bill's blog

 Dear Brothers and Sisters,

          Just two days ago, the nation of Haiti experienced a magnitude 7 earthquake, releasing the energy of about a half a million tons of high explosives, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  Homes, hospitals, schools, relief organizations and mission compounds are destroyed.  There are a large number of us who sponsor Haitian children with Compassion.  It is an organization we trust and have a lot of history with.  Right now,  they are still trying to contact their workers and find out about the children.  This would be a great time to give an extra gift to Compassion or Samaritan’s Purse, who are both on the ground trying to care for incredible needs.  Please be in prayer for the nation and her leaders as well as the countless people who have lost loved ones and everything they own.    

        This Sunday, we will continue looking at The Ten Commandments in our series Words of Grace.  We will be looking at the Ninth Commandment—a vital part of the “get to” life of believers.   

See you then,

Bill

It's funny how the simplest things can be so profound-how living what we believe can be such a bright light.  We live in an age of blaming and not taking responsibility.  We tend to live by the standards of this world and doing what everybody else does, but when we understand who we are-God's covenant people,we can be so much more than "just like everybody else."   

Sunday's reminder that we have a "get to" not a "have to" life made me want to look at the eighth commandment in a different light.  We don't have to steal; we get to live honestly and generously.    I mentioned specifically in our work, in our handling of finances and giving to the Lord, in our time-not taking liberties when we are paid by someone else, not taking things home from work or giving things to friends and not using our resources to help those in need.  Since Sunday someone mentioned our approach to movies, music and software-if we don't pay for it, we're stealing it.   If I buy a CD, some software or a movie, I can use my copy but not copy it for others.   What about in school?   So much is accepted now-copying homework, copying tests-turning in someone else's work as my own.   In a sense we are "stealing" grades, stealing answers, defrauding our teachers or professors.   Of course, we can take business expenses that really aren't business.   We can extend our privileges to people they were not intended for.  We can falsely claim deductions or we can live honestly and generously even if others don't.   We can go back and put right what we failed to do.  

What a bright light is shone when we begin to live as God's covenant people in a "get to" life of honesty and generosity.    Don't be surprised if you discover new opportunities as you cooperate with the Spirit of truth in you.   Have a great "get to" week.  

In Jesus,

Bill