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Meme's Mornings
Friday, 17 October 2008
TaXeS
Things are always easier to understand when explained in terms of beer! 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 paid $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). 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 between all of them for even half of the bill! And that, boys and girls, 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. David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. Professor of Economics, University of Georgia For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Even If
Author: Darlene Eastes
Your heart is breaking
Your mind is unclear
Your tired and restless and full of fear
Come to me-
even if
You say words you shouldn’t
You don’t do things you should
You doubt and try to change,
but never think you could.
Come to me-
even if
You thought an evil thought
You thought the thought again
You turned the thought to action
and now your bound in sin.
Come to me-
even if
You say “But I knew better,
I belong to you”
Child, I am not surprised
by anything you do.
I made you in my image
I fashioned you with care,
When you cried tears into your pillow,
remember I was there.
I have always been
and always will I be.
For even when you do those things,
you still belong to me.
Even if you do these things,
Oh child, don’t you see?
Even if, even if,
you still can come to me.
There is a secret place I have created
where you may seek my face,
this place I have for you
is called “The Father’s Warm Embrace”
And when I have held you in my arms
and rocked you, listening closely
to your fears,
I will place you on my lap
and wipe away your tears.
Then, I will smile.
A smile to let you know I am pleased.
For when you hurt and when you sinned,
still- you came to me.
So, do not draw back from me my child,
I am Abba Father to you,
remember in my word I said -Behold,
I make all things new.
I will forgive you, heal you,
restore you,
I will shower you with grace.
I will never turn my back to you,
but you will see my face.
On your journey home,
when I see you I will run…..
Even if, Even if,
My child, even if just come. John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
True Feminists? I am thinking of two women who are extremely successful. But of course that is my opinion. One is a mother of 7, who can fly a plane, build and drive race cars, organize medical teams to help people all over the world, and go to those places herself and roll up her sleeves and dig in and work. Oh yes she also has a successful marriage. I'm sure I do not know all she does. But I know she has a servant's heart. Now the other is a mother of 5, fishes, hunts, played basketball, played hockey, served on the city council, served her people as mayor, now serving as Governor, has brought prosperous changes to her state, soon to be a grandmother. Oh yes she also has a successful marriage, and she takes a stand for her values without apologizing. Now what is there here that makes feminists freak out? What kind of women are feminists promoting? Feminists of America you better wake up because while you were sleeping, there were a lot of women carrying on and living exciting full successful lives. While you are still whining with Gloria Steinham about women's rights these women are living! You are still whining about how it will not work! Please what do you believe in? Just think how much joy is in their lives! Look at their faces and see the contentment because while so-called feminists are crying about why women can't do it these women are doing it! Oh yes and you might notice they did it with children not abortions. Thank you Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin for your example for my granddaughters! You are the American Dreams!
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Jesus makes Liberals nervous! But religion is rarely practiced in isolation; organized religion, at least, is a very public affair. The faithful may feel compelled by their religion to actively evangelize wherever they can. They may feel that a secular state promotes values that directly offend their beliefs. They may want the larger society to validate and reinforce their views.
