defunct

Tithing: Low-Realm, Obsolete & Defunct
$12.99
I am so thankful that this book was written. It's not just someone's opinion or the usual "you shouldn't tithe because it just goes to making corrupt preachers richer" arguement. It is firmly grounded in scripture, and actually covers more than just whether we should or shouldn't tithe. But rather points out that as believers we are a part of the new covenant, where those things of the old covenant are no longer binding, tithing included. I highly recommend reading this book, so that as you make your decision to stop tithing you can feel confident that you are doing so fully within the will of God, and that you will not incur God's wrath or a curse. One thing I walked away from this book realizing is that since doing the works of the law brings us under the curse, we actually place ourselves under a curse when we tithe! (Galatians 3:10) This is the exact opposite of what we are taught in church. Pastors frequently use Malachi chapter 3 and the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17) as justification for mandating or preaching the doctrine of tithing as one that will bring blessings and provision into the lives of believers. However I can't help but think about how our churches are filled with faithful tithers who are struggling financially. When pastors mention Malachi 3, I want to stand up and yell at them saying, "honestly, has God done this for you or any believer that you know? Has he ever thrown open the floodgates of Heaven and poured out a blessing so much that you or they could not contain it?" If it had happened by now, the results would testify to the relavance and truthfulness of the tithing doctrine in the believer's life. And believers certainly wouldn't have to be asked to tithe. The phenomena of masses of Christians becoming rich from tithing would have made the news, and at least a cover story on Time magazine by now. Don't you think? (It's time for us to stop using the Malachi 3 argument, if for no other reason than because we make God appear to be liar. He says "test me in this", and then we do, and the results never show up. If tithing was applicable for believers, God would have an obligation to flood our lives with blessings when we tithe, because he is not a man that he should lie. The fact that most believers who consistently tithe do not have the testimonies of blessings that should follow, should make us reassess the practice altogether.) And how many people have given their last bit of "flour" and "oil" to support a ministry and not had their supply replenished as did the widow of Zarephath?

I'm not against free will giving. But we do our brothers and sisters a disservice when we misuse the old covenant laws and historical accounts in scripture to encourage (and/or guilt trip) believers to give beyond their means (which is not necessarily the same as giving sacrificially, a practice that is supported in scripture). It's time for us to get bold and be willing to examine our traditions against scripture, so we can experience the freedom of doing away with practices that are not required of us as new covenant believers. Practices that hinder our growth, and have not borne the fruit they have promised.

While I am still in the process of reading it myself, I would highly recommend reading Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices by Frank Viola and George Barna as a good follow up to this book. If you're considering other traditions that it may be time to shed, or if you're in search of a way to express your faith new testament style this book has well researched and interesting insights as well. You might also like Reimagining Church: Pursuing the Dream of Organic Christianity (also by Frank Viola), as well as The Church Comes Home and Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting, Revised Edition, both by Robert Banks.

Defunct Indiana
$14.98
Containing 17 indie, experimental, and hardcore artists from Indiana's past, this compilation features some of the best music from Indiana-based, now-defunct bands. The eleven-year period from 1995 to 2006 saw the emergence and demise of some truly incredible groups. Some of these bands come from reputable labels such as Secretly Canadian (Ativin, Intro to Airlift), Mammoth (Fabric), Hawthorne Street (Majhas), Standard Recording Co. (BIGBIGcar), Happy Couples Never Last (Mara'Akate), Friction (Ari Ari), and Joyful Noise (Melk the g6-49). But other bands self-destructed long before a proper release sealed their place in history. This is the true reason for Defunct Indiana--to preserve some incredible music from little-known artists, and to give these bands a small portion of the attention they deserve.

Giant Statue of Gulliver Peers Up at Mount Fuji From a Defunct Theme Park Photographic Poster Print by Karen Kasmauski, 32x24
$79.99
Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your home today with your favorite pictures that express and celebrate your distinct tastes.

Buffalo Bill's Defunct-- Stories from the New West
$9.95
A beautiful film which weaves personal and family relationships in a manner that exposes---through continuing saga-- some of life's most basic lessons. Ordinary, yet extraordinary in its depth and beauty; in its capturing of human emotion.