Money puts pastors in a weird place. Society at large perceives (and sometimes rightfully so) that all churches care about is getting money from people. So the pastor-teacher faces a dilemma. He sees Jesus and the Bible talk frequently about money, but is also hesitant to play into the church-money stereotype!

I am one who is not hesitant to talk about money. Money is a resource that we need to accomplish God’s purpose and mission. Money IS a spiritual issue. Money is also a tool we can use to serve God and bless others. Money is a spiritual matter and so is debt.

We get into debt usually because of greed. We want and we want it now. God warns against debt. Two weeks (Aug. 18 & 19) ago I addressed the issue of personal consumer debt from a biblical standpoint. If you missed that message, please listen to the podcast. Debt puts us in financial bondage and limits our freedom to obey and serve God. We know how to get out of debt (see my article on the Seven Steps to Becoming Financially Free). This is a critical issue for all of us. When we are out of debt, we are free to give generously to God and bless others.

We are committed as a church not to go into any new debt. We are able to do ministry based on the generous giving of each of us who are a part of Pantano Christian Church. Summer is usually a very hard time for the church. As I write, we are $39,545 behind in our budget. Summer is when our expenses are higher than usual (Air conditioning, increased children’s and youth programs and camps, etc.) and giving is lower than usual (vacations, etc). Please give generously. It is a matter of spiritual life and death for those who give and those who receive the ministry of Pantano Christian Church and are blessed.

This fall I’m going to be talking about a way we can lower and move faster to eliminate our church mortgage debt. As a church we have not nor will we ever go into debt over day-to-day operational expenses. As a church we develop a conservative budget and live within our means. Our mortgage debt has however provided us with fantastic facilities and the ability to offer outstanding ministries to people from birth to the grave. But the more and faster we can lower our mortgage debt expense, the more and faster we can use those funds to do ministry that serves people. The faster we personally get out of debt, then the more we can give generously to God’s work and purposes.

Live the blessing to make the world different;
Glen

Last weekend in services I read the following verse from Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) - “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” I love the simplicity and power of this verse. At the same time, I really struggle with it. In preparation I was hesitant to use it in my message because I know how I struggle to really live it out in my own life. Then God reminded me that I could never teach ANYTHING from the Bible if I followed the rule that I live it perfectly first before I could teach it. Faith is a daily journey!

On the surface we could be proud - Jolene and I give more than a tithe, we spend less than we make, we keep a family budget, we are out of debt except our mortgage, have made a public commitment not to go in debt, have a modest savings and we attempt to give generously and share the possessions God has loaned us with others.

But in my heart I still face the ugliness of greed (which Paul says in Colossians 3:5 that greed is in fact idolatry - ouch!). I still worship the idol of stuff. I find a selfish hunger for stuff that never really leaves me. I am still amazed how difficult it is to be “content with what you have.” My heart is rarely content and yearns for more. Enough is still never enough. Can you relate?

Since the early 1980’s I’ve been captivated by a simple way of living: Live simply so that others can simply live. I’ve read many a book on simple living and consistent stewardship. Deep in my heart I want to live on as little as possible so I can use all the wonderful things God has entrusted to me to serve him and those who don’t live well or free. My head, but only part of my heart is captivated by this way of living - the Jesus way!

I’ve never been able to live consistently at what I believe is the Jesus ideal - a life where everything we have truly belongs to God to accomplish his purposes. The closest came when we were missionaries in Ukraine. We lived just like the Ukrainians, except we probably ate more meat than they did and I bought a lot more diet Coke. We did not own a house but rented just like a Ukrainian. We did not have a car and used public transportation and walked a lot. I beat the rugs outside to clean them (A Ukrainian proverb - “Better to beat the rug than your wife” - that’s another story!). We lived on very little. And the amazing thing was that we spent more time together as a family enjoying the simple things of life - reading and playing games together and visiting and hosting people.

The third of our four core values at PCC is captured in the STEP acronym - Entrusted with time, talent and treasures. We follow Jesus well when we truly use all that God has given us for his purposes. May you and I not grow weary in this very hard and long journey of managing God’s resources well. As we say in Celebrate Recovery and the 12 Step movement - “Progress, not perfection!”

Live the blessing;
Glen

We have had several staff changes this summer and I want to bring you up to speed. This blog will be just a bit longer than usual in order to speak to different personnel matters.

Walt Tatham and Jo Winslow have both resigned. Walt has served PCC for many years and most recently as our Visitation Pastor. Walt has touched many lives and helped bring many people to Jesus. Jo has served as Tim Coop’s Administrative Assistant, Director of Care Ministries and most recently has helped bring Celebrate Recovery to a really healthy place. We will miss both of them as they have served Christ and his church well. Feel free to talk to either of them if you would like to know more about their decisions.

After a long, prayerful and painful process, I came to the decision to remove Dave White from paid staff responsibilities. Let me share a part of Dave’s letter in response to this.

First of all, let me say that Glen and I have come to an agreement on a very friendly basis that it is time for me to leave the PCC staff. Now let me offer some explanation.

