to own a home. With electric vehicles costing over $100k, it will soon be impossible for them to own a car, but a car is a source of freedom. The next time you drive past a group waiting for a bus on a cold day imagine living without one. A car gives you the freedom to live or work anywhere. If we care for the poor, we must question and evaluate kneejerk proposals where the long-term impact of those ideas make the lives of the poor more difficult.
  Look for simple, practical ways to make a difference.  Consider the options around you. Perhaps it’s volunteering at an after-school program, a soup kitchen or clothing pantry. Since Covid, many children are struggling with basic reading and math skills. They need assistance to catch up. Most schools have programs where a retiree or someone with some free time can volunteer a minimal amount yet make a big difference. There are more needs around you than you might realize. Ask God to give you eyes to see and a heart with compassion to serve!
  Remember, spiritual problems require spiritual solutions. Poverty is fundamentally a spiritual issue, so we’re wise to work with groups that recognize this truth. Look for organizations committed to proclaiming the gospel, even as they minister to the many needs of the economically challenged. Assisting the poor yet failing to minister to their spiritual needs helps them only for this brief life. We must never forget that Jesus died to save us from sin and provide the only way to heaven for all eternity!

Can we help you spiritually? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

 

Keep on Growing!

“The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.”  Jean-Paul Sartre

  Two elderly ladies had been friends since their 30’s. Now in their 80’s, they still got together a couple of times a week to play cards. One day they were playing gin rummy and one of them said, “You know, we’ve been friends for many years and, please don't get mad, but for the life of me, I can't remember your name. Please tell me what it is.” Her friend glared at her. She continued to glare and stare at her for several minutes. Finally, she said, “How soon do you need to know?”

  We all grow old. It’s inescapable. If you want a picturesque description of aging, read Ecclesiastes 12:1-7. The Bible points out though that there is a major difference between growing old chronologically and maturing. Sadly, some never seem to grow up. That’s an even greater tragedy when that individual is a believer. Though they may have known the Lord for years or decades, they’re stunted spiritually.

  Did you know that it’s only in the spiritual realm that we can keep growing and improving? Our bodies and minds begin to break down with age, but our spirits can continue to grow, improve and mature.

  It is truly a tragedy though when a Christian grows old, but doesn’t grow up. While their physical age increases, spiritually they remain babies in Christ. There’s little to differentiate between them and those who committed their lives to Christ in the last few weeks. Part of that lack of growth is that many believe the Christian life is merely having your ticket punched for heaven. It’s not. Jesus didn’t just save us so we could go to heaven. He saved us so that we would grow and be more and more like Him. If you’re not growing more Christlike, then you’re missing God’s will for your life and the fulfilling, abundant life that God wants to give you (John 10:10). What are some needed steps for growing up spiritually?

  It begins with humility. If most listed out the sins that God hates the most, pride might not even make the list. Yet, pride is the first sin on the list of traits that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-17). Pride isn’t something that annoys God. It’s a sin that He won’t tolerate. God does more than hate pride. It’s so offensive that He actually “resists the proud,” while, in contrast, He “gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). You can’t be a Christian without humbling yourself and you can’t be a healthy, growing one without humility. Growth requires a humble, teachable attitude.

  An indication of spiritual arrogance is when we don’t believe that we need to study God’s Word or be under Its teaching. It’s when we do little more than acquire more knowledge but there’s no growth or life change. Arrogance prevents us from having an open mind and listening ear to the Spirit teaching us or fellow-believers who recognize sin or something lacking spiritually in our lives, and love us enough to want to help us grow. Humility is essential for spiritual growth. It’s the place we must begin.  

  It requires habitually renewing your mind. A continual theme of Scripture is the command for the believer to faithfully “renew” his or her mind (Romans 12:2). That simply means that we proactively work to have a biblical worldview. You can’t have a biblical worldview unless you’re faithfully reading Scripture. It’s tragic that while Christians from other generations were martyred so we could have God’s Word in our own hands and language and today believers in anti-Christian countries risk their lives to have a copy of Scripture, American believers rarely read the Bible.

