Internet Lessons - Overview

We are posting one chapter from the workbook each month on the Second Baptist Church of Wheaton website: sbcwheaton.org We will also post a chapter summary on this blog when a new lesson is available at the website. This blog will be used to capture the questions, comments and testimonies from the monthly lessons.

Click on the word "comment" below to ask a question or make a comment regarding the principles set forth in the lesson. While we are encouraging a public dialogue, private emails can also be sent by clicking on the picture of the envelop instead of the word "comment".

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The Journey - 01/10/2007

The new year brings with it new possibilities. I'm excited and prayerful. During last fall I became increasingly sensitive to the issues of God's timing and direction. During the summer I reached out for input from my support team but with the exception of the "book discussion" I received a strange collective silence. I wasn't discouraged, just very curious. I sensed that God was "up to something" and wanted my attention. My confidence in the message did not waiver but I felt compelled not to "force" things. I wanted Him to prompt the next moves. In the interim, I expanded the questions following each chapter and decided to characterize the manuscript as a workbook. Calling it a "workbook" instead of a "book" seemed more descriptive of the interactive format I intended. While I continued to edit the manuscript, I chose to delay approaching any additional agents or publishers but instead watched and listened for opportunities and avenues for the unpublished message to go forth.

As we enter 2007 several possibilities have emerged. Conversations are taking place with potential ministry partners about collaboration in communicating the message. The interesting thing is that those conversations will be initiated by individuals other than myself. One of the things I've watched for is whether others would be moved to share the message. I've wanted to see God's activity in others regarding the spreading of the truths He has revealed to me. The partners I'm seeking are church and para-church institutions/organizations that believe in the message, have a constituency with whom to share it and demonstrate a willingness to do so.

In January those conversations will include a Chicago-based Bible Institute, an India-based mission and seminary, a spiritual coach and a national denominational convention. I believe that group study is ideal for cultivating the message. The diversity of the potential partnerships leaves me in awe. We will not be presumptuous but will watch where God leads. Whether formal partnerships emerge or not, I have no doubt that the conversations will be beneficial.

To do's include: 1) Securing copyright permission for the dominate scripture translation used for the quoted scripture verses, 2) Drafting a ministry partner licensing agreement and 3) Developing a logistical strategy for the production and delivery of copies of the manuscript to remote locations (based on the needs of potential ministry partners).

In addition, two potential publishers have been identified that I will target next. January will be a busy month.

The Journey - Voices (09/04/2006)

It is so uplifting to be physically engaged in the project again. I followed through on my commitment to release the remaining book proposals two weeks ago. I didn't procrastinate. It was like exorcising the demons of my old self. We need to remind ourselves that we are new creations in Christ. Therefore, we are not bound by the sins or limitations of our past. God is continually making all things new. Book proposals are now in the hands of two publishers and one literary agent. My contact for the last publisher has not answered my requests for their electronic proposal format. I've sent a follow up and have committed it to the Lord. I expect to receive replies regarding the proposals that have been released during October and November but that is not my focus. I'm prayerful but not anxious. Yet, I still can't sit around and wait because there is much to do.

I have come to realize that this effort is not about being published. The goal is to share God's message. Book publication is one vehicle to achieve that end but it is not the only vehicle. I believe God desires that the conversation about giving within the Christian community would become more balanced. The contemporary church is rapidly developing a view of giving that is out of focus. Christians must see more than just benefits, requirements, ritual and obligation in their giving. We must see God! To do so our preaching, teaching and conversations must put God back at the center of our giving. He must be the focus!

I met with a portion of my support team yesterday. Thank God for their support. While the meeting was called a "book discussion", it became more. After discussing some questions regarding the book's content, we began exploring next steps. Our first goal is to make the message of the book, the language of our local congregation. Of course our talk needs to be confirmed by our walk but our first steps are to achieve consistency in what we preach, teach and say about giving. We committed in prayer to actively seek opportunity to spread the message both within and outside of our local congregation.

I impressed upon the group my believe that God is calling forth other "voices" to join me in this project. Some of the voices will provide counsel regarding content and format, others will assist as direct communicators of the message (preachers, teachers & witnesses) and others may do both. The initial call may be local in its nature but I hear the words of Jesus commissioning us as witnesses first in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria but ultimately to the utter most parts of the world. I expect others to join us. Consider whether you are being called to lend your voice to this message.

