Worship in 6,900 Languages

As we sat in the South Common Community Centre, Mississauga Ontario – the world was walking by our table continually. In the 20 minutes that we waited at least 8 nationalities walked by our table. This place where the Chinese Church had their service is in the heart of a Multi Cultural community that Peterborough has never seen.

It is only 167 kms from our city but it could be another continent. What an amazing difference one hour and 50 minutes of driving makes.

I stumbled on to these important facts…

• According to the U.S. Census bureau, about 6.7 billion people are living in the world (projected to reach 7 billion by 2012).


• According to the Nations Online Project, these people live in 249 sovereign nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.


• According to the National Virtual Translation Center, Earth's people speak a total of about 6,900 languages.

With Canada’s openness to the world and its warm welcome extended to so many – it is quite conceivable that we have some one from every one of the 249 sovereign nations living in our country. We may also have the better part of the 6,900 languages at one point in any one day.

We, as Canadians, pride ourselves on being “Bilingual” – but we are way more than that. How do you described over 2000 languages being spoken at any one time- or maybe 3000 or more. That is my Canada. Yesterday there were few speaking English and none speaking French. Our Mother tongues were something that they could use – but not something they pride themselves in.

It was fun watching people in the Community Centre.

I had approached the main information and administration desk to ask where the Chinese Church was meeting. The guy looked at me and asked what the name of the church was. I was puzzled as to how to answer that one. I had forgotten to ask Franki what the church’s name was… after all how many Chinese Churches meet from 2 to 4 PM on Sunday afternoon?

Well the South Common Community Centre, Mississauga Ontario has four distinctly different Chinese Churches – each possibly speaking a different Chinese language – each meeting at the same time – in four different rooms.

So we sat and waited for the Chinese people that we might know to walk through the door.

As Christian pastor I have often spoken about a verse that has a huge content tucked inside…

John 3:16 (ESV) "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Its description of God’s commitment is huge. God’s commitment is much bigger that huge. My understanding is so little – as are, I suspect, many others around me as well.

I grinned to myself yesterday as we listened to and hummed along to the beautiful Chinese worship songs sung with such gusto. It was like heaven to hear them.

I grinned because – if I could just take this small group at that moment back to Peterborough and plunk them down into our church – what would people think?

I doubt we, as good “Peterborough-ites”, could handle something that different. The exuberance for one would throw us a little. As they were led by Franki only playing her guitar… it would throw us anyway – we have so much more. The fact that none of us in our church would understand their words would be a completely unnerving thing for us.

The worship was so good and so real. These people loved each other and loved singing together. Then when the Bible was read, they all read each word in unison – a beautiful experience of a rhythm all of its own.

Remember the stats that I quoted earlier? “According to the National Virtual Translation Center, Earth's people speak a total of about 6,900 languages.”…

Which one will be spoken in heaven? I am told that we will worship God using language. Others are there now doing just that… But which language will be the dominant one? Will it be yours?

If almost all the 7 million people now alive on earth, plus all the millions upon millions that have already passed away gathered to sing praises to God… what will its sound like?

A while ago…
One of my Young Assistant Pastors was confronted by an upset parent. He was upset because the Young Assistant Pastor had not made sure the youth group would attend a Southern Gospel Concert where the “Gaither kind of Music” would be played and sung.

The Young Assistant Pastor tried to explain that even the man’s own children didn’t like the music let alone a crowd of old people that would attend (sorry old people).

The man sputtered and being very close to losing it – shouted – “Why wouldn’t they – it is the music that will be sung in heaven?!!!” The irate parent went on to sputter that they better get used to it because it will be what heaven is hearing ALL THE TIME.

I was able to get the Young Assistant Pastor to at least laugh about the silly statement of this poor man.

Can you imagine the shock this poor dude will get when it is not the Gaither’s Music being played on heavenly harps? Can you imagine when he puts in his song request – and the harpist looks puzzled by his words let alone his song.

Too funny! Just too very funny!

I am truly sorry for you – if I stepped on your “Southern Gospel” toes… but IT WILL NOT BE THE MUSIC OF HEAVEN – nor will Country and Western or Rock n Roll…

With the Chinese people making up 25% or more of the population of the world and India taking the next 25% - over 50% will not be us… and within their groups there are 1000s of dialects. And THEIR MUSIC is VERY Different!

