A paragraph I was blessed to be able to write for this coming Sunday’s bulletin and the Web site of the church where I work and attend:

By the time evening donations had been added to the $79,600 contributed at both worship hours Sunday morning, Sept., 21, the total for our special collection for disaster relief from the damage of Hurricane Hanna in Haiti totaled $81,800. Our elders had sent $20,000 in immediate, unbudgeted funds right after the hurricane – and you exceeded their hopes by MORE than a factor of FOUR!

That, in spite of the dire economic news that preceded the special collection last Sunday – of mortgage/investment banks taken over or going out of business, and possible bail-outs, and disappearing retirement accounts, and pending market collapse.

I titled this post “Generosity.”

I could have just as easily titled it “Faith.”

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~ Matthew 6:19-21