Worldliness — Media (Part 2)

Yesterday I shared with you some thoughts from a powerful book, WORLDLINESS – Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World.

Pastor Craig Cabanis, who wrote the chapter, God, My Heart, and the media, quoting pastor Kent Hughes says:

“Today the all-pervasive glow of the television set is the single most potent influence and control in Western culture. Television has greater power over the lives of most Americans than any educational system, government or church.”

So how do we bring control in our lives in regards to the things we watch (TV, DVD’s, movies, etc) so that we don’t get sucked into the world and all its powerful allurements?

Pastor Cabanis offers a series of questions that are worth our consideration:

Time Questions
* Am I skipping or delaying something important in order to watch this now?
* What are my other social/entertainment options besides watching television or going out to see a movie?
* How much time have I already spent on media today?
* How much time have I spent surfing the Internet? How much time have I spent blogging or maintaining an online presence through social network sites?
* In the last week, how much time have I spent on the spiritual disciplines, building relationships, or serving in my local church compared to time spent consuming media?
* After investing the time to view this, will I look back on it as time well spent?

Heart Questions
* Why do I want to watch this program or movie? What do I find entertaining about it?
* Am I seeking to escape from something I should be facing by watching this? Am I seeking comfort or relief that can be found only in God?
* What sinful temptations will this program or film present?
* Do I secretly want to view something in it that’s sinful? Am I deceiving myself by saying, “I’ll fast-forward through the bad parts?”
* Similarly, am I telling myself, “I’ll just visit this website once, and I won’t click on any other links I find there?”
* Am I watching because I am bored or lazy? If so, what does that reveal about my heart?
* Am I watching simply because others are? Am I trying to be relevant or to fit in?
* How have my online relationships impacted my face-to-face relationships? How has my online activity impacted my soul? For better or worse?
* What motivates me to create and maintain a blog, Myspace or Facebook presence? Am I attempting to impress others? Am I being prideful, slanderous, deceitful, or self-righteous?

Good questions, my brothers. They have sure caused me to think. I trust you will give serious consideration to them. Tomorrow I will give you his list of CONTENT questions. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 9; Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1

A quote worth thinking about: We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and cancelling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves, perhaps – reading the Bible….. it is part of the discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can perform a service and we do not assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Can’t make our Men’s Fellowship Night tonight? Watch it live right from our website. The program will air around 7:15 PM — http://www.americaskeswick.org

Worldliness and the Media – Part 1

“Do not love the world or anything in the world …” 1 John 2:15 (NIV)

I really tried to hang with the debate last night – but it was putting me to sleep. Don’t shoot me or write letters. The good news is that I was reading C. J. Mahaney’s book on “Worldliness” and that helped.

Chapter 2 was written by Craig Cabaniss and is entitled: “God, My Heart and Media.” This chapter was powerful in many ways. Craig shares the power of the media and the damaging effects of it on our lives. There is an erosion that takes place that can be disastrous if we are not careful.

He reminds us that in everything we do and WATCH we are doing so “before the face of God.” “All aspects of our existence – from private thoughts to public words and actions – are lived out before His face. Properly regarded, living “before the face of God” arouses our fear of God … We make our choices – with God’s holy face in view. It’s not the gaze of our pastor, parent, fellow small group member, or unbelieving neighbor that matters most. We’re accountable to God in ALL things, including our entertainment … God is holy, and we are not.”1

“Before the face of God” – we realize we are in trouble – our eyes have lusted, our imaginations have trespassed, our time has been squandered. We must run to the cross where God’s holiness and mercy intersect decisively. “Before the face of God,” – we find grace. Grace that forgives. Grace that empowers us to change. Grace that leads us to desire and pursue obedience. Any discussion of biblical obedience, including entertainment guidelines, must spring from a robust understanding of grace.”2

“Applied to our entertainment, God-pleasing discernment involves remembering his grace to us in the death and resurrection of our Savior, then responding to his grace with a heart eager to please him by taking pleasure in what is good and right and true. Discerning what pleases the Lord requires critically evaluating media content at all times.”3

I want to share with you the next couple of days, the guidelines that Craig suggests that address time, heart, and content issues in regards to our handling media in our lives. I liked the questions he suggests we ask, as I believe it is an area in which many of us not only struggle, but have made subtle compromises.