BUT YESTERDAY…
Yesterday I heard a small part of heaven sing. It came from their hearts and God smiled with deep pleasure. Oh it was so good… and I have missed this part so much!

I can’t wait for Heaven… and its 6900 different languages blended into one wonderful voice in pure praise for our Wonderful God….

Have a great big inclusive day….

~ Murray Lincoln ~

On Going Miracles

If I try to list the miracle in a string of words… here it is…

1980 to 1985 – Murray & Alida live in Hong Kong;
1985 – meeting with Mr. Chau’ and the Governor of Hainan Island, China;
1985 - coming home to Canada;
1980 – 1982 - Debbie D. lived with us in H.K.;
1985 – 1991 – Oakville and Scarborough, Ontario;
1989 – Rex Ing came into my life – we first met when he was a University student in Toronto – a Graduate Egineer;
1991 – 1994 – Yorkton, Saskatchewan – Debbie D. shares her story – going back to China;
1994 – 1998 – Regina, Saskatchewan;
1992 – “Bear” (Mr. Liu) – English Professor, the Head of the Hainan University English Dept – accepts Jesus in Regina and returns to China – he is Debbie D.’s close friend;
1998 – 2008 – ministry in Peterborough, Ontario;
2004 – meeting Franki Li in Peterborough;
2005 – meeting Mr. and Mrs Li – Franki’s parents at graduation;
2008 – this week – Rev Rex Ing suggests that she call Murray Lincoln to come to the church to preach.
2008 – Sunday 21st – the afternoon service at the Chinese Church meeting in the South Common Community Centre, Mississauga Ontario…

It has taken 23 years and 4 months to arrive at this particular point in my life to see this Miracle happen. Today I am speaking in the Chinese Church in Mississauga, Ontario. I will share the miracle of God moving in my life and the lives of so many precious Chinese people.

It is a great honour to be able to follow the Lord in this way – one step at a time.

When we met Franki at our church in Peterborough, it was a very short meeting and prayer time for her. Her young friend Kenny asked me to pray for her. Kenny had just become a Christian as well and believed that when we prayed something would happen. We prayed and it happen – God blessed and moved deeply in Franki’s life. She had just arrived back from Mexico where she had continued her studies.

Franki had returned to Peterborough to complete her studies. She grew in Christ as a Christian. Then she continued to move as new jobs came up and new opportunities came her way. And through it all she has stayed involved with a church wherever she lives.

This week Franki called to ask if I could come to her church to speak. Rev. Rex Ing had told her to call me. (Remember Rex… he had come from his graduation from the University of Toronto and his career as a very capable Engineer with Ontario Hydro – to take his Theological training to become a pastor… I had met Rex just after he had become a Christian under the leadership of another young Chinese Christian Pastor Jonathan Lee, from Singapore, that was doing his Internship with me in Scarborough.)

This story is a life time of God moving in me and around me. I am so thankful to be this close to the Miracle – and today to be in the middle of seeing the Miracle continue to happen.

Oh I forgot… Franki is a rising Church Leader, not a pastor(yet). Today she is my Translator for the English Sermon into Mandarin.

AND - Her mom and dad came from China again. While they are here on this trip her mother strongly gave her profession of faith and was Baptized two weeks ago today.

Today we will meet with Franki’s parents. We are absolutely delighted to meet with them again. Franki said that they are very excited as well.

You see… I have prayed for the Li family since I met Franki. Her father was very ill and not expected to live as I remember. He is doing well. Her mother is a dynamic leader in China – and has watched her daughter be transformed as she has become a Christian. Now they are fully immersed in the new faith.

Does the story seem too complicated to understand? That is why I listed some of it – carefully at first. It is God moving in me… and around me – always for my best and always in His perfect timing.

It is as if there is a Gold Thread of Blessing that is strung steadily through so many circumstances around me… And as God does the weaving the Tapestry in our lives is nothing short of amazing.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

SPS – that is a Special Post Script…
This week I received notice that I have been approved and accepted into the “Ontario Self Employed Benefits Program” or the O.S.E.B. program. That will allow me to begin work on my New Business – of WOOD CARVING! This will all help our practical side of ongoing financing our lives and making a way for our personal security.

With this I move from the Employment Insurance benefit – E.I. Under E.I. any money you make after 25% of the E.I. money is deducted from the weekly allowance. It was easier to not work – you made more…!

