Inflated Prices

Siloam

Siloam

Supporter
I am sure that many, if not all have noticed the jump in prices for everything including food, medicine, clothing and everything in general.
We watch fuel prices rise and wonder how this can be sustained.

For some, this is an inconvenience. For others this is a calamity.

Those in retirement, or nearing retirement see their savings dwindle. Provisions having been made to take care of families are being stretched and, in many cases broken.

Those farther from retirement see little opportunity to prepare for their future.

Many discussions on why this is happening (epidemic, market forces, corporate greed, etc). If there is a way to blame it on someone or something this is disapproved of (the _other_ political party -- which ever side is the _other_, Immigrants, corporate greed) that will be demonized.

It is easy to get discouraged.

For those of us who regularly support our local congregations and local charities it is tempting to cut back and see to our own problems.

But, this is the time to step it up. Dig deeper. Increase the giving to the church. Make donations to those charities you see working in your community, or the across town. If one cannot give money, then give of your time.
 
Siloam said:
For those of us who regularly support our local congregations and local charities it is tempting to cut back and see to our own problems.

But, this is the time to step it up. Dig deeper. Increase the giving to the church. Make donations to those charities you see working in your community, or the across town. If one cannot give money, then give of your time.
Click to expand...

Amen, Siloam!
 
Siloam said:
I am sure that many, if not all have noticed the jump in prices for everything including food, medicine, clothing and everything in general.
We watch fuel prices rise and wonder how this can be sustained.

For some, this is an inconvenience. For others this is a calamity.

Those in retirement, or nearing retirement see their savings dwindle. Provisions having been made to take care of families are being stretched and, in many cases broken.

Those farther from retirement see little opportunity to prepare for their future.

Many discussions on why this is happening (epidemic, market forces, corporate greed, etc). If there is a way to blame it on someone or something this is disapproved of (the _other_ political party -- which ever side is the _other_, Immigrants, corporate greed) that will be demonized.

It is easy to get discouraged.

For those of us who regularly support our local congregations and local charities it is tempting to cut back and see to our own problems.

But, this is the time to step it up. Dig deeper. Increase the giving to the church. Make donations to those charities you see working in your community, or the across town. If one cannot give money, then give of your time.
Click to expand...

Very correct!
 
God is faithful and that by digging deeper of ourselves He takes care of everything.

Most of my driving is ministry. I went to pump gas yesterday before attending a meeting. I thought about this thread and I paid $4.79 a gallon. My tank was half full and after filling up it came to $40.95 / 4.79 = 8.54 gallons!

But here is the tradeoff. It'll last me 2 weeks. Don't ask me how. I just thank God and go with it!
 
I think with inflation we may buy less of everything but also make what we do have last longer.
If we do have an abundance of something we'll give it away.
Will save on gas by staying at home. I don't know if this affects EVs, But I don't really go travelling widely anyway I can walk to work.

Do support your local businesses, churches and charities though, it might seem like its more convenient to buy stuff online and get it delivered, but think of all the freight, time and expense it is for them to deliver to YOUR door especially if its just one tiny thing that may not even be important.

BTW if you have a horse, look after it.
 
bobinfaith said:
God is faithful and that by digging deeper of ourselves He takes care of everything.

Most of my driving is ministry. I went to pump gas yesterday before attending a meeting. I thought about this thread and I paid $4.79 a gallon. My tank was half full and after filling up it came to $40.95 / 4.79 = 8.54 gallons!

But here is the tradeoff. It'll last me 2 weeks. Don't ask me why. I just thank God and go with it!
Click to expand...

Yes sir.......I just drove 80 miles yesterday to visit someone and paid about the same thing.
 
bobinfaith said:
God is faithful and that by digging deeper of ourselves He takes care of everything.

Most of my driving is ministry. I went to pump gas yesterday before attending a meeting. I thought about this thread and I paid $4.79 a gallon. My tank was half full and after filling up it came to $40.95 / 4.79 = 8.54 gallons!

But here is the tradeoff. It'll last me 2 weeks. Don't ask me how. I just thank God and go with it!
Click to expand...
Family is a priority

Yes, I try to keep my younger son on an even keel as He works several jobs to make ends meet. To that end, I make several trips per month to visit him and talk with him and buy some meals for him -- in general let him know that he has our support. It's 180 miles each way -- about 12 Gallons.

My wife & I are resisting cutting back on those trips. His need is greater than our inconvenience.

My older son has a better job and in general has supportive friends, but we still see him about every three months.