  If you want to grow spiritually, reading God’s Word needs to be a daily discipline. To fail to read God’s Word faithfully is like going on a trip to a place you’ve never been without a map or GPS. Scripture acts like a mirror to help us correct the one we know best – ourselves (James 1:23). The Bible is God’s Love Letter to His children telling them everything that they need for this life and the one to come.

  Part of renewing your mind is also prayer. It’s much more than praying for myself, temporal/physical needs or even for my biological family. The greatest needs are spiritual health. Why would someone be so foolish to pray for physical blessing for their loved ones and fail to pray for their spiritual health…or that they would know Christ? Praying biblically means praying for the advancement of God’s Kingdom in my life and this world. It’s praying His will would be done.

  It requires growing in my giving. When someone mentions giving in a church setting, most foolishly think only of money. For us as rich Americans, giving money primarily helps us grow in grace because it combats the materialism and lack of faith in God’s provision that are terrible spiritual maladies in our culture.

  Many of us struggle more when it comes to giving time rather than money. To be candid, it’s much easier to write a check than spend an hour or two listening to a child or elderly saint. It’s easier to pay someone else to do a repair than to partner with another believer so that more than the repair is done – we grow in fellowship and community. We wrongly think serving is getting a job done. Serving is to have a togetherness aspect.

  And something that’s totally biblical, yet counter-cultural – we must grow in gratitude. In many ways what does someone who doesn’t know the Lord have to be thankful for. Yet, for a believer what do we have that we can’t be thankful for. Even trials and suffering are being used by God to help us grow spiritually. The worst of this world is temporary. Habitual praise begins as part of our thinking (Phil. 4:8). It starts with praising our Heavenly Father for His countless blessings. After-all, He doesn’t owe us anything. Then, turn your gratitude toward those closest to you – your family and spiritual family. One trait that makes our witness so impotent to a lost world is that we are so much like the world in our grumbling and so unlike what we are to be as citizens of another world in our gratitude. 
  You can’t stop aging. As a believer, you can choose to grow spiritually. It will make all the difference, so please keep growing.

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Generosity and Stephen King

“No man was ever endowed with a right without being at the same time saddled with a responsibility.”  Gerald W. Johnson

Bestselling author, Stephen King, is most famous as the writer of horror novels. Sometime back he spoke to the graduates of Vassar College and offered some profound advice:

  “A couple of years ago I found out what ‘you can’t take it with you’ means. I found out while I was lying in a ditch at the side of a country road, covered with mud and blood and with the tibia of my right leg poking out the side of my jeans like a branch of a tree taken down in a thunderstorm. I had a MasterCard in my wallet, but when you’re lying in a ditch with broken glass in your hair, no one accepts MasterCard. We all know life is fleeting, but on that particular day and in the months that followed, I got a painful but extremely valuable look at life’s simple backstage truths. We come in naked and broke. We may be dressed when we go out, but we’re just as broke. Warren Buffet? Going to go out broke. Bill Gates? Going out broke. Tom Hanks? Going out broke. Steve King? Broke. Not carrying a dime. 

  All the money you earn, all the stocks you buy, all the mutual funds you trade—all of that is mostly smoke and mirrors. It’s still going to be a quarter past getting late whether you tell time on a Timex or a Rolex. No matter how large your bank account, no matter how many credit cards you have, sooner or later things will begin to go wrong with the only three things you have that you can really call your own: your body, your spirit and your mind.

  So I want you to consider making your life one long gift to others. And why not? All you have is on loan anyway. All that lasts is what you pass on….We have the power to help, the power to change. And why should we refuse? Because we’re going to take it with us? Please. Giving is a way of taking the focus off the money we make and putting it back where it belongs—on the lives we lead, the families we raise and the communities that nurture us.”

  Wow! Not exactly the stuff you’d expect to come out of Stephen King’s mouth. “A life of giving—not just money, but time and spirit—repays.”