With the new S.E.B. I will receive about the same amount each week as under E.I. Any money that comes in while I am working with S.E.B. is added to the amount – NOT TAKEN AWAY! That will last for 40 weeks!

The ultimate goal of Chaplaincy Ministry with Leading Influence Ministry is then one step closer. Soon we will be able to see a further income from this ministry begin to flow. The Mechanism is now almost in place.

This week also we have received the largest Gift for our Chaplaincy ever! God has opened a Flood Gate somewhere and the Blessings he promised are flowing freely.

Thank you for praying for us! Thanks so much!
~ ML ~

Dirty Baseballs

The concern first surfaced in a Baseball Game in 1920 from what I have determined. A pitcher through his baseball over the home plate, but he lost control with a slippery new ball – and it hit the batter on the head and killed him. A tragedy to say the least to have a “wild ball” kill some one.

It was shortly after that Lena Blackburne developed the Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud. It was a special mud retrieved from a section of the Delaware River running through New Jersey. In fact it is a secret even today.

It seems that Pitchers had tried to use shoe polish and chewing tobacco juice to get the smooth surface off the new ball. The smooth surface being the problem with a wild pitch.

Everyone has used the Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud since that time.

However a young bat boy, Cameron Kruse, that was doing the rubbing of the newly mudded balls to prepare them for the pitcher, dreamed up a new invention. You can see him and his invention work by clicking on the YouTube connection below. An Amazing Guy!

The whole story points me to the thought that I have wondered about over these years. The hidden secrets of a better way are just under my nose. With a little thought I will find them – but when I am too busy I will never do much more than complain.

I need to take time to see how I might find a different way to do it.

This is so true when you are wood carving. The old way may not be the best way. In one kind of carving that first took me almost three days to do – I now have it down to six hours. It looks like it takes three days – but my price proves it is six hours…. Mind you – if I can find some one that will pay for a three day job I will up the price….

My dad said to me many times, “Murray, don’t be afraid to learn something new.” And I believed him. So I live that way. It was the best advice that he ever gave me.

Now if you look at the Invention that Cameron Kruse made, it is made from Lego. Go figure! The kid played with Lego and now likely will be a Millionaire soon. He kind of looks like Bill Gates come to think of it.

Cameron Kruse pointed out a new thought as well. A well rubbed and “dirty” baseball is hard to see coming at you at 97 MPH. A clean white ball is easier to hit.

I remember pitching a long time ago. Everyone wanted me to use the new ball then – because they could see it better. But when I threw it I often hit the batter. I knew then that something was wrong but had no idea how to fix it. The old ball that had hit the ground and the water spots on the field always worked better.

Why didn’t I invent it? Well for one thing we didn’t have Lego… and I am not really as sharp as Cameron Kruse.

Now today I have a problem… hmmmm?

~ Murray Lincoln ~
(PS – I never mentioned Mortgage once… but I still hate debt…)

Sources…
YouTube of new Invention by Cameron Kruse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUEy8cFKHMQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur9QNW5pcNY
Dirt on Baseball
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1018/p18s02-hfks.html?s=widep

Mortgage - The Dead Pledge

Okay – Okay enough about debt already Murray… tell us a lighter side story to make us feel good. Please?!

Here is the lighter story today… It started that way on my front porch… but first… just a wee bit more to understand.

Mortgage…
I am stunned by the amount of money that is owed across the USA and Canada! As I read the statistics being offered for us to understand my mind simply turned off – I cannot fathom how big $1.3 Trillion Dollars is. I think that is 1000 Billion – 3 times over. And that amount is only 6.8% of the loans outstanding in the USA.

Can you see why my mind simply turns off.

One article stated that…
Approximately 16% of subprime loans with adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) were 90-days delinquent or in foreclosure proceedings as of October 2007, roughly triple the rate of 2005. By January 2008, the delinquency rate had risen to 21%[ and by May 2008 it was 25%.

No wonder they have a crisis now!

As I mulled over this I was looking closely at the word Mortgage. There at the start of the word is the French word for “death” – ‘Mort’. I understood the second part in English – to measure – ‘gage’. Is it measured death?

Mortgage explanation from Wikipedia
A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt. It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower.

The term comes from the Old French "dead pledge," apparently meaning that the pledge ends (dies) either when the obligation is fulfilled or the property is taken through foreclosure.