As always, I welcome the opportunity to dialog with you. Watch for the questions/guidelines tomorrow and Friday. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 8; Isaiah 30-31; Philippians 4

A quote worth pondering: The habit of judging is so nearly incurable, and its cure is such an almost interminable process, that we must concentrate ourselves for a long while on keeping it in check, and this check is to be found in kind interpretations. We must come to esteem very lightly our sharp eye for evil, on which perhaps we once prided ourselves as cleverness. We must look at our talent for analysis of character as a dreadful possibility of huge uncharitableness. We are sure to continue to say clever things, so long as we continue to indulge in this analysis; and clever things are equally sure to be sharp and acid. We must grow to something higher, and something truer, than a quickness in detecting evil. — Frederick W. Faber

You still have time to register for our Men’s Fellowship on Thursday night with Chaplain Jim Freed. Call today for information and registration. Come and bring a friend.

Notes: 1/2/3 – C. J. Mahaney, “Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World” (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008)

WORLDLINESS

“Do not love the world or anything in the world …” 1 John 2:15

I just started reading a book that I think is going to be added to my “must read” list. It is simply called “Worldliness – Resisting the Seduction of This Fallen World.” The book is written by C. J. Mahaney and is published by Crosseway.

The premise of the book is that we as Christians have allowed worldliness to creep into our lives in ways that we haven’t even thought about. And we find ourselves loving the world more than we could have dreamed or imagined.

C.J. Mahaney writes: “A love for the world begins in the soul. It’s subtle, not always immediately obvious to others, and often undetected by the people who are slowly succumbing to its lies. It begins with a dull conscience and a listless soul. Sin does not grieve us like it once did. Passion for the Savior begins to cool. Affections grow dim. Excitement lessens for participating in the church, Eagerness to evangelize starts to wane. Growth in godliness slows to a crawl … The person who was once genuinely passionate for Christ -like Demas – is, over time, taken captive by sin.”

Quoting from Joel Beeke, Mahaney says, “the goal of worldly people is to move forward rather than upward, to live horizontally rather than vertically. They seek after outward prosperity rather than holiness. They burst with selfish desires rather than heartfelt supplications. If they do not deny God, they ignore and forget him, or else they use Him only for their selfish ends. Worldliness … is human nature without God!”

Here are some questions to determine if you are struggling in this area:

1. What dominates your mind and stirs your heart?
2. Is it discontentment with your life?
3. Longings for earthly pleasures?
4. Does prosperity appeal to you more than growth in godliness?
5. Is your prayer life characterized by heartfelt supplications for God’s will to be done and his kingdom to come?
6. Do you relate to God as if he exists to further your selfish ambitions or are you convinced that you exists to glorify him?
7. Are you trying to live without God?
8. Do you covet the esteem and crave the approval of those around you?
9. Do you go to great lengths to avoid looking foolish or being rejected for your Christian faith?
10. Do you consider present and material results more important than eternal reward?
11. Have you departed from God and adopted idols instead?
12. Are you at war with God?

Interesting questions. In fact, they will help diagnose whether or not worldliness has crept into our hearts. C.J. reminds us that “worldliness does not consist in our outward behavior, though our actions can certainly be an EVIDENCE of worldliness within. But the real location of worldliness is INTERNAL. It resides in my heart.