  We’re now officially in the “giving season,” yet giving is something that most of us struggle with. American culture is about getting not giving. Rarely, does someone downsize…until maybe they’re nearing the end of life. Instead, they expand for that promotion, upgrade to that next car, go on a more expensive vacation, and purchase a better media center or cell phone. It’s about getting more space, more me-time, more down time and recreation for me. We’re much better at getting than giving. Giving is an afterthought for most of us, getting is a top priority.

  Be honest. When was the last time that you wrote down a giving goal? When was the last time you dreamed about how much you can give away? When was the last time that you even prayed about being able to give more? Or, when was the last time you excused, rationalized, or justified what you’re giving now because you feel guilty? Perhaps you justified not giving at all.

  What about giving away time? Do you look for ways to serve, to help, to minister to others? When was the last time you volunteered? Or, when you are asked, do you open your mental file, looking for that “answer” that will get you off the hook yet not make you look self-absorbed?

  Getting is the American way; it’s just not God’s way. And the more that we know God, the more that we love Him, the closer we walk with Him, then the more that we will be like Him. God is the epitome of generosity.

  Unbeknownst to him, Stephen King is simply echoing what the Bible teaches over and over again. It’s generosity that gives purpose and meaning to our lives. Whereas, getting leaves us empty and feeling meaningless.

  Think of the people that you know who are truly generous. Aren’t they usually characterized by joy, contentment, a spirit of gratitude? Others are drawn to them. Yet, what about those focused on getting? Usually, you will find that they are critical, complaining and discontent. They are miserable and miserable to be around.

  No wonder Jesus said that it’s more blessed to give than to receive. Do we believe that? To be blessed is to be happy. Giving generously brings greater happiness than stockpiling for ourselves. If it’s true that we’re more blessed when we give than when we receive, then it’s reasonable to expect blessing when we give to God’s purposes. Giving generously to God’s kingdom allows us to lay up treasures in heaven. These treasures are part of our rewards as Christ-followers and one of the many blessings of a life of generosity.

  More importantly, our generosity makes a difference for the cause of Christ. Lives, eternal destinations can be changed for eternity as a result of the money and time we give back to God. Changing lives is one of the reasons we exist. As long as we’re on the earth God has a purpose for us. Ephesians 2:10. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The message is clear. We’re created and regenerated in Christ to do good works—and part of those good works includes helping others to fall in love with Jesus. We do this one-on-one with people we come in contact with. One of the best ways to reach those who do not yet know Christ is through our giving. Our generosity allows us to partner with other believers so that together we change the world for Jesus Christ.

  To become generous requires a work of God’s grace. Generosity is unnatural. God must change us from our natural selfish inclination so that we become generous and become more like Jesus. 2 Corinthians 8 tells of this inner transformation in a group of Christ-followers in Macedonia. These believers were very poor, yet despite their poverty, they’re one of the most beautiful models of generosity in Scripture.

  It is impossible to grow to spiritual maturity until we become generous. There’s a spiritual axiom that says Jesus can have our money and time and not have our heart, but Jesus cannot have our heart without our money and time. God wants us to excel in every area including the grace of giving. 

  Grace-giving is motivated by gratitude to God for the gift of His Son and for His work in us. In response to all that He has done we give ourselves fully to Jesus Christ. Then, in response, as an act of worship, we give generously to advance the cause of Christ. In the end being generous will bless us infinitely more than we ever dreamed. Jesus was right: It is much more blessed to give than to receive! Do you really believe that? Then, show it! 

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI -- 262.534.3500. 

God's Christmas gift cures me of my Grinch

“Christmas is the season for giving.” Oftentimes, particularly at this time of year, we hear that phrase, “Christmas is the season of giving.” But what does that really mean? How do we even know what giving really is? Are there levels of giving? What’s truly generous giving?

