Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
GOD'S MERCY
Ps 51:1a Have Mercy on me, O God,
I am not sure if you heard, but a Skunk shut down Fox 21 New station
for a full day in the Springs. Seems the poor little skunk got cold, so
he found his way into the foundation of the TV Station and made his
self-warm and comfy. But somehow he crossed his wires and got a
nasty shock. And well the skunk did what skunks do create a stink. The
spray soaked the transmitter and tripped the breakers causing the
outage. I understand it still smells.
Turning the tide on our sin, man must consider the question what will
God ‘s response be to our stink. Because man does what man does
create a stink of sin. Have you thought of David’s Stink?
What sins was he guilty of? See, we must put our thinking cap on and
ask ourselves what hope do we have to be forgiven if God is Holy and
pure?
Let’s go to scripture to see how creative of an odor he created.
Before we do anything else; let me ask you does David deserve the
mercy he is asking for? We will be in 2 Samuel 11. Let’s just go over
the basics, what we think of as David’s sin is Adultery and Murder
Both are punishable by death in the Old Testament law. David
deserves death, but he is asking for mercy. Let’s begin in verse 1 In
the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab
out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They
destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained
in Jerusalem. What I want you to notice is the tide of sin started by
the single drop of abdicating his responsibility or laziness. He was
supposed to be leading the troops, instead he is lounging on a rooftop
in Jerusalem. Look at verse two One evening David got up from his
bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he
saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful. It is one
thing to look at a beauty, but to look, look and look some more is
another matter. It is obvious David is at this point coveting another
man’s wife. Moving on to verses three and four. . . and David sent
someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this
Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the
Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. The
messengers that David sent, probably did not have flowers, but armed
guards. If a king wanted to bed a woman, if she refused it was her
head. This was more than likely not consensual sex, so add possibly
rape to his sins.
Let’s go on to verses 14-17; In the morning David wrote a letter to
Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah in the
front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him
so he will be struck down and die.”
So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place
where he knew the strongest defenders were. When the men of
the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in
David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. What we
often even fail to register, is not only did David kill Uriah, he killed
some of his own men in the process! If you think the Obama’s
administration lies about what went on at Benghazi is a big deal, it is
nothing compared to David’s sin. He is now committed treason and mass
murder to the list.
As a believer I would have to forgive David. But if I was
Bathsheba’s father or the father of one of the men who was killed in
battle; I do not believe I could be merciful?
If I had this laundry list of sins; I would be tempted to run from God!
But David must know something I do not, he runs to the Father instead.
What David knows and we often forget is that God’s Character is
Mercy! In fact the Hebrews words used in this text suggests God’s
mercy is something He feels. He Senses our Shame, our Guilt and
Failure and instead of kicking us while we are down, he extends a hand
to help us up! In fact, in these verses it gives a glimpse of who god is .
God is Mercy! We are Sin!
Let’s look specifically how God extends mercy to David. The word
mercy is from the Hebrew word (chanan), it simply means to be
favorable or act favorably toward, to bless, to come to one's aid." It is
the word used when one would ask, "Would you do me a favor?"
The very fabric of God’s being is merciful. God's mercy is the quality
of his character by which he seeks not to punish the sinner. Because he
is merciful, he withholds punishment. Forgiveness is the act of
canceling guilt, replacing punishment with blessing that is undeserved.
Forgive-ness is mercy in action. ( Jon Weatherly) So I am
not sure what you are trying to hide from God-but from this passage I
can tell you if you would only turn to God He will take your punishment
and turn it into a blessing. He will take your shame and guilt and
resurrect it into life. Please bring your sin to God the Father!
I am not sure if you heard, but a Skunk shut down Fox 21 New station
for a full day in the Springs. Seems the poor little skunk got cold, so
he found his way into the foundation of the TV Station and made his
self-warm and comfy. But somehow he crossed his wires and got a
nasty shock. And well the skunk did what skunks do create a stink. The
spray soaked the transmitter and tripped the breakers causing the
outage. I understand it still smells.
Turning the tide on our sin, man must consider the question what will
God ‘s response be to our stink. Because man does what man does
create a stink of sin. Have you thought of David’s Stink?
What sins was he guilty of? See, we must put our thinking cap on and
ask ourselves what hope do we have to be forgiven if God is Holy and
pure?
Let’s go to scripture to see how creative of an odor he created.
Before we do anything else; let me ask you does David deserve the
mercy he is asking for? We will be in 2 Samuel 11. Let’s just go over
the basics, what we think of as David’s sin is Adultery and Murder
Both are punishable by death in the Old Testament law. David
deserves death, but he is asking for mercy. Let’s begin in verse 1 In
the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab
out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They
destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained
in Jerusalem. What I want you to notice is the tide of sin started by
the single drop of abdicating his responsibility or laziness. He was
supposed to be leading the troops, instead he is lounging on a rooftop
in Jerusalem. Look at verse two One evening David got up from his
bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he
saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful. It is one
thing to look at a beauty, but to look, look and look some more is
another matter. It is obvious David is at this point coveting another
man’s wife. Moving on to verses three and four. . . and David sent
someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this
Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the
Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. The
messengers that David sent, probably did not have flowers, but armed
guards. If a king wanted to bed a woman, if she refused it was her
head. This was more than likely not consensual sex, so add possibly
rape to his sins.
Let’s go on to verses 14-17; In the morning David wrote a letter to
Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah in the
front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him
so he will be struck down and die.”
So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place
where he knew the strongest defenders were. When the men of
the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in
David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. What we
often even fail to register, is not only did David kill Uriah, he killed
some of his own men in the process! If you think the Obama’s
administration lies about what went on at Benghazi is a big deal, it is
nothing compared to David’s sin. He is now committed treason and mass
murder to the list.
As a believer I would have to forgive David. But if I was
Bathsheba’s father or the father of one of the men who was killed in
battle; I do not believe I could be merciful?
If I had this laundry list of sins; I would be tempted to run from God!
But David must know something I do not, he runs to the Father instead.
What David knows and we often forget is that God’s Character is
Mercy! In fact the Hebrews words used in this text suggests God’s
mercy is something He feels. He Senses our Shame, our Guilt and
Failure and instead of kicking us while we are down, he extends a hand
to help us up! In fact, in these verses it gives a glimpse of who god is .
God is Mercy! We are Sin!
Let’s look specifically how God extends mercy to David. The word
mercy is from the Hebrew word (chanan), it simply means to be
favorable or act favorably toward, to bless, to come to one's aid." It is
the word used when one would ask, "Would you do me a favor?"
The very fabric of God’s being is merciful. God's mercy is the quality
of his character by which he seeks not to punish the sinner. Because he
is merciful, he withholds punishment. Forgiveness is the act of
canceling guilt, replacing punishment with blessing that is undeserved.
