Stewards For Him - Eklund Stewardship Ministries

Why the fuss over the tithe?

2010-11-16T01:19:00.004-05:00

As most churches present their budgets in the next few weeks I think it is a great time to ask the question which I used as the title of this post: Why the fuss over the tithe? Do we really understand where those who promote the New Covenant version of no tithe are leading us? Do we really understand how little substance their positions has?

This post is the beginning of a series that will unveil the truth surrounding the fuss being created today and the truth about what should be taught in our churches. We will look at misconceptions and misrepresentations along the way while also highlighting the deception being applied to discredit the truth of the tithe.

For a beginning point, we will break down the issues involving taxes and tithing. Are they the same? Are they different? How do we know?

For certain I believe in the tithe. I pray you will stick around and join me as we step by step search the Word of God to see what God has to say.

Proof for Stewardship/Lordship Education

2010-10-16T17:08:00.004-04:00

The following information can be helpful to you and your people. This test and the results show beyond any doubt that we as leaders must return to the teaching of Stewardship/Lordship in our churches.

Topics like credit scores, retirement plans and debt are popular conversations in the U.S.'s uncertain economy, but you might not know how your financial status compares to that of your fellow citizens. Take this quiz to find out how you measure up against other Americans, and learn some informative facts behind the statistics.

1) How Much Credit Card Debt Does Your Household Have?

A) Less than $5,000
B) Less than $10,000
C) More than $15,000

If you answered C, you are in the same boat as the 54 million American households that have credit card debt. The average credit card debt total per household is $15,788.

2) How Many Credit Cards Do You Have?

A) 0
B) 1
C) 3 or more

If you answered C, your stack of credit cards is the same size as the average American with 3.5 open credit cards. Approximately 51% of the U.S. population has at least two credit cards.

3) What Kind of Credit Card(s) Do You Have?

A) American Express
B) Visa
C) Mastercard

If you answered B, you have the same credit card as more than 270 million Americans. The second most popular form of plastic cash is Mastercard with 203 million card carriers. In 1958, American Express became the first widely accepted charge card, but now it falls behind Visa, Mastercard and Discover (54.4 million) with 48.9 million in circulation.

4) What Do You Spend Most of Your Annual Paycheck on?

A) Housing
B) Transportation
C) Food

If you answered A, your annual expenditures match those of the average American. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008), the average American consumer spends 34% of their income on housing costs which include shelter, utilities, household supplies, and home furnishings and equipment. Transportation expenditures such as vehicle purchase, gasoline and public transportation take up 17% of the average annual budget. Food, both at and away from home, comes in third at 13%.

5) What Percentage of Your Annual Income Do You Save?

A) 6%
B) 15%
C) 10%

If you answered A, you are right on target with the average American. At 6%, American savings habits are ranked last among China (30%), Switzerland (14%) and Germany (13%). Less than half of Americans report that they save regularly. The highest rate of savings was during World War II when Americans were stashing away 26% of their earnings. During the Great Depression in 1932, Americans weren't saving at all with a rate of -1.1%.

6) What is Your Annual Household Income?

A) Less than $20,000
B) Less than $30,000
C) More than $40,000

If you chose C, you are earning as much income as the average American household. In 2009, the median household income in the U.S. was $49,777. Income tends to be highest in the Northeast and West part of the country at a median of $53,073 and $53,833 respectively. The Southern region of the U.S. has the lowest annual income median at $45,615.

7) What is (or Will Be) the Source of Your Retirement Income?

A) Social Security
B) Employer sponsored retirement savings plan
C) Employment income

If you chose A or C, you expect to get retirement money from the same source as 77% of working-aged Americans. Nearly the same amount of Americans, 75%, will use an employer-sponsored savings plan for their retirement income, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

8) What is Your Credit Score Rating?

A) Less than 600
B) 600 to 700
C) Greater than 700

If you chose B, your credit score is within the range of the average credit score in the U.S., which is 692. This is considered to be a fair to good credit rating. A credit score below 600 is generally labeled as a poor rating. A score in the 750-850 range or higher is an excellent score that will usually qualify you for the best interest rates on loans. According to Experian, residents of New England have the highest credit scores in the country at an average of 712. The West South Central region of the U.S. has the lowest average credit score at 673.

The Bottom Line

We need more stewardship/lordship education and we need it fast. As Pastors and lay leaders the time has come for us to step up the plate and teach the Word of God. We will never reach the lost in the world by living the way most Americans live.

Faith and the Budgeting Process

2010-09-10T01:03:00.004-04:00

One of the loudest complaints we here from members of churches is that the presentation of the annual budget in many churches is presented with a hard line FAITH sermon or lesson to the members in an attempt to persuade them to vote YES. Why is this an issue? How does faith play out in the process and in the communication of a new budget to the members?

Important to remember in the process is a simple fact - people are not as ignorant as we may think. They know when priorities are in the right place in most situations. To hit people with a message of FAITH in expecting them to pass a budget that flawed in it's inception NEVER works in the end. There is a growing sentiment among some of the newer models of churches and leadership structures to use this approach. The end result is failure of trust and lost of respect.

Some key helpful thoughts as you work through the process and delivery:

1. Be realistic with what is ministry - to promote things that are NOT ministry as such will not work.

2. Teach Stewardship - you will accomplish more with teaching than with beating the FAITH message.

3. Live Stewardship - a staff must practice faithful stewardship. Look for ways to save money.

4. More money does not mean more ministry - don't be materialistic.

5. Keep missions and true ministry at the forefront - people will respond to these.

6. Be careful with the latest and greatest - you probably sold that last year. They remember!

7. Build trust and respect with the process - it will lead to developing stewards.

8. Vision cannot be sold - it must be shared and developed. give your people time to grow.

9. Be transparent - people are hurting. Show you care. Wastefulness says you don't.

10. Get God's heartbeat in every area - pray and search your own heart. God will approved what He orders and He will fund what He needs.

Remember that communication is key in the whole process. Share with your people as the process develops and get more than yourself involved in the sharing. Faith in the process and development will grow the faith in stewards lives.

2011 Budget Insights

2010-08-20T10:17:00.003-04:00

If you look at the calendar the realization that planning of the 2011 church budget should already be in progress; or soon to start. Churches across America are experiencing tough times in the area of finances. Tithing (Budget Income) is down to some of the lowest levels in decades. Pastors are failing to preach on Stewardship more than one to two times annually (if that). Expenses verses income in many churches are riding high. Some churches are cutting ministries and some are considering elimination of staff positions or redefining them while lowering salaries.

In tough times it is important to remember some key insight into church budgets. Members of churches with backgrounds in business will be quick to jump on the latest models being implemented in the secular world without understanding the effect those models will have on ministry and missions. Implementing key principles in planning your 2011 church budget will make a difference in the life of your church. It will make a difference in missions around the world.

1. Remember that the church is in business to do ministry and missions. Cutting ministries means reducing the job that we have been called to do.

2. Every church has waste in the budget. Be honest in your process. Waste is not ministry - it robs ministry. Look for the waste and eliminate it. Golden calves in church budgets are Satan's tools.

3. Evaluate how you do ministry. Often we spend money on things that we are too lazy to do ourselves. The "how" of your ministry should require effort from human beings more than it does money.

4. Salary issues will be tough this year. Be smart when considering raises and cuts. Staff leaders should practice Stewardship in their daily lives while churches should care for the servants God has led their way. You may not be able to give much in the area of raises this year yet remembering this and planning for future raises is vital to maintaining a great staff.

5. Do not cut missions or ministries that are reaching people. Look for the multiple small areas in your budget that you can in actuality do without or do different. Literature such as magazines etc. are a prime example of things that can be cut and applied in areas of ministry and evangelism.

6. Teach Tithing and Grace Giving. The tithe is ten percent of the gross income. Is the beginning point in giving. When taught correctly, teaching on Stewardship will free your people from all types of bondage. A church that is taught biblical stewardship will become a generous church.

7. Pastor and staff must lead the way in giving of the tithe and offerings. Live what you preach. If you are not living it, repent, live it, and preach it! Do so in that order.

8. Get creative in highlighting the ministries that the church budget supports. Creative and positive fruit will do wonders to the development of cheerful givers.

9. Get a vision for what God is calling your church to do. Share this vision and commit to this vision. Never forget that God always pays for what He orders.

10. Know with confidence that God will bless a church that is faithful to go after His vision. Stop the sin of worry and share with your people the joy of seeing God do some God size things in your midst.

The team at Eklund Stewardship is here to assist you in the area of Stewardship. Budget development and formation assistance are available. Give us a call. We would love to partner with you!

Coming Out of Summer

2010-07-04T18:03:00.003-04:00

I know it is only July. Thoughts to August and the fall however will reap huge rewards if done now. Here are just a few things that hopefully will assist in your creativity:

1. Plan a "catch up" Sunday in September or October. If you do not send out Tithing Reports already, do so before this planned Sunday. Encourage people to evaluate their giving records in comparison to the amount that God asks.

2. Begin to promote the coming budget planning for 2011 in October. Share the highlights of 2010. Share vision related to the needs of 2011.

3. Have people share a testimony related to their giving and the fruit they have seen. These testimonies should be 3 to 4 min in length and focus on the fruit not on the person.

4. Do not hide from teaching Stewardship. Your people need to be stewards. Your ministry needs for more stewards to be developed.

Take some time this summer to plan for a smart fall. It will "pay off" in your budget planning and promotion and it will reap huge benefits in the giving of your people!

Time for Budget Planning - NOW!

2010-05-25T23:25:00.004-04:00

Start your 2011 Budget planning NOW. Are you kidding me? No! One of the key aspects of being a good steward of the money that God provides for ministry is to do a GREAT job at budget planning. I know that June is still a week away. Yet beginning to discuss budget issues with staff and key leaders is vital today!

Staff should already be seeing areas that need to be examined when looking at 2011 vision and needs. Giving trends for 2010 are now easily detectable. Getting started now will save headaches down the road in the fall. How is 2010 going? What does this say about 2011?

Satan is waging an all out war on stewardship right now. Even in Christian groups there is much confusion as to what a church should teach and how a church needs to respond to the economic times. Satan loves to get us distracted and then force us into poor planning and thought at the crucial times in the fall. It is important that we do not accept poor stewardship from God's people by excusing the waste and lack of discipline on the economy. Yes people are struggling. Yet many are simply NOT being stewards.

Take some time during the next 30 days and get a head start on budget planning and review. Evaluate the effectiveness of stewardship education. Look at options needed for the fall. Don't settle for a summer slump.

Be bold in teaching tithing and stewardship. Your people will become better stewards and your ministry and missions will be where God desires them to be.

Stewardship - A Word We Need!

2010-05-13T02:10:00.004-04:00

Try looking at any type of news media that does not reveal a growing distaste for the economic waste occurring in America at almost every stage of life. For this current time in our history we have the most money EVER being handed down from one generation to the next and the debt of the receiving generation FAR out weighing the money changing hands. It can be a little scary to think about.

The thoughts of this incredible time reveal a need for a word that is about to be extinct in our vocabularies - STEWARDSHIP! It is a great word. I have been trying to grasp why we are approaching it's demise when this word offers the answers to all we need in economics on a national, job, world, home, individual, and church level.

Sixteen times the word Steward is used in the Bible. The principles of being a steward are taught innumerable times through out the Word of God. Clear is the teaching of this simple passage:

Luke 12:42-43

42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward , whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
NKJV

Clearly as we approach the return of Christ, being a faithful STEWARD rises to the top of all we do and prioritize in our lives. One of the greatest questions that we can ask today is this:

Are we teaching and modeling being a Biblical STEWARD?

