Wednesday, October 13, 2004
October 04 E-News
Logic? The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans….The French eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans….The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans…The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans. CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you!
Just a Thought
“Last Sunday, my pastor preached on hell. It has been a long time since I have heard a sermon on hell. Part of his rationale for preaching on hell was that it was a favorite subject of Jesus. In fact, he said, the majority of Jesus’ parables dealt with hell. He also said that Jesus spoke about money a great deal. I wonder if there is any connection.” [Terry Austin in the Baptist Convention of Texas Stewardship News Letter: September 22, 2004 (www.churchstewardship.org)]
Great website for statistics of all kinds!!! http://www.fedstats.gov/
We have ordered a quantity of CDs that contain a good--collection of sermons, PowerPoint presentations, etc., on stewardship and mission support. The CD is entitled “Found Faithful” and is being produced by the Florida Baptist Convention. Get your order in now. Contact me at rgtallent@Concast.net or Bonnie Bosley at the state office, 1-800-451-6599.
The Sabbath Leave Program provides pastors with opportunities for spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual renewal while spending time on Samford University's campus. Participating ministers work with resource center staff to craft regenerative, self-directed programs of Sabbath leave. Academic resources include undergraduate, liberal arts, business and physical and teacher education programs, as well as courses offered by Beeson Divinity School. Check it out at www.samford.edu/groups/rcpe .
Have you ever wondered where some of the more innovative churches obtain those video clips that they use as sermon starters and in other ways in worship. Well, Erwin McManus has prepared a set of 24 clips for $100. See samples and lots of other neat stuff at bluefishtv.com
The Thanksgiving season is a wonderful time to teach principles and attitudes that are conducive to good stewardship. In fact Thanksgiving is a good time to hold your Annual Stewardship Dinner. Christian giving ought to grow out of a thankful spirit.
My mistake! Last month I ran a blurb about the free printers offered to churches by Xerox. I said the commitment to buy ink cartridges from them might make the deal uneconomic. Then a brother sent me a note saying that a couple of our associations had used the deal advantageously. The first time in my life that I have ever been wrong! But check it out for your self. It might be advantageous for you.
Our Giving System: Someone has pointed out that some people may not understand the Pennsylvania/South Jersey way of supporting missions. So I want to outline here the basics of our system of mission support.
I. The basic component of mission giving is the Cooperative Program. This is a percentage of the undesignated offerings to the church determined by the church which goes to support the Pennsylvania/South Jersey Convention, Home Missions (USA and Canada), World Missions, seminaries, and other national missions.
II. The Christmas Offering for World Missions (named for “Lottie Moon”) goes 100% to support about 6000 missionaries around the world.
III. The Easter Offering for Home Missions ( Named for Annie Armstrong) goes 100% to support about 6000 home missionaries in the US and Canada.
IV. The Pennsylvania/South Jersey Fall State Offering supports special emphases and provides emergency funding of local churches.
V. The World Hunger Fund is usually collected in the Fall and divided 80%-20% between the International Mission Board and the north American Mission Board. 100% of this money goes to provide food for the hungry. It is administrated by our missionaries.
Check out the Stewardship Page on BRNONLINE.info and my blog at bobbybaptist@blogspot.com.
# posted by Bob @ 11:31 AM 
