TBC Hope

Unexpected Hope

2009-07-15T15:17:00.001-05:00

by Dr. James Porch

Frequently, a surge of hope rushes into my life and passes my abiding expectations with an element of serendipity. The word of Persian origin, born in the writings of Horace Walpole, finally gained legitimacy into both Funk and Wagnall’s and Webster’s Dictionary.

The testy term, coined from a fairy tale “The Three Princes of Serendip,” alludes to experiencing desirable, exciting, favorable discoveries unsought and unexpected.

Our Heavenly Father does arrive on His time with His load of hope, and often in unexpected ways.

An often overlooked Old Testament reference describing the military ability of the tribe of Issachar assuredly affirms this conclusion.

These warriors, quite possibly progenitors of our Southern “good ole boys,” came from an original tribe of Israel named for one of Jacob’s sons born to Leah.

The nomadic family, one of 12 to escape Egypt under Moses’ shepherding, maintained vigilance and readiness to fight the oppressors of God’s chosen people.

Once the nation left Mount Sinai, the tribe took up a flanking position to the left of the tribe of Judah and the Ark of the Covenant. Consistently responsive to opportunities to assist in the Exodus trip, the heritage of the tribe extended even into the time of King David.

A general call for military aid prompted the warriors of Issachar to join the other tribes at Hebron, “to turn the Kingdom of Saul to him (David)” (1 Chronicles 12: 23).

Reflecting upon the arrival of the allies, the chronicler wrote, “All came (including Issachar) with a perfect heart to make David King over all Israel, all of one mind” (verse 38).

While the record emphasizes the fighting strength of each tribe, only Issachar received a commendation with unexpected hope, “… the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do…” (1 Chronicles 12:32). Such a serendipity announced the wedding of reality and readiness to respond. Evidently, these boys came to Hebron to bear hope beyond fighting strength. As I have born witness before, Father God’s name includes surprise.

Things to Consider: Retirement Contributions

2009-06-17T21:40:00.001-05:00

CONDSIDER THESE BEFORE STOPPING CONTRIBUTIONS TO RETIREMENT
By: Richard Skidmore

I remember my father trying to teach me to “measure twice and cut once.” When you are cutting a board for a barn or fence, if you aren’t careful, you can cut too much off the board. Then the board will not fit and you will have to cut another board and hope for a shorter place to use the one you miscut. That same principle might apply to some of the current financial decisions being made by churches. It would seem wise to use caution and try to measure all potential results and other possible areas to consider before making cuts. A prime example is the Church Retirement Plan.

Before contributions are suspended to the Church Retirement Plan, careful consideration needs to be given to the outcome. Every minister serving a Tennessee Baptist Convention church, bivocational or fully funded, regardless of ministry position (pastor, music, youth, etc.) has some protection provided to them if they are active in the Church Retirement Plan. A Tennessee Baptist minister who has a contribution made to the plan by the church, either as a benefit from the church or by salary reduction, has up to $500 per month coverage for disability and up to $100,000 payable to their family as a survivor benefit in the event of the minister’s death. These benefits are provided by the Tennessee Baptist Convention in partnership with GuideStone Financial Resources. The premium for these benefits is paid monthly for each month a contribution is made to the Church Retirement Plan. If no contribution is made in any given month, there is immediately a gap created in the coverage. The operative words here are minister, active, monthly, gap. Decisions about changes in retirement contributions should involve staff members. If the church contribution is decreased, staff should be reminded of the opportunity to begin or alter a salary reduction agreement to have tax sheltered contributions sent to the retirement plan.

These protection benefits are provided to other church support staff members who work 20 hours or more weekly and have 36 months of Baptist employment. Again, a monthly contribution means the monthly premium is paid by the TBC. Churches or staff members who have questions can call the Tennessee Baptist Convention at 800-558-2090 and ask for Richard Skidmore at extension 2009 (e-mail rskidmore@tnbaptist.org) or Joyce Harvey at extension 2053 (e-mail jharvey@tnbaptist.org).

Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Joseph

2009-06-05T10:27:00.003-05:00

by: Dr. James Porch

Personal hope rises to abide at some point in a season of struggle against despair, provided…
Admittedly blocked and struggling to complete my own sentence, I realized desperation to discover and validate my own role in knowing new hope.

