How About Some Respect

Respect Others

Isn’t tithing just an old Jewish Custom?

ANSWER Tithing precedes the Hebrew race. The first brothers, Cain and Abel, brought offerings to God in recognition of His ownership and their stewards. From the beginning of known history man recognized it as a duty to give a portion of his income to God and that portion was the tithe.

Obama Budget Cuts Visualization

Thanks to John W. for the email.

Stop paying for things you don't need

By Mary Hunt

A big coordinated garage sale in my neighborhood recently gave me a surprising wakeup call. It’s one thing to see a family’s stuff spread out in the front yard, but quite another to see a whole neighborhood’s castoffs at one time. All I could think of as I walked from one yard to the next was all the dumb decisions that led to this colossal display of stuff— purchased with dollars, now offered for pennies.

Imagine how much cash you’d have right now if you could get a do-over on all the thoughtless purchases you’ve made in your lifetime. Me? I’d be one wealthy woman!

I can’t tell you what those little money wasters are in your life (the five pairs of black shoes in your closet? dozens of owl figurines for your collection?). All you have to do is take a walk through your house to see what you’ve been throwing away your money on. Me, I’ve learned that there are a lot of “conveniences” I don’t really need. Once you put an end to them, it’s like giving yourself a raise. Just think about it. If you can cut out the stupid stuff, you may have the money you need to start a serious savings program or to pay down your debts. Read and learn from my mistakes.

1. Extended Warranties
Generally, they’re not worth the money. (The only thing I now have a warranty on is my laptop computer, and that’s because I practically beat it to death.) If a new gadget or appliance is going to fail, research tells us it will do so during the manufacturer’s warranty period or long after the extended warranty has expired. That makes extended warranties, which can cost anywhere from $5 to hundreds of dollars, a big profit center for retailers and a pretty useless expense for consumers.

Get Smart: If you’re worried about a breakdown, take the money you’d spend on a warranty and stash it into a special savings account. If your item fails, you’ll have the money to repair it. If not (which is more likely), in three or five years when everything’s gone well, you’ll have stashed away a nice little nest egg.

2. Gym Fees
The sales pitch is compelling and the promise of better health is hard to deny. But getting roped into a legal obligation to pay a big monthly fee for the next two or three years—whether you use the gym or not—makes no sense.

Get Smart: Find a gym or health club that requires no contract (you pay by the month if and when you desire). Or don’t pay at all: There’s a big wonderful world out there where you can walk, jog or run for free!

3. Fast-Food Runs
You know how ridiculous it is to spend $3 or $4 for coffee—over and over, day after day. But how about the other snacks and food purchases that can cause your bank account to evaporate? A morning egg sandwich here, an afternoon bag of chips there…before you know it, you’ve spent $20 or more a week.

Get Smart: Before you leave the house in the morning, figure out how much cash you’ll need for the day, then take only that amount with you. Bring your own snacks and pack a brown-bag lunch to reduce costs even more.

4. Cell Phone Apps and Ringtones
OK, so it’s cool to have ringtones, apps and games on your cell. And sure, $2 to $3 a pop or $10 a month may not seem like a lot of money for so much fun. But watch out. You can blow through a lot of cash in no time.

Get smart: Make a hard-and-fast rule that you do not pay for ringtones, apps or games—then find them for free. They’re out there; you just have to search for the ones that work on your particular phone and with your service provider. Check out Phonezoo.com or Myxer.com. You can even make your own ringtones for free, using MP3s you already own.

5. Fees (Late, Over Limit or Worse):
Not paying attention to your bills is a big mistake these days, when banks are doing all they can to boost their profits. Getting credit card payment in late can mean a $39 whack on the wrist. Being sloppy with your bank account and bouncing a check can cost you around $27.

Get smart: Find your inner private detective. Go over every statement and question every entry. Don’t know what it is? Find out! Get bold! If you’re charged a fee for something silly like allowing your balance to drop a few bucks below the agreed-upon minimum or sending your payment a day late, call customer service. Explain that this is so not like you, as evidenced by your clean record. Then ask them to waive the fee or reverse the charge if it has already been assessed to your account.