When we look at the younger generation surrounded by debt, materialism, and selfishness. When we seek to do more in reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are forced to look at this simple word which teaches profound actions, mindsets, and disciplines. We discover quickly that we need the word STEWARD in our lives more than we may have thought.

Generosity is the buzz word today. But I submit to your pondering that we will never be able to be generous until we first learn to be good stewards.

The Great Stewardship Question

2010-04-18T22:16:00.002-04:00

As I travel around the country and meet Pastors and people from all walks of life I am asked this one question more than any; "how can I help my people be better Stewards?". It is a great question. Many books have been written about this subject and for sure many more are coming. I might even write one or two of those.

There is a short answer that works. This answer does not require a book. In fact, this answer is one that just simply needs to be repeated over and over again. The answer is found in the form of a question.

We should be asking, "Do we really need it?"

Simple isn't it? This one question can change many a bad expenditure. It can alter spending habits at the core of the issue. Do we need our wants? Are our wants really needed? As you teach your people and lead them in developing a lifestyle of stewardship - start here! This is the first step in discovering the seemingly secret to financial peace which leads to security and missional stewardship for each one of us.

Rather than living a life full of buyers remorse we could actually be making good daily decisions that lead to opportunities to bless others beyond our wildest dreams. Before you buy ask the question. When you encourage your people in the discipline of stewardship, ask the question. Most of us have far too many things we honestly do not need.

Coach Led Approach to Capital Campaigns

2010-04-12T04:04:00.004-04:00

Several churches have voiced a need for an approach to Capital Fund Campaigns that is different from consultant led and more helpful than "do it yourself" models. After much prayer and thinking through the process we are thrilled to announce the new Coach Led offering.

It is common knowledge that churches raise much less than possible when they attempt to approach a campaign "in house". We also know that bringing in a Consultant is not always the way a church desires to go for various reasons. Our new Coach Led approach meets these two issues head on. People will often make short cuts in the process when left to follow a "how to" approach on their own. Often groups will charge extra fees to come in and clean up a situation that is not going the path desired causing headache and frustration to the church and leaders. Our Coach Led approach allows your church to avoid these costly errors and experience a process that guides you through your campaign without the expense of having a consultant on site.

If you need to raise money for debt relief or a building and yet find your leadership resisting the idea of bringing in a consultant, email or call us and let us explain the details of how a Coach Led campaign might be the solution to your situation.

A Great Video for Your People

2010-03-08T21:38:00.000-05:00

Giving: From A Child's Perspective from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Now this is creative teaching on Stewardship!

2010-02-28T16:33:00.001-05:00

I encourage you to read Aftershock!

2010-02-19T23:36:00.003-05:00

I was given the book Aftershock to read. Today I did just that. It is a book written by David Wiedemer PhD, Robert A Wiedemer, and Cindy Spitzer. It is the second book in a series that deals with the Economic downturn in America and the world. The popularity of this second book has grown with the realization that the first book with the predictions of "bubbles" popping was actually spot on.

This second book deals with what is still to come and the already indicators being seen today show that the predictions and conclusions will be close, if not as accurate as the the first. It is not a book of wild predictions and scary tales. It is one that simply takes the data and deals with it responsibly. It is not a "Christian" book but this is the part that really got me thinking. Though absent is the "end time" plans and predictions of the demise of the world and the return of our Lord, the book does show that we are quickly, and maybe more quickly than we realize, moving towards a One World system of Government and Finance. As such, the implications for us as Christians are obvious; or they should be.

Though all resistance from a political/patriotic stance will surely come as should a Biblical resistance as well, we all know that the Bible is clear in this new era arriving and being part of the plan. Though the authors make NO mention of such, I found the path clearly revealed and being realized today drawing me to the Bible and to exactly what it says about the time if Anti Christ. I think it is prudent that we understand where we are in the world and where we are progressing towards at ballistic speed. It is here that the passion for ministry to a world that is and will be more shocked and depressed at the changing economic fortunes will be key.

As we look to the future of ministry I think it is important to realize that the day of debt and excesses are about to be brought to a halt by the one force we never realized - the economy of excess itself. People will be dropped into a reality that none truly thought would occur. Governments will fail. The dollar will fade into history. What has always been will not return. Depression as we are already seeing will continue to rise as our bodies and minds get hit with the truth that "stuff" will not be possible to maintain. Where we have played at the idea of "trusting in Christ" we will soon people forced to deal with their dependence on things no longer obtainable. The truth of our false gods will be clear even in church circles.

As leaders of churches and ministries I pray that we are looking at the data and that our vision casting is based on needs coming rather than goals of the past. The future will be full of opportunities to minister to people. It is easy to see that churches will either meet this need and become centers for ministry and aid instead of playgrounds and clubs or the party will be over for many.

I encourage you to go out and get Aftershock. It is a great read and one that will challenge your vision for tomorrow in a fruitful way.

Are we ready for the mission? Eklund Stewardship Ministries is here to assist. We believe in the New Testament Church and we are called to help your church get ready for the ministry that God has for you!

Stewardship and Church Giving

2010-02-16T12:24:00.002-05:00

In discussions related to tithing and giving in general to God's churches the questions raised usually sooner than later highlight one of the great needs of our day. We will address a few of these questions in this continuation of our series. The practical side of "tithing" and giving will show the depth of need in American churches that once was not an issue but now is at critical mass.

The first reason given these days is that the church is NOT required in the New Testament to receive such. The rationale behind such a statement comes from those within the New Covenant Theology spectrum that love to highlight the breakdown of the tithes instructed by God that Israel was to bring to the Temple. Since the Temple is not part of the New Testament, then, in their reasoning, the church should not be recipients of tithing.

Lost in the discussion of this type of teaching is the fact that the Bible clearly shows that the New Testament endorses churches as God's ordained entities for the work of the ministry. Key in this discussion is the threat of the idea that there is a Universal church instead of a Universal Body. If such existed as taught then one could argue that instead of setting aside monies for a person's home church, one could make the decision that something else is more deserving and thus give to that need instead of to one's church. It sounds wonderful to many; especially those who see abuses of wasted money by a few churches that lack accountability and missiological purpose. But there is a danger here that cannot be ignored.

When we move from an understanding that God established and ordained churches for His work we move from His plan. We weaken churches. We weaken Missions around the world. We move to a system of thought that says I can hear from God and do as He tells me and my church may not be in the equation. A great question to ask at this point which few address is actually a simple one:

Would God ordain churches and NOT provide for their funding in scripture?

Any attempt to leave out the first priority of one's church is extremely poor Biblical Theology. Leaving out the local church is like saying to your heart, I don't like the maintenance required so I am going to take you out. The body could not live long at all right? God gave us the New Testament church. We have corrupted her greatly in America but God still has not given us an alternative. In fact He did not give us a choice. Ephesians is clear that God provides every gift for the church for the purpose of her caring out the mission - the Great Commission! It is the church that is to hold us accountable as individuals. It is the church that is to provide for the teaching and discipleship of the people that are reached with the Gospel. The gifts given were given to local churches to honor God in doing the work of God. Each one of us according to Ephesians are part of the body that God uses to equip and "staff" the church. Would God go to all this trouble and yet not provide funding?

NO!

More to come...

When a standard is lost

2010-02-08T01:05:00.001-05:00

Common definitions of the word STANDARD are such as:
a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated; "the schools comply with federal standards"; "they set the measure for all subsequent work"
criterion: the ideal in terms of which something can be judged; "they live by the standards of their community".

When we look at the issue of tithing it is important to remember this word. In the discussions that have made their way into the blog world of late we are learning that people who set out to prove a position to justify their behavior will often forget about this word STANDARD.

How is this important?

When a person looks in the Word of God a clear standard is seen concerning the tithe. Though some are trying to ignore this standard, it is there. Those who claim to hold to the New Covenant Theological position completely ignore that the Old Testament and the Law have been given to us for this very reason.

We are free from the Law. Christ did what we could not. Yet NC people forget that the Law was God's STANDARD! Christ's payment for our sins does not change this standard. We do not live in a life that is forced to do anything. But in my love for God and my desire to grow in love to Him more each day, I then must see what pleases Him.

Think of it this way. In April of this year I will have been married to Heidi for 19 years. I always try to do something special for her on our Anniversaries. There are things that I think will be pleasing to her but they are my ideas. There are places that I would love to go but those are my desires. If I am to show her my love for her, then I must learn what she likes. I seek to please her for I love her. When I give her a gift, I work hard at giving her something that she likes NOT giving her something that I think she would like.

The same is true with God. If we take the approach that a few are taking and say "I am free to give to whatever and God is fine with that..." we are missing the key point in LOVING HIM. One blogger wrote something like this; "I do not know what I give but I am sure it is less than 2%."

When I read the love letter that God has provided for us, I find that a standard is there. It is NOT an end point. The standard is the beginning. Out of love for God I desire to love Him in a manner that He deserves. How could giving less than the clear standard meet that which He deserves? How could I NOT know what I give to Him?

My love moves me to ask a different question - why in the world would I want to hold on to something when He has simply made me a Steward. It is all His. Grace indeed raised the standard. When we lose the standard, we lose much. We cheapen GRACE. We excuse our selfishness. We find justification for doing things like drinking alcohol, that violates God's standard. A loss of the standard actually brings into focus that maybe our love is NOT what He deserves. When I give more than the standard, I am NOT trying to buy my way to God nor am I living under the law. God forbid. I am though living the reality of my love for the one who saved me. I have clearly seen His standard and I then know where to start. But as I grow, my giving will and should grow.

When we lose a standard we lose MUCH!

More on Tithing

2010-01-14T22:01:00.000-05:00

Clearly when one looks to the Bible the picture of giving a tenth is found pre-law, during the period of the Law, and then one discovers something changes in the New Testament. It is at this point that some will argue that the above statement proves our disregarding the tithe in the New Testament under the New Cov. I disagree with those who would say this and in fact I think that what they miss is vital to more than this discussion of the tithe.

GRACE is the incredible reality that God did for us, who did not deserve it, what we could not do nor could the Law do - GRACE allowed me and everyone reading this post to have the opportunity of Salvation through the person of Jesus Christ due to His death, burial, and resurrection. Oh to GRACE how great a debtor I am! In fact, I love the words to the song sung by Travis Cottrell - Jesus Saves! I am listening to it right now as I post. It is this topic and more the reality of GRACE that opens the window into the plan of God. It is the picture that describes more vividly than anything else can just who God is and why He is so incredible!

When one reads the laws that were given to Israel, one needs to understand that those laws were in fact, by living up to them, the only way from a human situation, that a person could be accepted by God. The law shows each of us that we need a Saviour. For none of us can live up to and keep the law. Jesus Himself said that He came to "fulfill the law..." in Matt 5:17 and NOT to destroy it. He became the sacrifice and thus fulfilled the law for us. Not that we are under the law as we clearly in Galatians. We are free. Yet, the "being under..." is not the issue.

The law was clearly a picture for us of God's standard. In the tithe, regardless of the crops issue that some so want to claim, the law only continued what was already seen in pre-law days. In the New Testament, no mention is required to know that the standard had not changed and the picture is still present with one very important fact - GRACE raised the mark.