Both my wife and I have retirement income, even though I thought I was financially ruined when my last job disappeared followed by expensive health issues. But God had other plans in mind and although some of His remedies were not what we would choose, we came out better than expected, even if not as abundant as our prior plans. These remedies from God should be returned to Him as opportunities arise.

We find that we are cutting back on other things. We are delaying some improvements to our home, eating more simply, etc.

The point is we can make adjustments. There are many that have no obvious way to meet the current problems. This is as true for the people around us as it is true for my family. Besides increasing my offerings, there are several local efforts the I support: Food Bank, meals for shut-ins, etc. We are also cognizant that our next door neighbor is having a tough time in several respects. We try to find ways to share food and other resources without making him feel indebted.
 
Siloam said:
Family is a priority

Yes, I try to keep my younger son on an even keel as He works several jobs to make ends meet. To that end, I make several trips per month to visit him and talk with him and buy some meals for him -- in general let him know that he has our support. It's 180 miles each way -- about 12 Gallons.

My wife & I are resisting cutting back on those trips. His need is greater than our inconvenience.

My older son has a better job and in general has supportive friends, but we still see him about every three months.

Both my wife and I have retirement income, even though I thought I was financially ruined when my last job disappeared followed by expensive health issues. But God had other plans in mind and although some of His remedies were not what we would choose, we came out better than expected, even if not as abundant as our prior plans. These remedies from God should be returned to Him as opportunities arise.

We find that we are cutting back on other things. We are delaying some improvements to our home, eating more simply, etc.

The point is we can make adjustments. There are many that have no obvious way to meet the current problems. This is as true for the people around us as it is true for my family. Besides increasing my offerings, there are several local efforts the I support: Food Bank, meals for shut-ins, etc. We are also cognizant that our next door neighbor is having a tough time in several respects. We try to find ways to share food and other resources without making him feel indebted.
Click to expand...

Right there with you.

I am going to stop getting my hair cut and beard trimmed!
 
sharing to make others feel not indebted-

Firstly you say 'I have surplus/too many of xxx items' and 'would you like some?' so that person knows you don't need payment or anything back, and they can also refuse if they want to.

Or you say 'I have too many xx items' 'who wants some' 'put your name in the draw' and so the person feels lucky when their name is picked. Of course that person who you feel is neediest will be the 'winner' and they won't feel indebted they'll actually feel like a winner instead.

Free pantry/pataka - you can place extra food in roadside pantries free for anyone to take. Place a note that says a blessing on it.
If you have too much of something say 'pass on any extra' to the person receiving it. They will feel they can be a giver too.

Vouchers for meals. Say you have a voucher and that you need to spend it by a certain date. Invite the other person to share with you this voucher. They won't feel like they have to pay you back if you have a voucher which may have been given to you.

Community garden- we operate by putting work in the garden means you get to participate in the harvest. It can be as simple as weeding or watering, or pruning or mowing the lawn, or dropping off food scraps for compost.
 
Siloam said:
I am sure that many, if not all have noticed the jump in prices for everything including food, medicine, clothing and everything in general.
We watch fuel prices rise and wonder how this can be sustained.

For some, this is an inconvenience. For others this is a calamity.

Those in retirement, or nearing retirement see their savings dwindle. Provisions having been made to take care of families are being stretched and, in many cases broken.

Those farther from retirement see little opportunity to prepare for their future.

Many discussions on why this is happening (epidemic, market forces, corporate greed, etc). If there is a way to blame it on someone or something this is disapproved of (the _other_ political party -- which ever side is the _other_, Immigrants, corporate greed) that will be demonized.

It is easy to get discouraged.

For those of us who regularly support our local congregations and local charities it is tempting to cut back and see to our own problems.

But, this is the time to step it up. Dig deeper. Increase the giving to the church. Make donations to those charities you see working in your community, or the across town. If one cannot give money, then give of your time.
Click to expand...

Siloam, greed is the prime foundation for these increases in pricing. Inevitably, with more of people's expendable income dwindling, there will be less to hand over to church organizations, para-church organizations, charities, family, friends, neighbors, etc.

What's going on in Ukraine is nothing but something they point at, not really caring that we're not all so stupid enough to buy into their false narratives. Nobody should feel ashamed that they must spend more to uphold those of their own house. Luxuries, will and must dwindle away as we continue to be raped financially by the wealthy and political elite. It's all meaningless, just as Solomon said. It all blows away in the wind, as does the dust of our physical bodies once they cease to function. I'm a fatalist in the sense of what Job said:

Job 13:15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him.

