More Good $ense — October, 2009
The monthly e-publication of the Good $ense Ministry Movement
In This Issue:
Dick's Column | Transforming Truths | News You Can Use | Your Point of View
Spotlight | Market Indicators | Ministry Builders | Resources  Dear G$ Friends and Colleagues,
I love the way God can give us stewardship insights from day-to- day experiences. I had a couple of those recently. One came from my garden.
This time of year the garden is definitely past its prime and at first glance it looks like it’s done for the year. My neighbor already spaded his under. And yet when I look closely, peek under bent over plants, there’s that otherwise unseen tomato, side shoot of broccoli, hidden pepper, few remaining beans – a veritable harvest! Beautiful bouquets can still be picked from flower beds in which most (but not all!) the blossoms have wilted. Stewardship! I wonder how much “fruitfulness” we miss because we don’t look closely enough at situations and individuals who at first glance seem ready for the compost heap.
The other insight had to do with what happens to my knee each time (thus far!) I have gone on my wilderness canoe trips. At home my knee, which has been without most of its cartilage for over 40 years, bothers me a good deal - always discomfort, often pain, once in a while locking up. I wonder beforehand if it will hold up as I carry canoe and packs over difficult portages.
Amazingly, it has always felt great on those trips. Why is that? I surmise it’s because my joy and contentment over being in the wilderness have their physical impact (endorphins flood my body!) I believe we would experience the same emotional and physical benefits if we followed Paul’s advice to always give thanks and to be content in all circumstances – a key stewardship teaching.
What are the day-to-day events in your life that carry with them the reminder of some of the stewardship principles that God has planted in our hearts to convey in a transformational way to others?
In the midst of the continuing economic uncertainty your stewardship ministry has never been more relevant or important. Andy Stanley has said that a church that asks its people to give without teaching them how to save and get out of debt is acting irresponsibly. Which serves as a great segue to some really exciting news – about new DVD resources and a new contributor to this newsletter – don’t fail to read about them in the next portion of this newsletter.
New resources and perspectives are part of our continuing commitment to support you in the difficult and challenging job of helping our congregations understand and implement biblical financial principles in their lives.
Your partner in the cause,
Sincerely in Christ,
Dick Towner
Executive Director
Good $ense Stewardship Movement
[ top of page ] NEW DVD RESOURCES
GOOD $ENSE EXCITING NEWS!
NEW DVD RESOURCES NOW AVAILABLE
"FREED-UP FROM DEBT" & "FREED-UP IN LATER LIFE " are two new, easy-to-use resources that address two huge issues many are facing today: getting out from under the crush of consumer debt and preparing for “later life” (retirement). The importance of, and interest in, both these topics has greatly increased as a result of the current economic environment.
The 2 hour workshops are DVD led with lots of interaction and personal work times. Take a moment to find out more about them click here In ordering, use priority code GSMLLC for an additional 5% discount.
[ top of page ] LEADER TRAINING
COUNSELOR AND FREED-UP FACILITATOR TRAINING COMING IN DECEMBER!
December 4 and 5 are the dates of our next training sessions for counselors and facilitators. Check out the information for FACILITATOR TRAININGclick here and for COUNSELOR TRAINING click here [ top of page ] NEW COLUMNIST
I'M VERY PLEASED TO INTRODUCE GARY MOORE AS OUR NEW COLUMNIST.
Gary is a long time friend and I know you’ll appreciate his insightful, thought provoking, and sometimes controversial but always biblically based views on matters of stewardship and the economy. Gary will be writing on behalf of the Financial Seminary of which he is the founder. Read Gary’s bio [here]
Following are the opening and closing sentences of Gary’s inaugural article which focuses on our national debt. I encourage you to read what lies between
I'm going to risk my credibility...and possibly your anger-in my first, and lengthy, article by suggesting few of us, myself included, really understand our nation's finances, particularly our debts...
So what can we do with this knowledge? Simple: Proclaim the good economic news, perhaps simply by copying this article for your members. Then the church might again be an oasis of gratitude and hope for our financially affluent but spiritually bankrupt culture grown cynical of politics, the media and Wall Street." (read more)
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