Archives by: Gary Hoag

“Personal exposure to needs is often a prerequisite for a lifestyle of deep, sacrificial generosity on behalf of others. Commitments of money, time, and personal energy can develop when the prospering truly see the suffering of the poor and weak. The exposure can then lead to believers truly growing as…people who not only help the poor but know them in real relationships.”

Amy Sherman in Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good (Downers Grove: IVP, 2010) 74.

Edgar and Gladys Güitz, our friends from Potter’s House, were staying with us over the past week and returned to Guatemala. They have helped our family not only see the destitute but to get to know them as Treasures. Take a few minutes to see what they do in this video. It will bless you. If you want information on taking a group there, let us know. The “personal exposure” (as Sherman puts it) has been life-changing for our family and friends.

“Let temporal things serve your use, but the eternal be the object of your desire.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) as recounted in In Light of Eternity: Perspectives on Heaven (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook, 1999) 146.

We must love God and people and use temporal things. The world tempts us to get this backwards. The Apostle Paul suggests how to avoid being tricked.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

“I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity.”

John Wesley (1903-1791) as recounted by Randy Alcorn in In Light of Eternity: Perspectives on Heaven (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook, 1999) 146.

My family is learning to limit the money we pour into material possessions and adopt an eternal perspective. This has led us to deploy more money to mission (God’s work) and memories (with family and friends).

What measure are you using, and how does it shape your decisions?

“The world cannot always understand a person’s profession of faith, but it can understand service.”

Ian Maclaren was the pseudonym for Rev. John Watson (1850-1907) who is recounted by Dan Busby in Trust: The Firm Foundation for Kingdom Fruitfulness (Winchester: ECFA Press, 2015) 63.

Jesus always chose the posture of a servant! He instructs us as His disciples to follow His example (cf. Luke 22:24-27). Let’s do it!

God help me serve well today as I teach for Navigators at Glen Eyrie Castle. May God bless your generous service today too!

“Nothing costs so little, goes so far, and accomplishes so much as a single act of merciful service.”

Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) as recounted by Dan Busby in Trust: The Firm Foundation for Kingdom Fruitfulness (Winchester: ECFA Press, 2015) 62.

What I love about this quote is the adjective “merciful” linked to service. It refers to service that is contrary to that which is perceived as deserved. It’s serving unlikely recipients. I am convinced that we are never more like our Lord Jesus Christ than when we show undeserved kindness.

“Jesus Christ does not want to be our helper; He wants to be our life. He does not want us to work for Him. He wants us to let Him do His work through us, using us as we use a pencil to write with–better still, using us as one of the fingers on His hand.”

Charles G. Trumbell in Victory in Christ (Fort Washington: CLC, 2011) 38.

Trumbell rightly reminds us that God neither needs our help as if He has deficiencies, nor want us to work for Him, which would infer that His capacity is limited. He desires to work in and through us, so that we are His hands and feet.

Father, bless the world richly through us today by your Holy Spirit. Do this for your glory we pray in the matchless name of Jesus. Amen.

“It is up to Christians to show people that the cross, all the crosses of history, call upon us to advance from possession to sharing and offering, to discover the Giver through the gift.”

Olivier Clément in Roots of Christian Mysticism: Texts from Patristic Era with Commentary (New City Press, 2013) 228.

What a paradox! When we live in light of the cross we advance in generosity “we discover the Giver through the gift.” God help us shift from “possession to sharing and offering.”

The best part of this quote for me is that it was shared with me by one of my former students, Dave Rowland, who has recognized its veracity in his life.

“Anything less than a full-trust environment creates a distraction from the mind-blowing good news of the gospel–giving some the justification they seek to disbelieve the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we are trusted, we not only please Him, but we enhance His reputation and give others the right impression of Christ.”

Dan Busby in Trust: The Firm Foundation for Kingdom Fruitfulness (Winchester: ECFA Press, 2015) inside flap.

Busby has dedicated his life to enhancing trust. Lack of trust not only hinders generosity, it misrepresents the God we serve to the world. In this must-read book, Busby maps the pathway to preserving trust with the same clarity Paul exhibited toward Timothy: Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us. 2 Timothy 1:14

“Grasping the things that matter in life requires releasing my grip on the things that don’t.”

Bob Snyder, MD, excerpt from Lessons Learned on the Journey “Letting Go” blogpost dated 16 April 2015.

Thanks Dr. Snyder for the reminder that letting go does not leave us empty. It’s the only way take hold of the life that’s really life (1 Timothy 6:17-19)!

I am also thankful to be teaching a seminar in Dallas today on “Aligning Faith and Fundraising” with mentor and friend, Wesley K. Willmer. Ultimately our work is teaching people to let go and sow generously!

“When we handle money that has been given by God’s people, we are involved in a deeply spiritual matter. God’s people give in response to God’s kindness. As we handle that money we are entrusted with something: we are stewards of the fruit of grace and stewards of the proof of obedience.”

Chris Wright in How to Handle Money: A Short Guide to Financial Accountability (Didasko Files; Peabody: Hendrickson, 2013) excerpt from chapter 2.

The International Accountability Summit exceeded expectations. We’ve formed a global network of relationships with leaders from 15 countries. Today I will meet with representatives from the African delegation to plan a trip to Kenya in October 2015 with John Van Drunen, EVP at ECFA, to help them officially launch the AfCAA (African Council for Accreditation and Accountability).

My hope from here is also to point these leaders to a series of helpful tools. For example, this Lausanne Movement resource provides readers with a biblical rationale for faithful administration. I specifically appreciate Wright’s emphasis that those who handle gifts are stewards both of “the fruit of grace” and “the proof of obedience” (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:24), which together make this “deeply spiritual” work.