One of the goofier parts about being in vocational ministry in the money piece and the weirdness you can sometimes feel around it.
In many ways I am the incredibly lucky in this area- I know other church planters who struggle for years to make ends meet. For us? God and our community have blessed my family. I'm free to do my best to take care of the people of evergreen because from the very beginning, the people of evergreen have taken care of my family. It's truly been a beautiful thing.
Two years ago, just a year after starting the church, we unloaded Amy's decade-old 175,000 mile Nissan Sentra and got a new Mazda Tribute. I felt (wrongly, pathologically) compelled to tell everyone what a screaming deal we got. How we watched the papers for those loss-leader sales ads, went in first thing Friday morning, asked specifically for one of two advertised stock numbers and got what read on the sticker as (with "added dealer mark-up) a $23,000 for $13,000.
You know... lest anyone think we were living high on the hog (or the offering plate).
I find the same dynamic is true with technology upgrades.
(Can anyone see where this is going???)
I started a couple of months ago to do some stuff on the side to earn a little extra- mostly selling books on Amazon. It allows me monthly to put some money in an IRA, contribute a couple hundred extra bucks to the household account/student loans, support another church planter, and when there's some left over, engage in my hobby, which just happens to be technology (bear with me here... I focus-grouped this line of thought at our home group last night and it did very well). I don't play golf or buy fishing equipment or power tools- all very expensive hobbies, yes? I buy stuff I need, er... want... need and want like this MacBook (which some of you very generous readers helped me buy!) which help me do what I do.
Anyway, all that to say...
I'm a weak, weak man and Steve Jobs totally owns me.
When you factor in me selling my Treo on craigslist and the fact that the data plan is actually $20 a month cheaper, this thing will have paid for itself in a matter of months!
Really!
Now... anyone need some used books?
I'm totally jealous.
Posted by: David | July 02, 2007 at 05:26 AM
It IS pretty much the coolest thing EVER.
Oh my gosh.
Posted by: bob | July 02, 2007 at 05:30 AM
Um, yeah, me too
iphones, ebay and e-mails
Posted by: Helen | July 02, 2007 at 05:58 AM
I have to try this...first blog comment from my iphone :)
Posted by: Helen | July 02, 2007 at 06:08 AM
Very nice :)
Posted by: bob | July 02, 2007 at 06:08 AM
Yeah I can relate on the technology weakness. I have been coveting the iPhone for some time. I guess the only thing that has me waiting, besides lack of expendable income, is the thought it will be half the price and 2x the technology in a year. Just how the Macbooks have had progressive upgrades over the last year and a half. But hey being the "first one" with an iphone just might be worth the outrageous cost.
Posted by: ryan | July 02, 2007 at 06:21 AM
Yeah, I thought the data plan was a typo. That lure looks really tasty.
Posted by: Matt | July 02, 2007 at 08:01 AM
Hmm. Maybe it would be a more convincing argument if you weren't blogging about it... again!
: ) Congratulations none the less...Karli : )
Posted by: karli | July 02, 2007 at 12:05 PM
You know you wanted to include a link to where you sell your used books, so why didn't you? (Or did I miss it?)
Posted by: brian | July 02, 2007 at 01:06 PM
you are pathetic, bro! (but only because I don't have one)
Posted by: rameytime | July 02, 2007 at 06:28 PM