The following perspective offers my best shot, up to now.

Remember Joseph? This child of papa Jacob’s pride, the many-colored-coat boy, adolescent dreamer, slave victim of his brother’s treachery, chief operating officer for Pharaoh, also took a big risk in a time of serious economic threat. Stated further, the Hebrew in Egypt dared to defy his own potentially do- nothing attitude rather than merely accepting the plight of the time.

Remember Pharaoh of Egypt? One night he had two successive dreams—one of seven ugly range cows devouring seven feedlot cows, and the other visualizing seven nubbins of corn swallowed by seven well filled out ears. Furious and frustrated as his magicians offered no conclusive answer, the high potentate called in Joseph, currently serving a long stretch in prison. The young man appeared before Pharaoh, heard the dreams and cut right to the issue, predicting seven years of good harvest followed by seven successive years of famine. Scared, angry, or whatever, Pharaoh impressed by Joseph’s insight elevated him to governor with the assigned task to manage the duties to prepare for the coming hunger plight. Also Joseph got a wife, Asenath, as a further expression of Pharaoh’s grace.

Now by his faith in God and Pharaoh’s confidence, Joseph possessed a free from slavery future. The stress of detailed planning and meticulous management could have possessed his life to the point of total reluctance to choose to add anything to his new responsibilities.

Nevertheless, “before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph.” One he named Manasseh meaning “God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father’s household.” The second carried the name Ephraim, “for…God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41).

Facing lean known but yet to what extent unknown years ahead, Joseph started his family. RISK. No way over, beside, or around the fact Jacob’s son took the risk to not be halted wondering, “What’s over on the other side of the famine?” Even his son’s names announced the strength of his risk—release from the power of past affliction and positive focus toward his life encounters ahead.

Your trials toward hope may inevitably run through a big new land of risk. Personally, my hope road not yet traveled has been and will be toward and through risk. For me, the principle composes part of my personal DNA. The year of my birth, 1941, the United States government declared The Great Depression of the 1930’s had ended. That proclamation had no affect on my home community. Actually, the 1929 Wall Street crash received little attention. According to my parents, they had planned for me and hoped for me all the way through hard economic times. I suppose a birth child of risk just learns to court risk as a part of his life.

Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Job

2009-05-11T14:31:00.004-05:00

By James Porch

In a hurry, attempting to rescue my grandson from the daycare center before the after hours late charge kicked in, I veered off the urban street to the right, rolled down the paved shoulder, passing a line of traffic. Nearing the corner, I experienced a sudden unexpected encounter—flashing blue lights from the car of a metro policeman. Quickly acknowledging his beckoning, I wheeled into a nearby parking lot, jumped out of the car and proceeded to confess my broken law error to the tune of a “personal emergency” reason.

The officer’s smile and statement, “I’m going to help you out” birthed immediate hope. He continued, “I will write this ticket as fast as I can, and you can be on your way.” Hope shattered, I silently waited as he kept his word.

Sometime the same person(s) who gives immediate hope can suddenly take away the rising joy. Remember Job’s encounter with his “friends?”

Following his series of devastating losses, Job’s spirit assuredly rose with the arrival of Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. According to Scripture, “they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him” (Job 2:11).
The Scripture offers little indication the man of multiple sorrows expected commentary and especially a heavy dose of imposed guilt. The boys just could not be content to be present and by presence alone stand by their friend. On the other hand, possibly the vocal deluge of the three and the ensuing debate ignited Job’s deep profession of faith to move up and out into their ears, “I know my redeemer liveth.” The longing to hope man proved pastor unto himself.

Presence alone can bring comfort while awaiting forthcoming hope. Even the absence of words may bring on the occasion of a surprise. The late John Claypool told of rushing into a hospital emergency room in response to the news of a church family being involved in a serious automobile accident. Kneeling before the wife/mother as her husband and son received focused care of the physicians and nurses, the lady put her finger to her lips and spoke, “John, don’t say anything until God gets through with this.” The grace of presence, yours and mine, may just be sufficient. Besides, Abba Father can be in attendance through you and me.

