When does earning money become a sin?

An awesome article by JA Gillmartin on his blog The Sheep’s Crib-Issues got me to thinking. (I know you can smell the smoke from there. haha)

This has long been an embarrassing area for me ... far too many Christian ministries are simply thieves in religious drag

1 Timothy 6:6-10 talks about contentment and ends with the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. I think we have some Christians out there who love their money. When does earning money become a sin? I know I wish I made more money. But, daily, I get gentle reminders from the Lord to be content with what I have. I currently put 20 percent into savings and my future. Ten percent goes to tithe (darn, I should have thought of that first instead of second) Pray that I get over myself and put God first in everything. I will pray the same for you. The other 70% goes to bills, magazine subscriptions (Discipleship Journal, New Man, Men of Integrity, Sail, Blue Water Sailing, Latitudes and Attitudes and Live Aboard), and other junk that I cant take with me to Heaven.
I once read about a millionaire who gave 90% of his salary to Christian charity. He lived on 10 percent. I pray for that kind of witness with my finances.

The following article shows what the masses think of some Christians especially the TV evangelists.

The Price of Healing
For Critics of Extravagant Faith Healer Benny Hinn, the Good Book Isn't Enough. They Want His Ministry to Be an Open Book.
By WILLIAM LOBDELLWilliam Lobdell is a Times staff writer who covers religion.

"Hinn does reveal that the $89 million taken in by his church in 2002 is a record for his Grapevine, Texas-based ministry, which has experienced double-digit growth during the past three years through direct-mail requests, viewer donations and offerings taken at the Miracle Crusades. By comparison, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. had revenues of $96.6 million in 2001, the last year available.
Many of Hinn's financial practices go against those set forth by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, an organization that gained popularity after the televangelist scandals of the 1980s as Christian groups sought legitimacy in the eyes of donors. The council's standards include maintaining an independent board of directors with at least five members and allowing the public to view its finances.
"He promised me 10 years ago that his personal and ministry finances would be an open book," says Ole Anthony, president of the Trinity Foundation, dismissing Hinn's latest vow for more candor. "Hinn's incredible wealth and lifestyle does more harm to Christianity than all of his preaching.""



[Tongue firmly planted in cheek] Maybe Hinn uses this passage from 2 Kings 12:16 to justify his keeping all of that money.

16 The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the temple of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.

Forgive me, who am I to judge Benny Hinn? The Lord will judge him one day on his actions. If I was in his shoes though…..I would clean house. Christian evangelists should be above reproach for fear their witness will lead someone to Hell instead of Heaven. That is an awesome burden for anyone to bear.

Thank you Lord for not trusting me with more than you have and help me to be a better steward. AMEN

How do you write a book?

Spirits and Soldiers (possible book title?)

I went off to see the elephant but it looks more like a camel

I have no idea how to start this book. With the Lords help and your prayers I will try to do it justice. I think I will take my journal and add the angels fighting into it. Here are some early thoughts. Jumbled I know but it is a start.

I remember reading Louis L’Amor westerns as a kid. I think that is where I first heard the phrase “off to see the elephant” when talking about going to war.

How’s this for a grab ya by the throat start?

Boom!! Black acrid smoke billowing. Zing!! The sound of bullets whizzing from one side of the room to the other. Picture a few guys watching a movie. Getting syched up for the upcoming deployment. “Man this surround sound makes you feel like you are right there.” (you thought I was telling about a battle didn’t ya? Admit it. It is okay. LOL)

Going away ceremony. Demons going through the crowd whispering “He isn’t coming back.” “Your husband is gonna get a disfiguring wound.” Demons going through the soldiers in formation whispering, “You aren’t gonna make it” “You’re a coward and they know it.” Too soon the First Sergeant yelled, “Get on the buses.” Tears flowing we got our last hugs in. Most of the soldiers were waving goodbye from the buses. The commander’s wife yelled to me, “Take care of my husband Doc. Watch his back.”

To say it is hot over here is an understatement. It is oppressive. The heat weighs on you like an anchor. It saps all the strength from you. We stepped off the plane in Kuwait to a blast of hot wind. It was almost suffocating. There are few things in life worse than a C130 ride with combat gear on. It was hot and crowded. It will take some time to get used to the heat.

From this day forward I will no longer be a blind sheep unthinkingly following the will of others. I will think for myself. I will voice that opinion. My prayer is that my thoughts and statements don’t lead anyone astray. I regrettably must say that I am an elementary school level Christian. Where have the last 25 years gone? It is miraculous the Lord hasn’t struck me down for being mediocre. I know it says in the Bible be either hot or cold not lukewarm. My new motto will be:

THE GLORY OF GOD IS EVERYTHING!

Ahmed’s pulmonary embolism

The demon reaches into Ahmed’s chest. His sharp claw opening the aorta a fraction more. The demon whispers in his ear, “you are gonna die. These Americans don’t want to save you.” The demon moved over to Doc. “You killed him.” “You did the wrong thing.” “You didn’t do enough.” “Because of YOU this guy is dead.” “You are a worthless medic.”
The three medics frantically work on Ahmed. Ahmed seizes.