Forgive-ness is mercy in action. ( Jon Weatherly) So I am
not sure what you are trying to hide from God-but from this passage I
can tell you if you would only turn to God He will take your punishment
and turn it into a blessing. He will take your shame and guilt and
resurrect it into life. Please bring your sin to God the Father!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Reaching my Muslim Brother and Sister
During the past year,I have been blessed with multiple examples of God's Kingdom growing in
the Muslim world. The one example I want to highlight is an effort by one of my former
professors at Cincinatti Christian University; Don Tingle. He was able to use both the Koran
and the Bible, to affirm Jesus and encourage Muslims to become disciples of Christ. I am
asking you to view his website; which shares some of his work that is being done to share
Jesus with the Muslim world; http://www.comenserv.net/.
I believe this website will bring you a greater insight into how some are sharing Jesus with
the Muslim. If you just want more information, from the Standard Archives is an article that
gives insight into a seminar they have hosted in the past ;
http://christianstandard.com/2006/01/cs_article-192/. Would you join me in praying for
those who are sharing Jesus in the Muslim world?
Be God's
Roger Miller
the Muslim world. The one example I want to highlight is an effort by one of my former
professors at Cincinatti Christian University; Don Tingle. He was able to use both the Koran
and the Bible, to affirm Jesus and encourage Muslims to become disciples of Christ. I am
asking you to view his website; which shares some of his work that is being done to share
Jesus with the Muslim world; http://www.comenserv.net/.
I believe this website will bring you a greater insight into how some are sharing Jesus with
the Muslim. If you just want more information, from the Standard Archives is an article that
gives insight into a seminar they have hosted in the past ;
http://christianstandard.com/2006/01/cs_article-192/. Would you join me in praying for
those who are sharing Jesus in the Muslim world?
Be God's
Roger Miller
Monday, October 29, 2012
Helen Hunt Falls
''O suns and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather.''
Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885), U.S. writer ("H. H."; "Saxe Holm"). October's Bright Blue Weather (l. 1-4). . . Family Book of Best Loved Poems, T...
Sunday, October 28, 2012
What does God Say About Tithing?
Last week was time for another oil change; Jiffy Lube informed me I needed a new battery and
an air Filter. Since I have been preaching on God’s financial wisdom I have been in the saving
mode. So I figured I could easily install a car battery and an air filter in my truck. The battery
was slick as snot, fit right in there, hardest part was scraping off all the old corrosion. Now the
air filter became another story. The air filter is located in a hose off the carburetor, but the
hosehas no give. There is just no extra room, I get the filter out, I could not see how it was
put in. So I stuck the new filter in and was able to close the clamp assuming it since it fit it
was in right.
Then I became concerned when I could not get the truck to start. It would crank right up but
only run a second or two. So I called my old friend Vince, asked him if he could figure out
what I did to the truck. We first checked the fuses and then made sure I had not detached any
wire to the carburetor. Then he undid the air filter and discovered what I had done wrong,
I had put it in backward and had cut off all the air to the motor, so it would not run.
I have found in the area of finances when we put it in backward, we cut off all the air and our
relationship suffocates. Preaching on what the bible says about tithing is a tricky air filter. If we
apply it wrong we shut off air and become rigid. Also, if we ignore a dirty air filter, we get less
and less miles per gallon until things do not run right. So I think it is important we ask what the
bible says about tithing? Realize it is important to keep an open minds and open ears or the
air may shut off.
Some feel all the church asks about is money, they are right to be offended if that is true,
because that is a worldly attitude. Second, This preacher included, seldom talks about money,
because you don’t talk about money, religion and what? Numerous studies have put the
average Christians giving at about 2%, that should tell us something’s not running right.
I want you to keep you minds and open ears, so you get enough air. The point is not the
church needs your money. The point is not that you are commanded to give. The point is
not that God needs your money. The point is: For where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21 Over the years I have had many questions about tithing and giving,
I pray my angst will not drive you crazy. But my first question seems almost heretical. . .
1. Is Tithing Biblical?
Is Tithing Biblical? Tithing does appear in the Bible. So yes, tithing is biblical. But it is not
Christian. The tithe does appear and is practiced by the nation of Israel. The problem I
have is I ask too many questions. One question that has plagued me is; why is tithing not
mentioned in the New Testament?
The closest you come to is Matthew 23:23,24 which is an actual rebuke of the practice of
a legalistic tithe. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a
tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters
of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without
neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Notice to
Jesus justice, mercy and faithfulness are more important than tither. The truth is this verse
takes place while God’s people are still under the law, Jesus has not gone to the cross.
Christians are under a different covenant with God, called the New Testament. We must
remember with the death of Jesus, all ceremonial codes that belonged to the Jews were
nailed to the cross and buried to never rise again. This is what has bothered me and
where my questions come from; we never see Christians tithing in the New Testament,
Just as we don’t see them sacrificing goats and bulls to cover their sins.
This is tremendous freedom we have iin Christ; Old Testament legalistic practice has been
done away with, it no longer condemns us. But this scares me to death because it seems
Many in our day seem to be afflicted with that terrible disease known as Cirrhosis of the
Giver. This terrible malady renders the afflicted person’s hand incapable of moving from the
wallet to the offering plate. The only known cure is to remove the sufferer from the Lord’s
house, where the condition seems able to cure itself. This is seen in the fact that the
sufferer is more than willing and able to spend money at restaurants and in all sorts of
mindless trinkets. As I said earlier, the average giving for church attendees is about 2% .
I happen to think that percent is a reflection of how much we value God!
But Jesus in John 8:36 makes it clear: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Jesus came to put in a eternal promise that from now on man was to relate to God in a
relationship, not rules! But that is exactly the frightening part; as human beings without
rules we tend to be lazy and take advantage of others! So I believe guilt latent tithe become
the norm, because in the American Church we are very poor givers compared to the
blessings we have been given.
But time and time again in the New Testament it is made clear that Love not the law brings
God’s desired transformation.
In fact Paul makes clear in Galatians 5:3You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Paul is telling us the freedom from rules, is not for selfish indulgence, but an opportunity to
serveone another in love.
As Christians it means we have a choice; we can continually operate in the law and
guilt people into giving. But Paul would tell us instead set people free by telling them, what
Jesus has done for them and others on the cross, and as peoples love for Jesus grow their
service to others will grow through their giving. I have decided as a leader by examining my
questions; I will present Old Testament tithes as a great example for us to follow from a
willing heart. I also am committed to the weightier matters of the law justice and mercy
fulfilled by Christ faithfulness on the Cross. We must motivate today to the giving to the
kingdom of God by lifting up what Jesus has done for us all. I am convinced our
Relationship to Christ and not the rules of old will motivate us to serve one another in
love by our generosity. I came to this conclusion by also asking. . .