I am taking a long, hard look at this in my own life right now. How about you? Take some time today and think through the twelve questions. How’s your heart? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 7; Isaiah 28-29; Philippians 3

A Quote Worth Considering: One day as he was walking by the sea, he saw a small boy who, with the help of a shell, was emptying water from the ocean into a hole he had dug in the sand. “What are you doing, son?” asked Augustine. He was impressed by the naive answer, “I’m going to empty all the sea into this hole.” Augustine smiled. An inner voice, however, was saying to him, “You are trying to do the same thing by thinking you can understand the depths of God with your limited mind. — Augustine

THEY WERE MICAH 6:8 MEN

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before our God.” Micah 6:8

Two of my dear friends went home to be with Jesus this weekend. Pastor Ken Campbell and I have been friends for over 30+ years. We met when we worked together at East Coast Christian Book Distributors (one of the first Amazons!) which was owned by Philadelphia Biblical University.

Ken was a faithful pastor for many years and during my years at Sandy Cove and America’s KESWICK, our friendship was strengthened. Ken was a great husband and dad, and has certainly walked through some challenging times including the tragic death of his sixteen year old daughter who was killed in an automobile accident.

Ken was a man whose life was characterized by Micah 6:8. He love people. He always believed in mercy. And he certainly modeled for me what it means to walk humbly before our God. This summer Ken had a massive heart attack, and never fully recovered from the subsequent surgery and rehab. He went home to be with Jesus on Friday morning.

Last night we received word that our friend Mr. Steve Deichert went home to be with Jesus. Steve and I worked on the ministry team both at Sandy Cove and America’s KESWICK. Steve was an amazing discipler and mentor for hundreds of teens who served on the staff at Sandy Cove. He poured his life into “his” kids. To many of them, Mr. Steve was the Dad they never had. He attended their games, had them over to his house after work for snacks, gave counsel when necessary, and even was the strong disciplinarian at times.

Steve loved Jesus and people. He too, was a Micah 6:8 man! He was a great role model for all of us. Steve had a brain aneurysm that ruptured this summer and had some physical challenges related to heart trouble and diabetes. Last night around 8:00 PM, he slipped quietly into the hands of Jesus.

Both of these guys had a huge impact on my life. I will miss them dearly. Lord, may I follow their example and be a Micah 6:8 man, too. I pray that for all my brothers today who will read this Freedom Fighter. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 6; Isaiah 26-27; Philippians 2

Great Quote: For most of our lives, we are so filled with good things that we don’t have room for the best. While the sun gleams brightly over the sea of our prosperity, making its gentle waters glisten like diamonds, we find comfort in many things. But when the storm comes, turning the waves into dark, frightening cliffs which threaten to take us under, we find the most precious treasure of all, “Immanuel, God with us.” — Greg Wright

This Thursday is our first Men’s Fellowship Night of the new season. Join us for a great meal and a time of lively worship and a message from God’s WORD. Chaplain Jim Freed, Director of Men’s Addiction Recovery Ministries at America’s KESWICK, will be our speaker. Dinner starts at 6:15 PM. Please call today and register (732-350-1187 ext. 22) and bring a friend.

“The Fine Art of Waiting”

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7)

Yesterday’s Freedom Fighter addressed the issue of being still and waiting in the Lord’s presence. Our verse today has a strong relationship to Psalm 46:10 that tells us to “Be still and know that I am God.” Both speak of the need for God’s people to live patiently, quietly and confidently in the presence of the Lord.

Most of us aren’t too good at resting. We run from daylight to dark and cram more into one day than we ought to put in a week. We live as though everything depends on us. It’s as though God can’t do anything unless we run ourselves ragged. Many of us think we don’t have time to be still . . . to wait . . . to rest in the Lord.

What does it get us, all this rushing and working? It doesn’t draw us any closer to the Lord. It doesn’t nurture our relationship with Jesus. It does make us tired. It does make us weak. It does make us less than God designed us to be. How do I know this? I know it by experience, and I know it by the instruction of the Word of God.

When I work so many hours that I don’t have time to rest, to be still, to wait, I end up weaker rather than stronger. Neglecting time with God doesn’t help me accomplish more of what is genuinely important. On the contrary, a lack of time with God makes me less effective in just about every area of my life. Jesus knew that when He told us in John 15: 5, “. . . for without Me, you can do nothing.”

