[CS-FSLUG] Christians taking action...

[Jim Isbell, W5JAI]

I agree with most all of that.  I think what is in our mind is of
importance to God, not necessarily what results from our inadvertent
actions.  As an example, I live in the US and I pay taxes to the US,
those taxes paid the soldiers that committed the atrocity's in that
Iraqi prison camp.  BUT...I in no way hold myself responsible for the
twisted mental capacities of those soldiers that acted against orders,
without mu knowledge, and without the approval of most of their
superiors.

I was the youth director of our church for a while and on one occasion
the youth held a dance.  One of the dances they performed was the
"Cotton Eyed Joe"  being in England you probably dont know that in one
part of the dance a phrase is yelled out loud that some people might
find offensive. but in Texas if you are at a barn dance, you expect to
hear it.  It is tradition and has no real meaning.  One of the church
members that was there came over to ma and said,"Do you hear what they
are saying?"  and I responded in the affirmative.  "Then why dont you
stop it," I was asked?

I responded that I didnt think God spoke any particular
language...even though some of our local Lutherans have told me they
are sure he speaks German....and that what was in your heart was what
he was understanding.  If you hammer your thumb with a hammer and yell
out.."Gxplechinjg..." to avoid using a swear word.  You are NOT
Innocent.  and if you use a "swear word" without the emotion behind
it, you may be uncouth, but you are NOT guilty.

Now as to WalMart.  Before they came to this town we had no choice but
an overpriced local grocery or drive 25 miles to the nearest large
town where competition held the prices to reasonable levels.  Wal Mart
moved here, put out of business the charlatans, and gave us reasonable
prices.  NOW...if after putting the charlatans out of business they
had raised their prices back to the old levels I would agree with you,
that is evil.  But they did not.  Their prices remain competitive with
the city prices.  In other words they pass on the savings to us and do
not use their sole proprietor position as a way to dominate us.

But other than the above paragraph, I agree completely with you on the
theological side of it.

And another point, if research means going to bloggers and web sites,
many of which have agendas, I dont think that is proper research.  You
need to talk to the people benefited by Wal Mart and those that work
for Wal Mart.  The nay sayers, such as Hillory Clinton....who was and
may still be an executive of Wal Mart....and John Kerrys
wife...something or other Hinze....who owned and may still own over a
million dollars in Wal Mart stock....both of whom are avid Wal Mart
bashers, or the unions (something to the effect of "A woman
scorned...etc...etc) all have an agenda.