2.What is the Tithe?
This is a very good question because I believe most Christians are clueless what the bible
says about tithing and giving. The word tithe simply means the tenth part or what we would
say is 10%.
Let’s begin in Leviticus 27: 30 Why do you not turn their. That is Leviticus 27:30 In this
chapter the Lord is commanding Israel to do certain things, he is conveying this to Moses
who goes on to teach this to Israel. Notices Verse 30 says: A tithe of everything from
the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is
holy to the Lord. So everything that was grown in Israel, the first 10% was given to
the Lord. But what was it used for?
Anyone? Let us turn to Numbers 18:21-24 where the Lord is telling what the offerings
are to be used for. Numbers 18:21 starts by saying: I give to the Levites all the tithes in
Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.
From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the
consequences of their sin and will die. 23 It is the Levites who are to do the work at the
tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it.
This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance
among the Israelites. 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that
the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them:
‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”
So the crops of the land were tithed to support Israel’s National workers the Levites,
because they had not inheritance in Canaan. This maybe hard for you to add up but just put
10 down to add to later.
We will now turn to Deuteronomy 14:22; to study what is called the Festival tithe. The
passage is Deuteronomy 14:22 Part of the festival tithe was if you lived to far from the temple,
you could sale your goods and convert it to money to be put into a money box.
Deuteronomy 14:22 says; Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each
year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and
flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for
his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place
is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your
tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away),
then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the
Lord your God will choose.
Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or
anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the
Lord your God and rejoice.
I want to point out that even in the Law God’s desire was a relationship that helped you
come into his presence so you could rejoice according to verse 26. Now for all the
mathematicians you still have the 10% in your head, now add this additional 10% and 10
plus 10 equals what? 20. Guess what we are not finished. Let’s skip down to verse verses
28 and 29 in Chapter 14: At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s
produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or
inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in
your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may
bless you in all the work of your hands.
Do you have a the 20% still in your head? Well according to this we have more
arithmetic to do-every three years Israel tithed an additional 10% to support the helpless!
So if we broke it down to one year over three it would be 3.3% each year, correct? So
the actual tithe Israel was to give the Lord was 23.3% annually.
Are you asking like me why? We are forgetting Israel was a Theocracy! A Theocracy is a
form of government in which official policy is governed by immediate divine guidance or
by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or is pursuant to the doctrine of a
particular religion or religious group.
Tithing was not only a religious practice it was Israel national tax policy. So if are going to
preach that we must tithe like they did in the Old Testament, we had better up the ante
and start asking for about 25% percent of everyone’s wealth.
This is always the danger of taking what God commanded in one covenant and trying
to make to work for God’s children living in another covenant! Just like an air filter put in
wrong, it cuts all the oxygen of God’s love off! This is not God’s design it is manmade
religion. First we do not live in a Theocracy, we live in a republic that demands it’s far share.
Second the laws tithe is not just 10% but closer to 25% We are not going to Canaan but to
heaven. Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom in the heart he rules in, not a physical
theocracy in the middle east! Lastly, it was an agrarian society and it was crops to be brought
in not dollar bills. I saw no one place a chicken in the offering. We do not have national
priesthood, although we do have preachers, teachers and missionaries to support. The tithe in
the law is an air filter installed the wrong direction cutting off the air of God’s love.
There is similarities between Israel’s tithing system and modern taxation methods in America.
The Jews supported their national workers the Levites thru the tither, just as government
workers are paid today. There was also national or religious events supported by the
tithe; the way national events or projects are supported today. Israel also had a national
welfare state even back then that helped the poor and destitute like widows, strangers
and aliens. If you think about it , most modern tax systems support the same things.
But those of us who love Jesus; do we want a tax on our love for him?
But this is not the only issue we should think about. Historically down thru the ages
as countries debt has increased, so has the rate of taxation. I would say Roger Miller
is about average U.S. tax payer: my income tax rate is about 15%, My social
security part is 7.5% and the Churches portion is 7.5%; so 7.5 plus 7.5 equals 15.
So 15 plus 15 equals what? 30% I want you to think about this for a second;
just income tax and Social security tax is one third of an American Workers pay.
At that rate I am certain we are not up for a 23% tithe to the church.
I want us to put on our thinking caps on for a second. Colorado’s state
income tax rate is 4.3 so we are not up to 35% tax rate. Studies estimate the
average American pays about 9% in sales tax so we are now up to 45% taxes.
Property tax about 2.5% okay 47.5. A half percent goes to pay for taxes for
gasoline and lastly all other taxes usually are hidden about 5%. So my calculations
are about 53%. http://www.nowandfutures.com/taxes.html estimates the average
American paid 54.5 in 2005 and 57.7%. We must wake up Taxes are not a political
issues for us they are a stewardship issue! Who would you rather spend your money
the local Church or Washington? Every dime the government gets, we have less
disposable income; less to be generous with! Right now we are 16 Trillion in Debt,
America has almost always had a national debt, but we have never been at the place
where the interest on our debt is the third highest expenditure in the federal budget.
So let me ask you based on where we are at; do you think our kids will pay more
or less tax than we do? Will they have more disposable income to give to causes
that honor God? A vote to reduce taxes and national debt; is a honor to God
and His kingdom. If you do not get it: I am telling you if you follow God
you should vote!
In 2011, about 49 percent of the population lived in a household where at least one member
received a direct benefit from the federal government. I know our money says we trust in
God; but the facts suggest we trust the government to care for us. The National Health care
initiative was a wake up call for me. If we trust in government to provide for our health care;
they not the individual will decide the ethics of our health care decisions. The Catholic
Church and other religious organizations find themselves being forced to provide
funding for abortions. Every entitlement we receive from God, the less trust we have
in God’s provision. Once again the nature of entitlements means as Christians we
must vote in a thoughtful way. Boy that sounds legalistic! But entitlements effect how
we walk with God, so we should vote. My mind came up with another question:
3. What Does the New Testament Say about Giving?
As a whole I think we as Christians have a poor attitude toward giving. Preachers are
afraid to preach about money and Parishioners think the offering makes pastors rich. It
reminds of the old joke. . . Two men have ended up marooned on an island in the South
Pacific. You can fill in the blanks as to how they got there.
So they are on the clichéic deserted island, one palm tree, nothing to see but the ocean. One
guy is in a complete panic, pacing back and forth, ranting about how they are going to die,
hungry and alone, that nobody will stumble on them until they are nothing but bones. The
other guy is sitting under the tree snoozing.
Finally the first man can't stand it anymore and he demands "What's wrong with you,
don't you understand the situation?"
To which the reply came "Sure I do, we are stranded on this island hundreds of miles
from anywhere"
"Well aren't you worried?"
"Nope" came the reply "I make $10,000.00 a week."
The first guy was at a complete loss, "What does that have to do with anything, you have
no access to the money and no place to spend it if you did."
