Tithing (mis?)understanding

I need help understanding something:

Tithing
"When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied." (Deuteronomy 26:12)

I think I pretty much understand tithing (mentioned only in the Old Testament). It is mentioned about 30 times (depending on your chosen translation), and it generally appears in similar context: Earmark the first 10% of your receivings to give to the Lord's work [which according to Christ means caring for the "least" (re: Matthew 25:45)].

What I don't understand is why the Church has become the self-appointed middle-man for the tithe. I hear from the Church that, to follow God and the Bible, I must give them 10% every week, but I can't seem to find that anywhere in my Bible. What I see is a message of generosity, compassion, and giving to those in need. What the church seems be pushing is a lazy cop-out. If Christians were truly devoted to and seeking God's message and heart, wouldn't we be tithing to the "least" and not to the light bill?

I understand the Church and the churchgoer's reasoning. It just seems like an awfully self-preservationist arrangement. Sure, it's easier for the churchgoer (who has time to go find the needy, right?), but do I really want God's money to be spent purchasing new basketballs for the gym? And where in the Bible does Jesus mention the need for a building plan? (That is a topic for another day.) Am I really worshiping and being judicious with God's blessings by helping the Church purchase a brand new projection TV? We are called to be God's hands and feet on this Earth, right? I just can't figure out how tithing to the Church accomplishes that.

So, if anyone can help, please feel free to comment away. My old church used to set aside 5th Sundays (which occur four times a year) as music services; perhaps the Church could set aside such occurances as "all the tithe goes to x charity" days. At least it would be a start, I guess.

shanti,
mjh

another video

somehow my blog is turning into found videos; this is amazing:

it's a music day

so, i have been sitting here tinkering with my playlist (see very bottom of the page) randomly throughout the day today. it's one of my favorite hobbies, which is kinda sad b/c i should have hobbies like reading, hiking, painting, etc. instead, i sit here and search the web for music.

i like the list. it is a comprehensive list of music that i have sought out over the past year or so; i try not to delete anything, unless the link just doesn't work anymore (which happens quite often). i do rearrange it (very haphazardly) just because i tend to get tired of seeing the list in the same order every time i hit play.

it is a list of new songs that hit me on a particular day ("Jesus Christ" by Brand New), old songs that I will never tire of ("Disintegration" by the Cure), songs from my past that I haven't heard in years but are tied to very pointed memories ("the Mountain" by SCC), and songs that I just love ("Hallelujah"). There's rock, pop, soft, rap, beautiful, a mashup, some instrumentals, and even a song in Japanese (which frankly I am getting tired of; that one might have to go).

thinks to myself, maybe someday i will sit down and list my reasons for each choice. that could be a fun rainy-day project. at least for me.

shanti,
mjh

just wanted to say

that being sick stinks.

shanti,
mjh

words, words everywhere...

for you word types and those who love words and those who love type (faces, that is), check this out:

http://www.futureofthebook.org/blog/archives/2008/02/he_do_the_police_in_different_1.html

shanti,
mjh

Second day

It's an AC/DC kind of day.



shanti,
mjh

"Crow's Fall" by Ted Hughes

When Crow was white he decided the sun was too white.

He decided it glared much too whitely.
He decided to attack it and defeat it.

He got his strength flush and in full glitter.
He clawed and fluffed his rage up.
He aimed his beak direct at the sun's centre.

He laughed himself to the centre of himself

And attacked.

At his battle cry trees grew suddenly old,
Shadows flattened.

But the sun brightened-
It brightened, and Crow returned charred black.

He opened his mouth but what came out was charred black.

"Up there," he managed,
"Where white is black and black is white, I won." --TH

Visualizing the Bible

This is just too cool. Not sure what to do with the information, but it is definitely interesting:

Visualizing the Bible

shanti,
mjh

week of dreams

Monday: death of friends
Tuesday: destruction (termites; hate those termites)
Wednesday: anger (fighting for hours)
Thursday: suicide (by sniper, no less)

Please.

Here's to hoping tonight I actually get some restful sleep.

shanti,
mjh

back to business

now that my basketball fix has been, well, fixed, I find myself falling back into myself and my thoughts. An idea I have been pondering for a while:

The Dead Library
A place where anyone could submit the writings (stories, poems, songs, etc.) of any deceased family member or friend, where they would be cataloged and archived permanently. It is certain that 99% of submissions would go untouched for generations, but wouldn't it be cool to find out that Dylan's working-class grandfather was a poet, too; James Dean's ancestor's wrote anti-religious novels; or a wealthy, hidden, expired trust-fund kid composed masterpieces in her spare time, only to be discovered years later? We are privy to precious few writings, as most fleshed-out ideas are lost with their creators. I am fondly reminded of Kevn Kinney's MacDougal Blues banter ("tons of bad poems, just blowing down the streets like tumbleweeds"). Would be an interesting day (or life) trip, squatting in a dusty, echoing hall, flipping through unpublished, unknown writings. Voices of the dead. But important enough voices that they were compelled to put pencil to paper. Oh, so romantic. Would it be worth collecting hundreds of thousands of scratched-out notes to find a moment of brilliance. That answer is quick and easy, but I won't bore you with it.

shanti,
mjh

it's hard to say

For those who don't keep up with UAB Blazer basketball, they lost by one point last night. Sure, it was upsetting for a time, but I truly am proud of their effort and realize that they accomplished something last night that no other team in the nation has been able to do so far. The played Memphis to the last possession, and that is something that is worth celebrating. And, of course, kudos to Memphis for remaining undefeated thusfar. Just stay that way until March 8th, when we will have one more shot.



shanti,
mjh

V's day

By the way, happy Valentine's Day to all today.


Painting by Julie Watters: www.jcaltonwatters.com.

Love it, love you all,

shanti,
mjh

Question(s) for today

So what would happen if Christianity reached its end game? Complete conversion overnight. I don't presume that its out of God/Holy Spirit's power, correct? I assume war would still exist, and greed, and murder. So should conversion really be the goal?

close that storybook

So, i borrowed TPB from the library this weekend. Of course, not the brilliance I remember from my childhood, but it was still better than The Lady in the Water, which I also borrowed. I guess it was a weekend of fairytales. Next time I am in such a mood, I will just pop in The Dark Crystal, which is by far my favorite. It's cool, though, that my friend Wallace can see those cliffs of instanity from his house.

New topic: Gambling seems to be a recent theme in my life. I won $6.20 at a casino last weekend; I won $4,000 (play money) at an online poker site last night; and we are moving Lily to a brand new daycare 2 weeks from today. Let's hope my winning streak continues and this new daycare is worth the move...

"Hold her to you, for she is part of you, as we all are part of each other."--The Dark Crystal

shanti,
mjh

a storybook story

During this week of football games, tornadoes, political primaries, and Mardi Gras, I find myself thinking about The Princess Bride. What is the connection? Well, there isn't one, at least not one that I will detail here. Suffice it to say that Fred Savage was young, Andre was still alive, and a boy learns not to mind kissing "so much." My old Hillwood friends have brought this movie back to life for me, and I guess that's a good thing.

Speaking of movies, has anyone ever seen Being Human (Robin Williams)? It is my favorite movie of all time; I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who feels this way. Why is that? Check it out if you haven't seen it. Then let me know if you enjoyed it or whether I just have no taste in movies.

hector: Everything is going to be alright.
janet: What do you mean is going to be? This is a good as it gets.


shanti,
mjh