One of my favorite stories regarding being a giver is a story about the great philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
For a number of years, Andrew Carnegie, whose wife loved classical music, made up the annual deficit of the New York Philharmonic Society. Then one year, at a meeting of the directors, he made the suggestion that the responsibility should not be his alone. He told them, “From now on, I think the burden should be shared. You raise half the deficit from other donors, and I will give you the remaining half.”
A few days later the directors informed the philanthropist that his condition had been met. He was pleased by the news. He said, “I told you the money could be easily raised. Where did you get it?” They replied, “We got it from Mrs. Carnegie.”
Some people just don’t understand what outreach means. They are so involved in their ministry, that they forget that ministry is always about reaching and discipling others. In the balance of your UP, IN, and OUT, how’s your OUT doing?
Tags: Carnegie, donation, giving, outreach
Several years ago Chi Chi Rodriguez, a stalwart on the Senior PGA Tour, said, “If you don’t share you may have material success, but you’ll be very poor in spirit”.
As a young boy, Chi Chi recalls learning this important life lesson as a young boy growing up in a tiny tin-roofed shack in rural Puerto Rico:
“It was 2 AM when my father woke me because he heard someone out back. We crept outside and found a machete-wielding neighbor standing beside the small banana grove that fed our family. Despite the fact that the man could have killed him, father said, ‘Give me the machete’.
Then father cut a brunch of bananas and handed half of them to his neighbor. ‘From now on,’ he said, ‘anything you want back here you come and ask for it. And make sure you leave some for my kids, too.’
“The compassionate way he handled that man was one of many things my father did that influenced my life. That night he taught me that takers eat well, but givers sleep well.”
Tags: Caring, Father's Day, giving
News this morning included a report of a 6-year old girl being arrested and taken into custody in handcuffs because she was throwing a temper tantrum in the school Principal’s office, including throwing furniture that struck the Principal in the leg.
Now, they’ve enacted laws prohibiting corporal punishment (paddling) in schools because it teaches violent behavior. I wonder how this little girl learned to act out to get her own way? Was this modeled in the home; she surely didn’t learn it at school? Listeners were expressing outrage that the girl was taken out in handcuffs. What is the alternative?
How do you think that situation should have been handled? What would have happened to you if you acted out that way when you were in school? Are schools getting better at dealing with this behavior or worse? Who is responsible for the 6-year old girl’s behavior? I’m interested in your feedback.
Tags: children, discipline, punishment, sin
A young man was raised by a Christian mother who taught him that 10 per cent of everything he earned belonged to God.
When he began to work at the age of 16, he gave 10 % of his earnings to God’s work. By the time he was 33, he was a millionaire. By the age of 43, he had the largest company in the world. Sadly, when he was 53 something happened and he stopped giving God first place in his life.
It was then that he got a horrible disease, and the doctors told him he would die before he was 54. The man repented, turned back to God, and he lived to be 98 years old, giving away many millions of dollars just as he had before. The foundations he established are still giving away millions long after the death of John D. Rockefeller.
Rockefeller had a gift of giving. When he stopped using his gift, the purpose of his life ended. When he reestablished living for his purpose, God continued to bless his life.
What has God called you to do? If you’ll do that, God will keep away the devourer.
Tags: giving, tithe
When George Washington was President, there was a move in Congress to change laws so tithing to a church wasn’t required. The move was voted down because Congress didn’t want the government to be responsible for supporting needy citizens. They saw that as the church’s job.
How far we’ve come! Or have we?
When Congress makes laws, they are one-size-fits-all laws that are easily taken advantage of and abused. If the church were responsible for caring for the needy, there could be one-on-one ministry that individualizes the care given. Of course, today even church members don’t tithe, so finances are limited.
What do you think? Would it be better for the church to care for needy citizens or the government? Why?
Tags: money, needy, outreach, poor
It was Easter Sunday morning in Feldkirch, Austria. Napoleon’s massive army was preparing to attack the strategic town. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender.
The townspeople had gathered in the local church for the Easter service. The pastor rose and said, “Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us.”
The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
The lesson in this historical account is that when we praise the Lord he confounds our enemy. Let’s keep the praise coming; it may be our salvation!
Tags: Easter, Napoleon, trust, worship
During the early days of Operation Desert Storm, US Marine Corporal Robert Banner got separated from his platoon. Alone, he wandered in the desert for 48 hours hiding from the enemy, evading Iraqi scouts, and hiding under the sand in evasive maneuvers.
He was found by allied forces who happened to have reporters with them. He was recounting his story to the reporters who noticed he was gulping down water. A reporter commented, “You sure are thirsty!”, to which Cpl. Banner replied, “You know what, I was so busy running, I forgot I was thirsty.”
Is it possible we can get so wrapped up in doing “church” that we forget to thirst after God? Think about how thirsty you really are.
Tags: Desert Storm, thirst, worship