As we under GRACE are the recipients of such great love, the question must be asked pertaining to the tithe as to how or why or what then should we do? Clearly a person is free to NOT tithe. Clearly that person would NOT be destined for hell on the issue of the tithe. Clearly 10% is not a requirement. For under GRACE, all of our lives are called into the position and obedience of FULL surrender. If a person says "I tithe 10% and thus I am doing well." That person is abusing the principle of the tithe and the GRACE factor. Clearly the minimum from the beginning of scripture through the end is seen in the 10% example. But in Christ's surrender to the Will of God for us, the issue is no longer "a tenth" or "what is the minimum" but rather my WHOLE life, finances and all are to be yielded to Him. Colossians makes it clear that everything we do is to be done to His Glory.

So would we do less than the law asked for? Would we do less than what was done in pre-law times?

Absolutely NOT!

And this gets us to the issue of the church. And the fun will continue!

The Tithe, Law, New Testament, and Grace

2010-01-04T21:22:00.002-05:00

Often people only view the law in Old Testament when trying to validate the tithe or invalidate it. It is clear that the Law teaches tithing for Israel. There is usually NO arguments or discussions about this fact save for the 3 tithe issue. The discussions get heated however when the topic of New Testament practice begin.

As we have previously noted, Jesus makes mention of the tithe in His conversation with the Pharisees. In a future post we will look at the teachings of the Apostle Paul and some key things that must be noted and applied when accurately developing a case for or against the tithe from his teachings and life.

What seldom is noted in current discussions is the fact that the tithe appears PRE - LAW in the Old Testament. Abraham and Jacob both voluntarily embraced the tithe (the giving of a tenth). It is in this study that we discover the Biblical Heart of the tithe. For the arguments against the tithe due to legalism, this study sheds light on the misuse of Legalism in the discussion and the truth that the Biblical Tithe has always been voluntarily done out of love for the Lord God.

The Law codified the tithe for the nation of Israel. The standard of the tenth was kept from pre - law to the law. If you will continue to trace the journey of the tithe, you will discover that unlike the FOOD issues, the tithe is never repealed. The tithe is embraced just as Abraham, Jacob, and the law embraced it. Jesus told the Pharisees that they should have given the tithe while also doing other things. Not once did he say "stop giving the tithe!" Why? What about GRACE?

I actually love the discussion of GRACE in light of the tithe. The norm and error by many as seen in our current culture inside the church, is to argue that we are under GRACE thus the tithe is no longer valid. The acceptance of less than 10% is thusly justified when one takes this appraoch. While another major error is made in the acceptance that 10% is enough. GRACE changes the discussion. Neither are accurate.

And we will continue here later in the week...

The Tithe Today

2009-12-15T22:24:00.000-05:00

The current debates relating to the tithe are focused on whether or not the tithe is part of the New Covenant or is it applicable today? Those who desire that the tithe be eliminated today always use the fact that it was limited to Old Law.

What many miss is the fact that no where was the tithe ever done away by Jesus himself nor is it fully understood as to how GRACE applies, thus fits within the total scriptural teaching of the tithe and stewardship. For those who have wondered when I would get around to scriptural application, we are here. This is actually my favorite part of the study. We will explore the New Testament model and see what is often omitted from the discussions of today.

We begin with the New Testament church as seen in the New Testament. We see Paul. A man sent out to share the Gospel. In fact repeatedly we read that Paul was supported, financially and prayerfully, by the churches. How was he supported by these churches if tithing/giving to the church was not taught and lived? In the letters that Paul wrote, he commended the churches for their giving (2 Cor 9:2 and 1 Cor 16: 1-4). The conclusion is thus simple, they collectively gave and the church then gave. In fact the church in Jerusalem was one of the benefactors of many churches giving.

How did the people give to the individual churches?

It is clear in the New Testament that GRACE raised "the bar" when it came to giving as a whole. It stands to reason that a person who was a recipient of the GRACE of God would out of love, devotion, and thanksgiving give far more than the tithe required under the law. It is here that the tithe is seen in the New Testament as a standard that acts as the starting point in our giving.

Giving to our churches is easily seen and cannot be ignored in the New Testament. The needs of people, poor and hungry, the spreading of the Gospel, the care of the servants, all are there. As mentioned in previous posts, the huge disagreements that are often mentioned relating to giving to local churches today are weak at best. Yes there are churches that are poorly handling the money that God's people give. Yes there are issues that each church must deal with. Those issues DO NOT lay the basis for one neglecting the giving to one's church. To do so is violate the whole of scripture.

The giving today of God's people should be far above the requirements of the tithe. The Bible is also very clear that churches who were in poverty gave out of their poverty and the blessings of God were seen. The joy and thanksgiving in our hearts should permeate our giving. And this giving should be done based on our first fruits.

And we will continue...

Defining the Tithe

2009-12-12T08:40:00.001-05:00

As discussion grows in modern times concerning the tithe, the definition of what actually was and is the tithe moves to the front of the arguments. There are those who would specify that the Old Testament tithe was restricted to items grown and raised. Some will say that it was "asset only" driven and that regardless of the mentions in the New Testament, it ended with the cross.

It is this position that reveals what a few call the New Covenant application. In this approach the tithe is out because the Law is out in the New Testament. After the cross, according to this thought, GRACE is the deal and thus giving the tithe is replaced with giving what ones decides due to our being under grace. Also out in this thought is giving to the church. The reasoning here is that the tithe, according to this thought, was specific for the law and the temple and the government and ... and does not thus apply to the New Testament Church.

As I have raised some questions previously, I feel it is important for us to understand the abuses that DO take place from many who teach the tithe is applicable today. It is these abuses that often cloud the issues and actually rally the cries for adopting a GRACE Giving approach (which I will define Biblically in another post).

The tithe is abused when:

Churches beat the people over the head
Churches spend money frivolously
Churches ignore the Biblical model for teaching and encouraging
Churches teach that one will prosper from giving the tithe
Churches make it a requirement of membership
Churches fail to do ministry and missions
The full teaching of Stewardship is ignored
Grace Giving is seldom emphasised and taught

These are just a few. Yet how does one answer the questions and challenge the issues? Defining the tithe must start with the Bible and it must stay with the Bible. Prosperity preachers and those who want to diminish the tithe will always bring the above into their defense of NOT tithing while ignoring that though abuses do occur, the Biblical model is NEVER subject to change due to culture or abuse.

And we will continue on with our study Monday...!

Common Arguments Against the Tithe

2009-12-10T00:25:00.002-05:00

As our discussion moves forward we must pause and look at some of the current reasons being given for NOT tithing. Most of the justification for this stand against the tithe is rooted in human secular materialism and spiritualization of will full manipulation of scripture. Maybe that is a strong statement but when the reasons are viewed I can think of nothing better to describe.

I will not spend too much time on these but I will share some of the "best of the worst":

1. The tithe was "cold Law" and thus no one outside of Israel and definitely no one from the point of the cross forward should be tithing. We are under grace. We are free from the law!

2. The tithes discussed in the Old Testament are not applicable today.

3. The churches mentioned in the New Testament were never commanded to tithe or teach tithing.

4. With all the growth of Mega and Super Churches and the high salaries of their Pastoral Staff, the people who give a tithe to the those churches are wasting the money.

5. A person should place their money where they think it would serve best.

6. The Free Will offering is the offering of today.

7. Pastors and churches who teach tithing (storehouse) are abusing their people.

8. And the list goes on and on...

The problem with these are that some interesting forms of hermeneutics are used as "theological" justification. One may hear terms like "New Covenant" and "Dispensational" that lead many to believe that the one advocating the change in understanding related to tithing is actually valid.

And the "poor" are actually being used while NO definition of poor is ever given. The approach is that Pastors and church leaders DO NOT care about people.This subject is obviously one that goes far beyond Bible Interpretation and Theology. The fuss and confusion actually prove that man can create a mess of what God has been clear about only because man does not always like what God says.

And the fun will continue...

Questions on Tithing

2009-12-09T01:04:00.001-05:00

No doubt that a subject like Stewardship would bring about questions and even some heated debate. One of the things that I hope this series does is to bring about a discussion when often in the past discussion was tough. The reality of the tie that Stewardship has with basic Bible doctrine has always intrigued me. Vigorous debates always flow from this discussion with Doctrinal issues spreading quickly into multiple areas.

Here are some questions that I think will highlight the challenge with this subject:

1. Was the tithe only for Israel?

2. Though much is said in the New Testament about giving and even some mentions of tithing, is it true that after the cross the tithe was to cease?

3. Does "grace giving" mean that NO standard of tithing exists?

4. How is it that there is so much confusion over the subject of tithing?

5. Why do things like adultery get certain treatment in the OT that tithing does not get?

6. Is there a Biblical Standard for those of us alive today in regards to tithing and giving?

The danger with a subject like tithing is that often people approach it from a position that they hold or would like to hold and thus they set out to prove their case. Some may even suggest that I could be approaching the subject from a "I believe it" position and thus that I am setting out to do the same. Before anyone jumps to conclusions I simply ask that you follow along and watch and read and pray! You just might be surprised in the whole of the series.

Tithing and Stewardship - Praying It Returns

2009-12-04T00:05:00.002-05:00

I will begin a series here that highlights the Biblical call to tithe and what a return to Biblical Stewardship will and can do for America. I realize that many today are questioning this doctrine and might challenge the truths made. That is fine. Good discussion and debate actually leads to learning and prayerfully conviction.

If America is ever to be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ we must realize that Lordship will move to the forefront of our daily lives. Stewardship is one of the key truths that gets our attention when we grasp Lordship.

We begin with the words of Jesus:

Matthew 23:23"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." NKJV

Clearly Jesus taught and one might say reinforced the tithe in this statement. The words here are spoken in a clear lesson being taught to the multitudes. The Pharisees are being called out for their lives which were not lived in surrender to Jesus as Lord. Interesting here is that as the "wrong approach" to life is being called out, the right disciplines are being taught.

So why do you think that with Jesus clearly teaching the tithe people today desire to belittle or do away with it?

Do you teach Biblical Tithing? Does your church believe and practice Tithing and Stewardship?

Just think of the changes that could occur when we return to this Biblical Doctrine.

2010 Budget - Up or Down?

2009-11-12T17:13:00.003-05:00

Most churches have completed or are in the process of completing their 2010 Budgets. There is no doubt that many leaders are trying to discover how to handle the economic situation of our day and the needs of ministry in the budgeting process. What some may miss is the simple truth that God is not bound by tough economic times. In fact, He thrives in them when His truth is taught.

Eklund Stewardship is seeing some of the greatest days of tithing and giving resulting from the teaching of God's Word on money. Look at these examples:

A Baptist church in a rural town that has been hit hard with layoffs and cutbacks in employee pay has just committed over $1 million to a building campaign while seeing their weekly giving increase by over 12%.
A Methodist church in another rural community that has 200 attendees (mainly Senior Adults) has just committed to an increase in their 2010 Budget of over $10,000 while committing to give over $450,000 to a relocation (their 3RD back to back campaign).
A Baptist church in Tennessee is experiencing a $30,000 increase in 2009 giving compared to 2008 levels.

God honors the teaching and living out of His Word. This is true of Stewardship as it is in faith and love. The One Month to Live study and book written by Kerry Shook get s it right when he writes:

"If I am connected to my Creator with constant conversation and constant confession, then He'll give me the power and the self-control I need"

Truly our people need to hear truth from us and they need to hear it without fear. They need to be reminded and taught about self control and obedience in the disciplines that produce fruit in their lives.

God works regardless of the economic storms of man. In fact, He works through them.

When Economic Times are Tough - what to do?

