Like Jesus

I was reading in Luke this morning: Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people--even eating with them! (Luke 15:11-2)

I want to be like Jesus. I want notorious sinners to come hear me teach His words. I want self-righteous Christians to be upset with me because I hang out with sinful people. I want to be like Jesus.

Why we do what we do

Over the past two weeks I've received hundreds of e-mails from individuals who are receiving healing as a result of the Pure Sex teaching series we're involved in at RiverTree. I've posted three below that I pray will be an encouragement to anyone who is struggling, damaged or simply desires to have the best sex life ever. You can listen to the teachings in their entirety at www.rivertreechristian.com.

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Hi Greg, great stuff and the teaching series has been great. I wanted to share with you how much the series has helped me. I was a victim of sexual abuse as a child. Twice. By two different men. One was a mother's boyfriend (who she broke up with after I told her), and also my best friend from next door's dad. I had thought all of it was behind me after it was reported to the local police. I didn't really think much about it. Then, in the sixth grade, the District Attorney called and asked me to go to court...what a load to put on an 11 year old girl. I went to court and found out that my friend's father had done this to her and all of her sisters as well as several other girls. Mine was the only testimony that didn't get thrown out. He got 6 years! Okay, again I thought it was all in the past. However, now that I'm 32 and have a 12 year old daughter, I have a whole new perspective on how this has affected my life. I became sexually active with the first real boyfriend that I had at the age of 15. I thought that sex was all I was worth. I had sex a lot as a teenager, and was more hurt and ashamed each time. I didn't have anyone to talk to about this because I couldn't talk to my parents. I was too ashamed, and their sex talk consisted of "just don't do it". I got pregnant at age 18 (just one year after the man I helped to convict was let out of jail). I delivered at age 19, got married at age 19, and was divorced by 25. After my divorce, my history affected my life even worse because my husband cheated. I felt even more alone and ashamed. I was very promiscuous. I just needed to feel as though someone loved me. Luckily, I knew Jesus as I had grown up in a Christian house after my mother re-married. But still, I just had to get rid of the pain and shame and I didn't feel as though I could ask for God's help. I didn't think I could do things the way he wanted. It was just too hard. I thank God that I didn't end up with an std. I think I owe that to God watching over me the whole time. At age 28, I met a man who I became engaged to. We were planning our future, but again sex was at the forefront of the relationship. I knew that if we were going to get married and have a family I would want to go to church and have a relationship with Jesus (I know that is the only way to have a happy marriage). We began to attend RiverTree, and because we bore no condemnation, I rededicated my life to Christ. My future husband gave his heart to Christ as we lay in bed together, unmarried. We are now married and have a new baby, who you dedicated yourself. We have had a lot of talks since your series began, and we have also asked each other for forgiveness for having sex before marriage. Although I know that I have a lot of healing ahead of me, your series has started this process for me. Thank you for following what God has placed on your heart.

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I want to say this teaching series you are doing on sex is awesome and so needed in this community. I believe there is still a huge stronghold on the community and there are still many that are living in sexual bondage. With the freedom and healing the Lord has given me I have been able to work actively in a ministry in Akron to those who are sexually broken the last 6 years. For myself about 8 years ago I was living in a lot of darkness. I did not understand the impact the child abuse had on my sexual identity (I was abused multiple times by different female babysitters). The abuse caused me to be sexually confused and I often struggled with fear of women and then a subsequent struggle of same-sex attraction (at that time men were safer than women). I was secretly struggling and going deeper and deeper into a pit. But the Lord in his grace called me out of this and I came forward and confessed to my wife (4 years into our marriage) my childhood abuse and same-sex attraction and pornograhpy issues (although I had struggled with heterosexual attraction too). For many, my wife and I looked like the "normal" couple with a bucolic family life. When I stood courageously and told people this was not so --it allowed others who were secretly struggling to come forth and receive healing.

