O.T. Speaking of Bums! Rant, sorta long.

[Svashtar]

Stir fry.

munk

There you go! I fondly remember fried bologna slices with processed cheese spread and a Carnation instant breakfast to wash it down with. Not bad really!

N.

 

[Bill Marsh]

You're a fool if you fear no man, no Govt, no God. But the boogieman is you and me.
munk

As our deep south cartoon character, Pogo, said, "We has met the enemy and they is us."

Wherever you go, wherever you are, whatever you have been through and whatever you WILL go through in the future, there is one common denominator --- YOU are there.

The great sadness I see is that so many people give up. They blame outside events and people, for their failure to have or be what they want.

This belief destroys their ability to better their lives, because they put the power in other people's hands. We are prisioners of our beliefs.

 

[Bill Marsh]

I guess in the final analysis the wisdom of giving depends on the situation. Sometimes the possible positive or negative results will be pretty obvious, and other times the situation is quite unclear. Probably the inner voice is in the final analysis the best guide.

Well put Howard. Giving can be harmfull as well as helpful. Note the Welfare System. I do not belive this system, in the main, does the good it was intended. In too many instances it destroys families and weakens people by enabling them.

I recently toured a "Choice" or "Section 8" housing development. I asked a nine year old girl what her plans were when she grew up, "I'm gonna have me some babies, get me a 'partment and a check from the 'thority." No thought of a husband was in the picture.

Here I saw 12 year old mothers (and younger), 25 year old grandmothers and great grandmothers of less than 40. No husbands. What I am describing is not a rare isolated incident, but more the norm. What can I give them that will help? Truly help in the long run?

Makes me want to cry with frustration.

Then the Church. I have had church leaders actually tell me, "Mr. Marsh, we have prayed long over you and discovered your spiritual gift. It is GIVING! Now we have this building project....."

If Buildings, Bodies and Budgets rule the life of the Church, they have already violated the first three Commandments.

Yet I do give to the Church and I recognize that this MUST be done without reservation. If I examine what they are doing with the money, I will cringe. But I remember when the woman poured the perfume over Christ --- there was controversy there also. But He said "If you give in My name, it is a good gift."

So I give to the church through one of my business entities so they don't know it is me. Then they don't knock on my door to show me their "Plans."

 

[DannyinJapan]

Yeah, North Dallas beggars usually have a cel phone and a softsided nylon briefcase somewhere on the ground behind them, usually undar a select piece of cardboard.

I never gave one anything.

I was thinking we ought to start splashing them with gasoline as we drive by.

Eventually either they go home to change or they will catch on fire when they light up a dunhill.

 

[hollowdweller]

I think a lot of that money does more harm in the world than the beggar's habit could. At least it is an act of kindness and faith. That is worth more than the few bucks we give them afterall, whether it makes a dent in the person's hardship or not.

"Money is like water. If it stays in one place too long it gets dirty" - a sadhu

Speaking of water, since I had the Tao out for the other thread, here's one of my favorite about water from the Tao. I always think about this when it floods. There is so much in the Tao that has either parallels or examples of in the New Testament I always wonder if somehow Jesus had a copy:

Nothing is weaker than water,
But when it attacks something hard
Or resistant, then nothing withstands it,
And nothing will alter its way.

Everyone knows this, that weakness prevails
Over strength and that gentleness conquers
The adamant hindrance of men, but that
Nobody demonstrates how it is so.

Because of this the Wise Man says
That only one who bears the nations shame
Is fit to be its hallowed lord;
That only one who takes upon himself
The evils of the world may be its king.

This is paradox.