Stewardship Matters Blog

Happy All Saints Day and a lesson from Caesarius of Arles!

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:13:10 -0700

Happy All Saints Day! The saint for the day, which I chose to study was Caesarius of Arles (470-543).

Caesarius was one of the first popular preachers in the western church. Why? As Bert Ghezzi’s research in Voices of the Saints attests, he never preached a sermon longer than fifteen minutes, he brought the liturgy to the people through daily observances, and “insisted that worship must not be a mere external observance, but rather a lifting of the heart to God that had life-changing consequences.” What a reputation! I love this monk!

Caesarius helped ordinary people practice disciplines that made their faith real. Listen to what he has to say about worship and prayer: “A person worships whatever captivates his mind during prayer. Whoever in his prayers thinks of public affairs, or the house he is building, worships them rather than God.” (Caesarius of Arles, Voices of the Saints, p. 109).

He spoke with no non-sense candor, and urged people to follow Christ’s example. Many believe the rules he established for a cloister of women as well as for monks in his diocese laid the foundation for the Rule of St. Benedict. Whether or not that was the case, you have also got to respect a monk who “melted down the gold communion vessels” to provide aid for prisoners and defended his actions by reminding his critics that “the Lord celebrated his last supper on earthenware, not on plate, and we need not scruple to part with his vessels for those who he has redeemed with his own life.”

So why blog about Caesarius of Arles today?

I can think of three reasons.

(1) I want to follow his spiritual example.

I want to provide clear and concise spiritual counsel daily that assists people in the life-changing journey of following Jesus. I am learning that I cannot impart what I don’t possess and am cherishing more time with the Lord each day so as to have something to give to others.

(2) I want to start melting down stuff.

I am overwhelmed when I take inventory of all the stuff I possess and realize that much of it could be melted down and reallocated to serving others in the name of Jesus. I am not telling you what you should do, but should you ask, I’d be happy to share the kinds of things my family is doing. Perhaps ask the Lord yourself what you should melt down.

(1) I want to journal about what distracts me in prayer.

His profound quote that you worship what captivates your mind in prayer was powerful to me. I have not blogged much recently, in part, because I have been afflicted with some back and leg pain, which at times has been pretty rough. The focus of my prayers has been too often for my help and healing. I have much to learn in this area and would encourage you to join me in asking God to show us what may be in our lives receiving worship other than Him.

What a practical lesson today from Caesarius! He is a memorable monk and brother!

Happy All Saints Day everyone!

St. Francis of Assisi (the Movie, 1961)

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 07:36:51 -0600

Today’s blog was in part inspired by my Meditation ascribed to St. Bonaventure, who recorded much of what we know about the life of St. Francis. This post represents a passionate recommendation to watch a great movie if you have not already done so!

Francis of Assisi (1961) is a classic, which captures the conversion of a wealthy, young adventurer whose dreams of being a respected knight with a sword are exchanged for humbly carrying a cross. Not a literal cross, but rather a Rule of Life, comprised of three basic teachings of Jesus, which would serve as a guide.

As the story unfolds Francis Bernardone goes off to fight in the crusades with comrades only to hear what he believed to be the voice of God on the battlefield calling him to “rebuild my church.” In somewhat of a daze, Francis heeds the instructions of the voice and returns to Assisi only to be labeled a deserter. He is thrown in prison.

Convinced that he heard the voice of God, once released Francis literally abandons all other aspirations and begins to rebuild the local church building, which was in rubble. The movie goes on to show how countless others followed Francis, as they were drawn to the simplicity of his Rule of Life. It also shows how Francis realizes his role was not so much to rebuild a building but a body, the Body of Christ, a.k.a. the capital “C” Church.

While I will not share any other movie details so as not to spoil it for you, I will share the three verses of Gospel, which made up the Rule of St. Francis (which in the film are read or adapted from what appears to be the King James Version of the Bible).

(1) Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.” Matthew 19:21a
(2) “Take nothing for your journey neither staff, wallet, bread nor money.” Luke 9:3

(3) “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Luke 9:23

To start an order of monks who would agree to this Rule of Life, Francis needed the permission of the pope. To follow this Rule of Life, they needed deep faith in God’s provision.