To which the second guy replied "No you don't understand, I make $10,000.00 a week
and I tithe, my pastor will find me."
We must wake up-we do not give to pay the pastor, to keep the church building we
should give because we love Jesus and want to share him with others.
Planned ability
One of the clearest scriptures on New Testament giving is 1 Corinthians 16:1 Paul
is talking about an offering being given by the Macedonians to believers in Jerusalem.
Let’s look at this scripture: Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do
what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each
one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving
it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Notice in verse two the offering was totally an individual choice, Paul only asked that it would
be planned and in accordance to their wealth. Can I ask a question; if tithing was to be
carried over to New Testament practice would this not been the perfect place to
request it? What we need to underline though is giving was a weekly planned practice
based on one’s income.
To plan based on one’s income does that not seem to imply a percentage? That is why
I am going to contradict myself and say 10% is a good bull’s eye to aim for. 10% is
a percentage with a little sacrifice we can all afford. Bob Russell in one of his greatest
stewardship sermons gave the illustration that if American Christians Tithed we could
end welfare and hunger as we know it. Bottom line, sacrificial giving in the church can
and will change a society! In our love for Jesus this is a good reason to be generous.
But what I will not do is to live under condemnation, guilt and self-flagellation; when I miss the
mark of 10%. Romans 8:1 says Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. How many have gone into their accountants to pay their taxes and thought
they had tithed, finding they fell short? Did you go home beating yourself up, because
you fell short? Do you legalistically fear financial disaster would befall you at inability
to meet a percentage? I refuse to do that. As one who has been set free I will be
generous to a fault, but I will not let guilt motivate my giving. Love from now on will be
my motivation. I believe Jesus has given me much, so I believe I need to give much but
not out of obligation. So if you have missed this: listen I want you to give generously,
but with the motivation you love Jesus and others.
Sacrificial
Some may fear the biblical teaching on tithing, because if there is no percentage some
will give nothing.
That may be true; but if someone makes this response one is denying Jesus Lordship
in a very important area of their life. New Testament Christians example is the exact
opposite; freed from Old Testament Law they were generous beyond the word sacrificial.
The scary freedom we have in Jesus, simply commanded the New Testament believers to
give according to their ability. Christians in the early church gave to help starving Christians,
to support apostles in their work, enabling them to travel and plant churches. One of the
most winsome parts of the early church was how they sacrificed for the poor and needy.
For example philosopher Galen wrote. Behold how they love one another. They loved
and sacrificed for others so much they are the ones who invented orphanages and hospitals.
Best example of this is Acts 2:45 which states; They sold property and possessions to give to
anyone who had need. I think we can all agree signing away a house or property is sacrificial.
So I see the early churches example is that this new found freedom in Christ gave
motivation to sacrifice for other people’s needs! By the way most people do not carry
the deed to their house to the church. But I am certain the Trustees John, Thirston and
Robbie would be willing to wait for you to go home and get the deed to your property,
so you could sign it over! Acts 5 is very enlightening Ananias and Saphiras gave property
and laid it at the apostles feet. The problem was their motivation was to appear holier to
others than they were, not because they loved Jesus! Peter makes clear they were under
no obligation to give, but they were to be truthful. Since they lied to man and god about
the price of the property; they died on the spot. Seems to me this was a gift better not given!
It also tells me not only is New Testament giving sacrificial, it is to be a sacrifice for the
right reasons. And appearances are not one of the valid reasons for giving.
Joyful
New Testament giving is to be Joyful. If you remember this is an attitude that ties both
the law and grace together. Deuteronomy 14 they gave to support the Lord’s holy days;
but it closes by saying the purpose was so they could sit in the presence of the lord and
rejoice. Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:7 says Each of you should give what you have decided
in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
How do we know as believers if our giving is honoring God; one sure sign is that we
will have joy in the gifts we give!
Over 10 years ago I met a young man through family friends; his name is Garret. I
had lost track of him over the years; when Ashley went to York college we were
reintroduced.
Part of the education at York was to have him take a couple of mission trips.
He sent me a letter asking for support for both trips. I sent a donation both times;
with a smile. Why? Because it gave me joyful satisfaction that on the mission field I
might be sharing with him the love of Jesus. It gave me delight that just maybe
someone he ministered to might come to Jesus!
I think that is why Paul writes in Acts 20:35: It is more blessed to give than receive.
Just think about how you felt at some time when you sacrificially gave a gift to someone
who did not expect it and the delight they showed when they saw your gift. You can’t
tell me you did not have joy in your heart.
That’s the picture of NT giving in Joy; we sacrificially give to see the delight on our
Fathers face.
Conclusion: In whom do we trust?
As we have learned, tithing is Biblical; it is not for Christians under the New Covenant.
Jesus did not teach it to His disciples. The first century Christians did not observe it,
in fact it was not practiced until the time of Constantine. Yet they gave so sacrificially
the gospel was carried to the known world and the Kingdom of God grew daily.
Truth be known most New Testament Christians probably gave more than 10%.
The found Joy in the fact that we are all priests now-free in Christ to be a part of God’s
family! The, Law, the priesthood, and tithe have been nailed to the cross! There is now
no temple, temple curtain or temple tax. There is not even a special priesthood that stands
between God and man.
You and I in Christ have been set free from the bondage of tithing and every
unbiblical practice. May you to be as generous as Jesus and as wise as Paul. May you
become like the Corinthians who gave freely out of a Joyful heart, without one shred of
guilt, obligation or manipulation to help those who were in need!
Bottom line our finances and giving are important because They reveal who we put our trust
in. So, Give today, but give freely, in a planned manner, sacrificially so you may experience
the joy of God’s love being shared.
If you have not given your life over to God’s love, would you come up front so I may share
God’s love with you!
an air Filter. Since I have been preaching on God’s financial wisdom I have been in the saving
mode. So I figured I could easily install a car battery and an air filter in my truck. The battery
was slick as snot, fit right in there, hardest part was scraping off all the old corrosion. Now the
air filter became another story. The air filter is located in a hose off the carburetor, but the
hosehas no give. There is just no extra room, I get the filter out, I could not see how it was
put in. So I stuck the new filter in and was able to close the clamp assuming it since it fit it
was in right.
Then I became concerned when I could not get the truck to start. It would crank right up but
only run a second or two. So I called my old friend Vince, asked him if he could figure out
what I did to the truck. We first checked the fuses and then made sure I had not detached any
wire to the carburetor. Then he undid the air filter and discovered what I had done wrong,
I had put it in backward and had cut off all the air to the motor, so it would not run.