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I was in the car with my son last Friday evening. The drive would last about 8 minutes but somehow, God did something amazing. Out of the blue, my son made the following statement: "Man, what we are learning in health class is disgusting!" This obviously got my attention and after a few probing questions, I found out that the school was teaching about sex in health class. Not the old this is what makes boys different than girls talk but actually discussing sexual intercourse. I’ve got to tell you, I was really uncomfortable with the school teaching this and I had never had "the talk” with my son.

After I got over my initial reaction, my son and I went on to have a discussion about sex from a Biblical perspective. We talked about his feelings on the matter and as any 11 year old boy would do, he claimed he was not interested. But he kept talking about it.

To make a long 8 minute story short, God gave me the chance to explain to my son God's view and design regarding sex. I explained to him that I felt that sex was more than a physical act between 2 people. That it had real emotional and spiritual benefits and consequences. I had the opportunity to discuss the problems that I had as a result of engaging in sex outside of marriage and he admitted to me that he had figured that out since our daughter was born before we got married. It was an amazing conversation that continued when I returned home and told my wife about the discussion. Now she and I are discussing how to teach our kids (especially our girls) about sex. We both agree that we want our kids to abstain. I never thought I could have these discussions since I was guilty of sex before marriage and thank God that he gave me the strength and the courage to discuss sex from a Biblical perspective.
Thank you for talking about sex to me and to my family.

Consider the alternative

Guys, women can come down pretty hard on us, can’t they? We leave the toilet seat up . . . We “accidentally” belch in public . . . We’ll drive to Hell and back before we’ll stop and ask for directions . . . We pass gas and pretend it smells sweet . . . We own the remote control . . . We have body hair like shag carpeting . . . We go shirtless, with our bellies hanging out, and we still think we’re sexy . . . Ummm, women may have a point.

But I’m still glad I’m a man. I’m glad that the vast majority of my phone conversations are finished in less than thirty seconds. I’m glad that I’m not expected to know the names of more than five colors (chartreuse . . . what the heck is that?). I’m glad that if another guy shows up at a party wearing the same outfit I have on, we’ll probably become best buddies. I’m glad that we can do our nails with a pocketknife or our teeth. I’m glad that we can kill our own food. I’m glad that we never have to drive to another gas station because this one is “too icky.”

A couple of years ago I was teaching about the “challenges” we have in life simply because of the differences that are typically innate between the male and female species. After I finished teaching, a woman who was in her mid-fifties came up to me and said, “Greg, my husband had a heart-attack and died just about a year ago.” She continued, “You can’t imagine how I would love to walk into my bathroom and find the toilet seat up. You can’t imagine how I would love to hear him say ‘No, I’m not stopping to ask for directions.’”

So, men and women, we have our differences. And, we have to learn to live with them. But consider the alternative. As challenging as gender differences may be . . . I, for one, am thankful for them. I’m thankful for the joy and the wonder, the “looks” and the smiles, that the tension brings.

Now, I have to go, because my buddies are coming over to watch the Cavs play the Wizards. Nachos, chili dogs and “man talk.” Life is good. Ladies, trust me on this one.

Wisdom from a nine year old

One of the couples in our church discovered that their nine year old son had been hearing a few things about sex from his buddies on the school bus. So his dad sat down with him and explained how things actually worked--had the whole talk about the birds and the bees. A week and a half later this couple was suprised to find out that they were pregnant. So, they sat down again with their nine year old son and explained that this came as a suprise to them but that they were going to have a baby. Their nine year old son shouted, "You're ruining my life! Why would you have sex if you didn't want to have a baby?"

Ummm, for all of you singles . . . wisdom from a nine year old.

020304050607

At Three minutes and Four seconds after 2 AM on the 6th of May this year, time and date will be 02:03:04 05/06/07. This will never happen again in our lifetime.

Do you know what else will never happen again in our lifetime? The past five minutes. Yesterday. Last year.

