Businesses & Christmas Blessings?

   A few weeks ago, I was having a discussion with a group of ministry leaders over lunch. During the discussion, one of them mentioned an unexpected call from the bank offering him a lower mortgage rate as a good faithful customer. That conversation spoke of two things to me: 1. The banks have more bad customers than good ones and 2. Banks want to keep good customers and reward them before they look elsewhere and doing it during ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ speaks well to people. CHRISTMAS!  

   Yesterday, I received my own business offer to skip a monthly payment on my van for either December or January as a customer who has not missed a payment. It made me think of the mortgage offer of my colleague, as well as the blessing it was meant to be at Christmas time to help relieve pressure for faithful customers who might be feeling the pinch during the holidays.

   We see more needs and charity acts of benevolence during Christmas than at any other time of the year. Why?  Because many remember the most charitable act of all when God gave His only begotten son to be a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. At Christmas we remember a special baby born over 2000 years ago. This baby is the Savior, who was divinely incarnated into the womb of a virgin girl. Wow!  If this same act of God were to have happened today in a single woman many would try explaining it away with artificial insemination. God’s timing is always best.

Even in bad economic times those in business seem to be catching the spirit of blessing others even if it is only the faithful ones they bless.  I never see these offers in the spring, summer or fall and I believe this is all reflected because God gave His Son Jesus.  Blessing others with relief, charity and unexpected benevolence in the name of Jesus is what Christmas is all about. May we remind others now with unmerited acts of charity as we recall our unmerited salvation offer from heaven. Many today are hurting and jobless and will not likely be the recipient of a business blessing like noted above, but perhaps you could catch the purpose of Christmas and bless others as Christ has blessed you.

 Who do you know that you could bless with perhaps paying a power bill or filling up the tank of gas along with yours at the pumps? and then just saying: Merry Christmas!

May we all catch the Spirit of Blessing others as Christ is our Blessing to whomsoever would receive!  I received His gift and now let us give Him away and a blessing that speaks of Him.

  

The Manna Challenge of Obedience

 About a month ago, we started sharing with our congregation about the need for sacrificial giving for our missionaries.  We had been told there is a need for an extra 6 million dollars to keep all our missionaries in the harvest fields of the 152 world areas in which we present the gospel.  My wife and I have always given to missions above our regular tithes and God has always seemed to enable us to give what we never thought we could afford.  This past month I just did not see the source from which giving was to come.

We have been taking the Dave Ramsey course on Financial Peace University in our church.  It has been a great course with great lessons.  With that we have been striving to be totally debt free.  So, with learning to save, pay debts off and "Live like no one else so we can later live like no one else," giving sacrificially was feeling different.

We have two vans and a motorcycle.  The newest family van is not paid off and very far from it.  The other van was an old 1996 Windstar and ran well for the past 3 years after giving us 32,000 miles of its 230,000 miles.  About the time of the mission challenge, the old van was dying.  My daughter names it "the ghetto van' because it was wearing out but still was used for ministry of teens and kids.  You had to get out to let anyone out of the back because the side door would not open from the inside anymore.  The a/c died in the summer and the heat died in the winter.  Then, once in a while, it would work for a cool or warm treat and then die again.  We took teens on activities and picked up and dropped off kids with it regularly.  It was just part of the family and then part of the ministry.

Once, when a church attendee needed a way to Miami, it was loaned out in crisis and died 280 miles away.  But love and cash towed her home and a little fixin' got her going again.  Then, she was loaned out on and off to another family for about a month all total.  I just got used to letting it be used as life and ministry demanded.  Then the bad news came when Nick, the mechanic, said, "Peter, it will cost you around $1200 to fix her."  With that news, I knew it was time to say "good bye" with over 230,000 miles on her.

I sensed from the Lord when the end of the van was coming that I should sell it and give the money to missions.  At first, it was just a nice idea, but then it was a stronger and clearer voice.  Finally, I said to my wife, "I don't know what we will do, but I feel like we are supposed to sell it and give the money to missions as our offering for "Thanksgiving."  She was agreeable and trusting in me and the Lord that something would work out.  Years ago, when we had a need, we would just start looking at car lots and consider a loan.  But since the Dave Ramsey course, we had learned to think differently about loans and debt.