So, the (C)hurch going back into homes is the inevitable trend when the assumed necessity for luxuries, such as fancy, communal buildings and professional staffing with individual offices and such, all begin to dwindle in any ability to financially sustain them all.

(c)hurch organization staffing should be preparing for this, and especially preparing the congregation members for this. Maybe discussions within congregations to get ready for this inevitability may get the lazy, do-nothing, indifferent members to start moving their dead weight into the direction of seeking out even doing as Jesus commanded in Luke 21:36.

Contingency plans should be well underway in every (c)hurch organization right now, not later down the road after it's too late.

Many will say, "We don't feel led by the Lord to do that..."

Really?

They should put a fishing sinker in their pockets, and they can then feel "lead" throughout each day they put their idle hands into the pockets...

Waiting on the Lord to kick one into action is an exercise in futility so much of the time. I'm talking about discussion and preparation, not launching out right now into the unknown...

Trust in the Lord, and plan ahead for what is currently being treated like the "unexpected." Expect it!

MM
 
Well, new books as I know are expensive and the prices are inevitably going to go up.
But we have a lot of books already that we can share and give. Plus nothing wrong with older books (in good condition!) in fact they can be treasures. They just need to find suitable readers - matching a book to a reader is a bit of an art.

As for the cost of transport. Well at the moment there are supply chain delays. Plus ships want to load up before leaving port rather than make a huge journey half empty. I think people who are so used to jet-setting air transport are going to be either annoyed or surprised that we'll experience shortages. Freight and delivery are a big expense.

Air transport (fuelled by fossil fuels) is one of the biggest gas guzzler there is.

Until then we'll need to be resourceful and make do with what we have, and share fairly what we do have. So I don't see any use in complaining about it!

The Russia/Ukraine conflict means that because of sanctions, others are going to rely on Middle-east oil, and they can put their prices up anytime, if they have no competition.

And musicmaster is right, most people are going to spend their income on keeping their homes warm and safe, there is not that much extra that people can give right now. Unless you are in the super-rich category or wealthily retired which, I assure you, most of us are not.
 
Lanolin said:
Well, new books as I know are expensive and the prices are inevitably going to go up.
But we have a lot of books already that we can share and give. Plus nothing wrong with older books (in good condition!) in fact they can be treasures. They just need to find suitable readers - matching a book to a reader is a bit of an art.

As for the cost of transport. Well at the moment there are supply chain delays. Plus ships want to load up before leaving port rather than make a huge journey half empty. I think people who are so used to jet-setting air transport are going to be either annoyed or surprised that we'll experience shortages. Freight and delivery are a big expense.

Air transport (fuelled by fossil fuels) is one of the biggest gas guzzler there is.

Until then we'll need to be resourceful and make do with what we have, and share fairly what we do have. So I don't see any use in complaining about it!

The Russia/Ukraine conflict means that because of sanctions, others are going to rely on Middle-east oil, and they can put their prices up anytime, if they have no competition.

And musicmaster is right, most people are going to spend their income on keeping their homes warm and safe, there is not that much extra that people can give right now. Unless you are in the super-rich category or wealthily retired which, I assure you, most of us are not.
Click to expand...

Share fairly? I'm not sure what you mean by that, but that's very much the kind of thing the liberals in Washington DC would say to the rest of the country through our corrupt media while they keep a clenched fist in their own pockets over their money that they gained illegitimately through foreign accounts filled with our foreign aid tax dollars given to other countries. At least Russia is now putting an end to the corruption in the Ukrainian government that has been funneling our foreign aid monies into you-know-who's family accounts through various means, and others who have influences as to who and where our foreign aid tax dollar money goes.

In relation to believers, as you know, Paul said to give whatsoever one purposes in his heart. There is no "fair" in that because calling for fairness is mostly one person looking at another's giving, and judging that other. So, I'm hoping that's not what you're suggesting by way of any measure of fairness.

Here in the Midwest of the U. S., we've never gotten our oil from the Middle East, Ukraine or Russia. We produce our own oil, but the prices here follow the imports. That's greed, pure and simple.

Isn't it wonderful that the Lord is in control of it all? This would all seem so very hopeless if it were not for the Lord and His provisions for us all.

Love you all.

MM
 
You don't even KNOW what a fair share is?

Huh. Just give what YOU can with a cheerful heart. Some people do not have a lot, others have more. If you want to hold a grudge people for not giving, then that's on you.
 
