truly, i was just thinking…

here’s what i’m thinking this morning, for what it’s worth…

almost twenty years ago, i came to a rather severe crisis in my faith.  not the kind that doubted the existence of god or some mysterious urge to walk away from the church.  it was a crisis unique to my occupation.

i have been employed by the church, doing church work pretty much my entire adult life.  oh, i’ve had other jobs along the way…coaching, teaching, construction, janitorial, laying tile…but for the most part, i have recieved my paychecks based on what went in to the offering plate each week.

when i was 35, wanda and i raised our missionary support and i went to work for amor ministries, taking hundreds of kids and adults into mexico on short-term service trips to build homes for the poor.  on the side, we were part of a small group of people that planted a church in a poor, multi-cultural community in east san diego, near our home.

for the the first time since i was 25, i went to church on sundays just like everyone else…because i wanted to.  in the  early days of our church, i really began to question whether i did my “church work” the previous ten years because i was paid to…or because i really wanted to.

it was an incredible eye-opening, heart-softening five years of my life as god taught me about motivation and serving and relationships based on the concept of sharing life as a family…and began weening me off of my remaining pious attitudes of spiritual superiority because of my “position”.

i became free to set up tables and chairs before the service and play my guitar and open my home to friends and read my bible and work in the community or visit people in the hospital simply because i was a follower of christ…not because it was my job or because people expected me to.  it was absolute freedom.

when we moved to texas 15 years ago, i made a vow to god that even though i was going to continue to receive my income by being a full-time church program director, bible teacher and sheep-herder, i would never do it because i was paid to.  i would never do it simply because it was my job.  i would never do it from a position of spiritual superiority or some advanced calling or because i thought i was any different than anybody else who called themself a follower of christ.

i am humbled beyond words that people still put money in the offering plate each sunday and because of that, i get to live and work where i do and i get to serve the kingdom the way god has wired me to do it.

even though my job and calling may be different than yours, our battle is the same:  to serve and give and live our lives with integrity and healthy motives…clean hands and pure hearts.

i’ll give you another take on this later.

lookers, helpers, or owners

i wrote about this a few years ago.  i thought i would revisit it today.  churches are full of all different kinds of people, but i have found that most church people fall into one of three categories: lookers, helpers, or owners. let me explain…

lookers are people that are seeking. they are looking for a place to belong. they are looking for friends. they are looking for meaning. they are looking for answers. they come to check things out and see if its worth it to keep coming back. lookers can stay lookers for a long time. months or even years. you can get to know them and they can get to know you. they join in. they come to events. they can even turn into regular attenders. but make no mistake, they are still lookers. they give a little money, a little time, a little effort. they show interest. sometimes, they even tease you into believing they are more then just lookers. but when all is said and done, they are still lookers. they can be members. they call the church their church. they might even bring more lookers with them. but they are still lookers.  i love lookers.

a second group of people are helpers. they are much more involved than lookers. these people can be counted on to assist. they don’t mind being asked to do things and are usually more than willing to help out. they are busy people. they have jobs and families and hobbies and homes and neighbors and vacations and associations and investments. they are busy people. they have to work hard to schedule “church time”, but they do it. they are people who will gladly give you their name and number and encourage you to give them a call when you have a need. they are friendly and helpful and will work hard to fit additional tasks into their busy schedules. the greater the need, the more willing these folks are to help. honestly, we couldn’t do the things we do without helpers. they are usually the largest group in a healthy church.

owners are the foundation of the church. they are the people who start things and finish them. they are the people who don’t need to be asked to do things. they are already doing them. owners are always thinking about their jobs. always planning. always strategizing. always wrestling with new ways to do the important things they are responsible for. owners are always there. owners are responsible…even when they are not there. they make sure the job gets done. they don’t call people at the last moment to fill in. you seldom have to call them because they already know what they should be doing. they are the people the helpers call.

they give the overwhelming majority of money in the offering plate. they give their own money (over and above their offering) to see tasks completed. they use their own stuff. their own homes are extensions of their church jobs. they make personal decisions in light of their ministries. they seldom get sick. they arrive early. they stay late. they make the biggest messes, but stay to clean up. they always have your back. they will climb the mountains with you. they will face the enemy with you. they are your team…your family…your brothers…your deepest friends.

are you a looker…a helper…or an owner? maybe it’s time to make a move…

Giving

wanda and i made a decision years ago (over 30 of them babies…) that we would live off of a salary that was provided by the money that people put in the offering plate each sunday.  i’m not incapable of earning a living doing something else.  i’m sure we wouldn’t have starved.  i have a highly marketable degree in recreation (a fancy word for play) from san diego state university, for crying out loud.  go aztecs!

but living by the plate was our chosen course.

i feel like i put in a good days work just like the next guy.  i have goals and expectations and a job description.  sometimes i work overtime.  i take days off periodically, though sundays are work days!  i study, i write, i lead, i counsel, i preach, i teach, i manage programs, i oversee teams, i train leaders, i marry, i do funerals, i unplug toilets, i change light bulbs, and chase down an occasional dead rat smell.  like i said, i’m just another working guy…doing my best to earn my paycheck.

doesn’t sound very spiritual, does it?  

honestly, there’s not a week that goes by that i am not humbly reminded that i get to do what god has called me to do…simply out of the gracious generosity of good people.  every week when the plates are passed around our church family, i am drawn deep into the realization that it is sacrifice that has made my life possible all these years.

there are loving people who do without so i might have my share.  

i’m feeling a little overwhelmed right now…