Comments on: The View From the Top

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:04:31 +0000

LOL!! Amen, Geof. I often wonder at how easily that tendency spreads in faith communities. *sigh* Giving as a response to God’s love gets lost so easily. And I know many folks with no faith background who give simply, as you say, as being a part of making things right.

By: Geof F. Morris

Geof F. Morris — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:15:42 +0000

Oh, I know. I just worry about the modern American church’s tendencies towards seeing God’s Work as how it’ll happen for them [as a motivation for giving and such things] rather than being a part of the making right of all things. I see too many folks on what I find to be the wrong side of that line, and unfortunately it makes me fear that everyone who talks about such things is. You know, that’s not a good thing.

By: Missy K.

Missy K. — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:37:17 +0000

Geof, I didn’t say God was going to buy them a Cadillac or anything . . .

By: Geof F. Morris

Geof F. Morris — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:58:16 +0000

Not that evil after Thai Garden at lunch. More … happy. [Should've gone one star hotter. Hit me next time.]

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:09:17 +0000

I don’t know. How evil are you feeling?

By: Geof F. Morris

Geof F. Morris — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:13:38 +0000

[Stephen, am I dead if I make a Joel Osteen/T.D. Jakes joke now?]

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:29:43 +0000

Agreed, Missy and Stephanie! I don’t want to impose my faith based view of charitable giving on anyone, but giving back to the community is appropriate (and helps keep life in perspective), no matter what your faith background.

Needs v. wants is a huge issue for most of us to wrap our heads around. I’ve seen the half century mark and still struggle with it. (Wants still win much too often! LOL!)

Coming to the realization that lifestyle *needs* to change in order to have the things you truly *want* is part of maturing.

In this case, the big thing that pops out to me is the debt. If they’ve got $500K equity in their home, they should be able to buy a roughly $400K home (perhaps in a less swank local… are there suburbs to Silicon Valley?? LOL!) and be mortgage free. Eliminating the school debt should be a piece of cake after that.

I think Geof summed up the situation well!

By: Stephanie Files

Stephanie Files — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:41:50 +0000

After taking the afternoon to ponder this, and reading Missy K’s statement above, I’ve decided that I think what is missing here is the ability to see God’s blessings. They are immeasureable. I know that it may not always be what I want, my kids know that McDonald’s is not always in the budget, but I know that God will supply all of my NEEDS. And right now, I don’t need an $1100 food budget.

By: Missy K

Missy K — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:49:47 +0000

Out of $200K, they don’t even have a category for “charitable giving.” Maybe if they add that one, things will work out better for them.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:40:28 +0000

I have five children and I have a teachers salary. I have a mortgage, credit card bills, both cars are almost paid off. My wife and I make almost 100K a year.

We wish we have more but we are not in the poor house.

I think learning how to cut out some expenses and comforts can definitely help.

It’s also a matter of standards.