Dreams Unlocked

I read a news article about a pastor who is building a house valued at $1.6 million. The articles covering the story go to great lengths to figure out where the money came from. The pastor wrote a couple of books that sold a lot and he might charge a lot to speak at other conferences - so he has an income stream separate from his ministries as pastor of the church. In this way, a spokesperson from the church insisted that the church did not pay for the house. I don't really care what size or cost a pastor's house is - its really an individual thing how people manage their money - the only clear command is to tithe and be aware that our money is a gift from God and we are called to steward it well. But, this story raises an interesting point -  the secular news media covering this story for some reason think it is problematic and perhaps even wrong for this pastor to be building such a large house. Now - where do they get this idea from? Why would they equate ostentati...

I am writing this in a house buzzing with 6 children ranging in age from 2 to 9. 6 - double the usual number who run through this house. We are taking care of 3 kids of friends of ours who are struggling to come to terms with a loss. Their fourth child died in utero 2 weeks before his projected delivery date. 9 months of hopeful anticipation and excitement collided with the silence of a stilled heartbeat  amplified through medical machinery. Our friend had to go through a compounded misery of forced labor, only to birth a son who was not to be. Felicia and I visited them a few hours after their son was "born". It was unnerving to have our friend flash her beautiful smile in the sun-filled room that housed the still body of their son. We hugged and offered up what seemed useless words of comfort. Felicia held the baby and had to stop herself from rocking the child to calm it. I shared about how we had announced it in the church service that morning. I had to pray...