Ministering reconciliation...

My wife is one who loves to save money. I am a spender. Naturally, we clash on a lot of points in life, but one thing she got me hooked on is debt freedom. Biblically, I can point to many different points in the bible where it talks about being wise with money, being good stewards, and giving. But what about debt? There's a fun little verse in Romans where the writer says "let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another." (13:8). Immediately, my mind goes to forgiveness, but just after that God seems to have reminded me that we need to work on being as debt-free as possible. Now as a young couple, we had a few. Nowadays I think it is much easier to get into debt for longer periods of time. A car, a house, student-loans; shoot, you can even get into debt at Walmart, Target, or Verizon. The idea that you pay cash and buy something outright has gone out the window on many conventional things! So much so that people started demanding that

  1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. I have read this verse, heard it quoted, seen it on different signs and artwork for many years. One thing I can tell you is that it has to be one of the more misunderstood pieces of scripture out there. People believe that this verse, this wonderful example of God's provision, indicates that he will bail us out of any and all problems we face. I believed that too, but I have come to see that it is simply not the case. For those of you just finding this now, my name is Sam. I am a mid-thirties white male. I stand here today, working 4 jobs, trying to squeeze every ounce of energy, and time, I can before falling asleep next to the love of my life and doing it all over and over again 7 days a week, for the last 2 yea

2 Corinthians 2:1-14-16 When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it. But when I didn’t find Titus waiting for me with news of your condition, I couldn’t relax. Worried about you, I left and came on to Macedonia province looking for Titus and a reassuring word on you. And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. Pray: About 2 years ago now, my wife and I needed to buy a new roof for our house. We were given the option for delayed payment to buy some time to get s