You Get What You Put Into It.

During weekday mornings I listen to a Hollister, CA based radio station via iTunes. It’s a noncommercial contemporary Christian station called Air1 that conducts pledge drives twice each year. Their company president was just on asking for donations and said something that really struck a chord.

It’s not necessarily a profound Christian statement, although I can see it’s relevance in a path following Christ, but rather a great rule to live by.

You Get What You Put Into It.

How obvious yet how often forgotten or worse ignored.

I look at my life, my relationships with family and friends, my work, my play, and I feel like a lazy bum. It’s not that I haven’t been successful in work but I am no where near my potential, AND I KNOW IT!

A look at my relationship with my wife and kids shows me how far from WOW I am. Everyone needs a WOW in their life. You know, after a hard physical days work your give it a “Wow, I’m tired.” or after a softball game it’s “Wow, that was a great game.”
or “WOW!” and you see as if you’ve been blind.

When’s the last time you said “WOW, that was great!”?

When’s the last time you laughed so hard you clutched your stomach and fell to the floor?

When’s the last time you felt like you gave your all and were satisfied with your day?

It’s been a while.

You Get What You Put Into It.

God promises to return to you ten fold what you give. Do you believe it?

I always thought of that in contributions to the church, tithing and such. I now wonder if it’s not a promise for everything in life.

Restless Members on The Wire

It's Sunday morning and I’m struggling with church. It’s just my church perhaps but many churches may have this same problem.

I could be considered one of the core members, not a deacon or overt leader although I have been heavily involved in church activities over the year. But I find myself moving further away. The massages say nothing to me, the music is better than it has been for a while but does not inspire me.

Our church is growing so there may not be something wrong with it just something going on with me.

How many others are there who feel this way about their church? How do church leaders recognize it and address the matter? How do I turn it all around?

Here are some random thoughts in my head:

• If you are perceived as a “core member” of a church others are less likely to notice a shift in your behavior and even less likely to address it.
  
• Core members are perceived as “knowing” and few checks are in place to help them along the way. Focus is given on new members and bringing people into the church.

It may be a phase but I believe there are many sharing this and at least in my world they are not being addressed.