Category: 'Opinion'
Recently, I received this meditation regarding stewardship from a member of the church. I will share some of it because it’s very good food for thought . . .
“This is really simple. You are all intelligent people, highly educated. You are used to being coerced, soft sold, hard sold, gently pulled away from your money during stewardship season. The church has relied on the same tactic for years, trying to convince you that you need to give. But that is over. No more coercion! God said you are to give 10%. It says it right in the Bible. You have all read it and heard it before. And when you joined Mt. Bethel, you promised that you would give – your time, talents, gifts and service. You promised. You stood right there in front of your ministers and fellow parishioners in God’s House and you promised. So it’s simple. Do it. Give.”
That is the most straight-forward approach to stewardship I know.
Mt. Bethel is focused outward and is embracing simplicity. In other words, the more we simplify our lives, the more we can give for God’s work. Just how many closets full of clothes does a person need? How many cars? How many houses? How much jewelry? When is enough enough? How much stuff does it take to make one happy?
People are getting their houses in order throughout Mt. Bethel. Priorities are shifting away from “me, my, mine” and people are realizing that true happiness lies in a person’s willingness to give and to serve. The “joy of the Lord” is more powerful than any earthly substitute. We receive His joy when we place Him (not self) at the center of our lives. It’s just that simple.
As you ponder your “stuff,” ask yourself, “Is it worth what you sacrifice in your time, talents and service?” I can assure you, there is a better way to find true joy and happiness.
What do you think?
Let me put it another way. Have you ever given something to a person that truly changed their life for the better? Do you know the pure joy you receive through their deep gratitude?
Hopefully, Mt. Bethel can provide you that experience as we give food, water, shelter, clothes, education, medicine, etc., etc., to the “least, last and lost” locally and across the world. His happiness is like experiencing a kiss, in order to receive it, you must give it.
Randy
There is something about Grandma’s house that exuded peace and serenity every time we pulled in the driveway you could feel it settle in your bones. Maybe it’s the fact that it is situated among the rolling hills of West Virginia and rests in the middle of acres of tall golden corn, small little red painted barns, and a gray dusty gravel driveway that went on for miles. Or maybe it was the endless field full of wild flowers and tall grass that set the perfect stage for us to play the Ingles Family from Little House On The Praire. Once inside the little one bedroom bungalow you were captivated by the aroma of sweet tea, sugar and cinnamon tart cookies, fresh baked coconut cake, fried chicken, and immediately your mouth began to water for the meals that Grandma would prepare in the week to come.
Grandma had shopped, baked, planned, and prepared for our visit and her enthusiasm and sheer delight oozed from every pore of her body when we walked through that door. The mornings brought that intoxicating mountain air and the fragrance of country ham, bacon and cinnamon coming from Grandma’s kitchen and her voice welcoming HIM into her day. The fragrances would wake me from sleep in the morning but the sound of Grandma worshipping HIM would forever be a part of my soul. Grandma sang with every beat of her heart and every ounce of her soul to welcome God into her day, “I Love To Tell The Story” was one of her many favorites that would filter through that tiny little bungalow house on her farm every morning the sun kissed her good day.
Grandma had two pictures that hung in her living room, one of Jesus and the other of the guardian angel carrying two children a boy and girl across a bridge. I remember the first time I asked her about the picture of the man (Jesus), and with tears welled in her eyes she told me about HIM. Grandma knew Jesus in a way that was personal, special, real, and that was the first time I felt that I needed to know HIM the way Grandma did.
As I grew I started to wonder what was different about my Grandma, she lived a humble life, worked hard, struggled through a challenging and difficult marriage; yet she carried a spirit of true joy and grace. Grandma was strong and didn’t fear a thing, not even the mountain lion that lurked on the farm late at night when she would come home from cooking at the Mountain Inn. For as long as I can remember Grandma had one thing on her sofa table and that was the Holy Bible, with a copy of the Upper Room, Wesley Chapel Church bulletin, and a list with names on it tucked inside the front cover. As a child I loved and adored my Grandma but I knew she had something beyond my understanding, and I wanted it!
Decades later on my sofa table I have the Holy Bible, with a copy of the Upper Room, a Mt.Bethel Church bulletin, and a list with names on it tucked inside the front cover. I wake my children with “Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory” each morning the sun kisses their face. I have a plaque of the gaurdian angel hanging in my foyer that makes me smile everytime I walk by it. And tears well in my eyes everytime I talk about HIM, my Jesus, my savior, my friend. My Grandma went to her Heavenly Father before my children were born, but her spiritual legacy embraces them everyday they wake. God, I praise you for my Grandma. And Grandma, I love you and thank you for sharing HIM with me and giving me a legacy to share with my children about HIS amazing grace and love. I am eternally grateful!!!
Blessings,
Sherri Juliani
God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, “It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more.”
I was in a counseling session the other day with a woman named Sally. She posed this question, “Diane, so if God forgives me of my sins - why can’t I? How is it that HE can forgive, then forget them and yet I can’t do either!?”
What do YOU think? Why is it that when God forgives us of our sins - WE still remember them? What is the purpose and what is the LESSON God wants from us in the great scope of things? Well?
Rev. Diane Parrish
In today’s world, it is necessary for Christian organizations to cooperate with all kinds of groups, secular and religious, political and non-political. Sometimes, Christian groups sense they have been “used” for someone else’s political or economic agenda. For instance, at the partnership signing of the United Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief (UMCOR), and the London-based Muslim Aid society, a few questions arose concerning “inclusiveness” compromises and Christian distinctiveness.
In a nutshell, Christians were “invited” not to mention or use the name Jesus Christ. The Muslims fear that “proselytizing” might occur and Muslims might accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, which would be most upsetting to Allah! The audacity is truly amazing considering that Muslim Aid has been linked with a number of militant groups and terrorism. In addition, Muslim Aid sends most of its support to Muslim communities to help poor Muslims observe their holy days.
Why should “Christian” money be used in such a fashion? Also, most Christian groups have tried to maintain the integrity of their Christian identity. Why should Christians acquiesce their identify in order to appease non-believers?!
The name Jesus may be seen as “divisive” to non-Christians. Too bad! It’s time for Christians everywhere to take seriously that “whatever we do in word, thought or deed, we do in the name of Jesus.” We serve in Jesus’ name; we pray in Jesus’ name; we give aid in Jesus’ name! It may be politically incorrect, but the reality is, when we don’t claim His name, we shame it.
Oh, by the way, the news reported a few months ago that the College of William and Mary, the second oldest university in the nation, built to train Anglican clergy, removed the cross from its Chapel, “in order to be more welcoming” to persons of other faiths. The Christian alumnus complained loudly . . . even threatened to withhold their financial support to the University! Today, the cross is back in the Chapel.
Christians, if we confess Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior, we need to do it unreservedly and boldly.
That’s who we are and what we do at Mt. Bethel.
Randy Mickler, D.Min.
Senior Pastor
