US Housing Crash Continues, It’s Still A Terrible Time To Buy.
This was the lead into an article by Patrick Killelea giving twelve reasons not to buy a house right now. There is much concern over the housing market and the economy in general. Many seem to be running scared.
I am concerned. Not over the housing market as much as God’s house. It has been on the decline for the past three generations. Few seem to care and it is definitely not getting the national media coverage it deserves.
Today less than half of the twenty-something generation attends church compared to those in the fifty-something age bracket. This is scary. With each generation there are fewer going to God’s house weekly than the previous generation. This is my concern.
Have we put more concern into our own houses than God’s?
Haggai, who wrote a two-chapter book of the Bible, the shortest in the Old Testament, warned the Jews that they were more concerned about their own houses than God’s. As a result they were suffering a major financial crisis. “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why? Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house” (1:9).
Why are we suffering a major financial crises?
What have we been seeking first?
Where has our investment been going?
The answer to these questions is…
Day 17 The Love Dare
I have had a ton of email. They have been amazing to read.
This Love Dare challenge is stretching me and it sounds like you too. It is good, to be stretch for a noble purpose. That purpose is to become a better person and better husband.
Below is what one wrote. Enjoy. Learn. Be inspired.
Pastor Rodney,
Days 12, 13, and 14 have provided for an awesome weekend.
Day 12:
I could have used this lesson early on in my marriage. I find that I can be very selfish with what I want or the time I spend doing things with my family verse my man cave time. My wife particularly likes this day, she enjoys winning, lol. I have found more joy in doing things that my wife and I enjoy doing together instead of only things that my heart desires.
Day 13:
Wow, a big life listen for us. In the past I can see where we have never fought over anything meaningful it has just been one bad attack after another. I can honestly say that we have never fought fair, mainly on my part and dealing with my anger. I really thank God everyday for the strength and guidance he has shown both us when I go to my knees before my day starts. The ’We’ boundaries and the ‘Me’ boundaries are defiantly one that I will read over and over again, as well as with Nikki.
Day 14:
This day was what this weekend was all about. We started off my going to see FireProof with another couple from the church, no kids, fun times. We had such a blast just being with each other and our friends laughing, sharing life, and yes crying during the movie. It was great just to have a chance to rediscover each other. We even managed to go the grocery store together this weekend, something we have not done in a long time. The grocery store is not anybodies favorite, but to just have a chance to be with my family made me thankful that I was not alone.
What a great weekend, I can only give God all the glory and the great work he is doing at North Church through you as well as the relationships we have formed.
God Bless and Have a great week.
T. W.
Day 11 The Love Dare
Husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. Ephesians 5:28
I don’t like this verse.
Maybe I should say, “I don’t like what it reveals about me.” It uncovers my selfishness. I heard someone once say, “The thing you love the most is what you think of most often.”
Not good.
I think about my own body a lot. I think about me being hungry. I think about my aches and my pains. I think about me being tired. I think about me being happy. I think about what I would like to buy. I think about my needs, constantly…
So when do I think about Shannon, my wife? Usually when I want something for me. I am ashamed to admit it but it is often true.
This is my journey, to think differently. To think more about Shannon and her needs than my own. To think about what she wants and anticipate her wishes. This does not come natural.
I want to change.
I am changing.
I will be changed.
I will think like Christ.
I will love my wife as Christ loved the church!
Well, try.
Day 8
Love is not jealous.
Over 100 men have joined me in The Love Dare challenge.
Today’s dare is to determine to become my spouse’s biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. I was instructed to burn yesterday’s negative list I had made about Shannon. I did not burn it because I did not have a match handy at the time, but I did destroy it.
It felt good to make a positive list about Shannon. It is so easy to only think of the negative. But really, her positives far outweigh her negatives. It is my responsibility to think on the good stuff. I believe that staying focused on the wonderful attributes about her is the best way to be her biggest fan. Below is a sample of the list I made.