The context in John 15 is the same as Psalm 37 and Psalm 46. In Jesus’ words we think of abiding. In the psalmist’s words we think of resting, waiting and stillness. If we genuinely hunger for deeper fellowship and a closer relationship with the Lord, we must make time to be still and rest in His presence. We’ll learn things in the stillness that we’ll never learn by “being busy for the Lord.”

The Word of God assures us that carving out time to be in God’s presence is worth the effort. Will you join me in finding fifteen or twenty minutes a day this week to sit quietly in the Lord’s presence? Allow God’s Spirit to minister to you and guide your thinking during that time. You’ll never know what God might do in your life unless you give Him the time. – John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist of Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 4; Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 6

Great Quote: He that is down needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride; He that is humble, ever shall have God to be his Guide. — John Bunyan

“Watch with Me” (Matthew 26:36-41)

“Sit here while I go and pray over there.” (vs. 36)

I received a strong reminder this week about the importance of spending time in God’s presence. That time gets used in different ways: prayer, Bible reading, Bible study are the ways most familiar to a lot of us. My reminder this week pushed me to think about another way to enjoy God’s presence.

Our scripture this morning comes out of Jesus’ time in the garden. It’s the night before His death. As He entered the garden He told the disciples to “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” He took Peter, James and John further into the garden and said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”

Jesus invited them to share His time in the garden. Instead, they fell asleep. Somehow they missed the value of just “being” with Jesus. He didn’t ask them to pray, just watch. He didn’t ask them to suffer with Him, just watch. He simply asked them to grasp the importance of “being” with Him. I wonder if they realized after His death that they had lost an incredible opportunity to share in the Lord’s suffering by just “being” with Him.

Do you remember the psalmist’s words in Psalm 46:10? “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” All that exaltation begins with simply “being still.” It may be one of the best ways to discover the reality of God.

A strong correlation exists between “be still” in Psalm 46 and “watch with me” in Matthew 26. Both ask nothing more than an intentional choice to “be” with God in quietness and stillness. Most of us are far too busy. We rush through a time of devotion the same way we shove breakfast down our throats. We’re busy! We have work to do, people to see, places to go! Everything else gets done, and God gets squeezed out of the picture.

I challenge you to rearrange the schedule. Find fifteen or twenty minutes in your day to “be still and know.” How does it work, you ask? It’s easy. Sit down in a quiet place, calm yourself and say, “Here I am Lord. I’m here to be with You. I’ll listen for Your voice, but if You choose not to speak, that’s OK. I’m just here with You.” Don’t ask for anything. Don’t pray for anyone. Just “be still and know.” — John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 4; Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 6

Great Quote: While the Lord calls me to be wise and discerning, he reminds me often that his discernment cannot dwell in a cynical distrustful heart. With Him, there is no hidden agenda and no ulterior motive. His gifts are free for the taking but I cannot take these gifts if my hands are already full of my own weapons of self-protection. Therefore, He asks me to lay down the shields that I have forged for protection and to pick up the shield of faith in their place. He asks me to take Him at His Word. Katherine Walden

Mrs. Raws, wife of Pastor Bill Raws, was recently diagnosed with cancer. She is having surgery this Monday. We have set up a blog for our Keswick friends to encourage Ruth. I’d love to have you jot her a note: www.americaskeswick.org. Let her know you are a FREEDOM FIGHTER.

A WHISPER IS ENOUGH

“After the earthquake came a fire … And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:12

First of all, I need to apologize for not acknowledging that my brother and friend, Chris Hughes wrote the Freedom Fighter yesterday. Thanks, Chris, for the devotionals you share from time to time with the brothers.

This morning’s devotional from STREAMS IN THE DESERT was particularly needed in many life this morning. I pray it will be a blessing in yours as well:

“A woman who had made rapid progress in her understanding of the Lord was once asked the secret of her seemingly easy growth. Her brief response was, “Mind the checks.”

