Aug. 29 - Sept. 4, 2005

 SOLI/Update

    www.stewardshipoflife.org

 

 
Poor, dumb critters
 As they blissfully delight in the very thing that will destroy them, the ants in my house are teaching me about human sin and the poor stewardship that results.

To stem an infestation, I've set out bait stations that lure the ants with a sugary syrup that drives them wild. But the syrup is laced with borax that will eventually kill the whole colony.

Poor, dumb critters. They can't help but follow their instincts to gorge themselves, even as their colony slowly dies. Their brain capacity is weak and their feeding pattern is hard-wired into them.

Just like human sinfulness. As a species, we persist in lifestyles that are making us stressed, fat and sick. We continue to smoke and drink. We glorify empty sex lives that are anti-family, anti-marriage and spread dangerous diseases. We use violence as the primary way to resolve conflict.

Through overconsumption, we continue to waste resources and energy despite global warming, loss of wildlife habitat, a widening gap between rich and poor, and rising rates of cancer and other diseases.  Like those ants, we march on blissfully, being poor stewards of our lives, our health, our relationships and our planet. Poor, dumb critters. 

Sin is not what we do; it's what we are. The Lutheran prayer of confession puts it well: "We are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves."

Thank God this is not the end of the story. We cannot free ourselves, but we have faith in God, who frees us. Jesus dwelled among us and died because of our sin, but he rose from the grave without our sin. Through our baptism into the life and death of Christ we are made new and free.  

When we repent of sin we return to our baptism, clean and free again. Poor, dumb critters, but critters strengthened and transformed by the power of Christ.

-Rob Blezard, editor and webmaster
 
 
New this week:
 
 Loaves and fishes
This piece explores a biblical approach to "asset-based stewardship" for congregations. "Sometimes people phone or e-mail my office to inquire about stewardship resources. I often tell them that the Bible is our best stewardship book because it tells stories about Jesus, our finest stewardship teacher," writes Barb Fullerton, stewardship staff member with the United Church of Canada. Great reading! Click here for Loaves and fishes.
 
 
Raising our children as good stewards
"If children grow up knowing that they are loved so unconditionally by God that He would die for them and that this love extends to all people, then we might give them some of the skills for how to respond to that love. But we need to fear competition from others who may teach the skills better. Our young people will learn from us best by how we live out that love." Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
 
Climate change and the stewardship of God's creation
"If humans through our actions have helped cause climate change, then it is a reflection of our (poor) stewardship of God’s creation. If we have helped cause the problem of climate change, then we are responsible for reducing the speed of climate change."  Click here for "Climate change," from The Ecumenical Eco-Justice Network.
 
 

 The spiritual side of money
 Subtitled, "Preaching about money is one of the most spiritual things I do," this article describes one pastor's approach to bringing stewardship into the pulpit. Author Wayne Pohl describes guidelines that work for him in his church --and that may work in yours, too. Click here for "The spiritual side of money."  >From Building Church Leaders, a publication of Christianity Today.

 

 20-day stewardship study devotional
 Good for your stewardship committee, congregation council or general membership, here is a resource that will get your folks thinking and brainstorming. Each Bible-based daily devotion challenges and inspires. Click here for the Stewardship study devotional. >From Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City. (PDF file requires Acrobat Reader. Click here for your free copy of Acrobat.)