Four Things That Will Kill Your State And Our Country

[Miss Daisy]

Obamacare is going to put the grease on our country's downward slide also.

[JerryNumbers]

The rich have ALWAYS exploited the poor - even transporting them across the pond & around the world any "trouble makers."

 

Trouble is, decent wages & safe working conditions cost profits - slavery of the blacks was good business. Once it ended in the 1960s, it was cheaper to go to the far east for manufacture, still using slave labour.

 

That has produced dependance on the state & a reliance on home entertainment to keep most of them quiet. Those who have been prepared to stand up against exploitation have been targeted: Joe Hill, Paul Robeson, MLK, Jesus .....

 

 Should the items listed kill our country? No - it's already dead - what will revive it? Only the Gospel!

 

 Or should we consider ourselves citizens of our heavenly country?

 

My citizenship is in Heaven.

 

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

 

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 

 

I'm just a sojourner, a pilgrim, in this world, waiting on that promise.

 

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[JerryNumbers]

That is his list. Not yours. Exploitation is defined differently by many different people. I don't think there's many companies nowadays in America that exploit their workers compares to foreign countries. Forcing someone to be in a union is exploitation! Making their hard earned money support a political party or candidate they don't is exploitation also.

Unions have a place but should be a choice! Most unions began or became a cover for mafia money and laundering. Doing no good for the common worker.

 

I don't like working, & supporting union officials, they do little, & eat up the money, living the good life off of others. Kind of like a parasite.

 

There's many articles on the net about just that thing.

[ThePilgrim]

I don't like supporting union officials nor do I like supporting corrupt bankers and CEOs.  I try to be fair and not like all who deserve to be not liked, no matter their position, whether in labor, business, or politics.

It doesn't seem quite right to me (but maybe I am prejudiced, never having been a rich man) that the rich should be able to lord it over the poor.  I am not a theologian nor a great bible scholar but I think that James 2:1-9 pertains to more than our behavior in the church building.  

 

Many do tend to believe the crys of the rich man over the poor man.  Whether it is because of his way of dress or his ability to hide from our eyes his true way of life, I don't know.  It may be a conicidence but I have noticed that in all churches I have attended it is the business men and well to do who sit on church boards and are the officers of these churches.     

God bless,

Larry

[candlelight]

I have had personal experience with a union... The AFT-289, the American Federation for Teachers. Local 289.  When I first taught school in the Cleveland Municipal School District, I needed the union.  I was placed in a westside middle school, with an awesome reputation, I remember the date that I was transferred to the sister school, or schools that looked identical to oneaother.  It was Oct. 6th of 1989.  Previously, I taught in a Parochial School for two years.  I was very blessed b/c in 1987 the teacher's union went on strike.  Anyway, my boss in the CMSD was able to fight to keep me half a day, on the westside of town.  I was given a day to set up another classroom on the other side of town.  I was young, just married to my ex husband, and enjoyed the commute... as it gave me a chance to see the city of Cleveland.  This school, however, was more of a rough experience, but I came out unscathed.  We also helped a homeless couple get into public housing and my family helped to get them back on their feet. along with their 6 children.  We contacted many charities to help this homeless couple, who, prior to that... were living in the streets. 

Now. the challenge began.  I had taken a maternity leave for two years.  I left at the end of the school year, as not to disrupt the students, with me taking a leave closer to the birth of my son.  Then district sent me to the second to the worst school in the system.  There were 162 schools in Cleveland, at that time.   The school was a total nightmare.  I couldn't take the knives and guns anymore, especially as a loaded 22 slid to the floor in the hallway... as this fight was coming my way.  Thankfully, the Union Rep of the building taught Social Studies in the room next door.  We did a lock down and swept the floors for any student who remained in the hallway.  Those students were immediately sent to the auditorium and were suspended for 3 days from school.  The woman threatening to kill her baby's daddy, was expelled.  Later that day, I closed and locked my room.  The school was also violating many rights of both the students and the teachers.  One of those violations was teaching in a classroom with windows that didn't open, with a room temperature of 110 degrees.  I purchased three fans, but the heat was unbearable.  The prinicipal sat in an air condtioned office while the rest of us suffered the enormous heat, while the teachers did their job teaching and the rebel students tried their best to learn. 