            Personally, I’m very thankful for the work of the Salvation Army and their famous red kettles, particularly during the Christmas Season. Yet, is it really giving when I reach into my pocket, throwing in whatever change I happen to find readily available? Or, if I’m more serious, in this credit card age, I open my wallet to dole out a few bucks. Is that truly giving? It probably won’t alter my lifestyle. There’s nothing that I will do without because I gave, though it is still a gift on my part, in that I did not owe anything and did not receive any services or benefits for my “gift.” And though I may throw something in…I find that I am sometimes annoyed with the hassle. There is more natural Grinch in my soul than Christlike generosity.

I believe that giving, generous and sacrificial giving happens when we have seen it modeled. It’s commonly know that one of the best ways to learn is to not be verbally taught or to read about what you wish to learn, but to have it modeled by someone who is already proficient in it.

For example, this time of year, I always become reminiscent of yesterday. While my family always celebrated Christmas, more often than not, they were Christmases you’d sooner want to forget. My Dad was always angry and miserable to be around at Christmas. My Mom would nearly always cry…almost every Christmas. Money flowed. There were many big ticket items but it was about “getting” never about “giving.” That came through in my own heart as I would compare what I “got” compared to my siblings and particularly compared to my neighbors. Whereas, I would get a bike, my neighbor would get a mini-bike. If I received a set of plastic hot wheels that I’d be thrilled with it…until I saw that he had received an electric race track.   

It wasn’t until I left home and had found a new one that I began to truly understand the meaning of Christmas. I can remember a small house in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, a parsonage. It was there for the first time that I saw love and giving truly modeled at Christmas. Dave and Mary Cummins welcomed me into their home as their “quasi” adopted son. They didn’t have a lot of money and lived fairly simply. There were five nearly adult daughters and a growing number of son in-laws when I entered the picture. In my biological home, I rushed down the stairs with my sisters to see what Santa had brought ME. In the Cummins’ home, Dad would sit in his easy chair, the family would gather, and Dad with his rich bass voice would read the familiar Christmas account from Luke 2. Then, presents would be distributed to delighted “oohs” and “aahs.” None of the gifts were spectacular. Some were even home made. Mom Cummins made me my first robe which I wore for years. It was a Christmas gift. Others who had no family or place to go would soon join us around the Christmas dinner table that day. It was there though that for the very first time that I saw love and generosity modeled. Truly a “God bless us everyone” scene. And I, maybe for the first time, saw giving and love modeled.

It struck me though that only someone who has met Jesus, only someone who is a Christian and seen sacrificial giving can fully understand sacrificial giving and then begin to give as they have been given. Most give out of their abundance. Their lifestyle is not altered, there is no true sacrifice on their part. Their giving rarely inconveniences them.

Jesus, when He entered time and space, as God the Father’s first Christmas gift, modeled for us everything that true giving is all about. No wonder the Apostle Paul cried out with a heart overwhelmed by gratitude, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

God’s gift was planned. When our first parents disobeyed God and sinned in the Garden, God promised that He would send a gift to fix it (Genesis 3:15). His gift would cure them of sin, guilt and death – the curse of sin. God’s gift was inconvenient though perfectly timed. Jesus, leaving the glories of Heaven, to come to earth to be born in a manger. Perfect heaven for sin-filled earth…divine love motivated such a gift. God’s gift was sacrificial. Jesus was born to die. Even at His birth, He was wrapped in “swaddling clothes,” not royal robes befitting a king. “Swaddling clothes” were used to wrap corpses before burying the body. God the Father knew that His Son would end His life on this earth by dying a horrible death, one that’s unimaginable to most of us…the painful death of a common criminal on a cross. And yet, knowing what would transpire in just a matter of three decades, His angels were still sent to announce to a dark, oppressed world that was about to miss out on the arrival of the first Christmas gift: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” That angel was joined by “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!’” (Luke 2:10-14). It was God who first modeled true Christmas giving.