To make a longer story shorter, I sold the van for exactly what I had bought it for still running.  On Saturday before the Thanksgiving offering, I prayed and said, "Lord, if you will sell the van for xyz dollars before 4 p.m., I will give 100% to missions tomorrow."  Well, the car went to the street side and the calls came in.  With one hour left before 4 p.m., Victor showed up.  I explained everything I knew about the car's problems and he agreed to the price in cash.  I would mention the amount, but truly, the story is of obedience, sacrifice and faith…not the cash.  Anyway, the kids helped me clean it out through the process of that day.  We knew we prayed for the van to sell and would give it to missions.

Now, for the "Manna" side of things.  Wednesday was the day I voiced to sell the van for missions and on that day, we agreed to trust God.  Soon after that, I felt impressed to call a car sales manager I know, who attends our church, and who we bought our newer van through.  Knowing we did not plan to seek a loan again and had very few dollars to work with, I explained my dead van and need of basic transportation.  I asked if he had any ideas or solutions.

He told me that only that day, a lady had a car for trade and he could only offer her $100.  He told me he suggested to her that she would be better off donating it to a charity.  So, he said, "Peter, let me call her and see if she would donate it to your church."  Later the same day, he called back and said she agreed.  I was blown away.  So, I called a meeting of my leadership that night to tell them the story of the dead van, the phone call and the soon donated car and my need of a running car.  I then asked if they would give me the donation.  I know they thought I was a bit strange on this piece of business, but with smiles and an affirmative "Yes", they agreed.  They also did not know that I was planning to give to the Lord any money received from the sale of the van to missions.

On the day of my joyous family sacrificial offering, I heard the voice of the Lord say, "Peter, what if the car deal falls through.  Will you still want to give the money away to missions?"  I said, "Yes Lord.  I know I can trust you with this adventure."  The day after, we headed out on a week of family vacation and then we discussed the "what if" the car does not come through.  My wife said something like, "We don't need a second car this week because we are on vacation.  Relax and let's have a fun vacation."  I must admit she has great wisdom and perfect timing and brings great balance to me.  Thank God for mates with hearts of faith!  Within an hour, the dealership called me while driving down the highway.  They told me the car was ready to be picked up.  All I knew about it was that it was a 1992 running car with high mileage.

When I finally went to get the car (I did not know what make/model it was), I was pleased to hear it start and look half way drivable.  My associate pastor brought me over to pick it up and asked me what I was going to name it.  Within a few minutes, I heard the voice of the Lord speak to my spirit the name, "Manna."  Yes indeed, it is a Manna car.  Manna actually means "what is it" and until the day I went to see it and pick it up, all I knew was, it is a 1992 car.

As God provided food for his people in the wilderness calling "it" Manna each day, so is He still providing Manna for his people today.  Our family obedience and sacrifice will help some missionary now.  What a great adventure it truly is to follow the Lord and obey the promptings of faith along the journey of life.

What Food did Jesus eat for Thanksgiving?

In my devotions today I was reading from John 4:27-38. There was alot of lessons in this short passage, but verse 34 especially caught my attention with tomorrow being Thanksgiving Day and so much attention focused on food. Every Thanksgving since I can remember a big meal is prepared and spread with family and friends.

So I began to think about how the disciples were focused on physical food to strengthen the body, but Jesus was referring to spiritual food to nourish the soul.

So what does food do for us? It seems like a stupid question, but nonetheless bear with me. Food satisfies an internal hunger, food taste good, food fill us up, food makes us happy, food gives occasion to fellowship with others and finally food keeps us alive. Bottom line food is great stuff.


Jesus I believe was saying the exact same thing to the disciples. He said , "My food, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." As I thought about that it appeared to me that my food should be the same as I walk with my Father through my relationship with Jesus. If everywhere I went and every relationship and conversation opportunity I had was potential food from the Father to satisfy the hunger to please God, to enjoy the spiritually satisfying taste of doing the Spirit's biddings from day to day how satisfying each day would be. To do His will does fill me up and satisfy the longing of my soul. When I can do the will of the Father and enjoy physical food at the same time it's a double whammy blessing.

God help me to be ever ready in his harvest to consume what food he sets before my eyes. May God prevent me from getting side tracked when He calls, that I might be satisfied with the unexpected spiritual meal He places before me more often then I probably often recognize. Oh to dine with the Master and continue in His work that He daily sets before me.

A friend called me two before Thanksgiving with an amazing story of giving through his local church. The stories of spiritual food satisfying hungry souls is yet to pour forth from what I believe was a large step of faith on his and his leaders prompting of the Father.


Dear Church Family,

The Pastor and Church Board wish each of you a blessed Thanksgiving and a joyful Christmas season. When we think about being thankful, our first thoughts center upon God. We have much to be thankful for...families & health top the lists.