The principal began calling my house daily, begging for me to come back.  I refused.  By God's grace and mercy, the Union Rep. contacted me, at home, and connected me with the Vice President of the teacher's union, who represented the middle schools.  This man had me compile a list of violations in the building, which are too numerous talk about.  I sat out for a month, then the phone call came in from my mom, while my ex husband and I were on his business trip in Louisville, Kentucky.  I was granted the only "Special Transfer" in the district since bussing began in 1982.  This opened the floodgates.  Also, I was told to file a grievance against the Asst. Superintendent of schools.  I met with high officials in the district, and plead my case... with my union rep. and was given 6 buildings to chose from.  I chose a grade school on the westside of town.  The union had to run that school b/c the principal, converted to Islam, left the country for the Sudan... with her Musim husband.  She was no where to be found.  We were very blessed to have several retired subsitute principals, who were more than willing to let the union do their job.  The next year I was voted into the Union Conference Committee.  We worked diligently with the Board of Education to come to many agreements.  I spent many tireless hours in meetings with the Board of education.  Things were going smoothly, for awhile, until the City of Cleveland elected a new mayor.  He was a known crackhead, who was seen on the streets of the city, selling crack to children.  The parents told me the stories.  And, they were indeed true.  The truth eventually came out in the newspaper with photos of the mayor selling crack to the children and citizens of the city, so they could get their fix.  He was also a Napolean type man who wanted to take 10% of our pay one year, conveniently forgetting we were already spending close to $2,000 per year to cover paper, teaching materials and even books.  This is the norm in big city school districts.  Finally the AFT-289 had enough.  The mayor wouldn't let us march in the streets of Cleveland, so we marched along other union members in a nearby suburb.  The teacher's led the way. I'll never forget a nice young male teaching holding my young son up on his shoulders during the march.  We weren't asking for a pay raise.  We weren't asking for better benefits.  We were protesting this man wanting to take 10% of our yearly pay away from us.  I worked with both the Board of Education and the Union.  Teacher's are known as white colar/blue color workers.  The Fireman's Union, the Police Union and all other city workers made a difference, as well.  All city workers stuck together.  And, they still do.  I also had the opportunity to meet many politicians that day, including Dennis Kucinich, and I even shook his hand.  Oh boy!  LOL  My point is, that sometimes unions are needed.  It was certainly needed in the situations I mentioned above, as most likely I would have lost my life in the second to the most dangerous school in the district, at that time.  And the pay was already at a minimum compared to other school districts in the country.  

[JerryNumbers]

I don't like supporting union officials nor do I like supporting corrupt bankers and CEOs.  I try to be fair and not like all who deserve to be not liked, no matter their position, whether in labor, business, or politics.

It doesn't seem quite right to me (but maybe I am prejudiced, never having been a rich man) that the rich should be able to lord it over the poor.  I am not a theologian nor a great bible scholar but I think that James 2:1-9 pertains to more than our behavior in the church building.  

 

Many do tend to believe the crys of the rich man over the poor man.  Whether it is because of his way of dress or his ability to hide from our eyes his true way of life, I don't know.  It may be a conicidence but I have noticed that in all churches I have attended it is the business men and well to do who sit on church boards and are the officers of these churches.     

God bless,

Larry

 

In many yes, but not in all, it seems to happen more often here abouts in the city, those who have want to rub shoulders with those who have, & its not done in the country churches in these parts.

 

Like a member of the coC told me about a coC in another city. A man moved to town. He went by the bank & too care of business. Word traveled very fast about the $$$$$$$$$$ this man had. When he showed up at the coC on a Sunday morning & they found out he was coC, the leaders asked him, what position do you want, you can have any postilion you ask for.

 

So sad such stuff as that happens in churches, money speaks, & the one who has much money get the respect. 

 

Its nothing new, is it?

[DaveW]

However often times the carpenter is not interested in spending his time pouring over the church finances for instance.

There are also practical reasons why a businessman becomes the treasurer.

It is not always that these guys weild the power and want it that way - sometimes they are genuinely the best person for the job....... and sometimes they definitely are not.

Once again it is the heart that counts. ;)

[JerryNumbers]

And there are also unpractical reasons why some of the business men become church leaders.

 

For instants a 3rd cousin of mine has been bankrupt 3 times, been in foreclosure many times, his forecloses has been in the local newspaper many times recently as this past two weeks & he is a deacon in good standing in the largest sbc church in town. 

 

​In fact he lives high & has had numerous business & everyone of them have failed. 

 

Plus he is a member of The Gideons International & goes to churches telling them about the work they do trying to collect money for them.

 

Yes, for many churches its all about politics, & whose who is placed in the leadership positions, of course I can't speak except for what happens around my neck of the woods & my eyes has seen.

 

I am not one bit jealous of them I just think its a very sad testimony for our Lord & Savior & it brings harm & shame on all of Jesus' Churches.

