Anybody?

[Hope 98]

Anyone here familiar with a book entitled "The Blessed Life"?

I don't know who the author is right now, but I'll add it to the thread when I know it.

Anything that anyone can offer would be welcome. Thanks.

[ex-shep]

Will need the author. If there is a link with the book, just add it to the post. Kinda like turning in homework without your name:)

[Hope 98]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830736352/bookstorenow57-20

[Anna Marta]

This is from the Editorial Review section from the Amazon page

"This book will transform your life for the better, bringing you guaranteed financial results."
"...If all believers followed the practical guidance of' The Blessed Life', every church could be built, every nation would have an abundance of missionaries and all would reap the benefits of having a generous heart...."

Robert Morris is a gifted communicator with 20 years of experience imparting biblical principles of prosperity and personal growth. His passionate, practical and often humorous presentation touches the believer and impacts the unchurched. Robert is the senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. Both Gateway Church and Pastor Robert are widely known for a passion for souls and a heart of giving. Robert and his wife, Debbie have three children.

The give away phrases

"...bringing you guaranteed financial results..."

"imparting biblical principles of prosperity"

have alarm bells ringing lights flashing in my head. Anything that has to do with Word /Faith /Prosperity Movement theology is a warning... when someone connects how much money I give and to whom with how much God blesses me I know something is wrong.

Frankly, I would not waste my money on this book. "guaranteed financial results" :eek::eek::eek::eek:

[ex-shep]

thanks for catching the "word Faith" component. I used to shop literally across the street from the church, typical Texas size church. The Gateway Church website did not seem to indicate anything word faith, but only took a fast glance.

[Hope 98]

This morning in the shower the thought occurred to me - for what it's worth...

How can you try to tell me that a god who will bless or withhold blessing on the basis of how much money I give to whom, will completely forgive my sins, especially when my sins include abortion?

[ex-shep]

This morning in the shower the thought occurred to me - for what it's worth...

How can you try to tell me that a god who will bless or withhold blessing on the basis of how much money I give to whom, will completely forgive my sins, especially when my sins include abortion?


Of course there is the venerable Eph 2.5-8. It is by grace we are saved....

[hornblower]

This morning in the shower the thought occurred to me - for what it's worth...

How can you try to tell me that a god who will bless or withhold blessing on the basis of how much money I give to whom, will completely forgive my sins, especially when my sins include abortion?

Hope it is beyond rediculous the way religion makes these things out to be isnt it?

For some reason being in the water is where I usually have my revelations from the Lord too and I believe thats what that is.........God showed you His real true ways right there in that cleansing water.

What kind of a God would our God be if He needed money? Jesus didnt ask for money He knew better and He told His disciples that when they went to one town they should reside there they would be accomidated for and if they werent to leave that town and go to the next.

God has given me many many cars and clothes and gas and food and shelter. Ive seen God stretch my gas and my pay check and take care of everything there is there is nothing that He cannot do.

But.........if you knew me you would not see that happening for me at all. I have never tithed in my life. NEVER!
I dont think tithing is wrong...........I think in a large way I have grown so selfish lately but then its because of all of the trust being lost.

I do think this though that God would like us to help each other when its really needed. But then we must work too and not be slackers.

Anyway God is not about money and blessing is not about money actually I dont think anything but hell is about money.
The only way I can in all honesty deal with the subject is to confess to God how I feel about money and be totally honest and then ask Him to forgive me which I know He already has.

Oh my Lord Ive seen these people often down here.............this place is crawling with all of that stuff...........and let me tell you why too..........its not the pastors......... its the people.........southlake what a joke that is?

Its all tied into the being positive message.........crap total crap is all it is.

[Hope 98]

Thanks for all responses.

I've really needed to work through this whole thing, and I'm starting to get the pieces to go together. It's really hard to argue against tithing when one is a giving sort of person.

It just doesn't sit right in my overall concept of who God truly is that a measurement of what I give where becomes the basis of my success or failure in any area of my life.

I've wondered if the tithe is a kindergarten lesson - a small step in the direction of God showing us that what He really wants is our whole heart. Once God has someone's whole heart, the concept of tithing is simply swallowed up in the recognition that all we have comes from God and we are to use it in line with his heart for a lost and dying world.