6. Landline Extras
Have you looked at your home phone bill lately? I mean really carefully? You could be paying for features you never use: call forwarding, call waiting, who knows what else. Those add-ons could be costing you $15 a month or more.

Get smart: Can’t find a recent bill? Pick up the phone and call customer service. If you use your mobile phones more often than your home landline, consider canceling the bells and whistles to get your home service down to the bare minimum.

7. Rental Car Insurance
Saying yes can add anywhere from $9 to $30 or more per day to the cost of the car. That’s a waste if you carry insurance on your cars at home, or if you pay with a credit card that offers rental car insurance as a perk. Your existing auto policy may be all you need if it includes third-party liability, collision and comprehensive coverage for rentals (most do!).

Get smart: Before you even get to the car rental counter, call your insurance agent to make sure you’re covered. Check your credit card’s terms and conditions, too.

8. Computer Software
You got a great deal on that new computer, so why go broke loading it up with software? Before you spend a dime, take a look at all the freeware out there. You’ll find programs written by enthusiasts and distributed with no strings attached: games, graphics, office suites, fonts, every kind of desktop tool and gadget imaginable.

Get smart: Check out FreewareHome.com, an index site that lists more than 5,500 programs that really are free. No request for money in the documentation, no nag screens asking for payment or donations, no time limits!

9. Unlimited Texting
Most cell phone plans include a certain number of texts with the basic service. Texting is fun, but it can get out of control in a big hurry. Upgrading to an unlimited plan can add $15 (about $180 per year per phone on your cell plan) just so you can engage in a lot of meaningless chatter. How dumb is that?

Get Smart: Forget the upgrades. Scale back to a limited number of text messages for you and the kids, too. A little selfdiscipline could be a good thing for everyone involved.

10. Bottled Water
You’ve got to hand it to the bottled water industry. They’ve managed to convince otherwise rational people to pay around 800 times more to purchase water in a bottle rather than get it from the tap. These days a 16-oz bottle of “spring” water goes for about a dollar, which works out to about $8 a gallon—twice the cost of milk, and roughly on par with soft drinks. Home delivery is less per gallon, but still around $40 a month, according to online averages. However, 16 8-oz glasses of tap water cost about a penny. Bottom line: You’ve heard it before, but now you have to do it. Lay off the bottled water!

Get Smart: The next time you feel thirsty, turn on the tap. Don’t like the taste of your tap water? Invest in a filter pitcher or install an inexpensive faucet filter. You’ll still come out ahead.

11. Music Downloads
Unless you’ve got money to burn, paying 99¢ or more per tune can add up. But not to worry. There are plenty of ways to get free music downloads, all totally legal and easy to access.

Get Smart: Check out the free classical catalog at ClassicCat.net. Or take advantage of the free downloads section at Rhapsody.com. Want country? At CountryWeekly.com, click on “Free Music Downloads” under “Music.” At Amazon.com, click on “Digital Downloads” from the lefthand menu, then “MP3 Downloads.” On the left under “Browse MP3s,” there’s a Most Popular category. There you’ll see an option for “Free Songs & Special Deals.”

- Copied

Friday Funnies - Humor in the Economy

Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

Thanks John W.

Bail Out Plan

This was forwarded to me...what think ye???

Bail Out Plan

I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America
in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000
bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man,
woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults
18 and up..

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that
equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a "We Deserve It Dividend".
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.

So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college - it'll be there

Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car - create jobs

Invest in the market - capital drives growth

Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks
who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other
company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in
our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...

instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is
being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
"We Deserve It Dividend" more than do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.

And remember, The plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because

$25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Now isn't that a sobering thought!

Thanks Bro. Fred B.

---

Make $$$$ with your computer

It is easy,








hold down shift key and hit 4 four times.






$$$$


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Need money -

A man goes into the doctor.

He says, "Doc, you gotta check my leg. Something's wrong. Just put
your ear up to my thigh, you'll hear it!"

