As promised, here’s our Third Quarter Giving letter. Right click below to download: Main 2-Page Economic Hope Letter from me Small Church Stat Insert from Kerrick (Note: These may not be the final versions we actually mailed – they were proofed and designed on letterhead before the final two-color printing. Thank God for proof readers!) We sent the two letters … Read More
How I Saved $2000
In 2003 I had a conversation with Steve Merriman and from that one conversation I saved over $2000 in taxes that year. Steve is the founder of Clergy Advantage (ClergySupport.com – you’ve heard me talk about them in the blog before – they are the ones who cleared me when I was recently audited – you can read about it … Read More
Challenge Others Toward Godly Stewardship – Pastor’s Financial Life: Part 5 of 5
Today, I’m wrapping up my five-part miniseries on the pastor’s financial life. I want to conclude by asking you to make this fourth and final commitment: 4 – I commit to challenging others toward Godly stewardship. Most pastors make the mistake of being too timid in the area of stewardship. We aren’t afraid to challenge our congregations on many other … Read More
Become An Expert on Biblical Stewardship – Pastor’s Financial Life: Part 4 of 5
This week, we are discussing four financial commitments I’ve made and that I’m challenging you to make. Today, let’s examine commitment #3: 3. The commitment to become an expert on biblical stewardship. I don’t think I had a single class on stewardship in seminary, so I had to go searching for the knowledge. Here are the books that helped me … Read More
Give More Than the Tithe – Pastor’s Financial Life: Part 3 of 5
This week, we are discussing four financial commitments I’ve made and that I’m challenging you to make. Today, let’s examine commitment #2: 2. The commitment to give more than the tithe Within weeks of becoming a Christian I was taught the biblical principle of tithing. I remember thinking: “What a great deal! God has gives me heaven and forgiveness and … Read More
Live Debt Free – Pastor’s Financial Life: Part 2 of 5
Yesterday, I talked about four financial commitments I’ve made and that I’m challenging you to make. Today, let’s examine Commitment #1: 1. The commitment to be DEBT FREE for the rest of my life. In 2002, just after Kelley and I had started The Journey Church, we were surprised to discover that we had over $16,000 in credit card and … Read More
Pastor’s Financial Life: Part 1 of 5
For the last two months I’ve been preparing for Financial Peace, a new series we started on Sunday at The Journey. This preparation made me think about my own financial journey. If you know some of my story (and I won’t repeat it here) then you know that in my teenage/pre-Christian years I made a lot of money writing computer … Read More
3rd Quarter Giving Statements
It’s October 2 so its time to start thinking about your 3rd Quarter Giving Statements. I haven’t written our third quarter letter yet but I will post it here as soon as I do (for a sample of my 2nd Quarter Giving Letter click here). The obvious issue to address in the letter is the ecomony. My letter will be … Read More
Where There’s Slack There’s Lack – Part 6 of 8
SYSTEM #6: THE STEWARDSHIP SYSTEM Wednesday has rolled around again! Time for the weekly installation of our eight-part “Where There’s Slack There’s Lack” series. I’m particularly excited about the system we are looking at today. It’s a crucial system and one that’s surrounded by a lot of questions and misconceptions… Have you ever had a hard time getting new believers … Read More
How to Survive an IRS Audit
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I’m being audited by the IRS. The case is ‘almost closed’ although there are still some minor paperwork issues to be handled. Hopefully everything will be settled by August. As it turns out, everything was ‘proper and in order’ with my 2006 return but I did learn some important lessons. First, I was … Read More