Last night, I felt that God gave me a peek at what normally happens when those who have met Jesus, those who have seen and comprehended God’s sacrificial gift for them, and have accepted God’s Christmas gift of His Son for them, how they in turn can’t hardly help but respond with generosity. It explains a Dave and Mary Cummins. It explains a church family in tough economic times, even after many of them have already stretched financially, giving once again generously.

My church, Grace Church, the church God has given me the privilege of pastoring for twenty-five years now, has just come through a major capital campaign. We’ve asked our church family to commit and give beyond their means so that we can build a new building, a new “tool” to be used for the glory of God. Yet, like every church family, we have some families with deep needs. And it seems that those needs are always felt even deeper at Christmas. We wanted to do a special offering at our Christmas Eve service with all of the money given to help those families.

One of our church leaders was hesitant (and rightfully so). We’ve asked for a lot over the course of the last few months. We’ve asked our church family to give generously and sacrificially…and they have.

Yet, last night, they did it again. Even though we’re not a huge church, even though we did not have a huge crowd with folk already out of town or with family, our church family dug deep…more than I would have ever imagined. And we were able to take some needed gifts to some needy families in our church.

But the story doesn’t end there. Last night at one of our services, I learned that a single lady in our church was going to spend Christmas all alone. To me, one who has spent too many Christmases alone, that’s just wrong. Our family is beginning vacation. It started after the service last night. My wife and our three children graciously and willingly give as part of our church all of the time. Yet, I knew that this wasn’t right and though it might be a little bit of inconvenience, I was going to ask my wife after the service to see if it would be okay if we added a place at our own Christmas dinner table. Yet, before I could have that conversation, I learned that another church family had already invited her to join theirs.

Yes, Christmas is the season of giving. And it’s true, you do not have to know Christ to give generously and sacrificially. Some do. Yet, when you have been given so much from a loving God who owed you nothing. When you’ve seen giving modeled in heavenly proportions…how can you do any less and how could you not desire to give more and more. It’s the supernatural outcome…because you are the recipient of God’s greatest gift, His Son, Jesus.

Giving from the heart...not because you have to

“Man sees your actions, but God your motives.” Thomas à Kempis

Okay, now that Christmas and the Christmas shopping season are here, can I make a little confession? Many years Jane and I make a deal on how much we’re going to spend on each other and what the budget is. When it comes to Jane, I’m a “dirty” dealmaker. We’ll set a certain amount and Jane will honor it, BUT it nearly kills me. And I nearly always break our deal. Why? Well, I love giving gifts to Jane. I love making her happy….because I love Jane and I am so thankful for her! I consider myself one of the most blessed men in the world.

  I agree with Winston Churchill’s classic line. Towards the end of his life, when Churchill was honored at a banquet, someone asked him, “If you could come back as anyone after you die, who would it be?” He thought for a second, stood up, turned to his wife, and said, “Mrs. Churchill’s second husband.”  One of my biggest regrets over the course of my life is that I haven’t done more for Jane during our thirty plus years of marriage. Remember that line from It’s a Wonderful life: “George lassoes the moon for Mary.” If I could, I’d lasso the moon for Jane.

  Though there are many reasons that I love giving Jane gifts and doing things for her, two stand out in my mind. First, Jane gives and gives and gives so much to me. I want to give; I want do things for Jane. Second, Jane is thankful for everything and every gift that I give her.

  One of the frustrations and even exasperations for many of us at Christmas are the obligatory gifts. Those are gifts that you feel you have to give, yet don’t necessarily want to give. Sometimes your family has a huge gift giving tradition that probably should be retired now that everyone is grown and the list of relatives who you’re purchasing gifts for has become onerous. You hardly know your second cousin’s wife and other than Christmas, never see them or have any contact with them, yet still there is that pressure to have a gift for them. Or, you have a co-worker who daily wears on your last nerve but every year they bring you a gift. You find that you feel obligated to give them a gift in return. But guilt and obligation are terrible motivations for gift giving. Rather than feeling joyful that we can give, we find that we feel resentful.

