Church resources vrs. everything else

Last night my wife and I had the opportunity for the second time to join a group from church and man one of the concessions stands at the coliseum. We had helped the previous Friday at the first Mad Ants basketball game. Last night was the Casting Crowns "The alter and the door" concert.

I had speculated that we wouldn't be very busy for the concert just due to the fact that most Christians or music lovers like to do things as groups like catch dinner before or after the event.

Whereas sports fans would rather munch and drink at the sporting event while watching the game, boy was I wrong. The Mad Ants game was a slow steady business most of the night. People slipping out during the game to grab a slice of pizza or soda only spending a small fortune.

I was very surprised last night at the concert when hoards of people would flock to the stand and order sandwiches, ice cream bars, pizza, sodas (large ones), candy, popcorn and Cotton candy. I was simply amazed at how much they spent on JUNK. One guy bought 5 ice cream bars, a large soda and 2 slices of pizza and dropped $21.00. I could have bought lunch for a week!

What ever our booth brought in, we got a small (very small) percentage of the sales and it goes toward the church. Great way to make some extra cash for the church or for a fund raiser. So this was basically a secular event verses a Christian event, and here is my problem. The secular event brought in far less money than the Christan event did, and as I stood there taking hand fulls of cash for over priced junk food I had to ask myself, if these people, who most likely go to church, can spend this type of money on junk and over priced (and not so tasty) food, then why are our churches behind in budget and why are our ministries under funded.

After the evening was over I mulled this over in my head and thought about how much money was spent that night at our booth alone, times almost 15 other booths, and dreamed about what could have been done with that money had it been pout toward a ministry or tithing. Now I am not saying these people aren't tithing, that is between them and God. I do know this though, our church has been behind budget all year, our ministries are suffering due to lack of funds and we have had to cut back to bare bones just to operate, and I watched thousands of dollars being spent on junk food.

Now I know that buying food and pop at events such as the ones mentioned kind of go hand in hand, but I also have to ask where our priorities are. Do we really give God our first fruits or are we skimping a little off the top for ourselves as well. One day we will be held accountable for what was given to us and our Master is going to ask us what we did with what He gave us. I hope He likes popcorn and soda.

The Authority of Prayer & Worship

Our second Core Value at UCC is The Value of Prayer.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."

In this scripture we see that Prayer allows God to move "...then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

It also shows us that Prayer allows us to move, "..."If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Prayer also allows revival, There is a quote that says:
"You can pray and never have revival but you will never have revival until you pray."

Prayer is a major communication path with God our creator, and to often it is the first thing to slip our daily activities. In the past, I have gotten so busy with life that I have let days go by without talking with God, and then I wonder why I feel so down or discouraged. Prayer is a vital link between God and his creation. When it comes to worship, I have to point out that if we are not praying on a daily, hourly basis, how then can we worship God. We cannot worship that which we do not know!

Prayer affords us the opportunity to come before God and build our relationship as we ask for forgiveness and guidance as we listen for His words.

The Authority of God's Word and Worship

"All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:16-17

So how does this scripture apply to worship? Let me ask you a few questions;

Who is it that you claim you worship?

Is it God?

Is it music?

Is it something else?

If you answered God, I have another question for you. Is it the God of the bible? Is it the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Or is it the God you have come to know and love in your mind? The one you have molded and shaped into what is comfortable for you?

If we are worshiping a God that we have molded and shaped to make us comfortable, then we are worshiping a false God. God is God and he does not change. He is the same today as he was the day Moses walked across the Red Sea floor. By reading and obeying His word, we will discover and gain a better understanding of who God is and His expectations of us.

One of our core values at UCC is "The Authority of Gods Word" We understand that the learning and memorization of His word will enable us to learn how to worship God in Spirit and in Truth which is what the Father seeks, those who worship in spirit and in truth.

So where does truth come from? Truth comes from the Word, and the Word comes from the mouth of God. We can worship God by observing His word and hiding it in our hearts.