Surprises!

[Billy Cox]

I filled-in today on keyboard at a non-denominational church. After an all-morning marathon consisting of three services, the band leader asked me if it was okay to deliver my check by mail.

I just assumed it was a volunteer gig. The Nazarene Church has conditioned me well.

The other surprise was when I arrived at the church about an hour before everyone else. I had forgotten to turn my clock back.

[Gina Stevenson]

... what sometimes happens in the spring. When the clock change is forgotten then, one shows up not one hour early, but -- as I've done before -- one hour late! :eek: eek!!

[Cindi Hammons]

I just assumed it was a volunteer gig. The Nazarene Church has conditioned me well.

Billy, I'm really sorry you have been burned so badly by The Nazarene Church, but I hate to tell you this, it wasn't the Nazarene Church, but it was a Nazarene Church. When you make comments like that, it is like you are indirectly cutting down my church as well. It was sarcasm that was a real downer for me this morning. Your posts can be so negative that I ususally don't read them anymore (which really is a shame because you do write so well), but today your title got my attention and I thought it would be something possitive. Oh well. :basic04

Cindi H. who also played keyboard yesterday at church, and who will not be sarcastic about it on a forum where anyone can read it!

[Beth Larpenter-Shurbutt]

I play a keyboard for church every service and the LORD pays me! I've had jobs that paid because they didn't have anyone in their own congregation to play.

I play for my own church now because I feel it is my ministry and our church could not afford afford to pay me.

God gave me the ability to play an I love giving back to Him!

If the church decided to pay me, that would be okay, BUT that's not my motivation and I will not cricize MY church, which happens to be a Nazarene Church, for not paying me.

Beth

[Alisa Stoll]

Billy wrote: I just assumed it was a volunteer gig. The Nazarene Church has conditioned me well.

(the quote feature didn't work for some reason - trust me or look for yourself - that's what he wrote)

Could be interpreted: The Nazarene Church not only taught me to consider my music my mistry for my church but my ministry for God. As a ministry for God, I did not consider filling in at a non-denominational church a job for which I should or would be paid.

Conditioning can be both good and bad. Taught certainly has a traditionally more positive conotation but for the person who reads the above statement as negative - taught would probably become a negative statement also.

By the same token, Billy may well have meant it as negative - I can't control his thinking bt I can control mine. I choose to read it as I interpreted it because that's more in line with my view in life. It might be naive but it works for me.

Alisa

[Charlene Clevenger]

Billy,
It was good of you to agree to play, not expecting to be paid, and I'm glad that the church was able to pay you. God bless you and your ministry.

[Ian Gentles]

LOL you were bright an early! :)

[Marsha Lynn]

.

[Billy Cox]

The more complete version would say that I didn't expect to be paid, and I would do it again even if they said up-front that it was a volunteer gig. Doing music as a ministry is payment in itself. Any monetary reward is icing on the icing on the cake.

I know that volunteer musicians are a part of the culture of the Church of the Nazarene and I don't have a problem with that.

[Billy Cox]

Thanks. I appreciate getting the benefit of the doubt. Grace is good.