In As Much As You Have Done It to The Least of These…

…you have done it unto me…

Another associate and I were discussing the importance and relevance of the church - especially those that are not caught up in the same old cliches where a few receive and the many suffer. While they attend church on Sunday with everyone singing and blessing one another…transportation, housing, medication, food, clothing, employment and many others are needed by members of the congregation.

Where is the church and why does it believe that it does not have the responsibility of tending the “flock” under its watch (membership). Why are we waiting for the County to provide meals on wheels, transportation, food when the church is collecting cash every Sunday and opens only on Sunday’s and Wednesday nights for bible study. Why are there homeless when the church has space? Why is there poverty when the church has money? Has the church lost it’s meaning or function? Is it simply a place to wash your guilt, envy, lust and denial of oppression experienced during the week?

We need to pray for the leaders of the church and demand that accountability is put into place. How can the church spout and tout that it is Christlike when you look around and see everything to the contrary? Call it what you want (church, gathering of believers, fellowship, whatever) - it has a responsibility to the community and a higher calling. Stop putting your resources into buckets filled with holes. Ask what the money is being used for. Ask for an accounting of the expenses and revenues…the Deacon Board, Pastor and Spouse are not the keepers of the secrets. PRAY - SAY THANK YOU - AND DO YOUR PART!

Made In Or By America

I remember an old commercial about General Electric (GE) that went something like this, “GE - quality goes in, before the name goes on.”

Hello my fellow Americans, what has happend in such a short amount of time? It was reported today on NBC news that over 30 pumps did not work in New Orleans. Of course, one of the key officials on site stated that they would be ready by the upcoming hurricaine season of 2007.

Substandard building also occured in Iraq if you remember with the police barracks collapsing.

Walter Reed Army Hospital handling the returning wounded…don’t get me started.

What are your thoughts about the quality of our work and the impacts to our overall standards?

Quotes

Please feel free to post your favorite quotes. One of mine is:

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin

1. michaeltravis Says:
   March 14th, 2007 at 4:24 pm

   “I never let school interfere with my education.” - Mark Twain

Eradication of Poverty

Sometimes I wonder under the auspices of “The American Dream” and the current paradigm of economics (supply and demand) and the nature of capitalism (our governing authority) if it is possible to eradicate poverty. Christ stated, “the poor you will have with you always”. Are we helping others to tolerate, ameliorate, or eradicate poverty? It is not for a lack of anti-poverty programs mind you. AmeriCorps National Service VISTA and other programs are making tremendous impacts. When tides rise all ships should rise. Not so! Examine for yourself the rate of poverty when the Johnson administration declared war on it and take a look at it now. Appauling! So, while we have more billionaires than ever, we have failed to deliver the benefits of prosperity to ‘all”. This has a tremendous impact on what one eats, where one lives, works, goes for health care - if at all, where one might attend school, etc. According to the US Department of Agriculture and other studies over 20% of American’s food goes into waste each year (approximately $31 billion dollars that could have fed 49 million people or more). What are we really doing and what can really be done. Most government programs, funders and service providers want to see demonstrable outcomes…why don’t we apply the same standards to equity across the board? What do you think it will take to change the current insanity or doing feel good stuff while the money is simply not enough?

Rule of Power and Domination or Rule of Law and Justice

Democracy demands the latter. When the Rule of Law means nothing…politics become the name of the game. You must ask yourself what governs us: political will or established law? What do you call it when attorneys act illegally? Is there independence and protection for the rule of law? Do we have a legal justice system or can that power be directed and used if and only if willed. Do we need an investigation of the past Attorney Generals (Head of Department of Justice and chief lawyer and chief law enforcement officer of the US government) and the blemish on their watch? I understand that the number of attorneys fired under the current skirmish is higher as a single incidence than the total over the past 25 years combined. Why can’t they be under oath when testifying? If there is nothing to hide–why all the power games? Is this considered high treason? Why is there minimal or no accountability to the American people? Do any of you care…let us know what you think.

Record Million@ Raised By Candidates

It is so nice to know that Hillary Clinton has raised $26 million in the first quarter of 2007 and has an additional $10 million from the Senate campaign while Edwards has raised $14 milion. The GOP is close with Romney at $23 million, Guiliani at $15 million and McCain at 12.5 million. This is the first quarter folk. What is the return on investment? Consider this, and know that this is only examining 5 people; 4,000 jobs at $25,000 per year could be created yeilding an additional tax base while the same dollars ($100 million) could provide 19,230 summer youth jobs at $10 per hour for a 3-month period. You do the math and maybe you will be motivated to see the money spent on housing, education, transportation, health care…something other than - this - enough is enough. What do you think?