Free

I was pretty sure this “good word” must have been addressed at some point in our blogging history. Sure enough, but the interpretation was “free as the breeze” not “at no cost.” I’m in the midst of a conversation about the other definition of the word. We’ve been talking about our church culture that likes to have as many things as possible free to all.

We love potlucks, where we can invite everyone at church because we know there’ll be plenty of food to share. “Y’all come,” we say. “It’s free!” We love this aspect of our welcoming and inviting ministry. Come one, come all, it won’t cost you a cent. There may be a basket somewhere if you’re inclined to leave a toonie, but really, don’t worry about it; it’s free!

We send each other to the World Church’s website to download resources. There are tons of them there. You can find whatever you need to plan your worship, lead your adult class discussion, find the policy statement you need, read the most recent blog from the President or the Herald article you want to copy for your friend. And it’s all “free”! What a wonderful world.

Of course we sometimes bump up against that undeniable fact that, while it may be “free” it isn’t without “cost.” We find ourselves dealing with budgets and tax receipts and the high cost of living. How do we balance our desire to be as welcoming as we can be and as gentle with what we charge for products and services?

I think we all understand the hard facts that there is seldom anything that is totally free. We know that someone, somewhere is paying the price. Maybe it’s rolled up in our tax bill, or our Mission assessment or our tithing dollar. So be it. But those dollars have been hit hard by the times, the declining population and the high cost of living. (Isn’t that where we came in?)

Part of the answer does need to be a focus on our vision/mission. What is our priority? What matters most? And how shall we pay for it? Once we’ve decided that something is truly worthwhile it becomes a lot easier to find the funding. Nobody wants others to suffer hardship, and having the whole story will inevitably bring good people’s true generosity to the fore.

One thing for sure, there isn’t a single one-size-fits-all answer. Some things, for some people, need to be “free.” Some users can pay, others will need help. Maybe the taxes, the tithing, the assessment can help subsidize the cost. Having this kind of conversation can really help us decide what our priorities are, what things are truly worth to us. Don’t leave it to the financial folk to make these decisions alone. It’s not strictly a finance question.

Best of luck to all of you out there who may be struggling with the budget. While it still may be true that “the best things in life are free” it is also true that most likely, someone, somehow is bearing the cost. Together we can work it out.

Posted by Marion

Answer

“If that is your question, the answer is No.”

That was the line in the email from the Mission Centre President. If you received that email yesterday, you know who you are. You probably didn’t hear me cheering, but I was. If only we had more of those responses what a great world this would be.

I’m following up yesterday’s “Ask” post with some more thoughts on the matter. For the most part the “ask” blog was suggesting how to ask for help or build up somebody else's skills. Or how to tap into someone else’s expertise to increase your own learning or understanding or skill in some area. For all those things my advice to clarify your question still stands.

But sometimes the questions that come to us are something like this:

• If I’m not able to do the pre-work is it ok if I still attend the workshop?
• Can you record your session and send it out for us to use in our congregation without actually taking the course?
• Would it be alright to combine the two events and make one big one so people won’t have to travel?
• Do you mind if we just photocopy the song and save the expense of buying enough music for the whole choir?
• I’ve heard it’s easier to get forgiveness than to ask for permission. Could we use that principle for this situation?
• If I promise to leave all my money to the church can I be excused from making a regular offering?
• I realize you've already preached four times this week but if we invite 500 of our closest friends, could you maybe say a few words for them?
• I know you’ve planned a very tight schedule, but if I stay until lunch time would it be alright to skip out of the afternoon session?
• Since you’re not making any real decisions at this conference can we be excused from sending delegates to participate in one more dialogue session?
• We're all aware that there are poor people everywhere. Can’t we just focus on the poor in our own country and let the rest of the world take care of their own?
• I know you’re really busy, but could you handle this area of ministry for me/us?

Have I made my point? Sometimes folks, the answer is No.

Posted by Marion

Heart

What word were you expecting? It is, after all, Valentine’s Day.

What is there to say of the heart? Shall we discuss its importance to the body? The need to keep it healthy and pumping faithfully with proper diet, exercise, well-balanced life with minimum of stress, or at least appropriate levels of “good” and “bad” stress.

Perhaps we can consider its metaphorical significance. All that love poetry, written from the depths of the poet’s heart. Pain or joy; longing or despair; affection or jealousy. Piles of feelings overflow the human heart.

