Once again...
it seems like so many things to write about, it becomes overwhelming to pick a topic.
Before I go any further, though, let me publically say I am very grateful RD's fever is gone. My sweet, sweet 6 month old had a low grade fever Friday night, she was warm on Saturday night, and she was HOT Sunday night, but last night she was cool. She is teething, I do believe, but fevers are never fun and I am so very grateful for tylenol.
Seriously, it seems like culturally and economically speaking things are becoming way out of control. I am forced to remember a couple Bible verses on a regular basis: "Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself." Matthew 6:34 and "Just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him now for each day's problems." Col 2: 7-8 (That is the Living Bible paraphrase. I do not use the Living Bible now, but growing up in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church that is what they used, and well, when you remember Bible verses as a child, you generally remember them as an adult, which is why scripture memory in children is such a good thing).
Yesterday I spent the good portion of the day after educating my children, subsequently ignoring my children so I could read Land by Mildred Taylor. It is the prequel (although it was written after) to Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. It was an excellent life-changing book. My favorite books are about people (generally black people, but also Maria von Trapp) and their families who are persecuted either for their color or religious belief as well as the LHOTP series where they fight obstacle after obstacle to extract their living from the land. But, going back to my Land and other books; they respond with forgiveness, determination and grit and it is so inspirational to me. As I look at the economy falling apart (and Lehman brothers you got what you deserved, I only wish Mr. CEO would be forced to return his $22 million dollar *bonus* from last spring to his stockholders), as their economic house of cards collapse (surprise, surprise), I think what should things look like Biblically. These books give me a glimpse into it. And you know what? It's not that difficult.
It looks like, "Do to others what you would have them do to you." "Do not repay evil with evil but with good." "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and work with your hands so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and that you may be dependent on no one." "Do not steal." "Do not covet."
Seriously, life is not that complicated.
I have been thinking a lot about debt. First of all, I have to confess, we have some debt. Part of it is to ourselves (a 401 k loan, that if we *defaulted on* we would have to a pay 10% penalty and then taxes on it), as well as some small credit card debts that average 1% interest (yes, that is correct, 1%). In some ways I don't consider the 401K a loan because it is to ourselves, but with Dan's job uncertainty, a 10% penalty and subsequent taxes (which is not so bad, because our tax rate is about as low as it will ever be) is becoming a reality, and as I consider a very miserly budget, the debt at 1% is still there. Each month puts us in a better shape, but well, I don't like the thought of touching any savings, because to me, once you do that, it's all downhill (in case you haven't figured it out, I am an all or nothing type person, which I really need to work at...like all things it's a strength and weakness). Anyway, here as a nation we're running around with a $9.4 TRILLION dollar debt (that's trillion with a T not a b or m). Let's put the 0's in so it looks like the big number it is: $9,400,000,000,000. That's a pretty big number. So big in fact it works out to $31333 (or something close to that) debt for every man woman and child in America. BUT, that does not included our unfunded promises (like social security and prescription drugs) as well as state and personal debt which totals $44 trillion ($44,000,000,000,000) which brings our debt up to something like $143,000 per every man woman and child (It must be true; after all I read it on the internet). Tell me folks....it must be repaid. We all must pay our debts, and there simply isn't enough money there to do it, without more being printed. And guess what folks...you aren't having enough babies to produce workers to pay for it. You can't have it both ways...you can't not have babies because they're a pain and awful and you can't be bothered, and then have the social programs in place whereby you receive tons more than you ever put in because hopefully other people (most of whom hate babies just as much as you do) have the babies who become the workers who apparently are so stupid they won't mind hideously high income tax/social security rates to pay for your lameness and selfishness. Well, guess what....kids like mine are going to growing up into adults who are not interested in footing the bill for your selfish, parasitic lifestyle, and as you have fewer kids (or none at all), we're having more and well, they will probably vote to cut your benefits like you deserve....Something will have to give as the people at Lehman Brothers, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, AIG and Washington Mutual are finding out. And what is the Fed's answer? Let's just declare $70,000,000,000 (that's Billion with a B) into existence with no labor to back it up to prop up these institutions. This is scary stuff folks.
How demoralizing is it to work all day for $300 and see your neighbor receive $300 from the Federal Reserve just for existing while they spent the day watching Ellen, Oprah and Judge Karen? It is demoralizing and maddening. Something is going to have to give.
I keep thinking what would a Christian monetary system look like (after all you can't just create a vaccuum). I keep coming back to "Do to others what you would have them do to you". Apparently God's wisdom is truly foolishness to those who are perishing (and that includes Christians who are willfully economically ignorant). We are not entitled to anything just because we are Christians. When will our Christian pastors address this monster (debt according to Deuteronomy 28) from the pulpit? It might be too scary as they all have their mortgages of various sizes hanging out there, and to address it might mean they need to do something about it themselves...and well...I'm guessing they're not interested in doing that. (As an aside, why won't the above sentences go into arial, my favorite font? This makes no sense...sorry for the inconsistency. I am aware of it, but can't change it).
And, for the record, if you are a taxpayer funded school parent, don't you ever ever complain about the debt. You are adding to it at a much faster rate than me. Hypocrite is the label for you.
Help. So...love you children. Live within your means. Pay off your debts and do to others as you would have them do to you. It really is not all that difficult to figure out. Why do we make it so?