If you have not already done so, read my Meditation for today (pasted below) to see how Francis and his friends were providentially cared for en route home from getting the pope’s permission to launch their order.

Saint Bonaventure retells this account: “Strengthened by God’s grace and the pope’s approval, Francis with great confidence took the road toward the valley of Spoleto, where he intended to preach and live the Gospel of Christ. On the way he discussed with his companions how they should sincerely keep the rule, which they had taken upon themselves, how they should proceed in all holiness and justice before God (Luke 1:75), how they should improve themselves and be an example for others. It was already late in the day as they continued their long discussion. Fatigued from their prolonged activity and feeling hungry, they stopped at an isolated spot. When there seemed to be no way for them to get the food they needed, God’s providence immediately came to their aid. For suddenly a man appeared carrying bread in his hand, which he gave to Christ’s little poor and then suddenly disappeared. They had no idea where he came from or where he went. From this the poor friars realized that while in the company of the man of God they would be given assistance from heaven and so they were refreshed more by the gift of God’s generosity than by the food they received for their bodies. Moreover, filled with divine consolation, they firmly resolved and irrevocably committed themselves never to turn back from the promise they had made to holy poverty, in spite of any pressure from lack of food or other trials.” St. Bonaventure (Cardinal, 1221-1274) Ewert H. Cousins Bonaventure (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1978), p. 207.

Francis and his friends chose three pretty radical verses for their rule of life. As this scene depicts, choosing them was one thing, living them was another! Living out this Rule of Life would require great faith in God!

Francis and his friends not only rebuilt the Church in their day, their lives have inspired countless followers of Jesus Christ to live out the Gospel!

Want to join them?

If you were to map out your own Rule of Life with any three verses, what passages of Scripture would you choose?

Count Your Blessings

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:42:57 -0600

Before you read today’s blog. Open a new window and paste this link there. Music will start to play; let it play. Minimize that window and come back to the blog:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/countyou.htm

When I was in junior high, I had the privilege of attending a Christian school. Each week we had chapel, and once a month the theme of the chapel was to Count Your Blessings.

While walking down the hall, anticipating what I would experience in chapel, I knew it was the Count Your Blessings day when you heard the piano playing. I remember the words to the song as if it were being played today:

Count Your Blessings:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain
Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Refrain
When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Refrain
So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be disheartened, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Refrain
Words: Johnson Oatman, Jr., in Songs for Young People, by Edwin Excell (Chicago, Illinois: 1897). Music: Edwin O. Excell
I have three thoughts about this song. One from my past, one in the present and one for the future.

From the past, our principal would always walk around with a microphone and pick a random student. That student would share something for which they were thankful. I heard everything from “I am thankful for my dog Spot” to “I am thankful God healed my dad through a surgery.”

In the present, I am pleasantly surprised that Johnson Oatman, Jr., wrote this song for young people. Perhaps one of the best ways to encourage Christian generosity in children, is to shape a thankful heart within them so that despite the ups and downs of life, they remain thankful.

In the future, my hope for whoever chooses to read this blog, that the words and music of this classic tune with bring you to your knees and raise your sights toward heaven to realize that no matter what is happening in your life, if you have Christ, you have limitless blessings for which to be thankful.

I am thankful today that my parents sacrificed to send me to that school where I learned to count my blessings. What are you thankful for today?

Christmas in September

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 11:52:36 -0600

I was doing some reading for my doctoral studies and an author I was reading quoted a few times from Jacques Ellul’s book, Money and Power, so I checked it out from the library. Near the end of the book is an awesome reading that I thought I’d share with you today. If this reading blesses you, share it with someone else this coming Christmas season. Enjoy a little Christmas in September.

“In front of the manger where God’s gift lies, the shepherds have come to worship, as have we ourselves. Shepherds, poorest of the poor--these servants, half slaves, having nothing of their own, working for others, watching the flocks of others in the fields by night.