Okay… but it tends to have new meaning in 2008 – Mortgage means death now… or something that will kill you – if not taken care of.

I have a Mortgage – and at times it kills me… but my bank is gracious to receive my payments each week – lightening the debt load.

Now back to my Front Porch…
There suspended gracefully from the pillar and the flower pot is the gigantic spider’s web you see earlier. It is not a light web but rather sticky and stronger than usual.

When I pulled it apart two days ago it suck to my hand. Actually it stuck my face and hair as I had stuck my head into it by accident.

This has to be proof of the persistence of its builder. It was back again each day in the same spot. Finely crafted and built with an intelligence and ability that few engineers that I know have.

I looked closer at the webs near this spectacular weaving. There in the middle was a black, oblong case. Kind of like a brief case I think. Looking closely I pulled it from the web where it was fastened tightly. I pulled the black case open. There inside was a scrunched up creature that was indeed dead. He or she had unfortunately flew into or fallen into the web, stuck there and then was greeted by one of God’s amazing packing and handling creatures. Mr. Spider moved in on it and wrapped it up tightly.

A I looked at this amazing display and thought of the persistence of this Mr. Spider. His ability to quickly weave a Web with such ingenuity – then lay in wait for something to happen along.

Here he is in his splendor. He measures almost an inch in length and has amazing colouring. As I looked up from the Web – he was looking down at me. Though the photo doesn’t catch it – he is salivating I am sure rubbing his four long front legs together.
Looking very closely at one of the photos after placing it on my computer – there as a tiny sign hanging near the bottom – I didn’t catch it at first… but sure enough – there it was.

Here is the evidence. See below....I am sending this on to the “National Enquirer” and or another Newspaper in England – I am sure they will pay big dollars for this one. Mr. Spider is so honest.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

Sources
Mortgage…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortgage
Subprime Mortgage values
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subprime_mortgage_crisis

White's Resting Place

As we walked through the still cemetery it was magical. The overcast sky hovered over the scene before us. There were a few birds singing. A Canadian Goose sat near a tree not far away. Quiet surrounded us. A beautiful Peace was everywhere.

In front of us was the most unusual Grave Stone I had ever seen. It was solid cement – unlike the fancy and polished stones that others had placed over their loved ones. Just cement made this marker.

But this was really different from anything before or after its placing. There was only one other that would be similar to it – over a bit north of this one. It was also cement but entirely different from the one in front of us.

Under the stone is buried W. A. White – who passed away on Oct 12, 1902 at 42 years of age. On the South Side of the stone there is the lettering informing you of who is located at the spot. That is all that is said. Nothing more. Until you move around to the East Side where more is written… “In Memory of Lena Mitchell wife of W.A. White, Died Mar 29, 1898, Aged 36 Years – also their son Gerald, aged 10 weeks. Remembered.”

As you put the South Side and East Side words together the whole story becomes more clear. Lena passed away in child birth. 10 weeks later little Gerald died. W.A. White was 38 years old when his beloved passed away that horrible Mar 29. Then W.A. lived for another 4 years passing in the fall, right around Thanksgiving(that we know today) – likely a broken hearted man that never recovered.

In 1898 it was not unusual for women to die in child birth in rural Canada. And it was not unusual for the child to die later without his mother there to look after him. And it was not unusual for a young father to sorrow – but with Child Birth Deaths being high – it was highly likely that the young father would marry again. W.A. did not marry again.

The grave stone indicates that W.A. White is buried here – and Lena is remembered… likely buried somewhere else.

Now the very unusual part of the Grave Marker…made of cement. It is finely crafted – actually poured then engraved is my guess – into the shape of a Log Cabin completed on all four sides. The brick chimney includes the fine detail of the mortar protruding from between the bricks. The ends of the logs are axe hewn. The front door where Lena’s name is inscribed has a finely crafted door pull and the cabin window is finely crafted as well… all out of cement.

My “romantic imagination” tells me more of the story – though I can find no other proof.

W.A. White and his new bride moved into their small, newly built log cabin somewhere out in the rural area from Lindsay, Ontario. Taking his new bride from her family(or place) in Lindsay they were continuing to develop their new land and new future together. They were deeply in love. Unlike other couples every one knew them as something special. Their commitment to each other was amazing.

