EKG: Ministry flows from the Heart

from my message on Jan 20, 2013, week 1 of Extravagant Generosity, from I Tim. 6:17-19, Matthew 6:21

What would you do if I told you that giving was good for you?  That generosity is good for your heart?  I looked at some studies from reputable universities and hospitals published by people with initials behind their names like M.D. and Ph.D.  These studies showed that generosity is good for you.  You are happier.  Giving activates the region of the brain associated with pleasure and that there is the release of oxytocin, dopamin, and seratonin.  You are healthier.  Generous persons live longer, have a decrease in their stress levels, have lower blood pressure, and a boost to their immune systems.  You connect with other people.  Giving persons have more and better social interactions.

I share with you the story of Cami Walker who was a well paid ad executive.  She was in her early 30's and had just gotten married when she was diagnosed with MS, multiple sclerosis.  She lost the use of her hands, vision in one eye, and then much mobility.  Within 2 years, she had quit her job, grown dependent upon her husband for almost everything, and developed an addiction to prescription drugs.

One night in a low mental state, she called her spiritual guide, Mbali, a South African medicene woman.  She only wanted to whine and complain.  Mbali cut her off and gave her a task:  give away 29 gifts in 29 days.  Cami couldn't believe it.  "I can barely get out of bed.  How can I do this?"  "It doesn't have to be material.  Just give something away every day."

The first day, Cami called a friend who also had MS, but in a more advanced state.  The friend delighted in the call.  Cami felt lighter.  "IT does feel good to give."  Then just got a call out of the blue for a consulting job.  She took herself to breakfast to celebrate.  An anonymous guy paid for it!

She wrote a NY Times bestseller, 29 Gifts:  How a month of giving can change your life.  She inspire a world of giving, spreading to over 48 countries and many dollars and hours of giving.  She got her health back.  The disease stopped its progression.  She kicked the drug habit.  Her marriage grew stronger.

Giving is good for you.  We start these four weeks of Extravagant Generosity.  Let's see, 4 x 7 = 28 days.  I wonder if you could practice 29 days of generosity to see what difference it might make in your life. 

Remember, I only want what is best for you.  That's why I invite you to give.  Sometimes people complain, "The church is always asking for money."  Yes, we take an offering every week.  It's good for you.  It reminds you to practice health and wholeness and holiness.  I guess you could thank me for asking for money.  It is good for you.

Let's take an EKG test right now.  There is a columnist in our Austin paper who writes on financil matters.  Scott Burns usually has keen insights.  Months ago he wrote about a book by Philip Slater that come out in 1983 entitled Wealth Addiction.  Inside the cover of Scott's book, Philip wrote, Money is America's most powerful drug.  Here's how it weakens us and how we can free ourselves." Take this EKG test to see how you are doing when it comes to giving and generosity:
Do you accumulate money without any immediate plans to use it?
Are you obessed with displaying your wealth through possessions (showing off)?
Do you use money to gain power or advantage?
Do you crave recognition and use your money to get it?
Can you not stop spending even when it isn't necessary to spend?
One key thought:  do you have more possessions, but less use?  You may own homes you never visit, have shoes you never wear, collect watches or car or golf clubs you never use.

St. Paul in his letter to Timothy has some counsel to save our souls.  He says, "Do good, be rich in good works, ready to share."  I know you love the original Greek, so "ready to share" comes from the Greek work koinania, our word for fellowship and community.  We are all in this together.

There is a school district outside of New Orleans that has 4,000 special needs kids. St. Tammany had all of these kids that saw themselves as helpless because they were always receiving, never giving.  Jeanie Bernard met with janitors, parents, teachers, administrators, and PTA's to find out what some of the needs of the district were.  The children went along to discover how they could give.

One autistic boy was so agressive that people were afraid of him.  But they found that he liked to pick up the attendance forms from the classroom doors. It was a job that needed to be done, and he could do it.  It was amazing the change that came over him.  He became a different person!  He was no longer someone who needed help; he could provide help.  The whole system changed as  the district understood that everyone was ready to share.  Giving is good for us.

I think you get it.  I challenged you more than 5 1/2 years ago to become a 50/50 church where we spent 50% on internal ministries and 50% on others.  We are not there yet, but we continue to grow.  What I love about this church is how generous you are.  Any Baby Can was born out of this congregationl.  Mobile Loaves and Fishes has their executive offices in our Bldg M.  You go out on many runs to feed the homeless with ML & F.  You host Interfaith Hospitality Network 2 weeks a year to help people transition out of being homeless.  You gave $3,224.06 on Christmas eve to our Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio so that  Marc and Shantelle could adopt a child.  You are going on Point in the World today to take clothes to the homeless at Church under the Bridge.  You have giving over $35,000 to Imagine No Malaria which has purchased more than 3,500 mosquito nets saving lives in Africa.  You youth go to fix up homes in N. Carolina at ReCre.  You provide space on Fridays for Al-Anon so that family members dealing with addictions can keep on course. 

What do you love about our church?  Watch this video, and then fill out your card.
Keep giving.  It's good for you, and for God's world.