Worrying about Bill

By Rey Diaz

Wow they are really come out with some amazing products for Christmas! Have you heard about the new Sony Teleporter?

I’m just kidding.  Sony doesn’t have a new teleporter (that I know of, at least). But technology is developing so quickly it’s hard to keep up with it.  As soon as you purchase the newest and greatest release, it becomes outdated and ancient.  I always feel behind.  And sometimes I feel that I can never have enough.  Money is even worse for this than technology. 

For the last month we have been looking at “Life with Bill” (or life with money).  Sometimes we feel strangled in our life with money….there’s never enough, we are always behind.  That should be the money’s motto: “never enough, always behind.”  At this point most of us begin to worry.  And worry.  And worry.  The word “worry” comes from a German word that means “to strangle.”  Do you feel this way regarding money?

Yet God invites all of us into a different sort of life: a life defined by peace and trust.  He invites us to “not worry.”  (Easier said than done, right?) But it is possible if we see God as our heavenly Father who is trustworthy and concerned about our lives.  I believe we can live a worry-free life.  And I want that for you, and I want that for my family. I want all of us to know that with God, we will always have enough. 

What is the obstacle keeping your from trusting God?  What would live be like if we didn’t worry?

Luke 12:22-34

Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. ²⁴ Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! ²⁵ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? ²⁶ And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

²⁷ “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ²⁸ And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

²⁹ “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. ³⁰ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. ³¹ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

³² “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

³³ “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.³⁴ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Words We Will Probably Never Utter

By Pastor Rey Diaz

Words we will probably never utter: “I wish I wouldn’t have fed that hungry child”…..”Remember son, never share your toys with the less fortunate”…. "I wish we would never have built that house for a family in the garbage dump…..we could have bought ourselves a boat with that money! Dang, we have invested so much in the church, there are just too many people coming to God and too many lives being transformed!”

I’m poking fun because I think it is pretty universal that all of us recognize the value in giving and want to teach our children or grandchildren to share. The simply joy we receive from giving happiness to another is not something we would trade for anything.  Yet, sharing our resources and partnering with God to change a life is a privilege that not everyone experiences.  There are many reasons for this. Perhaps they are too scared, or they don’t feel they have enough to give. Many times we want to give but are unsure where or how to give. Or it could be that we don’t have a financial plan based on God’s eternal principles.

At our church we believe the best planner, the best manager of our lives, is God. He knows what he’s doing! Part of God’s plan for our lives includes trusting in Him instead of relying on our finances…..But that’s a lot easier said than done.  Thankfully, God has provided a way for us to grow in our trust and to break the hold of money on our hearts….and that way is generosity. 

Thousands of Christians have put God to the test and come to this realization: God is faithful. And thankfully the plan God lays out in the Bible is simple. We call it 10-10-80.  Give 10% to God.  Give 10% to yourself with savings.  Enjoy the 80%. Amazingly, the only time God encourages us to put him to the test is in our finances. If you step in our in faith in this plan and God comes through for you, move that percentage up….and you will see he will come through once again! 

For some of us, this sounds really hard. What obstacle keeps you from trusting God?  What percentage would you feel more comfortable giving to God?

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.  Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life

Response to Last Week’s Election

“Around the Water Cooler”

 By Pastor Tim White

Last week’s election was a tough moment in the history of the United States with so many people deeply divided on issues and candidates.  I have been praying every week for both parties, for every government official.  I have also been praying that somehow our nation would come together in a new unity that would allow us to conquer the challenges we face on every front.  

After billions of dollars spent on campaigns we sit with a divided government, just as before the election.  We face a fiscal cliff.  And we face a populace whose ethics are in deep need of a wide and sweeping revival.  This morning I read an article in the paper about a woman who ran over her husband because he did not vote. She was so upset that Obama won and blamed her husband for it. We need a hope for this country that transcends our politics.

Probably two of the most controversial issues for us in Washington were the vote to legalize marijuana and gay marriage.  Many, many side conversations with church members revealed that even our church community is deeply divided on these issues. We have attempted to create a church full of diverse age groups, economic brackets, race and ethnic groups and it is no surprise we have diverse political opinions as well.  Yet we are all going to have to live together as a church, and as a nation. My hope is that friendships will grow deeper as we engage in open conversations about the important issues. I think that would honor Christ…and just as Jesus did, I pray for unity for his followers.

Factionalized politics are not new. If you would have walked up to a crowd during Jesus’ time you would have found people with just about every opinion.  Jesus saw the differences in opinion as an opportunity. Not only was he able to connect with those who agreed with him, but he could also reach those who began as polar opposites to his way of thinking.  

How are we to talk with people around the water cooler after this election?  First of all, don’t run anyone over (either figuratively or literally ) because of the way they voted. That would just serve to squish someone and land you in jail. Instead, let’s keep believing in democracy and working and praying for revival to sweep our land. I believe revival is the key to change. As Thomas Jefferson once said, “The government and its laws just reflect the morality of the people.”  If you want to change the politics of our nation, we need to start with our nation’s hearts.

Let’s pray that our church members can sensitively reach out to people with different opinions, and that we may have honest conversations with one another, gently searching for God’s will for our nation.  I guess the long and the short of it is that we have a lot of work to do.  So we better keep on praying.

"When I am with the weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ.  Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.  I do everything to spread the Good News an share in its blessings. "

                                                                - 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 

  

Money Turns a lot of Us Into Functional Christian Atheists

By Pastor Rey Diaz

Money is something you can touch, something you can see, and even smell (though I wouldn’t suggest it – where has that dollar bill been?). You can track money in your bank account and trade it for food, fun, whatever. It is easy to look to finances with confidence and expectation because it is so tangible.

God, on the other hand, it is a little less tangible to us. Most of us can’t see God directly, touch him, or track him concretely. If you have, may I introduce you to my friend, psychiatrist Dr. Vath? Yet this invisible God invites us into a relationship of trust. As Christians, we are encouraged to trust God about the tangible things right before us, like money.

Money may seem trustworthy, but especially during these hard economic times we all know the truth: money is fickle and fleeting. Despite our awareness of the transient nature of finances, we still place our trust there, rather than in God. We may say we believe and trust God, yet we live as if our finances are the boss. Craig Groeschel calls this sort of person a Christian Atheist: someone who says they believe in God but lives as if they really don’t. Why do we stress and worry so much about finances when God has promised to provide for us? Why can’t we consider ourselves like the lilies of the field or the birds of the air?

Let’s consider this week where we place our trust, and what we prioritize.

(2)    Priority Questions:  - Are you resting in God's promise about provision and protection?  Or do you often stress about money?  Do you save and feel like it is never enough?  Do you relate to money like a Christian or Christian Atheist?  

(1)    Trust Questions - Do you trust “Bill” or Jesus Christ? Who do you turn to for security, for fun, influence, or a sense of freedom? Who do you listen to more, who is more influential in your life?  Who do you tend to obey?

 He who trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

Proverbs 11:28