- We have some time for your email,

and the first one that wehave today comes from Don,

who says, "I've heardGordon say several times

that you should tithe on the increase.

I would appreciate clarity on this.

Please explain to me whatyou mean by the increase."

- Well, Don, I'm quoting from Deuteronomy,

and it's, here's theverse, Deuteronomy 14:

"You shall truly tie allthe increase of your grain

that the field produces year by year."

And then it's an echo of whatJacob vowed in Genesis 28:

"And this stone I have set up as a pillar

will be God's house, andof all that you give me

I surely will give you a tenth."

So it's the increase.

It's what comes in in anyyear, you give 10% of that.

And in an agricultural community,

it was 10% of the increase of the field,

so, of the crop thatwould come in that year,

then 10% would be given to God.

For us today, it's 10% of our income,

and so it's the increase.

Some people misinterpret it.

I've even heard peoplesay 10% of your net worth

and, you know, if you needto catch up on tithes,

that might be a good way to do it.

But it's always from the increase.

God provides, and then fromthat provision, you give back.

That's what the Apostle Paul

meant by "He gives seed to the sower."

So He's the source of it all.

As Christians, we need to recognize that.

He's the source of everything.

Everything we have belongs to Him,

our life, our breath, everything,

and that includes your money.

- Well, time for Martin's question.

He says, "Should the churchgo back to where it started

with the Jewish people andembrace Messianic Judaism

for a fresh start to Christianity?"

- I love the Jewish festivals.

I love the rabbinical teachings.

I really get into those.

But anytime I get tempted to say

I need to come back inand be Torah observant

and the dietary restrictions,

you know, the garmentsmade of single threads,

all of those things andgrow a beard and not trim it

and all of that, I like togo back and read Galatians.

You know, "O foolish Galatians,who has bewitched you."

And there's a question he asked,

"Did you receive the Spirit

by the works of the law or by faith?"

And the answer is you receivedthese things by faith.

It's not by works, lestanyone should boast.