364 Days To Go!

The countdown is on: only 364 more days until the deadline for filing your 2008 tax return!

As a kid, April 15th was just another day for me. Then came high school and college where I got a little taste of what it meant to pay income tax (only to get it all back at a later date). Once adulthood rolled around, I understood all too well the groans of dread and despair.

I found a fascinating collection of little known facts concerning the history of taxes, both around the world and in the United States. Some of these are amusing, but I must warn you, others may make you want to pull your hair out!

Did you know...

• The first record of tax collectors were depicted in ancient Egyptian tomb paintings from around 2000 B.C.
• Roman Emperor, Nero, levied many odd taxes including one on urine (Romans collected urine from public latrines to be used for tanning leather).
• In A.D. 1404, the British Parliament passed the world's first income tax. It was so hated that after its repeal, all records thereof were burned.
• In order to westernize Russia, Peter the Great imposed a tax on beards -- which he considered a "ridiculous ornament."
• During the French Revolution, King Louis XVI's tax collectors were rounded up and beheaded on the guillotine.
• In 1792, the U.S. imposed a "sin tax" on whiskey, sparking the "Whiskey Rebellion."
• To finance the civil war, the U.S. Congress instituted the first income tax in 1862. It was meant to be temporary.
• In 1943, the withholding tax on wages was introduced. Within two years, the IRS's earnings went from $60 million to $43 billion!
• The Declaration of Independence has 1,337 words -- the Bible has 773,00 words -- today's tax laws top 7-million words.
• In 2005, Americans worked 70 days just to pay off federal taxes, and another 37 days for local taxes.
• Each year, the IRS prints nearly 8-billion pages of forms and instructions. That's enough to wrap the earth 28 times.
• An estimated 300,000 trees are cut down each year for IRS forms. That number is shrinking due to e-filing.
• With 114,000 employees, the IRS is twice the size of the CIA and five times as big as the FBI.

At this point, this could very easily devolve into a political rant regarding the immense sums of taxpayer money wasted by the U.S. government. However, this is not a political blog. What can we glean from this spiritually?

Keep in mind the Roman government of Jesus' day taxed its own citizens heavily. No doubt, first century Christians did not agree with much of what was being done with their hard-earned money. Tax collectors were despised more in those days than any IRS agent in our own. Nonetheless, what did Christ teach in regard to paying taxes?

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him.
Mark 12:13-17, ESV

Believe me...I know vitamins I,R, and S can be bitter pills to swallow. But the teaching of our Lord in this matter is clear. The disciples of Jesus are to abide by the system of taxation imposed by the nation in which they live. Moreover, we are to do so honestly.

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What Are You Worth?

It has been estimated that if a man were reduced to his constituent chemical elements, he would be worth approximately $54.

Reflecting on a man's worth on the spiritual plane, however, every man is of infinite worth! Jesus asked,

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his own soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Matthew 16:26, ESV

So, friend, if you ever find yourself attached more to the physical portion of your existence, just remember where your true value lies!

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Preach At The Pump

A Xenia, Ohio church has decided to promote its special Easter services by paying 25 cents of the price of every gallon of gas purchased at a local station.

Wesley Miller says by offering the deal, his church can promote its Easter services planned for the following weekend while helping those squeezed by the high cost of gasoline.

Miller says the church doesn't mind if people show up purely out of greed, because his congregation would like to reach them, too.

One wonders what it might take to retain anyone "converted" by this free gasoline. Hybrid cars for everyone who attends at least one worship service per week might be in order.

The day after Jesus and his apostles had fed 5,000 people, the Lord said to a group of disciples,

Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
John 6:26-27, ESV

Christ knew some were following him for no other reason than to fill their bellies -- to gratify a carnal desire. When churches get into the business of quite literally competing for members to fill up the pews, this is the natural result. Carnivals, car raffles, free gas, and virtually every other scheme the human mind can imagine has been used to lure men and women who have no inclination toward spiritual living.

