A Tithing Experiment

Rather than come on too strong about tithing, which I confess I have done in the past, let me offer a truce between us. Could we meet halfway, and agree to an experiment? Would you pray about possibly tithing, talk to your family and friends about it, and give one percentage point more each year to see if you might eventually tithe? I feel strange in doing this, but tithing is an area of life YHWH challenged us to test Him in (Mal. 3:10).

         Raised by tithers to be a tither, I never doubted God expects us to live on 90% of what we make. My earliest recollection of an allowance was fifty cents a week, of which a nickel had to be put in a church-offering envelope. This left me with forty-five cents, which was painful, because it cost fifty cents to go see a movie. Roy Rogers always seemed only a nickel away.

         I fear too many of us can relate to the following humor. After church one Sunday, a family was heading home in the car. The children were in the backseat, listening to their parents assess the day. Dad was pessimistic, "The sermon was too dull, and the music not loud enough." Mom was optimistic, "You have to admit, for a family of four it was a good show for a dollar."

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Changes in Travel

I traveled to San Francisco last week. Being addicted to watching people, I notice things I did not see years ago when I started flying often.

People in airports are now carrying more stuff. Unwilling to check baggage, they are hauling it themselves.

Everyone seems to be using a phone. The airports now even provide places to charge your phone. That was not the case years ago.

More people are using earbuds. I assume they are listening to sermons about predestination.

Many more couples are traveling without wearing wedding rings.

Many things are the same. Some people running. Others resting. Almost everyone looking tired.

Another thing that never changes is; there's no place like home with my sweet babe, the Babe Ruth.

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San Fran

I am almost home. I have been in San Francisco for an Epic Church Board Meeting. Ben, Shauna, and their team are doing well.

Last Sunday they entered a new worship area with over 500 in attendance. Their journey constitutes one of the greatest miracles I have ever experienced.

The only downside to the trip was; I was at the Ballpark and saw the Cardinals end their season with a heartbreaking loss in the bottom of the ninth. I am already eager for next year's season to begin.

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Cardinals Lost

The Cardinals were eliminated by the Giants tonight. Made me sad, but I have to admit it's been a great season. Our team had plenty of pluck this year.

St. Louis is arguably the best baseball team of the 21st century. I am proud to be one of their fans.

As coincidence would have it, I became a Cardinals fan precisely 50 years ago this very month, when Ken Boyer hit a grand slam home run that gave the Cardinals a 4-3 win over the Yankees in game four of the 1964 World Series.

St. Louis is not going to the World Series, but Missouri will be there. Go Royals!!

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Holiness Matters Most

God is holy, triple holy in fact. All that counts for a Christian is drawing ever closer to Him. Thus, holiness, becoming more like God, matters most.

As recent religious scandals have proved, without holiness, nothing else matters. We have credibility only when living holy, consecrated lives. And only then can God receive glory from our lives.

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Be Honest

My ancestors moved from West Tennessee to Northeast Arkansas in 1921. Soon after they arrived, a family member, Edd Hill, my Grandpa Marshall's brother-in-law, announced he would be gone for a while and would return someday. Months later he reappeared. He had traveled back to Tennessee to work off debts the family had left behind.

Our bare word should be as sacred to us as a solemn oath. Because we are committed to truth in our promises, we have nothing to fear by taking an oath before God. If called on to take an oath, Christ-followers are free to consent. Paul did. We will gladly put our hands on a Bible, but should not need to for the Bible is engraved on our hearts. If need be, we will lift our hand to Heaven, but should not need to because Heaven has been put in our innermost being.

Jesus taught us; the maximum regard we hold for the most sacred oath is to be the minimum standard for our bare word. If people make promises, God is always present and listening. We are to act like we believe this. Some religions teach it is okay to lie to outsiders. Some are okay with lying to the government. Christ-followers, though, make no such distinctions as words that have to be true versus words that do not have to be true.

I remember when people assumed honesty in interpersonal dealings. My Grandma Marshall once put a note on her front door, "Front door locked. Back door open." She missed the point. People had told her to lock her door. She did, but did not want people to think she did not trust them.

 

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