I Am Living Proof

This new job I took, while very giving in time, didn’t pay so well. In my complete oversight, I suddenly realized my paychecks would not cover my expenses.

I am very good with math but this one went right by me. (I am more of a calculus guy and less of a calculator guy like my brother.)  All weekend I just simply prayed and asked God for guidance. I wanted to volunteer everywhere I could and I now have the time to do so. But with the lack of funds, I would have to get another job.

Perhaps God was going to send me to be a blessing to somebody who needed it. Wherever He wanted, I will go.

Monday morning I walked to my boss and just explained the situation that I wasn’t making enough to cover my bills. He told me to give him an amount that would cover it. After I gave him that amount, he responded with, “Is that all? That ain’t much.” In my world, it is more than enough.

If my Lord is trying to prove to me that He is my Provider then He has over-delivered.

How can I not chase after His heart? How can I not praise His name? How can I not give thanks to the Almighty. I would love for anybody to come take a crack at answering those questions.

In my life, right now:

• Time has falling by the wayside - The contract that sent me to South Africa back in October ended near the end of December. During the following four weeks as I searched for another contract or job, I entered into a time of intense prayer, fasting and bible study. I am so thankful for that time so that God could realign my direction with His will. (There is no need to question that God provided for me.) Now, there are many times all throughout the day and night when I am trying to squeeze in time for prayer, solitude, worship and bible studying, I really miss the immense amount of time I had. I will forever be thankful to the One Most High for giving me that blessing.
• Time was not only restored but grew - God provided a job that puts me 5 minutes from my son and 10 minutes from my church. Every time I visit my son during the week, my visitation increased by two hours. Every time I want to go to church during the week, I am usually an hour early. That heaviness on my chest with always being late to see my son or not being able to participate in volunteer opportunities because of the mere whims of Dallas/Fort Worth traffic or my boss has left me and only peace fills that void.
• Time is there for the taking - In addition with the close proximation to all things that matter, my boss is hardcore. No, not the type of boss who makes you get to work early and stay late. He is hardcore about closing shop at 5PM sharp.

Now my question to the Lord: what do I do with all this time and to use it wisely? I am sure He will provide the answers in perfect time.

Senator’s Inquiry Into Megachurch Money Hypocrisy Sparks Church-State Showdown

This inquiry is old news but I am interested to see what comes out of this. I only pray for true justice to be had. Either you are tax-exempt or you are not. It is really that simple.

Something in this article that really warms the cockles of my heart was something that was suggested by one of the leaders of the ministries being investigated:

“Dollar, who in the past has argued that Jesus was wealthy…“

You know those times in the movie where something happens and an observer in the crowd starts to clap slowly in hopes to ramp up the crowd into a roaring applause? I see a suggestion like that and I start to slowly clap but I never ramp up. I slowly clap in hopes of suppressing just the shock and awe that I really want to express. I slowly clap because that is about the best worst thing I have ever heard in my life.

(Thanks to Recovering Pharisee for tuning me in to this CNN article.)

And so the 53-year-old accountant from the Tampa, Florida, area pledged $500 a year to Joyce Meyer, the evangelist whose frank talk about recovering from childhood sexual abuse was so inspirational. She wrote checks to flamboyant faith healer Benny Hinn and a local preacher-made-good, Paula White.

Only the blessings didn’t come… [more]

I can  only sum this up by paraphrasing my pastor last weekend: “It is not about giving in order to get.  God wasn’t getting excited because we were discovering the revelation of ‘getting’.”

I don’t know if this worldwide but it has been a long long while since I have heard prosperity preached.  I go to a lot of churches and I listen and watch a lot of sermons and I just don’t hear it much anymore.  Even in Durban, South Africa, I went to a service at a megachurch (seats 500+, multiple campuses) and that pastor was super-extra-over-cautious careful with his words when he had to speak about wealth and riches.  I felt that he truly loved his flock and was careful to raise them in the right way.

When I first started writing this post, I thought it was just about pastors taking the Lord’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7).  But in thinking about that church in Durban, I suddenly realized it really is about the love you have for your congregation.  You love your congregation so much that you are willing to put the burden of responsibility of their spiritual growth upon your shoulders.  When your faith is in Jesus, then that burden is light (Matthew 11:30).

That is a very beautiful thought.

From the archives of Out Of Ur (of Leadership magazine):

October 18, 2007
Willow Creek Repents?

Why the most influential church in America now says “We made a mistake.”

Few would disagree that Willow Creek Community Church has been one of the most influential churches in America over the last thirty years. Willow, through its association, has promoted a vision of church that is big, programmatic, and comprehensive. This vision has been heavily influenced by the methods of secular business. James Twitchell, in his new book Shopping for God, reports that outside Bill Hybels’ office hangs a poster that says: “What is our business? Who is our customer? What does the customer consider value?” Directly or indirectly, this philosophy of ministry—church should be a big box with programs for people at every level of spiritual maturity to consume and engage—has impacted every evangelical church in the country.

So what happens when leaders of Willow Creek stand up and say, “We made a mistake”?

Take time to read the comments.

A few people are getting on soapboxes and high horses and shouting, “Told ya so!” Truth be told, even a year ago, I would have been just like that. I think I am pretty sure I would have uttered the folllowing phrases, “Which friggin’ idiot thought up of the Seeker concept in churches? How in the world do you deemphasize the Word of God in church? How can you stand on the pulpit and NOT challenge those who attend your church?”

I remember when I thought I knew it all and I knew what living in Christ was all about. Ah, the memories. Those were good times. (Your Sarcastic-O-Meter should be spiking right about now

While the comments on the post have long since been closed (sorry for spoiling it), I couldn’t help to comment on the article now.

The only thing that popped in my mind is this: Willow Creek and their clones have the numbers. Sheer numbers. What if Hybel and Co. stuck to their admission, looked at their numbers and simply said, “We have the numbers. God willingly, let us take our flock and show them what the heart of the Father truly is. Let us teach our flock what it means to love others as God loved us. Let us equip them to make them disciples.”

What about not just the churchgoers of all things WC? What about any big seeker friendly megachurch? What about any of those evangelists on television with the millions of viewers?

What if the those leaders simply shifted gears out of first into fifth, burned up all the nitro and raced to feed the flock in order to ignite the same passions that Christ had for reaching the lost and caring for the poor, weak, widow and the orphan?

What if the churchgoers stopped for just a moment, get out of the rut of cracking their Bibles just on Sundays and started to serve their “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria”, and to the end of the earth and showing the love of God through their acts for all humans because God loved them so much? What all the seeker and newbies turned all of their attention to the kingdom of God and his righteousness?

Naïve as I might be, there is always hope if we can glorify His name.

Truth be told, it is just wishful thinking on my part. I have no idea what God has in store for the North American church. But if the repentance from the leadership of Willow Creek Community Church is true, then I am excited beyond all measure.