2009-10-07T01:07:00.005-04:00

For the past few months we have been receiving emails and phone calls asking how a church can promote giving during tough economic times. During the conversations and interactions with these ministers of the Gospel the issue of the tithe is always one that brings both positive and negative responses, fears and apprehensions.

The first and most important value that must be utilized is the power of the Word of God. This means teaching the Biblical tithe. Many words have been substituted in place of tithe. In fact, the whole teaching of tithing is being lost in many churches today. We much about generosity and investing. Though the terms are good, they do not present the Biblical model of the tithe. To set aside a tenth of ones income is basic and commanded. The discipline of tithing actually produces the ability to be generous and to invest. But the terms in and of themselves do not produce faithful tithing.

Tithing must be taught and it must be modeled. Leaders must humbly lead in the giving of the tithe. To share the experiences with people is to actually accomplish more in the way of teaching than many of the other approaches. People hear the older generation discuss it but often discredit the truth due to "changing times". When the leaders of the church actually live the truth, the truth is caught.

Third, it is important that GOOD STEWARDSHIP be practiced by the church. Wasteful spending and sloppy record keeping will negate in the minds of people, the teaching of tithing. The secular approach is in full view with the average person in the church - need gets attention. When the truth of tithing is taught and yet sloppy and wasteful stewardship is practiced, Satan has clear path to confuse and corrupt the subject being taught.

These are tough times! Live tithing, teach tithing, practice good stewardship, and watch as God blesses you, your people and His church for His glory.

Recession could not stop God

2009-08-12T15:21:00.002-04:00

A church in Camden Arkansas that needed to remodel a major portion of their buildings began the process two and half years ago. Just as the giving had started to flow, the economy hit bottom. But God is not tied to Wall Street or Banks. It is also important to realize that this area of Arkansas has been impacted greatly before and during the recession.

Here are the specifics:

Church Ave Attendance: 200
Campaign Goal: $1.6 million
Commitments: $1.8 million
Actual Dollars Given: $2.2 million and 5 months to go!
Budget Giving: Over budget income each year with increase budget each year.
Missions Giving: Up 1% each year (now 3%) on top of the above

God can work in ways man cannot understand! When a church does what God's Word shows and says, He will bless - and He will do it greatly.

To God be the glory!

Your Personal Financial Bailout

2009-07-18T17:20:00.005-04:00

The following is a list of certain things that many families in America are missing financially. In fact, making adjustments in these areas can be like getting a raise! It will not be the government bailing you out but you providing the relief that you need. And don't miss the part that actually teaches children self discipline and focus. One of the greatest needs among teenagers today is the proper understanding of money and how easily it can be wasted. We are raising a whole generation of self indulging people that will not find the life of adulthood easy unless we make major changes.

1. Extended Warranties - Generally, they’re not worth the money. (The only thing I now have a warranty on is my laptop computer, and that’s because I practically beat it to death.) If a new gadget or appliance is going to fail, research tells us it will do so during the manufacturer’s warranty period or long after the extended warranty has expired. That makes extended warranties, which can cost anywhere from $5 to hundreds of dollars, a big profit center for retailers and a pretty useless expense for consumers.

Get Smart: If you’re worried about a breakdown, take the money you’d spend on a warranty and stash it into a special savings account. If your item fails, you’ll have the money to repair it. If not (which is more likely), in three or five years when everything’s gone well, you’ll have stashed away a nice little nest egg.

2. Gym Fees - The sales pitch is compelling and the promise of better health is hard to deny. But getting roped into a legal obligation to pay a big monthly fee for the next two or three years—whether you use the gym or not—makes no sense.

Get Smart: Find a gym or health club that requires no contract (you pay by the month if and when you desire). Or don’t pay at all: There’s a big wonderful world out there where you can walk, jog or run for free!

3. Fast-Food Runs - You know how ridiculous it is to spend $3 or $4 for coffee—over and over, day after day. But how about the other snacks and food purchases that can cause your bank account to evaporate? A morning egg sandwich here, an afternoon bag of chips there…before you know it, you’ve spent $20 or more a week.

Get Smart: Before you leave the house in the morning, figure out how much cash you’ll need for the day, then take only that amount with you. Bring your own snacks and pack a brown-bag lunch to reduce costs even more.

4. Cell Phone Apps and Ringtones - OK, so it’s cool to have ringtones, apps and games on your cell. And sure, $2 to $3 a pop or $10 a month may not seem like a lot of money for so much fun. But watch out. You can blow through a lot of cash in no time.
Get smart: Make a hard-and-fast rule that you do not pay for ringtones, apps or games—then find them for free. They’re out there; you just have to search for the ones that work on your particular phone and with your service provider. Check out Phonezoo.com or Myxer.com. You can even make your own ringtones for free, using MP3s you already own.

5. Fees (Late, Over Limit or Worse):Not paying attention to your bills is a big mistake these days, when banks are doing all they can to boost their profits. Getting credit card payment in late can mean a $39 whack on the wrist. Being sloppy with your bank account and bouncing a check can cost you around $27.

Get smart: Find your inner private detective. Go over every statement and question every entry. Don’t know what it is? Find out! Get bold! If you’re charged a fee for something silly like allowing your balance to drop a few bucks below the agreed-upon minimum or sending your payment a day late, call customer service. Explain that this is so not like you, as evidenced by your clean record. Then ask them to waive the fee or reverse the charge if it has already been assessed to your account.

6. Landline Extras - Have you looked at your home phone bill lately? I mean really carefully? You could be paying for features you never use: call forwarding, call waiting, who knows what else. Those add-ons could be costing you $15 a month or more.

Get smart: Can’t find a recent bill? Pick up the phone and call customer service. If you use your mobile phones more often than your home landline, consider canceling the bells and whistles to get your home service down to the bare minimum.

7. Rental Car Insurance - Saying yes can add anywhere from $9 to $30 or more per day to the cost of the car. That’s a waste if you carry insurance on your cars at home, or if you pay with a credit card that offers rental car insurance as a perk. Your existing auto policy may be all you need if it includes third-party liability, collision and comprehensive coverage for rentals (most do!).

Get smart: Before you even get to the car rental counter, call your insurance agent to make sure you’re covered.

8. Computer Software - You got a great deal on that new computer, so why go broke loading it up with software? Before you spend a dime, take a look at all the freeware out there. You’ll find programs written by enthusiasts and distributed with no strings attached: games, graphics, office suites, fonts, every kind of desktop tool and gadget imaginable.

Get smart: Check out FreewareHome.com, an index site that lists more than 5,500 programs that really are free. No request for money in the documentation, no nag screens asking for payment or donations, no time limits!

9. Unlimited Texting - Most cell phone plans include a certain number of texts with the basic service. Texting is fun, but it can get out of control in a big hurry. Upgrading to an unlimited plan can add $15 (about $180 per year per phone on your cell plan) just so you can engage in a lot of meaningless chatter. How dumb is that?

Get Smart: Forget the upgrades. Scale back to a limited number of text messages for you and the kids, too. A little selfdiscipline could be a good thing for everyone involved.

10. Bottled Water - You’ve got to hand it to the bottled water industry. They’ve managed to convince otherwise rational people to pay around 800 times more to purchase water in a bottle rather than get it from the tap. These days a 16-oz bottle of “spring” water goes for about a dollar, which works out to about $8 a gallon—twice the cost of milk, and roughly on par with soft drinks. Home delivery is less per gallon, but still around $40 a month, according to online averages. However, 16 8-oz glasses of tap water cost about a penny. Bottom line: You’ve heard it before, but now you have to do it. Lay off the bottled water!

Get Smart: The next time you feel thirsty, turn on the tap. Don’t like the taste of your tap water? Invest in a filter pitcher or install an inexpensive faucet filter. You’ll still come out ahead.
Music DownloadsUnless you’ve got money to burn, paying 99¢ or more per tune can add up. But not to worry. There are plenty of ways to get free music downloads, all totally legal and easy to access.
Get Smart: Check out the free classical catalog at ClassicCat.net. Or take advantage of the free downloads section at Rhapsody.com. Want country? At CountryWeekly.com, click on “Free Music Downloads” under “Music.” At Amazon.com, click on “Digital Downloads” from the lefthand menu, then “MP3 Downloads.” On the left under “Browse MP3s,” there’s a Most Popular category. There you’ll see an option for “Free Songs & Special Deals.”

Your weekly giving can increase!

2009-05-15T23:04:00.003-04:00

Article after article reveals that some of our church in America are experiencing a drop in giving during this tough economic time. A few Pastors have shared that they are experiencing some feelings of despair as they seek to lead their people. Vision requires money. Can your church still grow and increase in vision and ministry during this time in our nation.

YES!

Example #1 - a small new Texas church trying to get in position to build their first building just finished the intensive part of their Capital campaign. The results in budget given are incredible. A new staff member has already been hired as giving has increased over 50% as a result of the campaign. The giving to the campaign is above this number is setting a record.

Example #2 - a church in Minnesota that needed to lower it's debt experienced a 25% increase in giving as a result of their intensive time of the Capital Campaign. In fact, they raised one time their annual budget with no other motivation than to pay off debt. And to top that off, over $50,000 has already been given in the first month. The church runs less than 200 on the average Sunday.

Example #3 - a large Oklahoma church in it's first year to lower debt has already seen given to it's campaign over $600,000 in it's first six months. Again, debt was the only motivation.

These three are just a sampling.

God is blessing in huge ways. Are you wrestling with a decision on vision and stewardship. We can help. Let us know how we might be able to partner with you.

God works even in BAD economy

2009-05-07T00:16:00.002-04:00

As the Spring campaigns are winding down Eklund Stewardship is seeing some wonderful works of God. All of our campaigns have met their goals and many have exceeded them. To God be the glory. One of the key points in all of this is that we did not lower expectations due to the economy. Not at all.

God works regardless of how a nation or even the world is doing. He is not bound to economy. His economy is full and always abounding. Pastors are telling us that spiritual awakening is really taking place among their people and the excitement for the things of God are building like never before.

Our Fall schedules are beginning to max out. Surely people are sensing the need for churches to move forward. Let us know how we can partner with you and your people.

My Christian Blogs

2009-04-23T22:30:00.001-04:00

Check out the link on the left to find great blogs to enhance your thought and challange you in your walk with Christ!

Thanks Tony for providing this!

TG

The Steward Culture

2009-04-19T00:00:00.003-04:00

While reading articles on the current economic perspective of the average person I discovered a great statement that reveals a "turning" in the mindset of people that is actually the foundation of a great culture of stewardship.

Here it is:

"A consumer culture invites us to want more than we can ever have; a culture of thrift invites us to be grateful for whatever we can get. So we pass the time by tending our gardens and patching our safety nets and debating whether, years from now, this season will be remembered for what we lost, or all that we found."

Call it thrift or steward - they both imply the same. Americans are beginning to see the difference and the foundation is being laid for stewards. It is a great time to teach stewardship. People are hungry for it and actually willing to learn it.

Are you teaching your people to be STEWARDS?

Stewardship is thriving today!

2009-04-15T02:39:00.003-04:00

Over the past year we have all heard and seen the comments that appear to mark the death of Christian Stewardship in America. The main thought being expressed is simple; we have lived past the days when people are willing to give the tithe and we must accept this fact.

The great news is just as simple; churches across America are seeing an increase in Stewardship in all areas even during these tough economic times. How? When the biblical principles are taught, God works in the hearts of His people and the result is His! The promises of God are as active today as they were two years ago. God is still God and God is not bound to any economic system or collapse of such.