And the Magi, richest of the rich. We call them magician-kings, and this is not far from the truth. In their Eastern country they are primarily scientists and priests, clever in their understanding of stars, of mathematics, of administration. And little by little, because their knowledge was respected, they became wealthy, and political power depended largely on their decisions. Magician-kings, rich in intelligence, in money, in power. The poor and the rich, equally called to worship before the one who is already a sign of contradiction, the King of kings in the straw. King of these powerful Magi, and poor with the very poverty of shepherds.

All have been equally called, each in the language that suited him, that spoke to his heart and his intelligence. Each in his own tongue, as later, when the Lord established his church, each heard in his own tongue about the mighty works of God.

These poor men believe in legends, in fairies, in the supernatural, in miracles. At the same time, they are sensitive to spiritual realities. They know what prayer is and they are waiting for deliverance. They know what meditation is (as all shepherds do) and are directly open to revelation. Thus God speaks to them in their own tongue, by miracle and revelation: the angels descend and call them. He gives them the sign which both satisfies and reassures them, which is within their reach: a baby in a sheep pen.

These rich men probably do not believe in angels. But they believe in their science; they know how to interpret signs in the heavens; they want to explain what seems abnormal. Thus God speaks to them in their tongue by means of the star, an incomprehensible sign. But it is impossible for them to accept that it is incomprehensible, for this would disparage the laws they know well, laws of science and of destiny. God calls them in their intelligence. He gives them a political sign, which also speaks to their concerns. Politically minded as they are, they know that King Herod’s hatred for the baby is a struggle for power.

Rich and poor, equally called.

But the poor are called first. In the kingdom of heaven, the first in this world are the last to arrive. The shepherds arrive first. So close to God’s heart because of the poverty, they were right there, near the sheep pen, which is their own place. Jesus entered human misery, and those who live in misery find him only a few steps away. This does not mean that the poor are better, or that they can boast of being poor (when they do that, they become rich!). It means only that Jesus came where they are. And the revelation given to them is direct and immediate. It reaches them at the center of their lives. As soon as they believed, we find them at the door of the sheepfold.

The rich are next. They have a long road to travel. Wise men from the East, they went on a long journey. They crossed the deserts: deserts of the vanity of riches, of money, of power. They followed a difficult road with countless obstacles to overcome, some of which seemed beyond human strength (“Go, sell what you possess...And...the young man went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions”). They had to be patient with themselves, but demanding. They had to turn their thirst for knowledge in one direction alone, to use all the resources of their understanding and their wealth (for such an expedition is expensive!). This does not mean that they were more meritorious than those who had only a few steps to take. They were farther away because they had excellent human advantages. They learned little by little that these excellent advantages separated them from God. And since the call passed over these barriers to reach them, they also had to go through obstacles to reach him.

Rich and poor alike, called to worship, each with what he could bring.

The shepherds, in their worship, brought themselves. For they had nothing else. They came with nothing in their hands, but they brought their prayer, their song, their lives. They glorified and praised God, and when they left they became the first witnesses of Jesus; they told what they had seen and heard, and all who heard them were amazed at the good news. The first witnesses, the first evangelists: this is their gift of themselves and their worship.

The Magi, in their worship, brought something that in their eyes was worth more than themselves. Gold, the symbol of their wealth and also of all the wealth in the world. Incense, with which kings are honored, symbol of political power. Myrrh, used for embalming, symbol of the Magi’s mysterious powers, perhaps of science. Bringing these gifts, the Magi put into God’’s hands the very powers of the world. They recognized that these powers belong to this baby. These rich men, having given up their attachment to riches, had to come so that man could offer his Lord everything that gives him earthly power. The poor could not offer what they did not have, but the rich could pay tribute with the world’s wealth.

And this was not purely a spiritual tribute, for when these kings went away, they no longer had their gold, incense and myrrh. They left these things in the hands of the Lord. They gave themselves along with their most precious possessions, for, when they went away, they also became witnesses--protectors of the small child that King Herod wanted to sacrifice. These magician-kings broke with political solidarity. On the way in, they had of course agreed to meet King Herod. Power met with power. They had mutual interests. But on their way out, they were on Jesus’ side and betrayed their own interests. They no longer obeyed Herod and hid from him what they now knew about the true King of the world.