  It’s the difference between Law and Grace, or even tithing and grace-giving. Under the Law or Old Covenant, Jews were required to tithe. It was obligatory. It was something like a tax. It’s obvious that they began resent it and obeyed the letter of the Law but missed the spirit of the Law. For example, Jews were required to bring an animal sacrifice in worship to God. They obeyed the letter of the Law, but began bringing rejects from their flocks. Malachi 1:8 records God’s rebuke of this practice, “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor?” The people of Malachi’s day were giving God the leftovers. They had no use for a blind, lame, or sick animal, so they’ d give it to God. But God tells them that He’d rather that they close the doors of the Temple than to have them offer these junk and cheap sacrifices to Him.

  Can you imagine a husband going down to the local thrift store to buy his wife a Christmas gift? He doesn’t even go to the higher quality displays but goes to the bargain bin to find his wife her gift. And then he’s surprised that her response is a little south of less than thrilled with his junky gift.

  Our culture takes for granted that which is free. But just because something is free doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s cheap. Salvation is a free gift. You cannot earn it or pay for it. You can only accept it freely, BUT it cost God everything. It cost the Father the life of His beloved Son. Once you accept such a precious gift, it demands everything you have in response. And when you recognize that you are not your own, you were bought with a price, and that all that you have has been freely given to you by God, how can you hold back anything from Him?

  The only thing that a holy God owes us is His justice and judgment. Instead, He freely gave His own Son to die on the Cross for us. God’s justice was satisfied as our judgment was poured out on Jesus. He died in our place and took our Hell. Is it any wonder that Paul says of God’s gift for our salvation? “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, NASV).

  When I begin to comprehend how much I am loved by God and how gracious and generous God has been with me, giving back to God becomes one of the greatest joys of my life. I love to give because I am giving in gratitude. And I proactively look for ways that I can give more.

  Somehow though in the Church we’ve communicated that giving is similar to courtesy. For example, frequently we teach children to say please and thank you as a matter of courtesy—as a way of teaching them how to get along in society. It’s the price they must pay to get their milk and cookies. We’re more concerned with the outward performance of good manners than we are with true gratitude.

  There’s a great chasm of difference between giving thanks and having a thankful heart. Our Heavenly Father cares more about thankfulness that flows from the inside out than obedience we wear like a cheap suit. We have missed the gratitude that God desires in our giving when we focus on a tithe, or worse, wonder if we tithe on the gross or the net.

  Giving is an act of worship. It’s demonstrating gratitude to the One who has given so greatly to us that it will take us all of eternity just to begin to thank Him. If we want to receive the blessing that God wants us to receive from giving, rather than hearing it as a command, we need to hear it as an invitation. It’s our opportunity to say thank you back to God for His love and generosity to us. God is honored (and we are healthiest) when our hearts and minds flow naturally with His and we give from a heart overflowing with gratitude and generosity just as His does toward us.

High pressure giving tactics are just wrong!!

“It's so easy to manipulate an audience, but it's nearly always clear that you are being manipulated.”  John Boorman

  Do you hate feeling pressured? Manipulated? I know I do. Usually, I find that if I feel I’m being manipulated, either I react negatively. Or, if I don’t discover it until after the fact, then I feel used and taken advantage…and even resentful. Most of us feel that way.

  Some years ago when Jane and I were living in Detroit, we were in the market for a new car. If you’re like me, car shopping rates right up there with visits to the dentist, tax audits and jury duty. After negotiating with a salesman, his sales manager thought that he’d give us a shove to close the deal. So across the showroom, he yells at me, “Mr. Carson, what will it take for us to close this deal and sell you a car?” And I very quietly responded, “I don’t know. I do know though that I won’t have that conversation with you across the middle of this showroom.” Then, Jane and I thanked our salesman, hurriedly left and never went back. I didn’t know where I was going to buy a car BUT I did know where I wasn’t going to buy a car. None of us like to feel we’re being pressured or manipulated.

