November 11, 2007Monday morning quarterbacking...A show of hands for the folks who watched 60 Minutes last night. I'm thinking in particular of Morley Safer's segment on "The Millenials." They need to grow the heck up. No, I didn't walk 20 miles to school through hail storms, blizzards and all that jazz. I'm all for praising employees when they do well. But I can't get with coddling grown people to get them to do their jobs. As my old boss in Detroit used to say, "If it were fun, we wouldn't call it work." That's not to say we shouldn't enjoy our jobs. But the idea galls me of pampering some adult prima donna who thinks he's owed something i.e. the royal treatment just because he showed up. Puhleeeeze!. Admittedly, I don't know technology the way they do. But then again, they don't know life the way I do.
Today is more than a reason for a sale...We salute our fellow Americans who volunteered or answered their country's call. My grandfather, who lived to the ripe old age of 94, was a World War I vet. I dunno what Papa did in the service. Never asked. I just remember he served in France. I also remember the picture of him dressed in his uniform. It was very similar to the one worn by Mr. Buckles, whose picture ran in Sunday's Roanoke Times. I looked up Papa's military records on ancestry.com, before it started charging. The site had a microfiche of a document with his signature when he enlisted. Papa came back home after the war, began work as a farmer, married and bought an 80-acre parcel that remains the family compound today. He never learned to drive. But he walked one mile every day to the post box on the main road, and one mile back. He did that way up into his 80s. Wonder what Papa, with his work ethic, would think of The Millenials?
To find out just where all those "love offerings" mailed in by TV audiences are going, the U.S. Senate's Finance Committee is investigating several high-profile TV preachers: Benny Hinn; Kenneth Copeland; the Whites, who have announced they are divorcing; Joyce Meyer; Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long. For the critics who will use this investigation to paint all people of faith with a broad brush, don't. As a person of faith, let me say that not all Christians are about the Benjamins. Many ministers are sincere and put their congregants' spiritual needs ahead of their own fiscal ones. I wouldn't send a nickel to any of these jokers. But their popular ministries and huge followings speak to a desire by millions of people seeking to satisfy a void in their lives. These dudes can't fill it.
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About this blog In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
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Comments
[November 12, 2007 5:55 PM]
Integrityjust4uHey Shanna, as a person of "faith" when and if you go to church who or what is the name of the "joker" who fills the void in your life??? OOps! I forgot, I repent, because we are not to touch God's anointed and we are to do His prophets no harm. You also need to repent and learn the lesson taught by Gamaliel in Acts 5:38-39. "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
You must not have anyone that you trust to read your work or even give you any advice, because if you had been an acquaintance of mine, I would have said Shanna Flowers the statements that you made were ignorant and stupid. Have you checked out what the pope and the Vatican get monthly. How about Jewish Rabbis. Would you call them jokers because they are being used to fill the voids as you say in peoples lives. I think not. Even you would not be that ignorant. However, you talk about these men and women of God, who you evidently don't know anything about and haven't even taken the time to objectively do so. That to me is ignorance personified coupled with ignorance gone to seed. What does that mean? That means you are planting your seeds of ignorance in the lives of other. Don't be so slanted. OReilly may get away it, but it does not make it right.
[November 12, 2007 7:14 PM]
Kia Smith : →http://www.thirstdaysfulfilled.blogspot.comI find it amusing that so many people make comments about the minstries "under investigation" but they have made no effort to hear the messages they preached. If they took time to do so, they would realize it's all Bible-based. Maybe what we really have a problem with is giving to those who are doing better than we are? Just my thoughts.
[November 13, 2007 1:15 AM]
shannaThank you, Kia, for your comments.
You probably are aware of the weekend news report that Creflo released documents that showed he took in a cool $69 million last year. Not a bad gig, if you can get it.
I'm not jealous of these folks for what they have. What bothers me is they exploit people looking for spiritual guidance. Too often, the people sending them those "love offerings" (ah, Rev. Ike's favorite phrase) are those least in a position to do so. The preachers are buying planes and $2,000 suits and such and their financial benefactors can't pay rent. There's something troublesome about that.
