Thoughts from President Cleveland

I read earlier this week that 20% of Americans take home 50% of the wealth, this leaves 50% of America's money to the other 80%.  I think this is a rather large income gap, and I don't know if its a good thing or a bad thing, but I am leaning bad thing.
I could argue that its a good thing because this is how supply-side economics works, give the rich their money and they can spend spend spend and when they do that it greases the economy, creating jobs and thereby distributing wealth.  And then the libertarian side of me thinks, well this is good as well, because if there are needy Americans the wealthy, with their wealth, can support them by their giving.  After all Grover Cleveland said, "[T]hough the people should support the Government, the Government should not support the people."  Going on to say, "The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow citizens in misfortune." Which is why you give wealthy people money, so they can spend it and give it.  I mean its the great libertarian, classical liberal ideal!
Although I do have a slight issue with this, the wealthy with money now aren't necessarily so charitable and generous.  I mean lets be real there are far more people spending money and saving money than giving it to those in need.  Since reading Radical by David Platt I'm more convinced that Americans are far more concerned with the rat race, keeping up with the Jones, getting their American dream, etc., than ever.  The more consumerist a society becomes, the more "dreams" become transmitted through advertising, and the more gullible idiots with money, i.e. everyone, buy into those dreams then try and go get them.  So the friendliness and charity of fellow citizens is quickly vanishing to the consumerism and dream acquisition of our fellow citizens.
The idea of supply side economics, kind of like Reagan's, is great if you want to allow a bunch of money into the market.  Unfortunately I don't think this works if you leave such tax cuts in for so long that they simply become the market standard.  The only way such a policy is going to work is if you raises taxes so you can then cut taxes during another recession, or you just bottom out taxes to reproduce the effects.  (I must also say there are some that don't even think it was Reagan's policies that stimulated the economy as much as Carter's.  Take that conservatives?)
This all brings me to the idea of taxes.  If the wealthy are not distributing their money to the needy do we need to raise taxes to redistribute their wealth for them?  I mean the government may not do it nearly as efficiently, but at least they'll be doing it.  Or should we not so that the wealthy can spend their money, thereby stimulating economic growth thus distributing it that way? (I must add, I have read some that argue the wealthy aren't spending money so much as they are investing and saving it.  Whether or not that stimulates the economy I don't know.  I guess by investing it, it puts money into the financial system allowing banks to loan to business which allows business to grow and function.)  If this is our choice are we then protecting the rich and thereby allowing wealth to be concentrated with the few?  
Cleveland again has something to say to this.  

"Communism is a hateful thing, and a menace to peace and organized government.  But the Communism of combined wealth and capital, the outgrowth of overweening cupidity and selfishness, which insidiously undermines the justice and integrity of free institutions is not less dangerous than the communism of oppressed poverty and toil which, exasperated by injustice and discontent, attacks with wild disorder the citadel of rule.

He mocks the people who proposes that the Government shall protect the rich and that they in turn will care of the laboring poor"

 So what are we doing as a society?  Simply looking to provide for the needy by means of socialism through high taxes?  Or are we trying to simply protect the rich under the guise of supply side economics? I mean if you want such a economic policy to work, as I have stated, you need something to adjust, otherwise it simply becomes the market norm and the market adjusts to it.  Me personally?  I think we are mocking the people, because I think we are protecting the rich who have influence in Congress and influence Congress to keeping taxes relatively low.  I'm no conspiracy theorist, but lobbyist do what lobbyist do, and lobbyist work for those who pay them, and the people that pay money are the people with money, and that ain't the poor.  And unfortunately its not the particular slant of our fellow citizens to provide for people in need, like the farmer's in Cleveland's time, more money than the government would have given or does give.

from my OT class

So I have this Old Testament class, and we are going through the book of Genesis right now, and the professor mentioned the story of Abraham as being understood by some as allegorical, thus not real. He then posed the question "If Abraham didn't exist does that mean Christ didn't die?" Obviously this was to get those with a "traditional" or "conservative" theological stance to think (or annoyed).  Well I'm always up for a challenge even though I don't think of myself as solely traditional or conservative.  The question is interesting, though, because many in fact would argue that if we say one part of the Bible isn't  historically factual that then has a direct correlation to the story of Christ and now the story of Christ becomes totally and completely untrue.  I don't think it's necessarily that clear cut, but I am nonetheless piqued by what allegorical understandings can do to Scriptural interpretation and understanding.
I'm posting a copy of my response to the discussion board, but before I do that I must feel I must explain that it is indirectly responsive to the other two responses as well as the question.  They argued, essentially, that there is a bigger theological understanding to the text, and the one can know Christ and experience transforming faith through him without having to worry about the nature of the Abraham's story.  Now this view I understand, but mostly disagree with which is what my post is more about; I think the posed question is not dealing with how such a reading impacts of experience of God's power or one's faith.  Therefore, I am more concerned with how such a reading impacts the whole flow and understanding of Scripture and the implications that a particular reading in one place has on another reading in another place.  Also, this was literally an off the cuff sort of thing, so I must add that it is definitely lacking:

The story of Abraham doesn't correlate, necessarily, to whether or not Christ died, it does I believe correlate to the resurrection.  The power and authority of the resurrection does not come solely from the story of Christ and the writings of the New Testament, but from the Old Testament and the story of Israel. The problem with understanding the stories such as Abraham in a new light is that you must understand that in light of how it can impact the story of Christ.
If we are to say that the story of Abraham is only allegorical it can be understood to be the express of humanity's longing for God to redeem his creation.  The idea that God has an intent to bless the whole world.  That God sees faith as our righteousness and not our actions.  The idea that God will provide the offer, such as in the story of Isaac, that culminates in the Father doing with Christ for everyone which he would not let Abraham do only for himself.  It can, however, run the risk of understanding the story of the resurrection in the same light.  That resurrection doesn't actually happen, but it's allegorical, and as such expresses the human longing which we can experience through the story and lifestyle of Christ, which raises another issue in itself.
Another risk that a pure allegorical reading can render is that actuality of God's work.  If the reading is purely allegorical then we cannot point to the work of Christ and say, "Look what God does for us!", and then point back to the story of Abraham and say, "See he's been actually doing it all along!"  The allegorical reading sacrifices a sort of evidence that we can point to showing that not only has it long been humanity's longing, but God has long been fulfilling that longing.  The allegorical reading cannot say that God hasn't been fulfilling our longing, but it can prevent us from showing a certain sense of "proof" of where and how he has done it.

Peace of Mind

So I finally have my netbook back, at least now I will be able to surf the web when I can find a chance and not suffer with only having the internet so long as I am around a connected computer.
It feels freeing, I can actually do school work away from school!

Oddly enough, that seems how much of my life has been since class last Thursday... freeing, I've been able to get a peace of mind.
Its nice, its nice to feel free.  I am caught up with all of my readings, I was stressed about an assignment and that seems to have gone away, I am done with my presentation for a class, so now that stress is gone.
I mean its like I can finally start the cruising process.  I mean insofar as I am staying caught up.  It will feel like cruising because I know what is expected of me, I know how I am going to have to appropriate my time, and since I now know this I know how to handle it.
It was a ridiculously stressful first few weeks, but now I don't feel so stressed any more.  So this feeling is definitely a blessing, but I can't help to sense an under current of fear that somehow something along the way is just going to get me stressed out and frustrated again and I will feel helpless against it, like tests and papers.
I must admit I am not the best at disciplining myself to plan ahead, especially after coming off a particularly stressful time period.  I am far more apt to just chill out and relax.
I suppose that's what my ultimate problem is though, I love to chill out and relax and... be lazy.  I just can't get myself to be disciplined to the point of doing things so I am allowed the time to be free.
I mean I know the consequences, less sleep, more stress, more anger and a rather dead spiritual life.
Maybe I am learning, maybe.  I just hope to grow in this area before I have a job that demands it of me and when I fail its not just myself is the primary sufferer, but the church I am pastoring and my family.

God said wait.

