I am so excited. My challenge to you has netted a vast network of hungry souls eager for change. I estimate there are over 250 of you involved in the 28-day journey through Four Weeks with God and Your Neighbor. I also estimate that likely 1/3 of you have been 100% faithful, another 1/3 wants to quit, and another 1/3 have already quit. Please keep this in mind as you struggle through this process that the goal is change - deep personal and God-honoring change. It could be the change of the use of your tongue, your thought life, some addiction, a loveless marriages, submission to your parents, peer pressure and standing alone, contentment, or a plethora of other issues God wants to address in your life.

There are two major reasons why this can be and is so challenging. First, you have threatened any stronghold Satan may have enjoyed in your life for years or even generations. Second, you are using spiritual muscles that may very well have atrophied. This is about the discipline of the twin spiritual graces of the study of the Word and prayer. You have likely noticed that the chapters begin with scripture in an effort to apply that scripture to specific changes you need to make. As we get toward the end of the book, you will also notice many blank pages as the author basically cuts you loose to do this on your own.

Ultimately that is the goal - to teach you how to take the raw data of scripture, study it, meditate upon it, and listen to the voice of God telling you what changes need to be made, what needs to be "put off" and what needs to be "put on." If you have not advanced very far do not be discouraged. Start over again and discipline yourself to this ½ hour per day. It will eventually become second nature where you will not need the book. I will try to have more copies available at the end of the four weeks. I suggest you do this exercise for three consecutive months using the book and then try it without the book.

If you need help on a particular "change issue" email me and I will be sure to get back to you on where to go in scripture to find that issue addressed. I will also keep all of your questions confidential as your pastor, even from other staff members. My email address is drbetters@grpc.org. Don't quit! Don't be disheartened! Stay the course! God made you a promise...

Hebrews 12:1-13 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

In His Grip,
PB

The "Reverend" Wright is at it again. This time he seems to be throwing his man, Barack Obama, under the bus by insisting in a speech before the National Press Club that anyone who disagrees with his hate filled sermon that has received such notoriety is directly attacking the black church. It is as if he is determined to be THE spokesman for black churches in America. It seems to me there are people who struggle with a form of religious narcissism where a little bit of authority has gone to their heads. These folks just do not get it and it is admittedly a struggle many of us who serve in leadership sometimes have - the refusal to recognize the vast difference between authority and power.

Authority is NOT power but authority REPRESENTS power. Authority does not act as though it is the power. God is the power and the office of the preacher is authority that represents that power. When you are pulled over for speeding the police officer represents the law but he is not the law. As a representative of the law he holds authority. It is when that officer abuses his authority that such things as excessive force and corruption come into play. Likewise, preachers are God's spokesman ONLY insofar as what they speak is Biblically true. And there is nothing Biblical about the black liberation gospel.

I just recently interviewed some of my black members who have made the journey from deep seated prejudice against some of them to a freedom in Christ that transcends race. It is time we put this power hungry, mind controlling, and vindictive political preaching to the grave. I appreciate the many black evangelical men and women who are stepping up to the plate and denouncing this kind of abuse of authority. Today, I heard a political analyst make this statement: "Reverend Wright is a racist and represents everything whites in America fear from the black community." I believe he has a point.

Wright does not speak for the blacks I know, nor does his preaching even begin to approximate the true Gospel. In fact, I find it inconceivable that Wright would now purchase a $10 million mansion for himself (in an all white neighborhood by the way) and at the same time somehow try to insinuate himself into the fabric of the life lived in poverty by so many African American people. Are you kidding me? Wise investments are fine and preachers do well to wisely invest. But where did Wright (and Benny Hinn for that matter) get $10 million to indulge in this way when for the past 20 years he has been the pastor of a church made up of many poor people?

It's sad, sad, sad that this minister cloaks hateful racism in Christian language. Such declarations stink of the abuse of the pulpit.

