Blaine - "Great testimony!  I see the love of Christ and the change he has made in her life radiating from her face:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OUVzm2yliQ&feature=email&email=comment_received"

Stacey - "What AWESOME advice. I honestly believe everything this says and just know that God will move on your behalf when you move on His: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oBLUxqFImU&feature=email&email=comment_received"

John Sheperd - "Dear Precious Testimonies Staff.  What a joy and privilege it was for me to read the article, "Should we Tithe", by Dr Charles Halff.

It was as if the Lord Jesus was telling me personally, with love and concern, the things written here on giving.  Each word in this article appears to have been carefully weighted, systematically instructed, lead by the Spirit of God.  I have known for some time now about the injustice done to the hearts of saints who have been subjected to this damaging teaching.  It is not the giving of money so much that has been the affliction, but the distortion of God's Word which has denied saints access to the heart of God.  It is sweet indeed when the Word is rightly divided. 

It is my contention and conviction that "tithing" replaced the Great Commission, in my estimation, somewhere around 1995.  And for what?  Church building programs and the elevation of ministries for the flesh to behold?  Oh how I would love to preach that first sermon to the congregation and exhort them thus:  [From hereon in, I do not want your tithes.  Go out from here and practice justice, mercy and faithfulness.]  You see, for many, tithing appeases guilt for unrighteousness.  "The revived law of tithing" has become the sin offering for many.  Oh, to free them from enslavement to the law, and make them slaves to righteousness.  " It is for freedom Christ has set us free.  Stand firm therefore and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

I should like to read more of your articles and learn more about your ministry.  What a blessed day for me." 

Precious Testimonies Staff Note:  Just about everything important that I could possibly think of to say about "tithing" is summed up in the following: 

Being a Christian is not something we have to do.  It is something we get to do; privileged to do; very WISE to do). 

Giving money to help God's work is not something Christians have to do; it is something they get to do, and is wise to do.  Reading the Bible is not something Christians have to do; it is something they get to do, and is wise to do.  Praying is not something Christians have to do; it is something they get to do, and is wise to do.  Visiting (attending) a local Bible believing, non-compromising church fellowship is not something Christians have to do; it is something they get to do, and is wise to do.  Witnessing about Jesus Christ is not something Christians have to do; it is something they get to do, and is wise to do.  I could keep going and going with many other things that are a part of Christianity, but I hope you get the point.

There is a huge difference in our relationship with God between being motivated to "have to" versus "get to" ...

Satan wants to try to subtly twist our thinking to try to get us to believe, as Christians, that there are certain things Christians MUST do.  The Holy Spirit wants Christians realizing there is NOTHING they have to do ... but GET to do, and are wise to do as disciples of Jesus Christ, so they can experience greater peace and joy with God.

"Have to Christianity" triggers rebellion in us toward God sooner or later.  "Get to Christianity" triggers freedom in us to love and serve God with the purest motives like nothing else will. - (Norm Rasmussen, Director)

T. C. - I have read several testimonies from your site and am greatly moved by them – God’s perfect timing for me, as I have been through a MAJOR storm in my life – although I’m coming out on the other side. I get discouraged and need help renewing my faith and trust in Him – thank you for site, it has been a blessing!

Goldie Tanglao - Thank you for sharing the message of the Cross with me. I used to not believe, an atheist if you will, but I was not always so. When I was younger I knew God and believed, but I was weak and fell away. I submerged myself with philosophy and entirely stopped believing to the point where I was ashamed I ever called myself a Christian. What foolishness and a total waste of time, I thought. And so I went and continued to sin seven times worse than before I knew God. I scoffed at people who had religion or believed in God, I called them idiots who couldn't think for themselves. At first i felt a guilty and conscience would stab me but I would reason with myself and then eventually I was numbed from guilt.

But when I was still a Christian I pleaded with God. I knew I was weak and was prone to sin and that someday I knew I would fall away. I begged Him that should that happen, He must not let me go at all cost. And my friends, God is faithful, even if I'm not.

