I am going to take a huge risk and go way out on a limb.

A couple of my current comments on an article at Church Communications Pro regarding open source products or "freeware" got me thinking about a situation with churches I have encountered personally.  The situation has to do with some churches or their leaders that feel as though they should receive free stuff just for being a church or pastor.

I believe that there is nothing wrong with a church receiving any type of gift when a person wants to give it from the heart or in a worshipful response to God.  I do believe it is wrong for churches to expect or guilt people (knowingly or unknowingly) into giving to their church by using the "Kingdom building" excuse.  

Let me share an example from my business life.

My professional work focuses on helping churches communicate their message.  I do this because I love God and want to give back with the talents He has blessed me with and am passionate about seeing the Church grow.  This is the way that I provide everything from a home to food to education for my family.  The Bible says "a worker deserves their wages" Luke 10:7.  The sad thing is that there have been so many churches during the last six years who have tried to get my services for free or for a huge discount because "I am a Christian and I should give to the Kingdom building movement."  This is absolutely wrong and not Biblical! 

What some church leaders don't seem to understand is that, like them, I too have had to pay my dues for education, training, expensive software, and computers. They forget this is how I feed my family and probably don't know that there aren't benefits like being on a church staff.  Sometimes I have to work when I am really sick and I don't get yearly vacation times.  Please understand this is not a gripe about my choice and lifestyle but that there are many things in the background that can easily be forgotten.

This brings me to my comments at Church Communications Pro.

If a business charges for their services which take time, money, and experience, shouldn't they have the right to earn a profit and make a living from their talents?  Is it right for a church to feel as though everything should be provided for free or at a discount?  Wouldn't you feel horrible by taking the blessing from another person or food from a child's mouth?  And to those wealthier churches who have played the "Kingdom" card - are you not sinning against the person or business by pretending to have no money?

I wish I could give it all away but my priority is providing for the people in my household - and it's that way for other businesses and individuals too!  My hope is that churches will understand this and remember that no one can just work for free...unless you're independently wealthy. 

A worker deserves their wages and churches should be the first to willingly pay Christians who are using their hands to make a living instead of always giving to the people who refuse to work and expect a handout.

I read this quote in Quiet Strength - The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy last night.

"Champions are champions not because they do anything extraordinary but because they do the ordinary things better than anyone else."  - Chuck Noll 

Are you doing the ordinary things better than anyone else?

This is just food for thought but how do you know when it's time to change direction - in business, church planting, ministry, or an idea you have been working on for some time?  How do you determine whether you should keep pushing or find another way around the wall?

This was part of my conversation with a great friend yesterday.

There are times where, for whatever reason, we just can't seem to get the results we had hoped for.  We work out consistently and eat the right foods but the pounds don't dramatically decrease.  We start a business that is better than the competition yet they get more recognition and clients from the target audience.  Or maybe we launch a church that is unlike anything in the community and needed but it just hasn't grown or reached new people.

We know that there are going to be times where it just takes patience and persistence because worthwhile goals don't come easy or come fast.  But what if after 6 months,  1 year or 5 years the fruit isn't quite there?  Is there a formula for knowing when it's time to readjust, start on a new path or give up completely?

My answer is I don't really know.  

It's different for each of us and I am in a situation right now where I am asking these questions.  I started a homeschool soccer group four years ago in the dream of building a couple teams to play competitively in a way that honors God.  We have had a super group of kids involved during this time and have a small group who has remained involved most of this time but I can't seem to get the type of involvement from parents and players to actually have one team in a specific age bracket.  Why is this so - especially when many people have expressed such a great interest in this sport?  Is it time to regroup and change direction or quit completely?  My decision is to make this the breakthrough year by changing up a few things and if we don't have the type of results we need by 2009, then it's time to move on.

A few things I believe that are helpful for making the right decision: