Texas court rules against polygamist removals

SheikBen wrote:

ziggy wrote:

SheikBen wrote:We're all "getting" old, Aaron. Zig may have more experience at it, of course

Now that's for sure, guys. And I feel it in my bones a little more every day.

But now my mind is almost as good as it ever was- I think- but I just can't remember for sure. Uh, what year is this, anyway?

Thursday, I think.

Thanks. But I had already figured it out when I realized that yesterday was October. So you see, I eventually get it right; it just takes a little longer than it use to.

It's like John Wilkes Boothe once told me, or was that Twain, or Hemingway ........................... ?

Why do I have a headache?

SamCogar wrote:

Aaron wrote:Sam, show me a man that's not a victim of 'martial extortation' and I'll show you a single man.

AAAWWW ..... Aaron, .... now youse knows that the real honest-to-goodness 'martial extortation' doesn't kick into high gear until the hubby becomes a single man again.

But anyway Aaron, ..... you didn't address my reply to your comment, to wit:

SamCogar wrote:
And the son, .... actually the husband, ... had the choice to either donate that CONFIRMED 10% ..... or be denied Membership in the Church that his wife was a long time Member of.

Extortion by the Church, ........ or not?

.

Such a church is unworthy of members.

I believe this is in direct contradiction to the Scriptures.

2 Corinthians 9:6 "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

In ancient Israel, the Tithe was a tax imposed by a Theolocracy that funded a host of governmental and religious functions. I am convinced that a flat tax of 10% on all income without exception would work in the United States. But at any rate, we do not function in a Theocracy and neither does the church necessarily administer social welfare programs (and I doubt very much that the offensive Baptist church being mentioned is terribly concerned with social welfare issues. I bet a dollar to a doughnt the phrase "let's not make this a better world to go to hell from" is bantered about regularly).

If a Christian wants to honor God with 10% and more I believe he or she does a wonderful thing that God will honor with a bountiful harvest (bounty in many ways, including financially). However, I do not believe that Christians should give under compulsion, and a church that tries to extort its members does a disservice to the whole Body of Christ and makes us look bad. The Gospel offends sinful humans--it is not wise for us to add our own petty offenses on top of it. The Gospel is necessary, our invented practices and rituals are not.

I can't speak for all Catholic parishes, but I was a member in 3 different ones in my adult life before leaving the church. Nobody ever spoke to me, or anyone else I know for that matter, about how much money I was donating.

They would ask if we wanted budget envelopes. They would ask for peldges to the annual Catholic Charity appeal. I collected for that for a few years. We were instructed to ask those on the list if they would consider making a single donation, or better yet to commit to a monthly pledge.