I've watched Creflo a few times on television, so I know he's all about the "prosperity gospel." Besides, I have a family member who attends his church. Sure he mixes Bible in for good measure. But he doesn't stray too far from the money theme, either.
As for Integrityjust4u, my faith is not rooted in man but in God.
You'll forgive me for not being from the camp that believes clergy are above reproach. So yes, I would call a Jewish Rabbi or the Pope "jokers," if they warranted it. I suspect they've been called far worse.
My recollection of Gamaliel is that he told the enraged high priests and their posse of Sadducees not to kill the disciples. They still punished them, as I recall. Just didn't kill them. I'm not advocating we march these folks to the gallows. I'm advocating that donors be a little wiser in knowing how their contributions are being spent, particularly if they are hard-pressed.
I'm an opinion columnist, so my job is to write with a perspective.
s
[November 14, 2007 9:26 AM]
B.PerkinsIf an income of $69 million doesn't make you rich, then what does? The one phrase that fits this situation best I think would be the one that said something about it being harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. As they travel and speak, I wonder how many desperate and destitute people they meet, and how many of those they have shared any of that wealth with? Words are cheaper, aren't they?
[November 15, 2007 10:43 PM]
Henry HaleShanna,
Thank you for saying things others are either too naive or too scared to say. Many in society confuse these charlatens in the pulpit for people who have their best interests at heart. Jakes, Dollar, Long, etc. have used religion to advance their capitalistic agendas to the detriment of the most desperate in society.
Look in Roanoke. There's a church in Northwest that has one of the poorest congregations in the city, but its pastor and family enjoy all of the fine splendor of royalty.
The problem is the people who put those "jokers" on a pedestal and fall for their shameful ways. Long, Jakes, etc disgrace the ministers with the "pure faith". Thanks for being brave enough to take on this issue.
[November 21, 2007 6:19 PM]
PCoopeIsn't it amazing that we have crucified the Church for having money, instead of living like the people in the third world. Yes, there are bad ministries and these should be brought to justice. Unfortunately, the good are just raked in with the bad.
Now, we want the Church accountable because we are told that we must be wise with our money. When was the last time we called that Mega Center called Wal Mart to account.
$25,000.00 and maybe more have they donated to a gay and lesbian organization. I am not speaking for or against this but it never came to the wiire services. What about Exxon, that made billions in profits, and we, John Q. Public now pay $3.39 cents per gallon for gas! Exxon was asked to explain how they profited but they never explained. Anyone ever tell you what they have done with your 401K lately?? While we call one group accountable, we should call all on the carpet! This is about the Church and their accounts...but if we ask one, we should ask all.
After all, ALL they( wal mart,kmart,sears,etc) want is your money?
[November 26, 2007 4:25 PM]
BfractionWe are discussing moral, economic, and spiritual issues here. You send money to a televangelist with a private jet and mansions and you cannot pay your rent- then there is a problem. If that person promises you financial breakthroughs when all you need is to pray to God and manage your money- there lies the problem. I guess from one perspective, we historically see the black church as a meeting place for several transactions. The church served as a holy place and a place for community. People were taught many things about life in the church. Hence the prosperity classes. Teach the people to mange their money better, and then the church will be more financially stable. More people tithing, more church building, more money. These are social economic lessons not spiritual lessons. However, the Bible also teaches about finances. There are definitely businesses minded individuals in the church and many are the leaders. And, usually leaders in all settings are financial and business minded. Furthermore, we can use the Bible to support any campaign we lead or support. Minus the miracle water, the anointed handkerchiefs, money-raising revivals and all the other gimmicks- stick to the old school God. The one that no one really knew much about. And, if you have a breakthrough in life- remember it was your faith, not anyone else’s faith. So in closing, if in the beginning and the end it is all about improving everyday living and increasing my faith, be that, spiritually, mentally, physically, and financially- then so be it.