I remember during studying for my ordination (the body of Christ confirming God's call on me through character and bible testing - a good thing) one of my peers who was on the examination committee asked what the sin of Sodom was. I thought to myself, "Is this a trick question?" I responded, "Homosexuality?" "No, it was actually being greedy, overfed and not concerned for the poor," he stated. I went home that night and googled (did we call it that 10 years ago?) the words: Sodom, greed, poor, and guess what? He was right! Ezekiel the prophet had much to say about the "Sin of Sodom." That has stuck with me for years.

The other night one of my children said she wanted a job so she could get internet on her phone. I lost it! I went crazy with passion and fervor condemning the american mindset of excess, greed and the like. I was technically right. Why would a Christian spend 30$ a month on internet on thier phone while ignoring the poor? Do we really need more internet options? GPS? That great new phone? After my seething mellowed I apologized for bringing my daughter to near tears. My greed of being right and righteous, my overfed anger and my lack of compassion for my poor daughter amazed me. I was a complete rearend.

Later at dinner she asked me a great question: Dad, when is it ok to get internet on your phone? When have we given enough away to justify having the excess (in so many words). She meant it completely innocently. I responded that Jesus doesn't give us a list of rules, do's and don't but does give us a new heart that learns self-control, learns that we don't "deserve" all the excesses anymore than we deserve his love and that the more the gospel melts us the more we will see our hearts turning outward, asking for ways to give away money, time and service. We will learn to give up, deny self, lose life not bc we are trying to win God's approval, or to even out our spending, but bc He has given EVERYTHING FOR US, that which are reminded of every week when we read, "His body given for you..."