If I Was In Charge of Our Pension Plan

I have a small pension through the Pension Plan of the church of God, Anderson, Indiana. The people of Central Community have done their best over the years to give to it as the church was able. Debi and I don't have any plans for retiring... but I've learned from my friends that age and retirement comes upon us whether we plan for it or not... so we're thankful.

Our retirement is in the "aggressive" portion of the portfollio... just couldn't stand to be anything less than aggressive :-) It's cost me big time. Out about 30% or more of our investment in the last month alone. That's nothing compared to lost equity in the house! I've always struggled with the church participating in general mutual funds... the folks at the pension board have heard... or at least listened to my complaints as pastor's pensions were invested in tobacco, alcohol and abortion funds... that doesn't even begin to mention the military/industrial complex. There are plenty of really good socially and morally motivated and directed mutual funds- we're not serious participants and they haven't been broadcasted.

Sad.

But that's just one guys opinion. Industry needs investment and if the church feels good sharing a bed with these guys... more power to them.

If I was in charge of our pension plan? This week I'd invest everything in Ford and General Motors. Not just because they're trading at all time lows. Definitely not because I'm a huge supporter of the auto/oil industry or that I even drive a Ford or GM vehicle, though I have owned both. I'd do it now because I believe in the American worker. These two company's employ almost 400,000 US workers between them and countless other industries around the world depend on them. If I'm going to lose my retirement... and I get to choose- call me old fashioned, but I choose going out with working men and women.

The people leading our auto industry haven't always led the pack... but I believe the right people will rise to the top and the best decisions will be made. Lord only knows what GM and Ford may be producing a century from today- rapid transit?, smog free, oil free vehicles...? jet packs?! You go George Jetson! Wouldn't it be fun to be a participant in a worker based industry that keeps the world moving?

Just my morning thoughts on todays economy. Hope your retirement- more importantly, your eternity, is safe and in His Hands today. To all of you who served: Thanks So Much. Think of you all often as I visit Mom's grave at Riverside National Cemetary. Happy Veteran's Day.

many blessings,

Eric

it use to be neck ties and dancing

"I do believe that we must come to terms with the sin of autonomy that dominates our practice."

autonomy
au·ton·o·my
Pronunciation: \-mē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural au·ton·o·mies
Date: circa 1623
1: the quality or state of being self-governing; especially : the right of self-government
2: self-directing freedom and especially moral independence
3: a self-governing state

I think it dangerous to even use the term autonomy in relation to the church because it is quite the opposite of New Testament teaching.
Dr. Ron Duncan, A Needed Conversation paper (page 4, paragraph 1)

The first quote is from a church of God blogger I enjoy following. So extreme that the image of all those mormons pulled out of Texas in hopes of rescuing their childeren- big hair, glassy eyes, lock step, came to mind.

The second quote, sadly, was apparently given much thought, read over by a number of instructors at the church of God's school of theology- put in my time there -and even vetted through leaders nation wide before it was sent out in desire to begin "A Needed Conversation" supposedly among peers. It didn't bring to mind images of cult like behavior... it reminded me of a book from the '90's... 1990's... think it was titled "When Managers Become Leaders." It may have been an essay.

Desperate times.

I've never sat down and talked with Dr. Duncan- but giving him the benefit of the doubt -guessing he's just like the rest of us, doing his best day in and day out. Just can't stand it when someone decides they're opposed to a certain way of doing something, then they suddenly have a collection of Bible verses to back them up. Mind you, generations went before them with their very own stack of Bible verses on why something was The Only Way God wanted it done.

It's a tough way to begin "a needed discussion." "I think we should talk about this practice in the church- it's a sin -it's dangerous -it's quite the opposite of New Testament teaching... let's talk about it."

Sound's like someone's fishing for a fight. I'm not in it. They can fight on someone else's time. I've got work to do.

"Free moral agents" I always liked the term... made me feel a little like a ball player. "Free will," pretty well accepted theology- plenty of Bible verses to back it up. Autonomy... wonder why we'd want to be anything but autonomous? Just imagine the churches in Ephesus, Corinth, any of the New Testament churches... without the letters of Paul we have almost no idea how they governed themselves... and Paul's letters didn't exactly get there by fax, phone or email... they were probably years apart. What happened in between?

We don't know.
God watched over things.
Godly people did their best.

At the heart of this "needed discussion" hope that's still what's happening. Hope people still remember that's how God's always built His church. I hope.