God says, "Your life is like the morning mist--it's here a little while and then it's gone." (James 4:14)

02:03:04 05/06/07 is not all that important. But what about when your daughter still wants to snuggle with you? Or your son's baseball game? Or fishing with your dad? Or the opportunity to tell your mom that you love her?

Some things will never happen again in our lifetime. Don't miss the ones that really do matter.

070605040302 . . .

Pure Sex

Wow, what a weekend!

Interviews with channels, 3, 5, 8, 19, several newspapers, numerous radio shows, the Today show and MSNBC. All because we put up billboards advertising that we would be talking about sex.

You can listen to the first sermon in the series, "Pure Sex," by going to www.rivertreechristian.com. The sermon title is "What Happens In Vegas Won't Stay In Vegas."

Good night . . . and if you're married, I hope you have lots of great sex . . . with your spouse. And if you're single . . . I pray you will stay pure . . . and have the best life imaginable.

Patheticsexlife.com

In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul walked into one of the edgiest centers of culture in the ancient world--Athens. He went to the town square where the public gathered, looked around and said, "Wow, you sure have a lot of idols that you worship. Let's talk about these idols." And he engaged the culture in a way that was relevant and would lead people to Jesus.

Following Paul's example I began to ask the question, "What are the idols that we who live in America today are worshipping?" And I think the answer is fairly obvious. In America today we have the tendency to worship money and sex. And frankly, the church doesn't talk about either nearly enough.

So, this weekend we're beginning a teaching series at RiverTree called "Pure Sex." We're not afraid to talk about IT. We put up ten billboards in the area that are an image of two sets of feet sticking out from under the sheets. All the billboards say is patheticsexlife.com. When you go to the web-site you see a very cool flash video that asks questions about sex and then lets visitors know that RiverTree is going to be talking about how to have the best sex ever.

Well, the media has picked up on this big time. So far I've been interviewed by two radio stations, two newspapers and four television stations. On Sunday morning the Today show is flying in to do a live interview with me. All because we're willing to talk about sex?

Here are the posts from the Canton Repository blog regarding the article that ran. I left them all on . . . none deleted.

Reader's Comments

Mike Welsh - 7:04 AM on April 13, 2007
Personally, I'm not offended by exposed feet. I think it's important to be able to discuss anything at church. Too many people don't have a healthy view of sex and that can destroy a family. I think if these billboards encourage discussion on the topic, then they are a good thing.

Marley Greiner - 7:36 AM on April 13, 2007
The Christian church has never had anything healthy to say about sex. Go to these sermons and you'll end up with a more pathetic sex life than you have now.

Wren Bishop - 8:36 AM on April 13, 2007
I AGREE--NOT WITH THE CHURCH that did this--but..with the public,talk about PATHETIC,this is a pathetic way of geting people to the "church".Once again,this shows the hypocrisy of the church.The sign shows "sex"-it is implied,that could easily be looked at as porn,by some.There are surely other ways of stating your opinion on "sex" other than this.TALK ABOUT SHOVING the churches beliefs down everyones throat,the Pastor adn church should be ashamed of themselves.And a billboard is about $600-to $800-a piece-and a fee per month--think of all the people that money could've helped-with food-or other needs-NICE CHURCH to waste money on billboards like this,another church to mark on the list of-"DONT EVER ATTEND OR SUPPORT"-- SHAME ON YOU Pastor--and whoever agreed to do this. THESE signs should be removed or banned at once, and sorry, this not constitute freedom of speech either, this only shows an opinion,I really feel sorry for the youth that go this church, what ridicule they ar eprobably enduring at their schools, I CANNOT BELIEVE that more people have not banned together to have them removed--WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR PEOPLE?

chuck daugherty - 8:37 AM on April 13, 2007
Oh my god .... a billboard with feet! Quick cover it up ! This is a joke. The people that are up in arms about this need to join the rest of us in the real world and not be so PC. I bet if their life was an open book it might be way worse than naked feet. This is the best thing the church has done to reach people in a younger age group in years.

tanya cironi - 8:39 AM on April 13, 2007
I am very offended by this trashy billboard. One of them happens to be in an empty field across the street from my allotment, so every day when I bring my young chidren home, I have to look at this trashy billboard. There should be some limit in Lake Township as to what kinds of things can go on billboards in our township.

