Are You Being a Good Steward?

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STEWARDSHIP… SERVING LIKE JESUS

disclaimer…” even though  I have written this in all caps, I am not yelling at any one. This is how I write out my sermon notes because when you get to be my age I can see them better in all caps. and remember I am hyper-caffeinated and basically, I live my life in ALL CAPS!” p.r. enjoy

• “DO YOU HAVE AN INNER YEARNING TO LIVE A FREE, UNTAMED, BOLD ADVENTUROUS LIFE…? ONE THAT IS EXCITING, FULFILLING, AND FUN? DO YOU RESIST BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO IT AND HOW TO THINK? DO YOU RESENT BEING DEFINED BY WHAT YOU DO?”{David Foster,Renegades Guide to God}
• IF WE ARE HONEST MOST OF US WOULD ANSWER YES TO THOSE QUESTIONS. YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY IS PHATROK  ASKING THOSE WEIRD QUESTIONS. I’M GLAD YOU ASKED…
• IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IN OUR QUEST FOR INDIVIDUALITY, WE ALL END UP DOING THE SAME THINGS. WE WANT TO BE DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE; DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD ESPECIALLY, BUT IT SEEMS THAT WE ALLWAYS END UP JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
• ALLOW ME TO ELABORATE… TAKE STEWARDSHIP FOR EXAMPLE. STEWARDSHIP IS A CHURCHIE WORD. YOU HEAR PREACHERS USE IT ALL THE TIME …”WE SHOULD BE GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US”… “EVERYTHING IS A GIFT FROM GOD SO WE SHOULD BE GOOD STEWARDS..”
• SO WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP? AND WHY DO WE NEED TO BE GOOD AT IT?
• “the concept of responsible caretaking; the concept is based on the premise that we don’t own resources, but are managers of resources and are responsible to future generations for their condition.” {internet definition”
• WELL THAT PRETTY MUCH ANSWERS THOSE QUESTIONS. BUT LETS GO A LITTLE FURTHER WITH IT. WE CAN REALIZE THAT GOD PROVIDES OUR PHYSICAL THINGS, HOMES CLOTHES, AND JOBS FOR PARENTS, FOOD. THAT’S EASY TO GET A HOLD OF.
• BUT WHAT ABOUT TIME? IF GOD WHO CREATED THE WORLD, ALSO CREATED TIME AS WE KNOW IT, THEN HE IS ALSO THE GIVER OF TIME… SO IF WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE TIME GOD HAS GIVEN US, MEANING THAT ACCORDING TO THE DEFINITION WE DON’T OWN TIME, BUT WE ARE SIMPLY” MANAGERS O”F THE TIME THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.
• HOW ARE WE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TIME? WOW YOU GUYS ARE JUST FULL OF GREAT QUESTIONS …
• IN ORDER TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TIME WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT BEING INVOLVED IN CHURCH IS MORE THAN JUST SHOWING UP FOR AN HOUR OR TWO EVERY SEVEN DAYS…”CHURCH IS NOT FIRE INSURANCE AGAINST BURNING FOREVER IN THE FIERY FLAMES OF A DEVIL’S HELL.” {David Foster} NO FRIENDS CHURCH IS WAY MORE.
• DON’T JUST COME TO CHURCH, AND LIE ABOUT READING YOUR BIBLE, ENDURE BORING SERMONS, AND LESSONS IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, DON’T BE A GOOD LITTLE RELIGIOUS ROBOT. NO! BE THE CHURCH!BE DARING, BE THE CHURCH!
• IN THE NAME OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF THE TIME GOD HAS GIVEN YOU… BE THE CHURCH…STEP UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
• IT’S MORE THAN GIVING YOUR MONEY, STEWARDSHIP IS MORE THAN GIVING YOUR TIME,
• IN IT’S TRUEST FORM STEWARDSHIP IS GIVING YOUR LIFE… REAL STEWARDSHIP GOES BACK TO THE QUESTIONS I OPENED UP WITH. REAL STEWARDSHIP IS SERVING LIKE JESUS.
• LOOK AT YOUR LIFE AND DECIDE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY IN ORDER TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR THINGS, YOUR TIME, YOUR LIFE. YOUR LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN, IT’S ONLY ONLY ON LOAN… SO HOW WILL YOU HONOR GOD WITH THE GIFT HE HAS GIVEN YOU?

ONE FINAL THOUGHT NOT REALLY RELATED TO THIS TOPIC BUT JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT…“YOU CAN SAFELY ASSUME YOUV’E CREATED GOD IN YOUR IMAGE WHEN IT TURNS OUT THAT GOD HATES ALL THE SAME PEOPLE YOU DO”  ANNE LAMOTT