3 April 2008

God’s Investment Strategy

 

In light of all the anxiety concerning personal finances and financial markets in our nation at the moment, these words seem particularly appropriate.  They are condensed from an article written by Fr. James L. Burns, entitled “Thanks be to God!,” that appears in the Easter 2008 edition of The Anglican Digest.

 

GOD

 

In our creedal statements we acknowledge that we believe in one God who is the creator and sustainer of all that is, which is a pretty radical statement if you think about it.  What it basically means is that we believe that everything we are and everything we have, and everything we might eventually possess or become, has its source, its origin in God.  In other words, without God everything is nothing and that includes all of us too.  But we are not just deists—people who believe in God in general—we are Christians.  We believe that God is made known to us in a unique and approachable way in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.  We believe that Jesus is God-with-us, and that has implications.  Primarily it means that we have a way to understand how God would have us live as human beings—and that is the way Jesus lived.

 

But there is more!  We also believe that the one thing that separates us from perfect harmony with God is the part of our nature that habitually and unavoidable rebels against God—the “S” word: SIN.  At the very heart of our faith is the belief that, in (the risen) Jesus, God has chosen to nullify this barrier and make it forever possible for us to be with God and enjoy the benefits of true Life that will never end.  Why would God do this?  Because what Jesus showed us is that God is Love and real Love will not settle for losing its beloved—that’s us.  So what does God what in return for such a Love?  Well the bad news is that God wants everything we have, but the Good News that that God only wants everything we have.  And what does this mean?  Simply this.  Without God we have nothing—illusions aside.  With God we have everything—at least everything worth having—and when we offer it back to God every day, we never lose it.  If this sounds like double-speak, read on.  Let’s look at…

 

THE CHURCH

 

Just what is the Church anyway?  Is it people, a community of worship and faith, a source of the sacraments…?  It’s all these and more, but more importantly there are a few things it isn’t.  The Church isn’t a denomination.  The Church isn’t an institution.  The Church isn’t a club.  And above all, the Church isn’t a charity.  It sometimes has the aspects of all these, but at its heart it is a community of people who are seeking to understand what was said above about God, who are trying to shape their lives around its truth, and who are committed to making this truth known in word and deed in the world in which they live.  In other words, the Church has a raison d’etre, which is different from any other organization or community in all of creation.  At its heart, it is a community of reconciliation with God.  Everything we do, everything we say and proclaim, everything we offer to the world around us must be an expression of this fundamental truth of our identity.  And so we…(share the Good News)…we worship…we teach, study, pray, sing, and praise…we help our neighbors…we encourage and help one another…  We do all this because we believe that without God we are nothing and with God we are beloved.  We do this because we believe that Jesus has showed us the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and we need to become more Christ-like everyday.  So with those two cards on the table, let’s talk about…

 

MONEY

 

To quote the words of a somewhat corny old song, “Love will get you through the times of no money better than money will get you through the times of no Love.”  But really that’s at the heart of the relationship between God, the Church, and money.

 

Let me explain. The easiest way for me to begin forgetting what I believe about God is for me to pay more attention to my money—and by extension all the things it can do—than I pay to God.  When I do that, I begin to resemble my money.  No, I don’t turn green or gold (but) I do become able to be manipulated, bought, sold, traded, exchanged, and too easily squandered.  I also become temporal and confined, and, if I’m not careful, I start to be possessed by my possessions.  When that starts to happen, I am easily anxious, frightened, and I become more controlling.  I think you can see where this is going.

 

What’s a person to do?  Well, the Bible tells me in more than one place that the best thing to do is to remember where everything I have ultimately came from; in order to make this remembrance a reality in my life, it is helpful to give back to God on a regular basis a portion of what I get.  The Bible suggests the modest amount of 10% and, when I think of it, there’s not a business deal anywhere I know where the managing and sustaining partner gets 10% and the worker gets 90%--but that’s God’s offer…

 

I begin (my giving) with the only place where the Love of God is proclaimed, made real on a regular basis, encouraged, spread and offered to any and all comers…and after that I give (above and beyond my tithe) to charity.  Has this been hard for me to do?  I can honestly say that it never has been—once I started.  The hardest part was taking the leap.  Would it be hard for you?  I can’t say.  But I suspect that the hardest part would be taking the leap.  Of course if you don’t ever try, you know what will happen—nothing—and wouldn’t that be a shame.

 

God bless us all.  (Wait a minute!  God already has!)

 

 

Around Beloved…The Beloved Development Office will be closed next week during the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Spring Break.  In case of a pastoral emergency, please contact your Angel Army or Care Team Pastor who will be able to get you in contact with Pastor Sally Brower.

 

 

 

Tennis anyone?  The Cash and Shaughnessy families are considering a Tennis Social event for adults who are interested in joining together for some social tennis, some light refreshment and some fellowship.  It will be a "mixer," that is non-competitive, and will be open to people at all skill levels.  We will have playgrounds for young children, so that parents can play tennis while their children are being watched.  It will be on a weekend afternoon in May.  We need to know who is interested, what day (Saturday or Sunday) is best, so that we can reserve the court time.  For those with interest, please contact here.
 

  

The next edition of Beloved eNews will publish on April 17^th.  News and calendar information should be submitted via email by Monday, April 14^th.

 

 

March 30…Attendance: 121, Worship Offering: $2,518.  Income needed for ministry each week: $5,500 (fully funded) à $4,400 (requiring other funding sources i.e. fundraising events).  The financial goal of Church of the Beloved is to reach self-sufficiency (i.e. pay all expenses without income from outside sources) by 12/31/2008.

 

 

Scripture Readings for April 6…Acts 2:14a,36-41 & Luke 24:13-35

 

Serving at God’s Altar on April 6…Complete setup/partial teardown: Angel Army Team #5; Acolytes: Cecilia Atwood, Trinity Atwood, Daniel Dygowski; Offering Basket Passers: Daniel Anton, Olivia Anton, Emma Ryan, Sam Ryan; Presenters: Dave and Mary Ann Cash; Altar Bread Baker: Catherine Atwood; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Brent Brower & Liz Wilson; PowerPoint: Joseph Nichols; Reader: Lexi Leinenkugel.

 

 

Scripture Readings for April 13…1 Peter 2:19-25 & John 10:1-10

 

Serving at God’s Altar on April 13…Partial setup/complete teardown: Angel Army Team #1; Acolytes: Victoria Floyd, Clare Harbin; Offering Basket Passers: Trinity Atwood, Joy Dygowski, Ben Heckmann, John Patton; Presenters: Dave and Liz Wilson; Altar Bread Baker: Shari Wynn; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Brian McCarthy & Penny Crawford; PowerPoint: Paige Wilson; Reader: Tori Leinenkugel.

 

 

In our Prayers…click here

 

Upcoming Calendar…click here