For many years I have pondered the possibility of giving back to our church family a gift to let each of them know just how much they mean to God and the Church. Today you are being given a gift of a hundred dollar bill. It is a gift! All we ask in return is that you begin to pray how God would lead you in dispersing His gift to you.

Some are thinking..."What is the catch?" There is no catch, there are no strings enclosed in your envelope. The only thing we ask in return is that you write out a testimony on paper and place it in a box in the back of the sanctuary. Do not sign your name, it is not important who did what, as much as we believe the impact will be something the whole church needs to share. These testimonies will be read by the pastor, and for those who would like to personally share their story, you will given the opportunity to share it publically.

So, take time and begin to pray and seek out how God wants to make you a blessing to someone between now and Christmas. The other thing we felt that was important is this: Perhaps it is you that needed this Gift from God today? Well, now how do you think God knew that?

From all of us to all of you..."It really is better to give than it is to receive"...Happy Holidays!

Which food satisfies you the most? A physical feast or a spiritual one? Let us all be mindful of the Masters table that He sets before us each day and may we find true eternal satisfaction in consuming the food that nourishes the soul.

Happy Thanksfgiving to all.

Pastor Movie Review of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”

I received an email about a week ago that was intriguing and very inviting (a free movie review). Since my 11 year old son read the entire series of the Chronicles of Narnia my wife felt he should be the one in the family rewarded to attend the preview with me as my one guest to invite along. That seemed like a great way to narrow down who goes with dad and the two of us had a great time.  I have never really been much of a fiction reader so it was great to have my well read son along to bounce stuff off of. My review is from the eyes of both my 11 year old son and myself so I hope it make sense to read a double review in one.

      In general my favorite type of movie is adventure and this flick is thoroughly that from start to finish. We were told that the producers were still open to changes and feedback from pastors was being considered. Time will tell on that one.  In general I enjoyed it and never felt any embarrassment with what was said or shown in the film. No foul language, no rude or course jokes, no sexual overtones or insinuations at all. Violence was within reason since there was never bloodshed even though there were plenty of battles along the way in the film.  

Two things about the film for I give caution about are the “Sea Serpent” at the end and the “Evil Midst” might be too scary for little ones under 8 years old. My youngest daughter who is 8 would have been hiding her eyes under my arm had she been with me. We saw the movie is 2D and if it had been 3D I think that would be even scarier for little ones.

   As my son and I discussed the filmed on the way home he told me that the movie was great, but it was not as good as the book. He said they changed more in this movie than the previous movies as it related to being in line with the book. My least favorite scene was that of entering the invisible house to read from the book on incantations. When it comes to the battle of good and evil at least good truly is triumphal, but the evil and spells associated with the cult seems a bit more than I would prefer. My son seem to indicate that it was in line with the book, but the terms and use of words was more associated with the battle of powers in the book, whereas in the movie is a battle of power against evil and the term “spells” seems to be on the good side as well as the bad side which is was confusing to me while watching the movie.

  In one scene the blue star came down from heaven and turned into a beautiful woman who I thought was really portraying satan as an “angel of light” to deceive them. But I was wrong and she was part of the good side of the movie on behalf of the Voyagers.

   The spiritual lessons are good, but they are not easily grabbed as being Christian and especially so if you have no history with either the book or movie series. Even some of the comments by Aslan at the end could get misconstrued by viewers to be an endorsement to salvation by other names other than Jesus even though a Christian would perceive he meant Jesus.

  As a movie I would say a thumbs up compared to the junk that is usually produced today. As for it being a “Christian Flick” with clear scriptural implications to a post Christian culture I would give it 5 out of 10. For a Christian family with knowledge of the Word of God I would give it 8 out of 10. As far as running along with this movie as a pastor to preach and promote it within the body of Christ I am hesitant and will not do such from the pulpit. I am not much of one to preach a movie and use scripture to support it and that appears to be the perspective from the people from Narniafaith.com website. I continue to preach the Gospel from the bible and when and if I can find a clip from the movie that supports God’s Word I would be glad to use clips from Narnia.  It appears to me that the producers want pastors to almost make the movie like a book of the bible to preach from using scriptures. Pre canned sermons are available to help promote the movie from pastors of mega churches. I certainly hope this is not the direction of the church of the future.

     I am grateful for the free preview and we will likely watch it again as a family at some point, but my son said they should stick to the book plot and not make so many changes.