I hate to see us struggle so much with our economy and the latest hit to the stock market hurt me in many ways, think pension, just like millions of others. This latest one got me thinking in some different ways than I usually go with this blog. Bear with me.
We may need a wakeup call about how much we depend on ourselves for all that we have and what we want. Maybe we can use this moment to reflect on what God wants to give us. We certainly aren't getting peace of mind from the world we live in. But that's been God's point for a long time. We can't serve both God and money. Money is such a cruel master, these days especially.
So I'm think maybe we will be open to some creative ideas about stretching our resources to help us get through a tough time. I am not old enough to have been around in the Great Depression, but have heard enough from people who were. Some of these ideas may seem like a repeat of the past, but it's still worth considering.
Let's get together as churches and really make an effort to help each other out. We can swap or hand down clothes for children and take a great burden off of young parents. We can find a time to share meals together, either inviting your neighbors or church friends to pot luck suppers in your own house or maybe at the church. We could save a lot of money if we pot lucked more often. Bringing one dish to share and seeing how God can multiply the loaves and fishes might help us get through tough times.
Bring the monthly magazines you subscribe to and pass them around. I know that the publishing industry won't like that idea too much, but it might save a few trees and a couple of pounds of recycled material. Share movies/DVD's after you've seen them.
One of the things I always thought about was a tool shed at church where people could keep tools that could be signed out, to keep track of, for those once in a while jobs around the house. We probably all have drills and saws and stuff just sitting on our work bench. It would make it difficult to start a job at night, you would have to plan ahead more, but think about the ways we could stretch the resources we have. Same goes for lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc.
We could create a tool shed and you could put a few dollars in the collection plate for the privilege of taking a tool home for a couple of days. I'm sure there are people who are more creative than I am who could set up a system like this. I'm just the idea person.
So can I get you to begin to think outside your comfort zone to be more closely connected to your faith community and help you out financially? I know that communities like the Amish have this all worked out for sure. I'm just thinking it's probably going to be a struggle for a while for lots of people, maybe it's time we as the body of Christ, thought more like the body and recognize that we all have parts we can put to good use for the whole body.
If you know of someone who has pulled this off, or you are interested in brainstorming about how we can improve our community for each other, let me know. Or better yet, begin to be creative on your own. Just Do It!
There is much power in cooperating with one another. Now might be a good time to start.
May God start your creative imaginations going. Ephesians 3:20, a favorite verse, tells us that God is far more able to do beyond our imaginations that we can ever come up. Let us let God's great imagination Spirit stir us up to good works for one another and the Kingdom/Sphere of God.
Blessings, Pastor Jeff
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