The doctor cautiously placed his ear to the man's thigh only to hear,
"Gimme 20 bucks, I really need 20 bucks."

"I've never seen or heard anything like this before, how long has
this been going on." The doctor asked.

"That's nothing Doc. put your ear to my knee."

The doctor put his ear to the man's knee and heard it say "Man, I
really need 10 dollars, just lend me 10 bucks!!"

"Sir, I really don't know what to tell you. I've never seen anything
like this." The doctor was dumbfounded.

"Wait Doc, that's not it. There's more, just put your ear up to my
ankle," the man urged him.

The doctor did as the man said and was blown away to hear his ankle
plead, "Please, I just need 5 dollars. Lend me 5 bucks please if you
will."

"I have no idea what to tell you," the doctor said. "There's nothing
about it in my books," he said as he frantically searched all his
medical reference books. "I can make a well educated guess though.
Based on life and all my previous experience I can tell you that your
leg seems to be broke in three places."

Beware ... of Gambling

BEWARE THE SEDUCTIVE FANTASY OF GAMBLING


The subject of gambling rarely is addressed within the church, but it must be in view of the popularity and widespread prominence of state lotteries and other increasingly popular forms of gambling.


What is gambling?


* It originated from the Old English word gammon - the basic concept of a game. Gambling is based on sheer chance and randomness - without skill or personal involvement. It's not like normal competition, in which you strive for a prize by producing something better, by accomplishing something sooner, or by doing something more efficiently.


* In the hope of winning something of greater value, a person risks something of value to the forces of chance beyond his or her control or rational expectation.


* It is accompanied by the notion that the longer you engage in It, the better your odds of succeeding. But sheer random chance never changes its odds, because there are no elements you can control to increase your likelihood of winning.


Recent trends of gambling:


* Annually, $1 trillion are spent on legal and illegal gambling.


* More than 10 million Americans are compulsive gamblers - more than the number of alcoholics.


* Gambling is growing rapidly in popularity and acceptability, and has become convenient - at grocery stores and gas stations, off-track betting parlors, and on the Internet.


The church's position on gambling:


* The church has spoken out very little and done virtually nothing in opposition to the presence and influence of gambling. Government, especially on the state level, is an advocate for gambling, and the church needs to take a stand, expose the evils of gambling, and declare how it's really at odds with the principles of Scripture.


Why gambling is wrong:


* Not justified by the casting of lots. In biblical times lots functioned much like dice. They were made of sheep's knuckle bones, and the roll of those bones indicated a certain meaning. When the people had to make an important decision and had difficulty determining God's will, He sovereignty intervened and caused the lots to fall in such a way as to tell His followers what to do. At no time did anyone ever put something of value at risk.


* Denies the reality of God's sovereignty. Chance, the major promise of gambling's outworking, is the fabric of a human imagination that wants to deny the existence of a sovereign God. The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all (Ps. 103:19).


* Builds on irresponsible stewardship. The worst possible stewardship is for someone to throw God's resources away at the altar of a god called chance or luck. It's idolatry of the worst sort. Nothing we have really belongs to us; it belongs to God, and we should use all of it to His glory (Matt. 6:19-20).


* Erodes the biblical work ethic. We are to earn our bread by the sweat of our brows (Gen. 3:19) not from games of chance. The addictive wagering process saps the good that a decent salary can afford.


* Driven by the sin of covetousness. Gambling - and its accompanying greediness - violates the 10th commandment (Ex. 20:17). It assumes that God has not given us what we ought to have and that there is somehow more wealth that will finally make us happy.


* Builds on the exploitation of others. It exploits people who can least afford to be victims and violates the eighth commandment, You shall not steal (Ex. 20:15). For everyone who wins something at gambling, there are millions of losers - people who have been duped by the seductive marketing appeal of gambling and prompted to throw away large sums of money.

From our Stewardship section of our bulletin.

One question and answer each week.



