Richard Sims

Are You Worried?

Last Sunday, April 19th, we started the series Why Worry, and we were challenged to read Matthew 6:24-34 every morning last week.

I did, and it was great. Oh, I had some challenges, like a problem with our house that's going to cost me money that I don't have right now. But I'm trusting God to come through with that. So I had a great week of not worrying.

But then, over the weekend, two words stopped me in my tracks: swine flu. Oh my goodness. Will it be a pandemic? How serious is it? How deadly is it? Will my children get sick?

Yes, I worried. I'm still wrestling with worry, especially when it comes to my children. (Hey, I'm a pastor, but I'm not perfect). So you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to read Matthew 6:24-34 every morning this week. Again. But this week, it seems more alive, like God is speaking directly to me. That's how the Bible tends to work, isn't it?

Listen to these key words: "and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."

Wow - what a sweet deal! So here's my prayer this week: "God, I'm trusting you to take care of the things that are out of my control. Help me to focus on the things that concern you and on my part in furthering your kingdom, and help me to let you focus on the things in my life that only you can handle."

That's what I'll be doing this week. If you're dealing with worry, let me hear from you. And then share with us how God has worked in your life this week.

Tea Parties and Tithes

I didn't get to attend a "tea party" yesterday, but I certainly was there in spirit. I don't want to get too political here, but I have always been in favor of smaller government and a balanced budget, regardless of which political party is in charge. I am totally against high taxes, big government spending, and a "redistribution of wealth" policy.

But here's my thought: as Christians, we are to take care of the poor. You can't seriously read the Bible and not come away with the understanding that God cares for those in need and expects his followers to help. I believe that God's plan is for the church to lead the way in serving the needy, and his desire is for believers to give 10% of their income so that the church can use a portion of that to efficiently take care of the poor.

But most Christians don't come close to a tithe, and too many churches spend too much of their income on themselves. God is most definitely going to take care of the poor, so he allows the government to take 30% or more from us and inefficiently take care of the poor. 

So as we call for lower taxes and less government spending, let's make sure that as individuals we're giving God what belongs to him. And as churches, let's make sure we're giving a lot of that away.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

"The Golden Compass"

I love movies and I love going to see movies at the theater.  But there's a children's movie coming out soon that I want you to know about. "The Golden Compass" is based on a series of books by author and self-described atheist Philip Pullman.  Now, I haven't seen the movie or read the book.  I did read this article a few weeks ago, in which claims are made that the movie has been toned down, the danger being that unknowing parents will then let their children read the book, which is far darker. 

Jackie McMahan, a dear friend and middle school lit teacher, read the book recently, and here are her thoughts, printed with permission:

"I found it to be one of the most disturbing/terrifying children's books I have ever read and not just from the theological standpoint (which was so heavy that no child would be able to muddle through that) but from the plot and descriptions itself. It was scary stuff and so dark, bitter, and angry -- there was no happy ending or triumph of good over evil in that book... Not to give away any major plot points, but there are these people called Gobblers that steal children and then take them to the North to do terrible things to them in a laboratory (in essence, ripping their souls away from them -- since it is a fantasy novel, their souls are personified into these little animal companions with names), leaving them ghost-like shells that eventually die -- and at one point, a child gets sacrificed by someone you think is a good guy. There is a terribly gruesome scene where two polar bears fight and the gore and description turned my stomach. It was all just disturbing to me."

Now you know what your child will experience if you let him or her read the book. As for my family, this is one book, and one movie, that we'll skip.

 

John Piper on the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

David Thew is the founding pastor of Sojourn Church in Huntsville, Alabama, and in his blog David shares an e-mail written by John Piper, Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis.  Click here to visit David's blog and read the entire article.