This may cut into the ire of may, but I’ll say it anyway.

Watching the Nick Saban {coach of the Miami Dolphins leaving to coach Alabama football]drama has made me think of the church today. How different is he than most pastors?

If you look over Sabin’s career, he’s been a man, never really committing, but always looking for the better job and bigger paycheck.

I look at most pastors today and see men driven by a paycheck and not a calling. They move from church to church following the almighty dollar. If they can increase their numbers, hopefully, they can move to a bigger church and make big church money. The church is no different than corporate America (and our sports have long since sold out as well).

What happened to those who were called? What happened to the mission? What happened to men (and women) driven by passion? What happendd to recklessly following after our wild God? What happened? 

Two reports that blew my mind:

- Google bought website You Tube 1.65 billion dollars!

-Trekkies (stop it, that’s not the joke) forked over 7 million dollars to buy models of the star ship Enterprise (stop laughing) used on the show(s). One reportedly sold for $584,000 because it included the smell of fresh geek.

Where are these deep pockets coming from? Why aren’t they spending it on something worthy (like me, Stuart Delony, missionary for example.) It never ceases to amaze me what we find to spend our money on.

But, I’m guilty as well. I’m not rolling in it, but I always find ways to buy useless crap. Thinking back upon my spending. I’d have to say my top ten are:

10. A rubber butt (for the comic value, but rarely used)

9. Richard Marx’s greatest hits (it seems like an oxymoron)

8. A full dress suit (never worn it and don’t think that I ever will - even though I’m Baptist)

7. A dog (it’s a long story, but I owned a dog for like 12 hours when I was in Junior High. I paid for it and when my folks discovered it, the dog made it’s way to a good home - not ours)

6. 1994 Nissan Pathfinder (engine would randomly die - lemon!)

5. Movie ticket to Titanic (3 hours of my life I want back)

4. Love offerings to Jim and Tammy Baker PTL (not actually mine, but this is one from a family member close to me who complains weekly about it)

3. Folgers Coffee (Once you know what good coffee is, you never go back!)

2. Extended Warranty (It’s just throwing money away!)

1. Four words: “As Seen on TV.” (I’m compelled to buy it, and then after I use it, I’m compelled to throw it away. I have a weakness for infomercials and anything sold by Chuck Norris)

So how about you? What’s the most useless thing you bought (besides your copy of the Purpose Driven Life) and wasted your money on?

Doing a web search earlier this week (on a completely different topic) I stumbled on this website.

http://www.nomoretithing.org/

It’s a site completely devoted to proclaiming the idea that we’re free in Christ and don’t need to tithe… ever! Then make the argument that tithing is an Old Covenant (Old Testament) practice and doesn’t apply now. We can give, but shouldn’t feel like we have to.

I don’t really know where to start with this one. All I can tell you is my belief on tithing. I believe that we are called to give the Lord our best, weather that is through, works, time spent with him, or giving (tithe). Tithing is a heart issue. Are we so consumed with what we have that we are unwilling to give back to the Lord in faith. I give out of my love of my Maker. The most basic story that should cover this is Cain and Abel. Abel gave out of an abundant heart of love while Cain held back. This whole concept seems to be very Cainish.

I know people have been burned by televangelists and churches who seem to focus more on money than equipping the saints for service. I agree that there are many ministries that are off and moving forward with false motives. But let us not be reactionary. I’m accountable to the Lord and my heart is tied to Him and not a church. We give to Him, not a church.

I’m not held to a 10% or guilted into giving. I do it because I feel called to. I do it out of obedience. I do it with joy. I do it because I choose to follow Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I do it because all that I have is the Lord’s anyway - so why fool myself into thinking otherwise.