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As May comes to an end...

we are wrapping up our current series, THE MONEY YOU COULD BE....it has been a fun, fast, four weeks of looking at our finances through the lens of the Bible...so much wisdom and common sense that is so desperately needed in our lives (both individually and beyond!).

Here is the teaching from last weekend... Download The Money You Could Be...Saving -- May 24, 2009

This weekend, we finish up with the last message (which really, if you think about it, if we get this one wrong, it leads to debt and starts the whole cycle over again...), The Money You Could Be... Spending.

The key thought for this message?? It's time to "act your wage!"

Too Much Cola Can Cause Muscle Problems on Yahoo! Health

Too Much Cola Can Cause Muscle Problems on Yahoo! Health.

Seriously, you need to do research to determine if 2 - 10 LITERS of cola A DAY is bad for you??

Wow...what will they 'research' next?

- Walking across I-95 can cause head trauma

- Sticking fingers in own eyes can cause pain

- Going out in sun may cause sunburn

- Playing with matches can lead to fire

Hey, maybe I can be a researcher too!! Ha!

This weekend...

@ Oasis Church we are concluding our series on money by looking at "The Money You Could Be... Spending". Be sure to come and check out what wisdom and God's Word says how we are to use the money and resources we have been given...

Came across this article about the subject of spending... good stuff!

Interesting thing...

is when you have something on your mind, suddenly you begin to "see" or notice it everywhere...

For example, a few years back I wanted to buy a Ford Mustang GT convertible...so I researched, looked at several online and in-person, and then finally found one that fit the budget and purchased it...suddenly, it seemed that everyone had a mustang and I noticed them whereever I went!

Well, this same this is happening to me when it comes to money... I am hearing and seeing the same things but I am seeing them in a different light... came across this ad for Target and the money they give away each week...pretty interesting...

Target : Company : Community Outreach .

The great thing? The idea of giving is a GOD idea!! We didn't think of this on our own... this is how He designed us to live (whether we accept it or acknowledge Him or not!).

It's too hard....impossible!

Maybe that's what you are feeling...about life, about finances, about marriage, about raising kids...the list is endless!!

Be inspired...and keep at it...what used to be hard (today) can become overcome (future) as you stick with it and keep trying and keep building on what you already know...

Need more inspiration? Watch this...

Some Book Learnin' for your money...

Not an exhaustive list (for sure) but some books I have read and recommend you invest in to add more practical insight and wisdom to our understanding of the money and resources in our lives... enjoy!

Some useful tools I have come across...related to money!

I have read some blogs and came across some useful (free) tools to help with getting a handle on money and getting out of debt. One of our key thoughts that we have been dealing with in our "The Money You Could Be...." teaching series is that God's way of living with money is that we use it as a resource, not to let money use us as a slave...these tools and resources will be a help to us...

Blog... http://www.josephsangl.com  great free stuff and shares his thoughts and experiences... he has a whole page of free stuff here.

Blog... http://www.thesimpledollar.com/ not necessarily Biblically based but good advice and ways to live within your means...

List... http://clarkhoward.com/topics/free_and_cheap.html says it all...list of free and cheap(er) stuff that are used on a regular basis...

Blog... http://www.daveramsey.com/tdrs/ blog by Dave Ramsey...also has tons of links to his other resources...he is also on radio and tv...solid stuff...

Ok, so that is just the beginning to learn (and often re-learn) how to properly use money and to gain wisdom from God as we educate ourselves in the area of finances...now, all we have to do is begin to apply what we are learning!

The teaching from this past Sunday...

We are continuing the series... "The Money You Could Be..." and this week we talked about "giving"...if you missed it, you can listen and download the teaching... Download TheMoney You Could Be Giving.

We were challenged by the Bible with the truth that giving BEGINS by giving (actually, returning) to God the whole tithe, the first ten percent of whatever pay, salary, refunds, gifts that we are given... the tithe is HIS!

So, we talked about this truth, read a little about the results of obeying or disobeying this command of God (Download Money you could be giving outline -the notes and verses from the worship guide), and the fact we need to prioritize by giving to God first and not waiting until everything else has been paid or bought...

We closed by stressing how we as Oasis Church want to push and challenge and help each other grow to follow and obey God...to step out in faith, in spite of fear and uncertainty. So, we are issuing 3 month tithe challenge...step out in faith, begin to return the money that is God's, make it a priority, and tithe on what God allows you to earn...and do it for the next three months...if we get to the middle of August, and God has let you down, you were better off not giving tithe and obeying Him, you are more cursed by robbing Him then you have been blessed by following what He commands, then come to us, let us know...and we as Oasis Church will give your three months of tithing back to you!

Money back guarantee!! What more could you ask for?? You see, it's not even about the money...this is a heart thing...and we want our hearts to worship and love God above everything else...and He calls us to grow and mature in our faith...trust and obey.

The cool thing?? 12 families indicated they were taking the 3 month challenge to tithe and are going to begin to return the 10% that belongs to God...how awesome is that!! I love seeing our church step out and apply what God is telling us to do...it's amazing!

Weekend Update

• had a fun, busy, different week last week in Ga at Jeanine's parent's house...but it was great seeing family!

• got back in town on Friday evening...ready to gear up for the weekend!                               
• Saturday, the normal putting the signs out and finishing details on message prep, printing, details, etc...
• finally bought a projector (we have been borrowing one for the first three months!) and also purchased some other items for the weekend and long-term help with setting up each week
• Sunday dawned beautifully...was it an amazingly beautiful weekend or what? Ok, so it was hot...it's the middle of May!
• compared to the previous week, set-up and tear down went much better...what a difference having the whole team makes!
• every Sunday at 10am, we have a short meeting to make sure we are ready and to pray for the day...this time, we circled in prayer and prayed for our service, Oasis Kidz, the theater managers and staff...it's awesome knowing that God is in charge!
• one thing we try to close with at the 10am meeting each week... we get to do this!
• Decent group in the main service and Oasis Kidz...great to see people returning on a regular basis...and beginning to become Oasis Church...
• Justin led worship with the team...awesome!
• Don Haneline led our welcome and annoucements...his first time doing this at Oasis! He did great!! Were you nervous Don??
• Continued our "The Money You Could Be..." series by looking at the topic of giving...
• what a privilege to share the truth from God's Word and how He says that the tithe (10%) is the beginning of our obedience in giving
• actually, God says that the tithe is His...so all we are to do it RETURN it!
• Really pumped at the people who said thanks for teaching the truth about giving...wow!!!
• Even more excited at the people who agreed to take the tithe challenge over the next three months...they are stepping out in faith and applying the Word of God...awesome!
• Way beyond pumped that people would give their lives to Jesus after a giving message...but that's exactly what God did yesterday...WE GET TO BE A PART OF THIS!! WOOHOO!!
• afterwards, tore everything down and got to hang out with one of our attenders and do a little fishing at our lake...what a great way to unwind and begin to build some stronger connections...
• do you like to fish? Just wondering...
• caught a couple of fish and enjoyed the sun before the rain moved in...how long is it gonna stay??
• Ok, lots of resources coming this week...have a good one!

The Money You Could...Owing

Here is the teaching from this past weekend.... Download The Money You Could Be...Owing (listen here or download to your computer).

Check back over next few days for more tools and resources...