I shared with a few that we are in the process of trying to launch a new connection point to our website. The main emphasis of that point would be to create a place where people from FCC can share the stories of what God is doing in their life. So many people over the course of the last 5 or 6 weeks (especially) have shared specifically of where they have been challenged in the area of stewardship. Whether it is more intentionally pursuing a debt free life or making the decision to use tithing as their base line for giving, people have been moved to live life with God’s kingdom as their primary concern. As a result, life has been challenging. Life has been rewarding. Life has stretched us to live with a greater awareness of faith and God’s blessing has been seen.
This new connection point isn’t going to be reserved exclusively for stories of giving. Instead, we want to encourage people to share whereever they have been challenged or led. It could be from an experience in our Women’s Ministry. It could come from an encounter in our Men’s Ministry. It could be a small group thing. It could be a, “I was reading Scripture and this just hit me like a ton of bricks” thing. We just want people to be aware that God is alive and He is stirring life change throughout this body.
Here’s the site: http://lifechange.fcc-online.org. It should be up and available no later than Thursday afternoon.
Go check it out. Let it serve as an encouragement that God is at work . . . and feel free to post your story and let it encourage others.
I can’t wait to read what God has done in you!
Every year I hear people having the same conversation over and over and over again. Sometimes people say it like this, “Can you believe they are already putting out the Christmas stuff? It’s only August.” Other times it gets stated in this way, “When I was a kid you never even thought about Christmas until after Thanksgiving.” So, who’s right? Is there a “too early” line that should never be crossed? I’ve heard it theorized that we have no one else to blame except for the commercial businesses who are trying to profit off of Christmas. Are they the wrongdoers?
A couple of weeks ago I heard there was a radio station (not locally) that had already committed to playing all-Christmas . . . all the time. Are we ready for that in early October? Should we expect they (and others like them) should shoulder some of these shenanigans?
We could suggest a compromise. Consider it like this: For those who are hunters in Illinois, you know they have two different firearm seasons for hunting deer. One is in late November. The other is in early December. There are days of respite between these two seasons. Perhaps we could use that type of example in order to come with some type of agreement in regards to the Christmas celebration. We could suggest something like, “From the days of November 1 through November 21st stores and individuals are encouraged to enjoy the merriment of the holidays. Play the music! Show the movies! Bring out the trees! Then from November 22nd through December 7th we encourage a temporary hiatus. Take a deep breath. Don’t get over-hyped. Just relax. Finally, all Christmas celebrations should resume from December 8th through no later than the end of the year.” Would that be agreeable?
Of course, on the other end of the discussion is the question, “How long should Christmas decor be displayed?” Traditionally, I’ve been told January 1st is the appropriate ending. However, I’ve seen lights remain on houses far into the following spring. Is that too long?
I’ve sometimes wondered if we haven’t somehow misappropriated the responsibility. Perhaps it isn’t the mercantiles who are to blame. Maybe the radio stations and television stations feel as abused in this expectation as many others.
There is another possibility. Here it it is: I believe there is a “conspiracy” of husbands and fathers who bring this upon the rest of us (I’ve seen them do it with my own eyes) by trying to get up the decorations and take down the decorations only when the weather is cooperative (i.e. warm and sunny.) Hence, lights go on in early October and they come down in late March, and all the while they underscore (by nothing less than the flash of the lights) to our families that for those of us who don’t go above and beyond we are Scrooges.
Well, if that’s the case, then as men and women who begrudginly listen to the music starting in October, drink the eggnog through November, and bemoan the increasingly long timeframe of the celebration in December than we may have no one else to blame other than the family across the street.
Have a great weekend!
For those who attend FCC you know we’ve been going through this process of growth in our financial management. The hope is that it will bring us all to a place where we can feel a sense of peace knowing that we are being obedient to God, faithful to His work, and careful with our responsibility.
Two things have really (pleasantly) surprised me about this entire season.
First, the amount of excitement, joy, and appreciation which have flowed out of the hearts and mouths of many around FCC has been awesome. It’s been totally well received which if you have been around churches much you know that type of response isn’t the norm. Usually people can get a little bent out of shape when churches talk about money. I think it shows the heart of FCC when we can tackle some of the hardest issues of faith and not get sideways with one another.
Second, the number of people I have heard say, “We made the decision to step out on faith and already God has . . . “ It’s a “no way” kind of response. It’s like we can’t believe it actually happened. The question is, “Why are we are so shocked when God does what he said he would do?” Scripture tells us over and over again, “God is faithful. God does not change. God remains the same.”
In a time when we are seeing so much go up and go down isn’t it good to know we have a God who is steady. In a season when we are hearing men and women say one thing and inevitably do another isn’t it good to know we have a God who is sure. He is constant.
Let me share a verse with you for today, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” (James 1:17-18 NIV)
