Tom Allen

Yesterday I challenged my church to practice BEING RICH over the next four weeks, just in case they ever actually get rich...that way they'd be good at it.  The reason is that most rich people aren't very good at being rich.  So, I challenged them to give away money and time over the next four weeks...just give it away...no strings attached...pure generosity...like a good rich person would do. I challenged them to give $20,000 to a local non-profit organization that's doing great things in our community, to adopt 100 families for Christmas and to commit 4,000 hours to serving our community.   So far...we've raised almost $13,000, adopted 55 families and committed a bunch of hours (how many, I have no idea).  Not bad for Week 1.  I think we're going to be pretty good at this BE RICH thing.

YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THAT?  HOW TO BE RICH, THAT IS... OK, I didn't say HOW TO GET RICH...different church for that one.  I'm talking about how to BE RICH.  That's different. A lot of Americans are rich.  Many of those are Christians as well.  But most of us aren't very good at it.  You may not be rich yet, but when you get there I really want you to be good at it. For the next four Sundays we'll be talking about HOW TO BE RICH.  And...we'll be practicing for when it happens.  As a church, we're about to embark on a pivotal moment in our church's life.  I think this month will be one of those experiences that we'll look back on and talk about for years and year and years to come. So, there's only one thing you can't do...MISS IT!  You absolutely cannot miss the next four Sundays.  You have my word that you'll regret it if you do.  Four Sundays.  Four opportunities to be a part of something that will alter the lives ...

Saw this and has to share it.  I want to pastor THAT church.  Then again, maybe I do... 1. It is lead by a team of godly leaders, not a Lone Ranger pastor who gathers Tonto-type leaders around him to say “ Yes, Kemo Sabe” to his each and every idea ( Titus 1:5-9 ). 2. The Gospel is central to every sermon, program and meeting ( 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 ), and the advancement of it both locally and globally drive strategic initiatives ( Acts 1:8 ). 3. People are using their spiritual gifts, not just watching the “ stage team ” exercise theirs ( 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 ), resulting in disciples being made and multiplied ( 2 Timothy 2:2 ). 4. It, like the early church, is integrated, fully representing the demographic of the community in which it resides ( Ephesians 2:11-21 ). By the way, my buddy Derwin Gray has got a lot of great material (blogs, sermons, etc.) on this particular point. 5. Love, demonstrating itself in friendliness, generosity, internal/external care...