What is really Tithe?

Ok.  I'm really trying to figure this out and I am totally torn. I fully believe that all mine and Marty's money is God's and we are blessed to have every penny and we only have every penny because of Him.  Our church is a small church and like most churches are having financial issues because the world is having financial issues.  One of the first things that people cut back on when their money gets tight is their money to the church.  Marty and I are really wanting to do our part and feel it is our obligations to follow the word of God but here is where I'm confused.  Is tithe 10% of our gross or our net?

Now I'm not trying to split hairs here or to short God.  I would give him 20% if I could but I would like to know where the line is.  Here is why I ask.  (I'm using round fake numbers here to make the math easier and to not just say I make X amount so don't read anything into the numbers.  If you want to know my income, call me.  I've got nothing to hide but I'm not publishing it on the net.)  I make a good salary.  As does Marty.  And because of that Uncle Sam really likes to collect "his fair share".  From my salary is taken: retirement, social secrity, state taxes, federal taxes, health care insurance, dental insurance, FICA, TSP.  This equates to 49% of my gross income that I never, ever see.  At least I will see some (I pray) when I retire (which I will tithe on then), but 49% that is not available for use by Marty or me to pay any bill or use as we would like.  So if I make $500 a week, Uncle Sam gets $246 a week and Marty and I get $254 a week.

So if Marty and I give $25.40 a week to the church, are we considered tithers?  Or must we give $50.00 a week? 

I'm really serious about this because my goal is to be a tither.  I just don't know what that really is.  This year we are reaching down and doing the 10% of net for the first time and it is really going to be scarifical giving.  I don't know how the money will stretch each month, though I know God does.  I guess that's why it bugs me so much because I want to be called  tither but if it's gross I don't know if I have the faith to make that jump.

Pinnacle Mountain Day

Headed to Pinnacle Mountain this morning to hike to the top but found that they are doing some trail maintenance.  You can still go up the west side but you have to take the base trail around to the park access road and then go up from there.

The view from about marker 5, maybe 6 looking back north.  It was a beautiful clear day.  Just wish my camera lens had been clean.  Dang it!!!!

The girls were full of themselves today.  We laughed all the way up and all the way down the mountain.  From watching them hanging out in trees, to scaling the rocks, to striking poses, they were cracking Marty and me up!  The joy of being parents of two fabulous girls.

Dad found himself in a bit of trouble and required a hand from the girls.  Ha Ha.

Erin was enjoying being at the top of the world striking poses for me.  She has been looking forward to the day when I would let her scramble across the rocks without hollering at her to be careful.

I think the smile says it all!!!  Thank you God for the beautiful day that you blessed us with.

What is there to say?

I sit here trying to think of something to write and find myself without words.  Or is it that I'm without subject.  Of course I could use the obvious ones of new years and new resolutions.  I could talk more about my hopes and dreams but really those are boring.

What about the fact that the tree is now down and the decorations (for the most part) are put away.  I could look back at the many changes of 2011.  The making of new friends or the lost of old ones.  The many attempts to change either through weight lose to the journey of walking as Christ.

There have been moments of pure joy (not as many as I would have liked) and days of great pain that caused tears to fall without ceasing (far more then I care to remember).  Each and every moment though, are pieces of my life that make me, well, me.  Through some pain, I learned that each moment is precious and to take for granted our time with those  whom we love could lead us regretting our choices and the priorities that led to those choices.  Through other pain, I learned that we can only change ones self and it matters not if we forgive someone of their actions, we may still need to set limits concerning them if their actions continue to be the same.  I have learned that secrets are some times kept by others because they think it is the best for all, but in all actually secrets only cause more pain and sorrow and leave people feeling lonely.  Joy came from witnessing 17 women deepen their walks with God over a period of 72 hours and from seeing the joy on a 14 year old's face as she passed her driving test and made 3rd chair 2nd alto at All Region choir.  More joy came through the deepening of a relationship over the summer with two family members that I had not had an opportunity before to really get to know.

There are many things from 2011 to think about and learn from but that's just it, they are to be learned from.  They are not the to be hung onto and wallowed in.  It's a new day.   And a new day is a new opportunity to be whom God is calling me to be.