Poor and rich, equally witnesses because equally called. They were called first, before they did a thing, and their situation is the same. Each does his own work. The shepherds watch sheep; the Magi study. They are not interested in God. God is interested in them and calls them. He calls them to worship, to offer up what is dearest to them, because God gives them, first of all, what is dearest to him: his Son.

For the rich and for the poor, Christmas worship is self-emptying worship because God on Christmas night emptied himself. He took the initiative and gave up his power, his eternity, himself, to come to this place where we could finally see him.” p. 161-4.

To be alone to contemplate, go for a walk, get away in a quiet place, or go fly fishing (like I plan to do this evening) with this thought in mind:

Jesus, what are you calling me to give to you in self-emptying worship?

Wait for the answer. Sometimes it takes days. Once He speaks; do what He says.

Happy St. Aidan’s Day - August 31

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:01:36 -0600

I received an email from one of my former students announcing that he and his wife had been blessed with a son, and named him Aidan. Welcome to the world, little Aidan, may your footsteps follow the saint of the 600’s!

Hearing this news led me to my coffee table book entitled, The Book of Saints by Rodney Castleden, which I picked up on one of my doctoral trips to England.

Believe it or not, today, August 31, is the Feast Day for St. Aidan. Read below what the text said about St. Aidan, as I think his is a great role model for us:

“Aiden was a Scot of Irish origin, a monk of Iona, or Hy as it was then called. King Oswald of Northumbria in Northeast England asked for a monk to be sent from Iona to his kingdom. When the missionary returned to Iona, he reported to the assembled monks that he had been unable to achieve anything because the Northumbrians were so stubborn.

Aidan said, ‘You were more severe on your unlearned audience than you should have been. You should have fed them with the milk of easy doctrine at first, so that they were nourished by degrees with the word of God.’ The other monks decided that Aiden should go instead.

In 635 Aidan stayed at Lindisfarne, an island off the Northumberland coast separated by three miles of sea for eight hours a day. But even Lindisfarne with its causeway was not lonely enough for Aidan's prayerful retreats, and he often withdrew to the lonely Farne Islands.

With the support of Oswald and visiting Irish missionaries, Aidan made rapid progress in converting the people, not the least because he and his followers always practiced what they preached. Whenever Aidan met pagans he invited them to become Christians; whenever he met Christians he spurred them on to do good works. In the spirit of the age, Aidan was not afraid to rebuke the rich and powerful, but he was also gentle with those who needed tender handling.

He was famed for his charity to the poor. When Oswald's successor Oswin gave him a valuable horse, Aidan promptly gave it to a beggar who met him and asked for alms. The king was irritated and said that something of lower value would have been more appropriate. Aidan's cryptic reply was, ‘Is that foal of a mare of more value than the Son of God?’ Oswin was persuaded that he had been wrong, and asked Aidan to forgive him.

Aidan was a charismatic figure and miracles were attributed to him. He was said to have saved the Northumbrian royal stronghold of Bamburgh when it was besieged by King Penda of Mercia. Bamburgh was on the point of being destroyed by fire. Aidan was at that moment in retreat on the Farne Islands. As he watched the flames and smoke being carried over the walls by the wind, he lifted his eyes to Heaven and prayed: ‘Lord, see what harm Penda is doing!’ The wind changed direction and the flames were halted.

In August 651, Aidan was taken ill and died at the royal fortress of Bamburgh. His body was taken to Lindisfarne for burial.”

St. Aidan was a passionate follower of Jesus. He was detached from earthly possessions and zealous to invite people to understand the eternal Gospel. He understood the importance of practicing what he preached, and like our Lord Jesus, cared deeply about charity toward the poor.

And Aidan was man of prayer. If this email finds you planning a prayer retreat, remember that the power of prayer saved a Northumbrian stronghold in Aidan’s day so pray frequently and fervently. And someday perhaps make a pilgrimage to a place like Iona (Scotland) or Lindisfarne (England), two places that are high on my list.