Before I go any further, though, let me publically say I am very grateful RD's fever is gone. My sweet, sweet 6 month old had a low grade fever Friday night, she was warm on Saturday night, and she was HOT Sunday night, but last night she was cool. She is teething, I do believe, but fevers are never fun and I am so very grateful for tylenol.
Seriously, it seems like culturally and economically speaking things are becoming way out of control. I am forced to remember a couple Bible verses on a regular basis: "Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself." Matthew 6:34 and "Just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him now for each day's problems." Col 2: 7-8 (That is the Living Bible paraphrase. I do not use the Living Bible now, but growing up in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church that is what they used, and well, when you remember Bible verses as a child, you generally remember them as an adult, which is why scripture memory in children is such a good thing).
Yesterday I spent the good portion of the day after educating my children, subsequently ignoring my children so I could read Land by Mildred Taylor. It is the prequel (although it was written after) to Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. It was an excellent life-changing book. My favorite books are about people (generally black people, but also Maria von Trapp) and their families who are persecuted either for their color or religious belief as well as the LHOTP series where they fight obstacle after obstacle to extract their living from the land. But, going back to my Land and other books; they respond with forgiveness, determination and grit and it is so inspirational to me. As I look at the economy falling apart (and Lehman brothers you got what you deserved, I only wish Mr. CEO would be forced to return his $22 million dollar *bonus* from last spring to his stockholders), as their economic house of cards collapse (surprise, surprise), I think what should things look like Biblically. These books give me a glimpse into it. And you know what? It's not that difficult.
It looks like, "Do to others what you would have them do to you." "Do not repay evil with evil but with good." "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and work with your hands so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and that you may be dependent on no one." "Do not steal." "Do not covet."
Seriously, life is not that complicated.
I have been thinking a lot about debt. First of all, I have to confess, we have some debt. Part of it is to ourselves (a 401 k loan, that if we *defaulted on* we would have to a pay 10% penalty and then taxes on it), as well as some small credit card debts that average 1% interest (yes, that is correct, 1%). In some ways I don't consider the 401K a loan because it is to ourselves, but with Dan's job uncertainty, a 10% penalty and subsequent taxes (which is not so bad, because our tax rate is about as low as it will ever be) is becoming a reality, and as I consider a very miserly budget, the debt at 1% is still there. Each month puts us in a better shape, but well, I don't like the thought of touching any savings, because to me, once you do that, it's all downhill (in case you haven't figured it out, I am an all or nothing type person, which I really need to work at...like all things it's a strength and weakness). Anyway, here as a nation we're running around with a $9.4 TRILLION dollar debt (that's trillion with a T not a b or m). Let's put the 0's in so it looks like the big number it is: $9,400,000,000,000. That's a pretty big number. So big in fact it works out to $31333 (or something close to that) debt for every man woman and child in America. BUT, that does not included our unfunded promises (like social security and prescription drugs) as well as state and personal debt which totals $44 trillion ($44,000,000,000,000) which brings our debt up to something like $143,000 per every man woman and child (It must be true; after all I read it on the internet). Tell me folks....it must be repaid. We all must pay our debts, and there simply isn't enough money there to do it, without more being printed. And guess what folks...you aren't having enough babies to produce workers to pay for it. You can't have it both ways...you can't not have babies because they're a pain and awful and you can't be bothered, and then have the social programs in place whereby you receive tons more than you ever put in because hopefully other people (most of whom hate babies just as much as you do) have the babies who become the workers who apparently are so stupid they won't mind hideously high income tax/social security rates to pay for your lameness and selfishness. Well, guess what....kids like mine are going to growing up into adults who are not interested in footing the bill for your selfish, parasitic lifestyle, and as you have fewer kids (or none at all), we're having more and well, they will probably vote to cut your benefits like you deserve....Something will have to give as the people at Lehman Brothers, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, AIG and Washington Mutual are finding out. And what is the Fed's answer? Let's just declare $70,000,000,000 (that's Billion with a B) into existence with no labor to back it up to prop up these institutions. This is scary stuff folks.
How demoralizing is it to work all day for $300 and see your neighbor receive $300 from the Federal Reserve just for existing while they spent the day watching Ellen, Oprah and Judge Karen? It is demoralizing and maddening. Something is going to have to give.
I keep thinking what would a Christian monetary system look like (after all you can't just create a vaccuum). I keep coming back to "Do to others what you would have them do to you". Apparently God's wisdom is truly foolishness to those who are perishing (and that includes Christians who are willfully economically ignorant). We are not entitled to anything just because we are Christians. When will our Christian pastors address this monster (debt according to Deuteronomy 28) from the pulpit? It might be too scary as they all have their mortgages of various sizes hanging out there, and to address it might mean they need to do something about it themselves...and well...I'm guessing they're not interested in doing that. (As an aside, why won't the above sentences go into arial, my favorite font? This makes no sense...sorry for the inconsistency. I am aware of it, but can't change it).
And, for the record, if you are a taxpayer funded school parent, don't you ever ever complain about the debt. You are adding to it at a much faster rate than me. Hypocrite is the label for you.
Help. So...love you children. Live within your means. Pay off your debts and do to others as you would have them do to you. It really is not all that difficult to figure out. Why do we make it so?
posted by Lisa aka Mombley | 6:33 AM
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