I have found in the area of finances when we put it in backward, we cut off all the air and our
relationship suffocates. Preaching on what the bible says about tithing is a tricky air filter. If we
apply it wrong we shut off air and become rigid. Also, if we ignore a dirty air filter, we get less
and less miles per gallon until things do not run right. So I think it is important we ask what the
bible says about tithing? Realize it is important to keep an open minds and open ears or the
air may shut off.
Some feel all the church asks about is money, they are right to be offended if that is true,
because that is a worldly attitude. Second, This preacher included, seldom talks about money,
because you don’t talk about money, religion and what? Numerous studies have put the
average Christians giving at about 2%, that should tell us something’s not running right.
I want you to keep you minds and open ears, so you get enough air. The point is not the
church needs your money. The point is not that you are commanded to give. The point is
not that God needs your money. The point is: For where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21 Over the years I have had many questions about tithing and giving,
I pray my angst will not drive you crazy. But my first question seems almost heretical. . .
1. Is Tithing Biblical?
Is Tithing Biblical? Tithing does appear in the Bible. So yes, tithing is biblical. But it is not
Christian. The tithe does appear and is practiced by the nation of Israel. The problem I
have is I ask too many questions. One question that has plagued me is; why is tithing not
mentioned in the New Testament?
The closest you come to is Matthew 23:23,24 which is an actual rebuke of the practice of
a legalistic tithe. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a
tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters
of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without
neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Notice to
Jesus justice, mercy and faithfulness are more important than tither. The truth is this verse
takes place while God’s people are still under the law, Jesus has not gone to the cross.
Christians are under a different covenant with God, called the New Testament. We must
remember with the death of Jesus, all ceremonial codes that belonged to the Jews were
nailed to the cross and buried to never rise again. This is what has bothered me and
where my questions come from; we never see Christians tithing in the New Testament,
Just as we don’t see them sacrificing goats and bulls to cover their sins.
This is tremendous freedom we have iin Christ; Old Testament legalistic practice has been
done away with, it no longer condemns us. But this scares me to death because it seems
Many in our day seem to be afflicted with that terrible disease known as Cirrhosis of the
Giver. This terrible malady renders the afflicted person’s hand incapable of moving from the
wallet to the offering plate. The only known cure is to remove the sufferer from the Lord’s
house, where the condition seems able to cure itself. This is seen in the fact that the
sufferer is more than willing and able to spend money at restaurants and in all sorts of
mindless trinkets. As I said earlier, the average giving for church attendees is about 2% .
I happen to think that percent is a reflection of how much we value God!
But Jesus in John 8:36 makes it clear: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Jesus came to put in a eternal promise that from now on man was to relate to God in a
relationship, not rules! But that is exactly the frightening part; as human beings without
rules we tend to be lazy and take advantage of others! So I believe guilt latent tithe become
the norm, because in the American Church we are very poor givers compared to the
blessings we have been given.
But time and time again in the New Testament it is made clear that Love not the law brings
God’s desired transformation.
In fact Paul makes clear in Galatians 5:3You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Paul is telling us the freedom from rules, is not for selfish indulgence, but an opportunity to
serveone another in love.
As Christians it means we have a choice; we can continually operate in the law and
guilt people into giving. But Paul would tell us instead set people free by telling them, what
Jesus has done for them and others on the cross, and as peoples love for Jesus grow their
service to others will grow through their giving. I have decided as a leader by examining my
questions; I will present Old Testament tithes as a great example for us to follow from a
willing heart. I also am committed to the weightier matters of the law justice and mercy
fulfilled by Christ faithfulness on the Cross. We must motivate today to the giving to the
kingdom of God by lifting up what Jesus has done for us all. I am convinced our
Relationship to Christ and not the rules of old will motivate us to serve one another in
love by our generosity. I came to this conclusion by also asking. . .
2.What is the Tithe?
This is a very good question because I believe most Christians are clueless what the bible
says about tithing and giving. The word tithe simply means the tenth part or what we would
say is 10%.
Let’s begin in Leviticus 27: 30 Why do you not turn their. That is Leviticus 27:30 In this
chapter the Lord is commanding Israel to do certain things, he is conveying this to Moses
who goes on to teach this to Israel. Notices Verse 30 says: A tithe of everything from
the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is
holy to the Lord. So everything that was grown in Israel, the first 10% was given to
the Lord. But what was it used for?
Anyone? Let us turn to Numbers 18:21-24 where the Lord is telling what the offerings
are to be used for. Numbers 18:21 starts by saying: I give to the Levites all the tithes in
Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.
From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the
consequences of their sin and will die. 23 It is the Levites who are to do the work at the
tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it.
This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance
among the Israelites. 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that
the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them:
‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”
So the crops of the land were tithed to support Israel’s National workers the Levites,
because they had not inheritance in Canaan. This maybe hard for you to add up but just put
10 down to add to later.
We will now turn to Deuteronomy 14:22; to study what is called the Festival tithe. The
passage is Deuteronomy 14:22 Part of the festival tithe was if you lived to far from the temple,
you could sale your goods and convert it to money to be put into a money box.
Deuteronomy 14:22 says; Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each
year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and
flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for
his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place
is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your
tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away),
then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the
Lord your God will choose.
Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or
anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the
Lord your God and rejoice.
I want to point out that even in the Law God’s desire was a relationship that helped you
come into his presence so you could rejoice according to verse 26. Now for all the
mathematicians you still have the 10% in your head, now add this additional 10% and 10
plus 10 equals what? 20. Guess what we are not finished. Let’s skip down to verse verses
28 and 29 in Chapter 14: At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s
produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or
inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in
your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may
bless you in all the work of your hands.
Do you have a the 20% still in your head? Well according to this we have more
arithmetic to do-every three years Israel tithed an additional 10% to support the helpless!
So if we broke it down to one year over three it would be 3.3% each year, correct? So
the actual tithe Israel was to give the Lord was 23.3% annually.
Are you asking like me why? We are forgetting Israel was a Theocracy! A Theocracy is a
form of government in which official policy is governed by immediate divine guidance or
by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or is pursuant to the doctrine of a
particular religion or religious group.
Tithing was not only a religious practice it was Israel national tax policy. So if are going to
preach that we must tithe like they did in the Old Testament, we had better up the ante
and start asking for about 25% percent of everyone’s wealth.
This is always the danger of taking what God commanded in one covenant and trying
to make to work for God’s children living in another covenant! Just like an air filter put in
wrong, it cuts all the oxygen of God’s love off! This is not God’s design it is manmade
religion. First we do not live in a Theocracy, we live in a republic that demands it’s far share.
Second the laws tithe is not just 10% but closer to 25% We are not going to Canaan but to
heaven. Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom in the heart he rules in, not a physical
theocracy in the middle east! Lastly, it was an agrarian society and it was crops to be brought
in not dollar bills. I saw no one place a chicken in the offering. We do not have national
priesthood, although we do have preachers, teachers and missionaries to support. The tithe in
the law is an air filter installed the wrong direction cutting off the air of God’s love.
