Some Notes from Camp- 2009:

Hey y'all!
Well, we're back from camp... actually, we've been back for quite some time now, but I'm just now getting a spare moment to post about some of the lectures.

6/30/09
Pastor Jim- Pay Your Debts

Q: What is debt?
A: Debt is something you owe.

-American Christians own 70% of the world's Christian wealth.

-We live in the most affluent society in human history.

-The average Christian gives 2.6% of his income.
(Emily's note: Which is way below what God requires Christians to give... 10%!)

-Matthew 6:19-21
¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

-Don't renounce treasure: relocate it.

-Put it where it lasts, send it on ahead in the form of giving to others and using it for God's work.

-Be smart with your (God's) money, not stupid!

Pastor Jim gave us 6 Treasure Principle Keys. He said that if we follow these keys, it should change dramatically the way we spend money.

Key #1: God owns everything; I am His money manager.
Psalm 24:1
Haggai 2:8
Lev. 25:23
I Cor. 6:19-20
Deut. 8:18
I Cor. 4:2
Romans 14:10-12
Matt. 25:21

Key #2: My heart always goes where I put God's money.
Ecc. 5:12
Matt. 6:12

Key #3: Heaven- the New Earth- not this earth under the curse, is my home.
We should live our lives as such... Just a passin' through.

Key #4: I should live not for the dot, but for the line.
The dot being the here and now. The line being eternity.
Hebrews 11:25-26
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
-Jim Elliot

Key #5: Giving is the only antidote to materialism.
I Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19
Malachi 3:10
Luke 6:38

Key #6: God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.
Proverbs 22:6