Romans 16:17-20 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. [18] For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. [19] Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. [20] The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

Some of you by now are on your second week of the 28 day exercise, Four Weeks With God and Your Neighbor. Others are just beginning the process. Be sure to follow this blog and my four articles in the Redemptive Presence newsletter. The challenge of Week 1 was (and for those of you just beginning is) "We must change." That is why I directed all of us to Psalm 51 for an introspective look at your own condition so that we might cry out to God for a spirit of personal renewal and revival. This exercise is about change. We must take that survey of soul, a spiritual inventory, to identify what in our life needs to change. If your married maybe you should ask your spouse to answer that question. If you are single perhaps some of your friends will want to chime in. Week 1 requires a soul searching to identify your personal agenda and a commitment to change.

But, change requires discipline. That is the theme of Week 2. Godliness comes by discipline. And discipline cannot occur apart from the study of the Word and prayer. It seems rather silly to say that it takes discipline merely to talk to someone. After all, I do not need discipline to talk to the people I love. My attention span does not waver after a few minutes of discussion around the dinner table. In fact, I often am involved (as is my family) in two or three conversations at a time. Why? Because I love my family and I WANT to talk to them. I cannot go for days or weeks at a time without any dialogue with my family.

Perhaps the reason we lose focus in prayer is because our desire for a two way conversation is not what we want. Instead, we want God to listen while we talk. This is where the twins must eat together at the same table. We must speak to God in prayer AND God will speak to us via the reading of and the meditation upon the Word of God. Our 28 day journey is designed to reduce our focus to one or two issues in your life where there is need for change. This is where we can all help each other. For example, if you are struggling with a specific sin and you do not know where to go in the Bible for help, then you can ask for help. We live in such an incredible age of technology. Just by posting your questions on my blog you may receive a whole plethora of directions from others who do know where that issue is dealt with in the Word. So go to my blog and post your questions.

Time will not permit me to answer each request, however, blogs are designed in such a way that we can help each other. And isn't that what this is all about – Body Life? In fact, I can envision some of you pairing up to help each other walk through Biblical change. We must look beyond the 28 days and use this amazing tool to touch each other's lives. My greatest joy is preaching. My second greatest joy is teaching. In this blog context we can study the Word together. So I will look for your postings as the Lord leads. May He touch you by His grace.

In His Grip,
PB

It is Monday, and now is the time to begin a 28 day journey of change as a congregation. We will utilize the little book by Dr. Jay Adams written back in the seventies entitled Four Weeks with God and Your Neighbor. I have used this exercise over the years with many families to effect true Biblical change. I define Biblical change this way – there are sin patterns we must put off and Godly qualities we must put on. True change does not occur until both have taken place over the course of time.

Here is the objective of each page in the book. We begin with scripture to establish truth. Then we meditate on that scripture to determine what needs to change, that is, what needs to be put off and put on. Then each chapter ends with the call to a battle strategy or plan of attack. Consider these words in Ephesians 4:25-32.

[25] Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. [26] "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold. [28] He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. [29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Notice how the put off and put on works together to effect true change. This exercise promises to be personal and provocative. See it through. Do not give up when it either becomes toilsome or even boring. The blessing is on the other side. Stay focused on building a strategy of change. Last week I challenged you to examine your life in the context of Psalm 51. This week my hope is that God will search all of our hearts not merely for the purpose of pointing out our sin but truly reviving our souls.

As a church we can learn the art of the disciplines of grace (prayer, scripture study, and worship). The result of this will be a greater witness for Christ and more open doors to share the Gospel from a first hand experience of divine invasion. Satan will throw the kitchen sink at you since he does not hang around cemeteries. He goes where the enemy (a renewed heart) is actively engaged against him. And that is precisely what these next 28 days will become for you. May God give you His mercy and grace this week as you begin.

I want to invite all of you to post comments on my blog as to what and/or how God is speaking to your heart through this exercise. Feel free to post questions as well. I may not be able to answer them but perhaps other bloggers will. Posting can help edify one another in the Lord. Click here to view the sermon.

In His Grip,
PB

PS. If you did not receive the book, then you should wait to begin this exercise until next week. We have ordered more books and they will be available next Sunday. This blog will be repeated next week and a new one posted throughout the four weeks. In the meantime continue meditating on Psalm 51 and Ephesians 4:17-32.

Hi Bloggers! Here I share with you a question from another reader, as well as, my response. This topic seems to be prevalent in the world we live in today...