If this message speaks to your spirit, offer a comment, invite someone else to visit this site and/or share its content with someone you know. We must pursue the change in perspectives and conversations about giving one believer at a time with the expectation that the impact will be exponential. Such an expectation depends not so much on the power of the internet but rather on the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Mirror of Giving.

Mirrors are wonderful tools of visual self analysis. They allow us an opportunity to see ourselves from the perspective from which others see us. That imaginery has guided my thoughts regarding the message that God has given me regarding offertory giving. I am convinced that scriptual guidance regarding giving and the opportunities to give present to us mirrors in which we can get of glimpse of ourselves in the eyes God. Often we respond by diverting our attention away from ourselves. We questions the interpretation of reference scriptures, the motives of those making offertory appeals, the spending choices of local church leadership, the spiritual and moral integrity of anyone and everyone else, etc. Yet, if we stop our diversionary tactics, we will find that our questions and attitudes reflect on our feelings about and commitment to the Lord. Christian gifts are always given first and foremost unto the Lord. When we lose focus on that we have lost focus. As Jesus reminds us , what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we actually do to Him. Whether we clearly see our giving as unto to the Lord or fix our eyes on the human beneficiaries of our giving, the reality is that our giving is all about Him. As we look closely in the mirror and remove the makeup and the pretense we uncover our real selves and we can see our motives and intentions as He sees them.

The Journey- 08/17/2006

In addition to discussing the topic of offertory giving in the context of our relationship with the Lord, I want to chronicle my journey as a messenger. This phase of the journey got off to a great start. God led me to attend the "Write-To-Publish"conference at Wheaton College in June (I was reluctant but He was persistent). God finally convinced me to go by letting me know that an editor who had published a similar book would be in attendance and available for consultation. I thought that editor would be the publisher most likely to have an interest in my work. I pitched my book idea to 4 publishers and 1 literary agent. Three of the publishers and the agent requested that I submit a formal book proposal. I only received one rejection. The irony is that the rejection came for the editor God had used to lure me to the conference. God continues to affirm that His ways are not my ways. I was nervous but God was amazing. The interest was exciting news but brought me face-face-to with my biggest obstacle, me. I'm a procrastinator and easily distracted. It was like I was back in college with an assignment to write a term paper. I struggled with my insecurities, my unworthiness and the fear of rejection. My focus was on me rather than God. I prepared and released one proposal but then I diverted my energies to researching the possibilities of blogging and posted my first blog in July. I thought this would allow me to test the level of interest in the topic. My blog met cybespace silence. What did this mean? How should I interpret the silence? I fell into a cycle of inactivity, checking my blog sights, finding no comments. making no additional entries and pondering the meaning of it all? God allowed me this period of reflection and I have concluded that this is about Him, not about me. If I am faithful to His call, He will do the rest. He has called me to go forward. This weekend I decided to get back to work. The message is His. The doors are His to open. I will walk forward with great expectation of His faithfulness to His message, His faithfulness to His word.

If God doesn't need anything, why do we give offertory gifts?

In Acts 17: 24&25 Paul shares an enlightening perspective on God. He says that the God who made the world and everything in it " is not served by human hands , as if he needed anything. Rather he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else". God is the giver not the receiver. This passage prompts the question why God asks for our offertory gifts when he does not need anything? As I've pondered this question a human parallel comes to mind. Parents of young children will often have their child give gifts on special occasions ( birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas). The parent generally creates the opportunity to give because it is not the child's natural inclination to do so. The child must be taught. Whatever resources (money) that are used to buy the gift must be given to the child and then the child is allowed to participate in the acquisition and giving of the gift. It is rare that the child gives a gift that the recipient could not have purchased for themselves. The goal in the process isn't the gift itself but rather the lessons that the child learns. The lessons are about relationships. They are about love, honor, gratitude and respect. On the surface it appears that the child is the giver but in actuality he is the receiver. God does not ask for our gifts that He might add to His wealth. First, He gives of His wealth to us. Then He creates opportunities for us to give a portion back to Him. This is done for our benefit. He is teaching us and nurturing us that we might draw closer to Him in a deeper, fuller relationship. We give to Him not of substance that we actually own but of substance that we have received. He then gives to us the depths of Himself. We receive, then give but in doing so we receive the greater gift.