The reason that many of us do not know and understand God better is that we do not heed His gentle “checks” — His delicate restraints and constraints. His voice is a “gentle whisper.” A whisper can hardly be heard, so it must be felt as a faint and steady pressure upon the heart and mind, like the touch of a morning breeze calmly moving across the soul. And when it is heeded, it quietly grows clearer in the inner ear of the heart.

God’s voice is directed to the ear of love, and true love is intent upon hearing even the faintest whisper. Yet there comes a time when His love ceases to speak, when we do not respond to or believe His message. “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and if you want to know Him and His voice, you must continually listen to His gentle touches.

So when you are about to say something in conversation with others, and you sense a gentle restraint from His quiet whisper, heed the restraint and refrain from speaking. And when you are about to pursue some course of action that seems perfectly clear and right, yet you sense in your spirit another path being suggested with the force of quiet conviction, heed the conviction. Follow the alternate course, even if the change of plans appears to be absolutely folly from the perspective of human wisdom.

Learn to wait on God until He unfolds HIS will before you. Allow Him to develop all the plans of your heart and mind, and then let HIM accomplish them. Do not possess any wisdom of your own, for often His performance will appear to be contrary to the plan He gave you. God will seem to work against Himself, so simply listen, obey, and trust Him, even when it appears to be the greatest absurdity to do so. Ultimately, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)

Therefore if you desire to know GOD’S voice, never consider the final outcome or the possible results. Obey HIM even when HE asks you to move while you still see only darkness, for He Himself will be a glorious light within you. Then there will quickly spring up within your heart a knowledge of God and a fellowship with Him, which will be overpowering enough in themselves to hold you and Him together, even in the most severe tests and under the strongest pressures of life.”

Are you listening for the whispers of His voice in your life today? Good reminder for me today. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 3; Isaiah 17-19; Ephesians 5:17-33
Great Quote: If you’re on the rocks, don’t despair; be a lighthouse. Anonymous

Perspective: Secularland A.M.

“Then Jesus said,” Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” —
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

This morning I am going to be bold enough to say it…This world is crazy!! My work day in “Secularland” can attest to that. Our adversary does a good job of throwing and slinging things that deliberately distract and detour my focus. But once in a while there are moments where the Lord gives me an opening to share the aforementioned verse.

Sometime back I had shared with you that I almost blew off one of those opportunities. I had a co-worker who could have fooled me that he was seeking Jesus, or at least the rest part of Christ’s provision. His quest was pretty much masked by foul joke telling and alcohol consummation. At first I wanted nothing to do with this, but who was I not to let this fellow know that the same Jesus who saved me from me could save him from him.

There was infidelity in his marriage and it was eating him alive. He had been betrayed by his spouse and the idol of alcohol had been taking its toll on him. When he stopped his drinking I was able to give testimony to God’s grace through Jesus. I would constantly refer to my opening verse. I even got him a Life Application NLT Bible to read. He opened it Brothers. But something happened and then he closed it. This past weekend he went missing and has turned up in a hospital.

No sooner than this news comes to my desk at work when my assistant manager tells me of his own family issue’s. His 18 year old daughter from his first marriage has just been tossed into the streets by her mother just days after turning 18. He is fit to be tied. My only advice to him was to be a father of integrity and rise to the occasion.

He has been placed in this position before and the outcome was not too good for him. This is something I have only experienced as the one who got tossed to the street so I can sort of understand what it’s like from a teenage perspective but that’s all.

So, on my drive home my thoughts could only be those of gratitude. I do not deserve the grace that God gave me but He gave it to me. I do not deserve His mercy but He granted it. I do not deserve His pardon, protection or provision but He gives it to me. God brought me to crossroads many times during my life and I made wrong turns. Praise Jesus for surrendering to Him.

I am still going to share my journey with Christ with these two men. Please lift up Jeff and Bob this morning as they face the crossroads that has been placed in front of them. Praise God that we have an intercessor who knows what it’s like to have the feelings of a man and can relate with our struggles. But most of all Brothers, Praise Him for He gives us rest.

