Several folks that I come in contact with on a daily basis have been asking questions about My God, church, salvation and everything in between. I have invited them to visit with us at Eastaboga and I have invited them to get involved on this blog.
Paul told us that when we speak we are to talk about "what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." I am going to ask that some of you as you feel led to post the story of how you came to know Jesus, how God has been moving in your life lately or just an encouraging word for those that might stumble across our humble little corner of the world wide web.
God truly is at work at Eastaboga Baptist Church. I am encouraged every time I see and talk with each one of you whether it be at church or somewhere else. Please share some of that encouragement with us. If you get time in the next few days share what God has done and continues to do in your life. This is an exciting topic and I am excited about hearing some of your stories.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tax Time?
SHORT POST - BIG TOPIC
The other day I found myself in a conversation with my boss about tithing, or not....
I made the comment that we (my wife and I) do not turn in our tithes with our taxes. I base this on the fact that 1 God is not a "Charitable Organization" - it's His money anyway, 2 if I get a tax break (return) on what I gave then God did not actually get from us the amount that we intended to give and 3 Churches don't pay tax. I am taxed and I tithe based on what I make per year (Gross Income). If I get a tax cut on what I give then I didn't actually give based on what I make. This is just how I feel about this situation.
After about 3 minutes of conversation our whole office had chimed in with their opinion on how I am either right or how I am wrong to think this way. Either way people seem to be drawn to this topic. I can't imagine why??? MONEY???
Any Biblical precedent that anyone can offer as to why I am or am not right on this situation would be appreciated greatly.
I will update this post on the front page with all of your answers. THANKS!
benjaminh said...
Wow Matt....I've never thought of it that way. How about this....If you did claim your tithes on your taxes and gave back (to God) any "tax break/return" that you may have received for claiming that then effectively God would receive all your tithe plus some of the governments money (because they would have kept it anyway). I think that is awesome....there are some Christian hating liberals out there would definitely not like that.
The other day I found myself in a conversation with my boss about tithing, or not....
I made the comment that we (my wife and I) do not turn in our tithes with our taxes. I base this on the fact that 1 God is not a "Charitable Organization" - it's His money anyway, 2 if I get a tax break (return) on what I gave then God did not actually get from us the amount that we intended to give and 3 Churches don't pay tax. I am taxed and I tithe based on what I make per year (Gross Income). If I get a tax cut on what I give then I didn't actually give based on what I make. This is just how I feel about this situation.
After about 3 minutes of conversation our whole office had chimed in with their opinion on how I am either right or how I am wrong to think this way. Either way people seem to be drawn to this topic. I can't imagine why??? MONEY???
Any Biblical precedent that anyone can offer as to why I am or am not right on this situation would be appreciated greatly.
I will update this post on the front page with all of your answers. THANKS!
_______________________________
benjaminh said...
Wow Matt....I've never thought of it that way. How about this....If you did claim your tithes on your taxes and gave back (to God) any "tax break/return" that you may have received for claiming that then effectively God would receive all your tithe plus some of the governments money (because they would have kept it anyway). I think that is awesome....there are some Christian hating liberals out there would definitely not like that.
_______________________________
Jeff Daniel said...
Whoa, I'm in the same boat as Ben...I've never given any thought to am I wrong to use tithes as a write off either. My first thought is that I've never had any conviction about turning it in (but thanks to you I might now!!!!!!!!) I'm not sure it could be defended biblically in favor of or against, at least not directly. The most direct instruction is to "give from the firstfruits" (which I translate to "gross income") I would say that any reason given as justification to use tithes as a write-off would be born from disobedience from a person who probably doesn't tithe to begin with. It's a spiritual/obedience issue, not a practical financial question. I put it in the category of personal conviction?...someone might be completely obedient to God by giving a strict 10%, while another feels led to give more. So forfeiting the increased gain in tax return could be justified as obedience to your conviction from God. Good topic!
Whoa, I'm in the same boat as Ben...I've never given any thought to am I wrong to use tithes as a write off either. My first thought is that I've never had any conviction about turning it in (but thanks to you I might now!!!!!!!!) I'm not sure it could be defended biblically in favor of or against, at least not directly. The most direct instruction is to "give from the firstfruits" (which I translate to "gross income") I would say that any reason given as justification to use tithes as a write-off would be born from disobedience from a person who probably doesn't tithe to begin with. It's a spiritual/obedience issue, not a practical financial question. I put it in the category of personal conviction?...someone might be completely obedient to God by giving a strict 10%, while another feels led to give more. So forfeiting the increased gain in tax return could be justified as obedience to your conviction from God. Good topic!
