Comments on: Who’s to Blame for the Prosperity Gospel? http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/07/whos-to-blame-for-the-prosperity-gospel.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:10:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Carlos Pacheco http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/07/whos-to-blame-for-the-prosperity-gospel.html#comment-41185 Carlos Pacheco Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:43:09 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=956#comment-41185 my brother, that is the absolute best thing we all can do for eachother(prayer). Im really glad for sites like yours, I can ask questions and comment on stuff that bothers me and that compelled me. Great Idea........... I dont even remember how I got here to be honest with you. God bless. my brother, that is the absolute best thing we all can do for eachother(prayer). Im really glad for sites like yours, I can ask questions and comment on stuff that bothers me and that compelled me. Great Idea………..

I dont even remember how I got here to be honest with you. God bless.

]]> By: Dan Edelen http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/07/whos-to-blame-for-the-prosperity-gospel.html#comment-41184 Dan Edelen Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:20:55 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=956#comment-41184 Carlos, Your story breaks my heart. I've been where you are, so I can feel your pain. If you read this blog long enough, you will see that I have written about this issue dozens of times (look under the categories of Work and Benevolence). People have been gracious to me. I can count many people who have helped me when I was in a bad spot. I can count just as many who should have been able to help and who didn't. Those are the toughest. The Church SHOULD be able to help you pay your bills. And even if the collective church you attend doesn't, individuals within or without that church should be able to pick up the slack. I know how difficult it is to start up a business, especially one that requires a decent portfolio to generate future work. Most small businesses take five years to get going. It is no surprise that studies show that most new businesses fail after just four years. My work has increased exponentially year after year, but it is still tough going, especially after we got hit by some debilitating sickness in the family. Still, things are on a steep upward climb and I think 2009 will be even better. I prayed for you just now. Carlos,

Your story breaks my heart. I’ve been where you are, so I can feel your pain.

If you read this blog long enough, you will see that I have written about this issue dozens of times (look under the categories of Work and Benevolence).

People have been gracious to me. I can count many people who have helped me when I was in a bad spot. I can count just as many who should have been able to help and who didn’t. Those are the toughest.

The Church SHOULD be able to help you pay your bills. And even if the collective church you attend doesn’t, individuals within or without that church should be able to pick up the slack.

I know how difficult it is to start up a business, especially one that requires a decent portfolio to generate future work. Most small businesses take five years to get going. It is no surprise that studies show that most new businesses fail after just four years. My work has increased exponentially year after year, but it is still tough going, especially after we got hit by some debilitating sickness in the family. Still, things are on a steep upward climb and I think 2009 will be even better.

I prayed for you just now.

]]> By: Carlos Pacheco http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/07/whos-to-blame-for-the-prosperity-gospel.html#comment-41180 Carlos Pacheco Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:04:44 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=956#comment-41180 You got a good point. Im just trying to make a point of my own. I will be honest with you all, I am currently going through a tough financial time, I lost my job of 4 years and could not get hired by anyone, so I started my own business but it is a slow process to success. I have not been able to even tide at times. Will the church pay my bills? no!!!!!!!!!. So where is prosperity? well, I ask myself that question almost every sunday when I go to church, however, I have a firm belief that God is faithful to his word and his promises. That is prosperity to me. Having a living hope in God. My point to all of this is, that prosperity is not just about money or how much I got in return for giving, prosperity is a blessing from God. You got a good point. Im just trying to make a point of my own. I will be honest with you all, I am currently going through a tough financial time, I lost my job of 4 years and could not get hired by anyone, so I started my own business but it is a slow process to success. I have not been able to even tide at times. Will the church pay my bills? no!!!!!!!!!. So where is prosperity? well, I ask myself that question almost every sunday when I go to church, however, I have a firm belief that God is faithful to his word and his promises. That is prosperity to me. Having a living hope in God.

My point to all of this is, that prosperity is not just about money or how much I got in return for giving, prosperity is a blessing from God.

]]> By: Dan Edelen http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/07/whos-to-blame-for-the-prosperity-gospel.html#comment-41167 Dan Edelen Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:51:20 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=956#comment-41167 Carlos, I don't know if there is a 1:1 correspondence. I've given tons of money to others over the years and I suspect I've received a tenth of that amount back. I mean, what does it says when you claim, "Hey, I gave $100,000 away over the last ten years and saw $10,000 of it come back!" That's not going to win me any high-fives from Parsley and Copeland fanboys. ;-) Have I been in situations when I've given hilariously and received a surprise in return? Yes. But sometimes the surprise is that nothing came back---well at least not in the form of a big compensatory payout. I've been trying to help our church buy an upright digital keyboard for use in worship. I've been given what little I can to the point that we're at about 3/4 of the way there, but it's not been easy. Is there a return? Well, maybe the giving is its own reward. Carlos,

I don’t know if there is a 1:1 correspondence. I’ve given tons of money to others over the years and I suspect I’ve received a tenth of that amount back. I mean, what does it says when you claim, “Hey, I gave $100,000 away over the last ten years and saw $10,000 of it come back!” That’s not going to win me any high-fives from Parsley and Copeland fanboys. ;-)

Have I been in situations when I’ve given hilariously and received a surprise in return? Yes. But sometimes the surprise is that nothing came back—well at least not in the form of a big compensatory payout.

I’ve been trying to help our church buy an upright digital keyboard for use in worship. I’ve been given what little I can to the point that we’re at about 3/4 of the way there, but it’s not been easy. Is there a return? Well, maybe the giving is its own reward.

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