Word came to their parents that possibly lived in Lindsay. They were to be grandparents. Their daughter Lena was to have a child. They were worried as she lived so far from the Town of Lindsay but were reassured, “I will be alright…everything will be just fine! Don’t worry.” said Lena in the fall of 1897.

Winter was hard in that little log cabin. There was lots of snow and W.A. worked hard to keep the water open for his animals to drink.

Then on March 28th it started to happen… Lena was having great pains… the baby was coming. They were not sure when it would happen. They had just known it would be soon. The deep snow outside had kept them in the cabin hoping for a break in the weather. But even if there had been a break – Lena was so uncomfortable that a ride out of their farm to the nearest next farm was almost impossible – let alone all the way to Lindsay. They would have to do this themselves – maybe even just W.A. – the young farmer – as the midwife… all alone and frightened to death.
After the baby finally was born he struggled to make her comfortable but she was very low. She had lost a lot of blood. I can only imagine what a young 38 year old man on 1897 might have thought when he stood over his deeply sleeping wife. And we will never know what actually happened at the end. With tiny Gerald crying for his first milk in the crib beside her – she could hear him but do nothing.

On the Grave Stone its says “In Memory of Lena Mitchell…” and then at last “Gerald 10 weeks – Remembered”.

It is not unlikely that W.A. buried his precious Lena near the cabin. Then he tried to look after tiny Gerald – if not for the 10 weeks at least until the weather changed enough for him to get out. Can you imagine keeping up the farm work and looking after a baby in 1898?

Remember… I said earlier… “My “romantic imagination” tells me more of the story.” I really don’t know what happened… I have only put pieces together.

As we stood quietly and looked on… the small log cabin told all of the story for whoever would stop and read it. We did. And I honour W.A. White whoever you were – you were a man of honour!

One final thing is the names. W.A. White had two names before his family name. Lena had only one.

In the tradition of their solid British heritage that said something all by itself…. W.A. White was from a family that had means – they were land owners in Britain before coming to Canada. W.A. may well have come on his own. Lena Mitchell, also from Britain, had one name only – her family did not come from the same class as his did. One name only meant that her parents did not own land and could not give their children two names. Servants maybe? Maybe working for the rich folks that lived in the big house?

Or maybe – just maybe – Lena Mitchell had been W.A. White’s parents maid in Lindsay… and W.A. fell in love with her… One question... who paid for and who made the Monument? Hmmm?

Ooops there goes My “romantic imagination” telling me more of the story.

With young couples living to the max today, stretched to the max with their over spending, maxed out Line of Credits…(the stuff I have been writing about) – this story adds another perspective.

I encourage you today to think about W.A. White and his Lena together with their little Gerald. And if you are in Lindsay – the Grave Marker is not far from the River, north end of the cemetery, cross the bridge – turn left at the pioneer history marker… past the tree where the Canada Goose was sitting…. Then on the left… among all the giants of great polished granite – you will find one small log cabin.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

China’s Changing Youth – the New Church Coming

Yesterday I pointed carefully to the young couple that I have come across in my life. Debt ridden and buried in new problems, attending a church that is facing the same kind of problems as the individual does. Their own problems are their main concern – not that of a Church Group… leaving the church to face its own problems in a serious way.

Further study of the crisis in the USA in the financial power districts like Wall Street seems to lead down to the individual family crisis and their Family Home Mortgage problems along with personal debt. In fact the huge banking organizations failed when they were carrying too many huge bundles of failed Mortgages. The Mortgages all failed when the value of the houses dropped so low that it was worth far less than what was owed on it.

Do you remember when the greatest drive was to get a place or your own and simply provide a good life for your family?
Do you remember when the greatest drive was also to get out of debt as soon as possible and then build toward the future?
Do you remember a time that no one would ever consider having debt at all?

If you remembered these times – you are likely over 60 years old and maybe even in your 80s.

As I have been studying and writing about money problems and cash flow I came across the article that I am publishing here in full. It is relevant to what we see happening around us now. It is written by a friend of mine, David Wang, the President Emeritus of Asian Outreach and published in Asian Report.

The article is entitled “A New and Tough Congregation” (page 5 of link below).

I ask as you read it consider the similarities to our North American family setting. Then consider the church that they attend and the one that we have in our hemisphere.