Some might say, "That's why we're trying to get them in the door! We can show them how important spirituality is." Do we really believe gratifying a man's every whim and desire with material gifts is going to somehow flip on his "spiritual switch?" If so, we are sadly mistaken and greatly deceived.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8, ESV

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Moth, Rust, and Concrete

British violinist, David Garrett, is finding out the hard way how fragile even the most valuable items can be. Dubbed "the David Beckham of the classical scene," the 26-year-old Garrett tripped while leaving London's Barbican Hall after a performance. His fall included tumbling down a flight of concrete stairs backwards.

Mr. Garrett fared decently, escaping the tumble without significant injury. Despite being in its protective case, the violin he was carrying over his shoulder did not fare so well. Much of the instrument was crushed upon impact. Garrett purchased the violin, a Guadagnini made in 1772, for $1-million in 2003.

Ouch.

Yet another reminder of the fragile nature of anything this world has to offer. Whether its money, real estate, automobiles, rare books, sports memorabilia, musical instruments, or anything else, there are just as many ways to lose our possessions as there are to acquire them.

Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:33-34, ESV

This charge given by Jesus is one of those "easier said than done" items, but if we will challenge ourselves to implement this outlook in real life -- instead of merely acknowledging its philosophical merit -- contentment will be the result.

As for Mr. Garrett, he's playing a loaner Stradivarius (poor guy) until the company that insured what is now $1-million worth of sawdust replaces the irreplaceable.

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The "Prosperity Gospel": Reaping What They Have Sown

Hundreds of millions of dollars, millions of viewers, thousands of church members, and two divorces.


If you were to turn your television to channels such as the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), INSP (The Inspirational Network), or The Word Network, you would see men like Rod Parsley, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, and women such as Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Juanita Bynum just to name a few.


You would more than likely not see these individuals preaching about the tragedy of sin, the good news of salvation in Christ, the need to worship God in spirit and in truth, or any other Biblical doctrine. The odds are that you would hear a motivational speech on wealth and prosperity.


In what has become known as the "Prosperity Gospel," these and other neo-Pentecostal charlatans have convinced the world that God wants all believers to be exceedingly wealthy. The sentiment is that if you are not financially rich, you are doing something wrong. The sermons invariably consist of either no Scripture whatsoever, or a sprinkling of Scripture taken woefully out of its rightful Biblical context.


Recently, two very prominent married couples in the "health & wealth" movement announced they were filing for divorce. Kenneth Weeks and his wife, Juanita Bynum, are in the midst of a bitter divorce that has quickly become a public spectacle. These two "preachers" were married in what their church called "the wedding of the century," the tab for which exceeded $1-million in 2003. This couple was famous for their marriage and couples retreats wherein they supposedly bestowed the secret to marital bliss to those in attendance.......for a hefty fee, of course. Now, after less than four years of marriage, they are divorced.


Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church in Tampa announced their intention to divorce in August of this year. I have personally been very well acquainted with the Whites' dealings since I grew up in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. They have been fixtures in both the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times for their shady financial dealings and dishonest ways.


The Whites' Tampa home on Bayshore Boulevard (one of the most exclusive parts of town) has an assessed value of more than $2.22-million. They also have substantially expensive homes in San Antonio, Texas, New York City, and Malibu, California. Now, really...how many mansions does a preacher need?


I recall an article in the Tampa paper several years ago wherein Mr. and Mrs. White flaunted their expensive homes, automobiles, and wardrobes, saying God was using them to show believers everywhere how He wants to bless their lives.


My friends, the preachers of and adherents to the "Prosperity Gospel" are finally beginning to reap what they have sown. These two cases come in the wake of Richard Roberts' (son of Oral Roberts) scandal, wherein it was shown he and his wife had been using millions of dollars of university funds for lavish homes and vacations. And yet, despite all the dishonesty and transparent greed, these figures are still as loved today by most of their followers as Jim and Tammy Faye Baker were in their own day.


