Before we consider “Cash for Clunkers,” the government’s latest stimulus project, I’d like to thank our guest bloggers and preachers who allowed me to spend the last six weeks finishing a devotional book manuscript and marrying our son Kirk to our new daughter-in-law Chelsea. But of course, the preachers weren’t “guests” at all, but rather key leaders and pastors on our senior leadership team here at Pioneer. Without their passion for Christ and ministry, we wouldn’t be the Pioneer we are. So, thank you! Karen says that when it comes to the passage of time, I’m no optimist. It didn’t help that when May came I began announcing that the summer was essentially over. But I couldn’t help it, and turns out it was true! Anybody know where this summer sped? The school bells start clanging bright and early Monday morning—and a brand new adventure is launched. And that goes for Pioneer, too. In two weeks we begin what I’m praying will be a life-changing journey into “The Temple,” our new fall pulpit series that begins August 27. I hope you can share the voyage on Saturday mornings at Pioneer or 24/7 at www.pmchurch.tv. So are you considering the government’s three billion dollar “cash for clunkers” offer? Perhaps you’re already one of the happy new-car drivers who traded in that old gas-guzzling clunker for a $4,500 (or $3,500) subsidy toward the purchase of a brand new economical upgrade. I’m not here to critique the CARS (car allowance rebate system) program. Americans jumped at the offer—and the first billion dollars was gone in less than a week. And besides, getting a half million wheezing, polluting, gas-slurping vehicles off America’s roads—what’s not to like? But may I remind you that God beat the government to the punch and long ago launched the most successful “cash for clunkers” program in the history of the universe? Three billion dollars? Much more! God emptied the treasury of heaven at Calvary in order to make this declaration: “Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to [the sinner with the filthy garments] He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes’” (Zechariah 3:4). God’s great gazillion dollar exchange offer—all the Bank of Heaven’s fortunes in exchange for my polluted and polluting, guilt-ridden, death-trap clunker of a life. There’s only one hitch—you have to act upon the offer. That’s the way it is with trade-ins. “O God, I desperately need to trade-in my moral bankruptcy for your priceless gift of Jesus’ perfect salvation.” Pray that prayer and you exchange the junk heap of history for an eternity with him. And what could be a greater stimulus than that?