Lost in Xanadu
-
How can the church assert the truth of the gospel—an exclusive truth which
makes demands in the present because of promises which will be fulfilled
only in...
10 years ago
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Halloween at Covenant College
I was able to see Margaret score her first college points in the first half of a win against Oakwood University on Thursday night. Last night the Cov. guys lost & the girls team dressed up for tick or treating at the coach's neighborhood after the game - here are a few pics! Hopefully I will get some more bb pics - camera battery was dead. Today Covenant girls play a touch team - Lee University in Cleveland, TN. I hope Mo plays! She played 1/2 of the game on Friday and ended with 3 points.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Breaking Pornography Addiction
As a long time pastor that loves people and knows the reality of the depravity on man, I believe that pornography is rampant in the church and society. So you can ignore it and never ask hard questions or try to provide hope in the gospel. The Holy Spirit is able, we are weak!
I am always looking for resources that are helpful and not just rehashed behavior modification with a few Bible verses added to the stew.
No pictures for this post. Just a prayer as I publish it for those who suffer ...
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Spread the Wealth Around Experiment
Got this from a friend today - makes you think.
Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read
"Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed. Once in the restaurant my
server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away
his political preference--just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight. I went outside, gave the homeless guy $5 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient needed money more. I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Answers to a good question
I got an e-mail from a precious friend that honestly wanted to know what God was teaching me today. My first thought was to tell her what I was reading, what sermons I listened to lately or about the great sermon I heard on Psalm 27 yesterday preached by Phil Covert at Carolina Pres. But instead I allowed my mind to simply bring up random things I have learned in the last couple of weeks - or have been reminded of. So her are 12 thoughts. I want to challenge you to make a comment on this blog and at least list 6 things you are learning. I am not into tagging people but if that provokes you to make a comment consider yourself tagged.
1. What am I learning? That when God humbles someone, those around them are affected too. It happens all the time. So be careful who you get into a boat with - some sailors found that out with Jonah.
2. We are always in transition - will be until we get to glory.
3. Real friends are precious4. Not all real friends know how to be friends
5. It is easy to withdraw but harder to return to the land of the living.
6. It is easier to doubt when you are on the sidelines
7. There is no quick fixes to sanctification - it is a marathon
8. God is using a lot of people for his glory - we tend to only see a few.
9. Time moves the same for all of us (that is the theory) it seems to move quicker when you relax.
10. Good fellowship is precious - enjoy it when you have it - it can change overnight.
11. Family is so important -
12. I am insignificant.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Alabama Football
(2) Alabama 29, Tennessee 9A great game in a great stadium with a great ending! Roll Tide! I furnish the final score for the Vol fans because most of them either left the game or quit watching the TV!
I do hope Fulmer is able to survive at TN as the head coach - it makes for a great rivalry!
Tax System Explained so that I can Understand
Tax Cuts: A Simple Lesson in Economics
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
I guess the bartender ate the remaining dollar but it is not really germane to the outcome
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20 declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, 'but he got $10!'
'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!'
'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money among all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Attributed to
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
I guess the bartender ate the remaining dollar but it is not really germane to the outcome
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20 declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, 'but he got $10!'
'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!'
'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money among all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Attributed to
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
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