At the end of yesterday’s sermon called “Worthless Investments,” I gave the challenge to commit to re-align how we handle the treasure (money, finances, wealth) that God has given us (If you missed the sermon, you should listen to it on podcast).  Afterwords, I talked to a few people who really wanted to do this, but didn’t know how.  So, here is a budget worksheet that can help you (budget-worksheet1).  Below is an explanation of how to navigate through this worksheet.  If you do this, I think this is really going to help you take steps in the right direction financially.

Pastor Ronnie

Budget Spreadsheet

Fill out the attached spreadsheet as accurate as possible with a realistic working budget.  Here are a few things to consider as you are filling out the budget

• MAKE SURE YOU ONLY TYPE NUMBERS UNDER THE MONTH SIDE.  THE EQUATIONS ARE ALREADY SET IN THE WORKSHEET AND WILL FIGURE THE YEAR AMOUNTS AS WELL AS THE PERCENTAGES. 
• Only work in both spouse’s income if you are married and will be living off both incomes
• Your over/under cannot be in the negative, so you may have to decide what expenses to cut out
• Try to keep fixed expenses as low as possible

Budget Method

Discuss what budget method will be most suitable for you to maintain your budget sufficiently.  In order to maintain your budget you must both (if married) agree on a method that suits your needs and is easy to maintain.  Here are a few examples (but not limited to these):

• Check/Debit Card System: Much like the credit card system below, but a check register is used as well.
• Credit Card System: All variable expenses and as many fixed expenses as possible are put on credit card and one check is written at end of month after recording expenses from statement
• Envelope System: Envelopes are kept in the house with the variable expenses written on the front of them.  At the beginning of the month the specified amount for that expense is placed in the envelope and withdrawn at time of desired spending

Budget Facilitator

If married, who will facilitate the budget and communicate to the other partner the progress of the budget?  How will this be done on a day to day basis (computer spreadsheet, budget book, etc.)?

I have to share this story of life transformation with you.  Not just becuase it is a reminder of why we do what we do, but becuase it is a reminder about who our God is!!!

“Ivan” is a friend of mine who lives in Birmingham, AL.  He has come up to visit us in Omaha many times since August.  Over the past few months, we have had some really good spiritual conversations.  He has always told me that he was against Christianity, the church, Jesus, etc.  Well…everything changed last night.

Through months of prayer and conversation, Ivan’s life was radically changed yesterday.  He is in town visiting, and came to service at Relevant yesterday.  At the end of service, a lady from our prayer team felt like she needed to pray with Ivan.  She approached him to ask him if she could pray, and he said yes.  At the end of the prayer she told him that she believed God was working on His heart.  After church Ivan asked me if we could talk.  So, last night we went to Starbucks.  For almost two hours we talked about his spiritual journey, his spiritual questions, his fears.  At the end of the conversation he said that he believed Jesus was tugging on his heart, but that he was afraid to surrender his life to Jesus.  He said he felt like there was another force keeping him where he was at.  I explained that there was another force pulling on him, and it was Satan.  We talked more and Ivan told me that He really wanted to put his faith in Jesus, but didn’t know how.  I explained how, and Ivan said he was ready.

So, we drove back to my house.  With Kristy and a few of our friends, Ivan prayed in my kitchen.  He put his faith in Jesus, asked Him to be the forgiver of his sins and the leader of his life.  Ivan surrendered his life to Jesus last night in my kitchen.  THANK YOU LORD!

My God is a powerful God!  No one is our of reach for my God.  My God is sufficient for all.  My God’s arms are open to all.  My God is ready to forgive all.  My God is ready to set all free.  My God is a the God who gives life!

Pastor Ronnie

I have to tell you this awesome story.  The only reason I can tell you this is because God is powerfully working.  What follows happened yesterday, and I am writing now what I wrote in my prayer journal this morning about what took place.

“The most rewarding part of why we do what we do happened yesterday…and it is all because of you, Lord.  Yesterday morning at church I gave a message on “Christmas and Judgment Day” – which was basically a strait forward gospel message.  It challenged people to see if they really have put their faith in you.  After church we had an ‘event’ called Starting Point, which is a luncheon at my house for people who are unconnected to find out about Relevant, ask questions, get to know Kristy and me, etc.  A woman named Ash (name changed) came.  She is about 28 years old and has visited 3-4 times.  She had told me she grew up Catholic, but walked away from you in high school…to the point that she told her mom that you didn’t exist. 

“At the end of Starting Point I opened it up for questions.  At this time, people usually ask stuff about Relevant.  However, Ash asked how do we really know if we are “saved” (which was the whole point of my message at church yesterday).  She said she now believes in you, but has never felt or experienced you in any fashion.  I could tell you were at work in her, so I put what was taking place at Starting Point on hold.  I started asking Ash questions about her spiritual journey, and she said she had never put her faith in you and started a relationship.  I then asked her what was keeping her from surrendering her life to you and making you her God today.  She said NOTHING!  I asked Ash if she was ready to do that.  She said YES!  So, I asked everyone at Starting Point (not knowing where everyone was at on their spiritual journey) to get around Ash. 

