Most Expensive Opening Message

Church this past Sunday was a bit different than most Sunday's.    Pastor Mike Baker dug into the thicket of money.  But he did something unusual, which he said was his most expensive opening message that he has ever done.    As he started the service, the usher's passed around the offering plates, as usual, however they passed them for a different purpose.  Normally you put money in the plate, this time we took money out of the plate.   Each plate had a stack of envelopes and each person took one.   Inside was a card an either a $5 bill, $10 bill, $20 bill, $50 bill, or $100 bill!  In total, between all three services, he gave out $50,000!   Then he preached his message.  He on Matthew 25:14-30, the parable of the Bags of Gold (or the Talents).  As I was getting up to leave (I stepped out early to serve elsewhere) he had offered us that we now have the opportunity to put this passage/parable into action in our lives.  That was what the money was for.   We each were randomly given one of the dollar bills mentioned above and Pastor Mike was sending us out.   We are to do basically whatever with it, to try to make more - just as the servants did in the parable.    In one month, we are to bring back what we have from it.   Out of what everyone brings back Eastview will take back their $50,000 and all that comes in above and beyond will go towards the communities in Bloomington-Normal that we will be helping this year in our Serve Project (Serving our communities).   In the past people have invested the money, bought cupcake mixes and had bake sales, and all sorts of others.   Now we get the amazing opportunity to put on our thinking caps, revive our creativity, and actually do something to help!

My envelope contained a $20 bill in it.  I, today, took it to the bank and exchanged it for quarters.  I am, and have (last night) working on finding specific key date and condition coins out of general circulation and then sell them.   For some, it may be just nickel and dime-ing it but, it's an investment.  It isn't easy to grow $20 in a month, but with God's help, I have no doubt that it can multiply.   If God will allow it, my goal is to bring back $100 from that $20 (five times the original amount).  If this was for a living, the time may not be worth it, but for the cause, I am willing to put the extra time into it.