John Kitsco

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Looking through the Columbia Valley Pioneer Newspaper
I came across an item by Pastor Hagan from the Alliance
Church in Lake Windermere. Pastor Hagan writes:
"We spend much of our lives putting down cash or swiping our
pieces of plastic for everything we consume, yet somehow we have this notion that church should be a place where we can be entertained, cared for, taught the word of God and served when we have trouble - but that it should all come for free."

I recall years ago a rather agressive Catholic Priest insisting our
 Dad put a certain percentage of his income towards the church.
I was just a kid, not even a teenager and recognized what the Priest was asking. We were just barely putting enough food on the table as is and I believe I voiced my opinion that this was not necessary getting both Dad and the Priest a little angry. But to this day I feel my youthful commentary had merit and the fact is we all should do the best we can - without anyone insisting on handouts that are not always possible. In later years I just simply stopped attending the Catholic Church. That was my personal decision.

I ran across the tithing idea when our Mom in her 90's and briefly staying at a nursing home run by the Catholic Church indicated this idea of giving.  For our Mom it meant moving out of that nursing home and I don't blame her.

Again, give what you can. No pressure. No insistence. And to quote from Pastor Hagan -"you should give joyfully, never out of obligation. God loves a cheerful giver. "

And just maybe in these changing times the church needs to consider what people are going through - and not expect anymore than folks figure they are able to give. And no doubt that would be giving joyfully....