Donna Whelan - 8:41 AM on April 13, 2007
Garbage? This billboard is as offensive as an Anne Geddes photo: babies in flowerpots, nestled in ferns, in bunny suits, etc. Since it isn't really the art work, the objection must be the message. THAT is in the mind of the observer. Nobody raised a hissy about Easter Sunday service billboards for churches around the county. What would be the difference? A church is offering a lecture series on sex. Ahhh, that is the objection, the TOPIC. It appears that there might really be a need for such a series, judging from the remark about 'those people...Christies'. {I am assuming that Christies is a bar, from the 'tone'} I find it pathetic that a church is being pilloried because they are offering a lecture series on a MORAL issue. Oh, those nasty, nasty FEET!

Theresa Hamilton - 8:58 AM on April 13, 2007
Here we go with making a mountain out of a mole hill!!!

Mary Beth Habunek - 9:07 AM on April 13, 2007
I'm not offended by this billboard. You see others promoting condoms and other sexual topics, some are subtle. You just can't make everyone happy, and believe me, her daughter is hearing/seeing a lot worse at her school.

d moore - 9:34 AM on April 13, 2007
Oh My God! What trash is that billboard displaying. To think that young kids will see that, oh my. After all the positive messages that are put out to us daily, such as television and magazines, books, videos, walking down the street, and now this. Our kids are doomed. Sarah Owens, grow up. It's about time the church steps foward and acknowledges that people have sex and maybe they can help put it in perspective for our young ones, because Gods knows we haven't done well with this subject.

dan pierce - 10:33 AM on April 13, 2007
I think here is another case of someone expressing an opinion about which she knows nothing or very little at least.... television has it's limits until 8:00 hah, what rock has she been living under? If she thinks that the billboard is inappropriate and that the church meetings should be held at Christies then I am amazed that she can get anything done all day except to complain. Everything she is exposed to in this day and age has a sexual connotation attached to it because SEX SELLS (Ask any advertising person)!! Also, She is complaining about the service before she knows anything about it... maybe she should come to the service and if she still wants to complain then she can so based on knowledge not supressed inhabitions! I applaud Rev. Nettle and his desire to bring the uneasy topic of sex out in the open instead of treating it like the family secret that no one talks about. Knowledge is power and I believe that if more young people are given the proper knowledge then they will be better equipped to handle sexual decisions when they arise. I also believe that more marriages would be saved if sexual problems could be discussed and treated. I plan on attending the services at Rivertree and I believe that we need to get out of the dark ages where "certain topics" just aren't talked about and start helping those who are in need. Dan Pierce

Jennifer Sigler - 11:00 AM on April 13, 2007
Pastor Nettle should be applauded for having the courage to attack the issues that affect our society the most. Anyone who has heard Pastor Nettle speak knows he is 100% committed to bringing his listeners the truth about what God wants for us in our lives. I would challenge you to go to the Rivertree website where you can check out past sermons. God Bless you, Pastor Nettle.

Melissa Higham - 11:07 AM on April 13, 2007
The point of this billboards to spark interest so people go to the web site and become interested on going to a series about what GOD says about sex with in a marriage. Why aren't people complaining about half naked pictures and mannequins in store windows in our local mall that advertise sexuallity? Come on people get over the feet in the sheets, there is so much more in everyday life being radio, tv, the internet, etc. that is so much more explicit that this billboard.