My friend, whether it be in this life or that which is to come...

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8, ESV

And this is precisely the problem: The preachers and peddlers of the "prosperity gospel" are sowing to their own flesh. They are corrupt, and will in turn reap corruption. May we reach all we can with the TRUE gospel...the one that contains the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16)!

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"Black Friday": Be Wise This Year

Black Friday is just around the corner. Just in case you are not familiar with the term, it is also known as the day after Thanksgiving.

The origin of Black Friday comes from the shift to profitability during the holiday season. Black Friday was when retailers went from being unprofitable, or "in the red," to being profitable, or "in the black", at a time when accounting records were kept by hand and red indicated loss and black profit.

For many though, the term has come to mean something quite different: Black Friday is the day when already holiday-weary shoppers brave the throngs of shoppers in an effort to find the best deals of the season. More than 100-million shoppers will bite, gouge, and claw their ways (figuratively speaking, of course!) through masses of humanity and merchandise to get an early jump on their holiday gift list.....and this is just the way many of these folks would have it!

If you are not an avid shopper, this may come as a surprise. Yes, I've known and have been related to quite a few men and women who thrive in such environments. But no matter where we are this Black Friday and throughout the entire holiday season, there is something we ought to think about: Exercising financial wisdom.

In her book "Debt Proof Living," consumer financial expert and personal finance coach, Mary Hunt, gives a list of debt trap warning signs:

1. You are living on credit
2. You pay your bills late
3. You are not a giver
4. You are not a saver
5. You dream of getting rich quickly and living an extravagant lifestyle
6. You worry about money
7. You overspend your checking account

Where is the wisdom in loading up our credit cards in December and paying finance charges we cannot afford until the next holiday season rolls around? Overextending oneself financially takes a toll mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Financial crisis is always near the top of the list in causes of divorce.

Why not take care of the problem before it can even arise? Be wise this holiday season. Do not overextend yourself. Do not talk yourself into believing what many retailers want you to believe...namely that your family and friends will be disappointed if you do not lavish upon them expensive gifts.

There is much more that could be said about this. The Bible has much to say in regard to God's people exercising wisdom in finances. I will leave it at this:

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." (Proverbs 22:7, ESV).

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Who Believes In Heaven?

The November 2-4, 2007 Weekend Edition of USA Today included an interesting graph depicting the landscape of who believes in heaven.

Listing the AARP as its source, the USA Today revealed a decrease in faith that appears to be somewhat in proportion to household income.

The graph (which I have reproduced at right-- click to enlarge) shows that 90% of people aged 50 or older with a household income of less than $25,000 believe in heaven. Just 78% of people 50 or older with a household income of $75,000 or more believe in heaven. The data in between these two points shows a consistent decrease as household income increases.

It has been said that you can use data to prove almost anything, and I suppose there is some truth in that. What does a study like this suggest? Well, I would suggest to you that the findings of the AARP's study are nothing surprising or novel to students of the Bible. When I saw this figure, the words that almost instantly came to mind were...

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21, ESV

So does this data suggest our faith will decrease as our income increases? Is this an unavoidable fact of life? Not at all. When we understand the thrust of Jesus' teaching in Matthew chapter six, seeing a graph like this in the USA Today is not at all unexpected.

For the majority, the more they earn, the more they are captivated by this world and what it has to offer. They place the greatest emphasis on earning and raising their own standard of living -- that is, laying up treasure on earth. However, when an individual or family does not enjoy all of life's finer pleasures, they are less likely to become fixated on the fleeting pleasures of this life; instead, they are more likely to seek the better life that is promises -- that is, laying up treasures in heaven.

Of course, we always ought to be cautious about painting with too broad of a brush. Is every "upper-middle class" and "upper class" individual materialistic and unconcerned with heaven? Of course not. Neither is every member of the "lower class" a spiritually-minded person. It all depends on the individual.

