SIPEDO and YOU

How much you give is up to you. Also, how much time you give is a personal thing. I think you should serve and give to others as you see fit. I also think the best kind of service is without the need for recognition.

I am not talking charity here, but how they compensate those that serve them. It may be one and the same, I dunno.

I am not judging, just making an observation based on experience.

I think if I made as much money as either of them do, I would...

Not donate anything to churches as I do not believe in organized religion, I watched my mother in law throw money at her church for years, paying more then what our mortgage was monthly to them, and now that she is a widow, living on a fixed income and barely scraping by... where are they now? No worries they have found more gold mines to harvest from, they don't need her anymore now that she is broke, and they certainly aren't giving back to her and helping her pay her bills either! Can't see squandering my money on something like that, I would, however give to charities that I felt gave something back to the community.

Not donate anything to the United Way either because they refuse to give to the Boy Scouts, nope they aren't giving me anything by trying to force the "gay issue".

Be a major contributor to the American Cancer Society.

Open a free clinic with some of that charity money, helping those that fall through the cracks and have no health insurance, yes that would be a worthy cause...

Donate more to the local animal shelters!

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But right now the only charities I give to are the local sharing center by donating old things that we no longer need or wear and the local humane society by donating food. Also if I see a homeless person on the street begging saying they are hungry I will buy them a meal, with no questions asked.

I also tip people in the service industry well for good service.

Frank it is like this on the rich people that do not tip well, how do you thin

I heard Drew Carey is a good tipper.

Brenda, I understand how you feel about the churches. But not all churches are like that. It seems like the smaller churches give more of a percentage back to the community, while the larger ones appear to be more wreckless with the gifts they receive. I go to a small church that is constantly raising money for local missions. The members of the church choose to hire a full time pastor, that is what they want though. Those who visit are encouraged to sit on their wallets, and then if you choose to identify with that church, and you see something worthwhile going on, if you want to, then give. Many churches spin out guilt trip after guilt trip, and the pastors collect hefty salaries, while other churches really do good work not only in their communities, but around the world.

What bothers me about the Catholic church is that the property is all owned by the archdiocese, and ultimately by the Vatican. The members have no control over the property, and the church CAN be closed at any time, and the property can be sold and go to the coffers of the archdiocese. Other denominations also work this way. Other churches are more independent and the members control what happens.

It is very important to give to a charity that YOU are comfortable with. I do not support the teaching that you should give 10% to the church or any other charity. I do believe however that I should give 10% where I feel led. I also believe that giving 10% is a good starting point. I personally try to give more when I can. I do not believe in giving blindly to any organization. It is irresponsible to just GIVE without knowing. Some will disagree with that, and say "who cares as long as you're giving as unto the Lord". To me, that ideology is just plain wrong. I believe in being a good steward of what we have worked for and what we have been given.

But back on topic. I'd like to hear more ideas about why the income goes up and the giving goes down as an overall percentage?

BRENDA, I won't give to the UW either, even though I work for an organization that gets funding from them. Their overhead is ridiculous, and they strayed away too many times from the idea of accountability. Hmm....sounds like our elected officials.

I occasionally give to the NRA or NWTF, but that is it. I don't know if either one actually count as a charity or just a non-profit.