Our Stories
Thought About Giving and Serving - and A Possible Tummy Ache
By Char Forslund | posted 05/31/2007
"A certain ruler asked him, Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the POOR, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very WEALTHY. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:18-30)
Mac�s March 25 sermon on Luke and how we are to serve the poor and needy arrowed into our lives as a family. First of all�it�s not just about money. Now, before anyone heaves a huge sigh of relief, let me clarify! It is about money, but so much more. What God wants for us to give our first fruits and talents, not the leftovers. It works itself out differently in each individual life, but it IS a command and it DOES require obedience�hence the possible tummy ache.
Now for some thoughts . . .
Dillon�s excitement for the Habitat for Humanity project at Patterson Park and his good friends, Javier and Corylynn, mean that he volunteers with the Coalition Team once a month, but also goes, on his own, one other Saturday each month because he wants �to build the Berrios a great house.� God honors that service and zeal as part of Dillon�s gifts.
Until now I have not shared the story of my endowment at SPU. Realizing that we did not need more money at that time, we chose through �Planned Giving�� to not ever touch the money I earned. Instead it fed into an endowment that grew until it reached the level where it perpetuates itself and now funds a scholarship for a Children�s Ministry Major each year. Once a year, I get an audit of the endowment, and, more importantly a letter from the recipient!
During those years of teaching at SPU, our three grandkids came to live with us. Ron retired, and the financial picture changed drastically. We did not end or alter the SPU endowment. Teaching at SPU ended three years ago which means we no longer contribute all the fruits of that labor to the endowment.
Then came Mac�s sermon and the chart of Scripture from Luke�a tummy ache started and we are working on a cure. It�s time to take an inventory. Giving and tithing have so many aspects and opportunities. Right now, Creekside financially needs support and if anyone is able to increase monetary giving and God tells you to, then do it. But what about all the opportunities we hear about to make a difference: tiny�small�medium�large. That�s not my call! Guess what! Nobody may know except you and God! Think about these things: prayer� short term missions�ESL�YWCA Family Village�TYMK ministries�a letter to someone in need�food for families where someone is ill�prayer�help in Children�s ministry�babysitting at MAK or Family Connections� raising grandchildren...Youth Ministry�making a phone call or sending an e-mail�prayer�all the Creekside �Teams�� putting the SERVE into worship Service�opening your home� building a home!... support for long term missions�did I mention prayer? These are some of the things we are already doing. Plus more! Hallelujah!
Let�s get even more creative! Lets have open hearts and open hands. Let�s be obedient as individuals under God and under Grace and as a �family of faith�.
Having some new thoughts? Great! Share them! Having a possible slight tummy ache? That�s OK. Let us choose to be a people of challenge and acceptance�a people of creative hope and obedience under God and Grace.
Father God:
Love and Joy!
If you would like the Chart of Scripture from Luke or to hear the sermon from March 25, you can access them online at www.ecreekside.com/Audio/Sermons.
To respond to this message, email Char at charforslund@comcast.net.
For over 25 years Ron has given his time and talent to the Basketball program at Bellevue Christian School. His skill as a statistician has helped BCS go to the State Tournament for the last five years, taking �first� in state twice. God honors that service and commitment as a gift.
Teach me! Convict me! Lead me to mercy and right giving. Because I know I am NOT poor. I am standing in a very long line of fellow Christians waiting to see if I can get through the �eye of the needle��and I truly want to pass through to You.
Char
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"A certain ruler asked him, Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the POOR, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very WEALTHY. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:18-30)
Mac�s March 25 sermon on Luke and how we are to serve the poor and needy arrowed into our lives as a family. First of all�it�s not just about money. Now, before anyone heaves a huge sigh of relief, let me clarify! It is about money, but so much more. What God wants for us to give our first fruits and talents, not the leftovers. It works itself out differently in each individual life, but it IS a command and it DOES require obedience�hence the possible tummy ache.
Now for some thoughts . . . Dillon�s excitement for the Habitat for Humanity project at Patterson Park and his good friends, Javier and Corylynn, mean that he volunteers with the Coalition Team once a month, but also goes, on his own, one other Saturday each month because he wants �to build the Berrios a great house.� God honors that service and zeal as part of Dillon�s gifts. Until now I have not shared the story of my endowment at SPU. Realizing that we did not need more money at that time, we chose through �Planned Giving�� to not ever touch the money I earned. Instead it fed into an endowment that grew until it reached the level where it perpetuates itself and now funds a scholarship for a Children�s Ministry Major each year. Once a year, I get an audit of the endowment, and, more importantly a letter from the recipient! During those years of teaching at SPU, our three grandkids came to live with us. Ron retired, and the financial picture changed drastically. We did not end or alter the SPU endowment. Teaching at SPU ended three years ago which means we no longer contribute all the fruits of that labor to the endowment. Then came Mac�s sermon and the chart of Scripture from Luke�a tummy ache started and we are working on a cure. It�s time to take an inventory. Giving and tithing have so many aspects and opportunities. Right now, Creekside financially needs support and if anyone is able to increase monetary giving and God tells you to, then do it. But what about all the opportunities we hear about to make a difference: tiny�small�medium�large. That�s not my call! Guess what! Nobody may know except you and God! Think about these things: prayer� short term missions�ESL�YWCA Family Village�TYMK ministries�a letter to someone in need�food for families where someone is ill�prayer�help in Children�s ministry�babysitting at MAK or Family Connections� raising grandchildren...Youth Ministry�making a phone call or sending an e-mail�prayer�all the Creekside �Teams�� putting the SERVE into worship Service�opening your home� building a home!... support for long term missions�did I mention prayer? These are some of the things we are already doing. Plus more! Hallelujah! Let�s get even more creative! Lets have open hearts and open hands. Let�s be obedient as individuals under God and under Grace and as a �family of faith�. Having some new thoughts? Great! Share them! Having a possible slight tummy ache? That�s OK. Let us choose to be a people of challenge and acceptance�a people of creative hope and obedience under God and Grace.
Father God:
Love and Joy! If you would like the Chart of Scripture from Luke or to hear the sermon from March 25, you can access them online at www.ecreekside.com/Audio/Sermons. To respond to this message, email Char at charforslund@comcast.net. |