How to Have Physical Well-Being in Times of Fiscal Uncertainty

2009-05-04T15:54:00.006-05:00

By James Florence

Headlines, news anchors, internet service homepages, all announce the unpleasant reality: we are in the midst of a serious national financial crisis. Nearly everyone feels its impact.

We dread looking at our monthly retirement savings statements; we flinch at the grocery store checkout stand; we cringe at the fuel pump.

Our pocketbooks may not be the only victim in times of fiscal uncertainty. Excess stress associated with unemployment may increase the risk for certain chronic health conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

But a recent large study by the National Bureau of Economic Research (Christopher J. Ruhm, “Healthy Living in Hard Times,” Journal of Health Economics, vol. 24, Mar. 2, (2005): pp. 341-363), suggests that this does not always have to be the case. In fact, overall risk for death may actually decrease during times of recession.

It appears that during temporary economic downturns smoking and obesity rates decline and physical activity rates increase. People tend to make better food choices, spend less money on unnecessary items like cigarettes and junk food, and they walk more.

These activities, coupled with reduced work hours and more leisure time, actually promote overall well-being and even longevity, but only in the people who make these sensible lifestyle changes. Those who don’t are not helped and may even be at greater health risk.

There’s even biblical precedent for this. After losing their jobs, their homes, and even their country, Daniel and his friends had better physical and mental health than others when they followed a healthy diet and trusted God fully in spite of their circumstances (Daniel 1:1-16).

In keeping with this “Daniel Effect,” here are a few suggestions for maintaining your physical health even if you’re financially strapped. Also included are some websites you can visit for reliable advice if you need help getting started. Of course, health information alone should never replace the counsel of your physician. The “big three” health activities, good for anyone at any time are:

· If you smoke, now would be a good time to stop for good.
· If you are overweight, drop the pounds you need to, but do it sensibly.
· If you don’t exercise regularly, begin making it a habit. Walking would be a good place to start.
· Eating out less gives you better control over portion sizes, ingredients, and cost.
· Prepare healthy homemade meals in advance and take your lunch to work.
· Replace expensive and unhealthy junk food with natural snacks like apples and baby carrots. Get creative; look for bargains. Eat fruits and veggies in season.
· Drink lots of water (tap water costs less than bottled); try flavoring with a squeeze of lemon or lime.
· Purchase foods in their natural state: less processing means less fat, no additives and less money.
· Eat a more plant-based diet. Ounce for ounce beans have half the calories, a third of the protein and none of the fat and cholesterol of beef.

Recommended websites for more health information are:

· To quit smoking, http://www.smokefree.gov/.
· To eat better or lose weight, www.webmd.com/diet.
· To view the nutritional content of foods, http://www.nutritiondata.com/.
· To get tips on eating for less, http://www.weeatcheap.blogspot.com/.
· To start an exercise program, www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise.

Florence is associate professor of Community Health at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.

Reprinted by permission from the March 25, 2009 issue of the Baptist & Reflector.

Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Nahum

2009-04-27T11:05:00.003-05:00

by James Porch

“Nahum.” As a newly recognized presence in my great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 11:1), please excuse me for neglecting your message before now.

Wow, I feel better!

As usual with me, a story precedes a confession. Last week rumbling again through my Mama’s stuff (she died in 1997), I happened upon a printed sermon—a Norman Vincent Peale (late pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City) homily. Reading toward the printed manuscript, I sensed a growing tug by the text, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:7 KJV).

I quickly reacted to a flood of questions, including where, why, and how did Mama find that sermon? These and more unresolved questions prompted me to remember events in her life around the date of the sermon’s publication, a season in her days offering very little nurture for hope. I, her only child, lived 400 miles away, two sisters who lived nearby were experiencing serious health challenges meriting her attention, and vocationally Mama had begun transitioning from hospital nursing to a nursing home ministry. And, as she commented, “I have spent my life helping folk regain health, now I seem to be assisting folks preparing to die.” Most stressful, she lived day by day in an abusive second marriage, (my Dad died in 1960) yet determined to keep her marital vows. Overall, loneliness assuredly overshadowed her days.

Repeatedly turning over the pamphlet in my hands, viewing her underlining, written notes, and the worn appearance of the pages I found, I believe, her “why.” There in the biblical text and commentary, I realize she had discovered a gem of hope through the great surprising work of the living God.

