Fashion and the Gospel

[bert10]

Not really poor just average. I was making good money when GOD took me down a peg or two. But then again one ought to be careful what He asks GOD. When people pray to GOD to make them humble...they had better know what the word means. A lot of time our pride is tied to our social standing. And we do begin to care what people think. If I chose to have more money I could get another job. I have a lot of time off between my shifts. But I choose not. I have too much to do with the Scriptures. And this is my priority.

Philippines? You gotta be kidding when there are so many homeless and hungry people in the USA?

Perhaps there is no glory in starting a company and employing people instead in the USA. And probably very little glory and things to talk about....if he opens one more soup kitchen...because a lot of the people who are homeless have mental problems or addiction that they cannot break. Regardless these people are out of step with society and they may never catch up. They need help, now today.

bert10

Wow... just wow. So you're saying that if a person was able to afford luxury cars and big houses and large estates that they wouldn't be nice people to know and hang out with?

And herein lies the problem. You are poor and do not know a rich person. Therefore, you apply your narrow worldview with your un-Christlike prejudice and paint all rich people who spends money on luxury cars as Prideful Egotistic snits.

You know Tim Tebow right? Multi-millionaire. Complete with luxury car and giant home - two of them even. You know where he spends his summers? In the Philippines - elbow deep in bloody guts giving his time and energy freely assisting in surgeries at this remote village in Luzon. A village that can barely afford running water.

So, because you are bert, you would say - then Tim Tebow should have spent the money he put on a luxury car, to buy all these people better plumbing! Uh no. Because, if he would have just done that, then the village would be there next summer with palms up waiting for the next hand-out. There are times when you allow a village to work out its own problems to strengthen themselves. And there are times when you go in there and get up to the elbows in blood and guts to help them out.

But, because you are bert, and you are the king of envy and sweeping prejudice, you look at the luxury car and the giant house and dismiss Tim Tebow for the prideful RICH monster that he is.

SHAME ON YOU.

[slamjet]

I dunno, some folks with mental problems tend to be the most normal out there. And I don't say that as a jest.

[bert10]

I think many are afflicted with FASD, they did not do well in school, and some have major social interaction problems, they cannot think straight and do not learn from their mistakes. There is no glory in helping these and at times we tend to think we are not doing any good.

I know GOD did not ask us to help only those we think need it. We are to help all needy people no matter what we think. For who knows why a person is reduced to that state. Also if we give anything to a person with strings attached...we had better not call this charity. But buying even if it is only our peace of mind. Best of all is giving when we know we do not have any to spare. What worth is it to they who give from their excesses which belongs to GOD?

bert10

[slamjet]

FASD? Good grief, how in the world did we get here? I thought this threat was about fancy t-shirts?

[bert10]

I thought it was about Fashion and the Gospel. I think threads sometimes have a life of their own. If we listen inside, and follow the little voice, sometimes it is for our benefit and sometimes it is for others.

bert10

[slamjet]

I guess we have different definitions of FASD (to me, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder), thus the confusion.

[applepansy]

We are on a slippery slope...Sometimes just check out what people uses as vehicles and how they dress and what jewels they wear. At church we can practically see who are doctors, CEOs, dentists, lawyers from the blue collars and then on to the poor by the type of clothes the families wear. Funny things, the rich ones...they do not seem to sit in the back.

I'm poor. We sit close to the front.

Amazingly, its the more wealthy who sit closer to the back.

Sorry, but my wonderful ward always seems to be an anomily in discussion that start comparing wards.

[applepansy]

I do not think we have any in our ward. I also live in a ward where most are farmers. The vast majority do not overdress or show off and they are easy to speak to.

Oftimes its the farmers who are the most weatlhy.

We are to judge by fruits. And this is how it works...the money spent in luxuries is money spent on pride which is our Ego and it is money that should have been used to help the poor. When we go into excesses...we rob the poor..because the wealth does not belong to us...it is still the Lord. That is why Jesus said for the rich for them it is hard to enter into the kingdom. We can identify what is Luxuries and distinguish between wants and needs. And for those who can't then there is no sin. We do not judge the individual. But if the church were perfect then One Mighty and Strong would not need to come and set the Church in order and give the children their inheritance.

bert10

You're judging again. Here are some true story examples from my life:

1st example; Rancher, Very poor while raising children. Oil found on his ranch. He used people who needed jobs to build the new Ranch House, Bunk House, and other homes for his children as they grew up and got married. That's just the tip of the iceberg. If you met him at the temple you'd never know (unless you knew him personally) that he has money.