“I told her I was going to pray first, and then challenged her to do the one thing she has never done…verbally ask you to be her God and surrender her life to you.  I proceeded to pray, and then told Ash it was time.  With tears rolling down her face and her crying so hard that you could hardly understand her, Ash asked out loud in front of people she didn’t hardly know, for you to be her God. She put her faith in you, asked for your forgiveness, and asked you to be the leader of her life.  There was not a dry eye in that circle of people.  The really cool thing is that her parents, the ones whom she told 10-12 years ago that you didn’t exist, were there and got to experience their daughter coming into a relationship with you. 

“She surrendered her life to you in my basement.  You changed her eternity in my basement.  She experienced for the first time the gift of Christmas in my basement.  You gave her a new heart and your spirit entered her in my basement.  THANK YOU FOR WORKING!!!”

This is what the Church is all about.  This is why Relevant exists!

We will be having our first baptism service at Relevant on 11/15.  I can’t wait.  Baptizing people is one of my favorite things to do, because of what it means and signifies.  We would like to see everyone at Relevant who should be baptized, get baptized on 11/15.   However, a lot of people have asked me what baptism means, and if they should be baptized.  In order to help answer those questions, below is a quick synopsis of what Relevant believes about baptism.  If after reading over this, you feel like it is time for you to “take the plunge” :), sign up on the website by 11/12.  If you have any questions, or would like to talk more about baptism, please feel free to call or email.  We would love to help you work through everything. 

Pastor Ronnie

What Relevant Believes about Baptism

What does baptism mean?

·        Baptism does not make you a Christian: Baptism publicly illustrates what took place in a person’s heart when they became a follower of Christ  

·        Baptism illustrates a follower of Christ uniting with Jesus’ death and burial: Baptism is a symbolic water grave that illustrates the death and burial of a person’s old, sinful life when they become a follow of Christ by putting their faith in Jesus (1 Cor. 15:3-4)

·        Baptism illustrates a follower of Christ uniting with Jesus’ resurrection and new life: Every person who puts their faith in Jesus goes from spiritual death to spiritual life.  For Christ followers, baptism is a symbolic resurrection to a new Christ-centered life free from the slavery of sin (1 Cor. 15:3-4, Rom. 6:4)

When is a good time to get baptized?

·        When you become a Follower of Christ:  As soon as you have put your faith in Jesus by asking him to be the forgiver of your sins and leader of your life, you can and should be baptized.  There is no reason to delay!  If you’re waiting until you’re perfect, you’ll never be ready. (Acts 8:36-38)

Why get baptized?

·        To publicly declare a new association to follow Jesus – someone other than whom you have been following before: The act of baptism is as an outward expression of an inward decision

·        It connects and binds us to the community of faith: Baptism is not just an individual experience.  When a person is baptized into Christ, they are joined with his body (the Church).  (Rom. 12:13)

·        To follow Jesus’ example (Mark 1:9)

·         Jesus commanded it (Matt. 28:19-20)

How does Relevant do Baptism?

·        Baptism by immersion: Others hold varying thoughts and traditions related to baptism, but from where Relevant stands, the metaphor of immersion is both dramatic and significant.  Through baptism we are drenched in God, enveloped in God’s presence, and brought from death to life.  The water grave is a perfect expression of this reality

·        Infant Baptism: Some denominations choose to baptize infants.  While we recognize the right of other churches to practice infant baptism, we understand Scripture to teach that only professing followers of Christ qualify for baptism.  Baptism does not make you a Christian, rather it shows you believe.  At Relevant, we practice the dedication of infants, rather than the baptism of infants. 

One of my mentors recently challenged me to read the book “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan.  I am not much of a touchy-feely type of guy, so i was not to excited about picking this up, and only did because I really value my mentor’s recommendations; however, once I started reading “Crazy Love” I could not put it down.  It challenged me in so many ways.

I am an extremely disciplined person when it comes to my spiritual life.  I get up at 4am every day to spend time in prayer and reading my bible.  I do it because mostly beucase I know I should, and it is good for me.  What I was challenged with as I read this book is that I am not crazy in love with God.  I am not so in love with Him that I can’t wait to spend time with him, not sin, love someone who is unlovable…this list could go on.  I do those things because I am disciplined.  Not that being disciplined is bad, but I read this book desiring to fall more in love with God.

So…that has been my prayer since.  Everyday I have been praying that I fall more in love with God, instead of just doing the “right” things because I should.  I encourage you to pick up the book yourself.  I believe that it will challenge your spiritual life in amazing way.

Pastor Ronnie