Mission to Aruba for only $10,000 a month.

One last look at the science of giving and how what our Lord said 2,000 years ago is being confirmed by modern science. Not long after I graduated from Bible college the PTL scandal became the talk of the nation.  The lavish lifestyles of the ministry leaders along with lurid tales of sexual misconduct were everything a journalist could hope for to fill a slot in the news hours.

One of the impacts of the PTL scandal has been to create a resistance for the church to talk openly and honestly about giving.  It is as if we live in fear that if we talk about money it could only be to enrich ministers and engage in doubtful ministry activities.   Many young church leaders who have no personal recollection of the PTL scandal or have ever heard of it have been profoundly shaped by it.  PTL is not the only scandal, but it and others like it hover in the corners of our churches like the ghost of Jacob Marley whenever we begin to talk about money.

It has even entered into our humor.  Please take a moment to enjoy the laughter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqFZVajMycI

When we ask people to give to and serve the church as we do the great work of the Gospel, we are calling them to a better life.  Your people might like to know that:

• ·      People who provide practical help to others had a lower risk of dying over a five-year period than those who didn’t.

• ·      Of those who volunteered the following was reported:

1.             76% felt physically healthier.

2.             94% reported an improved mood.

3.             78% felt less stress.

• ·      Volunteer work is associated with high levels of overall satisfaction.
• ·      88% of people who donated to charity report a greater satisfaction with life and a happiness level equal to having their income double.
• ·      The greatest happiness of giving occurs when giving fosters social connection.  In the church we call that fellowship.
• ·      Giving where your friends and family volunteer compounds the joy of giving.
• ·      Getting a friend to help you motivates your giving as well.
• ·      Coerced giving sucks the joy from giving.  God loves a cheerful giver…
• ·      Not surprisingly, giving in the U.S. is strongest in deeply religious areas.  Four out of the five most generous states are in the Bible belt.  All five of the top giving states are deeply religious.

1.    Utah 10.6%

2.    Mississippi 7.2%

3.    Alabama 7.1%

4.    Tennessee 6.6%

5.    South Carolina 6.4%

• ·      The least generous states also happen to be those with the least religious commitment.

1.    New Hampshire 2.5%

2.    Maine 2.8%

3.    Vermont 2.8%

4.    Massachusetts 2.8%

5.    Rhode Island 3.1%

The bottom line is this: Giving is a command to be obeyed and it is a blessing to be enjoyed.  When we are timid about calling God’s people to make meaningful sacrifices for the cause of Christ on earth we are robbing them of the blessings of submission to our Lord. 

Writing a book is a lot of fun and sometimes hard work.  One of the things that has surprised me is the details you never think about.  My publisher, which specializes in unknown authors, has been wonderful feeding me the challenges in bite size morsels.   So we progress.  I do so with a lot of help from both the publisher and friends and family.  

Once again I am coming to you for help. 

The back cover of a book is the advertising page for the book. The average person looks at the back cover of a book for seven seconds.  During those seven seconds the will decided to buy, not buy, or read a little more.  Below is a draft of the proposed back cover of the book.  Please read this and based on what you see do you think, 

1 I would buy this book

2 I might buy this book 

3 i doubt I would buy this book

4 I differently would not buy this book.

PROPOSED BOOK BACK COVER

In a world that seems to have completely lost it mind this book has been able to combine the wisdom of the ages with true, though somewhat embellished, stories to show us wisdom is practical and proverbs are fun.  From a hog being shot out of a tree, to a world class whipping for cussing a teacher to a simple man who is afraid Jesus might take back his baptism for shooting someone (who needed shooting by the way) we see the hope-filled and dynamic power of common sense, also known as wisdom. 

Take a laugh-filled, nostalgic trip to a place where you learn that even if you can’t drown on a sandbar you shouldn’t go there and that sometimes the right thing to do is bust somebody in the mouth.  Find out how a boy named after an insect could marry the prettiest girl in the county and discover how a drunken rat, a hoot owl, and a revival meeting converge to redirect a boy’s life. 

When you live in the shadow of the Proverbs, life can be a pretty, sweet place.  So, grab a glass of sweet tea or lemonade, relax in the shade of your favorite tree and enjoy learning wisdom along with June Bug.  

What people are saying about the Adventures of June Bug Johnson:

·       It is a great addition to any homeschooler's collection.

·       I look forward to reading and rereading this to my children for years to come.

·      Much like the writings of Annie Dillard…

·      With a wit akin to Dave Barry, a tone that matches the late Lewis Grizzard, and wisdom similar to Reverend Will B. Dunn…

·      You'll laugh with a purpose as you meet colorful characters…

See more on page V

Dealing with church hoppers.

Two apparently unrelated phenomena may actually be associated with each other.  Over the last generation or two we have witnessed a significant decline in congregational loyalty.  Once upon a time folks tended to stick with a church as if related by some sort of covenant.  That is not so much the case any more. 

Folks will leave one congregation and go find another congregation for almost any reason.  In some cases what has been described as church growth is nothing more than folks from one congregation moving to another congregation.  Some church plants, but not all, are designed to attract those who are Christians but are only marginally engaged in their church’s life. 

In my ministry I actually had people tell me that they were “church hoppers”.  They would attend a church for a while and then move on.  They steadfastly refused to make any kind of membership commitment to any local church.  They would gladly avail themselves of the church’s ministry and services but were unwilling to make any kind of commitment.  Stop for a moment.  Close your eyes.  My guess is you had a face to go with that description. 

