I hear ya there Paul! Perhaps Western culture has become accustomed to “I get it my way and in my timing” so we struggle to let go when it comes to faith. I think it is the unchecked transfer of consumer driven culture to church that has people (including myself) going to church to receive. Even when we adopt mantras like “Ask not what your church can do for you…” I find it doesn’t change that easily. The unfortunate thing is how church becomes stale when we treat it like a McDonalds; expecting it to give a spiritual number 1 to this person and a number 4 to that one, but we’ll take a number 5. It seems like we throw tantrums when we don’t get the number we asked for too, “I wanted a 3 and you gave me a 5!” Fortunately church and faith don’t work that way. In fact, I’ve recently been learning that I only receive as much as I give. Or in other words, I find true joy when I give my joy to others, or I find true strength when I give my strength to others, or… one more… I find my “number 1” when I give my “number 1” to others. Fill in a few details and I think it’s pretty accurate. I find it truly hard to sincerely and honestly change that mentality in myself. With Gods grace we’ll get there! http://www.xanga.com/quiescentdetonation (blog)