Randy J. Lindower - 11:09 AM on April 13, 2007
Good for them. (the church) It may not be politically correct but like it or not, sex is a major part of the human life. It is a God -given part of life. It is what separates humans from animals.

JOHN JOE - 11:16 AM on April 13, 2007
'Pure Sex' = BORING SEX. Thats why 60%/%40 of men and women (respectivly) cheat. Id rather do to Christie's then this waste of time.

Nancy Dollard - 11:56 AM on April 13, 2007
It's important to talk about sex as long as you get medically accurate comprehensive information on sex and how to prevent pregnancies. I'm doubtful the church will tell you how to prevent a pregnancy w/birth control.

Melody Gates - 12:15 PM on April 13, 2007
I agree with the folks on this article. I don't like that fact that this church is promting this on big boards let alone kids starting in 8th grade can attend this. This is just wrong, I don't like this at all. If they want to do the classes fine - but there is no need for huge billboards promoting it.

michelle pittman - 12:26 PM on April 13, 2007
OH NO!! Two pairs of feet under sheets -- that is SO OFFENSIVE!!! Personally -- what a great topic for a sermon series! Maybe if more people would attend these types of sermons less people would divorce!

jim mapes - 2:02 PM on April 13, 2007
Before we were married, my wife went to a sex education class. While the teacher was talking ,a gentleman stood up and said ''I know 113 ways to have sex''. So my wife speaks out and says'' I thought the women got on her back and the man got on top. The gentleman jumped up and said 114,114.

Wendy Roberts - 2:44 PM on April 13, 2007
Very eye catching and clever. Only thing was I'd've put a bit more info on there so folks would know what this was about. TV, music, and movies talk about sex all the time. This church is right to attempt to give another view.

Jennifer Podis - 2:56 PM on April 13, 2007
I think if the church wants to open a discussion about sex to help prevent sexual misconduct, that's great. But I don't like the billboard. What about small children that can read, but aren't old enough to understand? Obviously since the discussions are only open to those 13 and older, the church knows this...so why advertise with the word 'sex' in a vibrant color?

Kenneth Jones - 3:01 PM on April 13, 2007
Sex is a gift from God. So is life itself. How about clap? Is that a gift too? It comes from God doesn't it? Oh no...I forgot. It has to come from Satan since only the pathogenic bacteria come from him. The beneficial rest are gifts from God. Oh...and since other animals practice sex as well, they have also been blessed with God's sexual gift. Now that we've got that settled, let's talk about God's rules regarding sexual behavior. I'm sure we can find at least one highly confidant and zealous preacher who can extract from the Bible the exact type of sexual behavior God condones. And undoubtedly, this preacher will sit at the right hand of God, all the while he listens intently to Satan sitting on his other side.

Stephen Orcutt - 4:09 PM on April 13, 2007
I have absolutely no problem with this. What ever happened to free speech in this county? Oh yeah, that is being hijacked right now too. Just ask Imus. We pass out condoms in schools, teach sex education to elementary school kids, and watch trash on our TV’s every night (sorry, no more shows like Happy Days anymore); and a church wants to advertise its series on healthy sex by showing bare feet, and everyone starts throwing stones? Of course, putting this on A1 above the fold probably sold a few more Reps today too.

JOHN JOE - 4:18 PM on April 13, 2007
Oh NO! I am unwed and I have sex with my girlfriend. I guess that is unpure. We have a kid together. I couldnt go to this thing if I wanted to. I am Satan's child and the whole place might collapse. I guess any other sex act other than the "missionary position" is unpure and considered sodomy. I got confirmed in the Lutheran Church, all of my teenage years they try and drill into our heads (at church) that sex is not ment to be pleasurable and should only be done with intent to conceive a child even inside marrage. What BS is that?! I don't care what the church does and says. It is 2007 and not 150 BC, time to come out of the darkages. Looks like many of these men may cheat if the church pushes it overly right wing conservative views on sex. Looks like Betty-Sue wont do that thing with her mouth that Michael likes because the church considers it unpure. Looks like the cheating rate of men just went up 1%. Its time to stop putting a TABOO on everything sexual. In Denmark they have Sexual Education classed that go above any beyond the basics of anatomy,safe sex, pregnancy prevention, ect. They actual instruct student on "how" to do it and what women like vs men. This is why America is so screwed up...because everything is TABOO!