Both of my grandfather's were buried without neckties. They were early leaders in the church of God reformation movement and they considered all "outward adornment" a sin. Kind of like those mormons in Texas... without the extra wives. Their zeal and early enthusiasm for The Kingdom has always been an inner motivation... and one more good excuse not to wear a tie... even if I'm pretty sure their idea of New Testament "TRUTH," like that of those pushing the current discussion, might have been a bit misplaced.

There are so many more important battles to wage. Loving, serving, sharing... this is where I plan to spend the rest of my life, the rest of my ministry. I've got a clear Biblical mandate- like the old song says: "from Genesis to Revelation... I believe it all." If Dr. Duncan wants to spend his time on the "sin" of autonomy... you go brother. No worries from me. In fact, this might be my final word on the subject... but I doubt it!

sorry for the late night wandering thoughts... believe it or not, started my morning on the same subject. I've given it a day- good enough.

blessings,

Eric

I'm Going On!

Mark and Wil Denton - February 8, 2008


I come from "good stock." A family of preachers, story tellers, followers of Christ with a shared history in the church of God: general offices in Anderson, Indiana... headquarters in Heaven. Debi and I spend every Friday with mom and Dad, neither have been in good health for a couple of years and they live with my brother Tim and his wife. Yesterday, Uncle Mark was down from Washington, where he's retired wonderfully with his wife Barbara, and we had the chance to do what we do when we get together: talk about the church, tell stories and sing... it was a good day. The kind of day you walk away from with a very real understanding that it may be the last time you spend a day like that with those people... wish you could have been with us.

Dad, in the red/striped shirt is 93, Uncle Mark, in the dark shirt, is 90. They were born in Princeton, Indiana: 927 N. Seminary St., two of the three youngest of 9 children. Dad and three of his brothers were called to preach: John, Glenn, Dad and Mark, built churches, led revivals, preached camp meetings from one end of the country to the other. Aunt Lois, the youngest of the family, who like Aunt Helen, sang beautifully for The Lord as well, died almost 20 years ago in Anderson. Uncle Glenn died last summer at the age of 95. Dad and Uncle Mark remain, living legacies. I digress... but God is so very, very good.

When I was a kid, the times we were all together were some of the highlights of my life... they all seemed like giants... lovable dad's, normal guys when they were a part... but together... almost untouchable. I think all my cousins would agree, when "the boys" began to sing, preach, tell their stories... it was a little like watching Clark Kent run into a phone booth only to fly out with the earth shaking power of SuperMan! Friday afternoon, dad and Uncle Mark sang again, beautifully... I tried to sing along... but I'm from a much more uncertain generation... the generation that inherited the mission, the music and thankfully The Message. But even still, in their 90's, when the song got going, I knew to go quiet and along with my children, now adults also, smile and enjoy the fact that we were just in the same family as these guys that God has used so well. He is too Good.

As the afternoon came to a close, we sang one more old song: I'm Going On. Hadn't heard it in years... but our hearts and voices swelled, all of us together as we came to the chorus: "I'm going on, I'm going on, until The Final Triumph, I'm going on. I'm going on, I'm going on, until The Final Triumph... I'm going on!" 90 and 93: 183 years of life- singing out loud, doing their best to rattle the windows, each one arm in the air, victory in their eyes, in their voices, most importantly, in their hearts... it was easy to see that they meant to go right on.

Our family- the Denton's -has not been spared heartache. We carry our fair share even still. But we've been given the church... somewhere at some point... each of us has had the opportunity to do what so many others have done... to "see the church." We've seen her at work in our families: spotless and radiant, filled with power and spreading glory in the midst of our mess. My testimony of my Friday afternoon is a simple one- "I've seen the church!" And she's beautiful, worth working a lifetime for, purchased with The Precious Blood of Jesus - One - in His Love and Grace, wonderful in the witness of the redeemed... I have seen the church! Glory!

In so many of my weekly updates about our work in Mexico, Los Angeles, Riverside and even Kenya, I find myself closing with these simple words- "wish you'd been there." Friday afternoon, wish you'd been there. Thankful our kids, Julia and John, had taken their afternoons to join us- it was fun to watch them use their phones to make video of their Grandpa and Great Uncle Mark singing... even more fun to see the child like wonder in their eyes and realize... even if they didn't recognize it right then... that they were seeing the church as well... inspired and thankful... when we hugged one another and headed out our separate ways, I left with a song in my heart- hope it's yours today - "I'm going on!" The Final Triumph is yet to come.

blessings,

Eric