Came across a great article by one of my favorites, John Piper, entitled, "brothers we are not professionals" . It is an exerpt from the book by the same name. Here is a sample:

"We are fools for Christ's sake. But professionals are wise. We are weak. But professionals are strong. Professionals are held in honor. We are in disrepute. We do not try to secure a professional lifestyle, but we are ready to hunger and thirst and be ill-clad and homeless.
JOHN PIPER"

It is a passionate appeal to clergy to abandon the professionalization of the ministry that is one step along the path that has lead us to the discouraged, discontent and ineffective state the church in North America finds itself in. Read and let me know what you think.