Quote from Forum Archives on April 1, 2003, 10:39 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

In this week's Sowing Seeds of Faith, my friend Larry Davies
writes again about another of his unconventional challenges that
he placed before his own local church. This isn't the first time
that Larry has done things like this - I can remember the choir
challenge, the $7.43 challenge, and even the challenge to Larry's
son to "break the Peanut Butter habit".

Larry always takes ordinary events and helps us remember the
extraordinary events of the Bible, yet their every day practical
application for each one of us.

You see, the Bible isn't just about some good story or about
something that happened long ago. To be sure, it contains
history. In fact, the entire Bible is really an account of God's
Creation and His plan to create a race of people with choices to
make. God knew full well when He made us that when He gave us
choices, we'd all fall short of making all the right choices, but
He still wanted to give us that choice, with the utter joy that
He experiences every time someone chooses to return to Him the
affection and praise that He so richly deserves.

When we freely give of ourselves, not attempting to take maximum
advantage of every single situation, but looking out for the
needs of others, as well as ourselves, we begin to approach the
heart of God. For I believe that God is all about loving and
giving. There is a side of God that is the righteous judge (and
one day, we'll see that, too). But the main thrust of the God of
the Bible is a God who is very slow to anger, quick to forgive,
overflowing with love, forgiveness, and mercy. The God I know
would a trillion times forgive and greatly rejoice if someone
floundering along made a turn about face and sought the face of
the Living God!

It's never a good idea to take that loving, gracious nature too
lightly. Each of us has choices to make, and consequences to
face for making the wrong choices. There are other messages I
could (and will) share about times of conviction, sin, and
judgment. All of them are real things. But today, I'd like all
of you to think about the way in which Jesus called His followers
to take what they've been given, and to do something with it.

Jesus doesn't expect those with only a little to give to produce
more than their resources allow. What He does call each of us to
do is to take what we're given - in natural abilities and
resources, and to do something with those resources for His
people.

My question to you, then, is if you were given ten units of
something (money, a skill, time), what would you do with it?
What ARE you doing with it? Is there anything else you're not
doing that you CAN do?

Those questions are between you and God. Read Larry's message
and consider your own response.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Dear Lord,

I am forever grateful that You came to seek and save the lost -
people like me, and redeem us as Your own. Please mark on our
hearts Your deeply ingrained love, and bring an appreciation and
love of You within the grasp of each one of us. May we return
to You the praise and honor that You deserve. May our praises
to You be heard eternally, throughout the ages! Amen.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

____________________________________________________________

During this time of crisis, Sowing Seeds Ministry continues to
offer prayers for our brave men and women overseas, for our
leaders and for the innocent people of Iraq. We pray the war
will end soon and peace will be the ultimate victory.

Sowing Seeds of Faith...

-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Johnson [mailto:bmiaemt9153@msn.com]
I've been a ministry partner for a short while and just wanted
to thank you for your dedication and service in God's Kingdom.
It has been an uplifting blessing in my life, even though there
has been considerable turmoil in my life of late. And, you're
right, one must always keep things in perspective: The bigger
picture. We do need to keep our leaders and our troops in
daily/constant prayer, and sacrifice our services for them. My
prayers for peace and assuredness go with you and yours.
Sincerely, In Him. Jane

Are you willing to support our ministry? Sowing Seeds Ministry
is reaching thousands around the world. To continue offering the
quality ministry offered we need your help. We are looking for
200 financial partners who will commit $10 per month. To learn
how click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm

"$10 Challenge" Larry Davies

At a church board meeting, I asked: "What if our church gave $10
to every family in our congregation and challenged them to use
their creative abilities to multiply the money for God? Then in
two months we can hold a celebration Sunday where everyone can
share how they handled the $10 challenge."

There was a long uncomfortable silence.

Jesus once said: "The Master called together his servants and
gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. He gave
five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one
bag of gold to the last--dividing it in proportion to their
abilities--and then left on his trip." (Matthew 25:14-15)

I sensed mental calculators throughout the room working overtime
adding up the total cost of my crazy scheme: (approximately
$4000.) The church board response was less than enthusiastic but
taking a leap of faith (and a personal guarantee to make up any
money lost) they reluctantly granted approval. Days later, a few
leaders quietly pulled me aside and asked again: "Are you sure
about this, Larry?

I honestly wasn't sure how the "$10 Challenge" would work... but
I knew God wanted us to do it.

"The servant who received the five bags of gold began
immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant
with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the
money. But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a
hole in the ground and hid the master's money for safekeeping."
(Matthew 25:16-18)

Weeks later, near the end of Sunday worship, every family in our
church received an envelope with $10 and instructions: "Suppose
you were handed a $10 bill with a challenge to multiply and use
it for God? What would you do? The Bible has a story about three
servants who were given various amounts of money and told to
manage it. Two servants invested wisely and returned a profit.
One buried the money until time to give it back. The two wise
servants were rewarded and the lazy servant was punished. The
lesson: We are to invest God's resources wisely." (from Matthew
25:14-30)

"You are limited only by your talent and imagination. You can
buy ingredients and bake bread or cookies. Offer to cook dinner
for a busy family or buy gasoline for your lawn mower and cut
someone's grass. Instead of going out for lunch, brown bag and
apply the savings. Pray for guidance and have faith God will
supply an idea. In two months, we'll have a celebration service
to share what happened. We are going to have a great time and
hear exciting stories. I pray you will have a story of your
own."

As people filed out of the sanctuary their reactions seemed
mixed. A few were excited but many were concerned. "What can I
do with $10? I don't have any talents," said one woman. One
member laughed and said, "This is the only church that has ever
handed me money." Another, with a somber look said, "Larry, I
come to church to escape stress not receive more. I don't know
what to do."

"Pray!" I responded. "Pray."

"What talents do I possess?" emailed Sue following the service.
"I understand you don't want me to hold the money. You want me
to use it to help others and multiply my resources so many would
benefit. Maybe our pastor is just plain crazy and it is a dumb
idea but I know in my heart God is teaching me a valuable
lesson. I am stressed out over what to do. I called a friend and
told her about the $10 challenge. "What a great idea!" she said.
"You're a great cook so make cakes and sell them."

"Dear Larry: After careful thought about what to do with the $10
challenge, I was stumped for a few days. I kept going back to
the Scripture of the talents and couldn't help but take the word
"talent" literally. God has blessed and given me abilities and
talents which I use to help others. I've been sewing since I was
12 and put "many miles" on my sewing machine. I designed and
constructed costumes for the Dance Academy for years. I used my
$10 to purchase thread and supplies for ballet costumes for 10
dancers and am happy to share my reward." Joan

This is just the beginning of the $10 Challenge. Don't miss next
week's exciting conclusion. You will not believe what God
accomplished with $10 and two months. Meanwhile, take your own
$10 challenge and see what God can do with $10 and more
importantly with you.

Are you receiving prayer concerns from around the world? Join
our prayer team today. Check it out by clicking here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

How can I regularly support your ministry? Become a Sowing Seeds
Ministry partner. Click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it
shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

Did you know? All money received from the sale of our books go
directly back into the Sowing Seeds Website or the printing
bill? When we say "Non-Profit" we mean... "Non-Profit!" Support
us today. Buy "Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's
Recipe for a Better Life" now on sale only through this website.
Click here: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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