What is this thread all about?
Just a place for general discussion. A place to unload whats on your mind and talk about anything - personal, health, help needed, achievements, daily highs and daily lows, theories, predictions and what have you.
Does not need to be Q related.
What are your thoughts on Operation Christmas Child? I’ve read her about Franklin Graham & his dad, Billy Graham. I don’t know much details. I’m asking because I’ve been in churches that did these boxes. My daughter and I did several boxes over the years. I was in my local small town last week and say the banner outside a church. If the organization is involved in child trafficking or worse it bothers me I helped them and many other well meaning people are still helping.
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
I’ve volunteered with this for years both doing my own boxes and helping in the warehouse. It is definitely a Christian organization devoted to helping children in 3rd world countries. With every box given out, they give a gospel story book in that child’s language to tell them about Jesus. I’ve known people who’ve been there when they handed them out and have met adults who received them as a child and came to Christ because of it. I also know people who prefer to give locally. But I definitely think it’s a worthwhile charity for those that choose to go that route.
It’s good to hear the positives of this charity. Only reason I asked is the involvement of children and we know some charities’ or orphanage’s use them for trafficking.
I do local charity. There are a few churches of various denominations and they all have drives for kids, I try and get a few gifts for each of them. I used to volunteer at the Food Pantry and make pies for the holidays, and drive the dinners around. I find I dont have time or energy, so I write a check to them. I like to donate for Christmas craft sets and art supplies, hot wheel and matchbox cars. The kids have more hats and mittens than they know what to do with. People are very generous in my community. It's just me being ornery, but I do not trust those mega churches, so many of them are wealthy, let them give from their own coffers, I say.
Apologies for my late response, been busy. I agree, I don’t trust big or small churches. We are living in the times of the corporate church. It’s more about money and less about the people & God. I don’t think I’ve given to a large charity. Before I knew about the CEO’s of these charities collecting a huge paycheck I didn’t trust them and that was thirty years ago. Probably much worse now. Not to mention the child trafficking associated with many. When we first got married my husband was working his first good job. They influenced the employees to give to united way in their paycheck deductions. Didn’t last long because we both questioned (to ourselves) where the money was going. Back then sometimes just getting bread and milk was a luxury and those companies brainwashing people to donate. You have been very busy and giving of yourself. That’s so commendable.
After everything we now know, my family helps people locally directly. If a church is doing something here that we can see and verify that helps people in our immediate area, then we might get involved. We're much happier finding hardworking folks and giving directly to them, or getting them the help they need.
A lot of honest people do not want anything from the government, were raised to believe it's embarrassing to take any welfare. I used to feel the same way. Now I tell them that it's better that our collective money goes to help working people than thieves and leeches.
That’s wonderful. I didn’t share an article I read because they were most definitely liberal & sharing their views on Christianity or any values conservative person might believe in. I did learn some things about the shoe box org. (Not sure how to verify) Either in the church or other countries where shoe boxes are delivered adults take the nice items for themselves and sell them. Most items sent aren’t useful to the children. Toys for a poor child from a family in Africa and those kids don’t play video games etc. They live a different life than we do. Items like gloves and mittens might end up in a climate like Africa.
This👌Helping neighbors, tipping extra, etc
I love the idea of tipping extra. Most waiters work at least two jobs. We ate at a local Italian restaurant last weekend and the waitress said she works mornings at a country breakfast restaurant. Excellent service deserves a great tip. Tip in cash so it’s not tracked. In NC they don’t make much hourly, less than minimum wage. I’m not sure how much.