I’m a rich man.
I’m rich because I know how to invest.
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| You not as young folks will remember Richie Rich |
I’m an investor, an optimist, a dreamer… I have hope for the
future. I plan for the future. I work for the future.
In the Fall I plant bulbs knowing in the Spring I’ll have
daffodils and tulips for everyone driving by to enjoy.
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| Daffodil |
Instead of spending $50 for a dozen red roses from the
florist I buy bare-root rose bushes and plant them in February knowing I’ll
have vases full of roses from May until November.
I teach violin lessons to develop current church musicians
and with the dream of future players for the Nashville symphony.
The biggest investment I am making right now is between today
and March. I’m taking young men on mission to Portugal. I’m taking football
players and coaches my football team to work alongside of our IMB partners to reach out to
Portuguese men who play American football in a country-wide community
league. As we go on mission there are
immediate short-term results that have long-term benefits.
1.
The Kingdom will be advanced in Portugal.
2.
Our IMB personnel will be encouraged in their
work.
3.
Local churches in Portugal will be inspired and
encouraged as they try to reach their communities for Christ.
4.
As we prepare for and then go on mission my
“football team” – players and coaches –will spend time praying, planning and
working together and will get first-hand experience in sharing their faith.
Our mission trip to Portugal, however, is much more than
just a one week trip. Not only are there some immediate benefits, but there are
some important long-term benefits from a mission trip like this. I am (we are)
investing in the lives of men: Men who will become deacons and pastors and LIFE
Groups leaders and better fathers and faithful church members who tithe and
give and serve and witness.
What? You get all of that from going on a mission trip?
Yes.
How?
Because men need other men to care about them and model for
them and teach them to be godly men of faith and action. As we plan and pray
together, as we prepare to go on mission and then as we work side by side,
share our faith together, pray together and all of the other things that happen
while on mission, God uses these experiences to shape and build men into
faithful followers of Christ. We become invested in each other’s lives. We are
iron sharpening iron.
You can be rich too!!
You may not be able to go with us on this mission trip but
you can invest in it. You can pray for us – not only that we prepare well, but
that we become the men we need to be to be effective witnesses. You can invest
financially. Some of the guys going are young men with young families working
in their first jobs or even looking for their first job after graduating from
college. Some have young families and students loans. They are willing to pay
their own way, but your investment will ease their minds as they learn to trust
God for provision. (and for that matter, God may have YOU in mind as part of
that provision)
When the children of Israel went into battle some of the men
had to stay behind to protect and care for the women and children. Even though
they couldn’t go into battle, they shared equally in the spoils. You can "share" in the "spoils" of our mission trip as you invest in these men.
My prayer is that you will choose to invest in Kingdom work
and in the lives of young men. Contact me or call the church office and talk to
Donna if you want to invest financially. At the next Man Church I’ll have the names
of men going with me so you can join together in praying for us.
Invest! Become rich in God's work!