Enjoy…
~ Murray Lincoln ~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“A New and Tough Congregation”
By David Wang
The topic of their private discussions at the spa, and over meals, was the changing characteristics of their congregations. Over the years it was always accepted that believers gathering in China’s Three-Self official churches were mostly elderly, the remnants of China’s missionary era. Whereas congregations in the rural house churches were made up of mostly semi-illiterate peasantry. “Both of them are relatively simple, passive and obedient,” the urban church leaders expressed. “They are grateful just to be able to gather to worship. And if there happened to be someone to preach from their pulpits, they are satisfied.”

But then, China’s urban churches are a new phenomenon. People they attract are post-Cultural Revolution. They are shaped by the social changes and dynamics of 30 years of Open Door Free Market policy. In other words: much more freedom and wealth.

Of their young congregations, the urban house church pastors are now identifying these new personas:

1. Individualistic: They are all single children of China’s One Child Law, who have been raised as “China’s Little Emperors and Empresses.”

“We are all self-centered, low EQ’ed, spoiled brats. And unfortunately — we are proud of it!” One IT specialist, in her late 20s, thus described herself and her friends in church. “We don’t know how to really be considerate or care about others.”

2. Irresponsible: In their growing up, few, if any, have had to share responsibilities or struggle together with their parents to make ends meet. “Our only responsibility was to do well in school, to get ahead,” the same young woman told us. “Even then, our parents hired private tutors to serve us. And the tutors got the blame if we didn’t improve.”

3. Entitlement: This generation of city youth are used to being given everything by their “Six Adults” — two sets of grandparents, plus their own parents. These senior generations have suffered much poverty and hardship in their own lives. Thus they just can not stop piling everything onto their one and only child.

China’s popular Youth Daily has dubbed this Now Generation as the “Wealthiest in the 5,000 years of our history, and the most undeserving.” The urban pastors lament that their congregations are taking it for granted that the world owes them everything.

4. Consumerism: “For the first 50 years of New China, our national hobby was to save everything. We were frugal to the point of being miserly.” Professor Zhang Xinghua, of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, once told me. “In the last 10 years the national hobby has changed 180°. The Chinese now are spending everything.”

The youth most probably will add this footnote to the professor’s remark, “And we spend it on ourselves!” They eat at restaurants, shop at malls, visit cinemas, and sing at karaoke’s. Almost always chasing after the latest, and most fashionable of these. Likewise they hop churches.

5. Info-overload: During this very retreat, China’s Internet population topped 250 million. “It’s now the world’s largest, and growing exponentially.” The trend is, at all costs to push China from the Agricultural Revolution into the Information Revolution, bypassing the Industrial Revolution.

“Our congregations are now using mobile phones to do their daily reading. Whether its news, sports, weather reports, or even the Bible,” the pastors acknowledge. “They have all downloaded concordances, references, dictionaries, even lexicons onto their hand phones.” The knowledge level of China’s urban church is rapidly rising. “But the level of commitment to a new life in Christ is not.”

The Church in China endured the Cultural Revolution and learnt to overcome - in persecution. Please pray that the Church of China today will also overcome - in prosperity.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Murray Lincoln’s comment… does it seem odd to you that the Young Chinese Population has caught up to and maybe even are running a neck to neck tie - with our society - for first place in Self Centredness? Hmmmm?

From
http://www.asianoutreach.org/News/documents/AR289-web2.pdf

This Debt is Killing Me

The sickening look on the young man’s face was evidence enough of the pain that he was feeling. As he described the almost hopeless feeling of having this large debt hanging over his head he shook his head slowly from side to side saying, “This debt is killing me.”

He accrued more debt since his college days. In college he had come out owing and had not been able to get free of the student loan. At the time he got the student loan it was the only way – he would graduate and then get a good job – paying off the loan easily. But not now – the debt mountain was impossible.

How did it happen? Well it was so easy it makes your head spin to hear the story.

After graduation he met his wife to be. They hit off right from the start. One date led to another. They didn’t need "e-Harmony" – they were lucky – they found each other without having to pay any “hooking up” price to find each other.

When they married he came into the marriage with $25,000 school debt. She had another $18,000 school debt. That is suddenly $43,000 to take care of with one “I do”… with not so good of an income.

She also had a car that she had bought new on a special long term kind of low payment offer the dealership was giving to those that qualified. She had bought it with a down payment out of her student loan and then kept up the monthly payments with her on-growing student loan. It was justified in that instead of paying the costs of travel on a bus or in car pooling to the University – the money was going into her own car – which some day would be paid off.

