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Post by lynn on Nov 3, 2008 10:32:15 GMT -4
Funnel, I will start us off with a topic:
Good Deeds
[Jesus said:] Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.'' (Matthew 6:1)
Obviously, I am a Christian. I believe what the bible says, however, I do not take everything literally. Also, if anyone tries to play the devil's advocate with me on this, I don't care to play with you. I will readily admit I am not a Biblical Scholar and I have never completely read the bible cover to cover (however I have probably read it all throughout my life in many pieces)
Taoism has some nice sayings about good deeds too. I'm not sure though whether the people who study Tao consider it a religion, a way of life, or both. What I know about it, it seems to be positive vibes/philosophy.
What are your thoughts on "good deeds"? Also anyone into Tao out there?
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Post by funnel101 on Nov 3, 2008 13:46:47 GMT -4
My thoughts on good deeds can be summed up best by a Tibetan Buddhist lojong slogan:
Don't expect applause.
Which is very similar in meaning to the NT quote, just a lot shorter.
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Post by shorti on Nov 3, 2008 13:49:48 GMT -4
Lynn,
I take that verse as meaning don't go & do something and invite the press... or brag about what you have done, etc... don't gloat...
what makes it a good deed (in my eyes) is doing it w/ no expectations from the receiving party or anyone else...
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Post by AquaHolic on Nov 3, 2008 16:10:16 GMT -4
Funnel, I will start us off with a topic: Good Deeds [Jesus said:] Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.'' (Matthew 6:1) So what I am getting out of this is a person should always be anon when you do a good deed....because you will be rewarded in heaven. Well...anon would be great except I need receipts for the IRS. So what does that mean for me? No reward in heaven? I can live with that...as long as I know what little bit I do can help a cause. Barb
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Post by speedergurl68 on Nov 3, 2008 18:13:00 GMT -4
To me, a good deed should be done without self proclamation. If the only reason you are doing it is to say, "WOW LOOK WHAT A GOOD PERSON I AM"....um....no thanks, that disqualifies it and makes it a selfish deed that might benefit someone else accidentally. I do good deeds for the "good" in them. And, as far as the IRS is concerned? The good I do is tax free and no one usually knows it was me that did it...and I like that just fine.
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Post by AquaHolic on Nov 3, 2008 19:23:54 GMT -4
To me, a good deed should be done without self proclamation. If the only reason you are doing it is to say, "WOW LOOK WHAT A GOOD PERSON I AM"....um....no thanks, that disqualifies it and makes it a selfish deed that might benefit someone else accidentally. I do good deeds for the "good" in them. And, as far as the IRS is concerned? The good I do is tax free and no one usually knows it was me that did it...and I like that just fine. Well...most of my good deeds is donating free jewelry...which is all I can do at this time for most causes. So I have to report it to the IRS. Sometimes when a person does a good deed and tells people about it..its not about the "look at me"...its look at what I did..."can you match it"..."can you help out too"...Sometimes it takes that kind of person to get others thinking...hmmm...if they did it...so can I. Barb
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Post by - on Nov 3, 2008 19:49:31 GMT -4
What Barb said, we don't always have time to volunteer, but we need receipts to give the IRS for some of our good deeds. Charity also begins at home, and good deeds are done in many families as well. I believe everyone has done good deeds everyday for someone. -CG
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Post by falgar25 on Nov 3, 2008 20:46:25 GMT -4
My thoughts on good deeds can be summed up best by a Tibetan Buddhist lojong slogan: Don't expect applause.Which is very similar in meaning to the NT quote, just a lot shorter. Good slogan. Receipts: It seems foolish to not accept the benefit of the actions you take. But, if the receipts were the reason for the action or the action was calculated based on the receipts, then it doesn't seem to fit the definition given in the quotation or the slogan.
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Post by - on Nov 3, 2008 21:11:17 GMT -4
Receipts are not the action what so ever. We are Lutheran, and even our church send us annual statements for tax purposes. Good deeds are within the heart of people, what we do to help others without the grand announcement. However when a person donates alot of $ when they can't be there, a receipt is no ticket to H#LL.
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Post by lynn on Nov 3, 2008 22:06:24 GMT -4
My thoughts on good deeds can be summed up best by a Tibetan Buddhist lojong slogan: Don't expect applause.Which is very similar in meaning to the NT quote, just a lot shorter. I like that too. Thanks.
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Post by lynn on Nov 3, 2008 22:09:37 GMT -4
My thoughts on good deeds can be summed up best by a Tibetan Buddhist lojong slogan: Don't expect applause.Which is very similar in meaning to the NT quote, just a lot shorter. Good slogan. Receipts: It seems foolish to not accept the benefit of the actions you take. But, if the receipts were the reason for the action or the action was calculated based on the receipts, then it doesn't seem to fit the definition given in the quotation or the slogan. I agree. Keeping receipts for the IRS and everyone else just makes sense and just because you keep receipts it doesn't take away from your good deed.
