40 Days Remaining...Reverse Tithing

At the beginning of May, we launched a 6 month challenge called ALL IN. The challenge was (and still is) for everyone (ALL IN) at Graystone, to sacrificially give over and above their tithe for 6 months to raise the additional $400,000 to "finish the building". Well, we have 40 days remaining in our All IN Challenge with the final offering being collected on Sunday, October 25. Through everyone's generosity and sacrifice, we have already given $267,729. Our number is now $132,271 to be given to "finish the building". I know that God is going to provide.

One of the most encouraging things to me through this challenge is to see dozens of families giving beyond what they originally pledged. Actually, this is the only way that we are going to reach our goal, because we do not have the $400,000 pledged. I am always blown away when God provides in ways that we could not have planned or imagined. I'm not sure how the remaining $132k is going to come in in the next 40 days, but I know it will.

I hesitate in sharing this for fear that it will be taken the wrong way, but I want it to encourage and challenge you (I can't worry about my critics)...Jennifer and I have been able to give more than we originally pledged to ALL IN. We were able to give more through me coaching ALTA tennis teams. I am actually "reverse tithing" all of my earnings from teaching/coaching tennis. I am giving 90% of my tennis income to the ALL IN Building Fund and keeping 10% for myself. Actually, I am setting aside 10% to take Jennifer on a special trip next month. And I can't tell you how excited I am every time I earn a little extra money, and I am able to give 90% of it to God.

How incredible would it be to be able to give 90% on all of my income to God and live off of 10%? In order for that to happen, I would either need to make a boatload more money or drastically lower my cost of living. You know, our cost of living does not have to increase every time our income increases. Just a thought....and who are the Jones' anyway? And why are we trying to keep up with them?