Well said Deb!!!!  YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS  WE DO!!!!!!!!

 Love these verses. When you think about a tail and what it does,the tail just follows the rest of the body. Our head guides everything we do. I get a picture of a big dog, wagging that tail and his head looking around and smelling the air. Deciding what to do and where to go. Babs

Amen, Deb. Good post.  

On the subject of tithing, I am having very bad feelings about a situation my stepdaughter and her husband are facing.  They are super religious and apparently give so much to their church that the IRS is auditing them for the second time on this very subject.  During a later conversation with her, it turns out they are also contemplating bankruptcy and have several times lacked the funds to pay their house payment etc.
In order for the first item I talked about to happen, they would have had to pay more than their standard deduction for two people.  In light of their income(s), I think that must have been an outrageous amount.  They are both blue collar workers and probably don't make $30K per year between the two of them. 
In the second instance, won't they lose their house if they undergo bankruptcy? 
It is my feeling that they have been conned by a very wily pastor, and will probably end up being supported by the very church they have been supporting, beyond their means.  I also think they have been paying the church BEFORE they pay their bills; in essence, paying the church the money that belongs rightly to their creditors, for goods and services they have already used.
Any thoughts?
Patrink

Patrink, I think that they really have been "tithing," that is, giving the 1st 10% off their income away.  However, I also agree with you that this is terribly irresponsible of them when they cannot pay their bills.  That church might NOT be willing to support this couple, also.

I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy affecting your step-daughter.

Katlupe, 

Church is not a luxury item, it is a spiritual necessity if you want to grow in the faith. No one should be made to feel guilty for not tithing. That is between you and God. If the church you attend is putting pressure on you to tithe more, I would consider finding a new place of worship. You shouldn't have to explain to anyone why you can't give more than you do. Tithing is Biblical but being forced to tithe isn't. God will give back to you according to what you give Him and you are giving to God, ultimately and not to a church. You and your husband should pray and ask for God's guidance in this. If you feel he wants you to give more, He will make a way for that to happen. Keep the faith, whatever happens at your church. I'm sure they are doing their best but humans aren't perfect and we all just do the best we know how.

 Since this is my first forum experience, it was encouraging to see such a sensitive topic handled so well, by so many.  It seems uncontested that we, as people of faith, are to be givers of ourselves and our resources. 

Marlene,

Thank you for the input. Being new at this, I was not sure how to handle it. My pastor has apologized and since I have not seen her, I was told that she feels really bad. And that makes me feel bad. So my husband and I have prayed about it and discussed it. Now we did not go to the Baptism and will have to do that at another time. For now, we will just go to church when we can. And we will only give what we can. It is not like we have alot of bills as we live very simply, and mostly off our land. It just does not give you money as in cash.

It will not turn us away from our faith. And my husband is still working on the website he built for the church. And hopefully, he will not give up his music and songwriting. We will give to the church more money, if, and when we can. I have an online business and as I get more sales, I can increase that. I am hopeful that will be soon. Thanks for all the advice.

katlupe 

Just reporting that in late August, before my Sept Austerity Budget starts, I gave away another Double-Chai (double Life) = $36, to a yeshiva (Jewish Orthodox school).  I also gave away Chai = $18 to an Animal Rescue Foundation in July, in memory of a relative.  I gave triple-chai = $54 to an Israeli charity for ill children, in June.  That totals $108, & completes my charitable BUDGET for 2007.  I hope somewhere to be able to eke out more so that I can go over-budget & into giving-till-it-hurts. 

It makes me feel so bad, reading all those stories. I can't image that the L-rd wants you to save the food of the mouthe of your children or yourself. You can also do so many remarkable things to your church that never can be paid in money. Others will contribute their 10% only in money. What is worth more? Personal attention, spending time with an olderly man/woman, caring about your neighbours in need. What counts more? Truly attached love to someone who needs you, or just giving money and hope that's enough. I live in Holland and sometimes I visit a church not every week. But I always feel welcomed even if they don't know me and never asked for money.

But I know that in Germany your Thith is already cashed by governmental tax each month. Only if you can proof that you are no longer a member of a church you can change this.