I have never written a politically-based blog before, and this one is actually more about us Christians and less about the DOR but I have to tell you about something that happened that involved the Department of Revenue.  I think some of the employees there think they own everything.

On Thursday, August 8th, at a radio station event that involved about 5 Hip-Hop artists, I was standing near the green room for the performing acts, making sure we had enough food to cover the riders in the contracts. All of a sudden, about 10 people gathered around the tables and started taking everything in large quantities. One lady had two plates overflowing with two of everything. Others had several beverages, waters, cups of coffee, etc. In less than 60 seconds, about half of the food was gone. As the final lady started piling two plates with food, I asked, "are you guys with one of the acts?" She replies, "yes, we are." She turned, walked away, and I noticed she went into the Department of Revenue's offices. Then, others came out of the office and headed for our tables of food.  I stopped them and asked what was going on and they said, "everyone at work said you guys had free food over here." Of course, I informed them that "everyone" lied and they couldn't have any more food. Later, two more people came out and said, "others in the office said you wouldn't let them have any food. Why not?"

WHAT?!?  You have no connection with this event, you didn't buy any of this food, you were not invited, and you're standing here questioning me about why you can't have any of our food?  I thought this was a joke my team was playing on me.  I truly felt like Ashton Kutcher was going to jump out from under the table and yell, "Dude, you've been punked!" This was insane.

After a cooling off period of about 5 hours, it hit me that we are often that way when it comes to God.  We see something that looks good, and like freeloaders to a buffet, we take and take and take, without ever stopping to think about who it belongs to or from where it came. I know I am guilty of that when it comes to my talents as a musician and leader.  The talent is there, so it must be mine. I can use it and do whatever I want to with it. And as long as no one says anything to me, it must be ok.

However, we need to take time daily to remember that the good things in life are not free. Jesus paid the price for us at Calvary and it all belongs to Him. James 1:17 says “every good and perfect thing comes from the Father.”  Regardless of what we see in front of us, we didn't speak it into existence. We didn't create it. We didn't think of it first and we don’t even deserve to have it. How dare we walk up to the green room table-of-life and take without first going to the One who bought it and asking, thanking and honoring Him for it? How dare we do that? What have we become? Who do we think we are? The Department of Revenue?

I am so going to get audited for this.