And there you have it!

Live like you were dying

This past Friday I met Chuck for coffee at Starbucks. In July of 2004 doctors told Chuck that he had advanced stage cancer—incurable. They told him that death was imminent, that he had one to two years to live. It has been nearly three years now and Chuck is doing well, but he knows he may only have six more months, or a year, or a day.

Chuck told me that living with lingering cancer is a constant reminder that death is right around the corner. He said that every day he wakes up is a special day. That people will often ask if they can pray for him and he responds, “You can pray for God to heal me if you want to, but I would rather have you pray that God would use me through this.”

I asked Chuck how his life had changed when the doctors gave him the news that he was dying in 2004. He answered, “I started doing the things I had always wanted to do. And then I got closer to God. I made sure my relationship with God was good. And now, I center my life around other people. Every morning I get up and my purpose is to see how many people I can help.”

Chuck and I spent nearly an hour together at Starbucks. Just before we were finishing our time together he said, “You know Greg, I could walk out of this coffee shop right now, get hit by a car and die. The cancer wouldn’t kill me six months or a year from now, but I would still be dead.” And then he looked at me and said, “The same thing could happen to you.”

How would your life be different if you knew you were dying? Because we all are. Unlike Chuck, we just don’t know when. What would you do if you knew you had only two years left to live?

We have a tendency to say “Someday I’m going to do this.” Or, “Someday I’m going to do that.” And all of a sudden our lives get stuck in “someday” mode. Someday I’m going to learn to speak Spanish. Someday I’m going to write a book. Someday I’m going to see the Grand Canyon. Someday I’m going to go back to school. Someday I’m going to get my relationship right with God.

And then one day we wake up and realize that “someday” has passed us by. We come to the realization that all of the things we planned on doing “someday” can no longer be done.

This morning I made a “someday” list. I wrote down the things that I want to do “someday.” I’m going to start doing them today.

Dirty little secret

While I was in Ecuador I read the most recent book that Oprah Winfrey has been recommending with amazing aplomb. The book is called "The Secret" and is written by Rhonda Byrne. It is currently the number one selling book in America. The DVD movie is also the best seller in the country. Obviously, Oprah has influence.

"The Secret" is one of the most dangerous, insidious pieces of worthless trash I have ever read. Now, let me tell you what I really think . . .

"The Secret" is simply the "Power of Positive Thinking" on steroids.

Here are some quotes:

So we are the creators, not only of our own destiny, but ultimately we are the creators of Universal destiny. We are the creators of the universe. (p. 160)

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) This seems slightly contradictory unless Rhonda and Oprah believe they are God. Ummm, I suppose they might actually believe that.

You are God in a physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as You. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all intelligence. You are perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the creation of You on this planet. (p. 164)

Okay, I guess we know the answer to the God question.

There is no blackboard in the sky on which God has written your purpose, your mission in life. There's no blackboard in the sky that says "Neal Donald Walsch. Handsome guy who lived in the first part of the twenty-first century, who . . ." And then there's a blank. And all I have to do to really understand what I'm doing here, why I'm here, is to find that blackboard and find out what God really has in mind for me. But the blackboard doesn't exist.

So your purpose is what you say it is. Your mission is the mission you give yourself. Your life will be what you create it as, and no one will stand in judgment of it, now or ever. (P. 177)

"For Jesus will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds." (Matthew 16:27) Uh-oh. Wouldn't want to be Rhonda or Oprah. Not all that thrilled about being me!