Isn't tithing just an old Jewish Custom?
ANSWER Tithing precedes the Hebrew race. The first brothers, Cain and Abel, brought offerings to God in
recognition of His ownership and their stewards. From the beginning of known history man recognized it as a duty to give a portion of his income to God and that portion was the tithe.

Is tithing taught in the New Testament?
ANSWER. It is not repealed in the New Testament, and there is no reason why it should have to be. But it is
taught in the New Testament, Paul gives tithing as a basis for the regular
Church finances in I Corinthians 9:13-14. He declares that the gospel
ministry of the church is to be supported as the Levites (Numbers 18:21);
that is, out of tithes.

What did Jesus teach about the tithe?
ANSWER. He paid it (Matthew 5:17). He sanctioned it (Matthew 23:23).
He has the right to receive it (Hebrews 7:4,5,8,).

How can I tithe when my husband (or wife) does not believe in it?
ANSWER. One is responsible for the use of that which is his
own. Husbands, or wives, can have a clear conscience on tithing that which
they individually have. Luke 16:2; Romans 14:12

How can I tithe when I find I have nothing left after my bills are paid?
ANSWER. one does not tithe from what he has left; he tithes
first. Proverbs 3:9

How can children or adults who have no income tithe?
ANSWER. Children who receive money from parents, and adults who come into possession of
money can give the Lord a tenth of all they receive. II Corinthians 8:12
I believe in tithing. How can I tithe when I am so deeply in debt?
ANSWER. God is your preferred creditor and you should pay this debt
first. It is not right to rob God of what is justly His in order to
satisfy another creditor. Malachi 3:7-9

We have just married and have barely enough to live on, how can we tithe?
ANSWER. How can you not afford to tithe? To neglect your greatest Partner
in life is to disregard your greatest Provider. Matthew 6:33 If you read
verse 31, you will find that the necessities of life, food, etc. are
promised by God.

How can I tithe when I feel my first obligation is to my family?
ANSWER. I Timothy 5:8 says, "But if any provide not for his own,
and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is
worse than an infidel." But the Bible also states in Matthew 10:30, "He
that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me; and he that
loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of me."

I began to tithe several times, but haven't kept it up, shall I try again?
ANSWER. By all means. Just because you fail to pray, you don't give up
praying. It is expected that you be faithful in tithing as well as in
other ways of Christian living. I Corinthians 4:2

I cannot tithe now, but if God blesses me in a material way, don't you
think it is all right for me to promise to tithe?
ANSWER. If you are not tithing you "little" now you will not tithe
you "much" later. Luke 16:10

Do you think God will increase my material my material blessings if I tithe?
ANSWER. God does make a promise in Malachi 3:10 about blessings. But the
kind, whether material or spiritual, is in the hands of God to
give as He sees best. You may be sure God keeps His promises.

Can I count as a part of my tithe the money I give to good causes outside the church?
ANSWER. In I Corinthians 16:2, you will note it says,"...lay
by in store..." Malachi 3:10 emphasizes bringing all the tithes into the
storehouse. This means nothing else, but the bringing of a tenth of ones
net income regularly to the house of God.

Should I tithe if I don't like the way the church handles it?
ANSWER. Yes, because you are to tithe unto the Lord, and not unto the church.

I wish to tithe, but just when should I?
ANSWER. I Corinthians 16:2 sets the time as"...upon the first day of the week."
Tithing thus becomes a part of your regular worship, when you come to the house
of God every Sunday; it is worship, like prayer and praise are worship.

Do you think the practice of tithing will make me happy?
ANSWER. Yes, for obedience to Bible teaching always brings happiness.
How can one be happy, if he has to live with a condemned conscience?
John 13:17 and Matthew 25:23

Does tithing have anything to do with my spiritual life?
ANSWER. It certainly does. Read the parable of the unjust steward.
Luke 16:1-13. Note especially verses 11 and 12.
Will tithing give me a deeper interest in the Lord's work and cause?
ANSWER. A personal investment in anything brings a personal
interest in that thing. Matthew 6:21

How shall I figure my tithe?
ANSWER. If you have a salary, give a tenth - not after the taxes
are taken out - but before. If you are a business,
then give a tenth of your income. If you have no regular income, then give
a tenth of all that passes through your hands as your very own.