I have been dating my boyfriend for 4 months now. We know that God has given us to each other. We are both Christians, pray together, worship together and read the word together. We are not engaged yet, but it is coming. The only way I can describe it is that God is in this relationship. We are both divorced. We both had really bad marriages, got married too young and made mistakes. We are trying this time to do everything to give God the glory. Here's our issue. We tried really hard to commit to not having sex until marriage, but it happened a couple of weeks ago and since then a couple other times. I would say that it is more me pushing it then him, but he would say that we are both doing the same thing. Both of us have a very close relationship with God; he is the center of our lives. When we do something that is not according to his will we know, he lets us know. In this circumstance, neither one of us feels convicted of having sex before marriage.

I don't feel disconnected from God, we still pray and ask for him to tell us if we are doing wrong and we'll stop. My question is why don't we feel convicted and guilty of this? We are so in love and know that God has this amazing plan for us in our future, but why doesn't he let us know that we are doing something disobedient if we are. We are considering seeking counseling, but I just stumbled across your site so I thought I'd give it a shot. Anything you have to offer we will take up in pray.

Thanks,
Name Withheld

Dear Reader,

Your question is somewhat perplexing. On the one hand you want to serve the Lord and have Him at the "center of your life." On the other hand you know what you are doing is wrong since you "tried really hard to not having sex until marriage." This tells me you know it is wrong. But then you say, "neither one of us feels convicted of having sex before marriage." Wow! That is a very dangerous way to live out your faith, that is, by depending on how you feel about a matter to determine if it is a sin. Our basis for truth is the written word of God. The Bible is very clear on the matter of premarital sex. It is called fornication. The Greek word used for fornication is "porneia." Do you hear a root word here? It is the word for pornography. Sex outside of marriage is a sin...period. Read this passage carefully. If you do not "feel" convicted then you must accept the teaching of the Word regardless.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders [10] nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. [12] "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. [13] "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. [14] By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. [15] Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! [16] Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." [17] But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. [18] Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. [19] Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; [20] you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. If that is not enough try on this one for size... 1 Corinthians 7 [8] Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. [9] But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

And...

Ephesians 5:1-4 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children [2] and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. [4] Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. The long and the short of my answer to your question is this – it does not matter how you feel about it, premarital sex is wrong and offensive to God. To continue in sin is an abuse of the grace of God...

Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? [2] By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? [3] Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

And...

Romans 12:1-4 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

And...

Colossians 3:1-5 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. [3] For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. [5] Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

I could go on and on with scriptural admonitions about sexual sin before marriage. But let me also add that true love does not cause the one we say we love to sin. By you pushing him sexually and vice versa you are becoming a stumbling block to the very one you say you love. What this does is open the door for Satan to sow seeds of distrust into your future marriage. These seeds remain dormant for years until the time is ripe for the evil one to explode them. So I counsel you to abstain. Keep in mind that for every good gift from God there is the counterfeit. Sex inside marriage is good. The counterfeit is sex outside of marriage. I also counsel you to seek each other's forgiveness for morally offending the other. This is critical since love demands that we restore broken relationships. And your relationship is morally broken before God. Confess it to Him and to each other. Purify your hearts and your minds. God will be honored and you will be blessed. I hope this helps.

In His Grip,

Dr. Chuck Betters

I must admit, I was drawn into a new television program just to see what the hoopla was all about. I am always wary to tell anyone what I watch or do not watch so as not to offend anyone if possible. But, here goes. A very popular number one show in the USA this year is "Moment of Truth." Contestants win up to $500,000 for truthfully answering deeply personal questions. Each contestant has several family members present. At any time a family member can hit a button to stop the contestant from answering a difficult question. I watched the season finale completely shocked by the kinds of questions and willingness on the part of the contestant to risk destroying their marriage, family relationships and friendships. More shocking to me was that each contestant had already been hooked up to a lie detector machine and answered the questions. The contestant knew what questions would be asked, knew how painful it would be for family and friends to hear the answers, but forged ahead in order to win thousands of dollars.