A good quote;
“For some people, coming to faith has felt a bit like a bait-and-switch operation. At first, we hear mostly about grace. We hear we are saved by grace and that salvation is a free gift. But after a while, we are encouraged to try to be good. Yet it is exhausting to try to be good. We think, This so-called free gift costs more than my puny self can but. I’ll never make it. Consider the disastrous results of trying to be good. When we seem to be successful at growth, our spirituality becomes about us, not about the power of God in our lives. When we try hard and fail, we berate ourselves and spend tremendous energy on guilt and hopelessness instead of letting ourselves be drawn into the divine life by becoming fascinated with the great example of Jesus in the Gospels.” — Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice — Dallas Willard & Jan Johnson — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 2; Isaiah 14-16; Ephesians 5:1-16

Great Quote: Oh, thrice fools are we, who like new-born princes weeping in the cradle, know not that there is a kingdom before them; then, let our Lord’s sweet hand square us, and hammer us, and strike off the knots of pride, self-love, and world-worship, and infidelity, that He may make us stones and pillars in His Father’s house. — Samuel Rutherford

Check out today’s hymnsing on the web. Broadcasting will begin at 10:00 AM — www.americaskeswick.org

Confused about what is happening with this economic crisis? Have other questions about your money? Check out a new blog resource on our website: STEWARDSHIP INSIGHTS FROM GEORGE — straight talk from Crown Financial Instructor, George Hutchison: www.americaskeswick.org.

PERSPECTIVE

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

I don’t know about you, but it just seems like each day the world is getting crazier and crazier. People are beginning to feel the panic of the economic crisis that has been unfolding the past several weeks.

People are jittery about the election. Natural disasters seem to be on the rise. We hear more and more talk about nuclear weapons, and the leader of Iran talking about blowing Israel right off the map.

It becomes very easy for us to be overwhelmed and depressed about what is happening around us until something happens to change our perspective. Yesterday I received a call from one of our seasonal campers with the news that their 30 year old son was killed on Monday night in a tragic motorcycle accident. From what they can determine, their son never made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Because of his lifestyle, Jim told me that they have waited for a call like this for many years.

If have to tell you guys, my heart breaks for Jim and Mary right now.None of the crazy things that I listed above seems to matter at a time like this. How does a parent grieve knowing that their son might very well be spending eternity apart from God. It is almost hard to type the word – let alone say it – Hell!

We have lost two loved ones recently as you well know. It has been hard, but I can’t imagine how it would be knowing that Lindsay and Pastor Bill were not in heaven with Jesus. Despite the pain, there is comfort in knowing their eternal destiny was secure.

I know that God will somehow bring comfort to Jim and Mary as they walk through this very difficult time in their lives. And who knows, only God does – maybe something took place in young Jim’s life prior to the accident that changed his eternal destiny. But perspective is this – if heaven and hell are real, do I really care enough about the people around me – family, friends, co-workers – that I am willing to share Christ with them? You and I may be the only link they have with the gospel.

Tragedies like this tend to help us gain perspective. I am thankful for the reminder today that God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to die for us. Help me to not miss the opportunities that God places before me to share the gospel with the people who matter most to me. Would you please join me in praying for Jim and Mary.

If you’d like to send them a note, you can respond to this email and I will forward it to them. Thanks, guys. God bless you today. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 1; Isaiah 11-13; Ephesians 4

Great Quote: If a man or woman is called of God, it doesn’t matter how difficult the circumstances may be. God orchestrates EVERY force at work for His purpose in the end. If you will agree with God’s purpose, He will bring not only your conscious level but also the deeper levels of your life, which you yourself cannot reach, into perfect harmony. – Oswald Chambers

Giving Back -What part of the pie is God getting?

Psalm 50:9-12: I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from you pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine and all that is in it.