The reason this has happened is that we have marketed the church based on what we can do for people.  Books have been written, seminars taught, and consulting done on how to market the church and make it more attractive to the religious consumers.  As a result, we have created a generation composed almost entirely of consumers with an entitlement mentality.  Going to church is like going to Wal-mart. I come to get what I want for which I am willing to pay a fair price, but if I am not happy I will find it somewhere else.  

I spoke with a minister friend recently who reported that they are having a terrible time finding helpers for children’s Bible classes.  Despite the church being a decent size, growing numerically, and most of those attending regularly being Christian no one wants to help.  Let me ask you, would you be willing to help stock the shelves at Wal-mart every time you went there to shop?  And that is the problem when we “market” the church as a place where folks can come and consume we create an attitude of entitlement.  Which is the opposite of the attitude that Christ has prescribed for us. 

What can be done about the decline of church loyalty?  There is the possibility of ever increasing “wow” during our services.  We can try to always out do, well, everybody.  If we can out do every church in town, every church that streams via the internet and even out do Disney World and if we can manage to always exceed the wants of increasingly fickle, narcissistic, and selfish, entitlement-minded, religious consumers then on going growth is a possibility.  In fact, the sky may be the limit.

However, a more Biblical ideal is to talk frankly and honestly about giving.  In the Old Testament every time God’s people became apathetic about their relationship to Him the Lord began talking about giving.  Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Research shows that:   

·       Giving helps solidify long term relationship.  It is demonstrated for us at the inner personal level.  Men who are in a long-term relationship say that the relationship will likely continue if their girl friend has given them a desirable gift. 

·      Giving to someone close is better than an obligation of giving.  Giving that has a significant impact on the ministry we care about is much more powerful than the survival giving that just keeps the lights on.  We are happier giving to those we know and love. 

·      For future support practice current giving, but that doesn’t have to be tangible gifts.  The giving of time is a powerful way to build the bond of loyalty.  If you do not ask your people to give to your congregation you will struggle with having their loyalty. 

Some might say, “If I talk about giving people will leave my church.”  Yes, they will or at least some will.  They will take with them the money the time and the service they are not currently giving.  They will take with them the drain on resources that could better be used reaching the lost, feeding the hungry, and being Christ in the community.  But many will stay.  In fact, it might be a blessing to experience a “Scottish Revival”.

Like an aircraft carrier we will not be able to turn around quickly.  Almost all the momentum in the church today is toward consumerism in the church.  But in the long run if we do not restore Biblical, proportionate, sacrificial giving we will see our congregations closing in droves and the consumers of religion finding their ear tickled at the church of what’s your pleasure.

Let me close with a question: Can a non-believer worship God or just seek God?  Is there a third option? 

Please let me know your thoughts. 

May I ask a small favor?  I want your opinion. 

As you may or may not have heard I am getting my first book published.  It is a collection of humorous true stories (names are changed to protect the guilty) in which a boy, June Bug Johnson, learns wisdom from his grand dad Lymon.  Grand dad Lymon quotes the book of Proverbs to explain the folly June Bug sees and experiences.  The publisher and I are designing the book cover.  Would you mind looking at the book cover options below and telling me which you find most intriguing?  Just reply with 1, 2, or 3 to my email address.  Charlie@colemanssi.com

You are under no obligation I just need help with a basic design question.

Thank you for your help.

Charlie

Why being generous is good for you.

What do you know! Jesus was right all along and Science is finally catching up.  It is more blessed to give than to receive.

For those of us who are committed disciples of Jesus Christ we are never surprised when He is proved right.  Once again the empirical evidence has quantified what Jesus said.  In our culture many believe that spending money on ourselves will make us happier than spending money on others, but the opposite is true.  In one study participants were asked to spend five dollars on themselves or to spend five dollars on someone else.  The group that spent the money on others was measurably happier than those who spent the money on themselves.

God has wired our brains so that the pleasure and reward centers light up when we give.  This means that the real joy in the act of giving is experienced not by the receiver but by the giver.  Here are some of the reasons this is the case:

·      When you give, your body releases feel-good endorphins, the same ones associated with a runner’s high.

·      When you give, your body produces Oxytocin, a hormone that is released during sex, which lowers stress and makes you feel more connected to others. 

·      This dose of Oxytocin will cause people to give more generously and feel more empathy toward others.  These ‘symptoms’ can last for up to two hours.

·      This positive emotional effect can have a chain reaction-one act of giving leading to another and then another….

·      Witnessing generosity can spur more acts of generosity.  This is especially important as we consider the approaches we’re taking to receive the offerings during worship.

·      Many small gifts have a stronger effect than a single or few large ones.  That means that the faithful, weekly giving Paul spoke about in I Corinthians 16:2 is a wise practice. 

·      Gifts that involve participation have a more positive effect than gifts singularly enjoyed.  Biblical Fellowship has a compounding effect on those we serve with as well as on us personally.

·      Generosity is one of the key factors for a happy marriage.

·      Consistent, small acts of kindness are more effective than big-ticket gifts at holidays.

If you will think for a minute this has a profound implication for the way we approach the offering at our churches.  The offering is not a drudgery to be endured; it is a delight to be celebrated.

We sometimes call worship a celebration.  Can we take that same celebrative spirit into the worship of giving?