In her lineage, I glean a hope for hope in the ’09 season of economic distress.
Nahum the prophet emphatically wrote, “He [God] knows those who trust in him.” This direct message, prior to the fall of Nineveh, must have awakened his initial audience to a blatant reality—our Father God’s relation with us includes reciprocal trust. Simply, in addition to my trust in Him, His grace extends to His attention toward knowing who of His family abides intentionally in trust in Him.

Eureka!

My trust in the Father matters to Him!! He acts toward me on no assumption, must less presumption!!! I am in His mind of minds!!!! (Psalm 8). Oh, to live in the awareness of Almighty God as revealed in Jesus Christ to the extent He cares for my trust in Him.
Hallelujah!

Thanks, Nahum, for hearing the Father.

When Life Tumbles In What Then?

2009-04-21T15:21:00.008-05:00

By Archer Thorpe

I frequently talk with people that feel that life is tumbling in, and they fear that they will not be able to dig their way out. The economy is being described as one that is contracting and tumbling in upon itself. Some may be feeling that their business is going under, and they fear that the ground beneath their feet could tumble in on them. They wonder what then? The Cooperative Program provides almost all the funding for Tennessee Baptist Convention’s Executive Board Ministries. Many of our churches have had to tighten their belt financially, so the support for missions through the Cooperative Program in Tennessee is currently below last year’s receipts. The TBC staff has cut our ministry budget in order to live within our income.

When I attempt to look into the future, I begin to ask, the “What then?” question. Will decisions I make be based on fear or faith? Without Christ in my life, fear would reign. By faith, I will remember God’s many promises to sustain us and never leave us. As an expression of faith, my wife Linda and I are continuing our commitment to honor God’s mandate for us to tithe the first fruits of our income to the ministries of our church. By faith we will increase the amount we will give as an offering.

Our church, ClearView Baptist Church, Franklin, among churches in Tennessee moved from 40th place in the amount given through the Cooperative Program in 2007 to 27th place in 2008. In my opinion, the primary reason is the leadership of our pastor Mark Marshal. Our church is modeling the way for my family. It’s not trite to say, “We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future.”

When life tumbles in what then will you do? Here is some real help from Howard Dayton at Crown Financial Ministries:

“First, find God’s direction for your life. Many frustrations we experience are the result of patterning our life after someone else, rather than finding through prayer and study of God’s Word, God’s direction for us. Next, make a conscious effort to trust God. Put thoughts, words and commitments into action, and don’t buy on credit or hoard. Wait for God to supply and plan ahead. Then develop a long-range viewpoint. Trust God’s directives and guidance, even when you cannot see the end result or are unable to understand why He may be doing it that way (Matthew 6:34). Finally, pray always. Diligent prayer is the key that unlocks God’s blessings, power and direction (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).”

Archer Thorpe is a Ministry Strategist/Leadership Specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Reprinted by permission from the March 25, 2009 issue of the Baptist & Reflector.

Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Moses

2009-04-14T00:00:00.002-05:00

By James Porch

Moses, now there goes, or comes, a traveling man.

Rambling through the Pentateuch, you repeatedly see him on the road again, again, and again. From Egypt to Midian, to Mt. Horab, back to Egypt, once again out of Egypt, now taking the first steps to shepherd Israel for 40 years plus on a trek toward the Father’s Promised Land.

He, once a saved baby from the Nile, stepping to the cadence marked by Jehovah’s shepherd’s staff, led on learning the troubles and challenges of leadership—all the time facing a far destination nurtured by his faith in his Caller, fully expecting to abide in the promised hope land.

So quite possibly, mindful of the legacy of Abraham’s arduous journey, Moses treks along aware he must focus on his obedience to Jehovah lest his own growing vision of destination overshadow and displace the daily provisions and care of Father God who set Israel free from Egypt.

Cut the old boy some slack. He, humanly speaking, deserved the privilege to habitat in Canaan.

Except! A nasty word always lingering around to break through any inadequate conclusion. Except God in sovereign justice alerted Moses to an essential yet disappointing reality.