Late last year I began to realize that PCC was changing seasons. Glen is embracing a season of consolidation with low change. For the first 5 years of my time on staff, Pantano was engaged in sweeping innovative change for which my gift mix was well suited and worked very well. A season of consolidation is not a season where my strengths are particularly useful. The result is that I am becoming frustrated and my weaknesses (which are many) begin to out weigh my strengths. I pray for grace and forgiveness if my weaknesses touched you in any way that detracted from the blessing of God.

I have been energized and fulfilled at PCC. I have considered it a great privilege to work on this team in the service and passionate pursuit of the heart of God. I will continue for the foreseeable future to volunteer in the areas of outreach for which my heart is most passionate.

I treasure your prayers for the discovery of what is next for me. May we all have the wisdom to see what God is doing with us and the courage to join Him.

In God’s Grace,
Dave White

Let me be clear, I did not terminate Dave because of the sermon he gave last May. I’ve been consistent on that issue. This has been an employment issue based on where we are at and what will be best for both PCC and Dave.

In addition, I’ve asked Roger Blumenthal to serve as our Executive Pastor (my role before transitioning to Lead Pastor). The mandate I’ve given Roger is to insure that our vision is implemented. This is what Dave was referring to in his letter above about entering a period of “consolidation.” We will continue to be innovative and continue to change, but the pace of change needs to slow a bit in order to actually do and do better what we’ve been talking about doing. So I’ve given Roger authority and responsibility to effectively utilize all our resources (staff, property, programs and funds) to help our vision become a reality.

If you have questions or concerns about any of these changes I would ask you to go and talk directly to the staff member or go to a Leadership Team member like myself or any Elder. Please don’t be tempted to gossip or assume - both can lead to trouble and can hurt others.

I love and respect ALL of our staff, including those who have concluded employment here. Please bless them, love them and respect them with your words and actions.

Choosing to bless;

Glen

Paul says in Romans 12:5; “so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (NIV). Some of us are leaders (whether paid or volunteer) of our body - those who influence, develop, guide, implement and manage ministry. Leaders, like any part of the body, have a unique set of challenges and issues.

Twice a year we gather all our leaders together in what we call Leadership Community or LC. Who’s actually invited? Anyone who leads at any level like Life Group leaders, ministry leaders as well as staff and elders is welcome and encouraged to come. No one checks “credentials” at the door as it is an open meeting.

The purpose of LC is first and foremost communication. In any church, you cannot over communicate. Leaders, above all, have to know where we are going and why. So the first purpose of LC is to share the big issues we are facing at any given time.

Second, LC provides the staff with invaluable feedback. LC actually kicked off our strategic planning for our July 1, 2007 to June, 2008 ministry year. We gained a great deal of insight as we posed questions to our leaders on a number of key issues. The feedback was processed by all our staff and shaped our direction for this year.

So, if you lead in any way, you are invited to our Leadership Community that meets THIS Sunday, August 12 from 3 to 5pm in Coop Court. There is child care if you need it.

Our agenda will cover the following: 1) Updates on our new services and first site in Sierra Vista (our Sierra Vista leaders are invited to join us also) and their purposes; 2) Refinement and clarification of our discipleship Pathway; 3) Current leadership issues and changes; and 4) An introduction about our need to reduce our church property debt.

I want to again say thank you to all who serve here at Pantano Christian Church in whatever capacity you choose to bless others. Thanks for your heart, your preparation, your investment of time, energy and resources. PCC is only as good and effective as all those who serve. See you at Leadership Community!

Together to make a difference;
Glen

This weekend I’m going to finish our series The Big Story by looking at the book of Revelation. If you want to read chapter 12 of Revelation, that will give you a head start!

Next weekend we start a short four week message series called Free and Clear. That’s what Jesus wants for all of us - to be free and clear. He wants us free from our slavery to sin and our self-focus. He wants us free from our addictions. He wants us free and clear from our financial bondage as well (It is also called debt and over-spending). This is what we’ll talk about the next few weeks in both biblical and practical way.

So, I’ve been thinking, “What am I a slave too? What holds me in bondage? What seems to control my life?” Those are really hard questions because 1) no one likes to admit they are a slave to anything (We Americans so love our freedom) and 2) in these questions we are getting to the core issues that rob us of life and blessing. The answers can be painful.

You are waiting for MY answer aren’t you! As I’ve reflected it comes down to this in so many situations - I’m addicted to my agenda. I focus on what I want to get done. I’m a slave to getting things done. They can be things that are really good and Kingdom focused. They can also be my personal wants, needs and desires. Some are good, some are great, some are bad and some are just a plain waste of time, energy and resources. To many it looks like “discipline,” but it is more.

I sometimes put my agenda, my tasks and my focus ahead of those I love, ahead of God and ahead of priorities that will make an eternal difference. Huh… I hate to admit that. And that’s a huge part of our struggle - we live in denial. We HATE to admit that we are in bondage to or are slaves of anything or anyone. Denial allows us to keep doing what we are doing and being. It is one of the great and yet subtle temptations of the Evil One.

What are you addicted to? Who or what are you in bondage to? In what way are you a slave? Get past denial. Go to that deeply honest place with God. Denial will tempt you to not really take time to process that answer. Give careful thought to what really controls you or is master over you.

God wants us free from all kinds of bondage, slavery and addiction. He wants to FREELY bless us! Be prayerfully open to what God might say to you in this new series that starts the weekend of August 11th and 12th.

To be free and clear to make a difference;
Glen