The positive things about Shannon:
The Love Dare challenge is impacting me, and I trust it is impacting you too!
I want to hear from you.
Rodney
Battle of the Sexes
Sex? Male or Female, circle one.
I have answered this question on all types of paper work from doctors offices, school enrollment forms, credit approval, job applications… and every time I have put “M” or checked the box next to Male. (I am sure you are glad to hear that.)
I have no clue the struggles of the other sex. My mind does not think like the female brain. But that does not exempt me from trying.
This week a hundred men took on The Love Dare challenge at NORTHchurch. Why?
To learn.
To grow.
To better understand the female mind…and heart…
To get a clue!
The battle of the sexes refers to the competition, disagreements and fight for power between men and women. It has been present since sin entered the world and will be present until sin is once and for all eradicated. Until then the battle of the sexes continues…
Therefore, I must fight in a manner that honors God. And how I fight is the key.
I can do it my way or God’s way…
My way is a battle of the flesh. His way is of the Spirit. My way will demand my wants. His way requires His will be done. Mine is about selfishness. His is about sacrifice.
I salute you, men. I salute your willingness to fight the good fight of faith. I salute your faithfulness to learn and grow and become the warrior God wants you to be. I salute you for understanding and then engaging in the real battle that exists, not between the sexes but between the flesh and the spirit inside of you.
Keep fighting.
Confession
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16
Today there was much confession in our small group. Seventeen men telling all…
It was not planned. I don’t think it would have been so real if it were planned. It was God’s Spirit at work. That is the only explanation for what transpired, especially at 6:30 in the morning. One started, and others just seemed to follow. I guess it takes one…
One to break the ice.
Confession is so against what I want to do. It is admitting my junk. It is bringing to the light what I would rather stay in the dark. It is risking something. It requires faith. Yet when I reveal what God wants to heal, transformation happens.
Empty Theater
Last night Shannon and I went to see the movie Fireproof. We were the only two people in the theater! That was the first time this ever happened to us. We enjoyed the date. We enjoyed the movie. It’s a must-see.
I’m not a regular moviegoer but went to see this one because of my new sermon series about marriage starting this Sunday. In the movie, the key actor asks God a question, “Why is this so hard?” in regards to marriage. I was asked the same question today by someone in our church family—those exact same five words. “Why is this so hard?”
I have asked the same. Anyone who has been married for any length of time has pondered this question their mind.
It wasn’t once this hard, true. Check out Genesis chapters one and two. Before the first bite from the forbidden fruit, it was easy.
But sin messed it all up, and we chose to sin. At that moment, fingers began to point, and pain for the first time enter into the picture of relationships.
Ouch!
The problem was the first Adam. He messed it all up. But don’t be quick to think you would have done anything different.
The answer is the second Adam. I am speaking about Jesus. He fixed everything.
This marriage thing is hard, but Jesus lived out some simple guidelines to make it easier:
Trust him.
Follow his example.
Love like He loved.
Do this and your house will never be empty… but maybe you can enjoy an empty theater with your spouse.
Misplaced Money
This past week I had a very interesting find cleaning out my truck. As I cleaned out the pocket behind the driver’s seat, the place my kids put their candy wrappers and empty drink bottles, I found a pleasant surprise. Cash. $50 in cash to be exact!
Wow! I was excited. I had $50 I did not have moments before.
Then my elation subsided with a bit of reality, as a question came to my mind. Is there any other money in our vehicles or throughout the house that is unaccounted for? Another question came to mind that was even more concerning: what monies have we misplaced that have been lost for ever?
A couple of days ago I read an article that confirmed my experience. I read that the average person in the United States misplaces yearly more money than the average person in the world makes in total yearly income. Let that sink in.
From this I am reminded that I must be responsible with money and that I need to teach my kids the value of money. I’m also reminded that money is not mine, that I am only a manager of God’s money. It all belongs to Him.
