Inflated Prices
- Thread starter Siloam
- Start date
Siloam, I'm mystified at your question. Are you drawing some sort of parallel between calling most others "good" and showing respect?
From my experience, respect is earned, not demanded. When demanded, that is the height of arrogance.
Common courtesy is what I extend to others, but respect is another matter entirely.
MM
I guess that it is a difference in approach.
I recognize the failings of society, and understand its effects on man, but I find that as individual persons interact together as individuals, they tend to show their better sides.
I respect them as a potential brothers and am interested in hearing their viewpoints and thoughts before I let myself dismiss them. That is often hard to do, and takes personal assurance of Christs love for me. I sometimes have to withstand the tirade born of longstanding hurt. I school myself to realize that it is not _me_ they complain about but their disapointments stemming from the very society that created their attitudes.
When they understand that I am not trying to verbaly beat them into submission we can sometimes get closer to the core of their reservations before mental walls are raised.
Often presenting Christs gospel requires understanding the other person. Showing empathy does not mean agreeing with their views.
No one should be presented with a demand that they have to earn any respect before one gives a real hearing to their thoughts. Having shown that they are not being dismissed, they are more likely to allow the Spirit in.
Threads are a shared resource. Sometimes the purpose if the original poster is changed by the community. That is fine with me, but I would like to talk about this from a different angle.
Given the fact of inflation posing problems in society, and acknowledging that we as Christians are neither the proximate cause, nor immune from the effects, what can we do to help our neighbors and community deal with the problem?
Given the fact of inflation posing problems in society, and acknowledging that we as Christians are neither the proximate cause, nor immune from the effects, what can we do to help our neighbors and community deal with the problem?
At the moment because of rising fuel cost nz govt has decided to cut the tax on fuel for now.
In regards to inflation, as it is affecting people across the board, but for the poorest it is the most detrimental because most income is still going on rent, leaving little for food and everything else.
I am not a landlord, but if I was and had that power I would keep the rents down. Living rent free is what a lot of people dream of (hence owning your own home is the ideal) If you DO own your own home you can ride it out.
A lot of churches band together to deliver food parcels, operate foodbanks or 'free shops' and have community meals. If your church isn't doing this ask why not. Cultivate a relationship with your supermarkets and restaurants. Any food should not be wasted. They are happy to donate food that is near expiry.
If you do have some land or able to, grow food in your church yard.
The other is clothing. Warmer climates won't have a problem but heading into winter...make sure that people have warm clothes. again, if you have two coats and somebody has none - give your extra coat to that person.
I have supermarket vouchers to give away. If you are giving a gift be thoughtful about what that person really needs. Think about the extra goods that you are not using that someone else might find useful.
In regards to inflation, as it is affecting people across the board, but for the poorest it is the most detrimental because most income is still going on rent, leaving little for food and everything else.
I am not a landlord, but if I was and had that power I would keep the rents down. Living rent free is what a lot of people dream of (hence owning your own home is the ideal) If you DO own your own home you can ride it out.
A lot of churches band together to deliver food parcels, operate foodbanks or 'free shops' and have community meals. If your church isn't doing this ask why not. Cultivate a relationship with your supermarkets and restaurants. Any food should not be wasted. They are happy to donate food that is near expiry.
If you do have some land or able to, grow food in your church yard.
The other is clothing. Warmer climates won't have a problem but heading into winter...make sure that people have warm clothes. again, if you have two coats and somebody has none - give your extra coat to that person.
I have supermarket vouchers to give away. If you are giving a gift be thoughtful about what that person really needs. Think about the extra goods that you are not using that someone else might find useful.
Therein is why I ask questions, giving the speaker the opportunity to present their perspective and case. Beating down and brow-beating isn't always so positive in outcome.
MM
Are you kidding? I know more than everything.....I know things that just ain't.....
(snicker, snicker)
MM
I was never sure why some parents charge their children rent to live in their own home.
I think children, esp those who've left school can contribute to the household expenses, food and power, upkeep, help wth doing chores etc. But why a parent would suddenly charge them RENT I don't know.
That to me suggests a weird, dysfunctional relationship. Or they think their own flesh and blood is a tenant or guest in their own home.
I think children, esp those who've left school can contribute to the household expenses, food and power, upkeep, help wth doing chores etc. But why a parent would suddenly charge them RENT I don't know.
That to me suggests a weird, dysfunctional relationship. Or they think their own flesh and blood is a tenant or guest in their own home.
Inflation is temporal; souls are eternal.
As the old saying goes, "Despite inflation, the wages of sin remains the same".
The problem is sin, therefore give them the Gospel.
There's always been boom and bust periods, it goes in cycles, I've seen them come and go all the time. I think faith sees you through anything, whether recession, depression, or otherwise.