In Aidan’ honor today, show God’s love through your words and actions by giving a gift of money to the poor, a gift of encouragement to a fellow pilgrim and give the gift of the Gospel to one who is lost.

Meditations, Marcus Aurelius and My Invitation

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:13:03 -0600

In my recent blog posts I have focused on issues related to encouraging children to understand and practice Christian generosity. Though I did not exhaust the topic, today I want to officially shift my focus to adults.

In my doctoral studies, I am spending much time reading literature in the first and second centuries. While these works may seem both irrelevant to our day and insignificant in the scheme of things, they help the biblical studies student to understand the greater social and literary context for the Gospels, epistles and other writings which comprise the New Testament.

One of many writers I happened to come across again today from this time period is Marcus Aurelius. He was a Roman emperor in the second century (160-180 A.D.) during a time of great political unrest and was frequently involved with a variety of military campaigns (cf. his character in the movie, Gladiator).

What’s Marcus Aurelius got to do with my shift to encouraging Christian generosity among adults?

Marcus Aurelius is known for a twelve-book work known as Meditations. They represent his personal journal of self-help, stoic thoughts which scholars view as a glimpse into his own thinking. Regarding riches, he made statements such as “receive wealth or prosperity without arrogance; be ready to let it go” (Book VIII). Not bad advice.

Why mention this?

My daily Meditations represent something similar, a glimpse into my thinking, or at least, my reading. Marcus Aurelius penned his thoughts as he was trying to process the intersection of life and leadership and of philosophy with practice. He did it from a stoic perspective on a broad range of topics; likewise, I want to collect Meditations from a Christian perspective, and my focus is the relationship of the Christian with money.

Hence my daily Meditations postings represent my findings from the writings of saints and scholars from the first century to the 21st century, specifically related to how they grappled with the teachings of the Bible regarding God and money and how they thought those teachings should be applied to the Christian life.

Perhaps my most interesting discovery so far is that though money is perceived to be an unpopular topic in the Church today, it has been pretty popular down through the centuries.

Everybody talked about it and had similar things to say, and everybody struggled with putting those beliefs to practice.

So what’s my point?

Join me in reading my daily Meditations postings. Either subscribe them in an RSS feed format or email me at gary.hoag@generositymonk.com and ask me to put you on my Meditations email list.

When you get each posting, think about what it says. That’s why I call it Meditations. Whether the posting was penned by a Protestant or a Catholic, an ancient or a modern, consider the thoughts of the writer in relationship to the text of Scripture and the context of your life and then contemplate for a while.

Ask yourself the question: What does this mean for me? My life? And my relationship with God and money? If you do, your life and your relationship with God and money may never be the same.

Early in my doctoral work, one of the professors at Trinity College who expressed interest in my research, Dr. David Wenham, asked me this question upon learning that I was studying the rich and their relationship with riches in 1 Timothy: “Gary, are you prepared to go where this research is going to take you?” My answer simply was, “Only by the grace of God!”

Like old dogs have difficulty learning new tricks, only through supernatural enablement will we be able to grasp and grapple with this topic.

Join me in the journey of seeking to understand, practice and encourage others in the way of Christian generosity by reading the Meditations daily and submitting to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life as you contemplate them.

I hope you will take me up on this invitation.

Grace and Peace.

Back-to-School Blog on Stewardship

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:22:35 -0600

Over the past week I had the privilege of relaxing with my family in the mountains before our kids go back to school. I think there is something in that fresh mountain air that helps me contemplate more clearly.

I read my bible and sections of a few books while I was gone. As one of my clients is a Christian school, two of the books I read were Public Education Against America by Marlin Maddoux and Schools as Communities edited by James Drexler. My aim in citing these two books here is not to summarize them but to make a significant Back-to-School point related to stewardship.