And when the religiously motivated assert themselves politically to achieve these aims, liberals get nervous. - Barack Obama
Jesus came to them and said:
I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. ~Jesus Christ ~ Matthew 28:18-20
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
But I tell you; Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44
Monday, 1 September 2008
Good Morning! I am just going to jump right in. I have a heavy heart this morning for some issues in our society that just really blow my mind. I went through some rough years with my eyes diverted and my heart numb to a lot of things. I guess you could say I was blind even though I was a Christian, I numbed myself to a lot of moral issues and just joined right in some and at least approved by accepting the behaviors of others. Oh yeah, I thought I was having fun. They are not the proudest moments for sure. But then I have nothing to boast of in my life but my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I feel like a lot of Christians so easily get sidetracked and off course for many reasons. One reason is the truly Christian views of a lot of issues are so unpopular in our society today. I have such a hard time grasping just where these people get there opinions of what is right and wrong. You know - just what is acceptable. I believe there is a strong belief system but it is so often clouded by the desire to be acceptable. And of course everyone wants to be fun, carefree and popular. Well I have to say that I have never had so much fun or felt so carefree and popular as I do when I am freed by the truth ( the absolute Truth) of the Almighty God! Do those performing gay marriage use the Bible in the ceremony? Jesus settled the marriage issue once for all, declaring that God had made them “male and female ... a man ... [and] his wife” (Matthew 19:4-5). Why do they get so upset when someone quotes Scripture? God’s word identifies husband-wife relations as “natural relations” and homosexual relations as “unnatural ones” (Romans 1:26-27) and “perversion” (vs. 27). Not only the ones involved in this practice but those who approve. Romans 1:25-32 24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. I am really tired of having to walk on eggshells and try not to hurt anyone's feelings over this issue. I am convinced that we who believe the Word of God need to speak out. I wasted a lot of my years not standing up and speaking out! I want to speak out now in love for people I know and love, this country and our churches. Our nation needs to hear the Word of God and not just the parts that fit their lifestyle. 
How can someone be a Christian and not believe the Bible is the Word of God? People can be redirected in their life and God is Able to change anyone, so we must look to Him and His Word and His Love. Prayers in Jesus Name, Meme
Friday, 29 August 2008
Softly Singing
Listen closely you can hear,
A song so sweet upon your ear.
It’s in the trees and through the rain,
Softly singing a peaceful refrain.
Listen closely you may know
The sound of peaceful falling snow.
You must be still and quiet too,
Allow the song to come to you.
Listen closely you feel the joys
Of giggles from sweet girls and boys.
Laughter makes such a wonderful song
You find you want to sing along.
Listen closely the flowers grow
Their song the colors of the rainbow.
For colors make a song so bright,
I call this tune a song for sight.
Martha Susan Owen / 2008 March 21
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Oh to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ in everything we do! And Be truly Thankful!!!
How can we keep this promise? Giving thanks in every word and deed? You know it is really hard to glorify the Lord when we are ranting and raving or yelling sarcastic remarks at strangers much less our loved ones! How can we be thanking God the Father through His Son Jesus when we are in such a horrible state? I honestly believe so much of this comes from being in a hurry. We must tame our tongues and tempers....we must learn to get our disagreements settled in love not hate. Every dispute can be solved in love if we look to Jesus to guide us. We can slow down and look to His example to reach out to others in love and understanding. Patience is one thing that we must practice.... Our lives are so hurried and everything seems so important that we miss out on what really, truly counts. Slow down. Feel the touch. Listen carefully. What really is the hurry? Where just where are we all rushing to? Why can't we listen to each other? Meals together are rushed. Fast showers instead of relaxing baths. Microwaves rather than ovens. Instant foods, phones and ipods growing out of our ears....who can listen? I know I sound old but well...I guess I am. But you know what everyone is rushing to get old and then they will get there and say what was the hurry? Where did the time go? How did my children grow up so fast? Why don't they come to see me or have time to just talk? I am very fortunate that I have so many interests and also have a lot of time to enjoy and I get to spend a lot of time with my family. But I still get in a rush and stressed and yell. I am forever working on my patience. We can take time to give God the Glory and enjoy and thank Him for the many Blessings He bestows. Praise to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ His Son! In His Love, Meme
Sunday, 24 August 2008
What a beautiful night of Worship! I just have to write my morning post tonight because I have been so blessed by the Wonderful service of Praise and Worship of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour! Our Church Choir, Band, Orchestra, Living Water -Human Video and the whole congregation praising God in song and prayer. This night made me realize how very fortunate we are to have this freedom to worship whenever we want, wherever and how. We have the freedom to witness to others and share our testimony of how Jesus died to save us from our sins. How lost we get into busy lives of the worldly things we do and neglect to actually ask the questions of our neighbors to find out if they believe and shout our praise for what Jesus means to us. Oh that we may recognize the privilege we have, the wonderful freedom to spread the Good News. God is So Good and So Mighty and Loves us all! Jesus is our Good Shepherd, our Lord and Saviour, our All in All! 
In God's Love, Meme
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