2nd example: Doctor, Huge House - built by someone who needed the job, Children - learned to be business-minded very young (one son funded his mission and was paying tithing while on his mission because his business was running itself) If you met him at the temple you could probably tell he has money, but not because of what brand suit or what make of car he drives. It would be his level of education and the way he speaks.

As I compare these to great men and their families I don't see anything unpleasing to our Heavingly Father.

What I have observed is that having nice things doesn't very often mean you are wealthy. Sometimes all it means is that the person has more debt. And isn't that a sad stare of affairs.

I've learned to not judge people by their clothes or their homes or where they sit in church. When I worked in the medical field I had the opporunity to take care of patients in their homes. I've been in every level from the poorest of poor to the very rich. What I found is that it wasn't their clothes or their house that set them apart. It was the richness of their spirit. You can be poorer than poor and have an abundance and you can be the richest and be poor in spirit.

Here is a video I saw a few months ago and was reminded today that applies to the attitude we need to foster when looking at people:

Best Wishes.

[applepansy]

I thought it was about Fashion and the Gospel. I think threads sometimes have a life of their own. If we listen inside, and follow the little voice, sometimes it is for our benefit and sometimes it is for others.

bert10

That's the best said so far. Sometimes people in need have material things. :) Its not for us to judge. It is only for us to follow the promptings of the spirit and always be grateful.

:)

[slamjet]

I'm poor. We sit close to the front.

There are only three reasons to sit in the front:

1) You're late, that's the last pew available.

2) You're early, you want to make faces at the speaker.

3) You're weird. The front of the chapel is no fun. Come join us in the back with all the other screaming kids.

[Bini]

I don't really consider myself a trendsetter but my coworkers like to tease me that I'm totally a fashionista. Having said that, I don't spend outrageous amounts of money on clothing and accessories. I have my favourite items and brands, and I typically buy them because of their good quality. Over the years I've learned that you get what you pay for, especially with shoes! Tops and bottoms are pretty much all the same.. But when it comes to shoes—you want to buy quality. My average shoe costs around $200 but it's totally worth it when it comes to comfort and overall quality.

A couple people mentioned "moderation", and I agree.

[Guest]

Philippines? You gotta be kidding when there are so many homeless and hungry people in the USA?

Perhaps there is no glory in starting a company and employing people instead in the USA. And probably very little glory and things to talk about....if he opens one more soup kitchen...because a lot of the people who are homeless have mental problems or addiction that they cannot break. Regardless these people are out of step with society and they may never catch up. They need help, now today.

bert10

I GIVE UP! You're a mess! JUDGEMENTAL is not even sufficient to describe YOU.

Tim Tebow grew up in the Philippines. He didn't come to America until he started high school. His parents were missionaries stationed in the Philippines! I grew up in the Philippines. YOU THINK YOU GOT POOR PEOPLE IN THE US???? GO TO THE PHILIPPINES. You'll have a big smackdab in the face on a major REDEFINITION of the word POOR! They'd be lucky to smell soup. Let alone a kitchen. And they don't have a government to give them hand-outs.

But look at what you're doing. All high and mighty about the scriptures that you read yet have a complete disregard for the doctrines it espouses. You got a lot to pray for bert.

[applepansy]

I GIVE UP! You're a mess! JUDGEMENTAL is not even sufficient to describe YOU.

Tim Tebow grew up in the Philippines. He didn't come to America until he started high school. His parents were missionaries stationed in the Philippines! I grew up in the Philippines. YOU THINK YOU GOT POOR PEOPLE IN THE US???? GO TO THE PHILIPPINES. You'll have a big smackdab in the face on a major REDEFINITION of the word POOR! They'd be lucky to smell soup. Let alone a kitchen. And they don't have a government to give them hand-outs.

But look at what you're doing. All high and mighty about the scriptures that you read yet have a complete disregard for the doctrines it espouses. You got a lot to pray for bert.

I'm sorry Anatess. I have agreed with you for the most part until this post.

The USA has places where poverty equals that of the Phillipines. One place that comes to my mind right off the bat is a Navajo Reservation.

It is very hard to not judge while accusing someone else of judging.