“The Lord said to me…Go up to the Mount of Pisgah and lift up your eyes to the west and north and south and east and see it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan.” Why? “For in the wilderness of Zin during the strife of congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat me as holy before their [God’s people] eyes at the water.” (Numbers 27:14)

Sin, non-forgiveness, disobedience, avoided opportunities, prideful resistance to the Father’s will, and a whole mess of junk life contrary to the Father’s will can cloud over my vision to see satisfying hope. This is no attempt to offer a personal pity party or allegiance to a victimized mentality.

A life-hope trip contrary to merely traveling requires the absence of a fixed perception of destination. Or, I must stop short of determining my destination lest I honor my reluctance to reject anything short of my expectation or satisfaction. Hope, even hope as gift from God, may not extend to the status of my expectation.

So for Moses, his hope lived on through the trip. Quite possibly he died and God entombed him facing Canaan. My lesson here—hope is really more about my trip through, and on, and on, and much less about arrival.

Emotional Helps During Difficult Times

2009-04-13T23:33:00.003-05:00

By Tony Rankin

Be honest with yourself and accept the fact that you make mistakes just like everybody else.

Refuse to believe that you are the only person in your world that is hurting.

Get some exercise (like walking) and try to do it outside if at all possible.

Spend some time with friends everyday.

Laugh at something.

Allow yourself to get to the point of tears when hurting.

Decrease the amount of unhealthy foods and drink you put into your body (caffeine and nicotine are included.)

Do something for somebody.

Read your Bible.

Read something in addition to your Bible that stimulates your thinking.

Journal about your day. Mention things that make you happy, sad, mad and confused.

When things seem out of control realize that seeing a counselor does not mean that you are “crazy.” It means you are healthy enough to know you want to be healthier.

Tony Rankin is the Counseling/Family Ministries Specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Reprinted by permission from the March 25, 2009 issue of the Baptist & Reflector.

Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Nehemiah

2009-03-27T08:54:00.001-05:00

Ole brother Nehemiah!

Now that feller sits somewhere near the top of my human hope chain.

He, project manager for building of the second Jerusalem wall, allowed a seed of the Heavenly Father’s given hope to blossom out of his life, sending forth the fragrance to energize a people to discover “a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6)

The Hebrew captive, cup bearer to King Artaxerxes, evidently welcomed the God of Israel to infect his own mind, even beginning with the sad news of the broken walls of his beloved Jerusalem. I hear the rattling of his gray matter as this bold and respected man of the Persian court rode mile after mile wondering and awaiting, envisioning and daring to plan his own response upon arrival in David’s city. Hope, at that point, really lay in the long yet beyond of Nehemiah. He would hope, but not yet. The reality news, the bold risk request of the King, and the long hard trip had to be traveled to precede the coming of his own hope. Yet he chose not to abandon his own pursuit of hope.

Once inside the city, he traveled beyond his own gained and apparent surface reality to experience the metropolitan brokenness beyond anyone else’s grasp and see only for himself the devastation and magnitude of the tragedy.

Nehemiah’s solitary nighttime dangerous donkey ride connected him to the depth of the seemingly impossible task. He, inside Jerusalem, seeing, touching, smelling, listening, even tasting the rotten, rusting, sickening lost grandeur now a garbage ruin, exposed his emotions to receive horrors beyond his own fears. Only now God seemed to open hope, and the award went to the first person to accept the real Jerusalem in ruins. Hope rises up in Nehemiah only after his own personal experience of the reality of the present city. He now knew his role in a new calling.

God’s gift of hope comes in response to personal reality check and acceptance. In the midst of these loss times, dare you, I, or anyone expect to be given His hope to bypass or precede our authentic embracing of the situation, even at the prize of displacing fantasy for real pain?

In essence, on your way to hope, allow the Heavenly Father to immerse you totally within your own reality.

The current times as is must become the times as is for you.

Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Abraham

2009-03-25T10:46:00.000-05:00

Abraham, now there’s quite a fellow. He’s even listed in the hall of faithful in Hebrews. But he also pulled one of the dumbest stunts of all the personalities in Scripture.

Hard times! He had to prepare for a famine (nutritional depression). So gathering up his family, he lights out for Egypt and food.

