Closing the loopholes continue and the topics keep getting dirtier. Last week the discussion of tithing and this week sex!!!! Holy smokes let me tell you I have gone home from church these past two weekends and my head is spinning. I thank the Lord that I am not Catholic or the guilt would ruin me. I must say these two sermons have me viewing these two topics in a very different light. I wanted to blog on the tithing, giving financially to the church, however......well what is there to say.............alot.
Okay, okay, I guess I will discuss this heavy topic. So the Bible states that you should give 10% of your earnings back to the church. Now, I am wondering if they figured out the equation of inflation for this percentile. I'm guilty. I have never tithed 10%....okay there I said it. Man that hurts. I can seriously give random excuses why....but they would be just that...excuses. Sigh. So I do have a goal to be better about giving financially to the church. This is a true goal of mine. Now, I can hear some thoughts being thought of the case of well...why should I give to the church? God will provide. I mean really blogger, they are a tax free institution, churches get cost breaks all the time right? So why should I tithe 10% of my hard earnings. I can not do this sermon justice however let me shed some light on this lovely topic from a side not heard often. I used to work for a church...I was a paid employee. I sat in church council meetings where finances were discussed. We were an older church, we had a building that needed repair, supplies that need replacing and a church membership that was getting grayer and numbers decreasing due to various reasons. Now, let's take your home or even apartment for that matter. You have bills. You need water, electricity, trash removal, repairs, a few new things here and there and food. So does a church. All these things add up. Programs for children cost money, supplies for Sunday school can add up fast. Now I hear you again, but...but...what about donations of supplies? Well folks, donations of supplies help...but they don't keep the lights on and they sure as heck don't keep things looking all shiny and new. We live in a society that likes new but we want the feeling of established. You can't have that unless things are cared for and people return. Blah, blah, blah. I could go on and on. But if you love your home, that God gave you good fortune to have...you care for that home. God brought you to your home church and you should take responsibility to care for it and make it a home. So I will work to increase my giving to get to my 10%. I think with time, I will feel the blessings that come with this gift of giving to give thanks for all the amazing things He has blessed me with.
I'm done with that soap box and haven't even gotten on the topic of SEX!!!! Well, I think I need a few more days to digest that lesson before I open my heart and purge.
On a personal note, things are going pretty good. I have worked hard to relate these sermons to my everyday life and focusing on staying closer to Christ rather than straying from Christ. I have had moments where I have said to myself...this action will not get you anywhere closer to Him or those around you. And by diverting my behavior...I have been much happier. Working very hard to stay focused on my man and Christ and my family. I have been thinking about my focus and dedication to my relationship with him and if I only give half-hearted.....I will not get anywhere and our relationship will not be as awesome as it can be. So I have been taking moments to step back and pray for peace to feel better about something or a prayer for an answer to why things are a certain way. I have been working to create my relationship with not only my man but my man and Christ. I feel this is a much stronger unit in the long run. Everyday is work but I am enjoying every minute of it.