I was reading about the kauri forests in nz, how most of them where cut down so there's only like 5% of forests left, and the rest are dying. I think ok but at least some of that timber got to be made into houses and they are still standing today (its very good wood) but you cannot cut down anymore its very expensive or the entire ecoystem would collapse.
Things might be expensive for a reason so that you learn to live without and make do with what you have. Ok so you know some ppl have more than one home its like a holiday home or a spare room or hotels - people move into them. It might be more crowded for a while. Or people emigrate for a better life elsewhere, or they find ways to live that are sustainable.
anyway.. recall that Jesus had an issue with moneychangers in the temple, they inflated the prices of everything so that you could just BUY your animal for sacrifice but if you were poor you would never be able to just give what you had. I worked in retail where the boss lamented rising prices but if he'd just sold what he already had instead of constantly buying more and more and put his prices DOWN he might be able to break even. As such he put his prices out of reach for the ordinary customer. He would make at least 40-50% margin. For himself, none of the workers ever got anything except minimum wage.
I was reading about the kauri forests in nz, how most of them where cut down so there's only like 5% of forests left, and the rest are dying. I think ok but at least some of that timber got to be made into houses and they are still standing today (its very good wood) but you cannot cut down anymore its very expensive or the entire ecoystem would collapse.
Things might be expensive for a reason so that you learn to live without and make do with what you have. Ok so you know some ppl have more than one home its like a holiday home or a spare room or hotels - people move into them. It might be more crowded for a while. Or people emigrate for a better life elsewhere, or they find ways to live that are sustainable.
anyway.. recall that Jesus had an issue with moneychangers in the temple, they inflated the prices of everything so that you could just BUY your animal for sacrifice but if you were poor you would never be able to just give what you had. I worked in retail where the boss lamented rising prices but if he'd just sold what he already had instead of constantly buying more and more and put his prices DOWN he might be able to break even. As such he put his prices out of reach for the ordinary customer. He would make at least 40-50% margin. For himself, none of the workers ever got anything except minimum wage.
With my son, we (my wife and I) were concerned with some of the people he took on as room mates. We also like to visit him quit4e a lot. So, we 'rent' his spare room. He always says this isn't necessary, particularly since he has been getting more hours in at BOTH his jobs, but we feel better, knowing that we are not imposing, at least not financially.
My older son has done better financially, and we very occasionally stay with him, but limit our financial contributions to taking him out.
I've said before I am a minimalist so I have a very low need of things ( material).
My baby brother passed in Dec. of '21 in his sleep as my family tends to go.
I became very depressed and wore guilt like a coat bc I've out- lived all but myself and a sister out of 6 siblings.
I don't know why but this became such a burden on myself bc I lived alone in an apt. I was so fearful that I would pass and begin decomp and my only daughter would find me so.
Short story,I have moved in with my daughter and SIL this month.
I help out without seeming to take over in small things to just ease the burden. I also pay them the portion of what was my rent in my apt,they don't ask it but I do it to help out with the extra.
I also receive rewards from my gas card. Even though I no longer drive I make sure she knows I have cents off gas on my card which she uses!
We will take nothing with us in death or his second coming,so with willing hearts as BELIEVERS we are COMMANDED to be helpers!
My baby brother passed in Dec. of '21 in his sleep as my family tends to go.
I became very depressed and wore guilt like a coat bc I've out- lived all but myself and a sister out of 6 siblings.
I don't know why but this became such a burden on myself bc I lived alone in an apt. I was so fearful that I would pass and begin decomp and my only daughter would find me so.
Short story,I have moved in with my daughter and SIL this month.
I help out without seeming to take over in small things to just ease the burden. I also pay them the portion of what was my rent in my apt,they don't ask it but I do it to help out with the extra.
I also receive rewards from my gas card. Even though I no longer drive I make sure she knows I have cents off gas on my card which she uses!
We will take nothing with us in death or his second coming,so with willing hearts as BELIEVERS we are COMMANDED to be helpers!
Hello D3v;
I am so sorry to learn this from you. You and I are about the same age and it's in this time I've become more sensitive to life and am more appreciative of my wife and siblings. Where I am today I don't know where I'll be one day. I could be alone and need to make living arrangements elsewhere.
I do imagine how John, Mary Magdalene, Timothy and others in the Bible lived their later years while still serving Christ. Without a doubt I'll still be serving Christ, but what I don't know.
If I moved in with my younger brother or sister, knowing them I don't think they would charge a rigid rent or have restrictions, but allow me to give from my heart to help out, or if it was vice-versa and they moved in with me.
At my age I feel it would be more important that we're together living life first to the fullest. Helping with costs and unforeseen inflation in the future would be secondary.
God bless you, sister, and my prayer is all works out for His glory, for you, your daughter and sister in law.
In the US, each state has its own laws concerning retail scalping, aka price gouging, but most draw a line somewhere. In Texas, for example, during hurricane evacuations, merchants charging $20.00 for a bottle of drinking water would find themselves facing high fines and possible long prison sentences.