There is similarities between Israel’s tithing system and modern taxation methods in America.
The Jews supported their national workers the Levites thru the tither, just as government
workers are paid today. There was also national or religious events supported by the
tithe; the way national events or projects are supported today. Israel also had a national
welfare state even back then that helped the poor and destitute like widows, strangers
and aliens. If you think about it , most modern tax systems support the same things.
But those of us who love Jesus; do we want a tax on our love for him?
But this is not the only issue we should think about. Historically down thru the ages
as countries debt has increased, so has the rate of taxation. I would say Roger Miller
is about average U.S. tax payer: my income tax rate is about 15%, My social
security part is 7.5% and the Churches portion is 7.5%; so 7.5 plus 7.5 equals 15.
So 15 plus 15 equals what? 30% I want you to think about this for a second;
just income tax and Social security tax is one third of an American Workers pay.
At that rate I am certain we are not up for a 23% tithe to the church.
I want us to put on our thinking caps on for a second. Colorado’s state
income tax rate is 4.3 so we are not up to 35% tax rate. Studies estimate the
average American pays about 9% in sales tax so we are now up to 45% taxes.
Property tax about 2.5% okay 47.5. A half percent goes to pay for taxes for
gasoline and lastly all other taxes usually are hidden about 5%. So my calculations
are about 53%. http://www.nowandfutures.com/taxes.html estimates the average
American paid 54.5 in 2005 and 57.7%. We must wake up Taxes are not a political
issues for us they are a stewardship issue! Who would you rather spend your money
the local Church or Washington? Every dime the government gets, we have less
disposable income; less to be generous with! Right now we are 16 Trillion in Debt,
America has almost always had a national debt, but we have never been at the place
where the interest on our debt is the third highest expenditure in the federal budget.
So let me ask you based on where we are at; do you think our kids will pay more
or less tax than we do? Will they have more disposable income to give to causes
that honor God? A vote to reduce taxes and national debt; is a honor to God
and His kingdom. If you do not get it: I am telling you if you follow God
you should vote!
In 2011, about 49 percent of the population lived in a household where at least one member
received a direct benefit from the federal government. I know our money says we trust in
God; but the facts suggest we trust the government to care for us. The National Health care
initiative was a wake up call for me. If we trust in government to provide for our health care;
they not the individual will decide the ethics of our health care decisions. The Catholic
Church and other religious organizations find themselves being forced to provide
funding for abortions. Every entitlement we receive from God, the less trust we have
in God’s provision. Once again the nature of entitlements means as Christians we
must vote in a thoughtful way. Boy that sounds legalistic! But entitlements effect how
we walk with God, so we should vote. My mind came up with another question:
3. What Does the New Testament Say about Giving?
As a whole I think we as Christians have a poor attitude toward giving. Preachers are
afraid to preach about money and Parishioners think the offering makes pastors rich. It
reminds of the old joke. . . Two men have ended up marooned on an island in the South
Pacific. You can fill in the blanks as to how they got there.
So they are on the clichéic deserted island, one palm tree, nothing to see but the ocean. One
guy is in a complete panic, pacing back and forth, ranting about how they are going to die,
hungry and alone, that nobody will stumble on them until they are nothing but bones. The
other guy is sitting under the tree snoozing.
Finally the first man can't stand it anymore and he demands "What's wrong with you,
don't you understand the situation?"
To which the reply came "Sure I do, we are stranded on this island hundreds of miles
from anywhere"
"Well aren't you worried?"
"Nope" came the reply "I make $10,000.00 a week."
The first guy was at a complete loss, "What does that have to do with anything, you have
no access to the money and no place to spend it if you did."
To which the second guy replied "No you don't understand, I make $10,000.00 a week
and I tithe, my pastor will find me."
We must wake up-we do not give to pay the pastor, to keep the church building we
should give because we love Jesus and want to share him with others.
Planned ability
One of the clearest scriptures on New Testament giving is 1 Corinthians 16:1 Paul
is talking about an offering being given by the Macedonians to believers in Jerusalem.
Let’s look at this scripture: Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do
what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each
one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving
it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Notice in verse two the offering was totally an individual choice, Paul only asked that it would
be planned and in accordance to their wealth. Can I ask a question; if tithing was to be
carried over to New Testament practice would this not been the perfect place to
request it? What we need to underline though is giving was a weekly planned practice
based on one’s income.
To plan based on one’s income does that not seem to imply a percentage? That is why
I am going to contradict myself and say 10% is a good bull’s eye to aim for. 10% is
a percentage with a little sacrifice we can all afford. Bob Russell in one of his greatest
stewardship sermons gave the illustration that if American Christians Tithed we could
end welfare and hunger as we know it. Bottom line, sacrificial giving in the church can
and will change a society! In our love for Jesus this is a good reason to be generous.
But what I will not do is to live under condemnation, guilt and self-flagellation; when I miss the
mark of 10%. Romans 8:1 says Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. How many have gone into their accountants to pay their taxes and thought
they had tithed, finding they fell short? Did you go home beating yourself up, because
you fell short? Do you legalistically fear financial disaster would befall you at inability
to meet a percentage? I refuse to do that. As one who has been set free I will be
generous to a fault, but I will not let guilt motivate my giving. Love from now on will be
my motivation. I believe Jesus has given me much, so I believe I need to give much but
not out of obligation. So if you have missed this: listen I want you to give generously,
but with the motivation you love Jesus and others.
Sacrificial
Some may fear the biblical teaching on tithing, because if there is no percentage some
will give nothing.
That may be true; but if someone makes this response one is denying Jesus Lordship
in a very important area of their life. New Testament Christians example is the exact
opposite; freed from Old Testament Law they were generous beyond the word sacrificial.
The scary freedom we have in Jesus, simply commanded the New Testament believers to
give according to their ability. Christians in the early church gave to help starving Christians,
to support apostles in their work, enabling them to travel and plant churches. One of the
most winsome parts of the early church was how they sacrificed for the poor and needy.
For example philosopher Galen wrote. Behold how they love one another. They loved
and sacrificed for others so much they are the ones who invented orphanages and hospitals.
Best example of this is Acts 2:45 which states; They sold property and possessions to give to
anyone who had need. I think we can all agree signing away a house or property is sacrificial.
So I see the early churches example is that this new found freedom in Christ gave
motivation to sacrifice for other people’s needs! By the way most people do not carry
the deed to their house to the church. But I am certain the Trustees John, Thirston and
Robbie would be willing to wait for you to go home and get the deed to your property,
so you could sign it over! Acts 5 is very enlightening Ananias and Saphiras gave property
and laid it at the apostles feet. The problem was their motivation was to appear holier to
others than they were, not because they loved Jesus! Peter makes clear they were under
no obligation to give, but they were to be truthful. Since they lied to man and god about
the price of the property; they died on the spot. Seems to me this was a gift better not given!
