Better Than Winning the Lottery by Andy McDonald

Okay, who hasn’t dreamed of winning the lottery? And if that fantasy hasn’t passed through your mind, certainly you’ve wondered what it would be like to have an attorney contact you about a fortune left to you by some relative you never knew. Or maybe you’ve imagined the “Prize Patrol” knocking on your door. Have you ever wished for your bargain buy at a yard sale to turn out to be the most valuable item ever seen on the “Antiques Road Show?”

It’s fun to flirt with the fantasy of receiving great wealth, of riches just falling into our lap. It’s the stuff of story, treasure hunts, and diamonds under our feet. Thinking of wealth coming our way and what that would enable can make for fun daydreaming.

I love asking people, “If money were no concern, what would you do, or what would you do differently?” Travel, quit your job, spend more time with someone you love, pay off your home, have a second home somewhere. Who would you help out with some of your pot of gold?

We like to imagine ourselves as generous philanthropists if “our ship came in.” But, in reality, it’s a maybe or maybe not! If we live most of our lives inverting one of Jesus’ clear statements, it just wouldn’t be that easy to suddenly change.

In essence Jesus said that it is more enjoyable, more blessed, more rewarding to give than to receive. But if we live our lives imagining the joy of receiving, if we are “getters” more than “givers,” then even if our ship came in, there’s a good chance our habits wouldn’t change.

But what if we believe Jesus? What if we began, even in our small limited way, to determine and then see ourselves as givers? Would Jesus’ words come true for us and our lives become the most blest? Letting go of some of our time, our stuff, our money means we could experience the same blessedness that we see in those who may be able to give huge, culture-changing gifts. Maybe the size of the gift isn’t comparable, but Jesus says we will be blest more as givers than as receivers. Of course, there’s only one way to find out, and that is to become givers over getters.

So in 2012, maybe a great resolution would be to begin or to enlarge our world of blessing by practicing living as a giver more than a receiver—After all, Jesus said being a giver is better than winning the lottery!

Andy McDonald

Worship Services, Anthems, and Comfort Zones by Richard Hickam

Depending on your point of view, one of the benefits of being a church musician is hearing a worship service several times in one day. Yesterday’s message by Andy McDonald, “Going Beyond Your Comfort Zone,” and Doug Spinella’s testimony (and of course the music) struck a particular nerve in our family, and I had the distinct pleasure of hearing them all several times.

Having recently uprooted our comfortable, mission-minded life in Collegedale to serve here in Orlando, we occasionally go through the “have we made the right decision?” mindset. It is comforting to hear confirmations from others who have gone through the same struggles. It is even more life affirming to hear the scriptural basis for direction in our lives.

The closing anthem presented by our guest guitarist, Kasper Haughton, yesterday was “Where You Go I’ll Go.” I heard this popular song as recorded by Chris Tomlin for the first time last spring when my orchestra was invited to play at the church while we were on our spring tour. I thought it was a catchy tune but didn’t give it much thought afterwards. The song was also in the praise and worship playlist the week I came into town to interview. Here are some of the lyrics:

Where you go, I’ll go

Where you stay, I’ll stay

When you move, I’ll move

I will follow…

Who you love, I’ll love

How you serve, I’ll serve

If this life I lose, I will follow…

Do you ever play connect-the-dots with God? It’s becoming one of my favorite pastimes.

This week I watched a program from the archives on ABC’s Nightline program called “Does God Have a Future?” One of the sticking points from the skeptics was, even if there was a Creator, the idea that God was interested in what we had for lunch was quite absurd.

The idea of the Creator being a personal God is a scriptural absolute. When God says in Isaiah 43:1, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine,” leaves no amount of guessing. Furthermore, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to give you hope and a future.” Lastly, one of my favorites from Isaiah 30:21, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’”

I am reminded of several of my friends who right now are on the other side of the world in Africa helping orphans. Why not here in Orlando? you say. Well, because God has placed it in their heart that Africa is where He wants them to make a difference.

So my question for you is, What is God calling you to do out of your comfort zone? Live comfortably in the American dream? Doubtful. Follow the whisperings behind your ear? Probably. Connect the dots in your life; He’s speaking to you right now.

I’m sure you thought from the title that the Minister of Music was going to challenge your thoughts on comfort zones relating to worship services and music. Don’t worry – I may, but I’m still waiting to see that last dot come into view.

Richard Hickam

Jesus and Religion by Chad Hess

If you've spent any time on Facebook or YouTube this week, you've probably seen the video, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus.” In less than a week since its release, it has gotten over 11 million hits, over 200,000 likes, 27,000 dislikes, 117,000 comments, and a slew of response videos (as of this writing). Clearly, this video has struck a chord with many people. Some people love the attack on the hypocrisy of religion; some seek to defend religion, while others want to throw both Jesus and religion out the window.

