It’s Another Podcast!
I always try to respond back when someone sends me an email. I try to be kind and loving, and teach something, even if the email is critical.
Maybe I should have waited a few days before I responded to this one. I didn’t. But sometimes I get sick and tired of hearing this same ‘ol song. So, I kind of unloaded on him.
In this podcast (9:13 ) I’m going to read what he wrote, and then what I emailed back to the man who sent me the email. I hope you have a comment about this. There are some Christians who really need to think about their values. Listen and see what you think.
Enjoy the podcast!
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Hey Mike, This is the kind of person that probably doesn’t tithe. Probably thinks that should be free also. Did he pay for his Bible? Or a Joyce Meyer book or John Jakes, or Neil Anderson or any one of the others that write such books?
I for one am thankful for the free blog and other things you offer.
Mike,
God bless and thanks for another great podcast! As always…
Last summer before going off to Family Camp up in the Sierra Mountains ($350 for a week, including food!) I got to thinking about this topic and how very fortunate we are in that people that put on seminars, camps, teachings, etc. don’t charge what mainstream America charges for some of these types of events.
Come on – Anthony Robbins will charge $1000 for a weekend seminar. And that’s if you want the basic package. Two-days, two-nights in a crowded sweaty auditorium with people you normally don’t associate with. Versus going to a bible class, the cost of the hall rental and a booklet – ends up costing less than $50 and includes some basic beverage service. AND the topic being discussed has longer lasting, life changing information than what the Anthony Robbins’ of the world are offering.
Thanks again for all your many years of dedicated service to God!
Thankyou Mike for all of the wonderful things you do,I am so thankful for this web site,and I look forward to reading and to hearing all your words of love.God Bless you.
Mike,
When you ask for opinions, you’re going to get a variety of differing views. Its amazing how God, gave all of us two ears to hear, but how each one of us, don’t seem to hear the same thing. Jesus, even said, “He who has ears, let him hear”. We all have ears, but He knows, we don’t all hear the same.
I heard a very simple statement in the email you read. “I don’t want to buy… and quit asking me if I do. You must be asking me so often because you’re more interested in my money, than you are in me. If you were really interested in me, you would just give it to me.”
He prefaced the email with, “I’m sure what you have to offer is very good”, but ended it with, “but please, quit asking”. Those are the “ears” that I heard it with, mostly because I have no vested interest. To me, you and he are equal and I’m objective. I can look at it from both sides with a balanced viewpoint.
Because it had your name on it, you heard it as an attack on you, your love of God, your devotion to Jesus and probably a few other levels I’m missing. You also used it as an avenue to tell the rest of us all the work you do that you are not asked to be paid for. Podcasts, website, communications, etc. You do a LOT. And believe or not, most of us who follow you are aware of that.
Again, a variety of people will tell you how THEY would answer the email and I am just one of them. Many will disagree with me because they have a heart that leans one way and I, a heart that leans another. I KNOW all the hard work you do, because I’ve done this type of labor for many years.Websites, podcasts, emails, admistrative work, takes a TREMENDOUS amount of time. And I would tell you that God, knows all the work you do as well. And since you do it for Him, that’s all that matters.
Honestly, I would have told the emailer… “Sir, I’m sorry I came across that way to you, it was certainly not my intention. While I have put countless hours into my productions and a great deal of money as well, in the end it is God’s money, and I’m sure He would like you to have a copy. If you will provide me an address, I will personally send you one.
While I use the money from the work I do to pay my bills and provide for my family, I know that whatever I lose in providing this product to you, God, will reward me several times over in a variety of ways. Maybe monetarily, maybe not. Maybe with just a change of your heart and your skepticism towards me and my work for Him, which is worth more than gold itself.
I hope you are truley blessed by this book and will in turn, bless someone else with it as well.
In His Name,
Mike
That’s what I would have written, but I haven’t received countless emails like this and to me, this particular email was not the straw that broke the camel’s back.
