Lawmakers Find $21 a Week Doesn't Buy a Lot of Groceries

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

JWithers--

Ever heard of the Prodigal Son?

Well, we former Deacons are asked to be of "sympathy" when we take an oath before God...

People hurt. Suffering is our lot in life. But as a Christian, I believe in hope for things unseen. Which means, I believe in hope in other people who "society" has deemed as failures. Without questions, without judgments, without discussion, I have been asked to trust and help people.

You cannot ask a bootless man, to lift himself up by his bootstraps... (MLK)

We can be better, hopeful and mindful of Love to Mankind.

Freely we serve, as freely we Love... As angels we climb to strive to our closeness to our Divinity...

Hey, if you are not about that, cool. And I will pray for you so that you gain understanding...

Lastly, Biblically, it does say, "Man does not live by Bread alone" and "I shall give you 'living water'"...

We not only have to feed people fish--we must teach them how to fish...

OMG. All I said was that anyone can go to college. I never said let starving people starve. I never said let the homeless die. I never said get rid of welfare.(although it does need reform) Don't put words in my mouth.

I said that everyone has free access to an education. There is not some hidden code or hierarchy. You just apply for grants and scholarships and fill out your paperwork and you got to college.

And do not preach to me. I am a strong woman of faith and I do believe in Christ's commands that we love our neighbors as ourselves. I am active in my church and carry with me the fruits of the spirit everyday in a bracelet on my arm. One of which is self-control. You and only you are in charge of your destiny. God gives you whatever you begin with and it isn't always much. But He expects you to mkae the most of the gift of life and not blame others when you don't succeed.

I do NOT believe that someone has the right to point a finger at me and say "she didn't tell me how to get into college". I mean c'mon, if you haven't the gumption to fill out a few forms, then how can you say it's my fault you didn't go to college?????

My ONLY statement was in reference to education, and of course I did make an earlier statement earlier about the choice to have children out-of-wedlock and then find yourself alone to raise them.

It is all about choices. That's all I am saying. The Lord helps those that help themselves.

It is ridiculous to intimate that I am not a Christian because I think people should apply for their own college grants instead of giving up and saying they can't afford college becasue the world is against them.

If I have to repeat this one more time I'm gonna need a nap. College, College, College. Not food stamps, not welfare, not WIC.......

I said everyone can go to college if they really want to . Yeeash!!!

[preciousjeni]

I'm going to post this story again because it is valuable:

I was just talking with a coworker yesterday about poverty. She started out on welfare and was raising three children on her own. She didn't have enough money or time to get educated and had to make do with a low paying job and little funding from the government. She and those like her who have little education often make poor life decisions because they don't know what is available to them. It becomes oppressive and breeds hopelessness. So many people in poverty are either depressed or angry. The angry ones sometimes resort to criminal activity to take what they need. The depressed ones fall further and further away from any chance of a better life as they settle into what they believe is all the only life they can achieve.

The coworker I was talking with is one of the few from the circle of people she grew up with who now has a decent job and good benefits for her family. She told me that she came to a realization that everything is a choice and she was making bad ones. How did she know this? Because she enrolled in the Welfare-to-Work program when it was still going strong. Through that program she began to realize how she could mold herself into the person she wanted to be, despite the hand that life had dealt her.

This woman still has not been able to go to college. She desperately wants to but she cannot qualify for loans because of her bad credit and other sources of funding are in short supply.

FYI, JWithers, the man who coined the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" did not believe in God's constant involvement in our lives. The Bible tells a very different story - one of humility, compassion and sacrifice even for the most wretched and undeserving of us.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I'm going to post this story again because it is valuable:


This woman still has not been able to go to college. She desperately wants to but she cannot qualify for loans because of her bad credit and other sources of funding are in short supply.

FYI, JWithers, the man who coined the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" did not believe in God's constant involvement in our lives. The Bible tells a very different story - one of humility, compassion and sacrifice even for the most wretched and undeserving of us.

Jeni.

If we all got what we truly deserved we would all be in hell. I thank my God every day for His grace and mercy and for the sarifice of Jesus Christ, that we need not pay the sins of for our evil hearts , but rather are forgiven through Him.

And I am still not going to buy the argument that education is out of reach. I know too many people who have done it despite the roadblocks.

Again, and I am so tired of repeating this. I am not advocating the starvation and annihilation of poor people. I am not suggesting cutting off food stamps. I do not hate poor people, nor do I hold them in contempt. What I do find odious is people who blame others for their problems.