When I really understood that my primary aim was to feel and experience joy, then I began to do only those things which brought me joy. I have a saying: "If it ain't fun, don't do it!" (P. 178)

Yeah, don't take care of your aging parents! Don't change your baby's diapers at 2 AM! Don't work at your marriage! Don't cheer for the Cleveland Browns! On second thought, I LIKE this book.

The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You. The stars come out for You. Every beautiful thing you see, every wondrous thing you experience, is all there, for You. Take a look around. None of it can exist, without You. No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. (P. 183)

And all this time I believed my mom. She told me that the world didn't revolve around me.

And now you know the dirty little secret.

The big, BIG, Easter weekend

Merry Christmas! Ummm, I mean Happy Easter!

Hard to believe it was 77 degrees three days ago and now it's 27 with a half inch of snow on the ground.

Easter is my favorite holiday of the year. Even when I was a kid I loved Easter more than all of the other celebrations. So, I'm revved up and ready to head into a big, BIG, Easter weekend.

On another note, but one that ties into the big, BIG, Easter weekend; my Uncle Glenn died yesterday morning. I was close to my Uncle as I was growing up. He and his family lived just down the street from us. Lots of memories.

So here's my schedule for this big, BIG, Easter weekend.

Saturday
8-9 Blow-out Power Saturday (This is a big prayer and worship celebration with all three of our campuses coming together)
9-10:30 Baptism Celebration (We'll be baptizing 75-100 people. Very cool.)
11-12:30 My Unlce's funeral
12:30-3 Memorize my Easter message
3-7:30 Easter services

Sunday
7-1 Easter services
2-4 Easter dinner at my parents'
4 We come home and our daughter Tabitha discovers that the Easter bunny has visited our house. She'll open her basket and find the eggs that have been hidden.

Nice big, BIG, Easter weekend for our daughter, huh? Maybe it is. Every once in awhile I wonder if she feels like Isaac being sacrificed on the altar to God?

I love Easter, but this one seems to have become a bit BIG.

Wealth and happiness

I recently read Andy Stanley's book, It Came From Within. It's just an "okay" book. However, there were a few gems. In one chapter Andy writes, Wealth actually works against happiness. Typically, the more a person has, the less generous they are. The more a person has, the more anxiety they carry. The more a person has, the more aware they are of what they don't have. I have found that it's actually harder to be happy and rich than happy and not so rich.

The challenge comes when some "things" really do make us happier in life. Living in Northern Ohio, having seat warmers in my Honda Pilot really does make me happy. Because I love new experiences, having enough money to do some travel really does make me happy. Sitting in seats near the field rather than the nose bleed section at an Indians game really does make me happy. Call me materialistic, but I'm just being honest.

I think the challenge lies in us having money versus money having us. The key is to give away more the more we earn. To create financial margin in our lives so that we can be a blessing to the world.

In the end, I agree with what Andy wrote, but I think he would also agree with me that, following God's financial plan gives us incredible happiness and opportunities to further God's agenda on the earth.

Having just returned from Ecuador and visiting the little girl, Inte, my family sponsors through Compassion International, I saw firthand the happiness that money can bring. Julie and I sent a $300 gift to Inte's family for Christmas (we're allowed to do that one time a year). We had no idea what the money would be used for. (Compassion ensures that it will be used for a good cause.)

One of the first things Inte did when we were together was thank me for the Christmas gift for her family. I asked her what they did with the money. She explained that she had three brothers. Up until two months ago all four children had shared the same bed. With the money we sent they were able to buy two sets of bunkbeds. Now each of the children has their own bed. Inte smiles and tells me, "I sleep on top."

Having money to bless others definitely makes me happy.

Shift happens

Okay, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7FP1kgtD8U .

And then ask yourself, "What are the implications for me personally?" Or how about, "What are the implications for the church?" Or maybe the colloquial, "What would Jesus do?"

Exciting and scarry shift . . .