Although there are teachers who seek to make a positive impact within the public school system, Maddoux argues that public education has failed; it is no longer a benign alternative to Christian education, but rather an antagonistic one to the young Christian and the Christian worldview. The foundation of the educational system and the curricula it employs together promote secular humanism and teach principles that contradict the truths of Scripture. This reality must be unveiled.

In the other book, Schools as Communities, Drexler’s combination of articles does a great job summarizing what it means for Christian schools to serve as communities of grace, modeling the truths of Scripture, and supporting a biblical worldview.

So with these thoughts in my mind, I reflected on a classic stewardship book, Your Money Counts, by my dear friend, Howard Dayton. In Your Money Counts, Dayton outlined eight facets of the faithful steward: (1) Avoid Debt, (2) Seek Counsel, (3) Be Honest, (4) Give Generously, (5) Hard Work, (6) Save and Invest, (7) Train Children, and (8) Spend Wisely.

What is most interesting about this book is that with each section, Dayton shares what Society says about a topic and then contrasts that with what Scripture says. Here are Dayton’s contrasts juxtaposed below (and if you don’t already have Dayton’s book, get it. It is a keeper for your library):

Society says: God plays no role in handling money, and my happiness is based on being able to afford my desired standard of living.
Scripture says: As you learn and follow the Scriptural principles of how to handle money, you will draw close to Christ and learn to be content in every circumstance.

Society says: What I possess, I alone own, and I alone control my destiny
Scripture says: What I possess, God owns. He is the sovereign living God who controls all events.

Society says: You earned your money, now spend it any way you choose and you will be happy.
Scripture says: You can only be content if you have been a faithful steward handling money from the Lord’s perspective.

Society says: Use debt as often as you wish, buy now, pay later.
Scripture says: The Lord discourages the use of debt because He wants us free to serve Him.

Society says: Be your own person; stand on your own two feet. You don’t need anyone to tell you what to do.
Scripture says: “The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face” (Proverbs 10:8, Living Bible)

Society says: You can be dishonest because everyone is doing it.
Scripture says: The Lord demands absolute honesty in even the smallest matters.

Society says: It is more blessed to receive than to give.
Scripture says: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Society says: Work as little as possible because labor is distasteful; or work as much as possible because your job is all-important.
Scripture says: Work as unto the Lord with excellence as your standard. Work hard, but do not overwork.

Society says: Spend all you make. However, if you should save, put your trust in your accumulated assets.
Scripture says: “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets” (Proverbs 21:20, Living Bible).

Society says: Parents need not require their children to establish the discipline of managing money or of working hard.
Scripture says: Parents have the obligation to train their child to be a faithful steward and a wise money manager.

Society says: Acquire as many expensive possessions as possible because they are evidence you are a successful, important person.
Scripture says: The excessive accumulation of possessions will distract you from fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.

Society says: Wealth brings happiness and security, and I can use it for my own comfort any way I choose.
Scripture says: True joy is based on my relationship with Christ. In him alone will I trust. If I am rich, I should be generous and ready to share.

As the focus of my recent blogs has been teaching stewardship principles to children, I want to drive one point home in this Back-to School blog on stewardship.

I believe Maddoux is spot on with his assessment of the state of public education; it is rooted in a worldview opposed to the Gospel. Also, I contend that Drexler is correct in his description of the role that the Christian school must play in training children to embrace a biblical worldview. So, whether or not we have children (or perhaps grandchildren) in either type of school, what must we do with this knowledge as it pertains to stewardship?

I believe we must be vigilant to understand, model and teach our kids to discern the difference between what Scripture says as compared to what Society says about biblical stewardship principles and the handling of money.

May God help us model and teach these things well and may He help our children and grandchildren grasp the life that is truly life in the process.

More on Raising Money Smart Kids

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:11:00 -0600

Ron Blue, author of Master Your Money, among other books, along with his wife, Judy, wrote the book: Raising Money-Smart Kids: How to Teach Your Children the Secrets of Earning, Saving, Investing, and Spending Wisely.