So I was thinking this morning driving to classes about being here, that is in seminary and in Atlanta.  Its weird for me to think about how not only did I apply to only one seminary, but that I was chosen as well.
I feel as if, since I got here, I have been searching, almost too hard, whether this is really my call or not.  But, thinking back on just the fact that I threw everything on coming here, and was one of the 1/3 that got accepted I was reassured, at least within my own thought process, that this is where I am called.
And now I am finally here.
I waited around an extra two years knowing all the while that I wanted to go to seminary since I was in high school.  But when I got to college I was constantly being told to wait.  Ultimately from God, but it did not seem like it at the time, only because I was not listening to it from that perspective; instead, all I was hearing was to think about whether I really am called or not, or, what I heard, told to doubt myself.
Ultimately, though, I found, towards the end of my freshman year, that I was not ready to go to seminary, as much as I wanted it at that time, even though I knew I had 4 more years left, and ended up taking another year as well, just for kicks.  What that did though was to really let me think about the here and now, where am I called to today?  How can I grow now?  What can I learn from here?
Even when I graduated I voluntarily waited, I really didn't want to, I kind of wanted to get out of Greensboro.  Yet again, though, there was so much learning to be had and growth to be done that I didn't really mind it then.
But now, finally I am here, where I have wanted to be at for a while now, but was ready to wait for.  I am glad I was told to wait, by others and by God.  I am now, what Bobby Mack has called, "seasoned".  For some reason that makes me feel like an old fisherman?  However, I would have to agree.  The 7 years of waiting and thinking about the "now" sanctified me.  I grew in not only patience, but a whole slew of other things, like disciplines and discernment; I'm more grounded in what I myself believe, which now allows me to freely plug other theologies and doctrines in and either keep or do away with them if I don't believe they are true, in so far as I belief what Scripture testifies to true.
I am glad that I am more seasoned, and rigid, firmly planted in my own identity in Christ and not developing it as I go through what many theologians and scholars think identity in Christ should or could be.  I was able to sit under great teaching, discipleship and counsel and develop a firm view of myself and of God, ie. worldview.
I even came to enjoy the waiting!
When I look at things as what God would have for me it really makes the world an easier place to live in.

Where my trust lies....

So my first day of seminary classes was yesterday.
It was one of the most stressful days I have had in a looooonnnnggg time.  Not because of classes, though!  Luckily!  In fact, I absolutely enjoyed my classes, in so far as they were simply the introductory ones.  No, my troubles were with life in general, those stupid things that get you down.  To start out with my car started  that morning, juuuusst barely, which meant I had a low battery.... not good for my car.  Then half way to campus the battery light comes on, even worse.  I make it to campus, thank God, and tried not to let it stress me out, but it did, and did so quite well.  Well the next unfortunate thing happens, the day I need my computer most to get directions from google to an auto shop, the screen goes hardcore blank.  Which it has done before, does so now at the worst time.
In the midst of all this I wasn't so much angry as I was stressed and exhausted more so from the stress.  It got me expressing all this to God, and finally I got to the point of admitting to God that my car and computer are just things I don't want to leave up to my faith in Him.  I mean, I just want them to work, and do so reliably.  After all, they are both machines, and there should be no screw ups unless a part is screwed up.  The computer is brand new, shouldn't screw up; the car has a year old battery and new alternator, shouldn't be failing.
That's just the way it should work, faith in God's provision and blessing should be completely unnecessary, thus my anger.  How ignorant of me! How prideful of me!  To think that anything is not held within the hands of God and under my, or any other man's, own power and ability.  Its humbling to admit that in reality all that I have is a blessing and could indeed be taken from me in a second, be it life, money, fiancée, or possessions.  I'll admit I don't like to fly by the seat of my pants, especially when I need a car to get to campus every day, and live where most of my other colleagues do not.
But it is freeing, a little bit, at least so far, to know that not only God is in control, but that He does provide, Jehovah Jireh, and that He has always done so, and always will do so.
I was far more relaxed by the end of the day, because God was quick to show His grace and mercy through family, friends and a good auto shop, as well as a year long HP warranty.
God is faithful and His love endures forever!  So good to know!