Mark, name or number of the beast

I am probably opening up a can of worms here. Especially since I am still searching for the answer. I have long wondered what the sign of the beast would look like. Which leads to more questions. Does it matter what it looks like or even is? Is my questioning it just adding to the confusion? Do a google search for “mark of the beast” and you will get almost 3 million hits. “Sign of the Beast” is over 2 ½ million hits. It seems everyone and their brother has an interpretation and opinion. None of my searching so far has led me closer to what I feel in my heart is the truth. I believe the Bible. I just am having trouble translating it to my own understanding.

How do we know the true interpretation of the Bible? Will we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that IT is the sign of the beast? Will it be a literal 666? Or is that just a metaphor for divine evil? Knowing that the devil is the great deceiver I would say it will be subtle. His spin-doctors will say it is harmless when in reality it will be a death blow. (REV 13:16-17) To not have it means you can’t legally buy or sell anything. Not having the sign of the beast will make every Christian a criminal of the state. On the other hand, I believe the Lord will make sure we understand what the mark is. Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to choose not to take it, right?

Wikipedia has in my opinion the best website on the subject.

My study bible mentions three trains of thought on this:

Numerology
Each letter of the alphabet is assigned a numerical value. There are wackos who use this concept to find a name or title which totals 666. Names in Hebrew, Greek and Latin have been used in this quest. With the right twisting or changing of names you can make this work to get any result you want. What do I mean? I mean if a full name doesn’t get the result you want, use only the first and last or use a nickname. William Henry Gates III becomes BillGatesIII I doubt that Bill Gates is the beast. I seem to remember folks using the following names too: Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Ronald Wilson Reagon, George Bush Further research shows the Arabic numbers weren’t used until 400 CE yet John wrote Revelation in the first century AD. Granted God doesn’t work on our timeline so he could have known we would invent Arabic numbers but isn’t this reaching? Isn’t this trying to fit our answer to the scriptures? Just like trying English instead of the original language, Greek. It just doesnt make sense to me.

Symbolism
Six represents fallen humanity raised to the third power, hence, a person of ultimate wickedness. Ties in with the numerology line of thinking. Man equals 5, God equals 7 with the devil between us at 6.

Unholy trinity
Satan (6), the beast out of the sea (6) and the beast out of the earth (6). (REV 13:1-10, 11-17)

Other trains of thought from the World Wide Web:

Let there be light ministries has these thoughts on this subject:

The Greek word used for "mark" is "Charagma" (#5480 in Strong's Concordance), and it translates "stamp (as a badge of servitude), mark." So the mark of the Beast is a stamp or sign or seal or badge of servitude to some power or being. Thus the Mark of the Beast is NOT a literal mark, NOT a lazar mark, NOT a credit card, NOT an implanted chip, NOT a National ID Number, and NOT a giant computer, but it is a symbolic mark!

I got lost on that website somewhere during the bashing of the Catholic church. I was raised Baptist but I have heard of Christians in the Catholic church.

I include the next thought only out of a sense of fair play. I think his theology is way off. I also haven’t heard these arguments in a long time. Isnt it fun how the Internet can keep something going? Ack, I just realized I am perpetuating his garbage myself.

Dial the truth ministries (can you say False Prophet?) says the following confusing and in my opinion false statements:

To think for one second, the rapid increase in technology preparing the way for 666 is just coincident (sic) is impossible. There is too much evidence. There is just too many coincidents(sic). There is an unseen "hand" zooming the world toward a global "digital world" of electronic-commerce, electronic-identification!

Then there is his article, What about barcodes and 666: The mark of the beast.

REV 13:16-17 Says the mark will be on the right hand or on the forehead. Is this to be take literally? Why does it specifically say the right hand? Why not either hand? What does history tell us about the right vs left hand? What was the thinking during the writing of this text? Culturally what does it mean? I know in the Muslim world today the left hand is considered contaminated or dirty. Is that why it is the right hand? Was it the same when John wrote the Revelation? Can the forehead imply learning? Or intellect?

My interpretation of Strong’s Concordance is that it is a literal mark or brand.

In conclusion (at least for now), in looking at some of these websites I got bored with all the gibberish and quit reading. I am still reading Wikipedia’s website. It has a discussion board that is fasinating. Anyone out there have any thoughts on this subject?

History of Gumby

History of Gumby….did you know Art Clokey also did Davey and Goliath? Oh Davey! I loved those claymations as a kid. I guess you do realize it if you read the history I just linked. LOL If you didn’t go to the link, did you know that Gumby was originally supposed to be blue and Pokey was gonna be a dog? Just kidding. I made that up. I guess that will teach you to read the links. LOL I watched those shows in the late 70s-early 80s. I didn’t realize the originals were written the in late 50’s though. Mom says seeing the pics brought back memories for her. Isn’t it ironic how his subject matter fits in the 50s as well as the 70s? It even fits now. Decency is always in vogue. Now if only we could get the silent majority to raise up and voice their opinions about what is decent and what is trash.