A Pastor told a story about a father that bought his child a large order of French fries from McDonalds. The child and father sat down at a table and the child started digging into the fries like there was no tomorrow. As most fathers do (I’m no exception), he reached over to take a couple of fries for himself. The child quickly reached over the pile of fries and exclaimed, “no daddy these are my fries you can’t have any!” The father was amazed that his child was acting this way. He thought to himself that his child was being quite selfish. How dare he act this way? The father thought I bought the fries for him and he doesn’t want to give me at least one! Then the father had a thought, how many times does he have the same attitude with God? How many times does he put his arms around “his things” and say, “no God you can’t have this, it belongs to me?” I think we forget too many times who really is the owner of the stuff we posses. In this our last devotion on stewardship, I want to ask you, as I need to continually ask myself, “What piece of the pie is God getting?”

I’ve been asked by people, how much money should they give to the Lord. It is understandable to want to start with the tithe. Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary states in “Revolution in Generosity,” A Biblical Theology of Possessions, “It is a shame that conversations about tithing often distract Christians from their real responsibilities. On the one hand, it appears that an unprecedented number of people today think that the word tithe is simply a synonym for gift or offering and have no idea that the word means to give one-tenth. On the other hand, there are still far too many people who have read neither Testament carefully enough to recognize that, in the New Testament age, no specific percentage is commanded of believers. Instead, generous, even sacrificial, giving is what is enjoined (2 Cor. 8:1-12)”. What is sacrificial giving? I think of the widow’s offering in Luke 21:1-4. As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” Can you imagine, giving everything you have to the Lord? The widow knew that God provided for all of her needs. She didn’t give Him 10% but she gave 100%. This woman was giving not a piece of what she owned but the whole, she was giving sacrificially.

Suppose you were given a pie and the giver of the pie told you to serve the pie to whoever you wanted. Without considering the giver as you began to serve the pie, you cut a large piece for your career, then you cut another piece for your family and yet another for your hobby and, oh yes, you can’t forget to cut one for your sleep and down time and one tiny piece for that new car you wanted. After cutting the pie and giving each piece away, you glance up at who gave you the pie. The giver seemed familiar somehow, but you couldn’t quite put your finger on it. You looked down at the pie plate and realized there wasn’t any more to give to him. You gave it all away to the other important things in your life. As the giver picked up the plate and began to walk away, you look at his hands and noticed the scars on his hands caused by nails that had put him on a wooden cross. At that point, you realized who He was and all that was left for him were a few crumbs.

Friends, God doesn’t need our stuff! He doesn’t need our money, He needs our obedience, our devotion, our love and He deserves not the last piece of the pie, but the first piece, and dare I say the largest piece! He deserves our praise and glory! He gave us His son to die on the cross so we can enjoy Him forever. He gave it all for you and me. I want to encourage you to look at the abundant life he has so richly blessed you with. The gift He has so graciously given you. Then look around for people, churches and ministries that need to be blessed by resources that can come from you. When you begin to cut your pie and you think of all areas of your life, consider what Christ taught us when he said “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40. Then give that piece of your pie as if you were giving it to Christ. — Bernie Bostwick is Vice-President of Ambassador Advisors.

Here is the link for Bob Kauffman’s article on the current economic crisis: http://www.americaskeswick.org/documents/watchmanvol1no1.pdf

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; Isaiah 9-10; Ephesians 3

Great Quote: Don’t change just enough to GET AWAY from your problems – change enough to SOLVE them.
Don’t change your CIRCUMSTANCES to improve your life – change YOURSELF to improve your circumstances.
Don’t do the SAME OLD THINGS expecting to get difference results by doing SOMETHING NEW.
Don’t wait to SEE THE LIGHT to change – start changing as soon as you FEEL THE HEAT.
Don’t see change as something HURTFUL that MUST be done – see it as something HELPFUL that CAN be done.
Don’t avoid paying the IMMEDIATE price of change – if you will pay the ULTIMATE price of never. — Dr. John C. Maxwell