A Philosophical Question

This may be a false dichotomy (I don't think so), but...

Is it more important to be right, or to be kind?

More on Big Dreams

I've put myself in a bind here, because I need to keep some of my big dreams private in order to preserve them (because long-term anonymity is a part of it). However, I'm glad some of you are taking the challenge of seriously considering the question.

I do not think that delineations of "for me" and "for God" are a good way to think. I do not belong to me. I am already bought and paid for. If the "for me" things do not have a "for God" component/angle then they need to go away. Yeah, I know that this is a bit "black and white" but I do think that this is a good way to think (at least aspirationally).

It is a dream of mine for PBC to be viable and growing (in attendance and influence) over the next 40 years even more so than it has for the prior 40.

It is a dream of mine to see my daughters saved and pure when the time comes for them to marry (if that happens).

It is a dream of mine that my wife will someday know just how much I love her.

It is a dream of mine to quit working for a living before I am 50.

That's enough for now.

Big dreams

OK, folks - what are your BIG dreams? You do have BIG dreams, right? Now, it may well be that your BIG dreams involve small actions over time. I truly believe that we serve a God who can accomplish ANYTHING - and the way I see it, our task is to find what He has going on and figure out how to contribute to that. If He is already at work, it makes more sense to me to find what He's doing and participate - rather than start something new and ask Him to bless it.

So - what are your BIG dreams?

Jazzed about SuperWeek

Yeah, it's 3 months away - but I'm JAZZED about SuperWeek. I'm so eager to see what the "next generation" will do this time around. I'm loving that we're in the last stages of the transition to PBCNext. I'm excited for the folks who are now driving the bus and I can hardly wait to see what happens!

God be praised!

The market is going down

Folks,

Heads up! Overall, the stock market will be going down for several months. It won't go in a straight line - the market NEVER moves in a straight line - but it will go down for months.

DISCLAIMER: This is just my opinion - and is not specific stock market or investment advice.

More thoughts on debt

1. I consider "debt" to be something you cannot (or would be challenged to) repay all at once. This would not include your power bill, etc. (unless you have a REALLY BIG power bill...) Things that you regularly pay to zero would not be debt in my opinion. Things that you finance for months or years would be debt.

2. I am REALLY challenged to think good thoughts about churches and debt. As a primary example, the congregation we attend. In my humble opinion, we are COMPLETELY HAMSTRUNG by our mortgage. We cannot add needed staff. We really cannot manipulate the budget in ANY significant way - because over 80% of the budget (as I understand it - was it closer to 90%?) goes to the mortgage. Is it good to have a building? Honestly, I have to say "maybe." It depends on how the building is used, and how it helps or hurts ministry and the calling of the church. (I know that is a nebulous answer, but I'm comfortable with that! grin) It is admittedly hard to build anything in the Atlanta area due to costs, but I'm speaking from a more general perspective. Is this the sort of "investment" that constitutes good stewardship? (I am not implying anything by asking this question. I am simply asking a question.)

3. As we have worked our way out of most of our debt - only our mortgage remains - we have experienced an ever-increasing feeling of freedom. Yet I can hardly wait to get this house paid off! It is one of my early goals to pay off this house from stock market gains. Some will argue that this is not good from a tax-consideration perspective. I am more concerned with eliminating the debt than having a tax advantage - at least at this point. I'll work to have other tax advantages as I grow to that point of need - but at this point I would not plan to take on significant debt as a tax advantage.

I am NO FINANCIAL EXPERT - but the sense of "bondage" due to debt cannot be ignored.

I look forward to reading your thoughts on this. Thanks for the discussion.