In this helpful resource Ron and Judy make a number of profound statements which continue the conversation I started in my last blog post. Here a few nuggets from this great family resource:

“Where and how we spend money is largely a function of where and how our parents spent money.” (15)

“Probably the biggest mistake parents make in training children to manage money is not giving them the freedom to fail.” (29)

“Principles transcend situations; skills are applicable in specific situations.” (38)

“Every spending decision is a spiritual decision.” (39)

“Your checkbook tells how you chose to use God’s resources. Your checkbook reveals the priorities in your life.” (44)

“Believing that God owns it all will give you total freedom from financial bondage.” (47)

“The most important thing is not what children are responsible for buying, but how they handle the responsibility of managing money.” (54)

“As strange as it may seem, boundaries [within a budget] are freeing. When we know where the limits are, we can enjoy moving around within them.” (82)

“Telling children about the benefits of work, without giving them the opportunity to work, is of no value whatsoever.” (95)

“They [Children] have chores because they are members of the family, and they receive allowances because they are members of the family. The two are not dependent on each other.” (96)

“The best way to provide for the long term is not to spend in the short term.” (114)

“Remember communication is more than verbal. What does your daily lifestyle say to your children?” (118)

“Spend less than you earn and do it for a long time.” (120)

Aren’t those great insights. If this topic is of interest to you, check out the book.

In addition, I have attached on my resource web page a powerpoint called, Money for MOPS. MOPS stands for Mothers of PreSchoolers, a ministry which gathers groups of women in churches all over the country.

Jenni and I have shared it with hundreds of women in multiple MOPS group settings. If the quotes above blessed you, put them to practice in your home and share them with others.

If you are reading this and you know of other resources to raise money-smart kids, send them my way as I’d love to review them and share them freely!

Generosity Monk | 11318 West Ontario Avenue, Littleton, CO 80127
303.888.6052 | gary.hoag@generositymonk.com

Helping Children Grow up Generous

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:31:58 -0600

As a husband and father, perhaps one of my greatest desires related to generosity is that my wife and two children, Sammy (13) and Sophie (12) grasp and embrace it with me. I also desire all other families to get it as well.

Little work has been done on the topic of helping children grasp generous living and giving, though a few scholars and researchers have touched on the topic. One I’d like to point out this week is the Alban Institute research study called: Growing Up Generous: Engaging Youth in Giving and Serving by Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Elanah Dalyah Naphtali and Laura Musegades.

Listen to the themes highlighted in the conclusion section of their study (p. 161-162).

• “Today’s young people live in a culture that encourages--lures--them to focus on themselves. And while there is an emphasis on engaging young people in serving others, very little is being done to encourage young people to share their financial resources with others. Such a focus is critical, not only because young people increasingly have and spend more money, but also because financial habits established during childhood and adolescence are likely to continue throughout life.
• If we want young people to grow up generous, we cannot rely on an isolated youth program or curriculum to instill commitments to giving and serving. Such priorities require a web of experiences and relationships to motivate, inspire, expect, and equip young people to give and serve.
• All aspects of congregational life, not just the youth program, can play a role in nurturing generosity in young people. If congregations seek to nurture generous youth, they must continually seek to be generous communities that both nurture a culture and teach the practices of generosity.
• Perhaps the most important and fundamental shift is needed to recognize young people as resources and contributors, not merely adults-in-waiting. Not only will youth benefit when they are encouraged and supported in taking a lead and making a difference, but their energy, commitment, and vision can help to transform the entire congregation.”

It is hard to add much to these comments beyond a hearty “AMEN!” but I’d like to testify to the veracity of these statements from our experiences with our children and would love to hear any comments you might have in reply.

For the past two years, we have been a part of Trailhead Church that gathers for corporate worship on Sunday evenings in Centennial, CO. Join us sometime if you are able. The mission of Trailhead is to be an authentic community of healthy, growing people, living in the way of Jesus. One Sunday each month, the second Sunday of the month, in lieu of our corporate worship gathering, we serve somewhere. Often, but not always, our service is also accompanied by a financial love gift from our church family.

Some months our service is local, such as helping clean up a city park, while other months we drive downtown to serve at the rescue mission or up into the mountains to provide maintenance to a Christian camp facility. Regardless of the setting, it has been fun to watch our kids serve.

