In God We Trust? -_-

I am currently halfway through a devotional on debt and it led me to see that we, as a nation are not acting as good stewards of our blessings.

It's funny how our nation prints on money "In God We Trust" but we don't trust God with our money. Capitialism is actually a very unGodly way of living. I'm not saying it's going to change or that I don't like the thought of making millions for doing no manual labor, but it isn't right. America's preoccupation with spending money that we don't have on things we don't need to impress people we don't like has our national debt at a new all-time high every year.

Not only that, but our businesses aren't run in a Godly manner. Aside from all the corruption, these businesses and creditors are holding people as financial slaves for life. The Bible specifically says that God said a Godly nation (Israel) would have a year of forgiveness every seven years in which borrowed land would be forgiven and returned to its owner if it was not paid off. Imagine if America were built on that divine principle. True, the companies wouldn't be as rich, but wealth would be more evenly distributed, there would be less stress, less materialism and ultimately less crime.

Lastly, I want to touch on tithing. We are HORRIBLE at tithing. I don't do it like I need to. Very few people do. But when it's time to visit the liquor store, we quickly find $15 for a fifth of alcohol. And that is why God gives us free will. But how can you expect Him to bless you with a lot when you won't even bless him with a little of the great abundance he has given you? That's like Someone paying for your cookout whole cookout (Side note: Happy Memorial Day. Thanks troops). When I say "whole," I mean buns, condiments, plates, meat, sides, cups, drinks, DJ services, park rental, EVERYTHING! And when it's all said and done, you decide He can even get a plate because you want to serve everyone who didn't put in (including yourself) first. How much sense does that make? When we tithe, we're giving Him a bit of His blessing back out of honor and respect. When we don't tithe, we are saying that we don't respect Him. But then we go back and ask Him to pay for our cookout again next weekend.

Because we choose not to know and/or follow His Word, we, as a nation which falsely claims Christianity, we put ourselves into this recession. Maybe we really need to live by that which we print on our paper and coins. And you can say "That's not the American way," and I will have to agree with you. But then I will also say that with time, the only thing that is constant is change. It is on our generation to decide if we will take our change in the right or wrong direction.

Scriptural evidence:
Romans 13:8 (love is all we should owe)
Prov. 22:7, I Cor. 7:23 (debt is slavery)
II Kings 4:1 (debt enslaves our families)
Deut 15 (debt cancellation/generousity)

I am sure there is more in the Word about this but, as I said before, I am only halfway through the devotional.

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Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Can I Talk to You?

I think a lot of people these days fail to realize the importance of being a good conversationalist. Employment opportunities, friendships, marriages, and almost anything else you can think of are built on one's ability to talk to another person. Without that, you have nothing that a computer doesn't have. And even an advanced computer can have a basic conversation these days. So what sets you, as an individual apart?

I spoke to some children at my elementary school the other day and, before I left, I told them they had to promise me they would do two things: have fun and read. Everyone wants to have fun. Reading, on the other hand, is sometimes an acquired interest. But it is what sets us apart. Reading and even watching substantive programming on television and then formulating ideas that you can articulate to others will put you on such a different plane than everyone around you. All day, while I am applying for jobs, I am simultaneously watching the news because of the fact that knowing what is going on is potentially equally as important in getting the job as the application and interview are. If you don't know what's going on in the world, at least the major things, you will look like an idiot in the interview or on the first date or even in the sports bar at night. I hate NBA basketball (more of an NCAA guy) but I keep up with who's winning every series of the finals because it might come up in conversation one day and who knows where the conversation may lead.

I can still speak on every basic topic I could as a child because, if you exceed a plateau, you can always step back down to it, when needed. But if you hit a learning ceiling, there is no stepping up in your time of need.

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Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Real vs. Fake

"Champagne to all my real friend and real pain to my sham friends" - Montgomery Brogan

Too often, we forget who took care of us when we really needed it. I know I have done it. We fail to be there for them when they in turn need us. I know I have failed at it. How many times have I looked to a friend for help sometime after doing them a favor and, without mentioning the favor I did, asked them for assistance, only to be told "I don't have time?" How often have I done it? How often have you? Or, even worse, how many times have I told someone I don't have time for them and turned around and asked them for something in the following weeks? Real friends are hard to come by. Fake friends are easy. A real friend will clean his mess after he makes it. A fake one will leave the trash on your floor, and walk out the door each time. A real friend will eat your food when he comes to your house and let you do the same at his home. A fake friend will eat your food at your house and say he has to save all his food when you visit him. I could go on and on but you get the picture. Really people, think about the kind of friend you are being. And to the Greeks, you wearing those letters doesn't mean a thing if you won't offer what you can to another who shares that bond. You don't have to like the next man (or woman) to love him (or her).

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Praying for a Miracle

A nation that's in more debt than scripture
A nation that was supposed to be such a perfect picture
Is no longer picture perfect.
George in his grave wondering if it was worth it
Crispus knows for damn sure it wasn't
No, I do not trust the gov'ment
Because America no longer has earn in it
America is on the way to hell but I won't burn in it
Shoot me for being an idealist but I am
And I no longer trust The Man
"The Man" being any man or woman who stands
On this earth because these days, shaking hands
Or giving your word is the same as breathing
In other words, giving your word has no meaning
"Til death do us part" has become a catch phrase
Because people are more likely to get a divorce than a pay raise
I just want a Christian family, cars, house with a fence
A corner office, retirement plan, and kids with some sense
Is that too much to ask? These days, it seems so
People act like they have no moral compass but we know
Right from wrong and yet we continue to turn left
We sit in church on Sunday but might as well be deaf
We look at the Word in the morning but forget it by noon
It makes me wonder if He will return soon
We've made gods out of Gaga and Mr. West
And forgot that the God is the one who loved us at our worst and our best
If we really trusted in God, we would let His Word lead
Instead of sex, slander, manipulation, and greed
If I say "Get on your knees," what comes to mind?
I bet people would answer "Prayer" two percent of the time
We've got to change our ways but it'll take an act of God
But nothing is impossible. Every miracle's an act of God

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Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

We Made It

I'm sitting here at my commencement and I don't know where I am going but where ever it is, I will be doing great things. My parents didn't raise me to make minimum wage. We made it, now we just have to make it. And I say "we" because I earned the degree but it's for everyone who didn't make it out with me.

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Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Dear People,

Dear People,
Over the past 5 years, I have met people that will forever change my life. Whether friends or foes, Christians or Buddhists, my professor or my resident, the girl who had a crush on me or the guy who worked in the registrar's office, Alphas or Iotas, the provost or the custodian in the library, the girlfriend or just the random guy I nodded at from time to time in passing on College Ave, I I wouldn't be me without UNCG, Greensboro, and everywhere else this experience took me. I wouldn't have traded this time for anything. It's hard to believe that it's all coming to another beginning. And if I never talk to you again after May 6th or 7th or when my lease runs out, you were important to the development of the man I will always be becoming. 06 to the brothers, much love to all others.

Sincerely,

Deryle A. Daniels, Jr
"In-TR3-c.u.t. reBUTTall"

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Litera scripta manet. - Unknown