One Day Without Shoes!

What are you doing to impact your community? Will you go one day without shoes to know how the majority of the world's kids live? On Sunday, April 3, we are coming to Forest Park Church without shoes! In return, bring a pair for kids in Ecuador! Watch this video and let me know if you're in! We want to take 500 pairs of shoes with us in July! Help us make it happen.

One Day Without Shoes!

What Do You Need To Change?

"What I do with what I've been given says a lot about who I am and where I'm going."

That's tough to accept isn't it? I know it has been for me. For years, I looked at my money and possessions as being separate from my relationship with God. In other words, as long as I "did my best" to give as "what I could", then God was pleased. Not anymore! I've learned that generosity is one of the greatest indicators of my spiritual health. Now, that doesn't mean that if I'm generous, I'm spiritually healthy. It does mean, however, that if I'm spiritually healthy, I will be generous.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I've been more stingy that I thought. In fact, I've got a long ways to go toward being generous. So, here are a few things that I've done to help move toward generosity and away from the grip of greed.

1. Consistent giving that affects my lifestyle. For my family it means automated giving. This helps because I do not want to be an emotional giver. I want to give whether I feel like it or not. So, Lana and I decided on a specific amount and asked our bank to send a check to Forest Park every week. It works for us.

2. Being sensitive to God's promptings. When a need arises and I am able to help meet the need, I remain sensitive to God's Spirit and ask, "How can I help?" I do not meet every need; there are too many needs and I do not have enough resources. But, I try to listen carefully to where I can assist and then, when possible, I go for it.

3. Downsizing material dreams. I'm learning to be content with what I have, rather than allowing what I don't have to fuel discontent. In other words, my van is ok, it really is! Plus, by not getting so upset over what I don't have, I reduce stress and free up resources to help in other areas.

This is where I am and where I'm going.

I will love to know what you need to change. Remember, we'll all in this together.

Scott

What I'm Thinking

• 2011 is here! Didn't we just begin 2010 - the older I get, the faster time moves. It must be flying by for most of my staff.
• Enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with my family. Always enjoy having Evan, Ashlyn and Camryn home from school - sleep late, go from one party to the next, play games, watch movies. It's a blast!
• So glad school started back today!
• Loved teaching through The Christmas List - one of my favorite series that we've done at FPC.
• Did JP play the Sax yesterday or what!?! We will invite him back to play more often. JP makes playing the Sax seem easy. I think I might try it.
• By the way, Ricky Braddy makes singing look easy, too. Great having him with us yesterday. Ricky's song at the end of the message (which he wrote) was amazing. Great job!
• Thanks to Tony Klepper for filling in for me yesterday - I missed speaking, though. I love bringing the message every week.
• It was nice to be off a couple of week, however.
• We begin a new series this coming Sunday - Skittles - a 3 part series on Stewardship, Saving, Spending and Giving. If we catch and apply the principles from this series, 2011 will be incredible!
• Lana started a blog - love it!
• Ecuador 2011 will be another amazing adventure - this year we want you to join us! You don't need to pray about it, either. As if God wouldn't want you to go to Ecuador and share His love with people who desperately need it - give me a break!
• I'm excited about Discover Forest Park coming up on the 16th - I'm presenting a lot of new material and we're filming this one so we can put it on FPC's website - if you've not been a part of DFP, do it - if it's been more than a year since you have, do it again. Dinner and childcare are provided. It's gonna be fun.
• I read through a couple of books over the Christmas season, 1) Linchpin - loved it - every leader of a church and/or business should read and re-read this book. I think I underlined whole pages in this one - great stuff - really challenged me and 2) Plan B - another great book - I'm planning to present this one as a series sometime in 2011.
• Celebrated the new year with some great friends. 2010 for me was a year of making several new friends - I really like that.
• I've made a few new resolutions for 2011 - my first one is to actually keep my resolutions this year.
• Another resolution is to blog more. I can hear both of you applauding . . . thank you.
• I received some wonderful Christmas gifts this year. My favorite one was . . . I better not go there.
• I've heard a lot of wonderful reports about The Brink. More and more students are connecting, small groups are beginning soon and the kids are giving more than ever. Several really exciting activities are planned for 2011. Good job, Team!
• My daughter, Camryn, sang so well at The Brink's Christmas Party. She won a $25 gift certificate - great job, Camryn!
• FPC, because of your generosity, we were able to impact hundreds of people throughout the Christmas season. From the Angel Project to Adventure Park Gives Back to feeding families. Thank you for caring, serving, and giving. It's an honor to be your pastor.
• 2011 is going to be great - bring it on!