The purpose of the show is to prove that some people are willing to pay any price in order to win money. The show is designed INTENTIONALLY to juxtapose money and greed against destroying a marriage and other family relationships. The host repeatedly warns the contestant of the potential risk of answering the next question because the answer could destroy their marriage or other relationships. If the season finale is any indication of a typical show, mothers have listened to sons (in the presence of girlfriends) admit to having sexual relationships with over 100 women and keeping a spreadsheet of his conquests. Wives have heard husbands admit they are reluctant to have her bear his children and husbands are humiliated to learn about their wives' sexual immorality and regret in marrying them. It is a sleazy show and one you should take great caution in watching. Your kids should not be allowed to watch this show. I absolutely do not recommend watching this show but the season finale put into clear focus trends that seem to be slithering throughout our western culture.

Here are my thoughts:

1. As I listened to the questions I sometimes thought, "Wow, if I was asked that same question under oath (so to speak), what would my answer be and what would the truth do to my family and friends?" I concluded that my wife would not be surprised by anything I might answer because we have kept no secrets in our marriage but also knew that those secrets were ours – never to be shared in a way that would humiliate her or my family and friends.
   
   
2. The preparation for acceptance of this program was made by other "tell all" programs, books and interviews. The difference in this program is an intentional choice on the part of the contestants to sell out their most important relationships for money. Though I didn't see all the programs, from the season finale it appears that any respect for relationships is absent from the hearts of the contestants. The program producers have keyed into the sinful side of human nature. The lie detector test doesn't differentiate between temptation and actual sin. It requires a yes or no answer. There is no opportunity to put an answer into context. As a pastor, it hit me hard to see once more how easy it is to use a person's own words out of context to twist their meaning and create a bigger issue than is real. The program producers edited the program to be as inflammatory as possible. The reality of some of the "quotes" was far less steamy than the advertising promised. I wonder how often I am quoted (yes, I said the words) out of context in order to paint a picture that suits the speaker's own needs rather than the reality of my character.
   
   
3. Shows like this exist because there is an audience eager to watch. What is it about a "tell all" show that grabs us? We are all capable of incredible evil, either by thought or by action. Paul speaks of this in Romans 7. His split personality, marked by his struggle between the flesh and the spirit within, is revealed when asked such pointed questions. In the great final verses of this great conflict, Paul asks, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? " (Romans 7:24-25) Most of us mask our real selves so as not to let this incredible monster of carnality out of the prison of our infected flesh. In other words, we draw up borders as to how truthful we will be or not be with those around us. We even choose not be to be honest with ourselves. Here is the greatest Christian who ever lived, the great Apostle Paul, saying of himself that he is a wretched man because of the evil he knew he was capable of committing. Is it possible we watch because we want to know someone else is as evil as or more evil than us?
   
   

4. The price tag for lying is that the contestant loses everything he has accumulated up to that point. That is, he or she can tell the truth 20 times and accumulate hundreds of thousands of dollars. But if he or she lies once they lose EVERYTHING. There is no grace, no mercy, and no second chance. In some of the questions one could be caught in a lie if the truth is merely a partial truth. For instance, one female contestant (who had already humiliated her husband and admitted to gross immorality) said she would not pose nude for $100,000. The lie detector said she was lying. She tried to explain that she would pose nude for $200,000 or more. She lost all the money she had won and destroyed her marriage and betrayed her mother in the process. The program producers did not feel sorry for her and give her a consolation prize. No second chance to be truthful.
   
   

   Notice what Paul says after he discloses the truth of the real person he knows he is inside.
   
   

   What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death". (Romans 7:24-8:2).
   
   

   This is called GRACE, the antidote for the liar within.
   
   

5. I found myself rooting for the lying sleazes to get caught, especially if they were callous and greedy. Once again Paul who was brow beaten by his enemies and forsaken by his friends and family said, "I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit--I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel." (Romans 9:1-3). There it is. Paul was willing to die and go to hell if his corrupt and sinful family and nation could be saved. You see, when one truly experiences grace one desires it for others. On the other hand, we also want justice and for evil to lose. It is when we fail to see our own giant nose a la Pinocchio sticking out of our dark souls that we lose sight of what GRACE means to us.
   
   

O wretched man that I am! Thank God for grace.

I was just interviewed by the Wilmington News Journal asking for my reaction to the speech on race relations delivered by presidential candidate Barak Obama in Philadelphia on the heels of his pastor's racially incendiary and divisive sermons. Here are the points I tried to make:

1. From an oratorical perspective his speech was brilliant in that he was able to weave his theology with his brand of politics and his left wing world-view. He is undoubtedly the most gifted political orator since Ronald Reagan.
   
