Jack’s Winning Words 6/20/18
“A poor person isn’t he who has little, but he who needs a lot.”  (German Proverb)  The Bible has some scary stories…The Great  Flood…Daniel in the lions’ den…The plague of fleas.  But, one of the scariest to me is a story about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) where it says that the rich and poor on earth might change places in Heaven.  Let that sink in. The point is that those who turn their back on the poor will get an eternal taste of poverty.  Scary!    ;-)  Jack

FROM HONEST JOHN:  A person is poor if they can't afford the "necessities" of life.   There are way too many of them in our country.    Now the real question.." What can we/should we do about it?"===JACK:  The best solution is to help the poor themselves to find a solution.  For example, when utilities are shut off for non-payment, free utilities for everyone is not a viable solution, but helping the poor to learn how to manage money (earned/donated) is,  Sometimes the problem of poverty is at the doorstep of the poor and sometimes at the doorstep of society..===JOHN:  When the problem is " at the doorstep of society", your solution doesn't work.===JACK:  I guess I'm saying that instead of free water for everyone, I support public and private gifts and basic "home" budgeting training as ways to keep the water flowing.  ...and is it wrong to believe that we have a society that truly cares about the have nots?

FROM WALMART REV:  "...I would suppose that will include those who exploit them as well..." 0;-/===JACK:  I thank God for people like you who find ways to channel resources (financial and other) from the haves to the have-nots....REV:  You and I know “it is more blessed to give than receive...”

FROM HY YO SILVER:  The Jewish scriptures teach: Who is wealthy?  The one who is content with their portion.===JACK:  You are probably well satisfied now...but would you like to have a raise in pay?…HY:  Of course.  I need to raise more charity!---JACK:  I would hope that your wages are not charity.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i well recall Flip and Geraldine!   he was both funny and poignant at the same time... ===JACK:  That's the best kind of comedy.  Charlie Chaplin did it well.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i think this is the most damning and sobering parable in the whole NT.   there is nothing in the story to imply that the rich man was a bad person or that his wealth was ill-gotten.  he could have been the prez of the local chamber of commerce.  his sin was not one of commission but of omission. he just never saw the poor man.   and the judgement came without an iota of mercy or compassion from Jesus.  this parable should be read every day on Wall St. and in the corridors of power wherever they may be.===JACK:  I look in the mirror and say, "Et tu, Brute?"

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: You would not believe all of the homeless on the streets here! So sad! ===JACK:  ...in Detroit, too.  Sometimes in the winter my daughter and her husband will take packages of fresh baked cookies and hand them out to the street people.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:   It is scary===JACK:  Ask Joshua what scares him?