Did you ever wonder about the shape of the heart? The shape we cut out of construction paper as soon as we’re allowed to use the scissors is really not very close to the shape of the actual organ. Besides, people had been using that shape long before the heart’s anatomy was explored. It is thought that the shape has other ancient and very meaningful origins we’ll not discuss here. You can do the Wikipedia search for yourself.

Then there are the scriptures that send us into our theological contemplations. The God of the Israelites who somehow "hardened Pharaoh's heart." Why? And much later “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Another way of sending us to “what matters most”? How can we know? How to interpret the “burning of the heart in the bosom.”

Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.

I thought this as I read Paul Davis’ account of the church leaders in Africa. You can follow his travels here. Do look at those faces. “Serious” is what Paul calls them. Fully engaged in their work of becoming the best leaders, ministers, teachers, pastors, bishops…they can be. Consider those countries listed there: Congo, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria among them. How their hearts must be dedicated to their calls.

My heart goes out to them. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Posted by Marion

Process

I recall from a previous life referring very often to the line “People who succeed are people who pay attention to process!” Now I have no recollection of just who said that, so I can’t attribute my quote.

But I can say that I still believe it and think it’s a pretty good principle to live by. I’ve just come from a conversation with a pair of colleagues wherein we devised a couple of potential processes that might take a group of people, who wish to succeed, to a decision point. I’m hopeful that either of the options we’ll suggest will take them to the point they want to reach.

The process alone won’t do it. But the commitment is already there; the motivation is clear. There are folks on all sides of the question and champions ready to sell their solutions. There is passion about the need to make a decision and move forward. There may even be some frustration with a lack of a clear decision and direction to go. (Perhaps you might find something here to help if you’re someone feeling frustrated Frustration is not always a bad thing!)

But there is a certain lack of progress in this situation that we’re all hoping will be assisted by a process everyone can understand and enlist in. If you find yourself stuck and unable to move forward, not really knowing what to do next, unable to persuade people to make a decision or move off an unproductive position, perhaps it’s time to take your eye off the choices. Maybe you should stop listening to the loudest voices and give some attention to your process. Give some energy to some good solid action steps, expected outcomes, target dates, position advocates and completion times.

You may have heard of the “What Matters Most Workshop” that has been developed by our Merrie Bande. If you’ve forgotten, you can read about it here or here. It’s all about process!

As we set sail on the good ship CEM into the sea of 2011 let us not forget to bring along our process, otherwise we’ll find ourselves adrift. And that would never do, we’ve got places to go, goals to accomplish. Desire and commitment and motivation alone will not do it.

Pay attention to your process, people!

Posted by Marion

Options

Has anyone ever advised you to “keep your options open”?

It surely seems to me that many people have received that advice. Or they’ve decided it all by themselves. Oh I get it. It’s good to have choices. And sometimes it must seem that something better just might come along. It wouldn’t be good to be too tied up and to have to say “No” to some ultimate opportunity, would it?

There are opportunities aplenty for certain. Invitations to “events” fill up our facebook pages. Fundraisers, celebrations, concerts, workshops, parties, dinners…and on and on. Not to mention the essential preparations—shopping, cooking. Many of us are managing more than one calendar and need to synchronize a whole family, merging kids’ activities, parties, school trips, appointments with our own.

So we naturally adopt the very workable and understandable strategy of “keeping our options open.”

But here’s the thing. There are some things you’ve just gotta commit to! Face it: sometimes the best choice is the clear winner and you just must commit!

Next weekend all camp, reunion and retreat Directors get together for a weekend of focusing on this very, very important ministry. For this one time only we’ll be coming from every corner of the Mission. Many current directors will bring their good ideas, their leadership team, their potential successors, members of campground boards to expand the conversation and ensure great experiences to future campers. Some veteran directors will be there bringing their many years of experience and expertise to the mix. It will be amazing!

Our new Camping Commission is stepping up the plate this year and have organized this weekend’s program. They have the idea that sending out the invitation and planning a great agenda means that most folks will be there. I hope they’re right! This is no time to be “keeping your options open” folks. If you direct one of those major ministry events, or if you’d like to some day—camp, reunion, retreat—then this is for you! Nothing better is going to come along. We need you to commit and we’d sure like to hear that you’re coming. If you’re waiting for something better, forget it! There’s no better place to be.

Call Cheryl (1-888-411-7537) today and book your spot or email Pat Pallister (ppallister@yahoo.ca) and let her know you’ll be there. That’s CEM Directors’ Retreat, Scaroboro Missions, November 19-21. (See Events calender)

Posted by Marion