Dear Friends,
Since Sunday, I’ve been thinking a lot about my friend Scott Beck.
Scott is the founder and CEO of a tech company in Boulder Colorado that he started to help church and ministry leaders use technology to more effectively scale their ministry and increase their impact for the Kingdom of God.
Scott has a long history in business. In 1985, he and his father invested money in a business start up – a store in Dallas that rented video tapes to customers so they could take them home and watch movies at home. It was a good investment. That single store was called Blockbuster. Within five years, that single store had grown to more than 1,000 locations nationwide. And Scott Beck’s initial stake in the company was worth much more than he had invested five years earlier. He was named Chairman and COO of the company, and received a reported $120M in company stock.
Scott eventually left Blockbuster – at the right time, as it turns out. He continued to invest and build companies – Boston Market, Einstein Bagels and a chain of discount stores in Mexico called Waldos.
There came a point in the 1990’s when Scott made a pivotal decision for himself and His family. He looked at his net worth and decided he had more than enough to provide for himself and his family for life. So he took a portion of the money he had and established a family trust. He set aside what he and his family would live off of and what his children would eventually inherit from him.
Scott took the remaining money – a sizeable amount – and doing what he does best, Scott started a new company called Gloo. Gloo’s mission is to “shape technology as a force for good — serving those who serve, to help them scale their purposes, so people can flourish and communities can thrive.” Gloo works primarily with Christian non-profit groups – large churches, denominations, parachurch organizations and others to harness the power of technology to advance the Kingdom of God.
Scott has worked tirelessly to build Gloo over the past 10+ years. In fact, he told me a decade ago that he has never been more excited or more energized about work than he is at Gloo. Not only does he love what he’s doing, but Scott has decided that since his family’s financial needs are met, the money he makes from Gloo will get poured right back into Kingdom work. His motivation in life today has moved from enriching himself and his family to advancing the Kingdom.
The reason I’ve been thinking about Scott this week is because he’s an example to me of someone who has recognized in his business life that there is a way to prioritize the work of the Kingdom over and above amassing personal wealth.
Don’t get me wrong. Scott’s family is well off. And Scott has been generous throughout his life, giving significant sums of money to ministries he sees as worthy.
But what drive Scott today is not acquiring personal wealth. What drives him is helping ministries grow, thrive, and reach more people with greater impact. Scott is seeking first the Kingdom.
In 1890, John D. Rockefeller was the wealthiest man in the world. At one point, Rockefeller controlled 90% of all the oil refined in the United States. He became the world’s first billionaire in 1916.
A reporter once famously asked Rockefeller about his fortune. “How much money is enough?” The tycoon told him “Just a little bit more.”
Some have assumed Rockefeller was acknowledging his own insatiable lust for personal wealth. Maybe. But he may have also been exposing the foolishness of thinking that some amount of personal wealth will finally satisfy the longings of the human heart. He had undoubtedly come to realize in his own life that material possessions will not bring lasting happiness.
The human heart, as St. Augustine noted, is restless. Money and possessions can never cure the restlessness. The Beatles, who would all eventually become multi-millionaires (Sir Paul is worth more than $1B today) ironically built their fortunes by declaring “I don’t care too much for money. Money can’t buy me love.”
The fact that the two surviving Beatles are financially well off today doesn’t necessarily mean they “care too much for money.” It’s not the size of your fortune that is the issue. It’s the inclination of your heart when it comes to wealth. And of course, the Beatles were right – money can’t buy you love. Or happiness. Or peace. Or any of that for which our souls long.
Jesus said “seek first the Kingdom. And seek to live your lives rightly, according to God’s design. And all you need – physically and spiritually – will be added to you.”
As Scott Beck has learned, it’s this Kingdom First way of thinking that ultimately brings joy to life. Hopefully, we can learn to find joy in putting the advancement of God’s Kingdom at the center of our lives as well.
KINGDOM FIRST GIVING CAMPAIGNSpeaking of Kingdom First thinking, I’ve heard this week from some of you who are wanting to help us dramatically reduce the amount we owe on our church property before we have to refinance. We’ve had people make cash contributions to the effort, along with many others who are donating everything from vehicles to furniture to art work to hunting rifles.
As I shared on Sunday, we’re planning to collect all that is being giving on Sunday, January 25, so that we can finance as little as possible on our property going forward. I hope you’ll join me in praying for God to supply our need. And I hope you’ll pray about what you and your family might be able to give, whether it’s cash or personal property.
If you know what you’d like to give and you don’t want to wait until January 25, feel free to contact me or Curtis Thomas and let us know your plans. We’re beginning now to gather, store and prepare items for resale.
We are grateful for your generosity. Thanks in advance for whatever you’re able to give toward this effort.GOSPEL WAY CATECHISM CLASS
This past Sunday, we began our year long journey through the new Gospel Way Catechism. This Sunday, we’ll affirm the answer to Question Two:
Question 2: How do we see God and come to know Him?
ANSWER: We see God by the light of his revelation, not by our imagination. God reveals his character and purposes through his Word and works.
Again this week (and every week in the first quarter of this year) we will be meeting at 8:30 am, before the worship service begins, to explore what the Bible teaches about how God reveals Himself to us.
Whether you are relatively new as a Christian or have been a follower of Christ for years, I think you’ll find this weekly gathering to be a worthwhile investment of your time. I hope you’ll plan to join us.
SPRING MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDIES
The weekly Redeemer Men’s Bible Study has resumed for the spring, with lunchtime meetings on Tuesdays and evening meetings on Thursdays. More info about the study is available here (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=8d6042e889&e=fbb0a4052b).
And the Spring Women’s Bible Study begins next Monday night, January 19 and again on Tuesday morning, January 20. It’s an eight-week study of all three of John’s Epistles.
Click this link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=b8cf5e7651&e=fbb0a4052b) to get more info or to register for the study.
LEADERSHIP IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
Session Four of our Leadership In The Local Church study happens on Thursday night, January 22. If you missed the first three sessions but would like to join the group to explore God’s design for local church leadership, you’re welcome to join us. Contact me (boblepine.rcc@gmail.com (mailto:boblepine.rcc@gmail.com)) or Rick Tarter (rick_tarter@yahoo.com (mailto:rick_tarter@yahoo.com)) and either of us can send you info about how you can prepare for the time.
MEN'S BREAKFAST
Guys - looking for a great breakfast and some good fellowship? We have just the thing for you on Saturday, January 24.
ROOTS D-NOW WEEKENDRoots students (and moms and dads) – the annual D-Now Student Weekend is happening January 30 – February 1. And we need to know who’s planning to participate. That’s what this link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=72e20ba393&e=fbb0a4052b) is for! So click it now!
The D-Now weekend concludes with the annual Roots Bake Sale. Plan to enjoy some primo baked goods and to support the Summer Street Reach program in Memphis with your purchase.
TUNING YOUR HEART FOR SUNDAY
Ready to tune your heart for Sunday? Here is the link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=c3e6561aff&e=fbb0a4052b) will take you to the Spotify playlist of the songs we’ll be singing together this week. Get ready to sing loud!
If you hired a financial planner to look after your money for you, how would you feel if you learned that he put the money aside and didn’t do anything with it?
Sunday, we’ll look at a parable Jesus tells about what faithful stewardship of God’s resources is supposed to look like, and how He responds when one of His stewards does not handle his assignment as he ought.
See you in church.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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