[The Glory Land]

I have had personal experience with a union... The AFT-289, the American Federation for Teachers. Local 289.  When I first taught school in the Cleveland Municipal School District, I needed the union.  I was placed in a westside middle school, with an awesome reputation, I remember the date that I was transferred to the sister school, or schools that looked identical to oneaother.  It was Oct. 6th of 1989.  Previously, I taught in a Parochial School for two years.  I was very blessed b/c in 1987 the teacher's union went on strike.  Anyway, my boss in the CMSD was able to fight to keep me half a day, on the westside of town.  I was given a day to set up another classroom on the other side of town.  I was young, just married to my ex husband, and enjoyed the commute... as it gave me a chance to see the city of Cleveland.  This school, however, was more of a rough experience, but I came out unscathed.  We also helped a homeless couple get into public housing and my family helped to get them back on their feet. along with their 6 children.  We contacted many charities to help this homeless couple, who, prior to that... were living in the streets. 

Now. the challenge began.  I had taken a maternity leave for two years.  I left at the end of the school year, as not to disrupt the students, with me taking a leave closer to the birth of my son.  Then district sent me to the second to the worst school in the system.  There were 162 schools in Cleveland, at that time.   The school was a total nightmare.  I couldn't take the knives and guns anymore, especially as a loaded 22 slid to the floor in the hallway... as this fight was coming my way.  Thankfully, the Union Rep of the building taught Social Studies in the room next door.  We did a lock down and swept the floors for any student who remained in the hallway.  Those students were immediately sent to the auditorium and were suspended for 3 days from school.  The woman threatening to kill her baby's daddy, was expelled.  Later that day, I closed and locked my room.  The school was also violating many rights of both the students and the teachers.  One of those violations was teaching in a classroom with windows that didn't open, with a room temperature of 110 degrees.  I purchased three fans, but the heat was unbearable.  The prinicipal sat in an air condtioned office while the rest of us suffered the enormous heat, while the teachers did their job teaching and the rebel students tried their best to learn. 

The principal began calling my house daily, begging for me to come back.  I refused.  By God's grace and mercy, the Union Rep. contacted me, at home, and connected me with the Vice President of the teacher's union, who represented the middle schools.  This man had me compile a list of violations in the building, which are too numerous talk about.  I sat out for a month, then the phone call came in from my mom, while my ex husband and I were on his business trip in Louisville, Kentucky.  I was granted the only "Special Transfer" in the district since bussing began in 1982.  This opened the floodgates.  Also, I was told to file a grievance against the Asst. Superintendent of schools.  I met with high officials in the district, and plead my case... with my union rep. and was given 6 buildings to chose from.  I chose a grade school on the westside of town.  The union had to run that school b/c the principal, converted to Islam, left the country for the Sudan... with her Musim husband.  She was no where to be found.  We were very blessed to have several retired subsitute principals, who were more than willing to let the union do their job.  The next year I was voted into the Union Conference Committee.  We worked diligently with the Board of Education to come to many agreements.  I spent many tireless hours in meetings with the Board of education.  Things were going smoothly, for awhile, until the City of Cleveland elected a new mayor.  He was a known crackhead, who was seen on the streets of the city, selling crack to children.  The parents told me the stories.  And, they were indeed true.  The truth eventually came out in the newspaper with photos of the mayor selling crack to the children and citizens of the city, so they could get their fix.  He was also a Napolean type man who wanted to take 10% of our pay one year, conveniently forgetting we were already spending close to $2,000 per year to cover paper, teaching materials and even books.  This is the norm in big city school districts.  Finally the AFT-289 had enough.  The mayor wouldn't let us march in the streets of Cleveland, so we marched along other union members in a nearby suburb.  The teacher's led the way. I'll never forget a nice young male teaching holding my young son up on his shoulders during the march.  We weren't asking for a pay raise.  We weren't asking for better benefits.  We were protesting this man wanting to take 10% of our yearly pay away from us.  I worked with both the Board of Education and the Union.  Teacher's are known as white colar/blue color workers.  The Fireman's Union, the Police Union and all other city workers made a difference, as well.  All city workers stuck together.  And, they still do.  I also had the opportunity to meet many politicians that day, including Dennis Kucinich, and I even shook his hand.  Oh boy!  LOL  My point is, that sometimes unions are needed.  It was certainly needed in the situations I mentioned above, as most likely I would have lost my life in the second to the most dangerous school in the district, at that time.  And the pay was already at a minimum compared to other school districts in the country.  

 

 

I am glad things went well for you in those days, but today Unions, just like the Churches are not the same.The love of money has frozen the moral hearts and minds.

[candlelight]

I am glad things went well for you in those days, but today Unions, just like the Churches are not the same.The love of money has frozen the moral hearts and minds.

 

Agreed, brother!  Those days are gone, for good..