On 8/19/06, 'Mash <mashdot at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi, Jim
>
> Sorry, I am briefly aware of the history of Wal-Mart and the last
> couple of weeks I have been reading up more. You are right concerning
> the British media we have not been told very much of anything about
> Wal-Marts connection with ASDA Supermarket and the history behind
> Wal-Marts dealings. We have to find out this information ourselves.
>
> I coach a womens Roller derby team which is predominately made up of
> Americans so I was told as it is from an American point of view. My
> intial statment was just a sweep gesture about the people who purchase
> from Walmart. I know this directly as I live in the Docklands and
> there is only a single place to buy Groceries and this is ASDA. But
> most of London is close enough to use transport so in London we DO
> have an option to not shop there. Unlike, so I have heard, towns in
> the USA where the next nearest shop is an hour away.
>
> My whole point really is not so much about Wal-Mart but about life in
> general. I mean in my opinion I believe that no God Loving Christian
> should eat KFC. Mainly because it is just lazy selfishness if you do.
> Quite simple really.
>
> God knows our hearts and this is what I wanted to talk about and
> really just ask if anyone else feels the same way. I dont believe God
> really cares if we shop at Wal-Mart or not, but I do think he cares
> that if we do have the choice, if we can make the choice, that we
> actually choose the right thing. That we must think outside of
> ourselves and about those who are affected by our choices.
>
>
> 'Mash
>
>
>
> On 19/08/06, Jim Isbell, W5JAI <jim.isbell at gmail.com> wrote:
> > This should not get political, but your facts are wrong.  When you
> > said it hurts everyone but those that shop there you neglected to
> > point out that it doesnt hurt those who work there.
> >
> > There are unions in this country and they have tried uncucessfully to
> > unionise walmart for years.  Gee, I wonder why???  Could it be that
> > their, supposedly trampled on employees are satisfied with the status
> > quo?
> >
> > When a mom and pop grocery, the only one we had in town, goes out of
> > bussiness because WalMart brought in reasonably priced groceries like
> > the city folks get normaly,  12,000 people benifit and TWO (2) lose.
> >
> > I wont mention this again unless you post directly to me but, I think
> > European press usualy have their facts wrong about the US
> >
> > On 8/19/06, 'Mash <mashdot at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hi everyone,
> > >
> > > I have not posted in ages and true to myself when I do it has little
> > > to do with technology.
> > > For the past week I have been thinking about how that as a Christian I
> > > can profess to love Jesus and his teachings yet live my life in
> > > complete contradiction to this. In contradiction in the choices I make
> > > regarding being part of a larger evil.
> > >
> > > Let me explain.
> > > I recently found out that my local Supermarket here in the UK is
> > > actually owned by Walmart.
> > > Now from my limited understanding and I am starting to learn more,
> > > Walmart appears to be horrendous in the way it operates regarding
> > > employees, product acquisition, contracts etc.
> > > After some more research the whole Walmart company appears to be
> > > abusive and corrupt, a systemic evil that is hurting people all over
> > > the world except those who shop there.
> > >
> > > Now this whole thing started me thinking about the bigger picture. Why
> > > is it as Christians we can sit back on Sunday, absorb the joy and then
> > > go out and commit "indirectly" the most heinous evils known to man.
> > > That we will buy certain products , support certain companies which we
> > > all know are destroying lives. It is possibly the most selfish thing I
> > > have ever heard of. How dare we profess to love God yet suck up the
> > > luxury of certain products which are causing abuse to hundreds of
> > > families in other countries. Why is it that as Christians we are
> > > accepting this , being a part of this and not standing up for justice.
> > > Why as Christians are we living in the lap of luxury yet only a few
> > > hours away people are dying from lack of water. YET WE ARE NOT DOING
> > > ANYTHING AS CHRISTIANS !
> > >
> > > I know full well that it is an almost impossible task to live outside
> > > of some circle of corporate abuse but I see little evidence that
> > > Christians even care. Why are we not taking the time to talk about
> > > where we should be shopping, who we should be supporting, what we
> > > should not be part of.
> > >
> > > Here is an example which has fallen on my heart. At some point, God
> > > willing I will be at a point in a relationship where I should be
> > > thinking of buying an engagement ring. I do not believe I will be
> > > purchasing a diamond. That is unless I know exactly where that diamond
> > > was mined. If my wife really wants one then we will spend as long as
> > > it takes to find one that comes from the correct source. I am not and
> > > will not let my wife wear some luxury item with which hundreds of
> > > people have shed blood over. Moreso I dont see why we should actually
> > > spend a huge amount of money on a diamond in the first place. I pray
> > > that the sort of women God has for me would rather give that sort of
> > > money away then wear it on her finger.
> > >
> > > What I am getting at is that I want us to stop for a minute and think
> > > about what we have, where it came from. What we are buying tomorrow
> > > and the next day. Which companies we support, which companies we have
> > > the option to not support. Spend time looking for alternatives, those
> > > which encourage people, help people and even build the kingdom.
> > >
> > > Lets start living Jesus rather then just talking Jesus.
> > >
> > > Somewhat ranty
> > >
> > > 'Mash
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jim Isbell
> > "If you are not living on the edge, well then,
> > you are just taking up too much space."
> >
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> > http://cs.uninetsolutions.com
> >
>
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>


-- 
Jim Isbell
"If you are not living on the edge, well then,
you are just taking up too much space."