From the North to the South, East to the West, God is working in many ways as leaders lead their people to live obediently to God. Three churches in the past 4 months have seen a 30%+ increase in tithes weekly as God has worked during Capital Campaigns. Those same churches have met or exceeded the norms that Eklund Stewardship has witnessed for years during such campaigns. Young and old are seeing that God can use them and that their finances can get straight with Him in the lead. Churches are reducing debt loads and paying for new buildings and ministries. All that is needed is Steward Leaders! Are you experiencing this move of God?

Yes, stewardship is thriving. Give us a call and we will gladly share with your how you and your people can experience the work of God in your finances. God's churches should never experience a shortfall - He owns it all. We simply must be good stewards.

A Time For Leadership In Stewardship

2009-03-30T20:28:00.002-04:00

As the economic conditions continue to make headlines in America it is important for us to remember and implement true LEADERSHIP! As I write this I am hearing from Pastors all over America excited about what is going as they lead with clear Biblical teaching in the area of Stewardship. Many of these Pastors are reporting increases in giving of upwards 40%.

Eklund Stewardship Ministry is experiencing some of the most remarkable fruits in churches conducting Capital Campaigns for buildings and debt reduction. Yes, churches are moving forward from Minnesota to Texas, Tennessee to Washington State. What is most remarkable is the response from the people in the pew. Families are making adjustments beginning with tithing and then in areas of spending. Families with children and teenagers are discovering God's plan for finances and are excited to join their fellow Christians in moving the ministries and missions of the forward.

It is important to remember that the greatest days of Stewardship development often occur during difficult times. People everywhere are looking for the church to assist and advise. Leadership in the area of Stewardship Development can not be over stated. Pastors need to embrace the precepts taught in God's Word. Then these precepts need to taught apologetically to their members. The results are what God promises - people hear and respond as the Holy Spirit applies the truths to the heart.

Anyone can be negative and go with the media flow. A Leader steps up and says there is a positive and then walks in the path of the truths of God's Word. It is our prayer that God is raising up true leaders in the pulpits of America for this critical time. The greatest days of ministry are here now. Let us lead in obedience and then praise God with thanksgiving as He does what He has promised - Blesses Us!

Making a great call!

2009-03-13T02:08:00.001-04:00

KEVIN CULLEN
A head with a heart
By Kevin Cullen, Globe Columnist March 12, 2009
It was the kind of meeting that is taking place in restaurant kitchens, small offices, retail storerooms, and large auditoriums all over this city, all over this state, all over this country.
Paul Levy, the guy who runs Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, was standing in Sherman Auditorium the other day, before some of the very people to whom he might soon be sending pink slips.

In the days before the meeting, Levy had been walking around the hospital, noticing little things.
He stood at the nurses' stations, watching the transporters, the people who push the patients around in wheelchairs. He saw them talk to the patients, put them at ease, make them laugh. He saw that the people who push the wheelchairs were practicing medicine.

He noticed the same when he poked his head into the rooms and watched as the people who deliver the food chatted up the patients and their families.
He watched the people who polish the corridors, who strip the sheets, who empty the trash cans, and he realized that a lot of them are immigrants, many of them had second jobs, most of them were just scraping by.

And so Paul Levy had all this bouncing around his brain the other day when he stood in Sherman Auditorium.

He looked out into a sea of people and recognized faces: technicians, secretaries, administrators, therapists, nurses, the people who are the heart and soul of any hospital. People who knew that Beth Israel had hired about a quarter of its 8,000 staff over the last six years and that the chances that they could all keep their jobs and benefits in an economy in freefall ranged between slim and none.

"I want to run an idea by you that I think is important, and I'd like to get your reaction to it," Levy began. "I'd like to do what we can to protect the lower-wage earners - the transporters, the housekeepers, the food service people. A lot of these people work really hard, and I don't want to put an additional burden on them.

"Now, if we protect these workers, it means the rest of us will have to make a bigger sacrifice," he continued. "It means that others will have to give up more of their salary or benefits."
He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Sherman Auditorium erupted in applause. Thunderous, heartfelt, sustained applause.

Paul Levy stood there and felt the sheer power of it all rush over him, like a wave. His eyes welled and his throat tightened so much that he didn't think he could go on.
When the applause subsided, he did go on, telling the workers at Beth Israel, the people who make a hospital go, that he wanted their ideas.

The lump had barely left his throat when Paul Levy started getting e-mails.

The consensus was that the workers don't want anyone to get laid off and are willing to give up pay and benefits to make sure no one does. A nurse said her floor voted unanimously to forgo a 3 percent raise. A guy in finance who got laid off from his last job at a hospital in Rhode Island suggested working one less day a week. Another nurse said she was willing to give up some vacation and sick time. A respiratory therapist suggested eliminating bonuses.

"I'm getting about a hundred messages per hour," Levy said yesterday, shaking his head.
Paul Levy is onto something. People are worried about the next paycheck, because they're only a few paychecks away from not being able to pay the mortgage or the rent.

But a lot of them realize that everybody's in the same boat and that their boat doesn't rise because someone else's sinks.

Paul Levy is trying something revolutionary, radical, maybe even impossible: He is trying to convince the people who work for him that the E in CEO can sometimes stand for empathy.

The Economy and our children

2009-02-21T16:05:00.003-05:00

With the news growing more negative each day as banks and businesses continue to reap the fallout of the financial disaster, before us is a golden opportunity to teach in a vivid way the financial precepts of God's Word to our children. We have a picture similar, and possibly worse, to that of the Great Depression. The years following that time period were ones of fiscal restraint and biblical obedience in the area of finance.

Should Jesus tarry His coming, we can lay a foundation for our children today. The world has changed drastically in the past nine months. Are we as Parents and leaders finally waking up to the need to teach Stewardship? Do we see the opportunity we have before us?

In the coming posts, I will share some insight into how we can better teach what we have ignored for years. The challenge is now a MUST. People need to hear what God's Word says about Stewardship. The world needs our churches to be strong financially now more than ever. Are you doing more than helping with the budget needs of your families? Are you teaching Stewardship to your children?

Dr. Johnny Hunt on the Financial Crisis

2009-02-17T22:46:00.002-05:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--In the midst of the nation's financial hardships, Southern Baptists have a prime opportunity to show unbelievers that what they've embraced is not fair-weather Christianity, Johnny Hunt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said Feb. 16."I thank God that what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in our lives will go the distance. The truth is ... it's not what's going to come against us that's going to make us or break us, it's what God has placed in us and what we choose to do with it," Hunt told the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, Tenn.

During a recent speaking engagement at the Georgia House of Representatives, Hunt, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church in Woodstock, said government officials lined up to ask him whether the Bible says anything pertaining to the financial difficulties Americans are facing.Hunt said the Bible is the oldest collection of wisdom, and he called it the church's stimulus package."If we're looking for something from out there to help us, really what we're saying is that which we've received in here is not sufficient," he said, holding up a Bible.The first chapter of the Book of Job holds the answer for how believers are able to endure hard times, Hunt said. Satan asked whether Job feared God simply because God had put a hedge of protection around him, and Hunt said the same question could be asked of Southern Baptists and of Americans."In other words, it's easy to serve Him as long as we're in our fine Southern Baptist churches, our fine offices, wherever you may be serving, and we're being taken care of," he said.But the true test comes when the sun is no longer shining down and the road is marked with suffering. That's when the world is watching to see how Christians will respond, Hunt said. As Job asked, Southern Baptists need to ask themselves, "Will we accept good from God and not accept adversity?"

Hunt then transitioned into eight prayer requests derived from Psalm 119:33-40, in which the psalmist asked God to help him cope in life."He's crying out to God, and I see it relating so well to where we are as a denomination," Hunt said.First, there is a prayer for education, he said, noting that the psalmist is teachable and has a desire to learn. "Also note in this petition a tone of humility and dependence," he said. "He sees God as a path to be followed, and he's saying, 'God, I so desire for You to educate me.'"In verse 34, there is a prayer for illumination, Hunt said. Three words predominantly used in Psalms and Proverbs, he said, are knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Knowledge is education, but understanding is knowledge that has worked itself out in the realities of life. Wisdom, he said, can only be given by God, and it can be given to people with no formal education.The psalmist prays for direction in verse 35 as he asks, "Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it." "That's the psalmist's paradox," Hunt said. "Why ask the Lord to make you do what you like doing? Because he knew there was a war between the flesh and the spirit. He understood a little something about Romans 7. Is that not true in all of us?"Next comes a prayer for inclination, in which the psalmist is asking God to establish a pattern of consistency in his life and to help him avoid covetousness."If there's any place that America has bowed and formed an altar and stayed there, it's in the area of the idolatry of covetousness," Hunt said.

The psalmist also sets forth a prayer for attention, Hunt said, when he asks God to turn his eyes from looking at worthless things."Do I need to say any more? My attention needs to be focused on the Word of God," Hunt said. "... Sinful things have a great attraction for us, and the psalmist said, 'Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.'"In verse 38, there is a prayer for realization."When Isaiah saw God for who He was, the very next thing that happened was he saw himself for who he was," Hunt said. "... We'll never see ourselves the way God sees us until we see God for who God is. And then when we do, we won't think near as much of ourselves."The psalmist also prays for protection when he asks God to turn away his reproach. "To bear reproach is to bear shame. The psalmist is asking God to protect his testimony. He so desired to never disgrace the Lord and bring His name dishonor," Hunt said.

Finally, the psalmist prays for aspiration. In other words, he longed to live the kind of life laid out in God's Word, and he longed for the life-giving transformation that only God could produce in his life."The man that's making the request is so dependent that unless God does what he asks, it won't get done," Hunt said. "... He's sitting idle without the potential of getting where God is in order to be revived, and it's like saying, 'Unless You come to me where I am and breathe Your transforming life in me, I will be right here when You come back.' "

I feel like sometimes that's where we are as Southern Baptists. We need the life-transforming breath of Almighty God to come to where we are in our decline and breathe into us and help us to stand again and be a mighty army, a force for the glory of God."As the economic crisis has unfolded, Hunt said he has told people repeatedly that he believes God is still in control."God's still on His throne. He's still ruling. He's still reigning. There's no vacancy. So if that's the case, God's still in charge, He's allowing us to go through what we're going through," Hunt said."And in my estimation, if He were going to hit America anywhere to get our attention, the best place to begin is in the pocketbook. And if by taking us from recession to depression He could get us on our knees again and help us to realize a need for Him and bring revival, if He could do that and will do it, I'll be the first if He'd like to bankrupt me first," Hunt said."

You say, 'Talk is cheap.' We're not just talking. This is something we've prayed through over and over again and just begin to say, 'God, whatever it takes in my lifetime.' Some of you have prayed far longer than I have. Some of you have been preaching longer than I've been a Christian," he said."But to really mean it, whatever it takes for God once again to wake this nation up to the fact of who He is in the name of Jesus, I pray He'll do it. That's my prayer, and may God do it."

--30--Erin Roach is a staff writer for Baptist Press.

Dr. Hawkins gets it right!

2009-01-10T14:46:00.003-05:00

The following is reprinted from Baptist Press. It is a great balanced perspective on todays economic conditions.

DALLAS (BP)--The headline called out from newspapers around the world -- the ongoing credit crunch had claimed another victim. This time it was German businessman Adolf Merckle. A bespectacled and balding 74-year-old family businessman, Merckle lost hundreds of millions of euros last year in the financial markets, according to The Wall Street Journal. Distraught over the difficulty in obtaining a 400-million euro loan from a consortium of German banks to help right his business interests, he chose to end his life along a rail line near Blaubeuren-Weiler, Germany.