While I don't agree with everything in the video, I do appreciate the distinction the creator is trying to make between religion and Jesus. I don't agree that they are polar opposites, but there is certainly a difference between the two. It is possible to have religion but miss Jesus. It's also possible to follow Jesus and not accept religion.

Religion is the organization of people who have similar beliefs and practices regarding God. At its best, it is a community that strengthens one another and reflects the complexity of God. At its worst, it is a collection of customs and roadblocks that block access to the very One they are supposed to lead people toward. Religion is full of messed-up people who, despite the best of intentions, often botch things up. It's a frustrating reality.

But I don't look to religion for my salvation. Jesus Himself offers me that, and it is my relationship with Him that really matters.

So why even bother with religion? Because we are social creatures following a relational God, so there is great value in group worship. There are many facets of God that I have learned through the experiences of others, things I could not understand on my own. I have also found a family in my church that has seen me through my most difficult times.

I don't need a religion that is perfect because I have a God who is perfect. Plus, I fit right in with an imperfect religion.

Chad Hess

For All We Know . . . by Greg Creek

I recently returned from a weeklong mission trip, vacation, training, and spiritual renewal all rolled in to one. I had a large part in the spiritual renewal portion of the trip. Many months ago, a team of us got together and decided on a theme for the week. I spent weeks preparing a program that would be presented by others. Each evening on the trip would be focused around a story of Christ. Even though I wasn’t the one speaking each night, I knew the topics they were covering and studied the stories extensively.

A little less than a week before I left, I started preparing myself for the reality that there would not be a whole lot of new discovery for me on this trip. I knew the stories forward and backward – even the big points that the speakers were going to make.

As I settled in the first night, waiting to hear everything I already knew, I was shocked. I had learned something from the speaker that I didn’t know. How could this be? I knew all the songs beforehand. I knew the drama beforehand. I knew the stories beforehand. I knew the speaker’s big points beforehand. I knew the small group questions beforehand! And yet, in all that I knew, I found there was plenty that I didn’t.

Some might think that I was just being egotistical, that I was approaching it like I knew everything. In my mind, I didn’t feel that way; I just felt like I had studied and learned and plumbed the depths of the topics. I was once again reminded of just how big God and His word are.

In our society, our views on many things have changed or grown deeper over time—the world is no longer flat, the sun is at the center of the solar system, fresh air is good, etc. Many people were perfectly content to just go on believing what they had always believed, but others chose to push forward, to search for deeper understanding.

Sadly, I was content to sit back and to continue to believe the earth was flat, so to speak, and I almost missed out on the blessing of knowing God better.

As I challenge myself to grow deeper, I invite you to join me in continually seeking to understand an infinite God and to approach the things we “know” with an opportunity to still learn a little more.

Greg Creek

My Occupy Movement by Tami Cinquemani

A quick Google search of the word “Occupy” reveals that Webster’s definition of this word has been enhanced. A word that once simply meant, “To take or fill up (space, time, etc.)” has taken on a unique global meaning. NPR’s Geoff Nunberg has even chosen this term as 2011’s Word of the Year.

What was once a simple phrase has come to mean something new. “Occupy” now brings visions of protest, disappointment, outrage, and deeply and desperately desired change. Those occupying various areas around our world have been moved to action, unwilling to sit around and just observe the thing they feel must be changed for the better. When one “occupies” something, they have given themselves over to a cause, regardless of how they are misunderstood, disrespected, or mistreated. They won’t give up because the price of calling it quits is far higher than the price they are paying by continuing to occupy.

Regardless of where the politics of our society have taken this effort, I believe the basic and original intent of those on New York’s Wall Street, Cairo's Tahrir Square, London’s Victoria Park, and Dublin’s Dame Street (just to name a few) has been to decry an injustice and right a terrible wrong.

I believe this was the original intent of God – to occupy us. “The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

After sin entered this world, a plan was laid to send His Son to occupy His creation in a new way. I believe Jesus came into our world to decry the injustice of His children allowing themselves to be destroyed by selfishness and pride and to right the terrible wrong of our separation from our Heavenly Father. I believe it is Jesus’ deepest desire to change our lives for the better. Rather than simply observe the self-inflicted decline of humanity, He shook our world with a protest of the status quo. Outraged that the children whom He loved so deeply would allow themselves to be degraded and scarred with sin, He was moved to action. Our Savior’s birth in a manger is no small thing; it is an occupation of the most desperate degree. The price of leaving the perfection of heaven for the battles of earth, and eventually the ultimate cost of the cross, was considered a far less price to pay than to lose even one precious soul.

What/Whom God “occupies” can’t help but be changed (“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart . . . “ Ezekiel 11:19), and this occupation is available to all (“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . . . “ John 1:12)

Though there are many times I try to clear Him out, my heart’s desire is to allow Jesus to completely and fully Occupy me.

Tami Cinquemani