Sometime, somewhere near Egypt, Abraham hatched a plot to protect himself at the possible disgrace of Sarah, his wife. “Honey, I’m real uptight about this Pharaoh fellow. I have a plan. When we meet him, you play like my sister—not my beloved wife.” Maybe Abraham went as far as declaring, “This charade provides for the best of all of us.” Phooey! Somehow, Pharaoh discovered the deceit. He was mad—big mad all over. Apparently, the Egyptian ruler’s morals embarrassed Abraham, and the Hebrew patriarch and family quickly exited Egypt upon the insistence of Pharaoh.

Hard times will test Christian morals. These days, months, maybe years of restrictions go totally against the grain of our lifestyle of available commodities and money to purchase needed items, and especially, wanted items.

Nobody can claim exemption from temptation. We are and will be living in a season as never before, and temptation can set off anyone toward theft, lying, and deceit. To paraphrase the Man in Black, “keep a close watch” on those morals. Heavenly Father expects of each of us a pure heart all the way through.

Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Naomi and Ruth

2009-03-24T13:37:00.001-05:00

Ruth and her sister Orpah, Moabite ladies, married the two sons of Naomi, a widow from Judah. Naomi’s family, fleeing famine and conditions wherein “every man did what was right in his own eyes,” had arrived in Moab hoping their less-than-friendly neighbors would welcome them. Naomi’s husband died, and her sons (husbands to Ruth and Orpah) also died.

Now Naomi awaited a harsh lifestyle as an ignored and possibly manipulated woman destined to a life of poverty. Planning to return to Judah and hoping for the help of a relative to face her fate, Emlimech’s widow encouraged both daughters-in-law to remain in their native land, a consciously selfless and gracious gesture. Ruth, through an attitude combining resistance to Naomi’s urge with genuine human unconditional compassion, vowed to stay with her mother-in-law until death. Scripture records, “When she [Naomi] saw that she [Ruth] was determined to go with her, she [Naomi] said no more to her” [Ruth].

Resolution, so simple, so direct, so beautiful, and hope in the person of Ruth and her loving presence rose up in the heart of Naomi.

The rest of the story narrates the Father’s bounty of love and provision, both to Ruth and Naomi. They came through hard times by the grace of God and the willingness of one person, Ruth, to declare and keep “until whenever” compassion to her friend. Just being alongside another person on the way through an economic disruption may be enough. The Holy Spirit who comes alongside us always is enough.

There’s a Seepression in the Wind

2009-03-23T16:14:00.001-05:00

O.K. So economic RECESSION and/or financial DEPRESSION poses a political, economical and/or cultural offensive label. How about SEEPRESSION?

Absolutely! We’ll all SEE the advancing threatening economic stampede if by courage we are willing to look!

Reality check moment, ponder the question, “Who will SEE THROUGH the “interruption?” Will the want satisfying by credit card climate folk take a look? Or, will the phenomena be left to the perspective of an advancing desperation for survival battle for the masses currently locked in a harm’s way struggle to pay to eat, purchase a prescription, gas up to drive to work, or mail a mortgage payment on time?

Personally, I did not experience The Great Depression of 1929. Born in 1941, I grew up within the grace of parents who made their way through and gave me their hard earned values. So, as a first generation post-depression child and adolescent, the timeframe 1941-1959 and the accompanying restricted lifestyle allows me some credentials of being at least one rail up on the fence to offer a personal perspective as together we traverse along and through this never expected trial.

Basically, each person’s reactions/response depends on personal perception and individual attitude. Adjustment is the name of the game, and each player’s best hope depends on keeping step with reality throughout the tournament.

Settling in for the Season

A certainty — seasons change and eventually end!

Meanwhile, chop the timeframe into one day at a time. Discover your American ingenuity, and attack the larger problem. For instance, less food, eat less and triumph over obesity. Remember American ingenuity learned in the 1930’s gave an edge to American servicemen during World War II. Meanwhile, connect kids to the sources. Savor the teaching time to surprise your youngsters—milk comes from cows rather than the cooler at Kroger. Further, this season may be preparation for an even more stressful era ahead.