The Bowies of 2011

There are many things to reflect on from 2011.  Many things that made me smile and many many things that made me cry.  It was a very tough year, tougher than many know but because of my wonderful family and because of Christ love, I have made it through and feel that I am in a better place to start 2012.

 My wonderful partner in this life who makes every day so much better.  He holds my hand, kisses my check and loves me when I act stupid.  

My beautiful but crazy daughters.  My how they have grown!  14 and 11 and the most wonderful people to be around.  They are warm and friendly and sensitive and loving.  Yet they are smart butts with make me laugh smart mouths.  They make me laugh, they make me cry and they bring more joy then I knew could exist.  So many people talk about teens being difficult and hard to live with.  I am enjoying every day with them and can't image what these other people are talking about.

Yes, occasionally one will grow a tail but it usually doesn't last long and it usually actually makes me laugh.  They are the best gift I have ever received and I am so very proud to be called their mother.

I am thankful for the blessing of my family.

WHATCHA DOING?

Whatcha doing?


Over the last 6 years, a sweet ray of sunshine has asked me that question, over and over and over again. I would usually reply with exactly what I was doing when he asked it: cooking dinner; working on the computer; waiting on church to start; or trying to teach a Bible lesson. Or I might reply with some off the wall answer like: I don’t know; Picking daisies; or nothing. It didn’t really matter because he was going to ask me again within a matter of minutes. It would begin to irritate me after a while and I would wish he would stop. What I would give to hear him say those words again, but I know that if things were the same as they were just 3 short weeks ago those words would still just be an irritant instead of what they are today, a question of theological discussion.

See, when these words were asked 3 weeks ago, they were words from a special needs child, who though mainly none verbal, had great curiosity and no personal space. He didn’t think you needed personal space either and being right up in your business was exactly where he was going to be. Because of how my short sighted mind was, I reasoned that he asked this questions over and over again because this was a phrase he would say and since he couldn’t say much else then, what the heck, just say it all the time. I couldn’t phantom that there was any real question there or any real reason for him to ask it.

But I now know the rest of the story.

This young beautiful soul was one of the most free loving followers of Christ I have ever been blessed to be around, much less to actually be in his inner most circle. He knew Christ here on earth far more clearly then I believe even Christ disciples did. He understood that Christ is love and that all people are loved by Christ. He loved ALL people like Christ. He understood that Christ was not afraid of any situation or anybody. He was not afraid to walk up to someone and sit right down and touch them. He seemed to know when someone needed a friend beside them. He understood that Christ forgave everyone. He would forgive those of us who being so short mind and ill tempered would yell at him when he asked “Whaddya doing?” for the 6 hundredth time. He would just smile back instead with a big wide grin and rub his hands together in rapid motion like he was starting a fire. He had such insight into Christ that I believe he also understood that he was only going to be with us for a very short time and that he had to get the rest of us to understand and see Christ like he did. He did this through that one question, “Whatcha doing?”.

“What are you doing?” Are you being all who Christ wants you to be? Are you spreading the Lord’s message with all you encounter? Are you feeding the hungry and helping the orphans and widows? Are you actively seeking a relationship with God and working on healthy Christian relationship with others? How are you treating your family and friends? Why are you lonely when God is right there looking at you with His arms open wide?

These are just a few of the questions that I believe he was trying to ask………..but “Whatcha doing?” were the words that he had in his vocabulary that he could use to ask them. We just weren’t smart enough to hear the real question.

John Claude Scarborough was born June 12, 1995 to two loving parents John and Tammie Scarborough. Two parents who understood that Christ and God and church were a very important part of life and they loved their son so much they took him to church every Sunday and to every church event. They didn’t let his handicap stop him or them from their relationship with God. On October 8, 2011, John Claude’s earthly body could not withstand the challenges of this life and he ran on ahead into the loving arms of his Lord, Jesus Christ.

I will miss this beautiful follower of Christ but I now understand that he was trying so very hard to get me to listen; to stop and hear; to spend some time with our Savior so that I could have the inner peace and joy that he had. John Claude, THANK YOU. Thank you for being my mentor in my faith journey. Thank you for being a light in my life. Thank you for being you. I love you sweet boy and I will miss your sweet face but I know, one day, I will walk into Heaven only to be greeted by you and this words, “Whatcha doing?”.