Did you know? - - Do you remember - Labor Day and Labor Pains? Wikipedia states: “The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a workingmen's holiday on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country. Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.”
Newt Gingrich commented that rather than observe Labor Day today we should observe Unemployment Day. Labor Pains are currently felt in several sectors and entire industries have moved their primary production to other countries. One of the greatest benefactors currently is China. Meanwhile, unemployment in our nation has been persistently higher than desirable – currently at 9.6% - with no indication of significant change in the immediate economic predictions. Richard Wolf, in USA Today for 8-30-10 wrote: “Government anti-poverty programs that have grown to meet the needs of recession victims now serve a record one in six Americans and are continuing to expand.
• More than 50 million Americans are on Medicaid…That's up at least 17% since the recession began in December 2007. The program has grown even before the new health care law adds about 16 million people, in 2014.
• More than 40 million people get food stamps, an increase of nearly 50% during the economic downturn.
• Close to 10 million receive unemployment insurance, nearly four times the number from 2007. Benefits have been extended by Congress eight times beyond the basic 26-week program, enabling the long-term unemployed to get up to 99 weeks of benefits. Caseloads peaked at nearly 12 million in January
• More than 4.4 million people are on welfare, an 18% increase.
As caseloads for all the programs have soared, so have costs.
• The federal price tag for Medicaid has jumped 36% in two years, to $273 billion.
• Jobless benefits have soared from $43 billion to $160 billion.
• The Food Stamps program has risen 80%, to $70 billion.
• Welfare is up 24%, to $22 billion.
Taken together, all of these Programs cost more than the total Medicare program.”
What is a Christian response at a time of recession and need – when Labor Pains are a reality? Proverbs 28:27 (NLT) states: “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing. But a curse will come upon those who close their eyes to poverty.” An important principle is shared in II Corinthians 8:13-15 (The Message), “This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least.” We never should be blind to the needs of others nor tone deaf to the cry for help. Giving money is not always prudent - but anyone can share a meal, or an item of clothing, or provide transportation, etc. It is basic sensitivity to need, as well as an opportunity to share with others the love of Jesus Christ. Consider these things with me!
Newt Gingrich commented that rather than observe Labor Day today we should observe Unemployment Day. Labor Pains are currently felt in several sectors and entire industries have moved their primary production to other countries. One of the greatest benefactors currently is China. Meanwhile, unemployment in our nation has been persistently higher than desirable – currently at 9.6% - with no indication of significant change in the immediate economic predictions. Richard Wolf, in USA Today for 8-30-10 wrote: “Government anti-poverty programs that have grown to meet the needs of recession victims now serve a record one in six Americans and are continuing to expand.
• More than 50 million Americans are on Medicaid…That's up at least 17% since the recession began in December 2007. The program has grown even before the new health care law adds about 16 million people, in 2014.
• More than 40 million people get food stamps, an increase of nearly 50% during the economic downturn.
• Close to 10 million receive unemployment insurance, nearly four times the number from 2007. Benefits have been extended by Congress eight times beyond the basic 26-week program, enabling the long-term unemployed to get up to 99 weeks of benefits. Caseloads peaked at nearly 12 million in January
• More than 4.4 million people are on welfare, an 18% increase.
As caseloads for all the programs have soared, so have costs.
• The federal price tag for Medicaid has jumped 36% in two years, to $273 billion.
• Jobless benefits have soared from $43 billion to $160 billion.
• The Food Stamps program has risen 80%, to $70 billion.
• Welfare is up 24%, to $22 billion.
Taken together, all of these Programs cost more than the total Medicare program.”
What is a Christian response at a time of recession and need – when Labor Pains are a reality? Proverbs 28:27 (NLT) states: “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing. But a curse will come upon those who close their eyes to poverty.” An important principle is shared in II Corinthians 8:13-15 (The Message), “This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least.” We never should be blind to the needs of others nor tone deaf to the cry for help. Giving money is not always prudent - but anyone can share a meal, or an item of clothing, or provide transportation, etc. It is basic sensitivity to need, as well as an opportunity to share with others the love of Jesus Christ. Consider these things with me!
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