Somewhere I read that Ted Turner, the Atlanta based entrepreneur, had hesitated before giving away something like 200 million dollars. That shouldn't surprise too many of us. I am sure I too would do a little hesitating before parting with that kind of cash. But the reason reported I found most intriguing. Mr. Turner said he paused in his philanthropy because he knew that giving away such a tidy sum would take him out of the running as the world's richest man. Such charitable activity had a huge downside in the race of financial titans. One of Mr. Turner's chief competitors, Warren Buffet, has said he will not part with any of his huge estate until he dies. One cannot help but think of the enormous good that could be taking place while he was alive. My hunch is that these two guys, along with computer wizard Bill Gates, could establish and perpetually fund three complete universities and still have enough left over to never have to worry about working another day. I hope this doesn't sound like sour grapes because I don't think it is. I find myself more in the camp articulated by the bumper sticker I saw on an old VW bus..."He who dies with the most toys still dies."

Clearly, most of us have more than enough. We live in comfortable homes, drive decent cars, have enough money for food and clothes and such. The prudent ones are even squirreling something away for the future. But none of this seems to be enough. We are obsessed with more. A bigger house, a nicer car, designer clothes and on and on and on. What's going on here? Is this rational activity? In our own modest way are we buying into the perverted thinking of those richest of men? How do we reconcile our call to Christianity with out obsession for more and more?

Several years ago I began working at the game of golf. Please note I did not say I was playing golf. Playing implies there is some fun involved. Golf is not fun. It is terribly difficult work. I know that it looks like fun on television. But that is all make believe. The shots you see hit by the pros don't really happen. They are computer generated.

Actually, there are times when golf is fun for me. It's fun when I don't keep score. I know this is an abomination to the game but doggone if I don't enjoy it a whole lot more when I don't punish myself for whacking it eight times when it should have been four. I receive enormous pleasure when I hit the ball straight and almost long. The fact that it happens only once every twenty swings or so doesn't diminish the enjoyment...as long as I don't keep score. I read recently of two old guys back in Tennessee or someplace who played golf together every day for the past fifty years and never kept score! Two obvious things about that. One: They probably will live to be 150. Two: They are more than likely still friends. Sometimes there are more important things than keeping score.

I know how subversive this kind of talk is but maybe the time has come on our spiritual journeys to start being a little subversive. Some things just may need to be undermined. Of course, please remember that subversive activity will always get you into trouble. Your friends will grow distant, your boss will be upset and maybe even your pastor will think you're becoming a little too weird. But it's worth it! If we are really interested in following Jesus, in discovering what it really means to be a Christian, there's no better way to begin than by turning a few tables in the temple upside down.