Posts by Betsy Schwarzentraub
Kairos Time
There are two specific terms for time in the New Testament language of Greek. One is chronos: linear time that moves from past to present to future. It’s symbolized by the newborn baby that ushers in the New Year and finishes the year as grizzled, old Father Time. That’s the only way most folks in…
Read MoreBible Times Before Jesus
Beginnings of the Hebrew People 1850 BCE Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph 1450 BCE Moses, Exodus from Egypt 1200 BCE Joshua, Conquest/Settlement of Palestine The Old Testament Kingdoms 1020 BCE Saul, David, Solomon – the United Kingdom 930 BCE The Divided Kingdoms: Israel and Judah 721 BCE Northern Kingdom (Israel) ends – Isaiah, Micah 586…
Read MoreChristmas: Madeleine L’Engle
“When we celebrate Christmas,” says awesome author Madeleine L’Engle, “we are celebrating that amazing time when the Word that shouted all the galaxies into being, limited all power, and for love of us came to us in the powerless body of a human baby. My faith is based on this incredible act of love, and…
Read MoreThanksgiving Prayer
Here is a beautiful prayer we can use as the grace at our Thanksgiving table or as a prayer to give thanks any time of the year. Delightful stewardship consultant Cesie Delve Scheuermann shared it in her Inspiring Generosity column on November 24, 2021. Prayer of Thanksgiving By Vienna Cobb Anderson …
Read MoreThe Bible in Time
I The Age of the Earth II The Age of Human Beings III The Age of the Written Word Prepared By Robert W. Moon, 1980
Read MoreGod’s Heart is Forgiving . . .
“God fashions the hearts of them all” Psalm 33:15 God has made every one of us to live as a part of God’s entire creation. Life itself is a wondrous gift given to us moment by moment, to shape and to use as we see fit. This is stewardship: whatever we do on God’s behalf…
Read MoreConfessions of a Downsizer
Okay, I admit it: I have been obsessed with things, especially in this past year or more. For the last several years, we have looked forward to major downsizing. So we did it – moved from a rural paradise that requires constant hard work beyond our current sustained efforts, to a house half the size…
Read MorePrayer for an Open Heart **
Lord, grant me a simple, kind, open, believing, loving, and generous heart worthy of being your dwelling-place. ** — From prayer by John Sergieff, 1829-1908, in The Harper Collins Book of Prayers: A Treasury of Prayers Through the Ages (HarperSanFrancisco, 1994); cited in When True Simplicity Is Gained: finding Spiritual Clarity in…
Read MoreTen Reasons to Choose a Simpler Lifestyle
We can choose to live a simpler lifestyle as an act of: Personal integrity and commitment to a more equitable distribution of wealth in the world. Self-defense against the mind-numbing effects of over-consumption. Sharing with others what has been given to us, or returning what we have unequally received at the expense of others around…
Read MoreTen Reasons to Choose a Simpler Lifestyle
We can choose to live a simpler lifestyle as an act of: Personal integrity and commitment to a more equitable distribution of wealth in the world. Self-defense against the mind-numbing effects of over-consumption. Sharing with others what has been given to us, or returning what we have unequally received at the expense of others around…
Read MoreThe Treasure Principle
The Treasure Principle, by Randy Alcorn, is a small gift book with loads of wisdom for Christians in process. Its subtitle says it all: Discovering the secret of joyful giving. The foundation of our hidden treasure, says Alcorn, is in Matthew 6:19-21, where Jesus says that earthly treasures won’t last, in contrast to our treasures…
Read MoreThe Bible on the Church and Ministry
The People of God The historic community whose origin stemmed from God’s covenant promises and whose pilgrimage had been sustained by God’s call. 1 Peter 2:9-10 – You are . . . God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of the One Who called you out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.…
Read MoreAsk, Thank, Tell
“Stewardship has been kidnapped and is being held hostage by a sinister villain named Paying the Bills,” states Charles R. Lane in his book, Ask, Thank, Tell. But authentic stewardship is really about discipleship, biblically based, and centered on three simple verbs that can renew and clarify our local-church stewardship efforts. This refreshing book helped…
Read More“Give Thanks in All Circumstances”
St. Basil the Great was born in 329 A.D. An influential theologian who supported the Nicene Creed, he was one of the Cappadocian Fathers and a doctor of the Eastern Church. He was known for his prolific writing and his care for the poor. Basil lived out his deep faith in humble service. He taught…
Read MorePreach Stewardship from the Trinity
Now is a natural time for pastors to be planning their preaching topics for the year ahead. How can we approach stewardship holistically – in its fullness – over the months ahead to include giving money but not let it take over all the other dimensions of stewarding God’s gifts? One helpful way is to…
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