Over the past few months... actually 3 months to the day I started down the road to radical giving (this is what I call it. I'm sure someone else has name for this already). It was during a church service, shortly before Christmas, that the pastor mentioned something about giving to some group. I had heard things like this before, and none of them had moved me enough to give more than the usual 10% tithe I had always given since I started earning a paycheck. This time was no different, however, I felt like God was telling me to not only give more but to give everything in my wallet. I had not even filled my tank with gas yet. I was under a quarter tank and had to a lot of driving the next day. I wrestled with this in my mind for a while before I finally gave in and gave all the money I had. I was even crying because I needed it.
I had never felt like I was all that attached to money. I have always thought more about what I was doing, that I felt was right to do, with my life rather than think about getting a better paying job so I can have more things. In fact, that idea disgusts me more often than not. I was amazed however, at how much I felt I needed the little money I had. And it was a little. I think it was about $33.
The next day $150 was given to me, and I decided that I would start tithing 20% instead of 10%! Not much of a leap but a start. I have been doing this the past three months now, and really have not been hurting. It has been hard a couple of times, but God has come through each time. If anything, this has helped me feel God helping me in my life more! ...and it doesn't stop there either!
About two months ago I came across a charity that helped girls and women that were sold into the sex trade. It wasn't even a pamphlet, just a jar with a picture on it that was sitting on a teacher's desk at the place I work. For some reason I took note of it but didn't do anything. I didn't even see the jar again after that. Over the next month and a half I would occasionally think about the charity and feel this deep compassion for the girls and a nagging (actually more of a longing desire) to do something to help. Finally, I decided to listen to God, and leave a note on the teacher's desk and ask her about the charity. This correspondence let to an email with this link: Hope for Sexually Exploited Girls
I gave $50 to the teacher the next day because I wanted time to research the charity a little more before I started actively giving to them. That was two weeks ago and this whole time I have been selling old music equipment and looking for ways to get more money to rescue these girls. Other than music, I have never felt so strongly about anything. Even music pales compared to the joy I am feeling knowing that I can make a difference, and change these girl's lives for ever with only $25 per girl. I wanted to make a difference with my music but that was self centered because it all came back to me. This is selfless because it all goes back to people I will probably never meet. I would rather give away my music if I thought it could somehow help and give hope to those hopeless girls. Making money as an artist was a cause, but this is a crusade!
I really need to go to bed, I've been up for way to long! But, before I do, I will mention a few last things. I am auctioning off my old car (1976 Chevy Nova Concours), and one of my old guitars (Gibson Les Paul Studio Custom). All the money raised will go directly to the charity. The auction will go on for a year tops or as long as I can keep it going, because this is more about the charity than the items being auctioned. I will give more details on how I will do this in the next few days. Also, I am pledging (on top of what I am giving already from my paychecks) all the money made in the next year from music sales to this charity, ending on March 21st, 2010! ...Who knows, I might do it indeffinitely!
I can't emphasise enough how much this cause means to me. If you don't feel like going through me to give to this charity then don't. They don't even know me anyway. But do please give to them through the above link. If you do give to them directly (and specifically to this particular cause), send me an email at info@buzzheadrepublic.com letting me know, and I will send you a digital copy of whatever album you want of mine for free, just to thank you for helping out in this cause I feel so strongly for.
I will update with more info as I get it.
God bless,
Matthew Shaffer
Buzzhead Republic
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