eWell: March 3, 2011

thewelltallahassee.com

March 3, 2011 | volume 5 | issue 9

Because of college Spring break, we will be holding only our two morning service options at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. There will be no 8 p.m. service!

Matthew will continue our new series called "Heeeere's Johnny!" We'll be doing a verse by verse study of the book of 1 John. This Sunday, we will study 1 John 2:6-11.

Latest News

::MID WEEK PREVIEW

Check out this week's Mid Week Preview, featuring our Director of Excitement James Parsons and our Lead Pastor Dean Inserra here.

::TUTORING

The Well is gearing up to help support tutoring programs and efforts at Godby High School and Palmer Munroe Teen Center. If you have an interest in helping lend your talents and some time, fill out this information and interest form (form is here). Return the form to Heidi Schaff, who can also answer any of your questions, at heidi.schaff@gmail.com.

::MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Sunday, March 13th - Membership Information Meeting, 3:30 p.m. @ Warehouse (register here)

Saturday, March 19th - Personal Finance Seminar, 9:00 a.m. - Noon @ Warehouse (register here)

Sunday, March 20th - Baptisms during all three service (register here)

Friday, March 25th - Saturday March 26th - College Lock-In and Camp Out @ Warehouse ($10 - register here)

This Summer, The Well will be embarking on our first International Mission Trip to Colombia. If you missed last week's informational meeting, be sure to check out all of the information here.

Community Groups

Full Report

Weekly Budget Need:
$7,000.59

Actual Tithes & Offerings February 27th:
$8,006.56

Year to Date:
Budget - $65,343.79
Actual - $58,580.88
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Convenient, secure online giving, is available at our website: www.TheWellTallahassee.com. Just click the Give tab!

Well Said

by Lori Merritt

Would you mug an old lady walking down the street? Would you hold up a bank? I can guess that almost everyone reading this would answer "no." So, why do we rob God?

I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home where, every Sunday morning my Dad would pull out two crisp dollar bills from his wallet for me and my younger brother to place in the offering plate. I grew up
knowing that tithing was valued and practiced with diligence, but as I got older I strayed.

There was a time when the nation of Israel was not tithing. There was drought, there was pestilence, and their crops were failing. How could they give a tenth of their grain when there was barely enough grain
to feed their family? The people believed they could not give because of their circumstances, but God's response was not what they expected.

For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days
of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and
I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?' Will man rob God?
Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you." (Malachi 3:6-9 ESV)

I was sitting on a pew, in a small country church, when I heard this and realized that I was robbing God. Where did I get off ROBBING God? I wouldn't steal a stick of gum from someone's purse, but I have the nerve to steal from God? The thought becomes more ludicrous as I write to you from a laptop, in a house, cooled by air-conditioning that is ALL God's. My name might be on the bills, but they all belong to him. I realized that I was letting my pride in how I provided for myself, my lack of faith in trusting him to meet my needs, and my selfishness in desiring things that I do not need come between me and Him.

What had I done? Whose needs hadn't been met because of my lack of faith? Who hadn't heard God's words or had their basic needs met because of my selfishness? How had I hindered the Lord's work by not giving? Was there any going back? Could it be made right?

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me
to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down
for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not
destroy the fruits of your soil and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of Hosts.
Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:10-12)

In this passage God is referred to as "the Lord of hosts" four times. I believe that the meaning of words, their roots, are as important as their context, and through research of this phrase learned that it is translated "Yahweh of Hosts" (or Yahweh tsebha'oth) meaning that all created things and forces are under the leadership and authority of Yahweh. This great and mighty God, who proclaims Himself to be the creator and commander of all things, always proves true. No, we probably won't win the lottery, but we will be blessed! It is our responsibility and privilege to respond to how awesome he is by giving back just a small portion of what has always and will always belong to him.

There are great needs in our community and great needs in our church. Needs that can only be met through faithful tithing. Of course you can donate to charities and fundraisers, but God's command to His people was to tithe to the church. Seek, with His guidance, to be a responsible steward of his gifts.

Classifieds

The Well Classifieds can help you find a roommate, give a dog away, sell a car, etc. With circulation to over 700 people each week, who knows how you might connect! To submit an ad contact Rebecca Stewart at rebecca@thewelltallahassee.com.

SUMMER SUBLEASE
We are looking for a female to sublease a room in our house starting mid-May or the beginning of June. We live in a 2 story brick house in midtown in a safe neighborhood. There are 4 other college aged girls living here. Rent is $390/month and utilities/cable is usually $100 more. If you are interested, please email Sarah at sef07d@fsu.edu.

FOR RENT Indian Oaks West: 1828 Apartment E, Jackson Bluff Road. One bedroom, one bath, almost 1000 square feet of living space. Walking distance to FSU, convenient to TCC. Two reserved parking spaces, community swimming pool. Available August 1, 2010. $425/month. Shown by appointment only. Contact Dick Holihan at 850.556.6820 or Garrett Waldron at 863.206.6988.

HOUSE FOR SALE

2014 Midyette Road, Unit #307

3 BR 2 BA Condo - close to Southwood

1368 sq. ft., built in 2005 by Bracken Chase Homes

MLS# 205463. Pictures and more, click here.

Great first time buying option for grad students and young professionals.
Contact Mike @ 339-4951 for more info.

About The Well

The Well is a church that is committed to connecting with the unchurched community of Tallahassee. It is the desire of the Well to create an atmosphere that is engaging to this generation in the twenty-first century. While the culture of Tallahassee is always changing, we believe that the message of Jesus Christ is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. The Well is a church that will speak an everlasting truth in an ever-changing culture.

Contact Us

Dean Inserra
Lead Pastor
  dean@thewelltallahassee.com
Matthew Robinson
  Executive Pastor
  matthew@thewelltallahassee.com
Alex Scott
Production Director
alex@thewelltallahassee.com

Voice: (850) 219-WELL (9355)

www.TheWellTallahassee.com

Teri Hill
Well Kids Director
teri@thewelltallahassee.com
Chris Pope
Well Bands Director
chris@thewelltallahassee.com

Mailing Address:
400 Capital Circle SE
Suite 18243
Tallahassee, FL 32301

The Well | everlasting truth, ever-changing culture | Tallahassee | FL | 32301