Validate an Old Aborted Word—Need

Enter a store, grocery or otherwise, wander, muse, meditate, touch, examine products at various angles. This ambulatory selection process and the plethora of goods befuddles the brain. Behold eight brands, 24 varieties by style, comfort range, or scent of toilet tissue. The same avails be it laundry soap or spaghetti sauce. Confusion creeps in to compete with marketing and the conscious element of need surrenders to the yearning to satisfy want, and the cycle continues. A life only by need alone time looms ahead. Fair warning.

Honor Personal Limits

Go ahead. Adopt this double first cousin to need. Contrary to some economic planner huskers, credit will continue to play an essential role in finances in both families and corporate America. Sadly, apparently, only now in the limited availability and reduction of credit will many folk discover a harsh lesson—credit is not a license, and abuse of the privilege proves to be disastrous. My wife and I share one credit card with a mutually agreed upon limit. Each month we pay off all charges, having periodically reviewed the growing balance throughout the month. Such responsibility requires discipline, a trait to be learned, having no reserved spot in your gene pool. An even more threatening calamity may loom ahead for many people maxed out on credit cards who now have no recourse but to adjust to cash living and credit card interest payments.

Live on the Stuff Called Cash

Little pennies, round nickels, thin dimes, flat quarters, bulky half-dollars, and U.S. bills of various denomination possess buying power. Paying cash allows you to own your purchase. Ownership! At least second cousin to cleanliness which is next to Godliness. We just may be on the brink of an exciting season of ownership with only a warranty for paperwork. As an owner, you use your item, play with it, break it, even loan it. Who cares? It’s yours. In a cash climate you can learn to wait. So wait patiently, save up for a needy purchase, and expect real appreciation—a Dutch uncle to gratitude.

See Beyond Yourself

Okay, my personal parson side now kicks into the discussion. The current ongoing season of adjustment to the crisis points me directly to the reality I am His creation. Personal inalienable rights include caretaker of His creation. The assumptive-presumptive participation in enough and more for all and forever mindset has to go. We can no longer afford the popular American flaunting of plenty custom.

Our Tennessee Baptist churches must encounter the choice to be or not to be Christian as never before in our life time.

Sometime, out yonder, beyond the prevailing financial interruption folk will welcome better times with the question, “Who was there alongside with me through the era of hunger, lost job, loss of home, wonder for tomorrows, and sight of pain in the eyes of my family?” The local church that chose to come alongside in a Christ-like manner to aid these hurting folk will be the communities of faith that expand the meaning of salvation. This in no way means financial bailout by churches alone. While financial assistance can be of great help, I speak more of church folk offering encouragement, a new sense of fellowship and community, and a sense of camaraderie to work together through the era. If the church succumbs to a do it for you attitude, we lend our efforts toward either crippling or paralyzing folk with good self-respect who need to know they are not alone in their struggles. The Tennessee Baptist Convention One Servant Family staff hurt with our church folk and are seeking God’s guidance to use their energies to be alongside our churches as they minister in shepherding the local communities. While we together know not what we may do, may we be together open to seek to know what our Heavenly Father wills us to do as we bear one another’s burdens together.

Reviewing my own writing, I think my simple message is all about sensitivity to care enough to bear witness to my Father God who carries His people through, often in the strength and action of other persons. May God’s blessings, whatever He chooses them to be, be ours to know through this time.

“Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley in the darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Some thro’ the waters, some thro’ the flood,
Some thro’ the fire, but all thro’ the Blood;
Some thro’ great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.”

Notes

G.A. Young, “God Leads Us Along” (Kansas City: Lillenas Publishing Co., 1931)

Church Budget Adjustment Reflections

2009-03-20T16:10:00.000-05:00

Holy Spirit led planning for efficiency in the use of tithes and offerings through budget adjustments honors Biblical stewardship.
Allow your process and intent to involve the total church family, especially in the final decision. Giving follows commitment; understanding nurtures commitment.
Maintain vigilance to guard against the precedent-setting temptation to focus on institutional survival over God’s future for the church’s ministry.
Maintain throughout the process the awareness that your action will communicate the vision, faith, and intention of the church family to honor the Kingdom of God.
Resolve to seek patience through prayer to prevent hasty decisions from jeopardizing long-term ministry.
Recognize the local church’s staff ministers in a covenant relationship to the body of Christ. Consideration of adjustments in staff support deserve recognition that the church’s responsibility is to keep trust with its chosen leaders.