It also tells me not only is New Testament giving sacrificial, it is to be a sacrifice for the
right reasons. And appearances are not one of the valid reasons for giving.
Joyful
New Testament giving is to be Joyful. If you remember this is an attitude that ties both
the law and grace together. Deuteronomy 14 they gave to support the Lord’s holy days;
but it closes by saying the purpose was so they could sit in the presence of the lord and
rejoice. Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:7 says Each of you should give what you have decided
in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
How do we know as believers if our giving is honoring God; one sure sign is that we
will have joy in the gifts we give!
Over 10 years ago I met a young man through family friends; his name is Garret. I
had lost track of him over the years; when Ashley went to York college we were
reintroduced.
Part of the education at York was to have him take a couple of mission trips.
He sent me a letter asking for support for both trips. I sent a donation both times;
with a smile. Why? Because it gave me joyful satisfaction that on the mission field I
might be sharing with him the love of Jesus. It gave me delight that just maybe
someone he ministered to might come to Jesus!
I think that is why Paul writes in Acts 20:35: It is more blessed to give than receive.
Just think about how you felt at some time when you sacrificially gave a gift to someone
who did not expect it and the delight they showed when they saw your gift. You can’t
tell me you did not have joy in your heart.
That’s the picture of NT giving in Joy; we sacrificially give to see the delight on our
Fathers face.
Conclusion: In whom do we trust?
As we have learned, tithing is Biblical; it is not for Christians under the New Covenant.
Jesus did not teach it to His disciples. The first century Christians did not observe it,
in fact it was not practiced until the time of Constantine. Yet they gave so sacrificially
the gospel was carried to the known world and the Kingdom of God grew daily.
Truth be known most New Testament Christians probably gave more than 10%.
The found Joy in the fact that we are all priests now-free in Christ to be a part of God’s
family! The, Law, the priesthood, and tithe have been nailed to the cross! There is now
no temple, temple curtain or temple tax. There is not even a special priesthood that stands
between God and man.
You and I in Christ have been set free from the bondage of tithing and every
unbiblical practice. May you to be as generous as Jesus and as wise as Paul. May you
become like the Corinthians who gave freely out of a Joyful heart, without one shred of
guilt, obligation or manipulation to help those who were in need!
Bottom line our finances and giving are important because They reveal who we put our trust
in. So, Give today, but give freely, in a planned manner, sacrificially so you may experience
the joy of God’s love being shared.
If you have not given your life over to God’s love, would you come up front so I may share
God’s love with you!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Sunday Night Intercession
Sunday Intercession
The Kingdom, The Power, and the glory are yours now and
forever.
Great beyond all question is the mystery of our religion;
Christ was manifested in the body.
Vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels
Christ was proclaimed among the nations,
Believed in throughout the world,
Glorified in heaven.
(Let us take a few moments to share our praise for God) ETC Praise God
he is Powerful.
A grain of wheat is a solitary grain, till it falls to the
ground and dies.
A grain of whet is a solitary grain, but dead it bears a
mighty harvest.
Praise to Jesus, the resurrection and the life.
All who have faith in Christ, though they die, they will
come to life; and no one who is alive in faith will
ever die.
For the Son of Man was raised up so that everyone who
believes in Jesus may have eternal life.
Look on Jesus, lifted up, lifted high to redeem the world.
Silence for Meditation.
1 Minute
May the death of Peggy’s K Father Produce much righteousness
in the life’s of those around him. Comfort
them in their loss.
May the sense less violence In the mall shooting in WI,
cause us to see the reality of death and the reality of eternal life in
Jesus. Use tragedies like this so people
my come to know Jesus.
May the death of 4 Americans in Benghazi Libya and the death
of soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, be seeds of faith, that will mature into a
revival in Muslim world that accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.
My we lift Jesus High to redeem the world.
All we long for is to know the Christ and the power of His
resurrection, to share in the sufferings of
Christ and become like him in His death.
For anyone united to Christ the world is new. The old order has gone; the new has already
begun.
So we press eagerly towards the goal in order to win the prize, the
call that comes from God to life
with Christ in glory.
During this political season my we know the truth, may we
seek the truth and may we vote according to truth. Give us government officials who are truthful
and trustworthy.
Our Father in Heaven,
The Kingdom, the Power and the glory are yours now and forevermore.
Amen
May God move the president and congress not to waver in
American support for Israel.
God you are our beginning and you will be our end; we are made in our
image and likeness.
We praise and thank you for this day.
This is the day on which you created light and saw it was good.
This is the day in the early morning light we discovered the tomb was
empty, and encountered Christ,
the world’s true light. For us
your acts are gracious and your love endures forever
May the light be shed on who killed Jessica Ridgeway, and
may your justice be done.
May the person who took the lives of those in Wisconsin, be
found.
O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as
to console; to be understood
as to understand. To be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive; it
is in the pardoning
that we are pardoned. It is in
the dying we are born to eternal life.
May you bring healing to Don Brazelton
May you bring healing to Mike Fisher
May you Bring Healing to Don Brazelton
May you Bring Healing to Pappa John
May you bring healing to Bucky Benham.
Jesus our inspiration, you come in the evening as our doors are shut,
and bring peace. Grant us sleep tonight,
and courage tomorrow to go wherever you lead.
Amen
Bold is a clue that all should respond.
(Much is borrowed from a New Zealand Prayer book PG 107,108)
Thursday, October 18, 2012
I Know You'll Miss This Man
October 10 my grandfather a month short of his 99th
birthday passed away. He mean’t so much to me; word’s can’t begin to convey
the value he put in my life. This Poem was a balm to me, may it bless you as well.
I
Know You'll Miss This Man
By
Baxter Black
The Lord spoke to the heavy hearts
that stood with hats in hand
“Your sadness pains me deeply and I know you’ll miss this man
But, it’s true what you’ve been hearing, Heaven is a real place.
That’s no small consolation. You should use that fact to face
“Your sadness pains me deeply and I know you’ll miss this man
But, it’s true what you’ve been hearing, Heaven is a real place.
That’s no small consolation. You should use that fact to face
The emptiness his parting left that
seeps into your bones
And draw on it to ease your pain. For he is not alone.
You see, all his friends are up here and all his loved ones, too,
‘Cause it wouldn’t be a heaven without each one of you.
And draw on it to ease your pain. For he is not alone.
You see, all his friends are up here and all his loved ones, too,
‘Cause it wouldn’t be a heaven without each one of you.
It’s horses that need tunin’ up and heifers that need checked.
It’s long rides with a purpose and a code that lights the way
And a satisfying reason to get up every day.
And if you think about it, you can see it in your mind.
