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If you want to sponsor this page, call Amanda Shifflett 1800-293-4709 email amanda@kwnews.com or contact this newspaper by phone at 706-253-2457 PAGE 2B PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. DECEMBER 29. 2016 Pickens County Churches Minister’s Corner What’s the “REAL” Religious tithing is a charitable option reason? By Mark Porado Lead Pastor Living Word Church There are times when we are forced to make a decision that we don’t want to make. Typically, it’s at the worst time, when we don’t have all the information we need, or more time to think it over and we know the decision will likely effect our future. Often these life decisions have huge ramifications that we can’t know. This is espe cially true when you are young; we simply don’t have the knowledge or experience to realize how long a bad de cision will follow us. It’s true that we hear people say things like “I’m still paying for that decision from 20,30, 40 years ago”. So, what do we do when faced with big decisions with little time or information to make them, or for that mat ter, any decision at all? I be lieve there are 3 questions to ask before making decisions that could help avoid those long-lasting regrets. First, “Am I being com pletely honest with myself?”. No matter what you tell oth ers, you owe it to yourself to be honest with you. What’s the REAL reason you are doing this? We don’t like to admit it, but there is some thing wrong with all of us. We have a messed-up heart, and it can’t be fixed. The prophet Jeremiah wrote about it back about 590 BC. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Now I know many don’t agree with this, but isn’t it true that you can talk your self into just about anything? We are experts at selling our selves at something we don’t need. Like dessert (“I’ll just eat one piece, I don’t want to hurt her feelings”), not exer cising (I’m too busy, missing one day won’t hurt any thing”) or worse, big ticket items like cars or houses. We all fall to it. Many years ago, I talked myself into buying a motorcycle, I even got my wife to believe it. Then a few years later after back surgery forced me into selling the motorcycle I convinced myself, and my wife that I “needed” a Jeep. And guess what? I got it, in fact, I have since sold that one and bought a better one! The second question we should ask is: “Why am doing this, REALLY?”. If we just asked these 2 questions, most of us would be healthier and wealthier. We would be skinnier and have more money, we’d be.. .you get the point. The third question is: “What story do I want to tell?” All of us have a story, and when we tell our story, there are parts we leave out because it’s embarrassing or just too painful to include. If we could get in the habit of asking these questions, we could tell our story without leaving any part of it out. Proverbs 4:23 says “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” We know that’s true. It’s like our heart wants something and says to our brain, “go find us some reasons!” Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”. If we could apply these 3 questions before every deci sion, instead of just making a “resolution”, I think many of us could find this next year being our best year! Happy New Year! People all over the world donate to charity. The National Center for Chari table Statistics indicates that individual giving in the United States amounted to $258.51 billion in 2014, an increase of 7.1 percent from the previous year. In fact, donations by individuals comprises the vast majority of donations received by nonprofit organizations — making up a whopping 72 percent. Individuals give to many worthy causes, but religious groups and charities are among the organizations that benefit the most from donors’ generosity. Accord ing to data from the Philan thropy Roundtable, an organization that aims to foster excellence in philan thropy, protect philan thropic freedom and assist donors in achieving their philanthropic intent, 39 per cent of individual giving goes to religious needs. Religious causes are, and long have been, fa vorite charitable targets. Religious giving, or tithing, was once a compulsory ef fort. The word “tithe” is de rivative of an Olde English word meaning “tenth.” Tithes are one-tenth of something made payable to a religious organization or a tax to a government. Tithing has long been connected to religions such as Judaism and Christianity. Traditional Jewish law and practice has incorporated forms of tithing since an cient times. The tithing sys tem was designed to meet the needs of the economic and political system of an cient Israel. Ten percent of a person’s income was given to a religious organi zation. The Old Testament states that each of the twelve tribes of Israel, ex cluding the tribe of Levi, initially received an allot ment of land in the prom ised land of Canaan. The Levites were assistants to Israel’s priests and were supported by tithing from the other eleven tribes. All families were expected to give one-tenth of all pro duce, flocks and cattle to the Levites. In turn, the Levites gave one-tenth of that to support the priests. According to Leviticus Tithing has long been connected to religions such as Judaism and Christianity. 27:30-33, A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. Whoever would re deem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock — every tenth animal that passes under the shep herd’s rod — will be holy to the Lord. No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substi tution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed. The concept of tithing is largely an Old Testament system, though it is men tioned in the New Testa ment in Luke 18:22, when Jesus Christ says, “I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints also participate in tithing. Gordon B. Hinckley, a former presi dent of the church, said, “Our major source of rev enue is the ancient law of the tithe. Our people are ex pected to pay 10 percent of their income to move for ward the work of the Church.” Tithing continues in modem times, but many re ligious followers do not offer 10 percent of their in comes to their respective religious organizations. Counseling Individual, Couples and Family Therapy with Adults, Teens and Children Robin W. Dunn M.S. Licensed Professional