Comments on: My Thoughts On Tithing http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/ Living A Story To Tell Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:20:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: More Good Foundation Blog » Blogging leads to missionary referral http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-62564 More Good Foundation Blog » Blogging leads to missionary referral Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:18:37 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-62564 [...] a father to owning an iPhone, and, importantly, shares elements of his beliefs. After writing about tithing recently, Brian discovered that one of the visitors to our website had begun reading his personal [...] [...] a father to owning an iPhone, and, importantly, shares elements of his beliefs. After writing about tithing recently, Brian discovered that one of the visitors to our website had begun reading his personal [...]

]]> By: Tara http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48177 Tara Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:14:31 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48177 Michael - The church website is very helpful and in a non-threatening way provides wonderful information. Sometimes people get nervous to ask questions about the LDS church because they are afraid it will always result in missionaries at their door. This website will let you look into the church and its teachings at your own leisure and pace. However, should you ever find yourself interested in knowing more or talking with someone, the missionaries are a great resource. They bring a peaceful and comforting feeling into your home when they share the teachings of the church. Best of luck! Michael - The church website is very helpful and in a non-threatening way provides wonderful information. Sometimes people get nervous to ask questions about the LDS church because they are afraid it will always result in missionaries at their door. This website will let you look into the church and its teachings at your own leisure and pace. However, should you ever find yourself interested in knowing more or talking with someone, the missionaries are a great resource. They bring a peaceful and comforting feeling into your home when they share the teachings of the church. Best of luck!

]]> By: Michael R http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48154 Michael R Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:57:02 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48154 Brian, I am an "RSS Guy." It's great. Tara, Thanks for the tip. I remember hearing that website on a couple commercials but hadn't had the chance to look at it. maybe i'll look at it today at work. Brian, I am an “RSS Guy.” It’s great.

Tara, Thanks for the tip. I remember hearing that website on a couple commercials but hadn’t had the chance to look at it. maybe i’ll look at it today at work.

]]> By: Tara http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48121 Tara Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:53:08 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48121 Michael - Mormon.org is a great website the LDS church offers to answer questions like you have. Enjoy the movie...it is wonderful! Michael - Mormon.org is a great website the LDS church offers to answer questions like you have. Enjoy the movie…it is wonderful!

]]> By: Brian http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48118 Brian Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:50:18 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48118 Michael, if by SFSU you mean San Francisco State University and you're still in the area then you're in luck. I know the missionaries there are top-notch. Also, I travel to San Francisco every few months. Perhaps we can meet for lunch sometime. I'll watch for your address. Thanks again for the great comments. Michael, if by SFSU you mean San Francisco State University and you’re still in the area then you’re in luck. I know the missionaries there are top-notch.

Also, I travel to San Francisco every few months. Perhaps we can meet for lunch sometime.

I’ll watch for your address. Thanks again for the great comments.

]]> By: Michael R http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48115 Michael R Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:47:14 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48115 Brian that would be wonderful. I met with a couple mormon missionaries when I was in college at SFSU. I wouldn't mind them dropping by again. (But if those two aren't working then I'd be ok meeting some new ones.) I'll send you my address now. Thanks for the offer. Who knew I'd get a free movie just by reading a blog? Brian that would be wonderful. I met with a couple mormon missionaries when I was in college at SFSU. I wouldn’t mind them dropping by again. (But if those two aren’t working then I’d be ok meeting some new ones.)

I’ll send you my address now. Thanks for the offer. Who knew I’d get a free movie just by reading a blog?

]]> By: Brian http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48112 Brian Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:44:27 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48112 Michael, You're quick. You must be an RSS guy. I'd be happy to send it to you as a gift and I think your kids will really enjoy it. I can send it in the mail, or I can have some representatives of the church drop it off. Perhaps you'll find the latter option useful because they'd be able to answer any questions you'd have after viewing the video. For your own privacy, perhaps you can use my <a href="http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/contact-me/" rel="nofollow">contact page</a> to send me your address? Michael, You’re quick. You must be an RSS guy.

I’d be happy to send it to you as a gift and I think your kids will really enjoy it. I can send it in the mail, or I can have some representatives of the church drop it off. Perhaps you’ll find the latter option useful because they’d be able to answer any questions you’d have after viewing the video.

For your own privacy, perhaps you can use my contact page to send me your address?

]]> By: Michael R http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48106 Michael R Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:33:50 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48106 Richard, Shaun and Brian, thanks for responding. What you've written does make sense. I guess it's a mindframe that you have to enter to see commandments in that way.. Brian, I did see that post but I figured the offer was only for your friends and people you knew. Will I need to send some money for this video? Also, I have two kids and I try to help them see videos without violence and vulgarity. I try to keep those kinds of movies out of our home. Will this be ok for them? Richard, Shaun and Brian, thanks for responding. What you’ve written does make sense. I guess it’s a mindframe that you have to enter to see commandments in that way..

