Tim Auld, who pastors a church near Ottawa, Canada, is one of my lifetime friends. Prior to moving his family back to Canada several years ago, our families would hang out together a couple times per month, either at a local restaurant or at our houses. A running joke between our wives was which Tim would grab the dinner check first. You see, our families never asked the server to separate the checks. Tim and I wanted our families to focus on dinner and the conversation and not so much on who was paying the bill. However, when the check came, we each wanted to pay. Not so much to puff out our chests, but just be nice to the other family. I met my match in Tim because he wanted to pay each time. It was difficult for me to allow him to do just that. And, it was difficult to Tim to allow me to pay, thus the "grabbing of the check" comment many sentences back. Without saying anything to each other, Tim and I inherently knew the thought process behind each other's willingness to pay --- money was used to grow the friendship of the families and not something to come between the families. It was an investment in our relationships.
The federal government hands out money to people all the time, whether in the form of a welfare check or a corporate subsidy. Too many times, we focus on the money given to individuals than to a huge corporation. How many times do we hear people on the right say, "welfare recipients need to get a job if they want to keep getting their free money." Still, how many times do we hear those on the left say, "CEOs and companies make too much money - they don't need any tax breaks from the government." It goes round and round and like a circle. There is no beginning and end --- just a continuous flow of the status quo. And no solution.
To my friends on the right - the ones who watch only Fox News, read Drudge, listen to Rush, only vote GOP, complain each day - I call on you stop blaming the government, the Democrats and the President for this nation's path to socialism. Somewhere in the past 30-40 years, you have played a part in letting the government take the lead in making investments into people. We can argue as to what these investments lead to such as a dependent class or solid voters who only vote with the left. Suffice it to say, the government is in the charity business.
Joe Carter of the web site firstthings.com sums it up this way: "The fact that the government needs a safety net to catch those who would slip between the cracks of our economic system is evidence that I have failed to do God’s work. The government cannot take the place of Christian charity. A loving embrace isn’t given with food stamps. The care of a community isn’t provided with government housing. The face of our Creator can’t be seen on a welfare voucher. What the poor need is not another government program; what they need is for Christians like me to honor our savior."
Do you want to reduce people's government dependence, reduce the deficit and restore this nation? It all starts with you. Start investing in people, whether that it saying a kind word, picking up the check for a stranger, donating clothing to Goodwill, giving to your church, or praying for the poor.
It's time we start acting like my good friend Tim - grab the check and use money to make an investment in people and to build relationships.
....more on this topic in several days...
The federal government hands out money to people all the time, whether in the form of a welfare check or a corporate subsidy. Too many times, we focus on the money given to individuals than to a huge corporation. How many times do we hear people on the right say, "welfare recipients need to get a job if they want to keep getting their free money." Still, how many times do we hear those on the left say, "CEOs and companies make too much money - they don't need any tax breaks from the government." It goes round and round and like a circle. There is no beginning and end --- just a continuous flow of the status quo. And no solution.
To my friends on the right - the ones who watch only Fox News, read Drudge, listen to Rush, only vote GOP, complain each day - I call on you stop blaming the government, the Democrats and the President for this nation's path to socialism. Somewhere in the past 30-40 years, you have played a part in letting the government take the lead in making investments into people. We can argue as to what these investments lead to such as a dependent class or solid voters who only vote with the left. Suffice it to say, the government is in the charity business.
Joe Carter of the web site firstthings.com sums it up this way: "The fact that the government needs a safety net to catch those who would slip between the cracks of our economic system is evidence that I have failed to do God’s work. The government cannot take the place of Christian charity. A loving embrace isn’t given with food stamps. The care of a community isn’t provided with government housing. The face of our Creator can’t be seen on a welfare voucher. What the poor need is not another government program; what they need is for Christians like me to honor our savior."
Do you want to reduce people's government dependence, reduce the deficit and restore this nation? It all starts with you. Start investing in people, whether that it saying a kind word, picking up the check for a stranger, donating clothing to Goodwill, giving to your church, or praying for the poor.
- Believe that investing in people leads to less dependence on the government
- Act kindly towards people
- Serve others with humility
It's time we start acting like my good friend Tim - grab the check and use money to make an investment in people and to build relationships.
....more on this topic in several days...
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