My stuff is not my stuff

One of the most difficult truths to apply to our lives is that our stuff is not really ours, it all belongs to God. In Christian circles, we say this all the time, but our actions tell a different story. We spend our entire lives protecting our stuff. We're like a little kid hovering over his share of the candy with his arms wrapped wide around his pile and looking over his shoulder to spot any intruder that might be coming to take his stuff.

We protect our stuff at all costs...Here is a real life example...
Walt and I were out yesterday filming people on the street. Our question..."Do you think Christians are generous?" We stopped by a gas station and approached a man(his name was Willie) and asked him if we could ask him a question on camera. He said, "No way! I'm on house arrest(as he pointed to the electronic leash on his ankle) and I need to stay on the straight and narrow!" He must've thought we were the secret parole agents spying on him or something! Anyway, I asked him why he was on house arrest. He said, "I popped a homeless guy for trying to break into my car to steal some change." I quickly clarified that by "popped" he meant "hit" and not "shot". He said, "yeah I hit him". So rather than film him, I asked him if I could pray for him. He said, "sure!" I gave him a starbucks gift card with my phone number and told him to call me if he needed to talk.

I don't think Willie reacted much differently than we react when it comes to protecting our stuff. Ok, maybe he went a little off the deep end, but we all have tend to have a strong "protection mechanism" built in that senses an intruder. When I let the truth that my stuff is not my stuff sink deep within my heart, I begin to ask myself the question, "how does Jesus want me to react to these types of situations?"

Luke 6:27-36 is clear...be generous...your reward will come later, and it will be great!

Cheapo Christians Drive Me Nuts!

I must admit...Cheapo Christians drive me NUTS! Christians should be the most generous people. Why are so many so stinkin' stingy?

You might be a cheapo Christian if...

1. You tailgate at the Krispy Kreme donut shop so you can be first in line for a free donut when the light comes on.

2. Your idea of a great lunch buffet is browsing the aisles at Sam's Club for the free food samples.

3. You go out to a restaurant with friends and you round down your part of the bill to the nearest 5 bucks.

4. You only tip 10% and have the nerve to leave a tract for your waiter or waitress.

5. You sell your used stuff for the same amount or more than you paid for it.

Instead of looking for a handout, why not try the following...

1. Buy the person behind you a Krispy Kreme Donut, when the light ISN'T on.

2. Treat your friends to lunch the next time you go out.

3. Tip 20% or more before you even think about leaving a tract.

4. Give your used stuff away to someone in need instead of selling it.

5. Leave a stack of quarters at the car wash for the next person with a note or card letting them know that God loves them.

House Church Rules

Not "rules" as in "Do's & Don'ts", but as in "Rocks" or ....oh nevermind, hopefully you get the point!

I have enjoyed meeting in our house for church over the past 7 months. It is such a fun vibe. We laugh, sometimes cry, sing together with this guy tearin' up the guitar each week! I love seeing our living room full with kids in the middle of the floor all close together. I look around the room and see all kinds of people, young, older, different nationalities, different backgrounds, different stories to share. It's a safe place.

Yesterday we talked about the 1st Gen Church in the Book of Acts and how these early Christians did life together. We focused our time on what it means to be Generous. Each person wrote on sticky notes their ideas and thoughts on what "being generous" looks like. We went around the room and each shared what we wrote. There were a lot of similarities, but each person had some unique ideas. The thoughts varied from establishing a "car repair fund", to leaving a stack of quarters at the car wash for the next person, to opening our homes for ministry. The sermon on launch sunday (9/23/07), will be about Generosity. It's part of who we are at Elk Creek Church. By and large, the "Church" has lost the discipline of being generous. When I truly let the reality of what Jesus has done for me sink deep within my heart, It overflows into generosity. Jesus is the center of it all. His generosity is what leads people to repentance.