Debt Free?

Ever listen to Dave Ramsay? He's on radio and TV and encourages people to do the hard work toward becoming debt free. He quips that the paid mortgage has replaced the BMW as the status symbol of success in America.
Over the past few months as I've listened to his show, it has dawned on me that most, but not all, of his callers are people who make considerably more money than me.
And, boy, have they gotten into financial messes. I've listened to their tales of woe concerning thousands and thousands of dollars' of school debt, credit card debt, housing debt, medical expenses, and wasteful spending.
But it isn't always people with big incomes.
The average and below average income people have made serious errors in judgment regarding their spending, borrowing, and savings, too.
That's where I come in.
I've been there/done that.
In fact, I'm there right now.
And I'm here to tell you that financial pressure is horrible.
It permeates every aspect of life.
I wake up in debt and I go to bed in debt.
Every time I spend money, my mental alarm goes off and I realize that maybe the money should be put somewhere else. And it doesn't matter if the purchase is a need, want, or extravagance.
My circumstances are a mixture of unfortunate medical expenses from an unavoidable illness (my wife's cancer) and the complexities of raising 7 kids with a modest income. The popular way of looking at it is that there has been too much month at the end of the paycheck.
The reason I even mention this obviously private matter is this:
I've realized the coincidental parallels between my finances and my faith.
You see, I have this piece of property that I own. It has been my intention for some time to sell it and pay off the debt I have accrued. The problem is, in the grand cosmic drama of Michigan living, I haven't been able to find a buyer.
Until now.
Now I have a buyer and a closing date and the reality that soon I will hold in my hand a check large enough to tithe, pay off my debt, and get the car fixed (CV joint). I'm looking forward to being square.
And here's the interesting part.
I've realized I'm in a similar situation with God.
Here's the way I see it.
I'm was in debt with God, Romans 3:23.
The debt was killing me, Romans 6:23.
Jesus came along and paid off my debt, Romans 5:8; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9.
The bible, if you'll do some research on the subject, actually says that the deal is done completely for anyone who yields to Jesus as Lord and Savior. God looks at it as if I'm already in heaven when it comes to how sure the deal is, Ephesians 2:4-7.
But the thing is, I haven't gotten the full benefit of the transaction. I guess I would roughly say, I don't have the check in my hand. I just have a down payment.
Jesus put it this way: "Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be where I am." (John 14:1-3) I'm actually going to live with Jesus some day in his house.
Today, my property is sold and I'm waiting to close and get a check.
Today, my sins are forgiven and I'm waiting to close on this life and go to heaven.
In the mean time, I think I'll live like a man with no debt.
I think I'll live within my income and not get into debt again.
I think I'll live a Christian life that reflects the belief that I'm headed to heaven when I die. so I'm going to stay away from the things in this life that don't do anything for me as a Christian.
What about you?
Would you like to know that your sins are paid for? Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Contact a bible-believing Christian and tell him you're ready to accept Jesus.
Are you a Christian that needs to start living more like a member of the heavenly family than your earthly family?
Contact a good, bible-believing church and get started!
Tell me what you think...
Don
P.S. This one's for Dave Ramsay..."I'M DEBT FREE!"

Superbowl

I used to watch the Superbowl every year. It was a cultural necessity. Who wants to be the ignorant guy around the watercooler? Not me...so I watched and frankly, enjoyed the big game.
Congratulations to the winners and condolences to the losers. I'm sure there was a play or two that should have been called some other way and I'm sure that for some, the wrong team won. But, as our culture's new paradigm states, "It is what it is."
I like sports but I'm not obsessed. I'd much rather play than watch and if I can just get 25 pounds off, I might strap on some skates and play a little hockey.
It's ok to be a hockey fan in Columbus MI. But football? The nearest thing to professional football around here is the Detroit Lions. It's safe to say they'll be better next year.
There's no talk of Superbowl chances in Detroit right now.
I'm not sure the owners and management of the Lions know what it would take to win it all.
Lions fans spent the season hearing about how well the practices went and how they just didn't translate into game wins.
Does that make sense to you?
At what point should the coaches have done something differently?
I can't possibly know. I'm not a coach. I don't know football. I have no experience managing million dollar players. I couldn't fix the Lions. I know that.
But I do know a little human nature.
I read recently Tom Landry's coaching philosophy. It went something like this: convince men to do what they don't want to do so they can achieve what they want to achieve.
Frankly, that task is for a few gifted people. Tom Landry was special and his winning football record shows it.
You know where I'm headed, right?
My task as a pastor is pretty much the same: get people to do what they don't want to do so they can be who they want to be.
The work of God changes people. And people want God in their lives. But people do not want to change.
So the goal to win the Superbowl and the goal for a Christian come about the same way.
To win, you've got to do what you don't want to do to.
It's called discipline.
"Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher."(Luke 6:40, NLT)
"Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly."
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8, NLT)
Do you want a winning season in your Christian life?
Start training like you want to win.
Need help?
Join a good, bible-believing church.
Don, letting the Son shine in 2009.