Money Doesn't Grow On Trees

Have you ever heard the saying, “I owe, I owe so off to work I go?” Unfortunately, this is the reality of so many people’s lives. The American way of life is the way of debt. We go into debt for houses, cars, school, clothes and sometimes even the basic necessities of life. We all have limited resources. My dad used to tell me, “Money doesn’t grow on trees” and even though I remember thinking it would be so cool if it did, I have since realized that he was right.

In Romans 15:13 Paul writes about debt. He actually calls Christ followers to be in debt! But he’s talking about a different kind of debt: the debt of love. Check out his words:

“Let no debt remain outstanding except the continual debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”

We are called to be in continual debt to love one another! Continual. No conditions. No ifs, buts or whens. Love one another. Love one another regardless of how they respond to you. Love one another even if you don’t get anything out of it. Love one another. This is our debt! This is what we owe.

The amazing reality behind this is that we have been given an unlimited resource of love in the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Money may not grow on trees but love does grow within our hearts (see Romans 5:5 on this). How amazing would it be if people defined Genesis and Twin Lakes Church by the simple word “love.”

At Genesis, we are committed to going into debt...the debt of love!

Be the Church...

The Bible gives the people of God many titles: the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a chosen people, a people belonging to God, a holy nation, a royal priesthood and God's special people are just a few of these titles. All of these titles define our identity as God's people! Not only that, they also define our calling.

I came across a video a few weeks ago that does an amazing job of linking our identity as God's people with our calling as God people. What does it look like to be the church? What does it look like to live out the mission that God has created us for? This video got me thinking at a deeper level. My hope is that it does the same for you. Click here to check out the video then please join with us in praying that Genesis and Twin Lakes Church would continue to live out our God-given mission to be the church in Santa Cruz County and beyond!

What If?

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25

This statement is not only one of the primary themes of Judges, it is also one of the primary themes of the human condition.  If I could re-write this statement for myself and for our church family, here is what it would say:

"In these days there is a King in Charlie's life and in the Genesis family.  That King is Jesus.  Charlie and the members of the Genesis family always seek to do what is right in the King's eyes."

How awesome would that be!?