Category Archives: giving

Mo’ Money

25 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in giving, missions, Missions Sunday, money

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Last week I wrote about the amazing power of God to work in people’s hearts as it related to our Missions Sunday contribution.  Yesterday I learned that more money had come in and the total contribution is over $165,000.  Phenomenal.

What would I do if I won the lotto?  (Maybe the question should be what would I do if I bought a ticket and then won the lotto…so I might go buy one when I finish this post).  What a great question and one that I agree with what many others have said that the answers would reveal much about my heart. 

By the way, I do have answers but I won’t reveal them here.  I still have some heart work to do.

Grace and peace to you.var gaJsHost = ((“https:” == document.location.protocol) ? “https://ssl.” : “http://www.”); document.write(unescape(“%3Cscript src='” + gaJsHost + “google-analytics.com/ga.js’ type=’text/javascript’%3E%3C/script%3E”)); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(“UA-12356560-1”); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}

Chrisitan Relief Fund

23 Monday May 2011

Posted by in Charity Water, CRF, giving

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I got an email the other day from a Sub-T friend about Christian Relief Fund and their effort to win some money that Chase Bank is donating to charity.  Go to Chrisitan Relief Fund and check them out and like them on Facebook to help them help others.

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There are so many need charities around the world.  Thursday, I was telling my son a story I had heard about a guy I know buying a used motor home off someone in Utah.  The motor home was parked in one of two matching hangars owned by an inventor.  In one hangar was the motor home and a private jet with capacity for 14 people.  In the other hangar was another 14 passenger private jet and 36 Lamborghini vehicles.  I told him the story of the inventor flying his son and 10 friends to Las Vegas last Saturday for lunch and to ride the roller coaster at New York New York before returning home in time for prom.  I’m sure it’s a fabulous life and nothing I can comprehend.  I don’t know anything about the man and what he does with his time and money but we figured out how many water wells those 36 cars could drill through Charity: Water and it was an incredible number.  In fact, selling those cars would double the amount of money that Charity: Water has raised. 

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Hopefully, you feel like you need to go donate money now.  Here’s the ticket:  Go to the Camp Coldwater Charity: Water site and donate some moolah.  Our youth group is trying to raise $5,000 to drill a well to help people have clean water.  It’s a great cause.

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Grace and peace to you.
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Thankfulness – Part 2

23 Thursday Dec 2010

Posted by in gift, giving, thankfulness

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It’s the season of gift giving and gift receiving.  Some gifts are outrageously good, some outrageously hideous.  Some gifts are expensive and rare, some inexpensive and personal.  Some gifts require little thought, others bathed in love.  Whatever the gift, it requires a giver and a receiver. 

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When I was a kid, I was perfectly acceptable to getting as many gifts as possible.  I accepted them freely and with great joy.  Gifts big and small, expensive and free…I took the approach of bring one, bring all.  Something has changed though.  Now, I would rather not receive any gifts.  Oh, I’ll still take them but I would be just about as happy without a gift as with a gift.  I credit that to something that has followed me for many years, the feeling of not being worthy of receiving gifts.  Or, the feeling that whatever is given to me needs to be returned with something just as valuable, if not more.  This year is no different than several past.  I received a gift from a friend that was far more valuable than what I could give in return and I’m still not sure I’m going to be able to simply accept it.  I don’t feel worthy of such a gift because I can’t do anything to match it. 

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I think it’s why I have so much trouble being thankful to my Lord.  He has given me a gift that I feel unworthy to receive, a gift that I can’t return with equal value.  My trouble accepting physical gifts is very similar to my trouble accepting that I am loved unconditionally and that my salvation is secure. 

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Maybe the this year’s gift will be a part of the learning process God wants me to experience so I can receive His good and perfect and priceless gift.  Maybe if I can learn to accept gifts on earth I’ll learn to accept the gifts God has freely given me without hope of reciprocation.  Maybe. 

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Grace and peace to you.
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Wowsy Woo Woo

08 Friday Oct 2010

Posted by in Catalyst, Chan, Compassion, Esau, giving, Project 7, stew

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Good writers would tell me to work on my titles I’m guessing.

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How about those Rangers?!  I can’t believe I’m missing the games but glad they are winning without me.

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I’ve spent the last 2 days and will spend today at a Christian Leadership conference and I am getting filled up.  It’s tough because I’m overfilled and can’t process it all right now but what a great blessing to be a part of this.  A few thoughts from the past 2 days:

* Francis Chan in person is SO MUCH BETTER than in a book or on a video.  What an incredibly inspirational guy.  The funny thing is, he doesn’t want to be that guy.  He simply wants to see his life fit in the Bible story so that if you read a story of his life, it would fit with the stories of the apostles.  Novel idea.  (Short aside here, if you haven’t read his book Crazy Love I think you are missing out.  I think it’s a must-read for any Christian.  Make that MUST-READ.)

* Andy Stanley is a great storyteller.  I heard the story of Esau today in a way I never had and it convicted me I need to be careful of stew.  I hope that makes you wonder what I’m talking about it because I hope to share it one day.

* There are a lot of Christian leaders who need a new hairstyle, need a shave, need new shoes, need to drop the skinny jeans.  I’m also guessing the guys with lots of piercings and tattoos aren’t from the Church of Christ (but I think Rick and Jacob could start a new trend!).  

* There are some incredibly talented musicians/singers serving the Lord.  I really liked the reggae stuff I heard today.  (Shout out to EC!)

* Beth Moore said she felt odd speaking today because the audience is predominantly male.  T.D. Jakes is up tomorrow and I wonder if he will feel odd also.  The audience is very light skinned!  🙂

* I’m looking forward to hearing Jakes.  I’ve watched some video clips and he certainly brings it in what I’ve seen.

* I got to spend some time Wednesday night with an old friend.  I appreciate how time helps our perspectives on the way we see things.

* Compassion International does incredible work.  Project 7 Coffee is a great new opportunity.  Check ’em out.

What has been driven home the most…I want to give more.  More money, more time, more love.

Grace and peace to you.