Pastor Larry,
You seem so hung up on the illustrations that I have used...$3 and 10 hours etc.
I think you are assuming that I am arguing for giving less to God. I am not. But I understand why you might think that because there are many Christians who argue that they don't have to go to Sunday PM or Wednesday PM or whatever church funtion is being discussed and the reason they argue against those things is because they are not really committed to God. They are not passionate about God. I would disagree vehemently with those people.
I am not saying give God 4 hours or 6 hours. I say give God 24/7. While you work, play, eat, sleep, it is all Gods. So maybe you would be more comfortable if I changed the numbers. We have a finite amount of time to spend at church...oh let's say "$3,000,000." We have a limited amount of time and energy to spend every day...integrate God into that everyday part of your life to the tune of $55,000,000.
Are you more comfortable with that? The point is I am not minimizing one's commitment. I am not minimizing ones faith and how it impacts ones life. Live out your faith. And certainly a portion of our finite amount time should be spent gathering as a group for exhortation, encouragement, fellowship, worship. But don't limit God to that time.
And I think that gathering 3x a week the same way, at the same place, with basically the same format is not the best way. But don't twist that to say that I am arguing for less. I am arguing for more and better...both/and! Split the hours up as you wish but give God more and better.
I am a pastor who has said rather than "negotiating" with people on how to set up a church, I will start a church and set it up in the best possible way that I know how. I will seek to create environments where God can show up and people can become committed followers of Chirst. Sunday AM will be one environment. KidzQuest will be another. Summer Spectacular will be another. the 5 Mile Bible Study walk will be another...and another and another and another. So that is what I am trying to do. Am I doing it? Certainly trying. And I will continue to try to figure out ways to connect with as many people as possible and then pray that God will show up and change their lives. I simply would never be in a position where there are "things that I would like to do but can't do them." For people who want to be locked into "tradiational" methods there are plenty of places to do that. But if you choose to follow my lead or be a part of my church...enjoy the adventure. We may fail but it won't be because we did't try.