Ok let's look at what JESUS says in the bible!

If you have TWO coats, and someone else has not even ONE, you give ONE coat away to the person who has none (or ZERO)

So 2 divided by 2 equals 1

So, each person gets...1 coat each!


yay!
 
Musicmaster said:
Siloam, greed is the prime foundation for these increases in pricing. Inevitably, with more of people's expendable income dwindling, there will be less to hand over to church organizations, para-church organizations, charities, family, friends, neighbors, etc.

What's going on in Ukraine is nothing but something they point at, not really caring that we're not all so stupid enough to buy into their false narratives. Nobody should feel ashamed that they must spend more to uphold those of their own house. Luxuries, will and must dwindle away as we continue to be raped financially by the wealthy and political elite. It's all meaningless, just as Solomon said. It all blows away in the wind, as does the dust of our physical bodies once they cease to function. I'm a fatalist in the sense of what Job said:

Job 13:15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him.

So, the (C)hurch going back into homes is the inevitable trend when the assumed necessity for luxuries, such as fancy, communal buildings and professional staffing with individual offices and such, all begin to dwindle in any ability to financially sustain them all.

(c)hurch organization staffing should be preparing for this, and especially preparing the congregation members for this. Maybe discussions within congregations to get ready for this inevitability may get the lazy, do-nothing, indifferent members to start moving their dead weight into the direction of seeking out even doing as Jesus commanded in Luke 21:36.

Contingency plans should be well underway in every (c)hurch organization right now, not later down the road after it's too late.

Many will say, "We don't feel led by the Lord to do that..."

Really?

They should put a fishing sinker in their pockets, and they can then feel "lead" throughout each day they put their idle hands into the pockets...

Waiting on the Lord to kick one into action is an exercise in futility so much of the time. I'm talking about discussion and preparation, not launching out right now into the unknown...

Trust in the Lord, and plan ahead for what is currently being treated like the "unexpected." Expect it!

MM
Click to expand...

I Agree! Really really excellant advice!
 
Musicmaster said:
Share fairly? I'm not sure what you mean by that, but that's very much the kind of thing the liberals in Washington DC would say to the rest of the country through our corrupt media while they keep a clenched fist in their own pockets over their money that they gained illegitimately through foreign accounts filled with our foreign aid tax dollars given to other countries. At least Russia is now putting an end to the corruption in the Ukrainian government that has been funneling our foreign aid monies into you-know-who's family accounts through various means, and others who have influences as to who and where our foreign aid tax dollar money goes.

In relation to believers, as you know, Paul said to give whatsoever one purposes in his heart. There is no "fair" in that because calling for fairness is mostly one person looking at another's giving, and judging that other. So, I'm hoping that's not what you're suggesting by way of any measure of fairness.

Here in the Midwest of the U. S., we've never gotten our oil from the Middle East, Ukraine or Russia. We produce our own oil, but the prices here follow the imports. That's greed, pure and simple.

Isn't it wonderful that the Lord is in control of it all? This would all seem so very hopeless if it were not for the Lord and His provisions for us all.

Love you all.

MM
Click to expand...

What she is saying is........Liberal democratic nonsense or......Communism! IMHO of course.

I am thinking that the failure of Russia to do a quick war is the fact that many of his people have been stealing and embezzling funds that were targeted for the military and have wound up buying $ 25 M yachts for the rich.

The news today said that the Ukrainians intercepted a PHONE call from Russian military on a Verizon 3 G phone which led them to be able to take out a Russian general. That should have been impossible! But when money is embelezzed, the old stuff show up and BOOM!
 
Musicmaster said:
Share fairly? I'm not sure what you mean by that, but that's very much the kind of thing the liberals in Washington DC would say to the rest of the country through our corrupt media while they keep a clenched fist in their own pockets over their money that they gained illegitimately through foreign accounts filled with our foreign aid tax dollars given to other countries. At least Russia is now putting an end to the corruption in the Ukrainian government that has been funneling our foreign aid monies into you-know-who's family accounts through various means, and others who have influences as to who and where our foreign aid tax dollar money goes.
Click to expand...
I had no idea Russia was trying to stop corruption in Ukraine.
In fact, I omit in giving my opinion on the war as I am not confident I know what’s happening as media propaganda is rife as ever.

And I’m sorry to hear of your county’s money being funnelled by you know who( not sure who that is)
But like you say, The Lord sees all and they won’t get away with it if they are being corrupt.
 
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