I did not have internet when I applied for my grants and scholarships. I called for forms, filled them out and mailed them in. You can still do that. Lack of internet is not an excuse. Good gravy, people- If you want to help people, you must teach them to be self-sufficient.

You can keep digging for excuses why people won't do for themselves but I'm not buying it. I did it. Every bit of it, With NO, did I say NO, help from anyone. I was smart enough for college, so I was smart enough to go through the drill.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by JWithers

You can keep digging for excuses why people won't do for themselves but I'm not buying it. I did it. Every bit of it, With NO, did I say NO, help from anyone. I was smart enough for college, so I was smart enough to go through the drill.

Didn't you say in another post that you asked your guidance counselors at high school? Sounds like getting help from someone else to me...

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Didn't you say in another post that you asked your guidance counselors at high school? Sounds like getting help from someone else to me...

Free help. Available to any public HS student. I never asked someone to pay for me or do my work for me. I asked what I needed to do and I did it. Again, an example of getting your info and taking charge.

But probably I am priviledged. I will bet the GC only gave me the addresses b/c I was white. You are right. I am so priviledged and elitist. I am sure if another student had gone and asked "hey, I haven't got money for school, what do I do? ", and they weren't me, they would have told them "gee, I can't help you" What an idiotic thing to say.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by JWithers

Free help. Available to any public HS student. I never asked someone to pay for me or do my work for me. I asked what I needed to do and I did it. Again, an example of getting your info and taking charge.

But probably I am priviledged. I will bet the GC only gave me the addresses b/c I was white. You are right. I am so priviledged and elitist. I am sure if another student had gone and asked "hey, I haven't got money for school, what do I do? ", and they weren't me, they would have told them "gee, I can't help you" What an idiotic thing to say.

What the christ? dial down the anger issues before you blow a fuse. Jesus...

By the way, it's privileged.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by centaur532

What the christ? dial down the anger issues before you blow a fuse. Jesus...

By the way, it's privileged.

Not angry. Just tired of repeating myself to a bunch of zealots who read only what they want. Y'all need to get a life. I'm out. Morons.

[BetteDavisEyes]

Originally Posted by JWithers

If we all got what we truly deserved we would all be in hell.

Wow. I don't know if this is the funniest statement I've read or the most ignorant.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by BetteDavisEyes

Wow. I don't know if this is the funniest statement I've read or the most ignorant.

It means that none of us deserve God's grace or salvation. We can't ever earn such a thing. Salvation is a gift we can never be worthy of, but He has given it to us just the same. (How great is that???) If we got what we really deserved, well, you know the rest!

And it was meant to be sarcastic, and yet so so true.

Now, it is Sunday and I am stepping out of the firing line for the day.

[Drolefille]

Sure.

They always come back.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Sure.

They always come back.

They all float down here.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by JWithers

OMG. All I said was that anyone can go to college. I never said let starving people starve. I never said let the homeless die. I never said get rid of welfare.(although it does need reform) Don't put words in my mouth.

I said that everyone has free access to an education. There is not some hidden code or hierarchy. You just apply for grants and scholarships and fill out your paperwork and you got to college.

And do not preach to me. I am a strong woman of faith and I do believe in Christ's commands that we love our neighbors as ourselves. I am active in my church and carry with me the fruits of the spirit everyday in a bracelet on my arm. One of which is self-control. You and only you are in charge of your destiny. God gives you whatever you begin with and it isn't always much. But He expects you to mkae the most of the gift of life and not blame others when you don't succeed.

I do NOT believe that someone has the right to point a finger at me and say "she didn't tell me how to get into college". I mean c'mon, if you haven't the gumption to fill out a few forms, then how can you say it's my fault you didn't go to college?????

My ONLY statement was in reference to education, and of course I did make an earlier statement earlier about the choice to have children out-of-wedlock and then find yourself alone to raise them.

It is all about choices. That's all I am saying. The Lord helps those that help themselves.

It is ridiculous to intimate that I am not a Christian because I think people should apply for their own college grants instead of giving up and saying they can't afford college becasue the world is against them.

If I have to repeat this one more time I'm gonna need a nap. College, College, College. Not food stamps, not welfare, not WIC.......

I said everyone can go to college if they really want to . Yeeash!!!

But how do you do that with a helicopter going over your area of living and police or ambulance sirens constantly going off?