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Post by speedergurl68 on Nov 4, 2008 7:40:01 GMT -4
Ok, ok...before this gets going down "THAT" road....I wasn't saying that anyone that gets a receipt is going to hell or doesn't have good intentions or isn't doing the good deed for a good reason....jeeze....I said that MY good deeds are tax free...meaning the good deeds I PERSONALLY do...I would donate goods if I could like Barb does with her beautiful jewelry -- I just don't have any to donate. The receipt issue is just not worth getting upset over folks. PERSONALLY speaking, it would make me feel disingenuous to do a good thing and then expect public recognition for it...that is why I do things in "stealth" mode. It just makes me feel good We all need to take a deep breath and understand that doing good deeds is a personal decision. The things I said about the way I do mine...apply only to ME...not to you, or you or you or you I cannot read a person's mind or heart nor would I if I could. In Matthew 22:21, Jesus himself said that we should "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s". So, to paying taxes, keeping receipts, etc. would seem to be just fine with that line of thinking if that is what you choose to do. Reporting your taxes isn't exactly what I would call bragging about yourself lol. It's pretty much the law. If what I said has caused any of you to feel I am casting judgment on any one of you...I humbly apologize. It was certainly not my intent. Judging...is not one of the services I provide
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Post by AquaHolic on Nov 4, 2008 10:03:29 GMT -4
Ok, ok...before this gets going down "THAT" road....I wasn't saying that anyone that gets a receipt is going to hell or doesn't have good intentions or isn't doing the good deed for a good reason....jeeze....I said that MY good deeds are tax free...meaning the good deeds I PERSONALLY do...I would donate goods if I could like Barb does with her beautiful jewelry -- I just don't have any to donate. The receipt issue is just not worth getting upset over folks. PERSONALLY speaking, it would make me feel disingenuous to do a good thing and then expect public recognition for it...that is why I do things in "stealth" mode. It just makes me feel good We all need to take a deep breath and understand that doing good deeds is a personal decision. The things I said about the way I do mine...apply only to ME...not to you, or you or you or you I cannot read a person's mind or heart nor would I if I could. In Matthew 22:21, Jesus himself said that we should "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s". So, to paying taxes, keeping receipts, etc. would seem to be just fine with that line of thinking if that is what you choose to do. Reporting your taxes isn't exactly what I would call bragging about yourself lol. It's pretty much the law. If what I said has caused any of you to feel I am casting judgment on any one of you...I humbly apologize. It was certainly not my intent. Judging...is not one of the services I provide Speeder...you okay? I am not upset with what you wrote at all...please don't think I am. Barb
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Post by speedergurl68 on Nov 4, 2008 10:23:22 GMT -4
Oh whew! I was really worried that I had put my feet in my mouth again!! I was TBC (Typing Before Coffee) and that can be so VERY dangerous!! Ok I'm all coffeed and better now
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Post by lynn on Nov 4, 2008 11:02:33 GMT -4
Ok, ok...before this gets going down "THAT" road....I wasn't saying that anyone that gets a receipt is going to hell or doesn't have good intentions or isn't doing the good deed for a good reason....jeeze....I said that MY good deeds are tax free...meaning the good deeds I PERSONALLY do...I would donate goods if I could like Barb does with her beautiful jewelry -- I just don't have any to donate. The receipt issue is just not worth getting upset over folks. PERSONALLY speaking, it would make me feel disingenuous to do a good thing and then expect public recognition for it...that is why I do things in "stealth" mode. It just makes me feel good We all need to take a deep breath and understand that doing good deeds is a personal decision. The things I said about the way I do mine...apply only to ME...not to you, or you or you or you I cannot read a person's mind or heart nor would I if I could. In Matthew 22:21, Jesus himself said that we should "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s". So, to paying taxes, keeping receipts, etc. would seem to be just fine with that line of thinking if that is what you choose to do. Reporting your taxes isn't exactly what I would call bragging about yourself lol. It's pretty much the law. If what I said has caused any of you to feel I am casting judgment on any one of you...I humbly apologize. It was certainly not my intent. Judging...is not one of the services I provide OMG!! LOL!!! ;D ;D I don't think Barb was saying anything bad to you; and my comment about the IRS and receipts was then actually to Barb and not you. haha. I realize election day has everyone a little tense.... a little kahlua in that coffee should do the trick for you. ;D Its funny I picked a light subject like "good deeds" and see where it went. I hate to say...... "should we talk about Satan?" (saying that in my Saturday night Church lady voice) ;D
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Post by speedergurl68 on Nov 4, 2008 11:06:34 GMT -4
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Post by bchevy on Jun 2, 2009 18:03:40 GMT -4
HUH?
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Post by - on Jun 2, 2009 18:38:05 GMT -4
I would like to mention good deeds from 2 of our Forum members. Even though this started out from a spam mer. Firstly, thank-you SG68 so much for lending us your grandmother-in-laws wheelchair for dad. He has put it to very good use for when we take dad out for long walking trips. Your graciousness to approach me over a year ago, to bring it over means so much to us. Also, I want to thank our neighbor Sharon, she has come by to watch our dogs when we had gone out of town in the past. Lately, when we went to our son's wedding, dad was so confused after we gave him big notes that we would be gone for 2 nights and the nurses would be here in an hour. Sharon, your kindness to come by and say hi to dad for a few minutes while we were gone meant so very much to us as well. There are many unconditional giving folks here on this forum, and I believe their kindness should be acknowledged. -CG
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