[StrumminRonin]

Some years ago I had this image of what martial artists would be, and should be like after they attain their black belts. Like conducting themselves in a certain way, being noble and honest and such. And over the years so far I have met some utter, total crooks who are very highly ranked "black belts".

So as far as fitting the mythical expectations of being a Churchie, I am miles off. I drink, I swear, I lose my temper, at times bent on violence, I get angry when people are nasty, and I sometimes want to rush in and do some justice.

Anyhow. With the credit crunch and all that happening, my pay has been cut, and what I give to the Church and sundry needless to say has reduced as a direct result.

Just last week I (unknowingly) overstayed at a car park and got a parking ticket. And I looked at how much fine I had to pay, and compared that with what I give to the Church, I thought, "****, I pay more tax, more on a parking ticket, spend more on ebay, than give to God. Sheesh, what am I? What I give to the Church is not even loose change, just peanuts."

This morning I woke up an remembered the story of the kid with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes.

Please bear in mind that I do believe in that dude who was alive some 2000 years ago, died and whose body was never found, and I believe He is my way to eternal life. So yes, I do believe in some pretty wacky stuff.

Anyway. When I came to realise that God can turn my US$150 into much more, just like what Jesus did with the loaves and fish, I don't feel so bad anymore about only being able to give so little, as 10% of my wages.

Here ends my random rambling.

[Jetpilot07]

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

Here ends my random rambling.

thanks!

[cherd]

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

So as far as fitting the mythical expectations of being a Churchie, I am miles off.

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. Chances are, your moral character is probably better than most of the leaders within the church itself .

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

I drink, I swear,

Nothing wrong with drinking if it's done responsively and not in excess. Swear words are just that, words. It can be considered taboo to use them in the presence of children or around people that are not comfortable with it. But how can it be considered definitively wrong or sinful to make a particular sequence of sounds with your mouth?

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

I lose my temper, at times bent on violence

If this is truly a problem then maybe you should look into some anger management classes .

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

I get angry when people are nasty,

As you should!

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

and I sometimes want to rush in and do some justice.

Sometimes justice needs to be done!

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

Anyhow. With the credit crunch and all that happening, my pay has been cut, and what I give to the Church and sundry needless to say has reduced as a direct result.

The economy is bad and your pay has been cut as a result . Maybe your preacher's pay should be cut as well .

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

Just last week I (unknowingly) overstayed at a car park and got a parking ticket. And I looked at how much fine I had to pay, and compared that with what I give to the Church, I thought, "****, I pay more tax, more on a parking ticket, spend more on ebay, than give to God. Sheesh, what am I? What I give to the Church is not even loose change, just peanuts."

If you give more to the church, you will still pay the same amount in taxes, you can still get parking tickets, but you will have less to spend on ebay. It's your money and you can do what you want with it. But this doesn't sound like a good deal to me .

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

This morning I woke up an remembered the story of the kid with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes.

This is a story. Basing your economic strategy on mythology is never a good idea .

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

Please bear in mind that I do believe in that dude who was alive some 2000 years ago, died and whose body was never found, and I believe He is my way to eternal life. So yes, I do believe in some pretty wacky stuff.

People have the right to believe whatever they believe. But, it is unfortunate that false beliefs cause people to be swindled out of their money .

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

Anyway. When I came to realise that God can turn my US$150 into much more, just like what Jesus did with the loaves and fish, I don't feel so bad anymore about only being able to give so little, as 10% of my wages.

Going on this argument, why don't you just give 0%? If there is a God, and God desires success for the church, then God is capable of providing the resources. Right?