2. The content of his speech was terribly flawed because he failed to truly distance himself from the inflammatory rhetoric of his pastor. He has been sitting under this preaching for 20 years. Thus, it is incredulous that he did not know of these Marxist positions until it was publicly exposed in this campaign. It would be akin to my people never hearing me say that I believe God is sovereign and you can trust Him.
   
3. His pastor holds to an extreme form of Liberation Theology from the 60's known then and now as Black Liberation Theology, a religious form of social Marxism. I was raised in seminary under this theology. It was wrong and divisive then and it is wrong and divisive now. This is a theology that teaches the true Gospel is the removal of social injustice and oppression. That is not what the Gospel is. It must be the result of the Gospel but it is not the Gospel. The Gospel is the personal relationship with Christ a man or a woman has as the result of the life, atoning death, burial, and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. This relationship is achieved only through personal repentance of sin and in faith embracing Jesus as one's Savior and Lord. Then and only then is one forgiven and granted the free gift of eternal life.
   
4. Nobody should be held responsible for everything his or her pastor says or believes. But everyone who sits under such preaching without voicing their objections has personal culpability, especially when he or she is running for president.
   
5. His comparison of his relationship to his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, to that of his white grandmother's personal prejudice is foolish at best. His grandmother did not call America El Qaida, the inventors of the AIDS virus to commit genocide against African Americans, nor did she damn America. His pastor did!
   
6. Barak Obama stands for very little of what I, and many Bible teaching men, stand for in his politics. He is proudly a left-wing liberal who is also pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, and pro-big government.
   
   

"This is bad," I thought as I watched the news this morning. Bear Stearns, one of the largest investment banks in America, narrowly escaped bankruptcy. That's the good news. The bad news is that it was bought for $2.00 per share when a little over a year ago it was priced at $150.00 per share. In Europe, the dollar is worth half of what it was. Gold and other commodities are spiraling upward in a "flight to safety." In America, gas prices are approaching $4.00 per gallon with talk of $5-$10 per gallon depending on which economist you listen to. My wife regularly comments on the price of groceries and expresses concern about how our kids will be able to take care of their growing families.

Our family has joined the ranks of many who thought they were making wise investment decisions, only to watch as funds earmarked for retirement and financial security start dwindling, through no fault of our own. Half of our own personal retirement is in a fund that has just declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. We continue to pray that wise people of integrity make godly decisions that will protect its investors, especially those who have no other financial support.

What's a Christian to do? I am certainly no economist and I would not even begin to try to give financial investment counseling. What I can say is that we have all been forewarned.

Matthew 6:20-21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Our riches are but moth and rust infected, destined for destruction UNLESS they are invested in the one thing that will last – the Kingdom of Christ. Look, I like a good steak and a nice vacation just like the next guy. It is not wrong to have money. It is not wrong to invest. In fact, it's wrong not to take care of our families. But, those who have financial security must keep asking themselves, "When is enough enough?"

I've always been intrigued by the fact that many who have little give the most - percentage wise. Wealthy friends have admitted to me that sometimes it's very difficult for them to sign a big check over to their church or a ministry even though they have plenty in the bank. There's just something about letting go of so much money. It's always dangerous for a preacher to confront money issues because the immediate response of human nature is to start questioning the messenger's motives and own financial decisions. Most don't understand that a biblical preacher must first filter the message through his own heart. The more we have, the more careful we must be to push our financial decisions through the grid of scripture.

A number of our friends who regularly support ministries beyond their local church tithe, have expressed deep concern that they are increasingly unable to be as generous as previously because of the impact of the economy on their businesses. Because of diminishing funds we at MARKINC Ministries have come off of numerous radio stations. Like every struggling family, we continuously review our budget and evaluate where we need to refocus funds. In preparation for the lean economic times, we have invested more time and funding into our internet presence so that if funding continues to weaken, we are positioned to continue having a worldwide kingdom building impact through technology. However, I'm still trying to understand the Christian community when it comes to their support of ministries like MARKINC. Whenever we offer a free sermon CD we have scores of requests. But if we charge even ONE DOLLAR for that same resource, the vault is locked as tight as a drum. Yet many will pay $10.00 for a movie ticket and $15.00 for a soda and popcorn but "cannot afford" to give a dollar to the deacon's fund or buy a sermon CD to give away to a hurting friend. How many people are enjoying the ministries of their local church yet not giving a dime when the offering plate is passed? Are you one of those who is riding the backs of your brothers and sisters who are sacrificially tithing and giving so that your local church will be a voice of hope in your community?