But the bottom line is, God, DOES know the work you are doing, and God, WILL reward you for selfless and sometimes costly acts that truly reflect His heart and acts that show HIS heart in you.
You asked for it and that’s my opinion.
In His Name,
Rick Riley
Susanne, David, and Rick,
Thanks for leaving a comment – it is always refreshing to me to hear the opinions of the readers of this blog, to hear what’s on your mind.
By the way, the emails the gentleman was receiving from me were at his request for additional information, which he could easily unsubscribe. The emails were full of good information about healing, and a link to purchase the book – no hard sell.
I didn’t really view his email as an attack on me personally, but saw once again how people think spiritual information should be free – that’s what I was trying to communicate in the podcast.
Many years ago I knew a believer who owned an auto repair shop. He loved God and his fellow believers so much that he pretty much gave away his services to bless the body. Soon, these same believers started not paying him anything for his services assuming that he was just a giving man that went around blessing all the believers. Well, this man eventually went out ofi business. One thing I know… God does not expect us to be ignorant about business or life.
Thank you for the reminder!
Thanks for the comment, Betty.
I too, over the years, have seen believers take advantage of giving people. It is very loving for a person to be giving, not because they have to, but because they want to help someone else. It is quite another thing for a believer to expect another believer to give something to them simply because they are “brothers.” A greater act of love would be to pay a “believer” even more than they normally charge. We ought to love each other and not take advantage of one another.
God bless you,
Mike
Thanks for leaving a comment, Matthew.
There are those who charge even more than a $1,000 for a weekend. I talked to someone just yesterday who told me has has spent $8,000 so far this year on getting the training he feels that he needs in his field. If it is something a person thinks will benefit them, then they pay for it. That’s why I was saying that Christians ought to place a lot more value on spiritual information.
God bless you,
Mike
God bless you my Brother!
You are biblically accurate.
There’s a lot wrong with the thinking of the average Christian today and that’s why we need anointed Teachers to edify the Body of Christ.
The Bible clearly says, they that preach the Gospel should live off the Gospel. Rock on, Mike!
Thanks for the comment, Everest John,
You are right; that is indeed what the Bible says.
God bless you, brother,
Mike
Hi Mike,
God bless you in the name of Christ Jesus. He is not ashamed to call us bretheren.
It’s been many moons. I was a W.O.W. in Des Moines, IA in 82-83. Kim Mallory was our family coordinator and Glen Juliano and Tony Marinelli were my W.O.W. brothers. I enjoyed enormous deliverance that year, in spite of myself.
I saw your son on facebook and he suggested I check out the website. So good to see you and Cathy in the photos. Ya’ll both look great.
I listened to your podcast and feel that you are absolutely right. I do think that one must consider that the love of money has crept in (well, it’s been around at length) and people are fearful and suspicious. I guess it all boils down to NOT thinking evil before you know a person’s character. Once someone has proven themself unfaithful, it would be prudent and scriptural to avoid affiliation with them but that is certainly not the case here and I remember your integrity from years ago and it was sound.
I do have one thing to add. When I was a W.O.W. I had certain challenges. I shared those with leadership hoping for help. More recently I shared concerns like that with leadership for the same reason and I believe I was judged wrongly for them then and now. When someone goes to another believer who is strong and ‘fesses’ up, they are generally looking for help. Perhaps this needs to be considered in the whole realm of not judging God’s people, for the sake of ministering to folks better. And back to the original issue, I believe that your time and effort are valuable and thank God for your continued stand on God’s word and the effort you put forth to minister to His people. It helped my life years ago.
Still standing,
Jeannie
Jeannie, so good to hear from you after all these years!
Being critical and judgmental never helps anyone; it is not promoting the love of God. Christianity is a way of a Father with His children. Religion is man’s organized system of rules and regulations. More Christians need to see the difference.
Thanks for leaving your comment, and Gid bless you,
Mike