WEIRD-The last two weeks have been crazy

My wife continues to see doctors due to her pedestrian auto accident from last October.  The past few weeks have been especially crazy, and I have dropped the ball on keeping my blog updated.  Here is a post to catch us up to date.

Two Sundays ago I started a new series, Weird: Because Normal Isn't Working, based on the book by the same name by Craig Groeschel.  This series challenges us to move from being normal (like everyone else) and shoot for weird (like someone who follows the beat of a different drummer, Jesus).
Two Sundays ago, we looked at how we spend our time.  In this world, normal is a helter skelter rat-race that has no beginning and no end.  Priorities have vanished.  Sabbath is an antiquated idea.  Families pass themselves on their way in and out of the door.  Weird puts boundaries on the craziness, makes priorities out of options, and sees rest as a legitimate goal.

Last Sunday, August 10, we talked about being weird with our wealth.

Did you know that if your family makes $40,000 per year that you make more than 99% of the families on this planet?  We in America are so blessed.  We throw away more things than most people will ever own.  My pantry has more food in it than many families will have in six months.  Paul commanded the rich to "do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share" in 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

The challenge with wealth is to make sure that we keep ourselves in check.  Paul again tells Timothy that"godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6-8).  The issue with wealth is a spiritual problem, not a financial one.  Our contentment must come from God.  If it comes from any other source, there is a price to be paid.  Only the contentment that God offers is lasting.

I challenged our congregation to be even more generous than they already are.  That's a touch task a week after we gave away 15,000 items to the community at our Free Stuff Giveaway.  The challenge had 3 parts: giving spontaneously, giving strategically, and giving sacrificially.

Spontaneous giving is strange in our cynical world. "Everyone holding a sign by the road must be a con man." "People are just trying to use the system." "They must deserve where they are in life."  These are all convenient beliefs that keep us from helping others.  We need to respond spontaneously to the needs that we see.

Strategic giving is nothing more than saving for someone else's moment of need.    Many of us give to our congregation, but do we put aside money so we can be a blessing to someone who needs help.  Planning goes a long way in helping.

Sacrificial giving is what God is shooting for in our lives.  When we give from our surplus, we are only sharing in our abundance (which we should do).  Giving from our need is a true act of faith.  God is pleased when we step out on faith.

While the world is clutching onto their wealth or throwing it away, we should be "weird" and live differently with the wealth God has blessed us with.