Labor Day - The Facts

For most people Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer and Labor Day marks the end of summer. Labor day was established in 1862 by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the working man, it became a national holiday in 1894. Since 1966 it has also been the weekend for the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon and yes Jerry Lewis has been hosting it for all these years.

Now for the rest of the story. Labor day is has important to me as Memorial day, during those celebrations we honor two of the most important contributors to America today, yesterday and all the days to come.

The men and women who died for this country to give me the right to believe what I want to believe, say what I want to say (as long as it does not endanger another), to dream, to hope, and to live free. The men and women who go to work every day in all those behind the scenes service jobs and help take good care of me when I just want to sit down and have a cup of coffee delivered to me.

Though no part of the body can live without another part, and no part is more important than the another. Who would we be if a farmer did not grow food, if someone did not forge tools for him to farm with, if there were no doctor's to keep the farmer well, the connection between all the jobs done to sustain our way of life goes ignored all to often.

Today, we see a greater separation in classes, but no longer is there a real middle class, we have for the most part two classes, the working poor and the working rich. I don't begrudge someone reaping the benefits and rewards from there hard work. I simply ask that they pay a living wage to their employees.

I challenge all business owners to pay a living wage to their employee's. This one step, will prevent so much of the poverty the working poor suffer in America. America is great place to go when you need to ask someone to help. Americans will jump on the bandwagon of the innocents so fast you won't be able to keep up with it. Disaster relief, Aids Relief, World Hunger, Trash Communities, War, Endangered Species, Dogs, Cats you name it, an American is always ready to rescue the innocent.

I tell you now the working poor in this country are innocent as well, they did not choose to work for minimum wage, they choose to work to feed their families, they did not choose to set their salaries below the cost of living median, they choose to work to support and sustain themselves. They are just as innocent as a stray dog, a lost cat, a hungry child in America is as hungry as a hungry child anywhere else.

I challenge you to consider one more thing. If everyone was a doctor, lawyer, business owner, etc., who would make the products they sell, who would farm the food we eat, who would stand on their feet for 12 hours waiting on us while we complain about the burnt toast the cook sent out. Just who indeed would be behind the scenes quietly patiently making sure our lives are as comfortable as possible?

Celebrate Labor Day by taking a long look at your business practices, and see if maybe you could make a few simple adjustments to your lifestyle and be a leader, no a rebel and pay a living wage.

Zealous = Humble

Anyone who has read my blog lately knows about the razoo contest to win $10,000. In my zealousness to win, I have been adding friends and then inviting them to FHC's group as fast as I can.
I decided this morning to do a little research on FHC's new friends when someone pointed out to me the accomplishments of one those friends.
Wow, these new friends of FHC are doers, not talkers, they have accomplished a lot during the course of their lives. One of them speaks 7 languages, when you compare my bio to theirs no wonder the support for FHC comes hard. I am even having a difficult time getting verified on a site that receives donations for people and non-profits because my address on my drivers license is not the address I live it (curse of the nomad).
Although my calling is not new, answering my calling is and I can get a little over zealous at times (just ask my wife). Reading just one of FHC's new friends bio is humbling enough, reading several is very humbling.
FHC's commitment to being an ounce of prevention for the working poor of America is my calling, you'll find me in church on Sunday sitting in the pews not the pulpit, that is a different calling than mine. It took me a long time to realize the only way out of the belly of the whale was to have faith and practice obedience.
Thank you, new friends for reminding me that obedience should be my most important priority.

Prayer is the wrong application

I was having a conversation with someone in church yesterday I thought I should share.
We were talking about F.H.C. Ministries, and the poor, and he pointed out to me that he prays for the homeless and the poor everyday. I told him prayer was the wrong application, prayer is a great thing, but the wrong application in this case. See Matthew 25:35.
The Bible says to feed the hungry not pray for them.

Thanks

I was looking through all of the take actions on razoo when I came across this one - Create an appriciation and post it. I thought to myself orginally, gee this will be easy, I'll just write a short thank you to my wife and be done.
My wife is my rock, when things get crazy and I need a little focus, she always comes through, she is smart, witty, a nut case sometimes, and a joy to be with, a blessing for me by all rights.
It can’t just end there I know I have left many things go unappreciated for a long time.
I thank God for His Son and the restoration of my soul.
I thank God for listening and answering my prayers even when I forget to pray sometimes.
I thank God for the countless blessing He has given me.
I thank my wife for her support and love!
I thank my children for their patience.
I thank my Dogs for my daily licks.
I thank Denny for being there when I needed it.
I thank the Eagle for being there when I needed it.
I thank Jim, Jerry, Scott, Julie, Cindy, Cherly, John, Terry, Mike, Leon and the countless number of other people that have come into or been a part of my life. Everyone brought something to table and I walked away blessed from every encounter and some are still blessing me today.

Apathy

My wife and I were discussing how we were going to raise the funds we need to get the ball rolling with F.H.C.
She was thinking and talking about how a few years ago she raised close to $1000.00 to help a cat that got left behind find it's way back to it's owner's. She did this in under 3 months, so far, to date, F.H.C. has raised $234.00 dollars. The media (local TV station) loved her cause and put it on the air in just the first two weeks, so far, to date, no media outlet will talk to me about the homeless. If poverty was cute would you help me stop someone from becoming homeless, that is my goal.
One person at a time, one day at a time we can set aside our fear, our loathing, and remember that Christ said we are to take care of each other, He gave us dominion over the animals, and commanded us to love one another and take care of each other.

We have an opportunity win $10,000 for our organization which will completely solve the problem of where to get funding for our 501c3

We can do it! You can help! (It's easy, it's free and you'll DO GOOD!

A group with the unlikely name of razoo is holding a Change the World contest:
Razoo is an innovative new web platform that is actively engaging individuals and organizations to mobilize a new generation for social change. At Razoo, we are putting all our resources behind our mission of empowering and inspiring individuals for positive social change - and to celebrate our initial Launch, we are hosting a $10,000 contest for organizations to help us build a global community for social change!

Contest Details

Who: non-profits and other social cause groups
What: A $10,000 prize your organization can win
Why: To create awareness, community, and action around important social issues
When: August 1st - September 15th
How: Create a Razoo Group and recruit at least 100 members to join by September 15th and you will be eligible to win the $10,000 prize!

The Change Your World Contest is an opportunity for social change organizations and groups to win $10,000 and publicity for your work! Any social change organization that creates a Razoo Group and recruits at least 100 members to join by September 15th will be entered into the Change Your World Contest. The Razoo community will then vote for its favorite organization to select the winner of the contest. The prize is a $10,000 donation to your organization, and a high-profile online campaign built around your issues and work!

What can you do to help? (step by step instructions)

Create your new account now and join F.H.C. Ministries Razoo Family
Sign Up at http://beta.razoo.com and...you have to respond to the confirmation e-mail...

2) Then join our group: http://beta.razoo.com/causes/preventing_homelessness_alleviating_poverty_in_the_united_states

(You can find us by typing FHC in the What's your passion? search bar, but we've made it easy for you to find by providing the link.) click here and join our group.

3) Then...from the razoo web site, invite at least one other person to join!

There! It's easy, it's free and YOU DID GOOD!