Today there are a lot of people losing their money. Maybe they have misplaced their money, but for most it has been lost in the stock market. It is a crazy time! In this unprecedented moment I am reminded that it is not my money, it is God’s, and someday I will give an account for every penny He has given me. This is sobering.
Jesus told the story in Luke 16 of a master who required his servant to give an account for the management of all of his possessions. The manager had been wasting his master’s possessions and was now having to face the music.
Someday I will have to face the music and give an account for the resources God has allowed me to be responsible for. I do not want to be found to have misused God’s money. I want to hear my Lord and Savior say someday, “Well done!”
Yes, to hear Him say, “Well done, Rodney. You have managed the money I gave you wisely. You have used it to take care of the needs of your family. You have blessed others who were in need. You have given faithfully to advance the Kingdom of God. And you have enjoyed life as I have intended it to be without being in debt.”
So the next time you go to your vehicle check all the pockets, look under the seats for any misplaced cash. You never know what you might find. There might be some forgotten cash waiting for you.
The American people have a negative savings rate. 2005 marked the first time since the Great Depression that such an event has happened (Click to read the article). What is crazy to me and causes me to question is that there is no Depression. We live in a time of financial prosperity. People are making more money than they have ever made, so what’s the problem?
The problem is simple: we are spending more money than we are making; we are not living with financial margin. Margin is simply the space necessary to give peace of mind regarding your finances. It is saving more than you are spending. It is preparing for the future financially.
Solomon said, “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets (Proverbs 21:20 LB).” In other words he is saying a smart man creates financial margin in his life. Someone recently told me that to live intentionally without financial margin is greed. Could it be the reason we are experiencing a negative savings rate in a time of financial prosperity is greed? Surely not…(?)
Someone at church Sunday handed Shannon a clipping from a newspaper. The article pointed out that the largest evangelical denomination in the United States gave $170 million to support its missionaries in the past year. It also pointed out by contrast, Americans spent $310 million in first day sales for the “Grand Theft Auto IV” video game. Money is not the problem. Our choices are. We need discipline.
Discipline is necessary to create financial margin. Discipline is simple but not easy. I know the choice I should make ,but making the right choice is hard. One of the disciplines I picked up on to create financial margin is the 10/10/80 principal. This is about giving 10% to God, 10% to saving and investing, and living from the remaining 80%. It works. But it requires discipline.
Solomon also said, “The borrower is slave of the lender (Proverbs 22:7 NRSV).” I do not want to be a slave to my self-gratification. I want to live free. I want to live with financial margin so that when times do get hard, I am prepared. To live intentionally with financial margin is a reflection of my gratitude and proper stewardship of all God has given me.
Nice Powers!
Recently I received a cute e-mail from one of our parents. Check it out.
Pastor Rodney,
Kelton was being quiet yesterday, thinking things through, and when he spoke, he about knocked me over.
He’s been totally interested lately in super heroes and special powers, so obviously in his silence he had been thinking in that direction. He asked a question, and I liked it so much that I added it to the top of my “favorite quotations” section. He asked:
“Mommy, what would happen if everybody in the whole wide world used their Nice Powers, every day?”
Have a great day and don’t forget to use your Nice Powers!
Jen
Let that one sink in!
Our goal at NORTH is to make disciples. Jesus said that they would know you are his disciples by your love one for another. In other words disciples are those people who are using their Nice Powers.
I believe the younger we start teaching kids the better off we will be. A wise man said that if you train a child in the way he or she should go when they are older they would not turn from it…
Right now we’re in the middle of northKIDS Next Step. This is our plan to create a fun, cool and exciting place for kids and young families. We are investing for our future. The last few weeks we have been taking up pledges for northKIDS Next Step. If you have not made an investment I invite you to do so. Many of you have already committed financially and for that I say, “Thank you”.
Together we are using our Nice Powers!
Rodney