Sammy (13) does not mind getting his hands dirty on Service Project Sundays. When we put sod down in a park, I came to realize his young back was perhaps stronger than mine. When we were preparing food at the Denver Rescue Mission, he peeled as many or more potatoes than I did. To have excluded him from service because of his age would have been seriously counterproductive.

Sammy has also helped inspire our congregation not as an adult-in-waiting but as a leader now. For two years in a row, with no prompting from his parents, Sammy has coordinated Compassion Sunday at Trailhead, and as a result, a total of 10 poor children from around the world today have sponsors from our congregation. This was his idea, and it has been fun to see him follow God’s leading in doing this.

Sophie (12) loves serving too. As her father, I believe she is most like Jesus when she is serving, because like Him, she really, really loves the little children. Whether it’s a Service Project Sunday or not, Sophie wants to be in the nursery, caring for the many babies and toddlers that accompany the young parents who are a part of our church family.

Sophie is also generous. If she has two pennies to rub together, when given the opportunity, she’d freely share them with anyone in need. Through her actions, she has taught us (her parents) much about the childlike faith our Lord Jesus celebrated.

Now, I’d like to hear from you. Do you agree with the Alban Institute findings? Do you have any suggestions for helping children grow up generous?

Generosity Monk | 11318 West Ontario Avenue, Littleton, CO 80127
303.888.6052 | gary.hoag@generositymonk.com

Why Generosity Monk?

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 05:42:47 -0600

In recent days, I have received much feedback about Generosity Monk, so I thought I’d provide some background to it in this week’s blog.

Committed followers of Jesus have had a variety of labels over the years, and one that dates back to the time of Christ is the term monk. Philo (c. 20 BC – 50 AD) wrote of the monastery as a place where a person would seek solitude and sanctuary to think on spiritual things (On the Contemplative Life, ch III). Those who lived at the monasteries, of course, became known as monks.

When we think of monks today, we tend to either picture the friendly Friar Tuck character from the classic black and white TV series, Robin Hood; the Dalai Lama who must struggle with finding any solace as his face seems to make the news on a weekly basis; or the villainous character from the Hollywood blockbuster Da Vinci Code. In my opinion, none of these images does justice to the moniker monk within the parameters of the historic Christian faith.

Picture this instead in our modern day world. A monk is an ordinary person who is committed to serving God, to understanding the teachings of Jesus and to surrendering to the working of the Holy Spirit through daily reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation.

For centuries, different monastic traditions have become known for the different vows they take, the offices they recite and the lifestyle they embrace. Noteworthy are the Benedictines who follow the Rule of Benedict, or the Franciscans who follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi. So what will the Generosity Monk be known for? Encouraging Christian Generosity.

I believe God has called me to commit myself to encouraging Christian generosity through providing biblical teaching for the Church, spiritual counsel to stewards and professional advice for leaders. To accomplish this, I am setting aside time for reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. I plan to share some of the fruit of my solitude on my website and with the people I meet with and serve.

In my daily Meditations posting, I will share excerpts from my reading on stewardship and generosity from the Scriptures and other writings in which biblical truths are echoed by saints throughout the centuries, as well as by modern day voices. In this blog, Stewardship Matters, I will open a discussion and invite anyone to join me in contemplating important facets of the Christian stewardship conversation. And, I will also post Resources on my website to assist people in the practice of Christian generosity.

As the Generosity Monk, I don’t plan to wear a special robe each day, shave my head a certain way, or be celibate, but I do plan to serve as a contemplative consultant, committed to helping people think about what God’s word says about stewardship and generosity and challenging them to serve as generous stewards of the gifts and goods entrusted to them for the purpose of making known the greatest treasure we have, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Candidly, the vision for Generosity Monk came as an answer to prayer. Now I am confident not just about what I am supposed to do, but what I must be, for the glory of God.

Generosity Monk | 11318 West Ontario Avenue, Littleton, CO 80127
303.888.6052 | gary.hoag@generositymonk.com