Counselor Over 25 years experience helping people live better 770-548-1966 • 505 Cove Rd. • Suite 3 • Jasper www.robinwdunnlpc.com Humbug and Brother Boy By Rev. David Sieg Associate Pastor King of Kings Lutheran Church (LCMS) When I was about six years old, our family lived at the bottom of a hill at the end of a dead-end street. No matter where in the world I wanted to go, it was uphill. The nearest children I could play with were a girl called "Hum bug," and her little brother, "Brother Boy." Don't ask me. I would have called him “Bubba.” Everything was rocking along just fine until one day when I heard that they went to some church called "Lutheran." Imagine my surprise! I thought they were Baptists, just like everybody else. They seemed like relatively nor mal kids, except for those goofy names. (I must admit, though, that Brother Boy always seemed to have a runny nose in search of a sleeve.) I had no clue what Lutherans be lieved and did. What in the world might a "Lutheran" be? My parents said that Lutherans are Christians, but nobody could tell me the difference, if any, be tween what they believed and what other Christians believe. So, I kept my eyes open for anything weird. What if I caught something from a Lutheran with a runny nose? Do you know what a "Lutheran" is? A few years ago, someone asked, “Why do you worship Martin Luther King?” To put it concisely, we don’t. Dr. Martin Luther was a German monk who, 500 years ago, wanted the church to return to the be lief, teaching and doctrine of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. He didn’t want to leave the church, but reform it by re turning it to its first century roots. He taught that the only sure norm for doctrine and teaching is the Holy Bible. But we don’t worship him, either. We only wor ship the One True God: Fa ther, Son - Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. One God in three persons - the Holy Trinity. With the cultural de cline from faith in God to faith in feelings, many today don’t know what a Christian is, let alone a specific denomination. Someone once told my wife that you can’t say someone isn’t a Christian just because they don’t be lieve in Jesus Christ. Some will tell you that a Chris tian is some kind of reli gious fanatic who tries to force his beliefs on others. Like it or not, you and I are the closest thing to Jesus some people will ever see. What kind of Jesus do they see in us? An angry tyrant who wants to force everyone into sub mission, or a Savior who loves us so much that He died for us on a cross in our place for the forgiveness of our sins? “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever be lieves in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to con demn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John3:16,17) Mountain Light /T\ UNITARIAN X UNIVERSALIST \2/ CHURCH An Accepting Community with Open Hearts & Minds 2502 Tails Creek Rd., Hwy 282 W * Ellijay, GA Dress: Casual Sundays‘Fellowship 10 a.m. •Service 10:30 a.m. www.mluuc.org Send us your church news news@pickensprogress.com GOSS EQUIPMENT CO. ) Sales • Service • Parts r i I A. TltAN JP L5 TRACTOR 76 Philadelphia Lane 706-253-4677 Jasper, GA gossequipmentco@gmail.com THIS PAGE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THESE CIVIC-MINDED SPONSORS t THEY DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT t wv 'ir-tn m.'i BFGoodrich MUNIROYALM Jasper Tire Co., Inc. 235 N. Main St., Jasper, GA 30143 Mike Garrison 706-253-2032 L.B. Garrison 706-253-2033 744 Noah Dr., Jasper, Franklin 706 - 692 ' 3402 ■Financial www.lffc.com *All Loans Subject to Our Liberal Credit Policy and Limitations, If Any. 1 st Franklin Financial Corporation, Georgia Residential MortgageLicensee #56t>6, NMLSR #141654 Jasper TV & Appliance Top Brand Appliances Guitar Strings & Accessories Generac Generators - TV Antennas Appliance Parts - Infrared Heaters 110 East Church St. • 706-692-5611 “Serving The Area Since 1961” MOORE FURNITURE CO. Inc. Broyhill • Simmons • Lane Hunter Douglas Blinds 75 N. Main St. • Jasper • 706-692-2031 www.moorefumitureinc.com Georgia Mountains Hospice 706-253-4100 70 Caring Way • Jasper, GA MOUNTAIN CITY AUTO PARTS INC 706-253-2657 AUTOMOTIVE & HEAVY DUTY PARTS WE MAKE HYDRAULIC HOSES 521 N. MAIN ST., JASPER, GA CflRQUEST ^ iff mm- 706-692-5900 “We’re Watching Over You” Guardian Angels Home Care Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Call Sherry for Free Consultation 770-720-4748 Reasonable Rates • Live-in Care Available www.guardianangelshomecare.com Your Outdoor Store & More! 706-253-9462 Mon.-Sat. 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM-6:00 PM 3622 Camp Road • Jasper JASPER DRUG STORE AND GIFTS JASPER PHOTO CENTER Si Kodak YOUR yjj “Good Neighbor Pharmacy” Prescription Specialists “More Than You Can Imagine” 1 North Main Jasper. GA 706-692-6427 WALK WITH GOD A nother New Year, another list of resolutions - exercise more, eat less, save money. Why not consider your spiritual fitness and walk with God? Worship regularly, spend time in prayer and fellowship - it’s the best resolution. Spending time with God will fill your life with the peace and serenity that brings joy and prosperity. Have a healthy and faithful new year! Daily Devotional Reading John Luke Titus Titus Titus Revelation Revelation 1:1-18 2:21-52 1:1-16 2:1-15 3:1-15 21:1-17 22:1-21 Scriptures Selected by the American Bible Society ©2016, Keister-Williams Newspaper Services, P.0. Box 8187, Charlottesville, VA 22906, www.kwnews.com Grill Chill, 106 Bill Wieineton Pkwy. • Jasper 706-253-6111 Coleman Painting, Inc. Painting & Pressure Washing “EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE” PAINTING AT ITS FINEST 678-908-5930 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! Jim Coleman Fully Insured , We deliver daily after 4:00 p.m. YEWTORiTsTYLL 744 Noah Dr., #116 Pat/ Jasper, GA 3-143 706-253-0800 “Your Neighborhood Pizzeria ” Richard F. Buhl, D.D.S Specialist in Orthodontics Changing the world one smile at a time South Main St. • Jasper, GA 30143 705- 692-7989 706- 253-7989 Fax: 706-692-0228 www.orthodonticsbybuhl.net SPEEDBURGER, INC Fresh Cooked Barbeque Fresh Chicken Cooked To Order Dine In Or Carry Out Service Phone In For Carry Out Service 612- East Church St., Jasper 706-692-5136 FREE ESTIMATES Mention This Ad For $200 Off A New Roof! 770-367-7736