News articles noted this was far from the first suicide tied to the current economic crisis -- a French financier who lost a reported $1.5 billion on behalf of his clients, with a suspected Ponzi scheme involving Bernard L. Madoff, was found dead in his Manhattan office before Christmas.

From my years as a pastor, I can testify that comforting a grieving family is always a challenge, but when the family is grieving over a suicide, it can be even more difficult to find the words to console. However, one truth can always be agreed upon: Whatever reason someone thinks warrants suicide, it's too high a price to pay.

For that reason, allow me to remind us all that in God's economy we are worth far more than what shows up in our bank account or financial statement. How valuable are we? We are so valuable to God that we were ransomed (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45) with the blood of Christ. God thought us so important that He sent His Son as a ransom for many. That makes our wealth and account balances -- whatever their size -- pale in comparison.

These are tough times. In a recent message to our GuideStone trustees, we shared from Deuteronomy 11:11-12, which says, "But the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year."RESOURCES AND PRACTICAL TIPSThough we have walked through the valleys during the recent months with volatility in the financial markets, we have been through these experiences before.

The 90-year heritage of service by GuideStone Financial Resources means we've survived some valleys before -- the Great Depression, world wars, terrorist attacks and multiple recessions. It is during these valleys that we learn the real lessons of life. Ups and downs in the financial markets are a reality. Whether we are in an up cycle or down cycle, we must remember that God is our resource. His eyes are always on us.During these tough economic times, GuideStone has prepared an online resource to answer participants' questions and concerns. Whether you're a GuideStone participant or not, we invite you to visit our website at www.GuideStone.org/marketwatch to read our articles and watch the helpful videos.

During these challenging circumstances, we would do well to remember some basic tips: -- Maintain your investment discipline; -- Prepare for emergencies; diversify so your investments are appropriately allocated; -- Remain rational; and, perhaps most important, -- Don't neglect your tithes and offerings. In uncertain times, nothing makes us more content than giving.We know times are tough and economic indicators don't point to a quick resolution to this recession -- already the longest in a generation. Layoffs are mounting and people with once-secure careers are finding themselves out of work, sometimes for months on end. If your trust is in a new president, or a new Federal Reserve policy, or new congressional action, you will surely be disappointed. If your trust is in the Lord, you never will be disappointed.The challenges we are facing globally may not subside soon. This may be a longer valley than we've experienced in our lifetimes, but we know who holds the future and we must trust Him to provide for us yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our God is the Sovereign Lord whether we are in a recession or in a rebound. As we lead in our respective places of service, may we encourage one another to see God's guiding hand "through it all."

Can we learn to teach STEWARDSHIP?

2008-12-16T17:46:00.002-05:00

Here is a great article with simple "to do's" that anyone can apply. Being a good STEWARD is not only important - it is Biblical!

NEW YORK--We are a country of spenders who must learn the hard way to practice what our grandparents have always known: A penny saved is a penny earned.

Consider that about 43% of Americans spend more than they earn, according to estimates from the federal government, and the average household carries some $8,000 to $10,000 in credit-card debt.

To make matters worse, the average American no longer saves money. That's tumbled from a 10.8% average savings rate in 1984 into negative territory today. It's no wonder that many of us have been living way above our means for some time.

But that is getting harder and harder to do. Available credit for people to finance their lifestyles has shrunk if not dried up altogether and many Americans are standing by in shock watching their mortgage payments surge while the value of their 401(k)s drop.

It's clear Americans need to start spending less and saving more. That may sound easier said than it's done. The key is to be aware of your where your money is going and take steps to stop the leaks. Here are five simple tips that could save you hundreds of dollars a month:

1. Cash back at the pump
In the past five months gasoline prices have dropped 56%, from an average price of $4.11 to $1.80 a gallon. Somehow, households found the money to pay the higher price and survive so now people should take that excess money they are saving and bank it.

Jean Chatzky, author and personal finance expert suggests using the money you were spending on gasoline to build up that rainy day fund or to pay some your holiday expenses instead of racking up more debt.

2. Supper savings
Another great way Americans can cut costs each month is to eat at home, says Jonathan and David Murray, twin brothers who are financial advisers.

According to a recent Zagat survey, Americans will spend an average of $34 this year every time they go out to eat dinner, that's for one dinner, drink and gratuity; $76.00 if they live in one of the 20 most expensive cities. If a couple does that four times in a month the expense is close to $300 in low-cost areas and $600 in higher-cost regions, and if you have more than one drink or are treating family or friends, costs can add up quickly.

Plan a dinner or party at home and ask guests to bring a dish. If you're big on getting together with friends, family and work associates, this could save you hundreds of dollars a month.

3. Renegotiate bills
You may not be able to negotiate with the gas company or the electric company, but you can with credit cards, cable and phone services, among others. Do the homework and find out what competing cable companies, for example, are offering and ask your provider to renegotiate your bill. You may have to get through to a manager but Chatzky said she recently did this and got her monthly bill reduced by $50.

4. Smart shopping
Retailers are poised to have one of the worst holiday shopping seasons in decades and are offering deep discounts to move merchandise. But smart shoppers can save even more money by hunting down coupons. Before ordering online or going to a store, go to sites like Couponcabin.com and Ultimatecoupons.com or Google the name of a store and often you'll get a coupon code to enter at checkout. You can save 10% to 20% or more on the total order or maybe get free shipping.

There are also coupons to print out and take to the store for deeper discounts. And don't be afraid to pit one retailer against another by asking for a price match on sale items.

5. Keep the receipt
It is important to hang on to all your store receipts and keep track of sales. Savvy shoppers can possibly save even more on purchases by checking back to see if the retailers lower prices even further. If that happens within two weeks of your purchase, most stores will credit you the difference.

Copyright © 2008 MarketWatch, Inc.

Teach Stewardship or...?

2008-12-05T21:29:00.004-05:00

As we approach the year 2009, we find that the economic situation is far from reaching the bottom. I am hearing from many Pastors and church Administrators that they are "cutting" budgets in 2009 and expecting the church financial picture to get worse. At one national conference, a speaker even informed attendees that buiding and expanding ministry needed to halt due to the simple fact that the younger adult generations would NOT pay for these.

Shining in front of us is the reality that our churches MUST teach Stewardship. And we need to do so quickly! A look at history will reveal that during the Great Depression, churches realized what was missing and reversed the trend. They began to teach stewardship in the Biblical light of Lordship (which is the right way) and what followed were some of the greatest days of ministry and growth in America by these churches.

Will the current economic crisis wake us up? I pray so! When we get Lordship right and thus Stewardship right, we get the church, our lives, and our families back in line with the Word of God. Stewardship is your great friend Pastor! Allow me to encourage you to teach it and teach it faithfully.

Give me a call should you need ideas or encouragent. I can share with you how God is using the teaching of Stewardship in some remarkable ways in many churches around the country!

May God Bless you as you teach STEWARDSHIP faithfully!

Navigating the Economic Storms of Life!

2008-10-09T03:46:00.004-04:00

No doubt, everyone should realize that our world is encountering a change of epic size. The economies of the world are in deep trouble. People are in deep trouble at home. What can be done? How can we survive the change that is of itself, changing? For the next few posts, we will explore the basics that we as leaders can share with our people to assist them in functioning in these economic storms.

#1 - Simply our lives!
We all live more complex than needed. It appears that we have failed to realize that our complexity is one of the ingredients leading us to financial disaster. We each need to look at what we can cut from our expenditures. We need to take a serious look at it. Mow our own grass. Wash our own car. Cook our own food. Take our lunch to work and school. Have our children ride the bus. Iron our own clothes. Rediscover family time with games and walks in the park. Ride bikes! Get back to the simple things of life that do not cost!

#2 - Buy Smart!
Rather than buying new cars, figure out how to get more miles out of the cars we have. Don't fall for the "cheaper gas mileage" scam and take on a big car note just to save gas. Make the clothes you wear, last longer and forget about being "in style". Watch out for the sales! A sale may not be cheap enough for you to afford! Stay home on Tax Free weekends! If you must buy, buy two weeks after a Tax Free weekend when the items are on sale for 20% off - get the savings?

Stay tuned... More to come!

Economic Storms and Ministry

2008-10-02T19:09:00.003-04:00

Today's economic climate is one that actually could benefit many churches in America. Over the past 10 - 15 years, the teaching of Stewardship has declined at an alarming rate. Fewer Pastors than ever have a teaching/preaching plan that includes Stewardship. As a result, tithing and giving are not part of many young Christians lives. They have been substituted with Debt and Frivolous Spending. How will those of us who lead people in the churches week after week respond to the new climate this will be around for a while?

First, teach Stewardship! If God is first, then our spending and managing of money should reveal this. For those who cling to the idea that "tithing" is for the Old Testament only, great! Teach new Testament Stewardship where the 10% was raised! The Bible is not silent about this subject and we as leaders must learn quickly to put our fears aside and teach the people that God has entrusted to our care the real answers to the needs in America - Great Stewardship!

Second, ministry needs are in need of changing! We must focus on "true" ministry that reaches people with the Gospel. Missions is a must. We must also insure that those things we fund are essential in growing disciples of Christ. I am a firm believer in churches leading the way in their budgets and spending plans. Drop the frivolous, and embrace that which is needed!

Third, focus on you can do things in a simple manner. Simple does not have to be "cheap" but it can be less expensive!

More next week!

More than one bank needed in todays economy!

2008-09-25T03:24:00.004-04:00

Does your church have more than $100,000 deposited in a bank or investment account? With the current econimic crisis in America, it is important to remember that money should be insured in FDIC accounts and that no more than the maximum insurable of $100,000 be kept in any one account.

If your church has more than $100,000 - spread the money to other banks! Be sure to leave room for your interest earned to be safe when added with the total amount deposited.

Economic Storms and the church

2008-09-19T01:56:00.002-04:00

How will churches across America deal with the reality of the economic turn down of America. Surely we realize that every family will be effected in some way or another. As leaders, it is easy to allow the uncertainty to change the vision and mission that God has given to His churches.

As we move through the waters of this quickly moving flood, there are some key issues of leadership that we need to understand and live by. The following is a good list to guide us all in helping during these trying times.

1. Keep the vision of reaching people at the forefront of all we do.
2. Teach people to rethink their priorities.
3. Teach the Biblical principles of Stewardship that are missing in our culture.
4. Lead by example in the church in keeping Missions a priority.
5. Be smart - a church that retreats is a church that dies.

Our ministries should be recession and depression proof. We as leaders make the difference!

A lesson in shopping

2008-08-26T00:56:00.003-04:00

I was asked by a couple a few weeks ago how they could get their family budget in line. Spending was out of line and needs were growing by the day. As we reviewed several months of activity, I noticed that a large portion of money was spent during "tax free" weekend. The story was told of great deals and how much was purchased.

There was a problem though! Things of importance were still needed. School was starting and teachers had not posted the list of supplies until after the first day. Tax free was long gone. So was the money. While this couple shopped, they noticed what my family had noticed several years ago. The items they purchased tax free were now on sale at 10 to 30 % off. Do the math - tax free cost more than waiting three weeks.

Sales and gimmicks are designed for one thing - to make you spend money! They are not "take it to the bank" savings and can lend in you over spending. So here is a good thing to remember. When you see a SALE sign or TAX FREE advertisement, think BEWARE!

Actually, stop and think. You might remember that other items will be needed soon and the things on sale are suddenly not that important.

This principle works well for ministry offices! It can save you money needed for ministry at home and at the office!

