Church

When it comes to investing, most of us understand the relationship between risk and reward: the lower the risk, the lower the reward.  As risk increases, so does the possibility for a greater return -- or a greater loss. The same is true in other areas of life. Many start-up ventures fail because the founders were reluctant to take any risks.  Or they took a great risk and experienced a great failure.  On the other hand, we enjoy the benefits of great companies who were willing to risk everything and succeeded. Healthy, growing churches know when to minimize risk and when to venture out into the great unknown.  To walk by faith and not by sight is risky. Christ-followers who help other people find their way back to God risk rejection.  They do so because they believe the reward is worth the risk. In marriage, love requires risk.  Although we've…

In buying our house, we found out we could save money on our home owner's insurance by bundling it with our car insurance.  Not only was it cheaper, but since we were able to stick with Progressive, it made the process even simpler. There's was only one catch: as part of the new policy, we are required to use Progressive's Snapshot device for thirty days.  In case you don't know, it's designed to plug into your car's computer and uploads a record of your driving patterns. Before plugging in Snapshot, I was perfectly comfortable with my driving patterns.  I stopped before hitting the car in front of me.  But noooooo, that's not good enough for Snapshot.  I get penalized if I stop too fast -- Snappy (that's my pet name for this annoying device) beeps three times to let me know I could have stopped more gently. And it's always…

Integrity lies in the gap between. The closer a person's behaviors are to their beliefs, the greater the integrity that person has.  When the gap is stretched to the point where one side cannot see the other, integrity is weakened, if not lost altogether. Parents may say to their children, "I want you to tell the truth" but if the child has never seen that behavior in the parent, the gap between erodes the message. A leader may hold followers to one set of criteria or expectations without ever holding themselves to the same standard.  The gap between demotivates and disillusions. People of character are continually working to minimize the gap between. In biblical terms, it means to not just be a "hearer" of the word but also a "doer" (James 1:22). As long as we're human, the gap will never be completely closed.  That doesn't mean we have to…

What a person believes about God will shape much of how they view life and how they live. If you believe that God is a condemning God, you might also believe that he is always out to get you.  And if he is always out to get you, then he's just waiting for you to trip up.  He takes pleasure in your failure.  You'll never measure up or be good enough. That's not a pleasant way to live.  Yet many believers choose to live that way. On the other hand, if you believe that God is a compassionate God, that will influence how you view yourself and others.  Mistakes become an opportunity to learn and grow.  Confession is healing.  The grace of God becomes a motivator to say no to sinful habits. How do you view God?

Churches use different words to talk about the same thing: giving, offering, stewardship, tithing, contribution.  Regardless of the word we use, many churches struggle to effectively define the underlying reason of why we give. There are many valid reasons: God commands it. Giving promotes generosity. Stewardship encourages intentional living. Perhaps the best reason is one that Paul gives in 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 ... "But since you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might…