Dear Friends,

Listen to David Ramsey.   “You and I are asset managers for the Lord, so if we view it properly we aren’t giving our money away.  A steward is a manager not an owner.  Why does God tell us to give so often?  With over 850 Scriptures about money?  Giving makes us more Christ-like.  A spiritually mature Christian gives.  Giving moves you to become less selfish and less selfish people have more of a tendency to prosper in relationships and in wealth.”

Listen to God.  “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”  (Psalm 24:1)

God lets us choose how to spend all of the money we have.  How do you and I make those decisions?  Sometimes foolishly.  I remember buying some expensive encyclopedias for our kids once and they barely got used.  I remember as a child using the ones my parents bought and thought my kids would do the same.  They didn’t.

Sometimes we spend money wisely.  Sue and I have made wise investments in our cars ever since our son-in-law came into our lives and we had someone we could trust as our investment counselor.

Giving is very personal.  So personal in fact that we don’t like to talk about it – even to our husbands or wives.  And rarely are we willing to talk to another church member about how we decide to make a pledge to our church family.

Sue and I graduated from Financial Peace University on August 3, 2006.  During the thirteen classes we talked more about money than we had in years.  We trusted each other, but we hadn’t made the day to day decisions together.

So I have a request for you.  Will you discuss your charitable giving for 2010?  If there are two or three or five in your household, will you consider discussing the mission of The Presbyterian Church in Coshocton that you have been supporting with your generosity?  Will you be grateful for our programs, our staff, our building, and our outreach into our community?

Now go back and re-read the first two paragraphs and start talking together.  You and I have about a month to listen to what God has to say to us as “asset managers for the Lord” before we fill out our pledge covenants. 

The whole earth and everything in it does belong to God who gave it to us.  As we rejoice and enjoy God’s great earth, let us decide to show and grow our gratitude to God.

                                                                                     Blessings, Jon