ADULT FOOD FIGHT 

When I was a kid in middle school, it wasn't uncommon for a food fight to break out on the outside lunch tables. Bread, apples, Twinkies, and other assorted items from lunch bags were used as weapons between the combatant students.
Now we have adults in our Nation's Legislative bodies battling with each other over/with food. Some Republicans are urging up to 40% cut in food stamp money. No doubt the cost has risen sharply. In 2001, $15 billion served 17 million people, now 47 million people get the stamps, costing 75 billion yearly.
Those supporting the drastic cuts argue that the program needs to return to the original eligibility limits and serve the "truly needy".
The fact is that by making heavy cuts, 3 million people would lose their benefits while nearly one million would see their food allotment reduced.
At least two facts need to be taken into account, food costs have have increased rapidly, and secondly, employment has taken a downward turn as jobs are being downsized resulting in lower wages for the family breadwinners.
The fight has turned bitter with comments from the Democratic side:"The Senate will never pass such hateful, punitive legislation." Thus spoke Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid. Florida's Debbie Wasserman Schultz weighed in, "What they are saying is that in America its OK for people to go hungry." Even the White House commented saying that it would veto the bill, calling "food stamps one of the Nation's strongest defenses against hunger and poverty".
It is encouraging to note that 12 Republicans voted against cutting billions of dollars from the the food stamp program.
Having worked for a time with Food For The Hungry in Arizona, I am familiar with with the tragic causes and hopeful cures for hunger across our world. Yet I never thought we in the US would fight over the basic right to feed our people with our great supply of food.
The wealthy CEO of one of our largest companies spent $4.20 for food for one day for a week, seeking to identify with the amount each stamp holder gets. He could only buy high calorie, mega carb foods, having to bypass fruits and vegetables. No one is eating high with food stamps.
No one in this great land of abundance should go to bed hungry because some legislators cut funding for their families' food!

 

George Zimmerman shot young black Travon Martin dead, Trevon is dead but George is set free. Is this America? Is this one nation, under God with liberty for all? Is this justice in America? Is this what our justice system has produced?

Why didn't George call the police if he thought he was in trouble? He had a car but Trevon was walking. Again, if he thought he was in trouble, why didn/t he get in and speed away? We can think of many alternatives instead of the use of deadly force.

What if the table was turned and Travon, a young black man, had the gun and shot George? We all know what would happen! Travon would be locked up immediately and would maybe see the light of freedom when he is 40 or 50 years of age.

Some people believe that we as a nation have come a long distance in achieving racial equality. This has been shown to be fiction!

When will we ever learn? When will racial justice begin in our land of the free and the home of the brave? When will young black men stop being murdered and killers set free?

THE ETHICS OF EQUAL PAY

A Christian View of the Glass Ceiling

In a recent economics report, many nations were ranked according to their practice of giving equal pay for men and women. The US was ranked somewhere in the middle while South Korea placed last.

What is at stake here is the meaning of money as it applies to the worth and value we place on persons. What is implied about the worth of women who are paid less especially when doing the same or similar jobs as men? While we can make all manner of cultural or historical reasons/ excuses for the lower pay, the fact remains that money paid is a measure of worth.

Jesus and the Worth of Persons

Jesus lifted up a child onto His lap and said that this child is like the Kingdom of God. In that society, kids were dismissed as of little value. Jesus elevated the despised Samaritans by making a Samaritan the hero of the story of the Good Samaritan. He healed outcast lepers and went to dinner with hated tax collectors. Gospel writer Luke records the names of women followers and supporters of Jesus along with the activities of the men disciples. He saw worth when others could not or would not.

Paul and the Worth of Women

The book of Romans is considered by many as one of Paul's greatest theological writings, So it is significant that at the concluding chapter he hands out effusive thanks to several women who ministered with him. Chapter 16 opens with accolades to Deacon Phoebe "who has been a great help to me and should be received as one worthy of the saints." The next in line are Priscilla and Aquilla, a wife and husband team. Paul remarked that all the Gentile churches are grateful for the two. In verse 6, Mary is greeted; then in verse 7,  the Apostle Junias is thanked for doing a great job. Many scholars have identified this person as a woman.

In verse 12, three women are thanked and in verse 13 Rufus' mother is extolled as mothering Paul, as well. He concludes by thanking by name four persons, two being women. Despite other quotes from Paul seeming to negate women, when it comes to ministry, he obviously sees their value and worth.

In conclusion, it should be clear that the Christian church needs to be the leader when it comes to equal pay for women. It is dishonoring to God when we have a lower scale of pay for women in the church or Christian organizations. It seems obvious that the Christian has more support for equal pay than the secular world does.