What a budget reveals?

2008-08-22T20:01:00.002-04:00

When thinking of the church budget, what does your budget reveal about your ministries focus and purpose? It may seem strange in many churches to ask this question. Most budgets have "staples" that have been there for years. Fixed expenses are going to increase as the economy worsens. But yet, take a long look at the question that MUST be answered: What does the budget reveal about who and what and how, we do ministry?

Here is a quote from a Baptist Press article by Dr. Ron Herrod, a friend and man who has lived this principle out his entire ministry who is now serving as President of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelist:

"The two functions to accomplish that goal are to win the lost and grow the saved so they can win the lost, Herrod said. Anything on the church calendar or in the church budget that does not meet those two functions is a waste of time and money, he noted."

I think his comment is right on track! Take a long look at your budget with this quote in mind, it just might open the door for God to bless!

Is Your Budget Robbing You of Ministry?

2008-08-18T21:26:00.006-04:00

The normal conversations around typical churches on Mondays include topics about Sunday; who was there, who was not, what was good, what was not, and more. You may also find that "machines" like copiers and such are also included. Did they work? How old are they? Can God save a machine?

In preparing for your budget data collection, let me challenge you to examine the contracts and leases on your office machines!

Did you know:

The average church spends more on interest in leases than it does in Children's Ministry?
The average church spends twice the price for leases on copiers than the copier really costs?
Have you thought about those postage machines? Think about them!

Good stewardship needs to begin in the office of our churches. As churches struggle to provide the funding for needed ministry and pay the ministers what they should, a great place to look for adjustments can be found in the office leases and service agreements. You might be surprised how much your church can save, and thus put into real ministry, without sacrificing in the area of needed equipment.

Two churches in the past (3) weeks have saved over $30,000 over 5 years in these areas and are now putting that money into reaching and ministering to people. The benefits of living STEWARDSHIP in the office will bless you and your ministry more than you can imagine.

Call us if we can help. Eklund Stewardship ministries has partnered with a great company that works with us in assisting you in meeting your office needs without robbing your ministry budgets. Give us a call. We are here for you!

Fear that leads to tradegy

2008-08-11T11:28:00.003-04:00

This morning I recieved a phone call as I left the parking lot of my oldest sons High School. The preacher on the phone was seeking help concerning how best to overcome his greatest fear - Stewardship. The whole idea of teaching STEWARDSHIP was causing him to sense a need for some type of therapy or better yet, someone to walk him through the "how to". As I shared with this young Pastor, my compassion grew realizing that he had not been influenced in the area of stewardship like I had been at his age. How many today are moving away from the subject as a whole. How many Pastors today are not able to teach due to their lack of application in their own lives.

Thanksgiving for men like Dr. Bob Eklund, Dr. Jerry falwell, Dr. John Bisgno, Dr. David Hampton and many others flowed through my blood as I tried to pass along what had been shared with me over the years. Stewardship is not something to be feared. Stewardship should be embraced. It is our plumb line with all things pertaining to Christ and our relationship with Him.

Stewardship is more than money. It is the essence of our daily walk with our Lord. We are called to be stewards of all things; earth, gifts, talents, time, and money. I have found that when I embrace STEWARDSHIP in all areas, the power of God is so evident in my life. Freedom is found in the faithful act of being a good steward. Ministry is birthed when stewardship is practiced.

Just yesterday, I had recieved notice of a family struggling due to an illness their son had. On the spur of the moment our church recieved over $1,200 for this family while also giving to meet the budget needs of our ministry. Pastors before me had taught stewardship and the people had learned. Yesterday was just one of hundreds of examples that I could share with you.

As you move into a new week and as you begin your budget process, be sure you embrace personally the practice of STEWARDSHIP! It is not something to fear. However, when it is left alone, one might begin to realize something truely to FEAR!

Have a great week being a FAITHFUL STEWARD!

The Budget Nightmare

2008-08-07T22:57:00.000-04:00

Most churches are entering the period of time when the 2009 budget begins developing. The approach to this required process is different depending on the church, the Pastor, the history, the people in the church, the current meeting or not of budget and so forth. So what is most important about this time that does not change regardless of the above differences?

1. Keep evangelism at the top of the list!
2. Keep Missions at the top of the list!
3. Involve people in the process - it shares the ministry and grows commitment!
4. Watch your fixed expenses. Review all contracts and shop insurance contracts.
5. Promote, advertise, and share vision with the whole church as you begin the process!
6. Allow people to share how the ministries of the church are assisting them in spiritual growth.
7. Get rid of "golden cow's" in the budget! They bog you down!
8. Consider adopting a spending plan instead of the usual BUDGET approach.

Remember that VISION is key in helping to avoid the sometimes too frequent "budget spats" that occur in many churches. Teach your people Biblical Stewardship and lead by example.

Eklund Stewardship is here to assist you in this process. Email or call us to see how partnering with us can change your nightmare into a great dream of Biblical reality.

Church Finances - Trap or Launch Pad?

2008-07-31T02:31:00.003-04:00

It does not take long to read or hear of stories about churches experiencing difficulty in the area of finances. Pastors and staff can get into serious issues as can Treasurers and secretaries. Audit can be expensive for smaller churches with many claiming their worth little.

What can you do to make sure your church financial house is in order?

Have a yearly REVIEW (see some options available here) that will walk you and your leadership team through the finances from top to bottom and then give your church a full explanation.
Learn how you can share insights weekly with your people without sounding self serving.
Know how to develop and keep accountability.
Train your lay teams in Church Finances and learn to develop a team approach!
Determine to never get lazy in the area of stewardship - it will cost you!

Eklund Stewardship works with many churches in the area of Budgeting, Spending Plans, and Reviews to prevent the disaster from occuring. We would love to hear from you concerning your needs. We love the role that God has provided in allowing us to partner with you in living out the true reality of STEWARDSHIP in your church. You can avoid the messes that are being read about today.

Five Signs You Are In Financial Trouble

2008-07-16T14:14:00.003-04:00

Sign No. 1 - Your Credit Score is Below 600
Credit bureaus keep track of your payment history, outstanding loan balances and legal judgments against you. They then use this information to compile a credit score that reflects your credit worthiness. The numerical rankings go from a low of 300 to high of 850. The higher the better. It's this score that lenders use to determine whether they'll grant a loan. In general, any credit score below 600 means that you are probably in over your head.

Sign No. 2 - You are Saving Less Than 5%
In 2005, the average rate of personal savings was an astonishing -0.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. That means that not only were we spending all of our income, but also that a good number of us were also dipping into personal savings. This was the worst savings rate that Americans have recorded since 1933 when it was -0.7% during the Great Depression. The rate has bounced back into positive territory, but in 2008, it still hadn't cracked 1%A savings rate below 5% means you could be in real danger of financial ruin if someone in your family were to have a medical emergency, or your family home were to burn to the ground. With savings this low, it likely means you wouldn't even have the money to pay the necessary insurance deductibles. Ideally, everyone should try to save as much as they can, but in terms of targets, the rule most financial advisors suggest is 10% of your gross income. Beginning at age 30, if you were to save 10% of your $100,000 annual income in your 401(k), or $10,000 every year, and earn a rate of return of 5%, that money would grow to more than $900,000 by age 65.

Sign No. 3 - Your Credit Card Balances are Rising
If you are one of those people who pays only the minimum due on their credit card balance each month, or if you send in only a small contribution toward the principal balance, then you are most likely in over your head. Ideally, you should only charge what you can pay off at the end of each month. When you can't afford to pay off the balance in its entirety, you should try to make at least some contribution toward the outstanding principal. The importance of paying down credit card balances as soon as possible cannot be understated. A person with $5,000 in credit card debt that makes the minimum payment of just $200 per month will end up spending more than $8,000 and take almost 13 years to pay off that debt.

Sign No. 4 - More Than 28% of Income Goes To Your House
Calculate what percentage of your monthly income goes toward your mortgage, property taxes and insurance. If it's more than 28% of your gross income, then you are likely in over your head.
Why is 28% the magic number? Historically, conservative lenders have used the 28% threshold because their experience has told them that this is the rate at which the average person can get by, make their mortgage payments and still enjoy a reasonable standard of living. Certainly, some homeowners can get by spending a higher percentage on their homes, particularly if they cut back elsewhere, but it's a dangerous line to walk.
More from

Sign No. 5 - Your Bills are Spiraling Out of Control
Buying on credit and paying by installment has become a national pastime. It's much easier to buy a new flatscreeen TV when the salesman breaks down the price in monthly installments. What's an extra $50 per month, right? The problem is that all of these bills start to add up, and you end up nickel and diming yourself into bankruptcy. If your monthly income is being sliced and diced to pay for dozens of unnecessary installment purchases and services, you are likely in over your head.

Lay out all of your monthly bills on your kitchen table, and go through them one by one. Do you have a cell phone bill, a PDA bill, an internet bill, a premium cable TV package, a satellite radio bill, and all of those other gadgets that generate countless monthly bills? Ask yourself whether each product or service is really necessary. For example, do you really need a 500-channel premium cable TV package, or would you really notice the difference if you had fewer channels (and paid less)?

Some of the best places to find savings include your telephone bills (cell and land line), your utility bills (turn off the lights, and don't run the air conditioning if nobody is home) and your entertainment expenses (you could stand to dine out less and to pack a lunch for work).

Bottom Line, as a nation, we are digging ourselves ever deeper into debt. To avoid becoming part of the gloomy bankruptcy and foreclosure statistics, it's important to measure your financial health regularly. The five signs presented here are not a death sentence; instead, they should be seen as symptoms that allow you to diagnose a problem before it gets worse.

Being a Steward should be a top priority for everyone! We will not be able to reach the world if we cannot get a handle on our daily lives.

5 Keys About God and Stewardship

2008-07-15T17:25:00.000-04:00

If we are to live and teach STEWARDSHIP we need to know the keys that form the foundation in our lives. Believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ should operate according to the following master KEYS OF STEWARDSHIP:

# 1 - God is the creator and supreme giver. Psalm 24: 1 "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Thus there is not any room for us to claim ownership - God owns it all.

#2 - God is the sustainer of all things. He as creator is the one who knows how to sustain it. Not us! He gives life. Our job is to be obedient and to accomplish His will - not ours or our thoughts! We are not needed apart from our limited role as STEWARDS.

#3 - God is the one enables us to accomplish! James 1: 17 "every good and perfect gift is from above. God has enough of everything. He never lacks anything. He works to help us in our obedience to to get His best in, and working through, our lives.

#4 - God is a God abundance. He has more than you and I can imagine or even dream! It is His desire for us to soar. We limit ourselves. We need to seek His desires and His parameters.

#5 - God is a God of Grace! He is the all time most loving and most forgiving of all! He is also the ultimate Steward in every way, all of the time.

Next, we will look at what it means to be a Steward. Are you ready for 2009 Budget preparation? Eklund Stewardship can help!

Some tips for Gas Savings

2008-07-06T16:48:00.001-04:00

Here are a collection of tips to help you save money with your car:

DELIVERING GAS SAVINGS
UPS squeezes every last drop of mileage from its fleet of 94,000 vehicles, saving 3 million gallons of gas a year. Some expert tips:
Plan ahead. Map out the most efficient routes and make single stops for multiple tasks in the same area. "Do all your work in one trip," says Jack Levis of UPS, "and time your trips so you don't run into congestion."
Keep moving. "Left turns waste time and energy," says UPS spokesperson Donna Barrett — you don't want the engine idling at a green light while you wait for oncoming traffic to pass. When you do make a planned stop, turn off the engine.

