The Same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow for Many, Happy New Year.
Posted: Thursday, January 01, 2009
by straight talk
I don't expect many to be happy with this message especially during this festive season, yet the reality for millions of our fellow Americans is to fain all is fine and ignore the blight all around. Well is in my opinion a sad commentary on our nation today. Certainly I am happy sharing moments with my loved ones and celebrating the season and Christ's Birthday and hoping for a betetr tomorrow. Yet this is not a season or time to be Jolly, Tra La la la la. Sure I hope and sure I try to carry my woes and as she does with a smile and a hello yet it does not change the circumstances. However, this article is not about me or any who do as believers what they are expected to do, it is about reality as it is.
You see Love of Neighbor is in my opinion no more then a clich today. A nice pitch for getting what you want in many ways. Sure I love you, now can we get in bed. How about this one, "I love my fellow Americans and this nation", yea right. Yes and from the same one's who labeled Americans not credit worthy and irresponsible and are pushing Comprehensive Immigration, etc, yea they love us, right? Yes and "help is on the way", for who? No one ever clarifies that, for WHO? Shrouded in "main street" and "middle America" and when they say average how is that defined? Also when is it coming? Is it by slow boat from China as the saying goes? Yes and do we really accept that after hundreds of years of sound ethical business practice this has not been fostered upon America by something else? Do we all of a sudden need nationalization and to be regulated, why? What does that speak to?
Well what I am saying is we talk a good talk but produce little in works.
In my opinion, love, no more than another word and no more then a real good sales pitch for the churches and their followers and these leaders. Why do I say that? Well example, and as fact, a person called a local church charity for help with the bill illustrated below. Husband laid off and only her income and zero in their pocket for 3 more weeks. Not rich people by any standard, making less then $20,000 a year. Even when he was working they made just enough to pay their mortgage and expenses. They live frugal and get help from family who are in the same boat as them. You see people with money don't help, it is only those who are average and poor who are the real givers, fact.
So what was she by this professor of God? Of course, not your church member, right, someone else's. After all you can't label them all for a few and yes we are after all human, right? All true, but too bad in my opinion it is becoming more the norm. Not for your church or agency, well think again. People become more human as they become more overwhelmed and subsequently more defensive and more likely frustrated. No, well once again, think again. Some of those you call saints, well they fall a little short more often then not. Oh sure they do all the ritual things, they even openly profess, sing, praise and worship but when it comes down to "love', hey what's that, they fall woefully short? Rhetorically I guess they thought that it was just a campaign slogan for politicians?
How does all this relate to what the wide went through. Well this person who represents a church and their charity mission asks the wife in quick order, do you go to church? How often do you go? What church do you attend? Why are you calling us? Didn't we help you a few months ago? The wife answered yes and what difference does it make I need help now and I thought you were a charity. Certainly you were recommended by others as one. That is who, get this "PROFESS" you do? I thought it was a rather good choice of words if I say so myself. It sort of hit home. The response, go to your own church for help and don't call us back for a minimum of 12 months and hangs up.
Yet as people read this please don't tell me this article will not get the same reception. Anger, refusal to accept fact, rejection. Sadly, in my opinion it is another sign of our age. Yes and I know who these people are personally, all saints when you meet them, smiling, praising God, blessing people, strange.
Now, getting back to the reason for asking for help, if you look at the bill comments we have here a person hurting and who has nothing, trying to make ends meet and survive. Read the comment and tell me how anyone who can't pay $120.00 is going to come up with rest?
Sample -INVOICE NOTICE - $120.00 is now past due and if payment is not received prior to 5:00 P.M. fee termination of service may result. If reconnected during normal business hours X fee will be charged and a higher fee for after hours, weekends or holidays. We will require a deposit of $500.00 plus before restoring service. An additional deposit of $500.00 plus may also be required if we grant an extension and payment is received after 5:00 P.M.on the extension due date.
How many more examples do we need? Help for business, investors, the wealthy and We the People can't get anything, or is it we just don't give a damn? Sadly I think it is just that. Only when it strikes your home. Yes even while many scoff and say not us, you will know.
Well 2009, this happy new year many will be doing just that and soon, from Credit Card defaults, to Home defaults, to broken families, layoffs and more of the same. Yes and when you turn to your local church, because, well they profess to help, even while funding offshore missions and building edifices and with burgeoning staffs, think again what church is all about? Is that the definition of your church and are they helping as early Christians did, gave of their wealth to help the poorer members, or is it only a shell? If just a facade then go out and find a church that is church. They are out there only many think they are by the exterior package and fall woefully short.
"The gates of Hell shall not prevail" because good, decent believers do not allow it to. Yes and what "faith" shall Christ find when He returns? You think about it.
In closing I should add I only write to not bring despair but real hope because I believe Jesus Christ is the only real hope, not in man or man's doctrines. Yet I write to all people of good will who do and serve and know that many sit idly by allowing the few, fact to do and allowing evil, even while saying "w hat can one do" and ignore reality.
That is in my opinion a call of surrender, apathy, profession without works. One can become active by writing, emailing, demanding action. I would not bet on that either. Well, I'll end with this, your choice, your statement as to who you really are. It is simply speaking that. Yes simply speaking and sadly The same yesterday, today and tomorrow for many, Happy New Year, for some, the few who have only .
I apologize for the messages are bold and direct and not intended to hurt, abuse or anger, just to get you somethning to think about as to who you really are? Me, it doesn't matter, you do. Frankly whatever internal answer is truth.
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright 2008 Robert Melaccio Sr.
This Article has been viewed 309 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I think what you are saying is probably right if you're trying to say that Believers need to help more, but it's hard to follow your train of thought. The formatting is terrible and you need to use spell check, if you don't it makes it difficult to understand.
Rabbi StanleyPlease log in to respond to this comment.Rabbi I use spell check over and over both before submitting and after and still find problems. That is why I go back and redo my work. It has to do with versions and conversions. I do agree that at times other thoughts come into the picture and I try to implement them on the fly. Actually I was saying is because one plays at religion, professes or is if even an expert in doctrine and scripture that does not make them a true follower of their faith. I'm sure you have the same? So Yesterday, today and tomorrow was saying nothing will change until God comes and changes it. I will admit an article of frustration because so many do profess but do little in the way of works. By the way growing up and working with Jewish people in NYC I came to realize that they help their own. They take care of their elderly [or at least used to] they give zero loans and forgive debts, etc. What happened to us Christians? In fact I spoke about the early church and how those who had helped those who had not and this woman was "appalled". She couldn't figure it out. Anyway another time and article. Thanks for the good advice and reading.Please log in to respond to this comment.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.