Him, leanin’ in the saddle with his ol’ hat on his head,
Contentment set upon his face like blankets on a bed.
The leather creaks a little as he
shifts there in the seat.
The bit chains give a jingle when his pony switches feet.
And you somehow get the feelin’ that he’s sittin’ on a throne
A’gazin’ out on paradise just like it was his own.
The bit chains give a jingle when his pony switches feet.
And you somehow get the feelin’ that he’s sittin’ on a throne
A’gazin’ out on paradise just like it was his own.
I can promise you he’s happy, though
I know you can’t pretend
You’re glad he made the journey. It’s too hard to comprehend.
The earthly way you look at things can never satisfy
Your lack of understanding for the answer to the ‘Why?’
You’re glad he made the journey. It’s too hard to comprehend.
The earthly way you look at things can never satisfy
Your lack of understanding for the answer to the ‘Why?’
So, I offer this small comfort to
put your grief to rest,
I only take the top hands ‘cause my crew’s the very best.
And I know it might seem selfish to friends and next of kin
But I needed one more cowboy and Woodrow fit right in.”
I only take the top hands ‘cause my crew’s the very best.
And I know it might seem selfish to friends and next of kin
But I needed one more cowboy and Woodrow fit right in.”
Nobody
knows how to say it better, do they? Thanks, Bax.
Be God’s Roger Miller
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I HATE BANK OF AMERICA!
NEVER EVER, EVER GET A HOME MORTGAGE FROM BANK OF AMERICA!!
To the
honorable Congressman Mike Coffman;
January 18
2012, I had a water leak at my residence at 22631 Eagle Drive, Elbert Colorado,
80106.
Nationwide Insurance
was my carrier. They did what they were
supposed to do, covered my losses
of over
20,000. I have received a total of three
checks and the last one is the depreciation check of
$2302.55. The two previous checks I called into Bank of
America and gave them my loan #________
and they
gave me a commit number so I could have the local Home Mortgage office endorse
my check,
because they
have no bank branches in Colorado.
March 15, I received the check
for $2302, so I called in to get the commit number they told me
the Fannie
Mae rules have changed I would not be allowed to receive a commit number unless
I had an
inspection
and certification of completion. So I
set up the home inspection and certification of
completion. After both were completed, I called back in
to Bank of America they informed me that the
inspector
had not sent in a report yet, but they would give me the commit number when
they received,
the
report. So I called back the following
day. BOA had everything, but was informed Fannie Mae policy
had changed
and I would have to send in the check for them to endorse. So I spent $10 to send it first
class
priority with a receipt that they had received.
I received a call from Bank of America that I would
have to sign
it before they would endorse it and they would need a revised estimate from the
contractor
in order to
make an exemption to release the funds.
So Last Monday the 16th of April one month later
and hours
and hours on the phone I spent another $18 to overnight it. But before I sent it, I spent one
hour on the
phone with Bank of America Property Claims going over to ensure I had fulfilled
all
requirements. The document request they sent me said they
required a W9 from my contractor. I
asked them
about it and the representative( I could tell did not know what I was asking
about), so I asked
for a manager. They informed me Fannie Mae only required a
W9 if the money was going directly to my
contractor. So I had not heard anything for 5 business
days, so I called today to the Bank of America
Property
Claims office in Fort Worth Texas and talked to Dwayne Jackson, he informed me,
I would not
be getting
my depreciation Check of $2302, because they had not received a W9 for my
contractor, the
home
inspection showed it was only 85% complete, and the check would be held in a
non-interest
bearing account
because I was thirty days late last July.
They would not issue payment, until the project
was
completed, they received the W9 form from my contractor and they had received
one year of on
time payments,
then they would kindly release the money by August, If I had Complied with all
of their
requests. When I blew a gasket and said some unkind
things they informed me they were simply
following
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac procedures. I
told the manager he was lying, he said he was not
he was just
following procedure. So I asked to talk
to his boss after many minutes finally get from him
his boss was
Kim Estev. I asked repeatedly to talk to
her, I was told I could only talk to him.
I asked how I
know you are
telling the truth; he Mr. Jackson replied I am simply following Fannie Mae
guideline. I then
asked how do
I know that; when you are contradiction
what other Bank of America Representatives
have told
me.
I was
brusquely told I will be the only one you talk to and I am following the guarantor’s
guidelines. So
I then asked
for a copy of the Fannie Mae guidelines to be faxed to me; at first he said he could not do
that. Then he said he would check into it; put me
on hold, and either my phone died or he hung up on
me.
What I am requesting is twofold is to either have Bank of
America release my $ 2302 or the
actual
guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac,
so I can know my rights as a borrower. It
saddens
me that my contractor
a small business owner is being
penalized by government beau racy. One last
piece of
information that I think that is important is I had my home mortgaged with
Countrywide when
they went bankrupt
without asking me, my loan was assumed by Bank of America. Somehow in the
process we
ended up one month behind in our mortgage, I spent hours trying to work out a
payment
system and
was told it had to be full payment or it would not be credited to our
account. It took over a
year to get
current with an $1800 loan payment. I
would like to add that we have been current since last
August.
Respectfully
Roger Miller
22631 Eagle
Drive, Elbert Co 80106
303 648 0175
Friday, January 6, 2012
Let Go
Let Go
To “let go” does not mean to stop caring.
It means I can’t do it for someone else.
To “let go” is not to cut myself off.
It’s the realization I can’t control another.
To “let go” is not to enable,
But to allow learning from natural consequences.
To “let go” is to admit powerlessness
Which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another,
It’s to make the most of myself.
To “let go” is not to care for, but to care about.
To “let go” is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To “let go” is not to judge
But to allow another to be a human being
To “let go” is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcome,
But to allow others to affect their destinies.
To “let go” is not to be protecting,
It’s to permit another to face reality.
To “let go” is not to deny, but to accept
To “let go” is not to nag, scold or argue,
But instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To “let go” is not criticize and regulate anybody,
But to try to become what I dream to be.
To “let go” is to not regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
To “let go” is to fear less and LOVE MORE.
To “let go” does not mean to stop caring.
It means I can’t do it for someone else.
To “let go” is not to cut myself off.
It’s the realization I can’t control another.
To “let go” is not to enable,
But to allow learning from natural consequences.
To “let go” is to admit powerlessness
Which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another,
It’s to make the most of myself.
To “let go” is not to care for, but to care about.
To “let go” is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To “let go” is not to judge
But to allow another to be a human being
To “let go” is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcome,
But to allow others to affect their destinies.
To “let go” is not to be protecting,
It’s to permit another to face reality.
To “let go” is not to deny, but to accept
To “let go” is not to nag, scold or argue,
But instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To “let go” is not criticize and regulate anybody,
But to try to become what I dream to be.
To “let go” is to not regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
To “let go” is to fear less and LOVE MORE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)