How do you do that, when your parents don't read or cannot read English so they never thought to tell you a requirement to fillout any forms and which forms do you speak of that they can understand in plain language--cultural competency, perhaps?

How do you do anything when an adult hits you and uses verbally abusive language all the time or sexually abuses you because you are the foster child that everyone but the State gave up on you??? In fact we have several cases of foster parents being pedophiles in my state. I doubt we are an exception.

So, if you are a woman of Faith, then you know all about compassion! Wonderful!!! And it doesn't just occur on a bracelet! Really, with your statements, are you practicing what you preach? And no, I believe God uses people to exact His will to glorify His name.

As I understand it, my state does not have welfare. They have WIC, they have some low income subsidies and housing that has over 1000s people on the waiting list to move into the housing...

Most people do die on the streets... Quite a few of them under 30 years old.

Where does one get educational opportunity to access any school without a computer these days when the public library restricts one's time on that said computer.

I don't know where you have lived, nor do I know your personal experiences, but I do know that you have a heartless view of people in general and I would never wish that on my worse enemy to suffer the plights that I have witnessed. I have lived a fairly decent life and I could not want for nothing, but I have seen injustices.

And because of my blessings, I was taught in Sunday school to pass it on to those who have less than me. And on many levels, I give suffering people those Spiritual needs of "living water".

All people can be uplifted. And for you to make the kinds of statements in response to my comments, it is one thing to disagree on equally yoked people, but it is totally another on impoverished people. And your "poverty"--one of the soul--how can I lift your life up?

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

But how do you do that with a helicopter going over your area of living and police or ambulance sirens constantly going off?

How do you do that, when your parents don't read or cannot read English so they never thought to tell you a requirement to fillout any forms and which forms do you speak of that they can understand in plain language--cultural competency, perhaps?

How do you do anything when an adult hits you and uses verbally abusive language all the time or sexually abuses you because you are the foster child that everyone but the State gave up on you??? In fact we have several cases of foster parents being pedophiles in my state. I doubt we are an exception.

So, if you are a woman of Faith, then you know all about compassion! Wonderful!!! And it doesn't just occur on a bracelet! Really, with your statements, are you practicing what you preach? And no, I believe God uses people to exact His will to glorify His name.

As I understand it, my state does not have welfare. They have WIC, they have some low income subsidies and housing that has over 1000s people on the waiting list to move into the housing...

Most people do die on the streets... Quite a few of them under 30 years old.

Where does one get educational opportunity to access any school without a computer these days when the public library restricts one's time on that said computer.

I don't know where you have lived, nor do I know your personal experiences, but I do know that you have a heartless view of people in general and I would never wish that on my worse enemy to suffer the plights that I have witnessed. I have lived a fairly decent life and I could not want for nothing, but I have seen injustices.

And because of my blessings, I was taught in Sunday school to pass it on to those who have less than me. And on many levels, I give suffering people those Spiritual needs of "living water".

All people can be uplifted. And for you to make the kinds of statements in response to my comments, it is one thing to disagree on equally yoked people, but it is totally another on impoverished people. And your "poverty"--one of the soul--how can I lift your life up?

No, you do not know me, nor do you know my life experience.

You do not have permission to judge me or judge the quality of my faith. That alone is displeasing to God.

I simply stated that education is available to people in the most impoverished circumstances. Liz Murray, the daughter of herion addicts, was neglected and abused since infanthood. She was placed in foster care, where she was repeatedly assualted. And yet, somehow, She had the drive and the will to go to school, make good grades and get into Harvard. Flippin' HARVARD!

She didn't blame me for her circumstance. She didn't cry, "I can't do it because no one will help me". She made her life work. SHe took the crappy hand life dealt her and refused to let it hold her back.

You do not , I repeat, not, know me. You do not know what contributions I make to my community and you do not know where I sit with my Lord. Don't you judge me, it is not your place. I teach Sunday School, too, and also lead a ministry for teens in crisis. So keep your self-righteous rhetoric to yourself. You speak in hyperbole and and speak knowingly of what you know not.

And I agree, we are here for His glory. How is it glorifying Him to say, "I can't , it's too hard". If thats how you feel , you just go ahead and throw God's gift in His face. But I thank Him everyday, even when I buried a child, even when I thought I couldn't go on, I thanked Him and I got up, moved on and praised His name.

You do not know me, you have no right to judge me and I will respectfully ask you to not do so again. My soul is not impoverished, it is full, my cup runneth over. In the face of every pain I have suffered I stand here and tell you 'God is good'.