Brian, I did see that post but I figured the offer was only for your friends and people you knew. Will I need to send some money for this video? Also, I have two kids and I try to help them see videos without violence and vulgarity. I try to keep those kinds of movies out of our home. Will this be ok for them?

]]> By: Brian http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48101 Brian Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:21:44 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-48101 Michael, thanks for the great comment. That's an interesting observation and I think that Richard and Shaun offered some perfect explanations. As I mentioned in number one, I appreciate a clear commandment because then I know how to bind the Lord. I know that he'll do his part if I do mine. On another note, did you see the post I had a few weeks back about the video titled "The Testaments." (post <a href="http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/enjoying-the-feelings-of-the-spirit/" rel="nofollow">here</a>) I think this videos portrays well the love that the Lord has for us. It's that love that makes me eager to hear his commandments because I know he cares. Will you allow me to send a copy of this video to you as a gift? I think you'll enjoy it. Michael, thanks for the great comment. That’s an interesting observation and I think that Richard and Shaun offered some perfect explanations. As I mentioned in number one, I appreciate a clear commandment because then I know how to bind the Lord. I know that he’ll do his part if I do mine.

On another note, did you see the post I had a few weeks back about the video titled “The Testaments.” (post here) I think this videos portrays well the love that the Lord has for us. It’s that love that makes me eager to hear his commandments because I know he cares.

Will you allow me to send a copy of this video to you as a gift? I think you’ll enjoy it.

]]> By: Shaun http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-47530 Shaun Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:39:11 +0000 http://www.brianstucki.com/blog/my-thoughts-on-tithing/#comment-47530 Michael R: I have a quote taped to my monitor at work from an book called Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less by Barry Schwartz, which I think goes along with what you are asking - both religiously as well as in business. It says "When people have <b>NO CHOICE</b>, life is almost unbearable... But as the <b>number of choices</b> keeps growing, <b>NEGATIVE ASPECTS</b> of having a <b>multitude of options</b> begin to appear." I think that this goes well with what Richard was saying (he actually referred me to this book through his blog). Being given choices allows us freedom, but by choosing to follow commandments we limit some of the choices that could potentially hurt us. Taking Richard analogy further, a musician chooses to play the music on the page and it turns out beautifully. Some musicians can vamp and make some pieces even better but they still choose to stay within the scales and cord structures that were established in the piece of music. We as Mormons are often criticized that our lives are too restricted but we have believe that in following the commandments and rules that we are given allows us to express ourselves as well as better ourselves. We see the glass as full of God's love for us that he wants to protect us and not as empty and lacking in freedom. For example, we believe that God commanded us not to drink alcohol or to use drugs and tobacco. By choosing to follow this commandment we are not left with <i>what if's</i> and <i>maybe's</i> regarding those substances. We don't hold it against those that do those things as we believe in freedom of choice but many times I have felt blessed because I have chosen to follow God's commandments. In talking to others I have likened it to a funnel: \ / \ / \ / / \ / \ / ^ \ By looking up and we see the commandments as restrictive but once you make the commitment and make it through the first hurdle if you will you see the freedom it brings. I'm not saying its easy, some days it seems that I start all over again with the tunnel vision and other days I just see the opening and everything ahead. But God does bless us for obedience, that I do know. Michael R: I have a quote taped to my monitor at work from an book called Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less by Barry Schwartz, which I think goes along with what you
are asking - both religiously as well as in business. It says “When people have NO CHOICE, life is almost unbearable… But as the number of choices keeps growing, NEGATIVE ASPECTS of having a multitude of options begin to appear.”

I think that this goes well with what Richard was saying (he actually referred me to this book through his blog). Being given choices allows us freedom, but by choosing to follow commandments we limit some of the choices that could potentially hurt us.

Taking Richard analogy further, a musician chooses to play the music on the page and it turns out beautifully. Some musicians can vamp and make some pieces even better but they still choose to stay within the scales and cord structures that were established in the piece of music.

We as Mormons are often criticized that our lives are too restricted but we have believe that in following the commandments and rules that we are given allows us to express ourselves as well as better ourselves. We see the glass as full of God’s love for us that he wants to protect us and not as empty and lacking in freedom.

For example, we believe that God commanded us not to drink alcohol or to use drugs and tobacco. By choosing to follow this commandment we are not left with what if’s and maybe’s regarding those substances. We don’t hold it against those that do those things as we believe in freedom of choice but many times I have felt blessed because I have chosen to follow God’s commandments.

In talking to others I have likened it to a funnel:
\ /
\ /
\ /
/ \
/ \
/ ^ \
By looking up and we see the commandments as restrictive but once you make the commitment and make it through the first hurdle if you will you see the freedom it brings.

I’m not saying its easy, some days it seems that I start all over again with the tunnel vision and other days I just see the opening and everything ahead.

But God does bless us for obedience, that I do know.

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