DRIVE INTELLIGENTLY
Avoid aggressive driving. "Drive as if you had a hard-boiled egg between your foot and the gas pedal," says John H. Davis, host of PBS's MotorWeek. "It's OK to break the eggshell, but you can't squash it." By observing speed limits and avoiding abrupt starts and stops, you can increase mileage by 5% on city streets and up to 33% on the highway &mdash that's $27 per 20-gallon fill-up.
Control your speed. Using cruise control automatically reduces the amount of fuel you burn on the highway. When you set your speed, keep in mind that gas mileage decreases dramatically when you exceed 60 mph. Stick to the right lane, and you can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 20%.
Lighten your load. An extra 100 pounds of weight reduces mileage by as much as 2%, the equivalent of 8 cents per gallon. In other words, you can save up to $50 per year simply by cleaning out your trunk.
Don't idle. If traffic is at a standstill, turn off the engine. An hour of idling can swallow a gallon of gas. Also, avoid long lines at drive-through windows. You'll save money by going inside.

CHEAT THE WIND
Roll up your windows. It may seem odd, but you'll get better summer mileage by cranking the A/C on the highway, since open windows create drag at high speeds. (If you're just running errands around town, fresh air is best.)
Maintain a sleek profile. Avoid accessories like luggage racks, which increase drag, and keep your tailgate upright. Fix any dents, especially to the front of the car. A high-gloss finish won't help your mileage much, but keeping the body straight will.

Doing a little can save you a little and that is good STEWARDSHIP!

Pennies Count!

2008-06-24T10:19:00.003-04:00

I was walking across the parking lot of a mall the other day and discovered that many pennies could be found. The number of pennies were so numerous that I paused in my daily tasks and went penny hunting. After just 1 hour of casually walking the parking lot, I had more than three dollars of pennies to take to the bank. Granted, I do not think that I will spend many more hours hunting for pennies at the mall but what a powerful example of just how poorly we view money and stewardship.

Turn on your television and you will see several commercials explaining how you can save enough money to support their organization. The approach they use is that for just .60 cents per day...! You have seen those haven't you. The message of the commercials for groups trying to raise money are actually causing people to think. We as leaders in the church should be doing the same. From missions to special projects, pennies count. I wonder sometimes how much money we literally throw away each year. How many people could be reached with the Gospel of Jesus if we only realized that PENNIES DO COUNT! If one mall parking lot contains more than $3, I wonder what else could be found. And then there is the money that we waste on "things" that really are not essential. It does add up quickly.

I pray that we will become better stewards of all that God has given to us.

Praying with and for you - Eklund Leadership Team

Intentional Stewardship

2008-06-19T15:49:00.005-04:00

Rebate checks are in the mail or flowing into bank accounts as I write this. Many families will be receiving a rather large "gift" and are also trying to decide how to spend it? It got me to thinking when one of my sons asked what we would be doing with our "gift"? I asked him in return what he thought about it. Funny that his first response was a question asked backed to me - how much is it? When I shared what I thought it might be, he immediately had a few ideas. He walked me through his plan and even came down to how much money would be left after the plan was implemented. The I hit him with a shocker - what about the tithe?

Like my son, few people think about being a steward in times like this. Do you? Have you shared with your people this specific thought - don't forget to tithe on your rebates?

Intentional Stewardship is what our people need! We have lost this in our current culture. I have senior adults and parents who would have thought about the tithe immediately. Why do most of our younger people NOT?

We are not intentional when it comes to Stewardship.

Think of some creative ways that you can share with your people how they can teach their children and grandchildren about being intentional in the area of stewardship. They will thank you for it years later!

And that, I can promise you!

Lesson 2 of our Energy Crisis

2008-06-13T20:33:00.005-04:00

Today I filled up a gas tank used to supply our lawnmower and weed eater. Shocking was the experience. Did you ever think it would take $15 to mow the grass and trim the walks and drive for a month? Welcome to 2008 and the high price of gasoline.

In our first lesson, we listed several things that we leaders can share with our people that will assist them in making wise choices concerning spending and stewardship. Today, we will highlight one thought that each in the list encompasses. It is the issue of our culture in America changing due to the energy crisis.

Culture changing is difficult. Money will however do more in this area than we ever imagined. With all the ills of our culture - many of them rooted in poor "culture driven habits" facilitated with poor stewardship, just maybe God is going to finally wake us up. What things in our lives are the most valuable? What is it we treasure more than anything?

We can lead our people in this prioritizing. In fact, as leaders we must. Our use of video messages and simple thoughts given verbally and in writing will help accomplish this. Plan these out this summer. As the price at the pump continues to rise, get a jump on this for your families before school begins in the fall.

It will also help your Finance/Stewardship teams in your ministry. Some Pastors are already nervous about budget planning for next year. Remember that the greatest thing you can do for your people is to teach and create an atmosphere of stewardship in their lives and in the life of your church. Our culture is changing! We can not afford to allow the ministry of the Gospel to suffer.

May God find us faithful in leading our people. It may just be the greatest gift we could have ever received. Stewardship is now in the forefront of every ones minds!

Remember, we are praying with and for you!

Lesson 1 of our Energy Crisis

2008-06-11T00:56:00.004-04:00

The Bible says that the tithes and offerings belong to the Lord. With that applied, our application begins by making those gifts first on our lists each month (week etc.). Today people are looking at the gas pump first. They then quickly move to the other bills and needs and finally end up with the "giving" category. Not much is left by this time.

How do we respond to this mentality as leaders?

Share with your people simple principles to reduce their costs. Here are a few ideas:

1. Make prioritzed trips - reduce wasted driving time.

2. Cut back on eating out. You spend money on food and gas!

3. Change your meal plans. The "easy fix" meals cost more. Our family loves the "family cook" approach. It is fun and I have two boys who will be able to cook - thus make their future wives very happy!

4. Implement good buying practices. Wait when you see something you want. You may find you really do not want it later.

5. Cut back on heating and cooling. We can all stand it a little bit cooler and some what warmer.

6. Sale your junk! You probably did not need it when you bought it. We just did this. It was fun and the reduction in clutter is really nice.

7. Remember that buying a car with better gas mileage may save you money at the pump but it will also increase your expenses. The result? You end up spending more! Do not go out and buy a car just for gas mileage.

8. Get out of debt! It may take some time - but make the time!

Teaching these and many more will help your people change their focus and help them preserve the Biblical disciplines of giving the tithes and offerings. We cannot afford to stop the giving of these, even if gas hits $5 per gallon.

Remember, we are praying with and for you!
Let us know if we can assist you!

The Energy Crisis and Giving - Not a time to RETREAT!

2008-06-09T20:33:00.007-04:00

Now open for comments!

Monday gas hit a national average of $4 per gallon. Pastors have already asked me today about the effects on their offerings and attendance. Will there be lower giving? Will people find an easy excuse for not participating? What about special projects?

These are valid questions. Yet at the forefront should be an understanding that we need now more than ever to be teaching STEWARDSHIP. People are already making adjustments in there lifestyles. The key is in making the RIGHT adjustments. As we in America experience a period of economic adjustment, the church should realize the need to be out in front in teaching how to make this adjustment in a Biblical manner.

What are your thoughts? As a leader, are you feeling nervous about the plan God has given you in His ministry assignment? One Pastor shared this morning (here at the SBC Convention) his concerns and how God simply revealed during his prayer time today, that it was a time to excercise faith for him personally. This lesson led him to ask specific questions concerning how to teach and what simple things could be done to aid in bringing Biblical Stewardship to the forefront.

Do you have a plan?

Later this week, we will reveal and discuss some simple teaching moments that can be used with your people to assist them in making this adjustment. It is not time to retreat. It is time to get back to basic Biblical Stewardship!

Eklund Stewardship is...
Praying with and for you!

Capital Fund Ministry - A CAUTION sign to read!

2008-06-07T00:00:00.003-04:00

Question: Should the Pastor and church lead their own campaign?

Pastors and church leaders often debate the issue about leading their own Capital Fund Campaign. The questions range from saving money to preventing the harming of church members (bruising the fruit). It is not difficult to look around and see many Pastors of large churches conducting their own campaigns and some even offering “do it yourself” seminars. The temptation is there and the battle of the decision taxes the mind. Poor experiences with Commercial Capital Fund companies also play in the equation. What should a Pastor do? What is the best approach?

Eklund Stewardship Ministries has a deep understanding of the issues and factors being considered. We have been there. We find that the results of Pastor led campaigns tell the real story. First, the actual monies raised, versus pledged, are normally far less than what is possible. Pledges may be high on the front end but actual dollars in the bank are lower. Second, many Pastors are labeled as "preachers who only want money" when they lead the campaign themselves. This is simple - they are the main spokesman and leader in the church. This labeling can hurt future ministry and cost the church new families who may be visiting the church during the campaign period. Third, statistics show that many who lead their own campaigns do not stay in their current ministries long after the campaign. Fourth, Eklund Stewardship Ministries understands the need to protect the church budget during the Capital Fund Ministry. Our approach extensively addresses this issue through our teaching and training times during the intensive phase and continues the protection during the follow up period of the campaign. We lay a Biblical foundation that keeps this in the forefront of the hearts and minds of the people during and after the campaign. Through the training, big events, and follow up, the Eklund approach emphasizes developing the principles of Biblical Stewardship to the entire church family. Fifth, Eklund Stewardship Ministries experience affords the church the advantage of knowing (how to do, what to say, and when to do it), the processes that need to be done in order to conduct a successful campaign ministry. We are able to lead your church in knowing what NOT to do, which is a common weakness in Pastor led approaches. We become partners with your church leadership. We help keep your campaign on track and maintain the Biblical principles throughout.

At Eklund Stewardship Ministries, we conduct a Biblical approach to Capital Fund Ministry, and our approach is designed to eliminate the often heard horror stories of typical commercial approaches. Think about this: do you think of REVIVAL while thinking about your Capital Fund Needs? At Eklund Stewardship, we do! Revival is our focus. For without a God sent REVIVAL, the capital raised will be meaningless.

We look forward to the opportunity to share with you the difference that many Pastors have already learned - Capital Fund Ministry when done right will produce more than money. It will result in revival, new leaders, increases in commitment by God's people and a pleasant experience accomplishing God's vision for your church by building a culture of giving.

Welcome to Stewards For Him

2008-06-06T00:00:00.003-04:00

This is the initial blog post of this new endeaver. In conjunction with Eklund Stewardship Ministries, this blog will feature posts pertaining to the greatest challenge and most misunderstood Biblical discipline of our day - Stewardship. Here you will find articles and insight from some of the greatest preachers and teachers of Stewardship.

Our culture has lost the discipline of being a steward. The Bible has much to say about how God has blessed us and how we are given the great opportunity and responsibility of being stewards of His blessings. Should we in America fail to correct our current path in this area, soon families and churches will be in financial ruin. We pray that this blog can be part of the solution and help in turning us back to God in the area of stewardship.

Eklund Stewardship Ministries is the premier ministry today in assisting churches in this vital area. Our leadership team is filled with Pastors who are called to Stewardship and equiped to assist others. Here at Stewards For Him, you will find weekly articles on subjects that you can put to use in your daily life and in the life of your church. You will find resources from Pastors doing the work and seeing the fruit in their stewardship teaching. We look forward to hearing from you and cherish the opportunity of learning together how we can truly be great STEWARDS of all God has blessed us with.

Eklund Stewardship Leadership Team