I still stand strong on what I said. An education is available to anyone with the will to obtain it.

The fact that you feel the need to cast aspersions on another's faith tells me that maybe you are not filled with the Spirit.

[preciousjeni]

Throwing statistics out there...

I did a brief search to see what we're dealing with here. There is always a lag in statistical data related to the overall population of the U.S. and many predictions are based on the last census in 2000. With that said:

1) In 2005, there were 37 million people in poverty (12.6 percent of the population). Though I couldn't readily find more current data, I'd venture to say that the percentage hasn't moved much...if anything, it has increased.

2) The current unemployment rate is 5.4 percent.

3) The 2007 poverty guidelines allow for $10,210 for a single person (in the contiguous 48 states).

So, the statistics back what a number of people have said in this thread. Most of the people in poverty are working.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by JWithers

No, you do not know me, nor do you know my life experience.

You do not have permission to judge me or judge the quality of my faith. That alone is displeasing to God.

I simply stated that education is available to people in the most impoverished circumstances. Liz Murray, the daughter of herion addicts, was neglected and abused since infanthood. She was placed in foster care, where she was repeatedly assualted. And yet, somehow, She had the drive and the will to go to school, make good grades and get into Harvard. Flippin' HARVARD!

She didn't blame me for her circumstance. She didn't cry, "I can't do it because no one will help me". She made her life work. SHe took the crappy hand life dealt her and refused to let it hold her back.

You do not , I repeat, not, know me. You do not know what contributions I make to my community and you do not know where I sit with my Lord. Don't you judge me, it is not your place. I teach Sunday School, too, and also lead a ministry for teens in crisis. So keep your self-righteous rhetoric to yourself. You speak in hyperbole and and speak knowingly of what you know not.

And I agree, we are here for His glory. How is it glorifying Him to say, "I can't , it's too hard". If thats how you feel , you just go ahead and throw God's gift in His face. But I thank Him everyday, even when I buried a child, even when I thought I couldn't go on, I thanked Him and I got up, moved on and praised His name.

You do not know me, you have no right to judge me and I will respectfully ask you to not do so again. My soul is not impoverished, it is full, my cup runneth over. In the face of every pain I have suffered I stand here and tell you 'God is good'.

I still stand strong on what I said. An education is available to anyone with the will to obtain it.

The fact that you feel the need to cast aspersions on another's faith tells me that maybe you are not filled with the Spirit.

When I was a child I spoke as a child and I did childish things... But when I became an adult, I had to put childish things away...

If you know anything about me, you can search my posts. If you don't care, then hey, I just offer it up to you. But, you do not know me and your delluded descriptions of me is unfortunate. That's okay, various folks on GC think plenty things about me.

"They talked about Jesus Christ and you saw what they did to Him, they dayum sho are gonna talk about you" --My old pastor.

If you knew your history, it was illegal for my ancestors to obtain an education to read in the United States. How can you cavalierly state that ANYONE can obtain an education knowing this history? Be careful now, you my mother was water cannoned by the city's police department for marching for equality in education during the civil rights movement...

Yes, there are anecdotal exceptions to everyone who has had a poor life and obtained at "Harvard" education. I know that. But the vast majority of poor people who live in this country as being the first world country far exceed the nice cute anecdotal exceptions.

In fact, you have judged me with your anger. That is fine and you can persecute me too. I have held hands with the Devil had has all my numbers, but through my worst circles of Hell, it was God that delivered me and strengthened me in my most forsaken of hours. The last Being ever to give me a fighting chance. And there was a reason for that, which I am sharing with as many others as I can...

All people have suffered, this is true. But, children should not be made to bear that which is beyond their own control. And because we live in the United States and abide by a Consitution and a Bill of Rights, if we as citizens promote this stuff, then we should be about making that change. And when funding has been cut for programs to assist people, we cannot complain that there is an increase in criminality or health disparities, which in my experience usually ensues.

Should we all not be about trying to make it better than belittling those who have less than us? Is that in anyway judging you of your relationship with God? No. I think I am only trying to send you a powerful message because of my "gifts" given to me. Now, you can either heed that message or you can leave that message. Ultimately, you have free will and can make your own choice. And I am sorry your pain has caused you much distress. But, to let you know, you are somebody in God's eyes. You are worth all that before Him and He knows this. And I also do know that He is asking you to look beyond the surface and what you see. I don't know why I know this about you, but I know you are capable of many great things, wherever you are...

Stay blessed...