  At Grace Church, we’re committed to the biblical reality that every square inch of our life belongs to God. There’s nothing that any of us possess or own that was not given to us by God. That means that how we handle our possessions generally and our money specifically – how we spend it, where we give it and how much we give is supremely spiritual. It’s a matter of obedience and faithfulness between every believer and the Lord Jesus.

  Please write this on your heart – when you give at Grace Church – you are not giving to Grace Church. Our church just happens to be the place in time and history that God has brought you to where you are worshipping the Lord with your gifts. All giving is to God. It’s why we call it an “offering.” It’s being offered to God and our giving should reflect our love, gratitude and obedience to Jesus.

  If someone gives because they’ve been manipulated, besides being spiritually unethical, God will not bless it. This is a spiritual work and your commitment and giving to our campaign, Building Changed Lives Together, must first be a work of the heart. Each one of us needs to give because we love Jesus and believe that our gift is His will and honors Him.

  That’s why we’re so committed to the commitments for our Building Changed Lives Together campaign being confidential. Just two individuals in our church will know what you’ve committed: Dave Thompson and Jackie Strelow. And this is important; they’ll only know what you’ve committed, so that we can plan for the future based on the total of everyone’s commitments. If you’re situation should change between your commitment and when you’re able to give it, we’d appreciate it if you would please let one of them know. But they will never know how much you give. Only our Financial Secretary knows that information so that we can give you a receipt for your gift, so that you can receive tax credit for your giving with the IRS.

  We believe that this is very, very important. If anyone feels pressure, we do not want it to be from our church. If the Holy Spirit is tugging on your heart and urging you to give, that’s fine. It’s between you and the Lord. We’re working to make sure that you know what’s at stake, that we believe that this is God’s will and what we believe that God is calling us to do. BUT there is no pressure. No one is going to call you up or come to your house, and put the squeeze on you in any way for a commitment.

  We also don’t want to know who gives what because that might tempt us with pride. Pride is so pervasive and tempting. We want to make sure that your reward for your commitment lasts forever and is out of this world (Matthew 6:1-4) because only God really knows.

  There are many ways that churches raise money. And committed Christians differ on some of this and use various methods. We believe that whatever God has given to you is yours to use and dispense as you see fit, hopefully in a way that honors the Lord. For example, Inspiration Ministries has an annual auction of items donated to their ministry, (cars, boats, collectibles, etc). That’s a wonderful and creative way to raise capital. Some people donate collectibles, stocks or even property to a church that the church can then sell to raise money. Many Christians leave money or property in their estate to the church. Some establish trust funds to benefit a certain ministry, usually in a special way.

  Some churches have big fund raisers. They’ll have a Vegas night or some other money making event that will financially benefit both the church and the participants. Some form of gambling is used. But the Christian life is a life of faith. It’s anything but a gamble. We rest in the promises of God.

  Others have big dinners, car washes or some other benefit, and either charge or ask for donations. At Grace, we truly do not want to judge what others do. We’re just very hesitant to do anything that might somehow communicate that the Gospel is for sale. We believe our financial responsibilities are the responsibilities of the people of faith. If those who do not know the Lord want to give to our church, we’re not going to prohibit them. BUT we don’t want to solicit it. Their greatest need and our greatest desire for them is for them to receive God’s free gift of salvation. Salvation can never be purchased. It’s all of grace and we’d rather never have a building, than have someone miss the wonderful gift of salvation because they confused it with some donation to our ministry.

  And just as none of us would go to our neighbors asking them to contribute toward our child’s college fund, we believe that our new building, as well as our normal bills are our responsibility.

  2 Corinthians 9 records a “fund raising” plan in the early church. At Grace, we are committed to seeking to please God even as we seek to encourage giving. We believe that growth in giving and generosity is spiritual work and helps us mature in our faith. We also want to live out the words found of 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We truly want you to give to our Building Changed Lives Together joyfully, knowing that you’re not giving it to Grace Church. You’re giving it to King Jesus who died on the cross for our sins! It’s truly a gift of love and gratitude!