The odd thing was the financing on the car was not through a normal place of financing but somewhere that you had to keep paying a certain amount on the lease/purchase payments. It was now 5 years old and she owed more than the car was worth if she could sell it and the car had problems that would cost a lot to fix! It was their only vehicle.

Though they were graduates she didn’t get the best job in the world. She was working at something far less than her education would offer – but that was all she could find – and this job didn’t pay that well. The owner of the business was known to be fugal – or tight – very tight with his money. The reason he did okay in business is that he paid little.

Then it happened. It was pure joy at first with the unexpected announcement – she was pregnant. A baby was coming.

They hadn’t really checked into what would happen if she did get pregnant. Maternity leave was to be theirs – but the amount paid to them for her maternity leave wasn’t as much as she was making for sure – the salary she was making was cut. Her maternity leave benefits were 55% of what she was making…which had been about $24,000 a year or about $460 per week… which then went down to $253 a week at the 55% mark… and that lasted for the period of her maternity leave.

Then there was the problem of what it cost them for day care and where would it be. All the day cares were full up… the one that they did get cost $25 per day…not bad.

His salary had remained pretty much the same since graduation, making $36,000 per year. There was a hope that maybe there would be a raise at the end of the first year – but nothing so far. The company’s performance had not been what head office had expected and the down turn in their market had made the raise not possible.

To get by over the first year and get settled they had bought a few things. With the new credit card they had paid for a few things more. Then they borrowed some money from her brother. The new High Definition TV was a blessing – now they could watch great movies at home and no more $35 night outs at the theater… with the cable package they had they had lots of movies….

Pause…
The story went on and on. As it unraveled there was little or no hope for them to start paying off more student loans – if any. The calls were coming about missed payments so were the letters – and the brother that loaned the money was moving and needed his money back.

I could see why the debt was killing him. The love for each other was evaporating and she was not as responsive to his desire and love making any more.

What a mess.

One thing about it – they did attend church. They were involved somewhat. But when the church needed to ask for the extra offerings and itself was falling behind on its cash flow – they couldn’t help. They just felt like staying home and not hearing the pastor’s appeals for everyone to work together and give just that little bit more.

The young man looked at me and confessed, “Pastor, we have not been able to give much to the church at all. We do not and cannot tithe. We are so maxed out that I can’t find any money to give anything – let alone more.”

Reflection…
When our Northview Pentecostal Church built its structure and became known as the New Church up there on that hill – in 1980 it was not the same for young couples then. And at that time the older couples – middle age and beyond were solid givers. You could do almost anything with faith and in faith. The $1,350,000 debt was doable… and even the 20% interest being paid on that debt was possible.

No one would have guessed then that the next generation would face the obstacles that they do today with finances. And no one had thought it through far enough to see what it means to have to keep up payments without the solid growing base that is needed.

No one thought that “the base that gives” in a church would eventually be so far in debt themselves and be using their own Line of Credit so much that they couldn’t worry about a Church Line of Credit.

Sure… Sure… I know that God can give us a revival and a wonderful move of His Holy Spirit… and that will likely happen soon. But unless that move of God includes a Revival of Local Salaries and pays our young people more – it will not see a great tithe or offering coming in …. And unless they get a hold on their debt – they might want to help but for the most part it will be almost impossible… almost…

I talked with one pastor that told of the need they have locally. Almost all of their bright young adults and young couples have considered moving to Alberta and other places where they can make more money and pay down some of their bills.

Yesterday’s further announcements about the further unfolding disaster in the USA financial world made me quiver and shake a bit.

The last Saturday’s sudden rise in the price of Gas – up 13 cents a Litre in one jump – nearly floored us. That was done even before there was a problem with supply somewhere in the USA… and in actual fact it will not make any difference to our Gas supply in Canada AT ALL.

“NOW… next Sunday – I am asking you to double your TITHE of 10% at church and then give a special OFFERING this MONTH on top of that… next month we need you to do that again – only this time you need to double your TITHE of 10% to 20% two Sundays to help us face the first snow storm and the plowing…”

As I thought that thought out loud… I settled back down… I am no longer the pastor and I don’t have to say that anymore… Whew! There is some relief today…

~ Murray Lincoln ~

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)