That being said, money and the pursuit thereof can cause otherwise rationally-minded people to lose all sense of reality and morality. Even the mere prospect of moderate wealth can lead one away from dependence on God and into a life of self-reliance.

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income.
Ecclesiastes 5:10, ESV

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Gambling With Eternity

The "gaming" industry in the had gross revenues of almost $85-billion in 2005 in the United States alone. Of course, one's imagination can run wild as to what that figure would look like if every segment of the gambling world reported all income. The "bookie" who is taking wagers on this week's ballgames does not report the money he takes from his clients who call in looking to make an easy "buck."

Simply stated, the gambling universe is HUGE business. Savvy and often seedy businessmen and women are all too eager to break into an industry that capitalizes on the greed and materialistic outlook of a warped nation. Anyone who thinks gambling is a viable source of income is woefully deceived, and sadly mistaken. Simply put, the "house" ALWAYS wins. How else can we account for the palatial casinos and hotels in the aptly dubbed "Sin City?"

Countless families and individuals have been ruined by the deceptive world of gaming. Gambling addiction has been on the rise since gaming has expanded from the casino floor. Among other methods, you can now play poker online, play the lottery by holding a slip of paper, and wager thousands on a football game with a single phone call.

Personally speaking, the most disturbing and outright annoying development over the past five years is gambling's transition from shady and risky to national past time. As a regular viewer of ESPN, I have been amazed at the amount of airtime their national poker tournaments have been receiving. These out-of-shape, middle-aged men have garnered a following larger than most athletes and rock stars! Teenagers know these guys by name and model their own poker-playing "skills" thereafter. Yes, poker has become sport.

Let's be frank here -- gambling is like diving into an empty swimming pool. The chances that you will hit bottom are about the same. We are a nation deceived. Las Vegas' official slogan may be, "What Happens Here Stays Here," but I submit to you there is only one way in which that is true -- that is, in regard to your money. If you go to Vegas, 'tis true......your money will stay behind when you leave. Everything else (regret, shame, anger, compulsion, lies) you most certainly take with you!

People who can afford to gamble do not need money, and those who need money cannot afford to gamble. Listen to the word of God...

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished
Proverbs 28:19-20, ESV

My friend, gambling is most certainly a "worthless pursuit." To the extent that we engage therein, we will be impoverished. If you are involved with gambling on any level, may I exhort you to cease from this un-Godly practice at once. I realize there can be a certain level of compulsion with some people, but I wholly reject the notion that gambling is a "disease." After all, if gambling is a disease, as some contend, can you deduct your losses as a medical expense? Renounce this sinful activity and seek the forgiveness of a loving God who is anxious to forgive, as well as the forgiveness of anyone else who may have been affected.

For those who have never tried gambling, may I encourage you to stay as far away from the practice as you possibly can.

r2

Here's A Message For You: You're Fired!!

A Polish bus driver has been fired for sending 38,000 text messages on his company cell phone in a losing effort to win a contest jackpot.

Leszek Wojcik, a bus driver in the northwestern Polish city of Slupsk, ran up a tab of some 94,000 zlotys ($34,000) with his text messages while trying to win a 100,000-zloty ($36,000) SMS contest that ended June 30.

A city bus drivers' monthly company phone bill is supposed to be limited to 15 zlotys ($5).

Wojcik sent an average of 1,200 SMS text messages a day, each costing 2.40 zlotys ($0.86), on his work cell phone.

Wojcik told TVN24 television he wanted to buy a second car with his possible winnings. "Now I'm without work," he said.

There is a Biblical principle to be learned by the unwise decisions of Mr. Wojcik. The Bible says...

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 28:19-20, ESV

God will bless the man who earns his wage. Activities that rob us of our time and resources (such as gambling) generally lead to some level of poverty, and often to a certain measure of compulsion.

Work hard and enjoy the fruit of your honest labor. To count on "easy money" is a fool's way of thinking.

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