Planning Is Overrated

I talked JoLynn into going to Houston to see her mom without a plan. When we arrived at the airport, they wanted $714.00 each for us to fly out that day! We didn’t have that much on us so we had to use a Credit Card. When we landed in Houston there was no one to pick us up. Her mom was a little miffed when we called and asked for a ride to her house. She made us wait. On the way we asked if she could take us out to eat because we were out of money. Later our kids called while we were out shopping (we came without clothes) wondering where we were. It seems our house was out of food.

No, even I’m not that silly. If we need a plan for traveling to Texas, why do we think we can find a life of financial freedom, get out of debt, save for the future, and be generous without a plan?

On May 23 we have a meeting scheduled for right after church. We want to show you where Cottonwood is in our financial plan. We aren’t as financially free as I would like (out of debt but low on savings), but we are on our way. Aren’t you glad the church has a plan?

John Maxwell says, “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” Tell your money where to go. We will help. Come Sunday.

Dan

Check out our upcoming 5-week Financial Freedom Workshop. Details are at http://cottonwoodff.vpweb.com/

Straight Talk About Money

You will spend 12, maybe 20 years learning how to make it - I’ve spent 52 years spending it. Most of us work 40-60 hours a week to make more of it. We talk about it, discuss it, day dream of having more of it, and get mad when our government spends it on someone other than us. We spend it, give it, scheme to get more of it, and envy those who have lots of it. It’s divisive - it’s the #1 reason we leave our spouse, it breaks up friends, businesses, governments and families. Loss of it has led to suicides. Obsession with it has caused crime, and lack of it brings on nightmares. God calls it a root of all kinds of evil, and yet it remains a means of great good. I’m told there are over 2000 Biblical passages about it, and 2/3’s of Christ’s parables deal with it. At Cottonwood - there is no more ignoring it.

We start our 4 week sermon series Finding Financial Freedom this Sunday. Also, check out our upcoming 5-week Financial Freedom Workshop. Details are at http://cottonwoodff.vpweb.com/

(The general idea for this blog was taken from a Hybels sermon - I hope he doesn’t mind. It's flattery, right?)

Weird Faith

Faith is weird. What if I don’t have it? How do you get it? Can you grow it? Rom 1:17 says the Good News is “…accomplished from start to finish by faith.” Somehow I have to get it…

I know what I have faith in. My computer. I know that because I get the “blue screen of death” about every 6 weeks. I hate it. If I had no faith in the machine, I wouldn’t be surprised when the blue screen appears. But I’m more than surprised. I’m upset, frustrated, and everyone leaves the office.

When I get the blue screen, I become immediately fixated on all the things that need to get done, and how difficult if not impossible it will be to do them without the computer. Next I freak out considering how long it’s been since I’ve backed up my data – and about the info I will be losing.

Knowing the possessed machine is undependable; you may ask “Why don’t you back it up?” Well, the laptop normally works, I can usually get it going again (it only completely crashes where I can't resurrect it about once a year), I’m a bit lazy, and -- I must have faith it will work. It’s misplaced faith maybe, but it's faith.

So, what is it about my computer that makes me trust it? Why don’t I depend on God like that? I started my journey with God on faith in what He had done for me, why don’t I continue that way? He has never given me the blue screen… Speaking of which,

I need to buy a Mac.

Dan

Why I Believe

Last week we talked about why we do or don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus. In this weeks blog I wanted to give you the reasons I believe in the resurrection. You may not agree with them all or think that any one argument is conclusive. But when you put them together, for me at least, I see no alternative than to believe Jesus rose from the dead. I believe because…

1. The Bible lives. Jesus said He came to give a rich and satisfying life Jn 10:10. Living according to His book does just that. If it works, it’s probably true. If it’s true about how to live, it’s probably true about how He lives.

2. The Apostles were smoking what they were selling. They said Jesus rose from the dead in three days. Then they told the world. Why would they lie, and carry their lie to their death without cracking? Mark was dragged behind horses; John boiled in oil; Paul beheaded; Peter and his wife crucified. This isn’t Scripture, this is history. Check out the rest of their stories at http://vimeo.com/4976791.

3. An eternal God makes more sense than eternal dirt. Rom 1:20-22 says it better than I can. If there is an eternal God, He can raise the dead. Are we all held together by chance, or is God involved? God says Jesus holds everything together (Col 1:17). He does, and He has for eternity. Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0-NPPIeeRk.

4. Supernatural stuff has happened. From over 300 O.T. Prophecies about Christ written over a thousand years before His birth coming true (one example Ps. 22:14-18), to the Hittite civilization being found (just as Scripture described http://www.hittites.info/), to chariot wheels found on the bottom of the sea, we know supernatural stuff has happened. http://bibleprobe.com/exodus.htm

5. Supernatural stuff still happens. Israel became a nation against all odds in 1948, like God said they would over 3000 years ago in Isa 10:21. If the Jewish people can come back and make a nation after thousands of years (how many Hittite, Moabite or Philistine nations have come back?), why can’t one guy come back from the dead?

6. Jesus has style. He could have risen from the dead and spoke to the Disciples in a dream. He didn’t have to return to Earth. But He did. And He tore the temple curtain in half without hands. And He walked through walls. And he raised a bunch of others from the dead to walk around Jerusalem and freak people out. And He had the stone moved. And He scared the army brats with angels. Style. And with style I believe He rose from the dead.

He is risen, indeed.

This coming Sunday we will be talking about what it means to be a Christ-follower. I hope you can come; it’s centered on the Sesame Street Hymn “Put Down the Duckie.” Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!

A Doubters Confession

I confess, there are times I doubt the Bible is true, doubt that the resurrection really happened. It is a pretty far-fetched story after all. God becoming human, born of a virgin, dies and comes back to life. But I believe. Why? This week on Sunday I’ll give some of my reasons. Later I'll put them on the blog. Meanwhile, why don’t you give me some of yours? If you believe, give us the reasons for your belief. If not, lets hear those reasons too. I need help with my sermon prep. Put them on the blog or facebook and let’s see what we come up with. Happy Easter!

Dan