_______________________________
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Good Sport?.....
The coach of a Texas high school basketball team that beat another team 100-0 was fired Sunday, the same day he sent an e-mail to a newspaper saying he will not apologize "for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity."
Kyle Queal, the headmaster for Covenant School, said in The Dallas Morning News online edition that he could not answer if the firing was a direct result of coach Micah Grimes' e-mail disagreeing with administrators who called the blowout "shameful."
Queal did not immediately answer phone messages or e-mail from The Associated Press.
On its Web site last week, Covenant, a private Christian school, posted a statement regretting the outcome of its Jan. 13 shutout win over Dallas Academy. "It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened. This clearly does not reflect a Christlike and honorable approach to competition," said the statement, signed by Queal and board chair Todd Doshier.
Grimes, who has been criticized for letting the game get so far out of hand, made it clear in the e-mail Sunday to the newspaper that he does not agree with his school's assessment.
"In response to the statement posted on The Covenant School Web site, I do not agree with the apology or the notion that the Covenant School girls basketball team should feel embarrassed or ashamed," Grimes wrote in the e-mail, according to the newspaper. "We played the game as it was meant to be played. My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity."
A phone number for Grimes could not be located by The Associated Press. The Dallas Morning News said Grimes did not respond to their repeated e-mail requests for a telephone interview.
There was no answer at a number listed for Doshier.
A parent who attended the game said Covenant continued to make 3-pointers — even in the fourth quarter. She praised the Covenant players but said spectators and an assistant coach were cheering wildly as their team edged closer to 100 points. Covenant was up 59-0 at halftime. Dallas Academy has eight girls on its varsity team and about 20 girls in its high school. It is winless over the last four seasons. The academy boasts of its small class sizes and specializes in teaching students struggling with "learning differences," such as short attention spans or dyslexia. There is no mercy rule in girls basketball that shortens the game or permits the clock to continue running when scores become one-sided. There is, however, "a golden rule" that should have applied in this contest, Edd Burleson, the director of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, said last week. Both schools are members of this association, which oversees private school athletics in Texas. The story has received national attention, and the Dallas Academy team has been recognized for refusing to give up during the lopsided contest.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482825,00.html
Everything that we do has an effect on someone else. What do you think about this? Any lessons to be learned? I'm interested about how this story stirred your soul or if it didn't at all.
Kyle Queal, the headmaster for Covenant School, said in The Dallas Morning News online edition that he could not answer if the firing was a direct result of coach Micah Grimes' e-mail disagreeing with administrators who called the blowout "shameful."
Queal did not immediately answer phone messages or e-mail from The Associated Press.
On its Web site last week, Covenant, a private Christian school, posted a statement regretting the outcome of its Jan. 13 shutout win over Dallas Academy. "It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened. This clearly does not reflect a Christlike and honorable approach to competition," said the statement, signed by Queal and board chair Todd Doshier.
Grimes, who has been criticized for letting the game get so far out of hand, made it clear in the e-mail Sunday to the newspaper that he does not agree with his school's assessment.
"In response to the statement posted on The Covenant School Web site, I do not agree with the apology or the notion that the Covenant School girls basketball team should feel embarrassed or ashamed," Grimes wrote in the e-mail, according to the newspaper. "We played the game as it was meant to be played. My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity."
A phone number for Grimes could not be located by The Associated Press. The Dallas Morning News said Grimes did not respond to their repeated e-mail requests for a telephone interview.
There was no answer at a number listed for Doshier.
A parent who attended the game said Covenant continued to make 3-pointers — even in the fourth quarter. She praised the Covenant players but said spectators and an assistant coach were cheering wildly as their team edged closer to 100 points. Covenant was up 59-0 at halftime. Dallas Academy has eight girls on its varsity team and about 20 girls in its high school. It is winless over the last four seasons. The academy boasts of its small class sizes and specializes in teaching students struggling with "learning differences," such as short attention spans or dyslexia. There is no mercy rule in girls basketball that shortens the game or permits the clock to continue running when scores become one-sided. There is, however, "a golden rule" that should have applied in this contest, Edd Burleson, the director of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, said last week. Both schools are members of this association, which oversees private school athletics in Texas. The story has received national attention, and the Dallas Academy team has been recognized for refusing to give up during the lopsided contest.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482825,00.html
Everything that we do has an effect on someone else. What do you think about this? Any lessons to be learned? I'm interested about how this story stirred your soul or if it didn't at all.
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