My main emotions in regard to money at Bethlehem are gratitude
and hope, not anxiety. God has always met our needs. I would insult
God if I fretted over his timing. So, Thank you. Thank you. Thank
you, for your giving. For 21 years now I have watched our merciful
God meet all our needs. Thank you for your part in that mercy.

I also write to encourage those of you who are still struggling
with how to handle your finances in relation to the church. Please
think and pray about several things:

1. All your money is God's. Psalm 24:1, "The earth is the
LORD's, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it."
You have your money and possessions and life on loan. As a trust.
You are the manager of Another's trust fund.

2. How we disburse God's trust fund (i.e., our income and
inheritances) should reflect his values and priorities. We will all
be held accountable for managing his money according to his word.
Luke 16:12, "If you have not been faithful in the use of that which
is another's, who will give you that which is your own?"

3. God will see to it that you have enough to provide for your
needs and for "every good work," including those appointed for your
church (worship, teaching, outreach, missions, mutual care, etc). I
know no stories of people who have given so generously that God did
not meet their needs. 2 Corinthians 9:8, "And God is able to
provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may
always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for
every good work."

4. Expenses always expand to fill the income. This means that
almost all of us "just get by" no matter what we make. Which means
that discretionary giving which is put off to the end of the pay
period will usually not happen. We won't give because we don't
think we can afford it. But if you write the check to the cause of
Christ first, then you will, as always, still "just get by." I
encourage you to "seek the kingdom first" by writing the ministry
check first (Matthew 6:33).

5. The Bible encourages both spontaneity and discipline in
giving. Remember the overflowing generosity of the widow: "Out of
her poverty [she] put in all that she had" (Luke 31:4). But the
usual way is to give in a disciplined, regular and proportional
way: "On the first day of every week each one of you is to put
aside and save, as he may prosper" (1 Corinthians 16:2). I urge you
to build this regularity and priority into your giving. Tithing
(10% of your income) is a good Biblical starting point (Matthew
23:23). Go for it. God will not let you down.

6. The need at Bethlehem is great for increased giving. We voted
last December on an aggressive, God-exalting, ministry-expanding,
mission-driven budget. As with Gideon we are aware that we are
making this even more challenging by calling for the pledges of
$6.5 million in the next 20 months (half of it by later this
fall!). Here is our situation after 23 Sundays (44%) in regular
Church/Missions giving:

2000—41% of budget

2001—36% of budget
—3% growth in contributions based on the same number of
Sundays, about $250,000 behind our budget goals

7. Would you pray with me and the elders that, according to his
great mercy and firm promise God would, "meet all our needs
according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" Philippians
4:19).

God can turn this shortfall around. I believe he will. I love
you and I love the ministry here, and I love our great God. Thanks
for your support of the vision to spread a passion for the
supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples.

Pastor John