In two recent Stewardship pieces, we wrote about the first of the Seven Biblical Benefits of Giving (as identified by an actual Biblical scholar – not by us non-scholars). No. 1 was Giving is Evidence of Our Obedience to God – basically being willing to follow God’s numerous instructions in both the Old and New Testaments about tithing and giving. No. 2 was Giving Sets Our Priorities Straight – that is, investing in the Kingdom of God over investing in the fleeting treasures of this world. 

Now, let’s move to No. 3 – Giving Increases Our Faith. This can be summed up by saying that giving is not about how much money you have, it’s about how much faith you have.

How much do you trust God that if you give obediently, He’ll provide for all that you need? There are countless testimonies that when a person or family obediently and faithfully gives from their ‘first fruits’ each month, that God is always faithful in providing all that they need. It’s when we don’t give that we end up lacking. I can very truthfully say that this is the case with my family and our decision to regularly give to God every month, no matter the circumstance.

Giving is clearly a matter of trust. The more you give, the more you learn to trust God that you will have enough left over for your own needs. And the more you trust, the more you’ll give. Again, put your money where your mouth is when you say “I trust God” and put Him to the test.

God takes that trust issue so seriously that the issue of money is the only area in which God tells us to test Him. Elsewhere Scripture says do not test the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 6:16, Luke 4:12, Acts 15:10). Yet, in Malachi 3:10, God said, 

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

I am inviting you and your family to test God in your approach to stewardship and giving. Earnestly, obediently, and regularly give from your ‘first fruits’ and see if God doesn’t pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

Remember, the purpose of giving and stewardship isn’t to fund God’s church or His work. The purpose of giving is for us to make our hearts right in our relationship with God, and to demonstrate that we are aware that our purpose on Earth is to honor and glorify Him while furthering His kingdom on earth. Please prayerfully consider where giving to God ranks among the things in your life, and remember, we are merely the stewards of our earthly possessions.

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Giving and Expenses

Budgeted Giving, June-25 -- $155,498

Actual Giving, June-25 -- $157,079 (A good way to close out our fiscal year by just exceeding our June budget for Giving)

Budgeted Expenses, June-25 -- $155,498

Actual Expenses, June-25 -- $170,791 ($15k more than our budgeted Expenses)

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Budgeted Giving, YTD (full 12 months of our fiscal year) -- $1,999,998

Actual Giving, YTD -- $2,020,391 ($20,393 better than budget – a solid year for Giving. Thank you to everyone that was able to support Due West!)

Budgeted Expenses, YTD -- $1,999,998

Actual Expenses, YTD -- $1,976,443 ($23,555 better than budget – very good fiscal discipline by our ministries!)

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Ways to Give to Due West Methodist Church

Give Online – Click this link: Donate- Due West Methodist Church

Give In Person – Drop cash or a check into the offering plate at any of our services

on Sunday morning.

Mail a Check – Send your gift to the Church office at:

Due West Methodist Church

3956 Due West Road

Marietta, GA 30064

Donate Stocks - We also accept in-kind contributions of stocks. If you would like more information, please contact our Business Coordinator, Amber Wilson awilson@duewest.org

 

As most of you know, I have been on a Sabbatical for the last three months. I wanted to take a moment and share how I spent my time. 

But before I do, I first want to say “Thank you” to each and every one of you for giving me the time and for raising money for me to take this time. I am now in my 40th year as a Methodist pastor and it is the first time I’ve taken extended time off. It was an incredible gift from you to me and my family and I will always be more grateful than words can express. 

I am also grateful to Sam and the rest of the staff for their willingness to do such a great job while I was gone. We are blessed by each and every one of them. 

I said in April that there were four main things I hoped to accomplish. 

• The first one I mentioned was Sundays. I said I wanted to revisit some of the churches I have served. That has been a joy. In addition, Susan and I have been to worship with our son and daughter-in law. We’ve also gone with our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. We so rarely get to do so. It was very special. 

• I also mentioned some writing I wanted to do. I’ve been working on a small bible study, an overview of the Old Testament. It is not quite finished, but it is close. I hope to share that with you all next year after Easter. The other big project I have been working on is a book. I have invested a lot of time on that. I wish I could tell you it was nearly done, but it is not. I’ve written a lot and am happy with my first draft. But I think rewriting and editing will take even longer! I do believe I will finish it. And it would not have been possible without this time. Most of my time writing has been in town. But I’ve also made a couple of trips to get away and write. I shared a definition of Sabbatical in April. It is "an extended period of time intentionally spent on something that’s not your routine job." That is exactly what I have had. 

• The third goal I shared with you all in April was to take some time to study pastoral transitions and succession plans. I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon, but that day is coming and I believe I’ve learned some things that will help the church when that day comes. I spent some time in Dallas, Texas with some representatives from a group called “Church Difference Makers”. Transitions are one of the things they focus on and it was very enlightening. 

• The final goal was time to rest and relax. Susan and I have spent time in our mountain house. I got to sit around the firepit with good friends, hike through the woods with grandchildren, and just enjoy our place. And in June, Susan and I went to Alaska. You all helped make that possible. We had a great time. It was the first vacation we’ve ever taken when at least part of my mind wasn’t thinking about the things I would need to do at church when I got back! That made it incredibly relaxing. 

That’s a quick update on the last three months. If you want to hear more, let me know and I’m happy to talk to you. It has been great, and now I am ready to be back at work! God has done so much in and through Due West, but I know our best days are ahead. 

Thanks again for such an amazing gift.

David

 

In 1954, a provision appeared in the federal tax code called the Johnson Amendment. It stated that a church could lose their nonprofit status if they participated in "any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office." While it has not always been enforced, that has been the law for more than seven decades. 

That has now changed. 

A court ruling last month said that when a church speaks "in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith in connection with religious services, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith" it does not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment. 

Throughout the course of my life as a pastor, I have always done my best to give no signs of my political convictions from the pulpit. I have them. I’ve discussed them in casual conversations with many of you. But I have steered clear of it in my role as your pastor. There are plenty of elections where brothers and sisters in Christ will disagree on the best candidates. I do not want to be disrespectful of people who have a differing vision than I do. 

So, I avoid talking about specific candidates. 

And although the law has changed, I’m not sure my approach will. What I will share is something that I think would have been legal before. And that is this: You should vote how you pray. 

What does that mean? With much regularity we pray together the Lord’s prayer. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Sound familiar? It is how you pray. 

And I believe you should vote how you pray. What candidate… what policies… do you believe will help bring the kingdom to earth as it is in heaven? Simple question. And not so simple. 

No candidate or policy is going to be perfect. And no candidate or policy is going to be “the end of civilization as we know it” regardless of what you read on the internet. But who is your best choice to bring the kingdom of God into reality in our community? (I will say, there have been times I didn’t see a lot of encouragement from either candidate on a ballot and simply not voted in that race.) But for the most part, I can make a selection. 

If we reach an election where I do feel compelled by the Lord to speak out for or against someone, I will do so. But God’s voice will need to be crystal clear before I do so. 

Otherwise, my thoughts on politics from the pulpit would be: Make a Kingdom vote. 

On another note, I’m excited to be back at work. Click HERE for an article about my time away. If you would like to hear more, let me know. I’d be happy to talk about it! 

If it’s Sunday, you want to be at Due West, 

David