I have never given 10% of our regular income to a church, but it has long been my heart and my husband's heart to share what we have with people in need, to the point it has cost us way more than 10%! We have also been figuratively kicked in the teeth for our generosity, but we are still trusting God and sharing our lives, belongings and hearts.

We also share in the interest of fellowship with people we care about. I can tell you that it's really hard to Biblically justify some of our expenditures in the area of simply showing love, but I do believe we are in line with God's heart.

The idea that I should give any specifically measurable amount to any specific place, person or thing, feels like a step backward, away from growth, and puts very tight human reigns on a Creator that will never be contained by any object of his own creation.

[JaniceB]

I mentioned tithing to a Roman Catholic friend and thought her response was interesting. She said that they are encouraged to give at least 10%--5% to the church and 5% to other causes. Wow! I like that. Lessens control, though, for those in the church.

I for one don't believe that it's very Christian to only give to Christian causes. Whether that's relevant to this discussion or not, I'm not sure but I thought I'd throw it in.

JaniceB

[Hope 98]

I mentioned tithing to a Roman Catholic friend and thought her response was interesting. She said that they are encouraged to give at least 10%--5% to the church and 5% to other causes. Wow! I like that. Lessens control, though, for those in the church.

I for one don't believe that it's very Christian to only give to Christian causes. Whether that's relevant to this discussion or not, I'm not sure but I thought I'd throw it in.

JaniceB

Really good points, I think.

It's been our practice to give directly to people in need as they cross our path. Maybe it would be more accurate to say people who APPEAR to be in need. Even when I may be wrong, it seems more efficient to give directly than to let it be filtered through any form of bureaucracy.

[Reg]

Really good points, I think.

It's been our practice to give directly to people in need as they cross our path. Maybe it would be more accurate to say people who APPEAR to be in need. Even when I may be wrong, it seems more efficient to give directly than to let it be filtered through any form of bureaucracy.
That's it exactly Hope. God loves a cheerful giver.

[butterfly]

Really good points, I think.

It's been our practice to give directly to people in need as they cross our path. Maybe it would be more accurate to say people who APPEAR to be in need. Even when I may be wrong, it seems more efficient to give directly than to let it be filtered through any form of bureaucracy.

I never gave 10% to the church. I don"t like people telling me I have to give that amount if not God will not bless me.

I have seen people give almost all their money to the church and didn"t have enough money for food nor there bills.

When I did give money I would give it to the oil fund. I knew the person who took care of that billing so I was sure thats where it went for.

I do give to people who are in real need and I know the money will help them. That they are people who take care of their family.

We never know when accdents,, illness, ect will strick.

Sad part is the church would give to people who were freeloaders with sad storys.:mad: These people would go to food pantrys,get govertment funds [food stamps ect] and take money they recived for booze.

When church people were in need the elete would get the help.:mad::mad: You know the ones with big bank accounts.

I hope I don"t sound bitter I am not just mad that people in real need never recived help.

My hubby had a stroke 7 years ago and friends gave me money to buy gas and have money for food to get something to eat in the hospital dineing room.
shirley butterfly

[Willow]

I hope I don"t sound bitter I am not just mad that people in real need never recived help.

My hubby had a stroke 7 years ago and friends gave me money to buy gas and have money for food to get something to eat in the hospital dineing room.
shirley butterfly


(((((((shirley))))))))) Good to hear from you! You don't sound bitter... just VERY wise!

[Hope 98]

I've given too much directly to people who lied to me and (figuratively speaking) kicked me in the teeth on the way out the door when the coffer turned up empty.

I can't look back and believe I was doing other than what God had asked, regardless of the outcome.

If I think that I was not blessed for my obedience in that because of the bad outcome, I have to think I shouldn't give anything to anyone. My conscience won't accept that. I still believe that God wants me to share what I have with people who are in need, even when I can't be sure if the need is genuine or not.

Maybe I'm just an idiot. I suppose it's possible.

I don't know how to live with the outcome of what I believed to be obedience to God in the context of God's blessings being dependent on my willingness to give 10% to the church.

don't make sense