How can tithing be made easy for me?
ANSWER. Tithing will be made easy for any Christian who will
follow the instructions given in II Corinthians 8:5.
"They...first gave their ownselves to the Lord."

May God help us all to grow in the grace of giving.

Bro. Jeff

MORMON BILLION$ ATTRACT THE UNSUSPECTING

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC news made an eight-month study. The LDS church gets about $4.7 billion a year. Businesses add about $4 billion. So $8.7 billion! 15 years ago! (6/30/91-7/03/91-Arizona Rep.) If an inch represents a million, one billion is over 83 feet! This is the real skyscraper! Tithe to them? Compare the annual budget of NASA or America at war! Yet LDS missionaries have to pay their way, except in some costly places where the church helps pay their preachers. Like wealthy singers giving token amounts, the LDS historical building exhibits petty help for world relief. Not impressive! Time magazine 8/4/97 features America's Most Prosperous Religion.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE? Is the temple all it’s cracked up to be? The LDS 17 Points says, “The true church must have the same organization as Christ's church.” (pt. 4) Yet Bible ceremonies all differ! (See Ex.-Deut.) And how fishy that the LDS ceremonies fall apart with time. (See www.utlm.org/) 1 Nephi 13:26-36 claims plain and precious things were taken from the Bible. What is “plain” about secrecy where so few go inside? Baptism for the dead is misinterpreted. If “precious”, why isn’t it in the BofM? The temple veil was torn to say the holy place is now available through the cross! (Mat. 27:51) The new covenant ended temples (Heb. 7-10), but Joseph Smith vetoed God with his “new” new covenant! The LDS claim Aaronic priests, but they were done away (read Hebrews). Now Christians, including women, have a better priesthood. (1 Pet. 2:5-10) Mormons claim Melchizedek priests, but Jesus has that role! Believers are the temple of God. (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16) The temple in Heaven makes the LDS temple comparatively disgusting. (Rev. 11:19; 14:17) LDS temples are vanity like mausoleums since God does not dwell in temples made by hands. (Acts 7:48; 17:24) Mormons claim to seal families, but if married kids are on their own planets, who is together? The temple is haunted as many talk to the dead, really demon spirits. Necromancy is an extreme abomination to God! (Deut. 18:9-12)

MORONI warned of LDS-style ceremonies as of the devil, secret societies corrupting hearts, and wickedness leading to wars and destruction. What a slap to put him on a temple with LDS secrecy and Masonic handshakes at his feet! (Ether 8-14) He must have been bad by missing the LDS godhood. (D&C 132:17,37) Moroni and Satan are the same angel. (D&C intro until 1979; 2 Cor. 11:14-15) To whom did he appear?

RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS are as the star of David, Watchtower, crescent moon, lotus blossom, golden calf, golden Moroni, and Masonic underwear markings. Gethsemane is just twice in Scripture, yet the LDS emphasize that instead of the CROSS! (Heresy in The Promised Messiah, McConkie, p.337,552; The Mortal Messiah, McConkie, p.127-128, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.14-15) God warns about enemies of the cross. (Phil. 3:18-19) The true 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 gospel that saves was never lost, but was always defined in old manuscripts or anyone’s Bible (even the Joseph Smith Translation).

How can you get eternal life? By the cross! (Rom. 1:16; 5:8-11; 1 Cor. 1:17-23; 2:2; Gal. 1:4; 2:21; 3:13; 6:14; Eph. 1:7; 2:13-16; Phil. 2:8; Col. 1:20; 2:13-14; Heb. 9:10-14, 22; 10:19; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 2:24; 3:18; 1 John 1:7)

Why is the most popular LDS symbol the pentagram?

Proof at http://www.hismin.com/ (click on “occult symbols”).

Have you been trusting in false temples?

Cry out to God for forgiveness with the true temple prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" (Luke 18:10-14)

Article submitted by Charlie Carle. charliecarles@yahoo.com