CCLI Disgusts Me

When it comes to speeding, I was reared on a mindset that said: the law is the law and adherence was expected regardless of the threat of speed traps. That would be the first reason I understand the need for the existence of CCLI. The second reason is obviously the role it plays in funding artists who want to go full-time. What riled me right from the start was CCLI's stated claim to their reason for existence: to ensure churches could stay in line with legislation. All artists needed to do was explicitly waive the right to prevent copying and performing of their music in a church setting - legal requirements would have been fulfilled. Right at the start it appeared that the movement chose not to be upfront about the windfall their license would generate - why not be truthful? I've noticed also how the testimonials they use seem to come from the artists and publishers rather than the users. In fact, my real beef is that CCLI goes exactly against its very own motto: "encouraging the spirit of worship". The spirit of worship is one of offering and giving to the Lord, so I'm a little dumbfounded as to how they make that connection. As for me, my worship songs will be released to explicitly circumvent copyright. I'd rather receive God's ten-fold reward than the few pennies of a needy startup church in Calcutta.

Washing Dishes Saves the World

As I stand at the kitchen sink, for the umpteenth time, I ponder how much time washing the dishes is stealing from life. The numbers frighten me as they accumulate into the hundreds of hours. My life is passing rapidly before my eyes as I realise that the single set of cutlery I carefully soak, wash, stack, dry and put away will soon by replaced by three, four, five, maybe nine. Think what I could do with that time... I could do productive things, I could be an effective community leader, I could change the world. And so I stop doing the dishes and five hours later I realise I have achieved nothing in that time. The truth comes full steam around: busy people get stuff done. It takes discipline to change the world, because very few great things are done by accident. When you let the simple things slip, your drive, motivation and momentum start to slow. If you really want to change the world, I guess charity begins at home ... washing dishes.

Breaking the Pain Barrier

The battle against sin is often fought on the wrong grounds. I speak from personal experience in illustrating some of the different mental approaches you take when trying to avoid doing what you know is wrong. For instance, after slipping I decide that the next time I'll think more about the consequences of my actions, but in truth, when it comes time to make the decision, your brain is not always ready for all this long-term thinking. One aspect, however, that does make a difference is to understand the reality of pain. Much of the good that we want to or need to achieve comes through pain. Just like waking up on time in the morning, for evening people like me, or getting a nice build through pumping iron, or having a clean home by sweeping the floor, there comes a level of exertion required to live a respectable life. Running your life on emotions and feelings will see you steering clear of this pain barrier. When the time comes to decide whether you sin or not, accepting the pain of saying no could be the make or break factor.

Who Gets Your Tithe?

A hushed question on many congregants lips is: am I paying my tithe to the Lord, or am I just paying the pastor's salary? This valid question is one of those crossroads where spiritual principles run into practical reality and some squirm in their seats when they would prefer tithing to be primarily a spiritual exercise. The answer to this conundrum is found in a book you wouldn't necessarily choose as your first source of wisdom. In Leviticus, the first few chapters deal extensively with the rites for presenting and executing the different offerings required or recommended of the Israelites. The act of giving an offering was a spiritual exercise with a spiritual result. However, these chapters deal very extensively with the set of freedoms given to the Levites in consuming the offerings for personal benefit. When we tithe our income in the same way the Israelites made their offerings, our ministers are thus given similar freedom, within reasonable limits, to consume that tithe.