I don't know how or when it happened but one day it just occurred to me to read the Bible again and asked my friends if I could borrow one. I reasoned that I would only be doing it because how could I refute something I was unfamiliar with? One of my friends gave me a Bible and then I started to read. At first I hardened my heart and braced myself for foolishness. But God spoke to me through the Bible. I felt as if He was speaking directly to me. When He pleaded with Israel to come back I felt His immeasurable love and infinite mercy. But all this was not enough, the skeptic in me wanted more proof. And so I looked for answers and God truly works in mysterious ways because He made me stumble on a lot of materials on the Internet. I mean the Internet, who would have thought? I gathered materials and devoured them. And then somehow I understood. All this happened for a reason. There are no accidents in this world. Everything happens for a reason.

And so last night, prayed for Jesus to enter my heart and lead me back to God. I am unworthy, my sins are great and I am ashamed of them, and even now I know I am weak and could just easily slide back to where I used to be. But I read somewhere that God will send me His people to guide me and help me fulfill His purpose for me. My friends, I sit here in our kitchen table as I write this and I realize I am alone in this house. I live with friends and they too do not believe, just as I didn't. And although I long to share them the good news I feel unworthy and completely without credibility. Where to start? I pray that God will strengthen me and give me guidance.

Friends please pray for me and I beg you to please help me find others here who I could talk to about this. I am hungry for more.

James Moreno - This testimony by Oliver John Calvert has helped me tremendously to understand a lot of things.  Today I was feeling very empty inside; don’t know how I started listening to Christian music and Goggled the word testimony and started reading this blueprint of my life.  I have recently accepted God into my life with a personal relationship with him.  Over a year ago my best friend was killed; this was a hard thing for me to deal with.  I felt so sad and lonely that I told God that I did not want to live anymore but wanted to go to heaven, but I was not going to take my own life. 

I was at a club doing all kinds of drugs, and all of sudden I got really depressed because my friend was dead only a few weeks and here I was getting drunk and high.  I left the club with a extreme emptiness and got in my car.  I started to drive, turned on the radio to listen to my cd.  It wouldn’t play and finally the radio came on with a guy saying “Don’t get nervous, but I have a message from God."  The voice said,  "You told God you no longer want to live, etc."

I stopped the car and started to cry.  I couldn’t believe that God was answering me this direct.  I didn’t feel worthy of this.  The next day Sunday I was coming home from work and heard the Church bells; mass was about to start.  I knew I had to go to give thanks.  It was a couple of years since going to mass.  I started going to mass every week.  One mass I found a paper that said (Do you want to meet God?).  I called the number, it was a retreat.  I accepted the invitation .  At the retreat, as we were praying in front of the Host, one of the helpers came directly to me put his hands on my head and started to say “ Lord, please cure him.” I was thinking: No Lord - he has the wrong person, I came to give thanks.  I felt a voice say,  "Thanks for what? Your life is a disaster." (I also saw like a movie in my head of abusing my body with all types of drugs).  I felt like a nosebleed coming on, I started to cry and I couldn’t catch my breath.  Then I remember that they handed me a lot of Kleenex and I kept wiping some white junk. 

That was the end of all desires for and type of drugs.  Till this day, a lot of things are happening strangely.  I know God has a purpose for me.  He is strengthening me little by little.  Your testimony has helped me greatly to put me back on track with my purpose in life.  Mr. Oliver John Calvert, you are another angel that has helped me to keep the mission alive. God Bless You and best wishes always.

Bob Martin - I met Paula Agauas yesterday at a family gathering.  I was blessed to have met such a wonderful person.  I overheard someone say she was a holocaust survivor and had written a book, when she came into the back yard and sat down.  I was just drawn to her.  She was a loving and kind lady.  I asked her about her story and she went to her car and brought me a copy of her book.  The story's she shared about the way God worked in her life from a very young child and on through the passing of her husband had me in awe.  I know God has a plan for all of us and His plan for me today was to meet this wonder person.  I took home a piece of her faith and goodwill that will stay with me forever.  I'm a better person today having met Paula!

Doris Faith Asoka - I live in a town called Kericho in Kenya-Africa.  Reading Steve's story has made me realise that I rarely spend time thanking God but instead am always asking for this or that.