What is wrong with this picture?

Here is my read. Most of us are not rich and, for some, that night at the movies is a stretch and many refuse to "stretch" that far. Many sacrificially give out of their love for Christ. My church is made up of many such people. In these strained economic times we all need to take a step back and evaluate the whole of our spending habits. The times are tough but will be getting MUCH tougher. We "spiritual squirrels" must start storing up some Kingdom building "acorns" for the economic winter to come. As we make financial decisions to protect our families, we must include protection of the family of God.

If we expect God to bless the 90% we must commit to the 10% (the tithe) and to systematic sacrificial giving beyond the tithe. The work of Christ must be funded, not only for today but also for when the severest of economic times hits all of us. Severe economic times will produce severe pain in families. Marriages will strain to survive under the pressure of paying bills with too little money. God often opens hearts to the hope only Christ can give when the days are darkest. The church must not stand still. We must live as though Christ is coming today but work as though He will not come for a thousand years. We must not sit still out of fear of what MIGHT happen. We must build strong churches with quality ministries. But remember, the "church" is not some nebulous organization that is responsible for meeting all of our needs. The true church is the family of God, people responsible for caring for one another and extending the invitation of Christ to a broken world. God has promised to give to His people all of the resources we need to get the job done. In other words, His people have been entrusted with the money. But will we give it back to Him or will we be like the man who squandered his God-given talents?

Eliot Spitzer resigned as the governor of New York yesterday. The news of ongoing involvement with high-priced call girls and prostitution ring with potential violation of federal laws caught up with him. News media reports that Spitzer spent over $80,000 of his family fortune of over $5 million to feed his out of control sexual appetite. The initial reaction to this behavior was shock and awe that a highly visible "corruption fighter" known for his bull dogged pursuit of crime and justice had fallen to such a base response to human cravings. He won a landslide victory by promising to run the state of New York with the same law and justice mindset. During his career as Attorney General he searched out and prosecuted prostitution rings.

Female newscasters in particular expressed disgust that he "dragged along his wife" into his public humiliation by having her by his side when he "confessed" and later resigned. The anguish in this beautiful woman's eyes was painful to observe.

Why would a man with everything we define as success risk it all for any reason, let alone to satisfy his sexual appetite?

Web news sites carry picture after picture of high and mighty men who have fallen to sexual sin. Included are formerly powerful and respected Christian leaders like Ted Haggard. Some lost everything that made them influential and some, a la Bill Clinton, somehow held on to their powerful positions.

Late night shows are having a field day. The victims in the Spitzer case are Mrs. Spitzer and his three daughters.

What we see is not new. Powerful men (and women) give in to base behavior "because they can." They believe the "fan mail" that inflates their ego and become "gods" in their own universe. Perhaps most stunning to me is the ability of these people to lie without any glimmer of their deception. I previewed Ted Haggard's initial response to the threat of being "outed." If I had not known the rest of the story, his performance would have convinced me that he was being unfairly targeted for political reasons. Think back to Bill Clinton's public declaration of innocence. God tells us in scripture that habitual lying will be a sign of the "last days."

But before I "tsk tsk" our way through the day, God whispers in my ear that I need to be careful of throwing stones. I am taking a long hard look at my own heart and asking myself, "If I knew I would not get caught and had the means to do the very same thing as Spitzer did, would I do it? Better yet, would I want to do it?"

I have become convinced the longer I serve the Lord that most of us are truly not aware of what evil we are capable of committing? My heart is indeed desperately wicked. Who can know it? There has to be another force in play to stem the tide of these lusts of the flesh – that is, the fear of God. Do I really fear Him or am I merely afraid of being caught.

What about you?